Conduct and Sanctions

Sportsmanship Requirements

Both the team captain and coach are responsible for their team's conduct. Every team member (players, coaches, staff) must follow these standards.

Fair Play

Participants must know the rules and accept referee decisions with sportsmanship. Disputes go through the game captain, not individual players arguing with refs.

What's expected:

• Respect referees, opponents, teammates, and spectators
• Don't try to influence referee decisions
• Don't cover up your team's faults
• Communicate with teammates (that's allowed and encouraged)

---

Minor Misconduct

Minor misconduct doesn't get sanctions. Instead, the referee handles it in two stages:

Stage 1: Verbal warning through the game captain

Stage 2: Yellow card shown to the team member

The yellow card (alone) is a formal warning, not a sanction. It means the player or team has reached the sanctioning level. It's recorded on the score sheet but has no immediate consequence.

---

Misconduct Leading to Sanctions

Misconduct that crosses the line falls into three categories:

---

The Sanction Scale

Sanctions escalate based on severity and repetition:

Penalty (Red Card)

First rude conduct in the match: Penalty. Opponent gets a point and serve.

The referee shows a red card alone.

Expulsion (Red + Yellow Together)

Expulsion means the team member must leave for the rest of the set. They go to the dressing room and can return for the next set.

Expulsion happens for:

• First offensive conduct
• Second rude conduct by the same person

The referee shows red and yellow cards held together in one hand.

If a player is expelled: They must be substituted immediately (legally or exceptionally). If they can't be substituted, the team is declared incomplete.

If a coach is expelled: They lose all coaching rights for the set and must go to the dressing room.

Disqualification (Red + Yellow Separately)

Disqualification means the team member is out for the rest of the match. They must go to the dressing room immediately.

Disqualification happens for:

• First aggression (physical attack or threats)
• Second offensive conduct by the same person
• Third rude conduct by the same person

The referee shows red and yellow cards in separate hands.

---

Sanction Summary

---

Card Reference

---

Sanctions Before and Between Sets

Misconduct before the match starts or between sets gets sanctioned according to the same scale. The sanction applies in the following set.

If a player is disqualified before a set starts, they must be substituted and the sanction is recorded. The match continues with the remaining eligible players.

---

Delay Sanctions vs. Misconduct Sanctions

These are separate systems:

Delay sanctions (covered in Interruptions chapter):

• Apply to the team as a whole
• First delay = warning, subsequent delays = point + serve
• Yellow card with hand signal for warning
• Red card with hand signal for penalty

Misconduct sanctions:

• Apply to individuals
• Escalate based on the person's behavior throughout the match
• Cards shown without the delay hand signal

---

Practical Examples

Scenario 1: Player argues with ref about a call

• Ref gives verbal warning through captain (Stage 1)
• Player continues arguing
• Ref shows yellow card (Stage 2, formal warning)
• Player argues again
• Ref shows red card (Penalty, point and serve to opponent)

Scenario 2: Player makes an insulting gesture toward opponent

• This is offensive conduct
• Ref shows red + yellow together (Expulsion, first offense for offensive conduct)
• Player must be substituted and leave for the rest of the set

Scenario 3: Coach throws clipboard in anger

• Could be rude conduct (penalty) or offensive conduct (expulsion) depending on severity
• Ref makes the call based on the action

Scenario 4: Player shoves an opponent

• This is aggression
• Ref shows red + yellow separately (Disqualification, immediate, no prior sanction needed)
• Player is out for the rest of the match

---

Key Points for Recreational Play

In rec leagues, theyre either self-refereed by the players or have a single referee who has more flexibility. But the core principles apply:

1. Respect the ref's call - argue through your captain, not directly
2. Keep your cool - one outburst can cost your team a point
3. Know the escalation - warnings lead to penalties lead to ejection
4. Team responsibility - captain and coach answer for everyone's behavior
5. Self-reffing - Call it fair, make honest calls.