Your role, as parents or guardians, has a tremendous impact on your child’s experiences as he or she participates in sports.

Parent Code of Conduct

• Do not force an unwilling child to participate in sports.
• Remember children are involved in organized sports for their enjoyment, not yours. Teach your child to always play by the rules.
• Teach your child that hard work and honest effort are often more important than a victory.
• Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Your child will then be a winner even in defeat.
• Do not ridicule or yell at your child for making a mistake or for losing a game. Set a good example. Children learn best by example.
• Applaud good plays by your team and by members of the opposing team.
• Do not publicly question the referee’s judgment and never their honesty.
• Recognize the value and importance of volunteer coaches, referees and officials and give them their due respect. Without them, there would be no AYSO soccer.
• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sporting activities.

Conversations before the games

Tell your child you love him/her regardless of the outcome. Tell him or her “Go for it, give it your best shot and have fun!”

During the game

Understand that kids are over-stimulated during games. The Coach may be giving instructions, opponents and teammates are talking, the crowd is cheering, and the Referee is blowing the whistle. To a youth sports participant, the atmosphere is much like that of a fighter pilot with enemy jets racing all around. Do not yell instructions to your child during the game because it only adds to the confusion.

Sometimes the best thing you can do as a parent is to be quiet.
Cheer and acknowledge good plays by both teams.

After the game

• Thank the officials for doing a difficult job.
• Thank the coaches for their efforts.
• Thank your opponents for a good game.
• Congratulate your child and his or her teammates for their efforts.
• Compliment individual players on good plays they made in the game.

During the car ride home

• Point out a good play your child made during the game.
• Avoid criticizing or correcting mistakes.
• Ask open-ended questions about how the game was played rather than how many points were scored. Here are examples of
  open-ended questions that might apply:
  • Did you have fun?
  • Did you give it your best effort?
  • What did you learn from the game?
  • What was the best play you made and how did it feel?

Remember: Coaches Coach. Referees Ref. Parents Cheer.

Our “Zero Tolerance Policy” applies to all referees (not just Youth Referees).

AYSO Region 6 recognizes the hard work and dedication that all of our volunteer parent (and “community”) referees put forth and want to keep them contributing to the region as long as we can. They have volunteered–one of the key components of AYSO–to take on a challenging task and try their best to officiate to the best of their ability. Remember, they are all just regular parents and members of the community (like you) trying to do their best. Sure they will make mistakes, they are only human. Let’s try to keep that in mind as the coaches “coach” and the parents “cheer” our Kids from the touchlines!

Referee Zero Tolerance Policy

Region 6 AYSO has a  “Zero Tolerance Policy”  for ALL referees in order to preserve and protect them.

All individuals responsible for a team (Coaches and Team Managers) and all spectators (parents, friends, siblings, relatives)  shall support the referee and respect his/her decisions. Failure to do so will undermine the referee’s authority and has the potential of creating a hostile environment for the players, the referee, and all the other participants and spectators.

Consequently, Region 6 AYSO has adopted and modified the following rules:

1. No one is to speak to the referee in an aggressive, demeaning, sarcastic or abusive manner before, during or after the game.  Coaches may ask questions, politely, before and after the game, point out emergencies during the game, or respond to the referee if addressed during the game.
2. Absolutely no disputing calls, during or after the game. NO YELLING at the referee–EVER, and no criticism, sarcasm, harassment, or intimidation of any kind before, during or after the game. If the Coach wishes to get an explanation for a particular call he/she must wait until halftime or after the match is finished to approach the referee in a calm and controlled manner, but it is not the Referee’s responsibility to defend or justify their calls.  All decisions are made “in the opinion of the referee” (ITOOTR) and to the best of their ability.  In accordance of Law 5 of The Laws of the Game, “The decisions of the referee, and all other match officials, must always be respected.”
3. Violators may be ejected and are subject to disciplinary action by the Region 6 AYSO Board of Directors.
4. If coaches or spectators have questions or complaints regarding particular calls, rules, or a specific referee, or wish to give feedback regarding a referee, please feel free to contact the Regional Referee Administrator, or the Regional Commissioner.

