All board members, referees, coaches, trainers, managers, spectators and players of SPFSC are subject to the Discipline Policy laid out as follows:

 

Discipline Committee

The SPFSC President shall establish a Discipline Committee chaired by the Executive Vice President and consisting of two other designated members.  Alternate members may be appointed as needed.  The Discipline Committee shall consider complaints as defined in Section B involving any aspect of the Club’s activities and its members.  No complaint shall be considered unless it is made in writing or by email to the President or Executive Vice President.  The Discipline Committee shall meet within 14 calendar days of receiving the complaint and recommend to the Executive Committee a course of action outlined in Section C.  The Discipline Committee reserves the right to enforce sanctions not defined within Section C.  The complainant and accused shall receive a summary of the decision and action taken.

 

Complaints

Any complaint regarding the SPFSC’s activities and all members directly or indirectly involved shall follow this policy.  The Discipline Committee shall meet to discuss the next steps including collecting additional information from the complainant, the accused, coaches, referees, parents, law enforcement or any other relevant parties.  If the accused or complainant or any other party is a minor, the correspondence will be delivered to the parent or guardian.  Both the complainant and accused shall remain anonymous except to the President, Executive Vice President and the Discipline Committee.

 

Disciplinary Rulings and Punishments

The SPFSC Discipline Policy addresses verbal or physical abuse, assault, harassment, or threatening behavior by anyone involved in the league in any capacity.  Any participant (including, but not limited to, parents/guardians, players, coaches, board members, volunteers, and spectators) who is abusive (verbally or physically) toward any person (including, but not limited to, opposing teams, parents/guardians, coaches, referees, players, and spectators) will face disciplinary actions as defined below, but not limited to.  These sanctions are above and beyond any in-game suspension given by a referee or sanctions handed down by the respective league(s) in which SPFSC is affiliated with.  Sanctions may be enforced into the following season depending on the number of games remaining in the season and the severity of the offense.

 

Players

• Player Fighting: A player guilty of fighting before, during, or after a game shall receive a minimum two (2) week suspension.  Suspension prohibits attendance at games and sponsored functions including practices.
• Player Profanity: A player guilty of using profanity, either by word or sign, against a referee, another player, coach, spectator shall receive a minimum one (1) week suspension.  Suspension prohibits attendance at games and sponsored functions including practices.
• Player Threats: A player guilty of making threatening gestures against a referee, another player, coach, spectator, or any SPFSC official shall receive a minimum one (1) week suspension. Verbal threats are remarks that carry the implied or direct threat of physical harm.  Suspension prohibits attendance at games and sponsored functions including practices.

 

Coaches/Trainers/Managers

Misconduct of Coaches:  Coaches or team officials who make threatening gestures, physical contact, or use threatening language to other players, coaches, referees or any association officials shall be disciplined according to the following schedule:

• First Time: Minimum two (2) week suspension.  Suspension prohibits attendance at games and sponsored functions including practices.
• Second Time: Minimum of four (4) week suspension.  Suspension prohibits attendance at games and sponsored functions including practices.
• Third Time: The offender will be suspended for a minimum of one year.  Suspension prohibits attendance at games and sponsored functions including practices.

 

Spectators

Misconduct of Spectators: During the duration of games and practices, spectators are expected to be situated on the opposite side of the field from the coaches and players, and are not permitted to approach the coaches, referees, other parents and/or players unless directed by a coach or official for medical reasons. Under no circumstances should anyone other than a player or coach be on the field of play during a game or practice. Any individual, outside players and coaches, who enters the field of play during game or practice, or any individual who makes threatening gestures, physical contact or uses threatening language to players (including their own child), coaches, referees, other spectators or SPFSC officials shall be disciplined according to the following schedule:

• First Time: Minimum two (2) week suspension.  Suspension prohibits attendance at games and sponsored functions including practices.  Suspended parents/guardians may drop off and pick up children for matches and practices, but may not exit their car.
• Second Time: Minimum of four (4) week suspension.  Suspension prohibits attendance at games and sponsored functions including practices.  Suspended parents/guardians may drop off and pick up children for matches and practices, but may not exit their car.
• Third Time: The offender will be suspended for a minimum of one (1) year.  Suspension prohibits attendance at games and sponsored functions including practices.  Suspended parents/guardians may drop off and pick up children for matches and practices, but may not exit their car.

 

All communications not limited to an occurrence at a SPFSC event:

Any communications relating to SPFSC events, organization or management via emails (or other electronic communications (team snap, facebook, etc.)), telephone calls, or face-to-face communications are subject to interpretation for disciplinary action as described above.  Our disciplinary rules govern all communications relating to our club.  There will be a zero-tolerance policy for sending expletive-ridden emails, calling or going to the coach's house after the game to complain, etc.  We should be holding ourselves to the highest level of respect and shall be governed by the rules set forth.

 

The Discipline Committee has the right to make changes to any and all of the above clauses at their own discretion.