Gloucester Soccer Association (GSA) Discipline Procedures
As at July 3, 2006
Introduction
GSA Discipline Procedures are developed and administered in the context of the Policies and Procedures for discipline management under the jurisdiction of The Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) and its affiliated organizations, including the Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association (EODSA) and the Gloucester Soccer Association (GSA). Where there is a conflict between the published penalties enumerated in this document and that of one of the governing organizations, then the correct version will be considered that of the higher body. This document in no way attempts to duplicate all OSA discipline management policies and procedures but serves as a summary of key information and rules.
Discipline action may be taken against any registrant of GSA (this includes parents of registered players), including any person acting as a Coach, Administrator or Game Official. That being said, misconduct by a game official may only be handled by the EODSA. In fact, these procedures are restricted to those types of misconducts, which may be dealt with by GSA.
These discipline procedures apply to the outdoor season Gloucester Dragons Recreational Soccer House League, the GSA Men’s Recreational House (Blackburn Arms) League, and the indoor season Gloucester Hornets Indoor Soccer League.
Discipline Systems
There are two discipline systems in place:
Discipline by Review (DBR) – no disciplinary hearing unless the accused requests a hearing or for the following types of misconducts: 1.3; 1.5; 1.6.
Discipline by Hearing (DBH) – for all other types of misconducts with the exception of the following whereby either system may be used: 1.13; 1.15; 1.17; 1.18; 1.19; 1.20; 1.21; 2.31; 2.33; 3.31; 3.32; 3.33.
If you receive a Red Card the following will apply
Requesting a Discipline Hearing
If you are dismissed from a game within the League you have 2 days to contact the league to determine the reason for the dismissal and to submit a letter requesting a hearing. Note that the letter must be hand delivered or sent by Registered mail and must be accompanied by the $50.00 request for hearing fee. If the League indicates that the dismissal was sent to the District the same rules apply you have 2 days to request a hearing in the same manner indicated above accompanied by the $50.00 Request for hearing fee.
For Gloucester Hornets Indoor Soccer League
Discipline Committee
1660 Bearbrook Road, Gloucester, Ontario K1B 1C4
Tel: (613) 599-1660 Email: GHISL@tmsiottawa.com
Decisions by Review
If you refer to the Discipline Chart above you will see that Decisions by Review (DBR only) occur for most of the Misconducts listed on this chart. If the Misconduct you have committed appears as being done by Review or has (DBH is requested) beside it then you have the right to Request a Hearing please see above section on Requesting a Discipline Hearing.
If you choose to accept the penalty as indicated on the Discipline Chart then you are accepting the suspension or fine and your case will go to Decision by Review.
A three-person panel that will review the case and decide if the individual is guilty or not guilty makes decisions by Review. The Panel will determine in the case of a suspension, which specific games the respective player will miss. The Chairperson of the panel will be responsible for informing the accused of the decision in writing within two days of the review.
Please note that the same rules apply for Decisions by Review done at the District Level.
Note that you are not suspended unless the League or the District notifies you that you are suspended.
Filing a Complaint
If you have a complaint, which you would like to file against a player, coach, referee, please forward the complaint to GSA so that they are aware that you are filing a complaint. The league will then review the complaint and determine if it is within their ability to take action. GSA may only take action if the complaint falls within the Discipline listed on the chart on page 1. GSA must forward all referee complaints to the District. Please note that when filing a complaint if the League or District determines that a hearing is warranted then the author of the complaint will be required to attend the hearing. Should the author of the report refuse to attend a Discipline Hearing then the Hearing cannot take place.
Schedule of Discipline Committees
GSA schedule for discipline committees is established as occurring every Friday during the soccer season as required. However Decisions by Review may be convened using either virtual or in-person sessions depending on the complexity of the situation, and will be held within three days of receiving final reports from either the Head Referee or the person identified as responsible for carrying out any respective investigation.
Discipline Committee Membership
The GSA President is the Chair of the Discipline committee unless delegated by that person to another member of a GSA executive committee. Two other members shall be appointed and shall also participate on the committee. The Head Referee or their designate shall serve as an Advisor to the Committee where required.
Suspensions
If you know that you are going to be suspended either by the District or GSA, you must wait until you are notified of the dates and timelines of your suspension before serving it. If you are going to be suspended for three games you must wait until the league or the District notifies you of the games, which you are going to be suspended from. You should not automatically assume that you are to sit out the next game, as it will not count towards your suspension unless you have been notified it is one of the games for which you are suspended.
Please note that the only exception to being automatically suspended is Game Official Assault. If you have committed Game official Assault you are automatically suspended from all soccer related activity and you would be contacted by your Club and the District notifying you of such. Also, the League would impose a $200.00 fine on the guilty player.
Please note that if you are suspended from all soccer related activity you cannot participate in any soccer activities under the realm of the OSA. This includes administering, practicing, coaching, playing, officiating, or any other activity related to soccer under the OSA guidelines.
Please note that when the District suspends you under the Decision by Review system you are charged an administrative fee of $25.00 this must be paid in order to return to play after a suspension. Only once this has happened will the District Administrator return the player’s card.
