Message Board

Mid-Ohio Select Soccer League

MESSAGE:

Recently our team experienced some very disturbing behavior from the opposing team's parents. Many parents on our team would like to issue a complaint, but are concerned about repercussions. Can you explain what happens when you file a complaint form?

Responses

cvthorn On 10/21/2009 11:28:16 PM
It would be a crime if blue slushies were to be spilled.

My name is Steve, too.

CoachnRef On 10/7/2009 5:16:51 PM
Barca,
If your fellow parents merely want to file a MOSSL Complaint Form, typically MOSSL looks into these complaints following their own internal procedures. My guess is that the opposing team will never know who filed the complaint.

MOSSL (Jim, in many cases) will go and observe a team's game after receiving such a complaint. If MOSSL feels that additional action needs to be taken (letter to the Club, DOC, coach, etc.), then that action will be taken. In most cases, your complaint will remain anonymous. I have never heard of Jim going to a team indicating that he was their because Team X filed a complaint. That does not mean it doesn't happen, but I have not heard of it.

I don't know MOSSL's procedures for communicating with the investigated party. But, I doubt that the accused will know who the accuser is unless there is a hearing similar to what Ciscooh alluded to earlier.

SteveH On 10/7/2009 2:47:52 PM
Soccer1969 -
An anonymous complaint on this discussion board is a cry for empathy. Others will chime in, and this form of venting can be "healthy" as long as mobs arent formed, knocking over trash cans and spilling blue slushies... little else will be done, as most coaches and clubs disregard most of this discussion board chat.

Barca-
In the world of youth soccer, MOSSL, as a large league, has and will experience random, as well as typical issues within its particpating clubs. While MOSSL is the "governing" league and has a formal complaint process, sometimes people would be better off dealing directly with actual club in some cases.
In many cases, the coaches can be responsible for their parents' behavior during a game. The clubs are responsible for their coaches, as well as players and parents. Check out the oppposing teams website. Look for a DoC, or President, etc etc. Email them. Copy MOSSL on the email if you wish. Most clubs that are credible will handle the complaint internally, and follow up with you, letting you know it was addressed. If it isn't properly handled, time will tell.

just my $.02...
(and my name is Steve)

soccer1969 On 10/6/2009 2:13:16 PM
PS - soccer1969 isn't my real name.

soccer1969 On 10/6/2009 2:12:15 PM
Barca -

A relatively anonymous method (at least to the general public on this site) for submitting a complaint is this Discussion Board. Be specific with the Who? and What? Not so specific with the Where? and When?

You may find comments from that others are familiar with the disturbing behavior you mention. You may also find that a representative of the club in question might take action to make a change to that behavior without anyone having to learn the source of the original post.

Ciscooh On 10/5/2009 11:31:16 AM
The simple and realistic answer is that complaints may be anonymous; however do not think it will be acted upon. Without someone willing to step forward and discuss the complaint MOSSL will not be able to understand answers to questions which may need more information.

As for repercussions; unless filing a complaint about the team or club your player participates with who and how could there be any?

If the matter should end in a hearing you will find that MOSSL does a first rate job of keeping the focus on the complaint and off the person who filed.

ameil43065 On 10/5/2009 9:00:05 AM
http://www.mossl.org/Assets/Admin+Bylaws+7-12-2009.doc

Here are the mossl admin bylaws posted on the mossl website with regard to conduct.

6.0 Conduct

6.1 All member leagues are required to hold the teams that they sponsor, the players and coaches on those teams, the parents and supporters of the players on those teams, to the highest standards of fair play, good sportsmanship and ethics.

6.1.1 Member leagues shall be responsible for maintaining supervisory control of the players and coaches of the teams that they have agreed to sponsor.

6.1.2 Head coaches shall be responsible for the conduct of themselves, their assistant coaches, their players and their team’s supporters.

6.2 In recognition of the fact that rules are not always followed and to have effective management of the league, a method of imposing sanctions for violations of leagues rules must be established.: Accordingly, the following three levels of sanctions, which may be imposed upon players, coaches and any spectator at any MOSSL league or tournament game, are established:

6.2.1 Minor infractions are offenses or occasions of objectionable conduct for which sanctions ranging from a letter of reprimand to a suspension of up to 4 games or two weeks may be imposed. Minor infractions are acts such as, but not limited to the following:

a) A player or a coach receives a second red card during a single season,

b) A spectator enters the field of play during a league or tournament game, without the permission of the referee.

c) Having an improperly registered player participate in a game,

d) Extreme use of profane, vulgar, threatening or abusive language.

