'Unknown' by Unknown - Page 19 of 32

June 2006

PAGE 19

Advice from Miss Manners:

USSF Guidelines for Touchline Etiquette

OFFICIAL MEMO

By Roberto Alvarez

the technical area who is not a rostered

Making unwanted contact with oppo-

State Youth Referee Administrator

he "technical area" is provided for in

player or substitute (or substituted player) is

nents

International Board Decision 8 of Law 1

a team official.

Striking advertising boards

e have all seen it, right? A coach,

(The Field of Play) and, in more detail, in the

Persistently and flagrantly protesting

Substitutes

parent, or player who loses self-

section labeled "The Technical Area" in the

decisions by an official

Law 3 provides that "all substitutes

control and goes ballistic on the touch

Law book. Additionally, the permissible

Interfering with the performance of

are subject to the authority and jurisdiction

line, hurling abusive language (or worse)

behavior of team officials as regards the

assistant referee or fourth official

of the referee, whether called upon to play

technical area is described in International

at the referee crew. At best, it becomes a

duties

or not". One important practical conse-

Board Decision 2 of Law 3 (The Number of

very awkward situation and the individ-

Refusing to return to the technical

quence of this is that substitutes (and sub-

Players).

area

ual ends up going home early. At worst,

stituted players) may be cautioned or sent

USSF's annual law change memoran-

Entering the field of play without the

he or she causes the match to be aban-

off for misconduct exactly as they would

dum for 2004 noted that "many matches

permission of the referee

doned and EVERYONE goes home early.

be were they players on the field.

are played on fields which have no desig-

Assistant referees and fourth officials

USSF recently issued an official

Examples of behavior that might be con-

nated technical area." This is particularly the

assist the referee in monitoring the behav-

memorandum on the subject, one that

sidered misconduct if committed by a sub-

case in youth and at lower competitive lev-

ior of persons in the technical area and in

defines which behavior is not acceptable

stitute or substituted player would include:

els. USSF advised that, in such cases, the ref-

alerting the referee when such behavior

and what happens when that line is

Dissent

eree could "sketch out an approximation of

exceeds reasonable bounds.

crossed.

Offensive, insulting, or abusive lan-

team technical areas for game control pur-

In dealing with impermissible actions

The most important points that refer-

guage

poses."

(whether misconduct or irresponsible

ees, coaches, and parents should note are:

Entering the field without the permis-

In general, as far as matters which per-

behavior) by persons who are off the field,

Anyone in a team's technical area,

sion of the referee

tain to the responsibilities of the referee,

the referee should use the same criteria

whether they are a player, coach,

Violent conduct

only three types of persons are permitted

and concerns they would apply to similar

Unsporting behavior

team official, or parent, is expected

within the technical area, depending on the

behavior by players on the field. For exam-

Receiving a second yellow card in the

to adhere to these guidelines and

rules of competition:

ple, a substitute might proclaim disagree-

same match

behave in a responsible manner.

Players temporarily off the field with

ment with a decision by the referee. Is it

Team Officials

Where no technical area is marked,

the permission of the referee,

dissent? Detailed guidelines have been

Law 5 (The Referee) provides that

WSYSA defines the technical area as

Substitutes (including substituted play-

developed and published regarding this

team officials must conduct themselves in

the touchline between the penalty

ers), and

matter and should be followed whether

a "responsible manner" (language echoed

Team officials.

areas precisely where everyone

the speaker is a player, substitute, or team

in Law 3, IBD 2, and in the section on the

The category of "team official"

stands while watching most youth

official. Language might be tolerated if

technical area). If they do not, the referee

includes but is not limited to such persons as

uttered in a brief emotional outburst but

matches. So, this memorandum

may "expel them from the field of play and

coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, and

would be unacceptable under other cir-

applies to just about everyone at a

its immediate surrounds." Law 12 (Fouls

other medical support persons, together

cumstances. After all, substitutes and team

match.

and Misconduct) expressly provides that

with any other persons formally associated

officials may become just as caught up in

The standard of behavior for players

only players, substitutes, and substituted

with the team which the rules of competi-

the emotion of the moment as any player

and substitutes conforms to Law 12.

players may be shown a red or yellow card.

tion allow. These rules may or may not spec-

and should be provided comparable lee-

Only players and substitutes can be

What this means in practice is that

ify that team officials must be named (e.g.,

way.

