Disciplinary
The NPSL Disciplinary Committee is comprised of representatives from participating associations that shall handle all disciplinary matters of the league. The committee meets each week following NPSL sanctioned matches to review and act upon misconduct reports and apply NPSL rules for game abandonments. Meetings are normally held virtually, but in person meetings may be called by the Committee as needed
Referees shall report all game misconduct within 48 hours of the match. The Committee reviews the reports, and votes to Uphold or Deny each report by Thursday morning each week. In most cases, misconducts reports are upheld, but the Committee may choose to deny a report for lack of information or misapplication of the laws of the game. The Committee may also chose to reduce a sendoff to a caution based upon the submitted report. If you have a question about the outcome of any misconduct issued during a match, you may request the outcome of the Committee’s deliberations after Thursday noon.
All send offs or expulsions require a minimum sit out (non-participation) of one match, per Disciplinary Code Rule 605. A more stringent sanction may be applied, per Committee review. When a more stringent sanction is indicated, a hearing with the participant and Committee representatives shall be held, usually on Thursday evening, 7:00 pm at the District office.
In all cases involving send offs, Committee decisions and the imposed sanction will be communicated to the Club for distribution to the team and sanctioned player/official. A sit out form will be provided that is to be completed and signed by the referee at the match(es) where the required sanction is served. If the sit out form does not arrive before your next match, have the game sheet clearly indicate that the player or team official did not participate and get the referee to sign the game sheet as a surrogate for the sit out form.
The Disciplinary Code provides for sanctions against players or teams for repeated misconduct through a season. A player who receives three cautions throughout the course of a season will be required to sit out one match, and then sit out an additional match for fourth and subsequent cautions. A penalty point system is used for accumulation of sendoffs and cautions, with a caution worth 1 point and a send off worth 3 points. Players who reach 7 points, or teams that reach 15 points in the course of a league season will need to meet with the Committee to discuss the circumstances and receive the appropriate sanction. Excessive red card accumulation by a player or team can also be grounds for suspension. Full details are available in Rule 605.
Formal protests shall be submitted to the Committee at the above email address.
