LUBBOCK SOCCER ASSOCIATION

BY-LAWS

and

GENERAL RULES

September, 1987

REVISED: August, 2006

LUBBOCK SOCCER ASSOCIATION

BY-LAWS and GENERAL RULES  

Chapter 5: By-Laws of the Lubbock Soccer Association

Lubbock Soccer Association

General Rules

5. Chapter 5: Discipline, Protests, Grievances and Appeals

The Discipline and Appeals Committee of the Lubbock Soccer Association is the judicial branch of the Association. Appeals about actions and/or decisions of Association officers, coaches, and referees will be filed with the Chairman of the Appeals and Discipline Committee unless an alternate review process is specified in some part of the By-Laws or the Rules & Regulations of the Lubbock Soccer Association. Protests and grievances will also be filed with the Chairman. The referees of Lubbock Soccer Association sanctioned games will file a North Texas State Soccer Association Referee’s Report of Misconduct with the Chairman for ALL incidents in which the referee issues a CAUTION, SEND OFF, or suspends a game or alleges misconduct by any person (this includes cases of alleged referee abuse - the referee must file a copy of the Report with the Chairman even though the incident will be adjudicated by the North Texas State Soccer Association).

    NOTE: All comments in this chapter regarding the actions of the North Texas State
               Soccer Association, its officers, and its committees are explanatory in nature and
               do not bind the State Association in any way. The actions of the State Association,
               its officers and committees are governed by the North Texas State Soccer
               Association Administrative Handbook. The explanations included herein are
               intended to inform the members of the Lubbock Soccer Association of their rights
               and obligations due to the Lubbock Soccer Association’s membership in the North
               Texas State Soccer Association. In case of conflicts between this chapter and the
               North Texas State Soccer Association Administrative Handbook, the NTSSA
               Handbook will be the definitive document.

    5.2. MISCONDUCT OF PLAYERS/COACHES/ASSISTANT COACHES

            5.2.1. If the Chairman of the Lubbock Soccer Association Discipline and Appeals
                     Committee becomes aware of a pattern of misbehavior by a coach, the coach
                     may be  summoned before the Discipline and Appeals Committee for judgment
                     on fitness to continue coaching youth soccer. A pattern of misbehavior may
                     consist of written complaints must be made on separate occasions (games,
                     practices, etc.) during the season and may include written complaints from
                     other coaches, or from any Association voting member which are received by
                     the League/Conference Commissioner and misconduct reports by the
                     Referees.  A pattern of misbehavior may consist of as few as one instance of
                     serious misconduct or several instances of "minor" misbehavior which,
                     taken together, raises a question of the coach's suitability to coach youth
                     soccer.

            5.2.2. The Lubbock Soccer Association will operate and keep records on a
                     “CUMULATIVE CARD SYSTEM" for all players/coaches/assistant coaches.
                     Appeals of cards are not allowed except when the referee admits he made an
                     error in the issuance of the card.  Cards issued in league play are cumulative
                     during the entire soccer year. When a player transfers to another team his or
                     her accumulated league play cards count against the cumulative card totals for
                     both his or her old and new teams. Player suspensions mentioned in this
                     section, including automatic suspensions “from all NTSSA sanctioned
                     activities,” include all games (including indoor), organized scrimmages, friendly
                     games, and the like, but do not include team practices.

                     A "CUMULATIVE CARD SYSTEM" in league play will be operated as follows:

                            a. Yellow Cards - One game automatic suspension for the game following
                                                      an individual’s third league play yellow card. Two game
                                                      automatic suspension for the game following such
                                                      individual’s fifth league play yellow card. One game
                                                      automatic suspension for the game following such
                                                      individual’s sixth league play yellow card.

                            NOTE: A player/coach/assistant coach receiving a second yellow card in
                                       a single game is suspended for the balance of that game, and
                                       those two yellow cards are then added to such individual’s
                                       previous total of league play yellow cards to determine whether
                                       additional game suspensions, if any, are required. Red cards
                                       issued solely as a result of a second yellow in a single game will
                                       not be added to such individual’s league play red card total.

