The Referee is the match official and is responsible for ensuring games are Safe, Fair and Fun! All AYSO Referees are either volunteers or novice officials and do their absolute best to officiate the matches in an impartial and fair manner within the construct of the Laws Of The Game, the Rules of Competition, and all the while maintaining a safe environment.
While there may be disputed calls, the Referee has full authority over the match and his or her decisions are the final word on the field. Any and all post game discussions or requests for appeal shall be handled by the Coach Administrator and Referee Administrator. If for any reason there is a dispute or incident that is not resolved, the following process has been put in place for Dispute Resolution. At no time should a coach, team volunteer, or spectator approach the referee crew to challenge a call on or off the field. At no time should a coach, team volunteer or spectator enter the field of play unless directed to do so by the referee crew.
Dispute Resolution Procedures
Ejections
1.1. Any player who is ejected from a game by the Referee, whether shown the red card or not, shall, in addition to not participating for the remainder of the game, be minimally suspended automatically for the next game for which that player would be eligible.
1.2. Any coach who is ejected from a game by the Referee shall, in addition to being required to leave the field and being barred from coaching or observing the remainder of the game, be minimally suspended automatically for the next game in which that coach's team is participating in and for all practices of the team occurring prior to that game. If the coach is suspended as a result of ejection in the last game of the season, the suspension shall apply to the coach with respect to the next team to which he or she may be assigned.
1.3. Any spectator who is required to leave the field of play by the Referee shall, in addition to being required to leave the field and being barred from observing the remainder of the game, be minimally suspended automatically for the next day of games. The next day of games means, in the case of a spectator who is a member of a player’s family, a day on which that player is participating in a game. In any other case, it means the next day of regularly scheduled games organized by the region.
1.4. The Regional Commissioner may, upon reviewing the report of the Referee (and any report made by an Assistant Referee) and any regional board member in attendance at the game or any law enforcement report, increase or decrease suspension provided under this paragraph 1 and/or may impose alternative disciplinary measures. The Division Director or Regional Commissioner may act solely on the basis of such reports.
1.5. All suspensions and other discipline imposed under this paragraph shall be communicated promptly to the person involved and to a parent or legal guardian of the person if a minor. Except in the case of an automatic one game suspension imposed on a player or coach, communication shall be in writing and shall indicate briefly the reason for the suspension or discipline and the means by which such suspension or discipline may be reviewed.
1.6. In the case of any game where the Referee is less than 18 years old and a mentor is in attendance (whether acting solely as a mentor or as an Assistant Referee), any reference to the Referee shall also include a reference to the mentor.
Suspension and Removal
2.1. In any case not covered by paragraph 1, the Regional Commissioner (or designee) may suspend or remove a player, coach or Referee, or any other person from participation in the program and may bar a spectator from attendance at practices and games, and may limit participation or make it subject to conditions, including but not limited to probation or attendance at clinics/trainings. The Regional Commissioner or designee may act solely based on a report by a Referee and/or Assistant Referee, a regional board member, a coach, or any other witness deemed credible.
2.2. No discipline under this paragraph 2 shall be imposed without notice to the individual concerned (and a parent or legal guardian of such a person).
Board of Review
3.1. Whenever possible, a Board of Review shall be appointed and constituted for the purpose of reviewing discipline imposed under these procedures as follows:
3.1.1 The Board shall be appointed by the Regional Commissioner or in his or her absence an Assistant Regional Commissioner or the Regional Referee Administrator.
3.1.2 The Board shall be composed of disinterested persons and shall generally consist of the Regional Referee Administrator or his or her assistant and two other Regional Board members. The Regional Commissioner may also appoint any other Executive Member of the American Youth Soccer Organization to serve on the Board. A person shall be treated as disinterested unless he or she is a Division Director in the division in question or imposed the discipline in question, a witness, a coach in the same division, a parent of a player involved in any game in which the person requesting the review was ejected, or a person who has some direct personal interest in the outcome of the Board of Review.
3.1.3. The Regional Commissioner or in his or her absence an Assistant Regional Commissioner or the Regional Referee Administrator may, in his or her discretion and having regard to the seriousness of the allegations, suspend the enforcement of all or any disciplinary action pending the outcome of the Board of Review proceeding. The Regional Commissioner’s refusal to suspend enforcement is not subject to review or appeal.
3.2. The Board shall hear such witnesses and review such written reports as it chooses.
3.3. The Board of Review proceeding shall be conducted fairly but it is not a judicial proceeding. The person requesting the review, the Division Director and, in the case of a minor, that minor’s parent or legal guardian may be present throughout the proceeding so long as they conduct themselves appropriately. The person requesting the review may make statements at the beginning and end of the proceeding but only the Board may ask questions of witnesses; there will be no cross-examination of witnesses. Participation by lawyers is strongly discouraged and a lawyer may make a statement only with permission from the Board.
3.4. Appeals from a Board of Review may be made only to contest significant procedural irregularity or fundamental lack of fairness. A Board of Review shall not be treated as lacking fairness based on an allegation that the procedure set out in paragraph 3.1 is unfair.