cautioned or sent off for miscon-

team officials cannot commit misconduct

included on a team roster), but the Laws of

Although team officials may not be

duct. This means that only players or

within the meaning of Law 12. All actions

the Game require that the team roster list

cautioned and shown the yellow card, they

substitutes can be shown a yellow or

by team officials which result in expulsion

and identify the players and substitutes.

may be warned that their behavior is at risk

red card as a result of their touchline

from the field must be identified as "irre-

Rules of competition may also mandate

of being considered irresponsible. If the

behavior.

sponsible behavior" in the match report.

standards of dress for team officials

behavior continues, they may be expelled

Coaches, team officials, and parents

The match report, of course, must provide

In short, in match conditions where

from the field but not shown the red

are not subject to the standards

a specific description of the behavior. The

spectators are not allowed near the immedi-

card. s

imposed in Law 12 and therefore

following are examples of behavior that

ate area of the field (for example, restricting

USSF Memorandum sent to all Soccer

will not be shown any cards as a

might be considered irresponsible:

spectators to stadium seats or behind barri-

and Referee Organizations by Alfred

result of unacceptable behavior.

Throwing objects in protest

ers), the persons allowed in or near the field

Kleinaitis, Manager of Referee

Rather, they are held to a much high-

Speaking insulting words or making

are strictly limited to players, substitutes,

Development and Education -

er standard they must "behave in a

and team officials. For purposes of this

offensive gestures

March 22, 2006.

memorandum, anyone officially allowed in

Kicking chairs

responsible manner".

If the referee crew determines that a

coach, parent, or team official

engaged in "irresponsible behavior",

NORTHWEST SOCCER DAY CAMPS . . .

then that person or persons will be

expelled from the field and its imme-

DAY CAMPS 2006

SESSION#

DATE

TIME

LOCATION

AGES

CAMP TYPE

COST

diate surroundings. And although

Our Day Camp program features instruction for boys and girls

DAY: 40

6/26 - 6/30

9-12NOON

QUEEN ANNE BOWL

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

beginning their soccer careers to those at a more advanced level

the referee can choose to warn the

DAY: 41

6/26 - 6/30

9-12NOON

HIAWATHA PLAYFIELD - WEST SEATTLE

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

of play. Most of our Day Camps are three hours and take place

individual about this behavior, the

DAY: 55

7/10 - 7/14

9-12NOON

BALLINGER - MOUNTLAKE TERRACE

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

in the morning and/or afternoon at various locations throughout

DAY: 43

7/10 - 7/14

4-7PM

KASCH PARK - EVERETT

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

referee can expel the person with-

the Greater Seattle area. In addition to our regular Day Camps,

DAY: 42

7/24 - 7/28

9-12NOON

GREENLAKE

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

we will again be offering our Multi-Sport Camp at Seattle Pacific

out a warning.

University. See website for details regarding this always popular

DAY: 44

7/24 - 7/28

9-12NOON

ACADEMY FIELD - MONROE

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

This memorandum means that the

camp. Northwest Soccer Day Camps provide the ultimate training

DAY: 46

7/24 - 7/28

4-7PM

KASCH PARK - EVERETT

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

WSYSA Disciplinary Committees will

experience for today's up-and-coming soccer players. Our camps

DAY: 47

7/31 - 8/4

9-12NOON

INTERBAY STADIUM - MAGNOLIA

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

now apply different standards to individ-

are a great way to spend a week with your friends and our

DAY: 48

7/31 - 8/4

9-12NOON

BRANNON PARK - AUBURN

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

wonderful staff. The Director of our Day Camps is Vadim

uals expelled from a match for "irre-

DAY: 45

8/7 - 8/11

9-12NOON

MARTHA LAKE - LYNNWOOD

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

Tolstolutsky, former SPU and professional player. The Day Camp

sponsible behavior". These individuals

DAY: 49

8/14 - 8/18

9AM-4PM

MULTI SPORT CAMP @ SPU

6 TO 13

Multi Sport Camp

$235.00

program puts a large emphasis on improving your technical skills.

no longer will be addressed within the

DAY: 50

8/21 - 8/25

9-12NOON

VIEW RIDGE PLAYGROUND

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

Each day you will be asked to work on all of the basic skills that

DAY: 51

8/28 - 9/1

9-12NOON

SOUNDVIEW PLAYFIELD - BALLARD

6 TO 13

Future Stars/Jr. Adv

$105.00

are necessary to become a complete player. We