Norwood Youth Soccer Community Expectations
Norwood Youth Soccer considers itself a recreational and developmental organization. Our goal is to provide a safe, fun, environment for the children of Norwood to learn to play and love the Beautiful Game. As a member of that community, we expect all individuals who attend a match, whether as a spectator, coach, or player to treat everyone on the pitch with respect. We want to ensure that matches are fair, positive, and enjoyable experiences for all involved. A soccer match should be friendly and unifying - a spirited social and athletic occasion for all.
In an effort to assist in the decrease of zero tolerance, referee abuse, and other misconduct complaints, we are requiring everyone to review and adhere to these community expectations. These expectations incorporate and adhere to the BAYS guidelines, which can be found here:
https://bays.org/content/codes-conduct-mass-youth-soccer
These community expectations are a set of guidelines that all NYS members who choose to participate or attend in any Mass Youth Soccer sanctioned activity or events that include but are not limited to all leagues, tournaments, and practices.
Any complaint for a violation of these expectations will be investigated and is subject to to discipline by Mass Youth Soccer, BAYS or the Norwood Youth Soccer Board depending on the severity of the violation. The NYS Board of Directors will track violations and if we find any individual becomes a repeat offender, we will impose severe sanctions that could include up to a lifetime ban from Norwood Youth Soccer events. Such recommendations will be based on the severity of the complaints and subject to our complaint procedure section.
Zero Tolerance Policy
Abusive and obscene language, violent play or conduct, fighting, and other negative or derogatory behavior (such as sarcasm or taunting) directed to any individual on the pitch or otherwise deemed detrimental to the match will not be tolerated. Norwood Youth Soccer may have a Field Marshal or other Board Member present at any match in order to enforce this policy.
Below are the following actions the Field Marshall or NYS Board member may take if there is a violation of the Zero Tolerance Policy:
1. Issue a verbal warning to the offender.
2. Eject the offender from the match. Once ejected, the individual will be required to leave the field area immediately.
3. If the offender does not leave the field area after having been instructed to do so, the Field Marshall or NYS Board member may terminate the match.
Spectator Code of Conduct
1. Do not force your child to participate in sports.
2. Applaud good plays; don’t dwell on bad plays. Children play sports to have fun, make new friends, and learn new skills.
3. Children imitate their parents. If you are disruptive or act inappropriately, your child, and possibly others, will act in a similar fashion.
4. The sidelines are not a place to shout personal instructions. Encouraging from the sidelines is appreciated, coaching from the spectator sidelines is forbidden. A good rule to follow when you cheer/yell/shout from the sidelines is, “No verbs!”
5. There is more to life than soccer. Encourage your child to participate in other activities.
6. Respect the coach’s decision and abilities. Don’t force your child to decide whether to listen to you or to the coach.
7. Stress fair and sensible play. Soccer is a contact sport, let the officials determine fair or foul play
8. Promote the long-term importance of practice over the short-term excitement of matches.
9. Promote the importance of teamwork.
10. Never lose sight of the fact that you are a role model.
11. The other team is the opponent, not the enemy. Treat all with respect.
12. Mistakes are a part of the learning process for everyone. Positive reinforcement goes a long way.
13. Take time to learn the rules of the match and the policies of the club and league.
14. Remember that coaches and administrators are usually volunteers. A “thank you” every once in a while is often a nice reward.
Player Code of Conduct
1. Sportsmanship, fair play, and respect are expected from all players. Players will be good teammates and treat others as they would like to be treated.
2. Players will not use offensive or abusive language at practices or matches.
3. Players will not intentionally harm or threaten coaches, teammates, opponents, or referees.
4. Players will not engage in bullying, harassment, or hazing during any sanctioned programs, activities, and events.
5. Players will not use social networking websites, cell phones, or other forms of technology to harass or threaten coaches, teammates, opponents, or referees.
6. Players will display a positive attitude and show respect toward coaches, teammates, opponents, and officials (Center Referee, Assistant Referee, Linepeople, 4th Official).
7. Players will not use and possess illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana at sanctioned programs, activities, and events
8. Players must treat teammates, coaches, parents, opponents, match officials, and themselves with fairness and respect at all times.
9. Fighting in any form will not be tolerated.
10. Players are prohibited from using performance enhancing or mind-altering drugs (legal or illegal).
11. There is a zero tolerance for referee abuse. (See Zero Tolerance Policy and RAPP).
14. Players are expected to know, follow, and play by the soccer laws of the match. Any intentional act of deceiving the match officials to gain an unfair advantage will be considered a violation of the Player Code of Conduct.
Penalties for Violations of the Player’s Code of Conduct:
Initial Violation: A verbal warning from the coach to the player and parent/guardian.
2nd Violation: Player misses next practice and/or match.
3rd Violation: Player is suspended from all practices and matches for the remainder of the season.
Referee Abuse Prevention Policy
BAYS have a very strict policy with regards to coaches interacting with referees during and after games, especially, but not limited to, questioning calls on the field. The Zero Tolerance Policy was replaced in March 2025 with the Referee Abuse Prevention Policy (RAPP) or POLICY 531-9.
Norwood Youth Soccer fully supports this policy and will adhere to their recommended discipline for violations. For complete details on this policy visit the BAYS website: https://bays.org/
If you have issues with how a game was officiated BAYS has mechanisms for you to voice those concerns, also on their website.
The sanctions that are handed down by BAYS for violations of this policy are as follows: NON-PHYSICAL ABUSE
Level 1: Verbal Taunting – Minimum two-game suspension (Examples: offensive, insulting, belittling, insinuating, taunting language).
Level 2: Harassment / Intimidation – Minimum four-game suspension (Examples: harassment, intimidation, retaliation, abusive language, non-physical threats).
Level 3: Threats / Derogatory Language – Minimum six-game and/or 6-12 month suspension (Examples: aggression, attacking, derogatory, doxing, physical threat, cyber bullying).
Level 4: Offensive or Discriminatory Acts – Minimum 10-game and/or 12-24 month suspension (Examples: comments about race, skin color, ethnicity, nationality, social origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language, religion).
PHYSICAL ABUSE
1. Level 1: Minor or Slight Touching – Minimum three-game and/or 1-6 month suspension (Examples: minor or slight deliberate touching).
2. Level 2: Physical Confrontation – Minimum 10-game and/or 6-24 month suspension (Examples: pushing, grabbing, pulling, squeezing, pinching, slapping, use of object in a non-striking manner, property damage).
3. Level 3: Violent Contact – Minimum 12-month suspension to lifetime ban (Examples: hitting, punching, elbowing, kicking, biting, spitting, choking, tackling, kneeing, headbutting, throwing object in striking manner).
Complaint procedure
We take any and all complaints seriously. If there is a complaint against anyone from any source it will be put into the complaint database and investigated promptly. Once the complaint enters, the appropriate coordinator, coach, and Executive Board will be notified. If the complaint is corroborated, appropriate action will be taken. During the investigation (or after) any retaliation against the complainant or a player connected to the complaint, that is verified as true, will not be tolerated and will require immediate suspension for the rest of the season.
Here are some examples of complaints and possible outcomes:
● Communication, negative coaching (non-abusive)/playing time issues – conversations & monitoring.
● Verbal abuse – suspension, remainder of season. Must be approved by the NYS Board for reinstatement.
● Physical abuse – immediate termination, notification of proper authorities, and a permanent ban from NYS coaching.
● Multiple offenses will result in a permanent ban.
These are not an all-inclusive list of complaints or outcomes and are used as a guideline for the complaint procedure. The NYS board will maintain discretion within these guidelines and according to our by-laws.