Responding to Referee Abuse

RAP Policy Process Summary 

  1. RAP violation report received. Both involved Clubs are notified.
    • If a violation is reported in a BAYS game report, separate emails go out to involved clubs with instructions to collect information within 48 hours and submit to BAYS RAP Committee.
    • If a Mass Youth submission or a Game Feedback report: Involved clubs will receive the RAP notification from the assigned RAP Directors.
  2. Both clubs must respond within the 48 hours with the results of their review and fact finding.
  3. BAYS RAP Review Committee will use the USSF 531-9 Penalties Matrix and Key Penalty Factors to determine a recommended sanction, or in the case of a first offense only, may decide to issue an official warning. 
  4. A separate Disciplinary Sanction Notification will be sent with the details and next steps.
    • The other involved club will receive an incident resolution notification.
  5. BAYS reports the sanction/warning to Mass Youth.
  6. Individual(s) cited for the RAP violation has 48 hours to determine if they want to accept the sanction/warning or request a reconsideration. Substantive, new information must be provided to elect a reconsideration.
  7. If the sanction is accepted, the sanction goes into effect for the stated number of games or time frame.
  8. If a reconsideration is elected, either the BAYS RAP Review Committee or Mass Youth Soccer will conduct the reconsideration, depending on the length of the sanction.
  9. If after a reconsideration the BAYS stated sanction stands, the violator may appeal to Mass Youth Soccer: Click here

Please see below for a more comprehensive explanation of a Club’s responsibility to address/respond to a Referee Abuse Prevention (RAP) Report:

  • Both involved clubs will receive a RAP Violation Notification by email

Step 1: Log into BAYS

  • Read the game report. To find the report, go to: My BAYS->Club President->Game Report Lookup, then enter the game ID# number from the RAP email.

NOTE: Game reports, and the information contained therein, are not to be shared with the team/families and/or spectators from the game. Game reports are solely for internal use and not for external distribution or sharing. 

Step 2: Reply All to the RAP Notification Email

  • Acknowledge receipt of the email saying that you are going to begin your review of the report.

    • The notice will be sent to you AND your club’s BAYS Representative
    • If you are unavailable, then your BAYS Representative should respond 
    • If another board member for your Club assists with RAP investigations, share the name of the person with the group on the email asap.
    • If the Club President or the BAYS representative is cited as a violator in the game report, the individual must recuse themselves from further communication and involvement while the report is being reviewed.
  • Turnaround time is short. Clubs have 48 hours from receiving the initial violation notification to conduct a review and fact finding and then provide the information back to the RAP Committee members assigned to the incident. 

Step 3: Determine Your Club's Action Steps which Vary Depending on Circumstances

  • When a coach/player/spectator from your club has been cited for a RAP violation:

CLUB ACTIONS when a club member is cited for a RAP violation at a HOME game 
  • Confirm the identity, name, and direct email contact information of the alleged violator(s) from your organization
  • Confirm if the alleged violator is a minor or an adult
    • If the alleged individual is a minor, the contact information for a parent or guardian along with the minor’s contact information must be provided
  • Work with your referee assignor to ensure that the referee’s game report is detailed (including exact words or descriptions of actions), objective, and factual
  • Contact your coach(es)
    • Collect their observations and any relevant feedback. 
    • Provide any additional descriptions or information about the incident that could help in the review process.
    • If the reported offender is your club team's spectator(s), work with the club’s team coach(es) to identify the spectator.
  • Share the gathered information by replying ALL to the RAP violation notification within 48 hours of receiving the notice.
  • Review the BAYS RAP Policy

CLUB ACTIONS when a club member is cited for a RAP violation at an AWAY game
  • Confirm the identity, name, and direct email contact information of the alleged violator(s) cited
  • Confirm if the alleged violator is a minor or an adult
    • If the alleged individual is a minor, the contact information for a parent or guardian along with the minor’s contact information must be provided
  • Contact the/your coach(es)
    • Collect their observations and any relevant feedback
    • Provide any additional descriptions or information about the incident that could help in the review process
    • If the reported offender is your club team's spectator(s), work with the club’s team coach(es) to identify the spectator
  • Share the gathered information by replying ALL to the RAP violation notification within 48 hours of receiving the notice.
  • Review the  BAYS RAP Policy

 

As a participant in the game where the RAP violation happened, even if your club is not the cited party, there are still club responsibilities.

