Policy One-Division Placement in Uneven Brackets

In divisions where there is an uneven number of teams and each team does not play every team in that division twice, the results of the first match the two teams played is thrown out of the season standings and the points for said match do not count toward placement for that season.

Policy Two-New Substitution Rule

Substitution at a throw in will now be allowed by both teams if the team in possession of the ball elects to substitute during their possession.

Policy Three-U4 thru U8 New Goal Kick Rule

Goal Kicks will be taken from the top of the Arc in front of the Goal. All attacking players MUST retreat to their side of the midfield line until the ball is put in play.

Policy Four-Zero Tolerance Policy

Because of recent and potential physical and verbal abuse in the Greater Wichita Falls Soccer Association, hereinafter refereed to GWFSA, the League has adopted a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY. This policy applies to all coaches, players, parents and other supporters and referees effective immediately. Abusive and obscene language, violent play, violent conduct, fighting and other behavior (including but not limited to sarcasm, taunting, etc.) deemed detrimental to the game between the above mentioned groups will not be tolerated. Ultimate responsibility for the actions of coaches, players, and spectators resides with the member teams.

It is the responsibility of the coaches to provide referee support and spectator control. This policy will apply to all times prior to, during and after the game at the soccer pitch and its immediate surrounding areas. 

Parents and Spectators 

No parent or other spectator shall address the referee or assistant referees at any time.

This includes but is not limited to:

1. Spectators shall not make derogatory comments to players of either team.
2. Spectators shall not dispute calls during or after the game.
3. Spectators shall not advise the referee to watch certain players or attend to rough play.
4. Spectators shall not yell at the referee, EVER, including criticism, sarcasm, harassment, intimidation, discriminatory comments or feedback of any kind before, during, or after the game.

The only allowable exceptions to the above are:

1. Spectators may respond to a referee who has initiated a conversation with a parent or spectator.
2. Spectators may point out an emergency or safety issues, such as a player down on the field or observed lightning.

Penalties

In the opinion of the referee, depending on the severity of the offense, the referee may take either of the following actions:

1. The referee will issue a verbal warning to the coach of the offending party’s team.
2. The referee will stop the game and instruct the coaches to direct the parent/spectator to leave the field. If the spectator does not leave the field, the referee should abandon the game.

 Players

Communications between players and referees are governed by the FIFA Laws of the Game. Penalties for violating the Laws of the Game will be governed by the Laws themselves and the Rules of the GWFSA.

Coaches and Bench Personnel 

It is the responsibility of all coaches to maintain the highest standards of conduct for themselves, their players and supporters in all matches. Failure to do so undermines the referee’s authority and the integrity of the game, resulting in a hostile environment for players, the referee, coaches, bench personnel and spectators. As role models for all of the participants and spectators, coaches participating in a GWFSA league event are expected to be supportive of, and to applaud the effort, good play, and sportsmanship on the part of ALL players from either team in a contest. By example, coaches and bench personnel are expected to show that although they are competing in a game, participants at all times have respect for the opponent, referees and spectators.

GWFSA will not tolerate negative behavior exhibited either by demonstrative actions and gestures or by ill-intentioned remarks, including those addressed toward the referees, players or coaches of an opposing team. Coaches exhibiting hostile, negative, sarcastic, or otherwise ill-intentioned behavior toward referees, opposing players or coaches will be subject to sanction by the referee and subsequent sanctions as may be imposed by the GWFSA.

Coaches shall not interact directly or indirectly with the coaches or players of the opposing team during the game in any manner that may be construed as negative, hostile or sarcastic either by way of demonstrative actions and gestures or by ill-intentioned remarks.

Coaches shall not offer dissent to any call made by the officials at any time. Coaches shall not address the referee during the game except to:

1. Respond to a referee who has initiated a conversation
2. Point out emergency or safety issues
3. Make substitutions
4. Ask the referee to repeat a call (this should be infrequent)
5. Ask for the time remaining in the half (this should be infrequent).

Coaches are allowed to ask a referee after a game, in a polite and constructive way, to explain a Law or foul but not judgment calls made in a game.

1. Polite and friendly concern can be exchanged with the referee. If the polite tone of the conversation changes, the referee may abandon the exchange at any
2. Absolutely no sarcasm, harassment or intimidation is allowed.

Penalties

In the opinion of the referee, depending on the severity of the offense, the referee may take either of the following actions:

1. The referee may issue a verbal warning to the offending coach or bench personnel.
2. The referee may eject the offending coach or bench personnel. The coach or bench personnel, once ejected, will be required to leave the field immediately. If the coach or bench personnel do not leave the field and any immediate adjoining area, the referee should abandon the game.

Addendum to Zero Tolerance Policy:

1.) Coaches and spectators who have been removed from a match, must serve a minimum 1 (one) game suspension to be served immediately at their next played game before they are eligible to return to coaching and/or watching their team play, as well as attend an Appeals and Disciplinary Committee hearing if needed.
      1a:) Coaches and spectators may attend practices unless they have been suspended from all soccer activities by the A&D committee.
       1b:) The suspension only includes the team in which they represent during the match they were removed from. If they coach more than one team or have children on other teams, they will be allowed to coach/attend those matches. Unless otherwise noted by the A&D panel.
        1c:) A coach, manager, or spectator who is serving a suspension may not watch those games from any area of
the complex. This includes the parking lot and neighboring streets. The coach may not have any
contact with the assistant coaches, players, parents or any other spectators during the match. This includes the use of any electronic device (cellphone, computer, etc.). A
coach found to be in violation of the suspension will result in their receiving additional suspension time. A
coach who is serving a suspension for one team may be at the complex to coach a different team they are
rostered on

2.) Coaches yellow card accumulation system:

     After a coach receives a 3rd yellow card, not in the same match, they will be suspended for 1 (one) game and must attend an A&D hearing.
   Example: Coach (A) is cautioned for dissent in week 3 and again in weeks 5 and 6, that coach would then be suspended for their week 7 match. The two cautions in the same match, resulting in red card suspension, will count towards the accumulation.

      2a:)The accumulation of cautions will reset to zero (0) at the end of every soccer year.

3.) Coaches are expected to remain in their teams technical area at all times during the playing of the match. The teams technical area is defined as 10 (ten) yards on either side of their team bench area or the top of the center circle to the top of the center circle on the other side of the midfield line. Unless otherwise specified by the referee.

It is our belief that with the implementation and enforcement of these policies, coaches and spectators will understand that we, the Executive Board of GWFSA do not take misconduct lightly.