Policy on Technical Fouls, Ejections and Threats or Physical Abuse
NGBA Board members, volunteers, coaches, players, families, and spectators represent not only themselves as individuals but also our organization and the broader Newburyport community when hosting or traveling to other communities. NGBA requires all participants in our programs, active or passive, to adhere to the Code of Conduct, always be respectful and display good sportsmanship.
Violations of our Code of Conduct involving direct technical fouls, game ejections and/or threats or physical abuse will result in the following disciplinary actions, as adopted by River Valley League (RVL) and supplemented by NGBA policies:
NGBA abides by RVL policies on Technical Fouls, Ejections and Threats or Physical Abuse. NGBA policies/procedures noted below are intended to supplement, not replace or supersede RVL policies.
RVL Policy on All Technical Fouls: (Direct Technical: Physical or Verbal Abuse, Unsportsmanlike conduct) by Players or Coaches must be reported to the appropriate RVL Age Director and RVL Commissioner(s) within 72 hours of the conclusion of the game. If the head coach does not report their team(s) technical fouls in the allotted time, then the coach shall be suspended for 2 or more games by RVL depending on the number of violations.
In addition to notifying RVL Age Director and RVL Commissioner(s), NGBA coaches must also notify appropriate NGBA Age Coordinator(s) and NGBA President to report direct technical fouls by players or coaches during an RVL game.
NGBA Disciplinary Steps for Technical Fouls:
- 1st Technical in a Season: non-violent acts will be discretionary discipline by the NGBA President including warnings, behavior plan or suspension.
- 2nd Technical in a Season: successive non-violent acts will result in minimum 1 game suspension, with discretion by the NGBA President to consider mitigating factors and offer alternative disciplinary steps.
- 3rd Technical or more in a Season: Anyone receiving a 3rd or more successive technical for non-violent acts in the same RVL season will face a suspension ranging from a single game to indefinite suspension at the discretion of the NGBA President and Board of Directors (BoD).
Technical Foul for Violent Threats or Physical Abuse: RVL and NGBA policies, as described below, apply for violent threats or physical abuse including those acts where a technical foul was assessed during a game. Any participant in NGBA programs, active or passive, including coaches, players, families, or spectators that commit violent threats or physical abuse of any kind in NGBA or RVL programs will be suspended indefinitely by NGBA and a minimum of 1 year by RVL.
RVL Policy on Ejections: Any individual ejected from a RVL game will be suspended for 1 league game for their first offense by RVL. A second ejection in the same season will result in a minimum 3 game suspension by RVL. A third ejection in the same season will result in a minimum of 1 year suspension by RVL. Both coaches must report the ejection(s) to the appropriate RVL Age Director and RVL Commissioner(s) within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game.
NGBA coaches must report any game ejections to the appropriate NGBA Age Coordinator and the NGBA President no later than 24 hours after the conclusion of the game. The NGBA President and Board of Directors (BoD) reserve the discretion to apply discipline in addition to RVL penalties.
RVL Policy on Threats or Physical Abuse to another party (i.e., Referee, Coach, Player, Spectator, etc.) will result in a suspension from all RVL events for a minimum of 1 year. The suspension(s) shall be enforced by the RVL Age Director with an appeal process to the RVL BOD.
NGBA Policy on Violent Threats or Physical Abuse: Any participant, active or passive, that commits violent threats or physical abuse against any other party during an NGBA program will immediately be suspended indefinitely from all NGBA activities including attending games or practices. Suspension by NGBA will be concurrent to any RVL suspension, however an NGBA suspension can exceed the length of an RVL suspension. After 1 year, participants will be considered for reinstatement by the NGBA BoD. Suspension(s) shall be enforced by the NGBA President and can be appealed to NGBA BoD.