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EPPL is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and development-focused environment for all participants. This page outlines the league's expectations regarding sportsmanship, conduct, competition integrity, disciplinary procedures, and appeals. Understanding these standards helps ensure a positive experience for players, coaches, referees, spectators, and clubs throughout the season.
League Rules & Governing Documents
All disciplinary decisions are made in accordance with the EPPL Rules, US Club Soccer policies, and applicable US Soccer Federation guidance. Participants are encouraged to review the official governing documents before submitting a grievance, appeal, or disciplinary inquiry.
Resources
Sportsmanship & Respect
What We Expect
Youth soccer should be competitive, but competition should never come at the expense of respect and sportsmanship. EPPL expects players, coaches, spectators, referees, and club representatives to behave in a manner that promotes respect, sportsmanship, and fair competition.
All participants are expected to:
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Respect opponents
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Respect referees
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Respect coaches and spectators
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Demonstrate good sportsmanship in victory and defeat
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Support a positive game-day environment
Poor sportsmanship may result in warnings, disciplinary action, suspensions, point deductions, or additional sanctions depending on the severity and frequency of the behavior.
Poor sportsmanship is not limited to fighting. It may include:
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Abusive language
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Harassment
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Dissent
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Unsporting conduct
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Failure to control spectators
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Repeated misconduct
Coaches are expected to set the standard for behavior and may be held accountable for the conduct of their teams and spectators.
Discipline Decision-Making Process
EPPL follows a structured review process when evaluating disciplinary matters. This process is designed to ensure that decisions are fair, consistent, and based on the available information, league rules, and applicable disciplinary guidelines.
1. Incident Occurs
A disciplinary matter begins when an incident takes place before, during, or after an EPPL match or league event. This may include misconduct, violent conduct, referee abuse, spectator behavior, cheating, roster violations, or any other action that may require league review.
2. Incident Is Reported
The incident may be reported through a referee report, EPPL staff member, coach, club representative, grievance form, video evidence, or other credible source. Reports should include as much detail as possible, including teams involved, date, location, participants, and a description of what occurred.
3. Investigation & Information Gathering
EPPL reviews the initial report and gathers relevant information. This may include referee reports, witness statements, coach or club statements, video footage, registration records, match reports, or any other documentation needed to understand the incident.
4. Discipline Committee Review
The EPPL Discipline Committee reviews the available information along with EPPL rules, US Club Soccer guidelines, USSF misconduct guidance, and any applicable league matrices. The committee evaluates the severity of the incident, prior behavior when applicable, safety concerns, and the impact on the match or competition.
5. Decision Issued
Once the review is complete, EPPL issues a disciplinary decision to the appropriate parties. Decisions may include warnings, suspensions, forfeits, point reductions, removal from competition, or additional sanctions depending on the severity and circumstances of the incident.
6. Appeal Opportunity
Eligible decisions may be appealed through the official EPPL appeal process. Appeals must be submitted within the required timeframe and should include the reason for the appeal, supporting documentation, and any new or relevant information for review.
EPPL Appeal Process
EPPL recognizes that disciplinary matters can have a significant impact on players, coaches, teams, and clubs. For that reason, eligible disciplinary decisions may be appealed through the league's formal appeals process.
Step 1: Initial Decision
When an incident occurs that may warrant disciplinary action, EPPL leadership conducts an investigation and gathers information from all available sources, including referee reports, coaches, field managers, witnesses, video evidence, and other relevant documentation. Decisions are made using EPPL rules and policies, the US Club Soccer Discipline Matrix, and applicable US Soccer Federation disciplinary guidance.
Step 2: Notification of Decision
Once a decision has been reached, the affected parties will be notified of the disciplinary action and any applicable sanctions. All disciplinary decisions remain in effect during the appeal process unless otherwise authorized by EPPL leadership.
Step 3: Submit an Appeal
Affected parties have 48 hours from the time they are notified of the decision to submit a formal appeal.
