New US Soccer Federation (USSF) Referee Abuse Prevention policy – applies to All soccer in the US

Covers Players, Coaches & Spectators

Mandates significant penalties for various levels of referee abuse

                Verbal Abuse:                2, 4, 6 or 10 games and/or 6 – 24 months
                Physical abuse:            3 or 10 games and/or up to lifetime ban

                TRIPLED for abuse of youth referees
                Doubled for 2^nd offense
                Lifetime ban for 3^rd offense

Verbal abuse ranges from Insulting Behavior to Offensive/Discriminatory acts.

Physical abuse ranges from Slight Deliberate Touching to Punching

Details, including descriptions of the levels of abuse, can be found in the AYSO National Policy, Section 2.E.e, page 2:3