The D&A Staff will receive an electronic copy of all misconduct via the Official Report (Match Report/Referee Supplemental Form) in the State Office as they are entered online by the Referees.

Staff will make a determination of sanctions based on the information contained in the Official Report. In some cases, additional information is gathered to determine a fair sanction.

After, the D&A Administrator will send the suspension notice to the Player, Coach, President, and D&A Liaison.

There are additional documents detailing this process in the D&A Education section.

Thankfully, this does not happen very often, but sometimes a mis-typed report, keyboard error, etc., may cause it to show up incorrectly. It is important that everyone remain calm!

This document explains the process for correcting this issue, should it arise.

NOTE: This pertains to reporting the wrong player ejected. For example, if #2 was ejected, but the referee noted #22 on the Match Report, we have a procedure to address this.

However, if #22 commits an incident on the field and the Referee ejects #2, this will be problematic as it’s the opinion of the Referee at that time that #2 be ejected. Once play has been restarted, that ejection will stand. (The Referee has the option of reversing their decision before allowing play to restart.)

Recruiting is any enticement to have a registered player with one association move to a different association, outside the open recruiting period.

Whether it is an Association Officer, Coach, Parent, or Player — by word, email, or written document — on the field, at home watching TV with friends, or at the beach — the enticement to have a player from one association move to another association is forbidden.

The “Open Recruiting Period” is:

• Girls 15U-19U: January 1st – July 31st
• Boys 15U-19U: The Monday after State Cup Finals – July 31st
• Boys and Girls 14U and younger: There is NO open recruiting

There are documents linked in the D&A Education section giving detailed information on recruiting.

An ejection is “in the opinion of the referee” that the individual was involved in misconduct that warranted the ejection. It is not a protestable act.

However, your Coach and/or Director of Coaching can be proactive. Send an email to the Discipline and Appeals Administrator — Colin Ashley — immediately after your match with details of the ejection and any statements from individuals who witnessed the ejection and the act of misconduct.

That information could play a part in the sanctioning decision by the D&A Chairman.

NCYSA/NCSRA Minor Wrist Band Initiative

Adult misconduct towards sports officials is becoming more prevalent in society. To draw attention to and help put a stop to this behavior, North Carolina Youth Soccer (NCYSA) and the North Carolina Soccer Referees Association (NCSRA) have instituted the Yellow Wrist Band Initiative for Minor Referees.

For our young, inexperienced referees to become more experienced and better referees, they must be able to officiate games without intimidation, fear, and/or abuse.

A referee wearing the Yellow Wrist Band is a minor. We expect adults to show the encouragement and respect the minor deserves as the minor learns their craft.

Adults that are written up for misconduct — whether an official is wearing the Yellow Wrist Band or not — will be given more severe sanctions than in the past!

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