Players are required to demonstrate good sporting behavior at all AYSO events. This includes practices as well as games. In recent years we have seen a growing incidence of unacceptable conduct in the upper divisions, for example: use of profanity or epithets, taunting another team when Hillsborough is far ahead in score, and persistent disruption at practices. To address this issue, the Hillsborough AYSO Board has approved the following measures which began with the Fall 2017 season. These measures are intended to ensure that all AYSO participants have the chance to enjoy soccer in a positive sporting environment.
For the 16U and 19U divisions, draft team rosters will be subject to review and approval by a committee of the Hillsborough AYSO Board. Players who have demonstrated recurrent unacceptable conduct will not be invited to play and will have their registration fees refunded.
For all 14U, 16U and 19U divisions, the following sanctions for unacceptable conduct will be implemented:
- Coaches should remind players that participation in AYSO is a privilege, not an entitlement.
- Any player who receives a yellow card related to unacceptable conduct will be required to sit a game before being allowed to play again. To satisfy this requirement the player must attend one game and remain on the bench for the entire game. Attendance must be noted by the referee on the game card.
- Any player who receives a red card related to unacceptable conduct will be suspended immediately and not permitted to play unless approved by the Regional Commissioner.
- Coaches are required to report persistently disruptive behavior or unacceptable conduct at practices to the Regional Commissioner. The Regional Commissioner may suspend offending players.