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A & D Cumulative Card System
The Arlington Soccer Association leagues operate on the NTSSA Cumulative Card System. Cards issued in LEAGUE PLAY are cumulative during the entire soccer year meaning both the fall and spring seasons. The team/players start with a zero (0) card count beginning with Fall League play. Tournament cards do not apply in league card accumulation, but any tournament sit-out not satisfied during the tournament will carry to the next sanctioned NTSSA game, including League games.
The Arlington Soccer Association leagues operate on the NTSSA Cumulative Card System. Cards issued in LEAGUE PLAY are cumulative during the entire soccer year meaning both the fall and spring seasons. The team/players start with a zero (0) card count beginning with Fall League play. Tournament cards do not apply in league card accumulation, but any tournament sit-out not satisfied during the tournament will carry to the next sanctioned NTSSA game, including League games.
Player Cautions
Suspensions for "player" accumulated cautions (yellow cards) are as follows:
3 cautions = 1 game sit out
5 cautions = 2 game sit out
6 cautions = 1 more sit out
7 cautions = suspended from all USYSA soccer (except UIL) until a hearing is held for the player at NTSSA at which time they may allow the player to return to play (under some sort of sanction) or the player may be suspended for some period of time. The penalty will depend on what the cautions are for and how the player presents himself at the hearing.
Note: if a player receives his first two caution ejection of the year in a single game, he is not required to sit out his next game. Under the new rule this simply means that he has accrued two cautions and therefore is free to play the next game. Only if and when he receives his third caution will he be required to sit out a game.
Red Cards
Red Cards normally result in a one (1) game suspension. The minimum punishment for VIOLENT CONDUCT by API players is a two (2) game suspension. Foul and abusive language is a minimum one (1) game suspension. EXCEPTION: Any use of the“F” word is a minimum two (2) game suspension. The Appeals and Discipline Committee may assess additional game suspensions if they deem that an individual’s or team’s actions warrant such.
“Send Offs” are defined as a straight Red Card ejection or a "send off" caused by a double caution ejection. These “send offs” count against the player as well as the team’s cumulative cards. A player will also be suspended from all USYSA games (except UIL), should he/she receive 2 Red Cards, or an accumulation of 7 cards (i.e. a combination of 6 cautions plus 1 red), during the soccer year. The player will remain suspended pending a hearing with NTSSA. Sit out verifications will need to be turned into the League during the suspension and for all games the player sits out.
Team Cards
Cards can be a very serious problem for players and teams. When, during the current soccer year, the players/coaches/assistant coaches of a given team have accumulated a total of seven (7) send-offs in league play (including red cards issued as a result of an individual receiving two yellow cards in a single game) or any combination of cards totaling 25, Arlington Soccer Association shall notify the team and the NTSSA A & D Committee. The team will be fined $100.00 payable to NTSSA within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of the seventh (7th) send-off or any combination of cards totaling 25. The coach and the players of said team may also be required to appear before the committee to explain the team's continued misconduct. Red cards or send-offs assessed against that team’s spectators or against that team during tournament play will be reviewed to ascertain team misconduct tendencies. The punishment from NTSSA can be severe, including possible suspension from league and tournament play. Remember, these cards are all accumulated on an annual basis (September 1 to August 31) not per season. We suggest that managers keep a record of the player/team cards. This will help in your personal assessment of any potential card problems. After each game, only the Manager/Coach (or acting manager) can approach the referee to verify cards and player numbers given for their specific team. This is NOT permission to argue the call. Teams will be notified by the ASA Office (via A & D), if any of their players and/or team have exceeded any of these card totals.
Adult Dismissal
If any coach or spectator is ejected or sent off from any League game, in addition to the automatic minimum one game suspension, that person will be automatically fined $25.00. The adult(s) fine will be the financial responsibility of the applicable team or person dismissed, and it must be paid within two weeks of the send-off. A hearing will be held to determine if more than the minimum one game suspension should be assessed. Failure of the individual to appear and failure of the team to pay the fine, may be grounds for removal of team points or possible suspension of the team.
Spectator Misconduct
As part of an evolving policy, please inform your parents that our referees may choose to deal with an unruly spectator by temporarily suspending the match and asking the coach (or coaches) to control the spectator. Should the spectator not calm down (or leave the sideline if instructed to do so), then the coach as well as the unruly spectator may be dismissed and, potentially, the game may even be abandoned (at the referee’s discretion). Additionally, league officials and or Field Marshals will be monitoring our sidelines for inappropriate behavior, and may also ask unruly spectators to leave. Failure to comply could result in severe sanctions. If a game is abandoned and given the reason(s) for abandonment, the A & D Committee will decide as to the final outcome of the game. Coaches and/or spectators who are dismissed will NOT be shown a card (by directive of FIFA law). They will be verbally asked to leave. IMMEDIATE COMPLIANCE IS MANDATORY or additional sanctions will be severe. All dismissals will be referred to A & D for review. A minimum one game suspension will be assessed along with the $25.00 fine.
Please be aware it is a privilege to play in the leagues managed by Arlington Soccer Association, and it is a privilege to attend games so please be on your best behavior for the kids’ sake. |