Enforcing the Referee Zero Tolerance Policy

1. If a coach (or spectator) questions the call of a referee in a manner deemed inappropriate/irresponsible, the referee may stop the match, retrieve the game ball, and invite the coach onto the field for a conversation.
2. During this conversation the coach may be told 3 things:
   • The purpose of the conversation is not to “debate” a call but to inform the coach that the behavior of the coach/spectator is unacceptable.
   • The coach has 2 choices. He/she can go back to their coaching area and coach per the AYSO philosophies, or, the coach/spectator can leave the playing facility.
   • The coach/spectator may be sent off if the referee has to speak to them again during the match.
3. If the referee is a Youth Referee, the Youth Referee may stop the match, retrieve the game ball, and either deal with the matter on his or her own as described above, or, find a board member (if available) to deal with the situation as described above.
4. Any coach/spectator who is heard “verbally abusing a referee” may automatically be sent off by the referee or by a board member (if present). “Verbal abuse” includes, but is not limited to, foul and abusive language.  As with all decisions made by the referee, what constitutes “verbal abuse” is entirely “in the opinion of the referee” (ITOOTR).
5. If the unacceptable behavior of the coach/spectator occurs after the game has ended it will still be reported by the referee and will be considered as a cause for disciplinary action.
6. Referees must submit a written or verbal report of any occurrences where a coach/spectator is sent off/ejected, and there will be an investigation to determine the facts and subsequent additional penalties if necessary. The penalties are at the discretion of the Region Board of Directors and may include, but are not limited to, suspension from future games.
7. The Region Board of Directors also reserves the right to investigate instances when abuse of a referee or volunteer is not reported by the referee or volunteer, but is subsequently brought to the Board’s attention by any individual. The penalties are at the discretion of the Regional Commissioner and may include, but are not limited to, suspension from future games.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS A SAFE, FAIR AND FUN EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE!

Is it okay to challenge or harass the referee?

NO. NOT EVER.

Being vocally critical of the Referee is not allowed at AYSO games -it's not ok for coaches, spectators or players - for any reason - at any time. Referees are VOLUNTEERS who are doing their best to provide a fun and fair experience for our children, and they really don't need spectator assistance. Being a Referee means you are constantly making judgement calls - and it's 100% their call to make.

It is reasonable to want your child/team to have a great experience. It is not reasonable or helpful for you to 'assist' by shouting at the Referee during a game. It's upsetting to the players, other parents, the volunteer referee, and it DOES NOT HELP. Solution: the Referee Administrator welcomes a discussion of your concerns AFTER the game, in a private setting. Your concerns will be listened to and addressed.

Referee Questions or Concerns?

You can reach out to our Region Referee Administrator, Rob Jensen, at: [email protected]

In AYSO Region 6, we want all players, coaches, families, and volunteers to have fun! That’s where AYSO Kids Zone comes in. Kids Zone is a special program that encourages all in attendance, from the sidelines to the field, to use positive language, demonstrate good sportsmanship, and create a great experience and positive environment for every player. Kids Zone is a reminder that the AYSO soccer fields are a safe, friendly, happy, place for children to play and experience the joy of soccer without fear of judgement. Take the Pledge! When Regions participate in The Kids Zone program, we ask that they have helpful reminders, including buttons, signage, and t-shirts on the field, to reinforce that no matter how intense the game can be, kids need encouraging support from the sidelines.

Parents and spectators are asked to follow the pledge below and agree to the following guidelines:
1. Kids are #1!
2. Fun – not winning – is everything
3. Practice proper physical distancing
4. Set a proper example of sportsmanship
5. Players Play, Fans cheer and Coaches coach
6. Respect the volunteer referees…we couldn’t do it without them!
7. No yelling, swearing or abusive behavior
8. No weapons, alcohol, tobacco or drugs
9. No dogs
10. Leave no trash behind
11. Celebrate the player – win or lose