A. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.The ODSL is based on the principle of providing the youth of the Northern Piedmont area of Virginia with the opportunity to acquire and develop soccer skills through a higher level of competition. These skills, as well as the individual growth of the players, cannot be nurtured in an environment of confrontation, poor sportsmanship, and verbal and physical abuse among spectators, game participants and game officials. Players, coaches and spectators are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship. The ODSL Board of Directors reserves the right to take whatever action(s) that it deems necessary against any team, or individual associated with a team, who violates the ODSL Code of Conduct.
B. DISCIPLINE.
In order to promote better understanding of the importance of sportsmanship and proper conduct within the Laws of the Game, the ODSL maintains the following Discipline System of serious and/or persistent misconduct:
1. POINT SYSTEM.
a. One (1) penalty point will be imposed for each caution or yellow card issued and two (2) penalty points for each ejection or red card issued. These penalty points apply to both coaches and players. Penalty points will be accumulated in all ODSL games.
b. When an individual (coach or player) accumulates six (6) penalty points, he/she will be notified by the administrator, though the Administrator, that he/she is indefinitely suspended from further participation in games.
c. A team accumulating 10 or more team penalty points during a season is subject to having its Head Coach suspended based upon investigation by the Board.
d. The administrator will notify the Chairman of the Conduct Committee of any suspension due to the accumulation of penalty points. A player or coach who wishes to be reinstated after being suspended must submit a letter to the Chairman of the Conduct Committee. The letter should explain why the individual accumulated sufficient points to be suspended and what the individual plans to do to keep from getting further points. The letter must be accompanied by a written endorsement from the player’s coach, or the Member Representative if the individual seeking reinstatement is a coach.
2. EJECTIONS (RED CARDS)
a. Players. A player receiving a red-card ejection is automatically suspended from play in the next ODSL league game. His/her coach must withhold him from the next game. Any violation of this requirement will be forwarded to the Conduct Committee for additional action. The team must present a sitout card to the referee of their next ODSL match for his/her signature confirming that the player sat out that match. The card must be mailed immediately following the match in which the player served the suspension. Failure to abide by a mandated sit-out may result in forfeiture of a match and additional sitouts.
b. Coaches or Managers. A coach or manager who receives an ejection during ODSL league play must immediately follow the explicit instructions of the referee at the time of the ejection and is suspended from participation in the next ODSL game with his/her team. The coach or manager must remove themselves to a location out of sight of the field. This coach or manager may not return to the field following the match for any reason. When a coach is suspended, he/she may practice with his/her team however he/she is not allowed to be present at the field where the team is playing its next ODSL match. The team must present a sit-out card to the referee of their next ODSL match for his/her signature confirming that the player sat out that match. The card must be mailed by the team immediately following the match in which the coach served the suspension. Failure to abide by any condition of this rule may result in forfeiture of the match and additional sanctions against the team official. Failure to abide by a mandated sit-out may result in forfeiture of a match and additional sitouts.
c . Spectators. A spectator who is banished from the field by a referee must immediately follow the explicit instructions of the referee at the time of the ejection. The spectator must remove themselves to a location out of sight of the field. The spectator may not return to the field for any reason. Coaches can be held responsible for misbehavior on the part of a spectator associated with their team and may be ejected by a referee if the spectator is uncooperative.
3. SUSPENSIONS.
a. The administrator will keep track of the accumulation of penalty points and notify the Chairman of the Conduct Committee of all cases when excess points are accumulated.
b. The referee Coordinator will notify the Chairman of the Conduct Committee of all cases in which a red card is issued.
c. Suspension as a result of the accumulation of penalty points is separate and in addition to suspension resulting from being ejected from a game. The automatic one game suspension resulting from an ejection is also separate and in addition to any other action the Conduct Committee may take.
d. Points for ejections and cautions received during the last game of the season, carry over to the individual’s record of accumulated points for the next season. Players and coaches ejected during the last game of the season must sit out the first game of the next ODSL season in which they participate.
e. Participation in any game by an individual who has been suspended or the failure to sit out the next ODSL game after receiving a red card will be considered as a separate offense and will be subject to further action by the Conduct Committee.
