Approved July 23, 2002

 

Discipline: The team coach assumes responsibility regarding team leadership and maintenance of order and discipline. FCSC expects each of its coaches to set a positive example for their players in promoting good sportsmanship and self-control. Accordingly, coaches are expected to be present at every game with their teams or to ensure that responsible adult leadership is present for the team in their absence. Disciplinary infractions, and particularly a history of infractions by one team, can be grounds for coach and/or player dismissal from the club. Such decisions will not be made lightly or hastily, and will only be made after a careful review of the facts by the Disciplinary Committee and the Board of Directors.

 

Sideline Control: The coach is responsible for the behavior of his/her sidelines. After being verbally warned or cautioned (yellow card) by the referee for unsportsmanlike behavior from his/her sidelines, the coach shall be red carded if the situation persists. The referee also has the power to warn, caution and/or eject any spectator at any time at the referee’s discretion.

 

1. Yellow Card – A player receiving a yellow card is required to leave the field of play,    and shall not be present at the field during the next game the team plays. The team is allowed to substitute for a yellow-carded player at the same time a yellow-carded player leaves the field. Two yellow cards to the same person during a game constitute a red card.

 

2. Red Card Suspensions - A red-carded player must leave the field without substitution. As discussed in paragraph 3 below, a disciplinary hearing may be held by the Disciplinary Committee, which may result in additional penalties.

 

3. Reporting Red Cards – All red cards shall be reported by the referee to the Referee Coordinator. The Referee Coordinator shall notify the applicable Age Group Commissioner and the Chair of the Disciplinary Committee of any red card. A majority of the Referee Coordinator, Age Group Commissioner and Chair of the Disciplinary Committee shall decide whether to refer the person who received the red card to the entire Disciplinary Committee for a disciplinary hearing and possible additional penalties.

 

 

 

 

Jurisdiction of the Committee: 

The Committee has authority to examine the merits of complaints related to:

1.         Red cards referred to the Committee pursuant to the Discipline and Misconduct Policy;

2.         Alleged violations of the FCSC Code of Conduct

3.         Matters referred to the Committee by the FCSC Board of Directors (the “Board”).

 

The Board shall appoint five (5) members to the Committee, and may remove any member of the Committee. 

Three of the five members of the Committee shall be required to be present for any hearing.  

Members of the Committee must excuse themselves from participating in a case because of conflict of interest.

 

Complaint Filing Requirements: 

Before the Committee accepts a complaint, three requirements must be met:

1.         The complaint must be in writing, with the name, address and phone number of the complaining party. In the case of Red Card referrals, the Referee Coordinator shall be the complaining party.

2.         The Committee must have jurisdiction over the complaint.

3.         Both parties must have standing before the Committee.

4.         The complaint must be filed with the Committee or the Board within thirty (30) days of the incident, unless extenuating circumstances prevail.

 

Parties to a dispute are notified in writing of the Committee’s intent to hold a hearing on a date that shall be no earlier than ten (10) days from the date of the notice. The written notice shall include a copy of the written complaint, and shall specify the date, time and location of the hearing, and the possible penalties if the allegations are upheld. Parties to the dispute are invited to solicit and submit written statements from other knowledgeable individuals who might support either party, and are advised of the limit of witnesses who may present oral statements on behalf of each party.

 

The Committee convenes in person to conduct hearings of complaints. The Committee provides opportunities for aggrieved parties to be heard according to procedures set forth herein. 

Committee members read written materials and question both parties and witnesses during the proceedings. The aggrieved parties (and a minor party’s parents or legal guardian) may be present during the hearing, but only one witness will be allowed in the hearing room at a time if any party requests that witnesses wait outside the hearing room until the witness has completed his or her testimony.

The Committee may limit the number of witnesses making oral presentations to five (5) persons for each party, but will accept all written statements. All testimony must be limited to the principal parties, eyewitnesses, and experts on the subject. Witnesses’ statements attesting to the character of one of the parties is discouraged unless that testimony adds to the substance of the evidence.

 

All statements of fact, argument and assertion by any party are directed to the Committee, not to the opposing party. The Committee conducts questioning of a party or witness. Parties may suggest questions to the Committee, but are not allowed to cross-examine each other. 

 

 

·           Call to order and introductions (time as needed)

·           Committee members read additional materials presented (time as needed)

·           Committee Chairman states nature of the case being considered (time as needed)

·           Complaining party presents the complaint (up to 5 minutes)

·           Responding party responds with opposing position or view (up to 5 minutes)

·           Committee members ask questions of both parties (time as needed)

·           Witnesses for complaining party present oral information and answer questions of Committee members (up to 3 minutes each for presentation and time as needed for questions)

·           Witnesses for responding party present oral information and answers questions of Committee members (up to 3 minutes each for presentation and time as needed for questions)

·           Complaining party makes a closing statement (up to 5 minutes)

·           Responding party makes a closing statement (up to 5 minutes)

·           Committee Chairman closes the open proceedings

·           Parties advised that decision will be made in a closed meeting immediately following the open hearing, that a written decision will be sent to the parties and the Board as soon as possible but usually within three (3) days from the hearing, and that an adverse decision may be appealed by the responding party.

 

A decision by the Committee against the Complaining party is final, but may be appealed to the VYSA by the Complaining party in accordance with the procedures established by the VYSA. Any adverse decision by the Committee against the responding party, including but not limited to, a letter of reprimand, multiple suspensions for red card, and full suspension from playing or coaching with FCSC, must first be appealed to the Board as a condition to any appeal to the VYSA. An appeal must be sent to the Board, by certified mail, return receipt requested, within five (5) business days from receipt of the adverse decision, and must be in writing stating the basis for the appeal. If the responding party does not appeal within five (5) business days as provided above, the Committee’s decision shall be final and binding. 

 

The Board’s review of facts is confined to the facts presented in the record of the earlier decision. An appeal to the Board shall not include any new evidence not previously presented to the Committee. The Board does not accept new factual submissions and may overturn a prior factual finding only if it concludes that the finding is not supported by substantial evidence. The Board does not review cases to determine how Board members might have voted on evidence if they had been members of the Committee, nor does it make an attempt to balance evidence or to re-try a case. The Board does not substitute its judgment for that of the Committee with respect to the weight and credibility of evidence as assigned by the Committee during the hearing.

           

On appeal, the Board reviews a case based only on documents relied upon by the Committee, and the Committee’s decision. Additional written arguments are permissible about the facts and law in the record from the Committee, but no new evidence is permitted. The Board seeks to determine if:

 

1.         There is some substantial evidence to support the Committee’s decision;

2.         The Committee’s decision was made in accordance with the established procedures intended to afford all parties due process;

3.         The Committee’s decision correctly interprets or applies the applicable code, regulations, and laws.

4.         The original decision or punishment is arbitrary or capricious.

 

On appeal, the Board may either affirm the adverse decision or reverse the adverse decision, or remand the case to the Committee for further proceedings. The Board’s decision shall be subject to appeal in accordance with the procedures of VYSA.