Referee Assault
California has not been immune to the rash of physical violence
directed at sports officials.
In CYSA-N, since parents agree to abide by CYSA rules when they sign the Player
Registration form (1601), association sanctions against individuals (players,
parents, and coaches) involved in referee assault are handled by the CYSA-N
State Office. In high school, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)
has no jurisdiction over parents' actions. However, the civil and criminal justice systems
are always applicable.
Criminal codes clearly mean "business": Violence against sports officials will not be tolerated in California. California Penal Code section 243.8 covers "Battery against a Sports Official."
(a) When a battery is committed against a sports official immediately prior to, during, or immediately following an interscholastic, intercollegiate, or any other organized amateur or professional athletic contest in which the sports official is participating, and the person who commits the offense knows or reasonably should know that the victim is engaged in the performance of his or her duties, the offense shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (b) For the purposes of this section, "sports official" means nay individual who serves as a referee, umpire, linesman, or who serves in similar capacity but may be known by a different title or name and is duly registered by, or a member of a local, state, regional or national organization engaged in part in providing education and training to sports officials.
Parents can also be charged with violation of Penal Code sections 241.2 (Punishment - Assault on Any Person on School or Park Property), 243 (Battery), 243.2 (Punishment - Battery Committed on Any Person on School, Park, or Hospital Property), and 243.5 (Assault or Battery on School Property - Conditions for Probation; When Peace Officer May Arrest Without Warrant). There can be civil penalties as well.
Officials should always wear their uniforms to and from all SAYSO matches they are working. This will give clear notice that they are a sports official as defined by the Code and will prevent a defendant from claiming he did not know that he was attacking a sports official. It is, also, important to officiate only at properly sanctioned events. Otherwise, this particular penal code section and its deterrents won't apply.
If an official is attacked, he/she should immediately contact
the nearest Law Enforcement department. The sports governing entity will have
little, if any, power to take corrective action against a parent or fan.
With regard to the two incidents previously mentioned, appropriate action was
taken against both offenders. In the first incident the football referee was
cleared of wrongdoing and criminal charges against the player. In the second,
the volleyball official pressed charges and the parent was arraigned on a felony
battery charge.
SAYSO advises any official who is attacked to pursue both criminal and civil
cases against the attacker. SAYSO will not tolerate any physical attack on a
referee.