Archdiocese of Seattle | Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Athletic Directors : Conduct, Protests, Appeals

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

Definition: Unsportsmanlike conduct at a game site is any antagonistic action(s), including vociferous and/or persistent complaints directed toward an official, another coach, opposing players, and spectators. This may include any types of verbal or physical abuse.

  • Any coach or spectator may be cited for unsportsmanlike conduct by a game official, a commissioner, or the Director of CYO Athletics. At the time of the alleged infraction, the above named are empowered to remove the accused offender(s) from the playing facility. If the accused offender(s) refuse to leave, the game will be forfeited in favor of the team not involved in the citation.
  • Each citation is reviewed and its justification is discussed by the sport commission involved. No citation is official or formal until the commission votes on it.
  • Someone other than a game official, a commissioner, or Director of CYO Athletics may file a complaint, by using the official incident report form, for unsportsmanlike conduct. This form must be submitted by the parish/school athletic director to the Director of CYO Athletics.  Emails or incident reports not submitted by the parish/school athletic director will not be considered for action. 
  • These complaints will be investigated and a citation could result. No one other than the above named are empowered to take any action regarding forfeiture.  Once a decision has been rendered, it will be communicated to the parish/school athletic director(s) involved so that they can share with involved parties what the resulting action is.
  • In most instances, the person(s) cited will be placed on probation and/or receive a one game suspension. A second citation will result in a three (3) year expulsion from participation in CYO Athletics. If the first infraction is flagrant (i.e. physically contacting someone in anger) a person(s) may be expelled from CYO Athletics on the first infraction. Expulsions may be appealed.
  • In the case of players, penalties attached to citations will be handled on a case by case basis.

NOTE: EACH TEAM, SPECIFICALLY ITS COACH,  IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF ITS FANS!

GAME FORFEITURE

  • Each team scheduled for a contest shall be dressed and ready for play at the appointed hour. Should any team not be ready with the required number of players at the appointed hour (game time), the contest shall be forfeited.
  • Should both teams not be ready with the required number of players at the appointed hour (game time), the game shall be declared a no contest, and both teams will be charged with a loss on their season’s record.
  • Teams forfeiting a game or match will be fined $40.00 unless CYO Athletics and the opposing team have been notified of the impending “no show” at least 72 hours in advance. Fine is payable before the next scheduled contest.
  • NOTE: In volleyball, only the first game shall be forfeited at game time. If the team in question is not ready for play 11 minutes after the appointed hour, then the complete match will be forfeited.
  • NOTE: In soccer, games will be forfeited when a team cannot supply nine players 15 minutes after the official start time for the game.

GAME PROTEST

All game protests are subject to the rules of the specific sport.

Before any protest will be accepted by a CYO Athletics commission, the protest must meet all of the following submission requirements:

  • That the protest is not based solely on a decision involving the accuracy of judgment on the part of an official, and
  • That the protest be made known to the official(s) and the opposing coach at the time of the incident, and
  • A detailed report of the exact reasons for the protest is submitted in writing (email is sufficient) from the AD to the CYO Athletics office within 48 hours of the game’s starting time, and
  • The protest must include a twenty-five ($25) protest fee that will be refunded if the protest is allowed.
  • The determination of a protest will be based on a majority vote of the entire commission for that sport. The Director of CYO Athletics will break ties. The protest letter(s) as written will be available to all the commission members and a vote will be made in person or by phone. The commission will make every attempt to notify a parish of its decision prior to the next scheduled game.
  • The decision of the commission is final.
  • NOTE: in line with NFHS rules, there is no game protest for volleyball.

CITATION APPEALS

Only those citations resulting in expulsion will be subject to appeal. The process for appeal is as follows:

  • State the reason(s) for your appeal in writing to the CYO Athletics Advisory Committee.
  • The appeal must include a twenty-five ($25) dollar fee that will be refunded if the appeal is allowed.
  • The CYO Athletics Advisory Committee is comprised of at large appointees determined on an annual basis, the chairperson of each sport commission, and the  Director of CYO Athletics.
  • The CYO Athletics Advisory Committee will attempt to schedule a hearing within 45 days.
  • During the appeal process the person charged with the citation will be ineligible to participate in CYO Athletics.
  • The Athletic Director and the person involved in the citation will be the only people attending the citation hearing.  In case of a hearing involving an Athletic Director, the pastor or another staff person as designated by the pastor may be present at the hearing.

ELIGIBILITY APPEALS

  • If a parish/school athletic association is dissatisfied with an eligibility decision of a sport commission, that parish/school may ask the Director of CYO Athletics to review the decision with the commission.
  • If the Director of CYO Athletics agrees with the commission decision, the parish may appeal the ruling to the CYO Athletics Advisory Committee.
  • The process for appeal is as follows: The parish is to be represented by the parish/school athletic director. The parish/school athletic association must include a twenty-five ($25) dollar fee. The CYO Athletics Advisory Committee will attempt to schedule a hearing within ten (10) days after the appeal is received at CYO Athletics. During the appeal process, the involved player(s) will not be allowed to play.