Disciplinary Info

1. Being near or around the bench before or after the match
2. Warming up with the team
3. Participation in locker room or team meetings
4. Shaking hands after the match

If suspended players are attending the match, they should do so from the stands (as a fan, in street clothes) and not as a member of the team. Players who are suspended cannot act as coach / manager or staff, and suspended staff or management cannot act as a player. Suspended players may practice on non-matchdays with the team during suspension.

If an individual receives a stadium ban, this prohibits someone from entering the confines of one or several stadiums. This ban shall commence 90 minutes prior to the start of the match and expire 30 minutes after the match. They are not to interact with the match officials prior to nor after the match.

For further information, please reference the NPSL Disciplinary Code. Questions should be directed to Paul Scott at pscott@npsl.com

Starting in the 2023 season, no suspensions are given for yellow card accumulations.

Any red cards are assumed as a one (1) match minimum suspension, regardless if the suspension is communicated in a timely manner or appears on this report. Example: if a player gets a red card on a Saturday and has a match the next day on Sunday, the player is suspended for that Sunday match (at minimum). Playing the next match after a red card is the same as playing an ineligible player and is subject to forfeit and/or fine.

Team members who have been cited in a referee’s report, found to have violated NPSL policy, or posting any disparaging statements against another team, supporters, or the match officials, are subject to a fine in addition to any suspensions. In all cases, these fines may increase incrementally for subsequent violations.

Appeals are accepted for suspensions of four games or more. Suspensions must be served as scheduled while an appeal is being arbitrated. Appeals must be submitted to the Director of Officials, along with the $250 appeal fee, within three business days from the time of suspension notification. The $250 appeal fee may be returned upon a successful appeal and / or at the discretion of the league.

Protest of an NPSL Match must meet one of the two criteria:

1. The game was materially impacted by a misapplication of the laws of the game
2. The game was materially impacted by a violation of the rules of competition

A successful protest may result in a game forfeit, fines, or the replay of part or the entire game. The protest is to be filed within 48 hours of the game’s start time, and must be accompanied by a $250 protest fee. If the league determines the game must be replayed, it is done at both teams’ expense, and may result in repeated stadium fees, travel, referee fees, etc. The $250 protest fee may be returned upon a successful protest and / or at the discretion of the league.

If a player receives a red card in his last regular season game that would otherwise suspend him from his next game, the suspension is applied to any playoff games. If his team does not advance to the playoffs, the suspension carries over to the next NPSL season in which the player plays – regardless of whether he remains on the same NPSL team the following season or joins a new one. The statute of limitations on suspensions is two years from the date it was incurred, unless another governing body has jurisdiction, such as instances of referee assault.

If a player receives a red card in any playoff game that would otherwise suspend him from his next game, he shall serve the suspension during the remainder of the playoffs. If his team does not advance in the playoffs, or if he receives a red card in the NPSL National Championship, the suspension carries over to the next NPSL season in which the player plays – regardless of whether he remains on the same NPSL team the following season or joins a new one. The statute of limitations on suspensions is two years from the date it was incurred, unless another governing body has jurisdiction, such as instances of referee assault.