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.

    5.4. MISCONDUCT AND PUNISHMENT OF TEAMS

                5.4.1. When, during the current soccer year, the players/coaches/assistant
                         coaches of a given team have accumulated a total of seven (7) send-offs in
                         league play (including red cards issued as a result of an individual receiving
                         two yellow cards in a single game) or any combination of cards totaling 25
                         the LSA Discipline and Appeals Committee shall notify the team and the
                         State A & D Committee. The team will be fined $100.00 payable to NTSSA
                         within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of the seventh (7th) send-off or any
                         combination of cards totaling 25. The coach and the players of said team
                         may also be required notified to appear before the committee to explain the
                         team's continued misconduct. Failure of the LSA Discipline and Appeals
                         Committee to notify the State A&D Committee within fourteen (14) calendar
                         days of a team’s seventh (7th) send-off or any combination of cards totaling
                         25 will result in a fine of $ 100.00 per week for each week such notice is
                         late. Red cards or send-offs assessed against that team’s spectators or
                         against that team during tournament play will be reviewed to ascertain team
                         misconduct tendencies.

                5.4.2. When the players/coaches/assistant coaches of a given team have
                         accumulated a total of four (4) send-offs in a tournament (including red cards
                         issued as a result of an individual receiving two yellow cards in a single
                         game) Tournament Officials shall notify the team and the State A & D
                         Committee. The team will be fined $100.00 payable to NTSSA within thirty
                         (30) days of receiving notice of the fourth (4th) send-off. The coach and the
                         players of said team may also be required to appear before the committee to
                         explain the team's continued misconduct. Failure of Tournament Officials to
                         notify the State A&D Committee within fourteen (14) calendar days of a
                         team’s fourth (4th) will result in a fine of $100.00 per week for each week
                         such notice is late. Red Cards or send-offs assessed against that team’s
                         spectators or against that team during league play will be reviewed to
                         ascertain team misconduct tendencies.

                5.4.3. The Lubbock Soccer Association will not hesitate to deny teams, coaches,
                         managers, team representatives, or players within its jurisdiction the
                         privilege of further participation in all or selected soccer activities within its
                         jurisdiction for repeated offenses and for serious offenses considered to bring
                         the game into disrepute. A probation period and/or other sanctions may be
                         rendered to teams, coaches, managers, team representatives, or players for
                         violations of the Association’s rules.

                5.4.4. The Lubbock Soccer Association does hold the team and its coach(es)
                         jointly responsible for the conduct of the players, parents, and spectators.

                5.4.5. A coach whose conduct is not considered to be exemplary to his or her
                         players, parents and spectators will be firmly dealt with by the Appeals and
                         Discipline committees of both the Lubbock Soccer Association and the
                         North Texas State Soccer Association.