Appeals should be submitted to:
The appeal should include:
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A summary of the incident and events that occurred.
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An explanation of why the decision is being appealed.
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Any supporting evidence, including videos, photographs, medical documentation, witness statements, or other relevant materials.
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If applicable, an acknowledgement of responsibility and explanation of corrective actions taken.
Step 4: Appeal Review & Hearing
After reviewing the appeal, EPPL may determine that additional review is necessary. If so, the appellant may be invited to participate in a hearing before the EPPL Discipline Committee.
Hearings may be conducted:
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In person
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By video conference
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By phone conference
During the hearing, the appellant may present additional evidence, provide clarification regarding the incident, and submit letters or written statements from individuals who may provide relevant information or character references.
In certain cases, EPPL may require educational, preventive, or sportsmanship-related training as part of a participant's return to league activities.
Step 5: Final Determination
Once all available information has been reviewed, the EPPL Discipline Committee will make a final determination based on league rules, participant safety, competition integrity, and what is deemed to be in the best interest of the league and its community.
Final Authority
Following the completion of the appeal process, the decision issued by EPPL leadership and/or the Discipline Committee shall be considered final and binding. No further appeals, reviews, or challenges will be accepted once a final determination has been made.
Competition Integrity & Cheating
STOMP OUT CHEATING!
There is zero tolerance for cheating within EPPL competition.
Examples include:
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Playing unregistered players
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Using over-age players
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Falsifying player information
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Altering registration documents
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Misrepresenting eligibility
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Circumventing league rules
Cheating Consequences:
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On the first offense the team will be removed from the current season and will lose all of their games via forfeit. No refunds will be given.
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If there is a second offense, the entire club will be removed from the season. No refunds will be given.
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If there is a third offense from the same team or club, they will be expelled from any future participation in the EPPL. No refunds will be given.
Violent Conduct & Major Physical Altercations
EPPL maintains a zero-tolerance approach toward violence. While competitive emotions are a natural part of sport, any incident involving fighting, major physical aggression, spectator involvement, or threats to participant safety will be treated as a serious matter.
When evaluating a violent incident, EPPL considers several factors, including:
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The severity of the conduct
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The number of participants involved
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Whether the incident remained isolated or escalated
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Whether spectators became involved
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The ability of coaches and referees to regain control
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The overall impact on player safety and match integrity
In all cases, violent incidents will be subject to the EPPL Discipline Review Process and may result in sanctions beyond any cards issued during the match.
Level 1: Isolated Player Misconduct
Examples may include:
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One player striking another player
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Attempting to strike an opponent
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Isolated acts of violent conduct
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Limited confrontations involving one or two participants
If the situation is quickly controlled by referees and/or coaches and does not escalate beyond the directly involved participants, the match may continue.
Only the players involved will typically be subject to disciplinary action.
Possible consequences include:
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Red cards
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Suspensions
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Additional disciplinary review
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Additional sanctions based on severity
Level 2: Major Player Altercation
Examples may include:
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Multiple players actively fighting
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Chasing opponents
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Punching or kicking
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Bench personnel becoming involved
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Large confrontations involving multiple participants
When a violent incident escalates beyond the individuals initially involved and develops into a major altercation, participant safety becomes the primary concern.
In these situations:
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The match may be suspended or terminated.
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The offending or instigating team may forfeit the match.
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If no offending team can be clearly identified, the match may be declared a No Contest.
Additional sanctions may include:
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Point reductions
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Multi-game suspensions
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Team sanctions
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Removal from league competition
Spectator Involvement & Pitch Invasions
Parents and spectators should remain off the field at all times unless there is an immediate safety concern.
If spectators enter the field during a violent incident, their actions will be evaluated under the EPPL Pitch Invasion Policy.
The safest and most appropriate response is to allow referees, coaches, and league officials to manage the situation whenever possible.
