Parent Liaison Program

This Program was developed and established by the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association. Tri-County has made the decision to adopt this program.

Referee abuse and harassment by spectators and coaches is one of the central reasons why referees, particularly those in their early teens, drop out of officiating resulting in a severe shortage of referees at all levels. This unacceptable behavior towards our youth must be addressed as a priority if soccer is to have an adequate supply of referees.

All teams must designate an individual (does not have to be the same person for each game) at each game (home and away) to act as a referee liaison. The referee liaison of each team shall be a person who is not a team official (coach/manager) and their main role will be to act as a deterrent to possible acts of misbehavior by spectators or team officials. The referee liaison will also be available to the referee should a request to do so be made or if a potential problem exists.

Description of Referee Liaison Duties

Each team shall provide a referee liaison that shall:

★ Be identified with a referee liaison armband (fluorescent orange tape) provided by their team.

★ Be identified on the game sheet as the referee liaison.

★ Introduce themselves on the spectator side of the field (and the referee/assistant referee)

★ Monitor the behavior and deal with inappropriate comments, gestures and/or general unsporting behavior directed at the referees, linesmen, players, or any other individual by their teams’ spectators.

★ Quickly diffuse potential problems before they arise by either being visible or calmly speaking with the individual(s) involved.

★ Be visible and available to assist the referee particularly at half time and full time.

★ The Parent Liaison has FULL authority to ask any spectator causing an issue to leave the field. The dismissed person will be requested to a Tri-County hearing before they would be allowed back at the field.

★ Submit a brief report in writing to Gibbons AC Milan Outdoor Soccer committee of any incident that you feel Gibbons and/or Tri-County should be aware of involving inappropriate behavior by ANY individual.


THIS IS NOT AN OPTIONAL PROGRAM, TRI-COUNTY AS WELL AS THE GIBBONS MINOR SOCCER ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE ATTENDING GAMES TO ENSURE THIS PROGRAM IS IN EFFECT.