PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE IN NSAA REGULATIONS Proposal Generated by Mike McMahon, Omaha Skutt Catholic, School Access Code, District 2 This proposal was submitted on: Oct 26, 2009 This proposal is submitted by: Name: Mike McMahon School: Omaha Skutt Catholic NSAA District: 2 The proposal deals with: Activities Manual: Soccer  Page: 9 The section/paragraph/sentence indicates what is to be added/deleted/changed to the current Bylaw/Approved Ruling: ADDITIONS are in all capital letters. (Changes/Deletions are in parentheses.) NSAA SPORTSMANSHIP GUIDELINES AND EJECTIONS 1. Enforcement of the “sit-out rule” for ejections from high school contests for unsportsmanlike conduct AND THE CUMULATIVE CAUTION RULE is a responsibility of the member school. Failure to properly enforce this rule could result in other sanctions by the NSAA. 2. Administrators will be expected to promptly file a report with the NSAA whenever a participant or coach from their school has been CAUTIONED OR ejected from any high school contest. Such filing may be done ELECTRONICALLY ON THE NSAA – AD’S WEBPAGE OR by e-mail, fax, or a phone call. 3. A participant or coach ejected from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct OR THE CUMULATIVE CAUTION RULE shall be ineligible for the next athletic contest at that level of competition and any other athletic contest at any level during the interim. 4. Enforcement of the “sit-out rule” for EJECTIONS OR CUMULATIVE CAUTION RULE is expected to begin immediately, regardless whether it is regular-season or tournament play. 5. Any participant ejected a second or third time during a season from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be ineligible for the next two contests at that level of competition and all other athletic contests at any level during the interim, in addition to other penalties the NSAA or school may assess. 6. CUMULATIVE CAUTION RULE: REGULAR SEASON ANY PLAYER OR COACH WHO HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF FIVE (5) CAUTIONS IN ONE SEASON SHALL BE SUSPENDED AND SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED GAME AT THAT LEVEL INCLUDING POSTSEASON, AND ALL OTHER ATHLETIC CONTESTS AT ANY LEVEL DURING THE INTERIM. EACH THREE (3) ADDITIONAL CAUTIONS SHALL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL ONE-GAME SUSPENSION. IN CASES WHERE PLAYERS EARN TWO (2) CAUTIONS IN A GAME, ONLY ONE (1) SHALL COUNT TOWARDS THE TOTAL ACCUMULATION SYSTEM FOR THE SEASON. IN CASES WHERE A PLAYER EARNS A FIFTH (5TH) CAUTION, AND IS EJECTED LATER IN THE GAME, THE PLAYER SHALL MISS THE NEXT TWO (2) SCHEDULED CONTESTS. IF THE TOTAL IS REACHED IN THE FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON, THE PLAYER(S), COACH(ES) AND/OR BENCH PERSONEL SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST SCHEDULED GAME OF THE NEXT SEASON. POSTSEASON CAUTION ACCUMULATION WILL CARRY OVER INTO POSTSEASON PLAY, WHICH INCLUDES THE DISTRICT AND STATE TOURNAMENTS. PLAYERS OR COACHES PARTICIPATING IN POSTSEASON PLAY SHALL RECEIVE A ONE (1) GAME SUSPENSION WHEN A TOTAL OF EIGHT (8) CAUTIONS HAVE BEEN ACCUMULATED. EACH ADDITIONAL THREE (3) CAUTIONS SHALL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL ONE (1) GAME SUSPENSION. IF THE TOTAL IS REACHED IN THE FINAL POSTSEASON GAME OF THE YEAR, THE PLAYER(S), COACH(ES) OR BENCH PERSONNEL SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST SCHEDULED GAME(S) OF THE NEXT YEAR. The section/paragraph/sentence that needs to be added/deleted/changed would read as follows: NSAA SPORTSMANSHIP GUIDELINES AND EJECTIONS 1. Enforcement of the “sit-out rule” for ejections from high school contests for unsportsmanlike conduct and the Cumulative Caution Rule is a responsibility of the member school. Failure to properly enforce this rule could result in other sanctions by the NSAA. 2. Administrators will be expected to promptly file a report with the NSAA whenever a participant or coach from their school has been cautioned or ejected from any high school contest. Such filing may be done electronically on the NSAA – AD’s web page or by e-mail, fax, or a phone call. 3. A participant or coach ejected from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct or the Cumulative Caution Rule shall be ineligible for the next athletic contest at that level of competition and any other athletic contest at any level during the interim. 4. Enforcement of the “sit-out rule” for ejections or Cumulative Caution Rule is expected to begin immediately, regardless whether it is regular-season or tournament play. 5. Any participant ejected a second or third time during a season from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be ineligible for the next two contests at that level of competition and all other athletic contests at any level during the interim, in addition to other penalties the NSAA or school may assess. 6. CUMULATIVE CAUTION RULE: Regular-season games. Any player or coach who has received a total of five (5) cautions in one season shall be suspended and shall not participate in the next regularly scheduled game at that level, including postseason, and all other athletic contests at any level during the interim. Each three (3) additional cautions shall result in an additional one-game suspensions. In cases where players earn two (2) cautions in a game, only one (1) shall count towards the total accumulation system for the season. In cases where a player earns a fifth (5th) caution, and is ejected later in the game, the player shall miss the next two (2) scheduled contests. If the total is reached in the final game of the season, the player(s) and/or coach(es) shall not participate in the first scheduled game of the next season. Postseason games. Caution accumulation will carry over into postseason play, which includes the district and state tournaments. Players or coaches participating in postseason play will receive a one-game suspension when a total of eight (8) cautions have been accumulated. Each three (3) additional cautions shall result in additional one-game suspensions. If the total is reached in the final postseason game of the year, the player(s) and/or coach(es) shall not participate in the first scheduled game(s) of the next season. Cost Analysis of Proposal: Virtually none. The NSAA may have to make a website adjustment which could result in a small one-time expenditure. An NSAA staff member may have to track yellow card totals and communicate with schools. Rationale for the proposed change: This is an effort to reduce unsportsmanlike behavior and violent play in soccer. By including suspension, hopefully, the number of ejections (red cards) will ultimately be reduced. This was modeled after similar rules in other states and the NCAA rule.