League Procedures & Info

Discipline Procedures & Info

PURPOSE
Streamline a process for managing discipline matters such as yellow and red cards during a game. 

Please read and refer to the sections below for discipline procedures for red and yellow cards.  

The LIWSA follows the BC Soccer Judicial Code and PoliciesIf you wish to appeal a decision of the LIWSA Discipline Chair/Committee, you can do so by contacting BC Soccer using the BC Soccer appeals process. Or visit the BCSA Discipline Info page on our site.

Red Card

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When a player or team official receives a red card and is ejected from a game, they will serve an automatic one (1) game suspension. There will be a Discipline by Review to determine and suggest length of suspension as per BCSA Judicial Code. This suggested suspension will be posted on the Discipline list. 

The suspended individual will have 48 hrs to decide if they accept the sanctioning. 

If the suspended individual does not accept the sanction, they are entitled to request and attend a discipline hearing to have their case heard. The request for a hearing must be submitted in writing (via email is accepted) to admin@liwsa.com. The suggested suspension offer is then retracted, and the Discipline Committee will assess the suspension at the Discipline Hearing. 

See Discipline Hearing information below. 

Yellow Card

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(Accumulated in a season) 

When a player or team official receives a second caution (yellow card) in a game and are ejected, they will typically serve a one (1) game suspension. There will be a Discipline by Review to determine if further sanctioning is required. When a player or team official accumulates 3 yellow cards in a season, they will be suspended for a minimum of one (1) game. There will be a Discipline by Review to determine if further sanctioning is required. 

The Discipline Committee will suggest a suspension guided by the BCSA Judicial Code and will be posted on the Discipline list. The suspended individual will have 48 hrs to decide if they accept the sanctioning (minimum per red card is 1 game). 

If the suspended individual does not accept the sanction, they are entitled to request and attend a discipline hearing to have their case heard. The request for a hearing must be submitted in writing (via email is accepted) to admin@liwsa.com. The suggested suspension offer is then retracted, and the Discipline Committee will assess the suspension at the Discipline Hearing. 

See Discipline Hearing information below. 

Discipline Hearing(s)

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The Discipline Committee will be available on a weekly basis on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm via Zoom if a suspended individual requests a Discipline Hearing (subject to availability).  For clarification purposes, the Wednesday following the automatic one game suspension will be the earliest hearing date available if requested.  

If an individual cannot attend on a particular Wednesday, they may request to attend the following Wednesday. Only one postponement will be granted, and once that has been exhausted, the Discipline Committee will revert to the suggested suspension first offered prior to the Discipline Hearing request.

Discipline Hearings must be requested by emailing:  admin@liwsa.com

LIWSA Discipline Rules

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RULE 10.0 DISCIPLINE

Discipline Rules are pursuant to the BCSA Rules and Regulations.

10.1 The LIWSA Executive shall have the authority to inquire into the conduct of any player or team official and may take disciplinary action where it is determined that violated FIFA Laws of the Game and/or the BCSA game rules
a) violated rules established from time to time by the BCSA regarding the conduct of members on and off the field, including the conduct of spectators
b) conducted themselves in a manner considered by the LIWSA to be unbecoming of a member registered with the League
c) conducted themselves in a manner considered by the LIWSA not to be in the best interest in the game of soccer or the BCSA

10.2 A disciplinary hearing will be held when necessary pursuant to the BCSA Disciplinary Guidelines, at a time and place to be determined by the LIWSA Executive: Disciplinary action may include any or all of the following:
a) a reprimand
b) a fine or bond; (BCSA Rule 10iv)
c) suspension from playing, coaching, or managing for one or more league or cup games or for one or more playing seasons
d) suspension of the member for an indefinite period
e) expulsion of the member from the LIWSA.

10.3 Every association and team are responsible for the actions of its players, team officials and spectators, and is required to take all precautions necessary to prevent spectator misconduct before, during or at the conclusion of matches. 

10.4 Players and/or team officials reported for misconduct in a league, cup competition, exhibition or training game, may be allowed to continue to participate in all soccer activities until their case is dealt with, except where LIWSA imposes an interim suspension or other discipline measures.

a) A player with a red card or team official sent from the field of play will automatically be suspended for one (1) game, in the competition in which it occurred.  The player or team official having served the one (1) game suspension shall be eligible to resume play unless notified by the League that further disciplinary action is being applied. The one game suspension shall be carried from one season to the next if not served prior to the completion of the season in which is issued.

b) A player who accumulates three (3) official cautions (yellow cards) within a period of one playing season shall be automatically suspended for one (1) game without hearing or appeal for the following league game or cup game. After having served the one-game suspension the player shall be eligible to resume play unless notified by the LIWSA that further disciplinary action is being applied.  The one game suspension shall be carried from one season to the next if not served prior to the completion of the season in which it was accumulated.

c) A player who accumulates five (5) official cautions (yellow cards) within the period of one playing season will be required to appear before a Discipline Committee and shall be assessed a one (1) game suspension which must be served in the player’s following league or cup game, whichever comes first. A player must serve this suspension in the following game within the competition in which the cautions were earned.
d) Having accumulated additional cautions under 10.4(c), players receiving further caution (yellow cards) in the current season shall be automatically suspended for two (2) games (league or cup) without hearing or appeal after having served the two‑game suspension, the player shall be eligible to resume play unless notified by the LIWSA that further disciplinary action is being applied. The (two) game suspension shall be carried from one season to the next if not served prior to the completion of the season in which it was accumulated. 

e) Players or officials reported for unethical physical conduct, violent misconduct, inciting violence, discrimination, combined offenses or for assault of  Referees  and/or  Game  Officials,  shall  stand  suspended  from all soccer activities within the jurisdiction of  the  LIWSA  until  their case has been heard, and dealt with by the LIWSA.

10.5 All cards accumulated in league completion are counted separately from cards accumulated in cup competition.

10.6 The LIWSA Executive will make best efforts to deal with all matters of discipline within ten (10) days of the incident.

10.7 Associations, leagues, clubs, teams, their team officials and/or players may have legal representation. However, if written communication is received that requires a legal response, all fees will be paid for by the individual, club, or team. For further clarity, the suspension will remain in effect until a hearing occurs, and the individual, club or team representative is still required to attend a hearing.

10.8 Exhibition Games:
a) The rules governing discipline issues and penalties states that any person or organization reported for misconduct is required to serve an automatic one game suspension and does not differentiate between exhibition, league or cup games. The penalty for being expelled from a game remains the same regardless of the situation. Standard discipline policy must be followed for any misconduct that brings the game into disrepute.
b) Exhibition games do NOT count as games served for current suspensions. 

Discipline Flowchart

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