LHSA A & D Committee Actions
The following selected actions of the LHSA Appeals & Disciplinary Committee (anonomymously) are listed for your information and for precedential value. LHSA is serious about enforcing the rules and conduct of behavior of those involved in LHSA.
2009-2010 Selected Disciplinary Actions:
- Playing a Non-Rostered Player. A U8 coach allowed a player who was not on the team roster to participate in team activities, including 2 league games. The player had not been placed on the official NTSSA Roster or on the unofficial roster on the LHSA system. Even though the parents of the illegal player had told the coach that the player was on the team, it was the coach's responsibility to make absolute sure of the placement before any practices or games with the team. The coach was suspended from any form of coaching at LHSA for a period of the remaining season and for an additional 1 year period. Also, all games in which this player participated were forfeitted by the team.
- Illegal Registration. The parents of a U8 player submitted a falsified birth certificate to the LHSA office and inputed wrong birthdate information in the online registration. The parents also contacted a U8 coach and said that their child had been place on the team by LHSA. The Board for LHSA determined that the actions were deliberate and premeditated to circumvent the Rules. The parents have been assessed probation for a period of 2 years. Any further infractions by the parents during the probation period will lead to additional sanctions, up to and including being banned from LHSA and NTSSA participation.
- Coach Verbal Abuse to Adult Referee. A U10G Coach protested referee calls throughout game by words and actions, entered the field of play without permission and used offensive, insulting, and abusive language toward the referee crew during the game. The Referee sent-off the Coach during the game and the coach continued to insult the referee after the game. After an A&D committee hearing, the Coach was assessed a one game suspension and is on probation for the rest of the season. Any further appearance before the A&D committee will result in further suspensions and sanctions, and the coach has been given explicit instructions and protocol regarding approaching a referee to complain about calls. The sanctions were accepted by the coach.
- Spectator Misconduct/Verbal Abuse to Adult Referee. A U8G Parent used offensive, insulting, and abusive language toward the referee while protesting a referee call. The Referee asked the coach to identify the parent who stood up and again challanged the referee. The referee sent-off the parent who then left the field. Upon summons to an A&D committee hearing, the parent was assessed a one game suspension and was also required to write a letter of apology to the referee in question, read it to the parents collectively prior to the next game, and deliver a written copy of it to the LHSA office within 10 days. The sanctions were accepted by the parent.
2008-2009 Selected Disciplinary Actions:
- Coach Verbal Abuse to Youth Referee. U-12 Coach protested referee calls throughout game and made a derogatory comment directly to referee after the game. The Coach has been assessed a one game suspension and is on probation for the rest of the season. Any further appearance before the committee will result in further suspensions, and the coach has been given explicit instructions and protocol regarding approaching a referee to complain about calls.
- Coach Misconduct to Referee. A U11G coach was cautioned for continued dissent with referee calls. The coach appeared before the A&D committee and was given a one game suspension and probation for the remainder of the season. The sanctions were accepted by the coach and the game suspension has been served.
2007-2008 Selected Disciplinary Actions:
- Coach Misbehavior to Coach. Both coaches of a U10 game were found to have engaged in misbehavior concerning verbal confrontation and have been sanctioned for such action with future games to be monitored. Sanctions were accepted and monitoring completed.
- A&D Sanctions Ignored. Coach who ignored prior A&D sanctions attempted to re-register as a coach and was refused due to unsatisfied A&D sanctions. After a second A&D hearing, the Coach was required, as a condition to reinstatement as a coach, to (i) comply with previous sanctions, (ii) serve as a field marshall for 1 day, and (iii) acknowledge and advise parents of the jurisdiction of LHSA to regulate and sanction actions of coaches and spectators involved with LHSA. All sanctions accepted and satisfied and coach re-instated in good standing.
- Flag Violations. Numerous coaches were found guilty of failing to return flags to the Concession Stand storage bin as the last "home" team for the day. The sanctions were accepted and satisfied by all coaches.
- Coach Misconduct to Referee, Other Coach and lack of Spectator Control. Coaches were found guilty of improper conduct to the Referee and other Coach and for failure to maintain proper control of Spectators. Sanctions included (i) 1 game suspension (not to be at park), (ii) serve as field marshall for ½ day, and (iii) communicate apology to parents.
- Failure to Appear at A&D Hearing. Coach was called to and failed to appear before A&D Committee hearing for coach misconduct toward Referee and other Coach and lack of Spectator control. Coach was suspended indefinitely until appearance at A&D hearing and compliance with initial sanctions and any additional sanctions imposed.
2006-2007 Selected Disciplinary Actions:
- Illegal Recruiting. Coach found in violation of recruiting rules and but failed to abide by the punishment set by the LHSA A&D Committee, including the education of coaches and parents regarding illegal recruiting.
- Illegal Practicing and Recruiting. Coach found in violation of practicing with a player not on the team roster and in violation of the recruiting rules, and has agreed to the punishment set by the LHSA A&D Committee, including the education of coaches and parents regarding illegal recruiting.
- Spectator Misconduct to Referee. Parent found in violation of Code of Conduct, for making statements that diminish the authority of the Referee, as evidenced by the Referee's ejection of the parent from field of play. Parent put on 1 year probation and prohibited from attending one (1) game. Parent has agreed to such punishment.
- Coach Misconduct to Referee. Coach found in violation of Code of Conduct for making statements that diminish the authority of the Referee and for failure to control parents and spectators. The LHSA A&D Committee has put the coach on one (1) year probation.
Coach has accepted the probation.
- Coach Misconduct to Other Coach. Both coaches were found in violation of Code of Conduct (Art. IV – Responsibility to Officials and Art. VII Game Day and Other Responsibilities) for mid-field verbal confrontation during a mid-game injury stoppage. Coaches were assessed and accepted game suspensions, field marshalling duties and parent conference/notification.
- Spectator Misconduct to Player. Coach found in violation of Code of Conduct for action of a parent in making comments in a menacing voice to an opposing player in a U5 game.
- Flag Violation. Numerous coaches were found guilty of failing to return flags to the Concession Stand storage bin as the last "home" team for the day. The sanctions were accepted and satisfied by all coaches.