6.2.2 Major infractions are those offenses or acts of misconduct for which sanctions ranging from a suspension of 1 or more games to a suspension from all M.O.S.S.L. sponsored activities for the balance of the current season or the following season of play may be imposed. Major infractions are acts such as, but not limited to:

a) A player or coach receives a third red card within a single season.

b) Severe verbal abuse of a referee or Assistant Referee,

c) Extreme verbal abuse of a coach, player or spectator,

d) Threats of violence, whether directed against a player, coach, referee, Assistant Referee or spectator,

e) Recruiting or attempting to recruit a player,

f) A team receives 4 red cards or a total of 8 yellow and/or red cards,

g) Improper removal of a player from a team roster during the seasonal year, (i.e. cutting a player from the team roster), as outlined in Section 8.1
6.2.3 Serious infractions are grievous offenses or acts of gross misconduct that threaten the integrity of the sport of soccer for which sanctions ranging from a multi-game suspension to a multi-year removal from some or all activities associated with M.O.S.S.L. can be made. Serious infractions are those acts such as, but not limited to:

a) Physical assault of a referee, player, coach or spectator.

b) Deliberate submission of or use of a fraudulent birth certificate, player registration form, coach registration form, team roster, travel permit, player pass, coach pass, or other US Youth Soccer or OSYSA document for the purpose of providing false information regarding the player’s age. Such individuals, if they are adults, shall be suspended for a minimum of five (5) years. Any player, for whom such a fraudulent birth certificate, player registration form, coach registration form, team roster, travel permit, player pass, coach pass, or other US Youth Soccer or OSYSA document is submitted or used, shall be suspended for a minimum of 6 months.

c) A second offense of recruiting or attempting to recruit a player.

6.3 In those cases in which a serious infraction is alleged to have occurred and the President determines that it is in the best interest of the integrity of M.O.S.S.L., the President shall be empowered to immediately suspend the person(s) involved until such time as a Grievance Committee hearing can be held to review the allegation.

6.4 If the President or the Vice President – Administration and Planning deems that a matter should be reviewed, a Grievance Committee hearing shall be held within 30 days of the receipt of written notification of an alleged violation, (or within 60 days of an violation that is alleged to have occurred during the Fall or Spring seasons), of any portion of either the Code of the Regulations or the Administrative Bylaws, either in the letter or spirit of those rules, except as follows:

a) A person has been suspended pursuant to Section 6.3, in which case the Grievance Committee shall meet within 10 days to review the matter.

b) A person alleged to have violated either rule 6.2.1 (a) or 6.2.2 (a) shall be immediately and automatically suspended for either 2 or 6 games, respectively. If all of the red cards that were issued to the person were for either violent conduct and/or serious foul play, then this suspension shall be for 4 or 8 games, respectively. Upon receipt of a written request for a hearing, addressed to the Vice President - Conduct, the suspension shall be stayed until a hearing can be held before the Grievance Committee.

c) One or more of the persons who are alleged to have violated one or more portions of either the Code of Regulations or the Administrative Bylaws submits a written request to the Vice-President of Conduct for a postponement of the proceedings before the Grievance Committee. When such a request is received, the Vice-President of Conduct may grant a postponement of those proceeding for up to 30 days.

6.4.1 During a hearing held by the Grievance Committee, the order of the hearing shall be:

a) Statement by the committee chairman as to the nature of the dispute under consideration by the committee and the names of the parties to the dispute.

b) Identification of witnesses that will be present testimony for the committee’s consideration.

c) Opening remarks by the complaining party.

d) Opening remarks by the party who is the principal of the dispute.

e) Presentation and questioning by both parties of relevant witnesses and documentation.

f) Questioning of principal by complaining party.

g) Questioning of complaining party by principal.

h Questioning of the parties to the dispute by the members of the Grievance Committee.

i) Closing remarks by the complaining party and the principal to the dispute.

The Chairman of the Grievance Committee may change the order of the hearing as necessary.

6.4.2 Only those persons identified at the beginning of the hearing as a potential witness may present testimony at the hearing. Persons identified as potential witnesses shall not be present in the hearing room while testimony is presented to the committee by other witnesses.