Level 3: Spectators Enter the Field but Do Not Participate
In rare situations, a parent or spectator may enter the field solely to help prevent imminent harm or separate participants.
To be considered mitigating, the individual must:
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Not engage in violence
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Not threaten participants
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Not provoke others
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Not escalate the situation
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Immediately disengage once control is restored
If spectators enter the field but do not participate in the confrontation and referees are able to quickly regain control, the match may continue at the discretion of the referee and EPPL staff.
Additional disciplinary action may still be imposed.
Level 4: Spectator Participation in Violence
Examples may include:
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Pushing participants
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Threatening participants
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Aggressive confrontation
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Verbal intimidation
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Escalating an existing altercation
When a spectator actively engages, incites, or participates in a violent incident, the match will be terminated.
The offending team will forfeit the match.
If no offending team can be clearly identified, the match may be declared a No Contest.
Additional sanctions may include:
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Team suspensions
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Point reductions
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Spectator bans
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Club sanctions
Level 5: Major Spectator Violence
Examples may include:
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Physical fights involving spectators
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Assaultive behavior
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Multiple spectators engaging in violence
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Large-scale confrontations involving players and spectators
Major spectator violence represents one of the most serious violations of league standards.
When spectators engage in major physical violence, EPPL may:
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Terminate the match immediately
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Declare forfeits or No Contests
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Remove teams from the competition
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Suspend teams or clubs
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Expel teams from the league
The safety of players, referees, coaches, and spectators will always take precedence over the completion of a match.
Important Reminder
Not every incident is identical. While these guidelines establish the framework used by EPPL, the Discipline Committee reserves the authority to evaluate the unique facts and circumstances of each case and impose sanctions deemed necessary to protect participant safety, competition integrity, and the best interests of the league.
Pitch Invasion Policy
Stay Off The Field
PITCH INVASION DEFINITION: A pitch invasion is defined as any entry onto the field of play without the explicit permission of the referee, before, during, or after a match.
DO NOT COME ON TO THE FIELD. Any pitch invasion by a coach, parent, or spectator that incites, escalates, or participates in violence will result in an automatic forfeit by the offending team, regardless of match type. Any unauthorized entry onto the field is prohibited and will carry consequences, and at a minimum will result in an automatic yellow card to the head coach of the offending team. If the situation does not escalate, there is no physical violence, and the referee is able to quickly regain control, the match may continue at the discretion of the referee and/or EPPL staff, with additional sanctions as appropriate (including removal of spectators, red cards, suspensions, and bans).
Referee and EPPL Staff Authority
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The referee and/or EPPL Staff have FULL AUTHORITY to determine:
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Whether entry was authorized o Whether behavior was mitigating or aggravating
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Whether a match should be suspended, abandoned, or forfeited
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Referee and/or EPPL Staff decisions regarding safety and match control are final.
Zero-Tolerance Statement
While the league recognizes rare emergency circumstances, unauthorized pitch invasion will be treated as a serious offense. Parents and spectators are expected to remain off the field at all times unless expressly directed otherwise. Failure to comply jeopardizes player safety, match integrity, and the future participation of the offending team.
Red Cards & Suspensions
Two Yellow Cards
A coach or player receiving two cautions in a single match is considered sent off and must leave the match. Under current league rules, they may participate in the team's next match.
Direct Red Cards
A coach or player receiving a direct red card is automatically suspended for the team's next match and may be subject to additional review depending on the offense.
Serious Misconduct
Certain offenses may carry additional suspensions beyond the automatic minimum.
Violence Against Match Officials
EPPL maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding violence against referees and match officials.
Any violence committed by a player, coach, spectator, or team official against a match official may result in the immediate removal of the team from the event and additional disciplinary sanctions.
EPPL will base all decisions regarding violence against match officials on the USSF Policy 531-9.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Why did our team lose points?
Can a spectator cause a team to forfeit?
What happens after a fight?
Can I appeal a suspension?
What if I disagree with the referee?
What is considered cheating?