Category:RAP/FAQ: Difference between revisions

Yes, anyone can report. Referees report potential abuse by players or team officials on on a match report. Incidents involving anyone other than players or team officials are reported on an Incident Report.

The Disciplinary Board should meet within 3 days of the incident to ensure sanctions are in effect for participation in the matches the following week.

After the sanctions are final, The RRA or ARA may, at their discretion, provide verbal feedback to the Referee involved in the RAPP violation regarding the imposed sanctions. This also provides an opportunity to coach the Referee on game management tactics used to de-escalate a challenging and/or abusive incident.

The RAP Program Administrator conducts an investigation based upon the materials provided by the referee(s) and witnesses. As needed, has conversations with the referee(s) and/or witnesses to gather additional details and clearly understand the incident.

Each violator's actions are treated separately.

Any abuse, assault and/or gross misconduct directed at any match official is subject to being disciplined in accordance with U.S. Soccer Policy 531-9 Misconduct Toward Game Officials in Amateur Matches, which policy is effective March, 2025. Physical assault could also result in criminal action.

Yes, they can and should be reported by anyone witnessing such behavior using an Incident Report.

New referees may be taken unawares by confrontational abusive behavior by coaches or spectators. This does not mitigate such behavior and should be reported to the Referee Administrator who can provide council on the most appropriate response.

The final disposition of RAP sanctions as determined by the RAP Disciplinary Board are reported to the AYSO National Referee Program Administrator who, in turn, communicates that sanction with US Soccer Clubs.

Sanctions taken against spectators are communicated to them through the Regional Commissioner.

In most cases, incidents not involving the referee are not a RAP situation but should be reported either by the referee on a match report or by another witness on an Incident Report.

The penalties for abuse of a youth referee are multiplied as shown in the Penalty Summary

Behavior that is abuse has gone beyond dissent (a cautionable event) and abusive languange and behavior (a send-off event) so a card should be shown for such behavior. That notwithstanding, RAP sanctions can be pursued even if a caution or send-off has not occured.

Education and mentoring...abusive behavior is not to be tolerated. Anyone can report such misbehavior.

Suspension apply to all AYSO events. For example, a 4 week suspension bars an indiviual from any particiaption in AYSO events for 4 weeks, regardless of the team involved.

Training is available at https://www.ussoccer.com/rap