Nepean Hotspurs

Policy

Referee Policy

1.0 Background
Referees are expected to be patient, tolerant and to accept all the distraction that takes place during the game otherwise they should reconsider taking on this role. Coaches play games with referees in an attempt to influence a decision or gain an edge (this does not mean abusing a referee). As a referee, the expectation is to facilitate adherence to the Laws of the Game and not to influence the outcome. Some the key success factor referees are:

The referee must know the Laws of the Game and be able to interpret and apply these laws consistently and without prejudice.
The referee must gain control of the game as early as possible as both players and coaches take their lead from what a referee does in the first ten minutes of a game.
The referee should be capable of keeping up with play and not being influenced by the comments or events on sidelines.

The Nepean Hotspurs Soccer Club considers the development and safety of its referees as important as the development and safety of our players and coaches. In order to demonstrate the club's commitment to this statement, the following policy was developed and will be strictly enforced.

The Nepean Hotspurs Soccer Club recognises that the majority of players, coaches, parents, guardians, and spectators are responsible, recognise that referees are always learning and therefore behave appropriately. This Policy was developed in response to the behaviour exhibited by the minority that tends to spoil the enjoyment of the game for others.

2.0 Policy

Any Nepean Hotspurs coach, parent, guardian or spectator found to be guilty of abusive conduct towards a game official before, during and after any game will be, in the first instance, reprimanded in writing.

A second occurrence of this behaviour, during the same season will result in offender being banned from vicinity of the field of play and the playing member associated with the offender in questions will not be allowed to participate in games at which the offender is present.

In extreme cases, as determined by the Discipline Committee, the ban may be applied after the first offence.

This policy applies to all attendees (e.g. spectators) at games in which a team from the Nepean Hotspurs Soccer Club is participating

2.0 Policy Procedures

2.1. When a game official decides that an abusive situation has developed, the official will be allowed to suspend the game.

2.2. The officials will advice the coaches that the game has been stopped, the reason for the stoppage and the source.

2.2.1 If the source is one of the coaches, the official will advise the coach that the next occurrence of a similar nature will result in the offending party being expelled from the game and reported to the appropriate Disciplinary Board.

2.2.2 If the source is a spectator, the appropriate coach will be requested to provide the official with the name of the offender and the player associated with spectator. The coach will be requested to advise the offender of the resulting consequences if there is a recurrence of a similar nature. The coaches refusal to co-operate with the official will result in consequences to the coach

2.2.3 The game official is expected to follow-up within 24 hours with a game report to the Disciplinary Board for review and action.

2.3 Once the corrective actions, as laid out above ( 2.2.2) are completed, the game will restart as per FIFA Restart Rules.

2.4 Should the abuse continue, the official will stop any further playing of the game and advise the coaches that the game has been abandoned and that a special incidence report will be forwarded to the appropriate Disciplinary Board. The official must clearly indicate on the game sheet that the game was abandoned due to abuse.

2.4.1. The game official must contact either their referee co-ordinator or a member of the Club Executive to verbally report the incident within 24 hours.

2.4.2 A special incidence report (with the assistance of the referee co-ordinator or a member of the Executive) must be completed and forwarded to the Discipline Board within 48 hours.

2.4.3. The Discipline Board will review and deal with the report as per their guidelines

2.5. If the game was abandoned due to the conduct of a spectator not associated with either team, the Executive will determine the status of the game.

2.6 If the game continues without any further incident, the game official must inform their referee co-ordinator and include the details of the incident on the game sheet/report.

4.0 Exception to the Policy

4.1 If the abuse is physical, the game official is advised to call the police and advice the coaches that the game has been abandoned and then proceed as per 2.4 above.

4.2. If the spectator is not associated with either team, both coaches are asked to speak to the fan and in some circumstances may ask the individual to leave.