The League Office shall have the authority to suspend, fine, or disqualify players, team officials or competing clubs for violating League rules, or for any action or conduct not in the best interest of soccer or the SYL.  The League Office has the authority to act on behalf of the League regarding any breach of the League Regulations or rules, or it may refer discussion on any breach of the rules to the National Review, Appeals, and Discipline Committee for review.  The League Office hands down any final decision on a breach of rules.  Please refer to the Referee Section, which contains misconduct classifications as well as other game misconduct.

 

The League Office has the authority to discipline players, coaches or team personnel based upon the SYL Disciplinary Procedures.

 

• A send off (red card) will result in a minimum of a one (1) game suspension. The Disciplinary Review Committee at the League Office will determine if further punishment.

• Any player accumulating seven (7) yellow cards during the regular season will be suspended for the following match.

 

All suspensions (except referee assault / abuse) shall commence on the 3rd day following the date of the offense.  However, the league office reserves the right to rescind the three (3) day grace period and have suspensions effectively immediately for misconducts that are especially violent or severe in nature.

 

Rule 702 - Serving Suspensions during the Regular Season
The penalties set forth shall apply to all cards awarded to a Player in any SYL match.  For the purposes of determining accumulations and Game Suspensions, any games that count as part of a team’s official League schedule shall be utilized.
 
Final Regular Season Game Send-off -- Any player sent off in a final regular season match must serve the suspension in the first playoff or SYL Finals match, unless the season is over, in which case the suspension will be served in the team’s first League game the following season. 
 
Guidelines for send off (current match) – Players and coaches sent off from the field are not permitted to watch the game.  They must remain in the locker room for the remainder of the match or be outside of the facility’s premises.  Additionally, coaches are not permitted to communicate with their team staff or players during the remainder of the game. The type of communication prohibited would include: cellular, 2-way radios, electronic/digital, written or verbal.  Players or coaches returning to the field of play during or directly following the match are subject to additional sanctions.
 
Coaching Staff Suspension Parameters & Restrictions -- Any manager, coach, assistant coach, trainer or other official bench personnel is prohibited from assuming any official duty at or near the team bench while serving a suspension.  Any infringement of this rule may result in the forfeiture of the game and will include discipline for each infraction.  (Any trainer sent off during a match should remain in the locker room area through the end of the match and may only return to the pitch with the permission of the referee in the event of an emergency.)
 
• Coaches serving suspensions are allowed to communicate with players pre- and post-game only.  Suspended coaches may not communicate with the team at half time.  Suspended coaches must not be on the field during warm-ups and may not stand or in any way be in close proximity to the field of play.   Following a game, a coach serving a suspension may enter the locker room, but must not be in or around the field of play.   Coaches must sit in the press box or in some location other than in the grandstand.  If this is not possible, then the coach is prohibited from attending the game. 

 

• Communication via cellular, 2-way radios, electronic, written or verbal is strictly prohibited.  Additional fines and/or suspensions will result.
 
Extending a Suspension -- In any case, the SYL reserves the right to impose suspensions beyond any of these parameters for offenses deemed to be particularly violent and against the spirit of the game.

 

Rule 702 - Suspension during the Playoffs or Finals
Cautions – A player accumulating three (3) cautions during the playoffs will be prohibited from participating in the team’s next playoff match.  Subsequently, any player accumulating six (6) cautions during the playoffs will be suspended from the team’s next playoff match.
 
Send-offs -- Any player who is sent off during the playoffs will be suspended from the next playoff game, unless the season is over, in which case the suspension will be served in the team’s first League game the following season.

 

Rule 703 - Commencement of Suspensions
In most cases, suspensions shall commence on the third day following the date of the last offense.  However, the League Office reserves the right to rescind the three--day grace period and have suspensions commence immediately for misconduct that is especially severe or violent in nature. 

A player or coach that was suspended in a match must serve the suspension of the match with the said age team they were suspended with.  No player or coach may compete on another team within the club until suspension has been served with said team. 

 

The three-day grace period is also rescinded for the playoffs due to scheduling of matches. 

 

Rule 704 - League Office’s Discretionary Power on Suspensions
The League Office may, at its discretion, rule that a specific game shall not count toward the completion of a suspension, if satisfied that the game has been purposely arranged by the club with a view toward enabling the player in question to complete his suspension at a specific time in order to qualify him to play in another specific game.
 
The League Office also may, at its discretion, waive all suspensions for the accumulation of cautions against players and coaches prior to a league championship game.

 

Rule 705 - SYL Disciplinary Committee
A panel of individuals from the League Office shall conduct the review of disciplinary issues.  Such a panel will consist of at least three people on the USL staff, one of which includes the League Director.
 
Rule 706 - U.S. Soccer Fine for Serious Incidents
The Secretary General of U.S. Soccer has the power to impose fines up to $10,000 for any incident bringing the game into disrepute.