It is expected that every person responsible for a team (team official/coach) and each and every spectator and player will support the match officials, who include all registered referees, assistant referees, fourth officials, referee mentors, or other individuals appointed to assist in the refereeing of the game.

This support is essential to the proper play of the game and to the development of our players and referees. Failure to support the match officials, especially by club officials/coaches, undermines the authority of the referee crew, sets a bad example, especially for the players, and can rapidly escalate into a hostile, negative game environment which is entirely inconsistent with the sportsmanship goals BAYS is trying to promote. 

Overall responsibility for the actions of coaches, players, and spectators resides with the Member Organization. It is the club’s responsibility to educate, monitor, and enforce sanctions on any team officials or any of its teams’ spectators whose conduct is cited by a referee as being in violation.  

Therefore, the basic rule is that team officials/coaches and spectators will not address members of the referee crew at all during or after the play of the game. All interactions before the game, and any permissible interactions during the game, must be positive, respectful, and responsive to the directives or questions posed by the referee crew.

Club officials/coaches are responsible for the behavior of their team’s players and spectators.
Serious threats or acts of physical harm constitute referee abuse or assault and should result in immediate game termination. 

BAYS recommends that the center referee deal with infractions of this rule in the following manner with escalation in steps as needed. Referees are not required to provide warnings prior to issuing cautions or sending-off or writing up a Zero Tolerance violation in the game report.

1. Team Officials/Coaches on the team sideline


During the play of the game, team officials/coaches should not say anything to the referee, nor should they do anything that in any way conveys any criticism of the referee. Exceptions to this are when the person is responding to a communication initiated by the referee, making a substitution, or pointing out an emergency safety issue. Coaches may ask questions before the start of the game. Coaches may not approach the referee at half time or at the end, or after, the game. 

Coaches who have concerns about the officiating or feel that the match officials need some additional training or education may express their concerns only by filing a BAYS Game Feedback Report that will be routed directly to the home Referee Assignor as well as to BAYS officials. They may not express those concerns directly to any member of the referee crew, even if they feel that they are only being helpful.

The referee should use their knowledge of the rules of the game relating to warnings, cautions, and sending-offs to handle the actions of the club officials/coaches on the sideline. 

1. The referee may issue a verbal warning to the violating coach(es).
2. The referee may issue a caution by showing a yellow card, followed by a dismissal for continued violations.
3. The referee may dismiss a coach for a second caution or a straight send-off red card,
4. The referee may terminate the game if the dismissed team official does not leave the field or if the team is left without a responsible, credentialed adult on the sidelines.

Noting any zero tolerance violation per the BAYS guidelines in the game report is necessary.

2. Spectators

Before, during, or after the game, spectators should not say anything to the referee, nor should they do anything that in any way conveys any criticism of the referee. Exceptions to this are when the spectator is responding to a communication initiated by the referee or pointing out an emergency safety issue. 

1. As to the first infraction, the referee should stop the game and inform both teams’ coaches that a spectator(s) is violating the ZT policy. The referee should direct the coach of the team with the violating spectator(s) to address their spectator(s)and remind them of the ZT policy.
2. As to the second infraction, the referee should stop the game and direct the responsible team’s coach to warn the spectator(s) that the next infraction will result in the spectator(s) being asked to leave the field; otherwise, the referee will terminate the game and file a report with the club and BAYS.
3. As to the third infraction, the referee should instruct the responsible team’s coach to direct the spectator(s)to leave the field. If the spectator(s) does not leave, the referee should terminate the game and file a report.

The referee may need the assistance of the coaches from both teams if the spectator is not affiliated with either team.