When your team participated in a game where a member of the opponent's organization was cited follow the steps below:

HOME Club Actions when member of the AWAY team organization is cited for a RAP Violation
  • Work with your referee assignor to ensure that the referee’s game report is detailed (including exact words or descriptions of actions), objective, and factual
  • Contact your coach(es)
    • Collect their observations and any relevant feedback
    • Provide any additional descriptions or information about the incident that could help in the review process.
  • Share the gathered information by replying ALL to the RAP violation notification within 48 hours of receiving the notice.

AWAY Club actions when member of the HOME team organization is cited for a RAP Violation
  • Contact your coach(es)
    • Collect their observations and any relevant feedback
    • Provide any additional descriptions or information about the incident that could help in the review process.
  • Share the gathered information by replying ALL to the RAP violation notification within 48 hours of receiving the notice.

Sanction/Warning Determination

After evaluating the information provided by both clubs (separate information requests went to each involved club), the BAYS RAP Review Committee will use the USSF 531-9 Penalties Matrix and Key Penalty Factors to determine a recommended sanction, or in the case of a first offense only, may decide to issue an official warning. A separate Disciplinary Sanction Notification will be sent with the details and next steps.

The RAP committee will work with Club Presidents/Assigned Club Representatives to resolve all RAP offenses within one week. 

Reconsideration

  • The sanctioned person may request a reconsideration if they believe that the sanction/warning decision is based on a significant error (e.g. mistaken identity) or the incident summary is demonstrably incorrect (eg. there is video evidence).  
  • The individual cited for the RAP violation must write to the assigned RAP Committee members within 48 hours of receiving the RAP Disciplinary Sanction Notification. 
    • *Requests received after 48 hours will not be considered*
  • A hearing or a review of the record may be requested for a sanction
    • A review of the record is the only reconsideration method available for a warning
  • Substantial, new information, such as video evidence or proof of mistaken identity, must be presented in the reconsideration request for it to be considered.
  • Depending on the length of the sanction, the reconsideration will be handled by BAYS or by Mass Youth Soccer. 

Sanction Enforcement

Club Presidents are required to enforce the RAP sanctions. Clubs are allowed to increase the penalty within their club as they see fit. Increased penalties by Club Presidents must be reported to the BAYS RAP committee.

  • If the alleged offense falls in the Red Zones of the 531-9 Penalty Matrix (eg. Threats/Derogatory Language, Offensive/Discriminatory Language or Acts, or Violent Contact) or the Police, DCF, Safe Sport, are notified, the violator should be identified and suspended immediately. 
  • For all other alleged gross misconduct violations, the sanctions take effect once the Review process is completed and a Disciplinary Sanction Notification has been issued and the violator has accepted the sanction.

Unidentified Violators

  • If the unidentified violator is a team official, the listed head coach of the team will serve the suspension for the duration of the finalized RAP sanction.

  • If the unidentified violator is a spectator(s), ALL the spectators of the team will serve the suspension, and the violator’s team may not have any spectators on the sidelines or near the playing field for the duration of the stated RAP sanction.
    • These spectators must stay 100 feet away from the playing field or stay in the parking lot for the duration of the game. 

Tracking

  • The RAP Committee reviews and tracks all RAP violations and sanctions.
    • Repeat offenders will be managed by Mass Youth Soccer for additional review and sanctions.
    • Clubs should track all levels and categories of RAPs within their club, including all warnings given. 
  • Club Presidents/Club Directors should reach out to the coach(s) of teams who have had offenses to review what happened and offer more support/education.

Thank you for your time and attention to these important matters. Please reach out to [email protected] with any further questions or concerns.