6.4.3 The chairman of the committee shall have the authority to rule on all matters relating to the relevancy of testimony and the submission of documentation. The chairman of the committee shall also be empowered to resolve any administrative matter that may come up during the hearing in order to provide that all parties have the opportunity to receive an open, fair and impartial hearing of the dispute. If during the course of the hearing, an administrative ruling by the chairman is contested by any party to the hearing, the Grievance Committee, as a whole, will take up the matter. The decision of the Grievance Committee, when taken as a whole, shall be the final and binding.

6.4.4 The parties to the dispute shall be notified, via certified mail, of the decision reached by the Grievance Committee within 14 days of the conclusion of the hearing.

6.5 These rules of conduct are applicable during the entire seasonal year, including league play, M.O.S.S.L. tournament play, other tournament play, State Cup play, Olympic Development Training, and at all functions in which the persons are participating based on their registrations as player or coaches within M.O.S.S.L.

6.6 In those matters referred directly to O.S.Y.S.A., M.O.S.S.L. reserves the right to impose sanctions in addition to any sanctions that may be imposed by O.S.Y.S.A.

6.7 In those matters in which the member league who sponsored the team, player or coach involved, chooses to impose sanctions, M.O.S.S.L. reserves the right to impose such additional sanctions as are deemed appropriate by the Grievance Committee.

6.8 In those matters involving misconduct at tournaments, the sanctions imposed may include a prohibition against participation in subsequent in-town or out-of-town tournaments, by the coach, player, or team involved.

6.9 In all cases, the sanctions that may be imposed by M.O.S.S.L. are in addition to any sanctions that may have been imposed by a referee on the field.
6.10 All complaints, whether made by a coach, player, referee, parent, spectator or any person, must be submitted in writing to the attention of the President in care of the M.O.S.S.L. office. The complaint must provide the date, time, location of the occurrence, the name(s) of the person(s) involved and sufficient details as to the nature of the occurrence in order that an informed decision can be made in the matter. Complaints received more than 365 days after the date of occurrence shall not be reviewed.

6.11 Any player or coach who is issued a red card, (sent off), during any game, whether a MOSSL league game or MOSSL tournament game, shall not be permitted to play or coach in the next MOSSL league game or MOSSL tournament game for that team during the current season or, if necessary, during the subsequent season. This section shall also apply where a player or coach has received a red card in a sanctioned tournament where the red card suspension was not served during that tournament. The term “during any game” as used within these bylaws shall include the time from when the referee and/or the assistant referee(s) arrived at the game site until the referee and and/or the assistant referee(s) leave the vicinity of the game site including any adjacent parking lot.

6.12 If a person is registered as a coach for more than 1 team, the sanctions imposed, depending upon the nature of the occurrence, may impact on her/his association with 1 or more of the teams.

6.13 If during the course of a league game or league tournament game, a dispute arises as to whether the game should continue and the question of the dispute involves the Laws of the Game, conduct of the participants or the spectators, or any other issue under the general authority of the referee, the referee may order the game terminated or continued as the referee deems appropriate. If a team refuses to resume playing a game when so instructed by the referee, the Vice-President - Competition shall be empowered to declare that game as a forfeit. In addition, the Vice-President - Competition and Conduct shall be empowered to suspend the head coach or other person who refused to continue the game for up to 3 games. If within 7 days of the being notified of the suspension, the person being suspended submits a written request addressed to the Vice President - Conduct, the suspension shall be stayed until a hearing can be held before the Grievance Committee.

6.14 The use of any tobacco product, including but not limited to cigars, cigarettes, pipes, snuff and chewing tobacco, by coaches, trainers, players and referees while engaged in any M.O.S.S.L. function that involves youth soccer players is prohibited. Under this rule, a M.O.S.S.L. function is defined as any of the following activities; team or individual practices, league games, tournament games, tryouts. A violation of this bylaw shall be deemed a minor infraction as defined in bylaw 6.2.1.

6.15 The use of, the possession of, or being under the influence of, alcohol or illegal drugs by coaches, trainers, players or referees while engaged in a M.O.S.S.L. function that involves youth soccer players is prohibited. Under this rule, a M.O.S.S.L. function is defined as any of the following activities; team or individual practices, league games, tournament games, tryouts. A violation of this bylaw shall be deemed a serious infraction as defined in bylaw 6.2.3.