Just wondering... Multiple game suspensions?

[love to play]

Situation from a match several weeks ago. Mens A division. Top division in my city. Really chippy match. Lots of fouls lots of jabbering at each other. End result was 2 red cards (VC and SFP) and 6 yellow cards. The violent conduct was for a player taking a full on swing at an opposing player. SFP was for a tackle studs up mid way up the shin( this was after he told the AR he was going to hurt someone). Seriously could have broken the bone.

So, I keep the passes after the game. Write up the miscounduct reports, match reports put them in an envelope and mail into the league office within 48 hours of the match. Pat myself on the back for completing my administrative items and look forward to next week. Right? Wrong, get email from league saying the player was looking for his card. This implied that they have either not received my documnetation or they have and they either do not read the misconduct reports or they do not care. Makes me wonder what it would take for a player inthis league to have to miss more than 1 game.

Have you seen multiple game suspensions handed down in any of the leagues that you work? If so what did it take for the player to get a multiple game suspension?

[MassachusettsRef]

It all depends on where you are and how active the governing body is in regards to discipline.

In Florida for example, FYSA takes a very active direct role in discipline for all youth matches. I, along with some others on this board, know that from working the Tampa Bay Sun Bowl. Suspension lengths are completely out of the hands of the tournament committee, and subject to stringent guidelines from the state. For example, violent conduct is always a 4 match ban, as is any language directed at any person. And believe me, everyone is aware of this. I had a coach from Miami ask me how I was writing my report up after I sent off one of his kids (in the final match of the first round). I wrote it up as SFP (he struck his opponent, but they were challenging for the ball)--had I written it as VC, the player would have missed 4 State Cup matches.

Other places, of course, are not so clear or strict. I have seen multiple suspensions in leagues and tournaments around me, but the guidelines are much less rigid. Only steadfast rule I've seen a few times is that 'fighting' (ie, violent conduct) is an automatic 2 or 3 game ban.

[kevbrunton]

The adult league where I referee a lot takes suspensions very seriously. Any red card is 1 match ban and $200 fine. A VC or anything remotely like referee abuse will be 2 or 3 match ban and $500 fine. If a team gets excessive red cards (whether SFP or 2Y), they are subject to being called before the disciplinary committee where they will generally have to put up a bond to continue play and are placed on probation. I remember one such team that had accumulated a number of red cards and had to put up a bond of $1500 to play the rest of the season. I was refereeing the very next game and two of their players got in a fight (with each other). Both were red carded and one of the players told me after the game that they'd be banned the rest of the season and would lose the nearly $100 each they had to put up to continue to play. He was pretty pissed at his teammates.

[AAGunner3]

two 15 yr olds recieved at least 3 wk sentences in a match I officiated.