Referee Abuse/Mistreatment Reporting Guidelines

It is expected that every coach, team official, spectator, and player will support the match officials but sometimes that may not happen, and these incidents need to be reported and addressed.

The referee has the authority to take disciplinary action from the moment they arrive at the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field of play/parking area after the match ends.

In addition to documenting the RAP violation in the official BAYS game report, referees are encouraged to discuss RAP violations with their Referee Assignor.

Center Referee reports should be detailed (including exact words or descriptions of actions), objective, and factual.

Assistant referees are encouraged to add details in the General Comments section of their reports.

The CR will need to enter information for each RAP violation. There is the capability to add additional RAP violations if needed.

Name (if known)
Jersey # for a player - NA for coaches and spectators
Description of person who violated the RAP Policy to help confirm identity
Time in the game when the incident occurred

And then choose the category that fits what happened:

Non-Physical/Verbal Misconduct or Abuse

Verbal Taunting: Words or gestures that are insulting, belittling, insinuating, taunting, or undermine referee authority
Harassment/Intimidation: Language or body language intended to make referee feel unsafe including harassment, intimidation, retaliation, abusive, or threatening (non-physical) language
Threats/Derogatory Language: Aggressive, Attacking, Derogatory, Cyberbullying, Doxing or Threatening (Physical / Violence) Language
Offensive/Discriminatory: Discriminatory or derogatory words or actions toward referee based on race, skin color, ethnicity, nationality, social origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language, or religion.

Physical Misconduct or Abuse

Minor or Slight Touching: Minor or Slight Deliberate Touching
Intentional Confrontation: Pushing, Grabbing, Pulling, Squeezing, Pinching, Lightly Slapping, Use of Object in Non-Striking Manner, or Physical Property Damage
Violent Contact: Hitting, Punching, Elbowing, Kicking, Biting, Spiting, Choking, Tackling, Throwing or Use of Object or Any Part of Body (Forearm, Knee, Head) in a Striking Manner

There is also a text box for the CR to describe the misconduct/abuse in detail including the exact words spoken or actions seen.

The BAYS Referee Abuse Prevention Committee will be notified when a RAP violation is submitted and they will work with the clubs and Mass Youth Soccer, as needed, to resolve the issue.

Incidents of referee abuse or referee assault will be reported by the League to Mass Youth Soccer and MSRC, as needed.