                            b. Red Cards - One game automatic suspension for the game following an
                                                  individual’s first league play red card. Automatic
                                                  suspension, pending a hearing, from all NTSSA-sanctioned
                                                  activities following such individual’s second league play red
                                                  card. Red cards issued solely as a result of a second
                                                  yellow card in a single game will not be added to such
                                                  individual’s league play red card total.

                             NOTE: In cases where, during a single game, an individual receives a
                                        yellow card followed by a “straight red card” (as opposed to a red
                                        card issued solely as a result of a second yellow) both cards will
                                        be added to such individual’s respective total of league play red
                                        and yellow cards and punished accordingly.  If the Appeals &
                                        Discipline Committee determines that a red card was issued
                                        for an infraction that was not an "expulsion" offense in accordance
                                        with the FIFA Laws of the Game, the Appeals & Discipline
                                        Committee may reduce the red card to a yellow card and assess
                                        sanctions accordingly. The Committee or the Lubbock Soccer
                                        Association may not, however, do away with the card altogether.
                                        A full report of this action must be sent to NTSSA.

                              c. Seventh Card - Any individual obtaining a seventh card in league play
                                                        shall be immediately suspended pending a hearing
                                                        with NTSSA A&D Committee (meaning any
                                                        combination of yellow and red cards totaling seven).

            5.2.3. These are minimum disciplinary punishments to be taken by the Discipline and
                     Appeals Committee. Nothing herein prevents the Committee, or the Board of
                     Directors as an appellate body, from enacting more severe sanctions. Each
                     case should be judged on its own set of circumstances and degree of
                     misconduct or violence, the latter of which must be dealt with swiftly and
                     severely.

            5.2.4. Game suspensions for Yellow and Red cards (as set forth above) are to be
                     served by the player/coach/assistant coach at the next scheduled game
                     (including league, playoff, championship, cup, and local or state tournament
                     games) that such individual’s team is involved in. A suspension imposed by
                     these rules shall be recognized by all affiliated organizations after proper
                     notification. The lack of a hearing or referee report on the offense shall not
                     affect such individual’s suspension.

                     Exceptions For misconduct cards issued during State Cup, Regional, or
                     National competitions (US Youth Soccer), the misconduct will be handled
                     within that competition.|

            5.2.5. All game suspensions must be reported immediately to the State A & D
                     Committee. The LSA Discipline and Appeals Committee will forward a copy of
                     any referee's Misconduct Report(s) which underlie the suspension. The State
                     A & D Committee will determine the extent of punishment, if any, in addition to
                     that prescribed by the LSA Discipline and Appeals Committee taking into
                     consideration the severity of the misconduct.

            5.2.6. Any misconduct by a coach justifying a report by a referee or any other person
                     shall be directed to the North Texas State Soccer Association Appeals and
                     Disciplinary Committee as well as the Lubbock Soccer Association Discipline
                     and Appeals Committee. The LSA Committee shall promptly (within five days
                     after receipt of the report) rule on the report and send its decision to the State
                     A & D Committee. The State Committee will determine the extent of the
                     punishment, if any, in addition to that taken by the Lubbock Soccer
                     Association.

                         5.2.6.1. The North Texas State Soccer Association Appeals and
                                     Disciplinary Committee will make its decision entirely upon the
                                     written reports before it, including that of the affected coach should
                                     he submit a report. Hearings will not be held by the State
                                     Committee unless it, of its own volition, chooses to call one.

                         5.2.6.2. A coach whose conduct is not considered to be exemplary to his
                                     players, parents, and spectators will be firmly dealt with by the LSA
                                     Discipline and Appeals Committee and the State Appeals and
                                     Disciplinary Committee.

            5.2.7. The Lubbock Soccer Association Discipline and Appeals Committee is
                     directed to extend severe punishment to those players, coaches, and assistant
                     coaches guilty of extreme violent conduct while participating in a match and for
                     violence toward any person or property after being sent off, while on the
                     touch-line, or approaching or leaving the game site.