PURPLE CARD POLICY
In response to the increasingly occurring instances of unacceptable parent and/or spectator behavior at events sanctioned by the Florida Region of USA Volleyball, the FL Region Board of Directors have approved the implementation of the “Purple Card” effective January 1st, 2018.
Currently, the official volleyball rules allow an official to sanction bad behavior by match participants (players, coaches, and bench personnel) during a match (Yellow Card = Warning, Red Card = Penalty). The Florida Region “Purple Card”, has been added to enable officials to address SPECTATOR behavior during a match that has escalated to the point of disrupting the match and/or interfering with the officials’ ability to continue their duties effectively.
The 1st issuance of the Purple Card will result in a WARNING (Purple & Yellow cards held together in one hand on offending team’s side of net). The captain of the affiliated team will be called over, the offending individual will be communicated to the coach of the team (through the team captain). The coach will acknowledge the warning, verify affiliation with his/her team, and then inform the offender of the warning. If the team only has one (1) coach, he/she should be allowed a reasonable amount of time to inform the offender of the warning prior to the resumption of play.
The 2nd issuance of the Purple Card during the same match to a spectator from the same team will result in a PENALTY (Purple & Red cards held together in one hand on offending team’s side of net). The penalized team loses the serve (if currently serving) and a point is awarded to their opponents. (NOTE: This does not have to be the SAME spectator...once a Purple/Yellow Warning has been issued to a team, that warning is in effect of that team’s spectators for the entire MATCH).
**NOTE** - The Florida Region Board of Directors has decreed that no Set Point nor Match Point should be awarded due to a Purple Card Penalty. In situations where a Purple Card Penalty would normally be warranted but the penalty would result in awarding the opponents either “Set Point” or “Match Point”, the offense will immediately be raised to Expulsion with no further consequences to the team. (The match will be suspended long enough to have the offending party removed from the match area by tournament staff before play resumes).
The 3rd issuance of the Purple Card during the same match to a spectator from the same team will result in an EXPULSION of the offending spectator from the facility (Purple and Red cards held in separate hands on the offending team’s side of net). The official will come off the stand, the site director and lead official will be called to the court and the offending spectator will be removed from the tournament site for the remainder of the day (with no other consequences).
If a team denies any affiliation with an offender, and the offender fails to comply with the first Referee’s request for identification, the offender will be expelled from the playing facility (EXPULSION) for the remainder of the day. In situations where an offender’s team affiliation cannot be determined/verified, no warning or sanction is applied to the team or recorded on the scoresheet, but the match will be suspended until tournament staff has removed the offending individual from the playing area.
In the event of aggression (either physical or simulated), or any other behavior deemed unsafe that is directed towards officials or participants, the spectator will be DISQUALIFIED from attending further Florida Region sanctioned events (including sanctioned practices/scrimmages). The disqualified spectator would have to appeal to the Florida Region’s Board of Directors to be allowed to return to any Florida Region sanctioned events. The “Purple Card” Policy is a Florida Region supplement to the existing rules in the Domestic Competition Regulations covering sanctions for all Florida Region sanctioned events. Before and after matches (prior to the officials’ arrival to the court or after the officials have left the playing area), the spectator behavior will be governed by the Florida Region’s Parent/Spectator Code of Conduct. Being a spectator at an event is a privilege - it is not a right. The Florida Region encourages parents, spectators, and club personnel to cheer for and support their teams in a positive manner. Rude and offensive behavior directed towards our officials, personnel, and match participants will not be tolerated. It is the intent of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball to employ the Purple Card policy at all Florida Region sanctioned events to provide a safe (and fun) environment for everyone.
Currently, the official volleyball rules allow an official to sanction bad behavior by match participants (players, coaches, and bench personnel) during a match (Yellow Card = Warning, Red Card = Penalty). The Florida Region “Purple Card”, has been added to enable officials to address SPECTATOR behavior during a match that has escalated to the point of disrupting the match and/or interfering with the officials’ ability to continue their duties effectively.
The 1st issuance of the Purple Card will result in a WARNING (Purple & Yellow cards held together in one hand on offending team’s side of net). The captain of the affiliated team will be called over, the offending individual will be communicated to the coach of the team (through the team captain). The coach will acknowledge the warning, verify affiliation with his/her team, and then inform the offender of the warning. If the team only has one (1) coach, he/she should be allowed a reasonable amount of time to inform the offender of the warning prior to the resumption of play.
The 2nd issuance of the Purple Card during the same match to a spectator from the same team will result in a PENALTY (Purple & Red cards held together in one hand on offending team’s side of net). The penalized team loses the serve (if currently serving) and a point is awarded to their opponents. (NOTE: This does not have to be the SAME spectator...once a Purple/Yellow Warning has been issued to a team, that warning is in effect of that team’s spectators for the entire MATCH).
**NOTE** - The Florida Region Board of Directors has decreed that no Set Point nor Match Point should be awarded due to a Purple Card Penalty. In situations where a Purple Card Penalty would normally be warranted but the penalty would result in awarding the opponents either “Set Point” or “Match Point”, the offense will immediately be raised to Expulsion with no further consequences to the team. (The match will be suspended long enough to have the offending party removed from the match area by tournament staff before play resumes).
The 3rd issuance of the Purple Card during the same match to a spectator from the same team will result in an EXPULSION of the offending spectator from the facility (Purple and Red cards held in separate hands on the offending team’s side of net). The official will come off the stand, the site director and lead official will be called to the court and the offending spectator will be removed from the tournament site for the remainder of the day (with no other consequences).
If a team denies any affiliation with an offender, and the offender fails to comply with the first Referee’s request for identification, the offender will be expelled from the playing facility (EXPULSION) for the remainder of the day. In situations where an offender’s team affiliation cannot be determined/verified, no warning or sanction is applied to the team or recorded on the scoresheet, but the match will be suspended until tournament staff has removed the offending individual from the playing area.
In the event of aggression (either physical or simulated), or any other behavior deemed unsafe that is directed towards officials or participants, the spectator will be DISQUALIFIED from attending further Florida Region sanctioned events (including sanctioned practices/scrimmages). The disqualified spectator would have to appeal to the Florida Region’s Board of Directors to be allowed to return to any Florida Region sanctioned events. The “Purple Card” Policy is a Florida Region supplement to the existing rules in the Domestic Competition Regulations covering sanctions for all Florida Region sanctioned events. Before and after matches (prior to the officials’ arrival to the court or after the officials have left the playing area), the spectator behavior will be governed by the Florida Region’s Parent/Spectator Code of Conduct. Being a spectator at an event is a privilege - it is not a right. The Florida Region encourages parents, spectators, and club personnel to cheer for and support their teams in a positive manner. Rude and offensive behavior directed towards our officials, personnel, and match participants will not be tolerated. It is the intent of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball to employ the Purple Card policy at all Florida Region sanctioned events to provide a safe (and fun) environment for everyone.
