Effective March 1, 2025, US Soccer has introduced updates to Policy 531-9 applying to misconduct towards officials from registered participants (players, coaches, registered adults). This policy applies to all Mass Youth Soccer sanctioned play including intown and recreational level play.

Minimum penalties for misconduct towards referees have been increased significantly. Of note to the youth soccer community is a minor multiplier, which triples sanctions for incidents of misconduct towards minor referees.

Policy 531-9 now includes a category of misconduct named Gross Misconduct which includes insulting, belittling, insinuating or taunting behavior which undermines the authority of the referee.

On March 5, 2025, the Mass Youth Soccer Board approved the Spectator Misconduct Towards Referees Policy to extend the same minimum penalties in US Soccer Policy 531-9 to spectators at all Mass Youth Soccer sanctioned events.

Disrespectful behavior towards officials is damaging for all involved in Youth Soccer and Mass Youth Soccer fully supports US Soccer’s efforts to support referees and improve game environments.

The Referee Abuse Prevention (RAP) Policy applies to all coaches/team officials, players, parents, spectators, and other supporters and officials participating in an NYS program or event.

Only players are to speak to the match officials during and after the game.

Exceptions:
Coaches may:
Respond to an Official who has initiated a conversation
Point out emergency or safety issues
Call for substitutions
Ask the Officials to clarify ONLY: type of restart/direction of throw-in/indirect vs. direct free kick
Ask for the time remaining in the half

Absolutely NO DISPUTING CALLS during or after the game, no direct or indirect remarks to the referee to watch certain players or attend to rough play. Failure to follow the instructions of the match official, yelling, criticism, sarcasm, harassment, intimidation, or negative feedback of any kind before, during, or after the game will not be tolerated.

Violators may be cautioned or sent-off in and may be subject to disciplinary action by the RAP Committee. (See the Penalties Matrix, including Key Penalty Factors).

After the Game:

If Spectators have questions regarding particular calls, rules, or a referee, or wish to give feedback regarding a referee, they should contact their BAYS team coach. Coaches can file feedback reports with BAYS or speak with their club officials to get more guidance.

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.

Links
US Soccer Referee Abuse Prevention
BAYS RAP

The safety of NYS players is of paramount importance to NYS coaches and staff. Playing in extreme heat can be dangerous. Our policy is below:

1. Where temperature levels are deemed unsafe for continuation of play, the location director has authority to stop play based on their judgment.

2. If the forecast is for extreme heat, NYS has the right to adjust/cancel programming

3. NYS staff has the right to adjust playing time and will provide shade where available and additional hydration breaks.

4. NYS staff will not physically apply sun block to participants. It is the responsibility of the parent/care give to apply prior to and send sun block with their child.

5. NYS encourage parents and players to make their own judgment on whether it is safe for participation.

6. There is no pre-defined temperature that would result in cancellation, however anything above 95 degrees can be deemed unsafe.

The safety of NYS players is of paramount importance to NYS coaches and staff. The policy on lightning is outlined below but we effectively go by the rule that if there is thunder, or lightning can be seen, all practices and games must stop. Play will not resume until thunder or lightning has not been heard or seen for 30 minutes.

1. When thunder is heard and/or when lightning is seen, the follow procedure should be adhered to:

a. Suspend play and direct participants to go to a shelter, a building normally occupied by the public or if a building is unavailable, participants should go inside vehicle with a solid metal top.

b. Do not permit people to stand under or near a tree.

c. Wait 30 minutes after the last boom is heard or strike is seen before resuming play.

d. In the event play cannot be resumed, emergency contacts will be resumed.

2. In the event that the weather forecasts for thunderstorms or other dangerous weather, NYS hold the right to postpone/cancel any program where the organizers feel starting the session would put the participants at harm

3. The occurrence of thunder and/or lightning is not subject to interpretation or discussion. Thunder is thunder, lightning is lightning.

No Refund Policy
NYS has a no-refund policy for all Vacation Programs. The only exception to this policy is in the event NYS cancels a program or a player is unable to attend due to injury. In these situations, registered families will be offered a credit to their account which can be used for any future NYS program, or entitled to a full refund. Where a player is forced to miss a program due to injury a full refund is subject to supporting evidence from a registered medical practitioner.