Question Number: 17086

League Specific 10/4/2007

RE: High School

Shauna of Lucasville, Ohio United States asks...

One of our players was given a "hard" red card from a ref in a game. He was suspended from that game and from the one following. The pricipal of the schools stated that the player was not allowed to practice with the team or associate with the team in any manner. He was asked to leave the practice field. Is this a soccer league rule or a school rule? This player in question was intentionally provoked by the opposing team. He looked to the coaches to do something and when nothing happened he took it upon himself to go after the player. He lost his cool. He realizes what he had done was wrong. He came out of the game without any problems. The coach told the player he was given a "hard" red card and these are the consequences. Is there such a thing as a "hard" red card or are they all red cards and what is the proper punishment for this?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Only HS rules divide send-offs into "hard" and "soft" red cards. The consequences of hard vs soft apply to whether a substitute can come in to take the place of the player who is sent off. The league (i.e. Ohio HS Athletic Association or a similar name) determines the suspension policy.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Intentional provoking a player is at the least unsporting behavior [unsportsmanlike conduct in high school] and is at the least a caution. It it approaches the level of taunting [again a high school rule] it is a disqualification. The referee should see to enforcing this. Some referees think this behavior is acceptable, after all it is in the other sports in America. Coaches can not curtail this behavior once the match states and might have had a hand in teaching it in the first place so looking to them is pointless. The only thing a player can do if it happens and the referee doesn't have the courage to deal with it is ignore it. This is very difficult at best.

Once a player feels it necessary to protect himself from this kind of thing he is at the mercy of the"referee". If disqualified from the match he is at the mercy of the league and the school he attends and his coach not the rules.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

At last, a high school rule that makes sense to me. I applaud the Ohio HS Athletic Association. High school soccer is supposed to be an extension of the school. If the offending player took it upon himself to earn a red card I think it's great he can't practice. If he were on a team I coached and was allowed to practice, he'd be spending most of his time running and doing push ups.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Shauna,
The hard red and soft red is an aberration in the USA high school policy but in terms of the nature of any red card incident the misconduct is the seriousness and amount of violence in the conduct.

The disciplinary committee or the association has set a criteria where certain conduct has additional discipline attached to it. I am supportive consequences of action in regards to further discipline but the concept of not allowing a team member to practice is one that as a coach I struggle with?

Surely that is my decision as coach?

I have deliberately sat players for failing to meet certain standards but the consequences of not practicing hurts the entire team if he is not part of the tactical or skill set we are involved in training?

I have also enforced discipline and restricted my players even if the referee does not witness the event as I did. Much as Ref Contarino hinted at there was additional duties fostered upon their shoulders to get additional playing time!

Yet I also see the reverse where the referee FAILED in my opinion to safeguard my players and my captain took the ball by the horns so to speak and was sent off for 5 matches for retaliating what were constant unprovoked mean spirited challenges on our younger talented players where nothing was done by the referee in charge to limit the overt aggression and malice.

He watched all 5 games and knew that his actions had cost him and our team a great deal but he practiced harder than anyone on the team to get them ready to play!
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 19972