LANCASTER, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Massachusetts Youth Soccer organization is getting ahead of the Spring 2025 season with newly implemented behavior measures after “inappropriate and abusive behavior” was regularly reported on the field and sidelines of youth soccer games last year.
The “Gross Misconduct” policy introduces mandatory minimum penalties for misconduct towards referees as well as requiring a “pre-game sportsmanship announcement” to be read before all games.
In a statement from MA Youth Soccer they wrote; “Policy 531-9 now includes a category of misconduct titled “Gross Misconduct” which includes insulting, belittling, insinuating, or taunting behavior that undermines the authority of the referee. Additional mandatory minimum penalties for misconduct towards referees have been established. Of note is the addition of a minor multiplier, which triples sanctions for incidents of misconduct towards minor (under age 18) referees.”
A spectator misconduct towards referees policy has also been put in place that extends the Policy 531-9 minimum penalties to all spectators at MA Youth Soccer sponsored events.