243.8 BATTERY UPON SPORTS OFFICIALS
The LAHOA board wants all of its officials to know what to do in case you are assaulted by players, parents, or spectators, be it minors or adults. The following is an excerpt from the California State Penal Code.
(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 purposes of this section, “sports official” means any individual who serves as a referee, umpire, linesman, or who serves in a 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.
LAHOA’S RECOMMENDED RESPONSE
- Call the police. (stop the game if in progress, get witness names, gather evidence)
- Press Charges. (you will need to give the Penal Code (P.C.) section 243.8 to the police officer)
- Notify your Scheduler or Referee In Chief.
- Notify the LAHOA President.
- Notify the Pacific District Referee In Chief.
‘NO SHOW’ OF AN OFFICIAL
As an official, whenever you accept a game assignment from a scheduler, you must either show up for the game or arrange for a replacement through your scheduler. You should notify them at least three (3) days in advance of any game you have taken and cannot work so they have adequate time to find a replacement for you. You are responsible for your assignment until you talk directly to the scheduler. Leaving a message or sending a text or e-mail does not count as a notification.
If you or one of the other officials do not show up for an assignment, you must inform your scheduler immediately after the game. If the assignment is for more than one game in a row, then the scheduler must be called as soon as you are sure that an assignment has been missed. This can be done between the first and second periods of the first game. This will enable the scheduler to possibly find a replacement or get the originally scheduled official to the remaining game(s). Every effort should be made to have a complete crew for each game.
All missed assignments must be reported to the scheduler, by an official at the game, so the incident can be reviewed for possible disciplinary action.
If the scheduler deems that the assigned official is responsible for the missed assignment, then the LAHOA discipline committee is notified. A letter is then sent to that official stating the missed assignment(s) and the amount of the fine to be paid.
The fine will be equal to the amount that official would have made if the game(s) had been worked. The fine must be paid to LAHOA within two (2) weeks or the official will be suspended until the fine is paid.
If two or more of the assigned crew do not show up and the game has to the rescheduled, then the officials will be fined double and suspended for one week.
OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS
The referee must fill out a game report if there were any game misconduct penalties assessed during the game. The form must be completed online within 48 hours of the game on Time To Score and USA Hockey. If a match penalty was assessed, the referee must also file a report to the Pacific District Referee in Chief. All reports for match penalties must be completed within 24 hours.
In addition, if the official has any penalties that require a game report, they must make sure the penalties are recorded correctly on the score sheet before signing it.
Failure to file a game report will result in disciplinary action by LAHOA.
An incorrect assessed penalty (score sheet review) will also be subject to possible disciplinary action.
DISCIPLINARY REVIEW HEARINGS
If there is a formal hearing to review the incidents from a game, all members of the officiating crew will be required to attend the hearing. Members of the LAHOA Board, as required, will also be in attendance. A hearing may be called by SCAHA, CAHA, LAHOA or an individual club.
A LAHOA hearing for disciplinary actions may be called by the Discipline Committee and held in accordance with the LAHOA Constitution and Bylaws.
CERTIFICATION OF OFFICIALS
All officials must send in a copy of the current year registration card and only the properly registered official will be assigned games.
After August 31st, any official who is not properly registered or does not have a current year crest displayed on his or her sweater will not be assigned games.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
This includes but is not limited to LAHOA’s presence on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and www.LAHOA.com.
The simplest way to describe the policy is, be respectful.
Refrain from posting content that may offend or hurt other people. Do not post derogatory pictures, videos or comments toward rinks, rink management, leagues, teams, coaches, parents, players, other associations or other officials.
Do not add anyone to any of the social media presences, that can only be done by the social media committee.
Remember why we would have a social media presence and that is to unify LAHOA so anything you post that takes away from that goal should not be posted. If you have to ask yourself should I post that you probably should not.
We also ask you not to post internal reports, policies, procedures, contracts or other internal business-related confidential communications.
Please do not post or create a link from your blog, product line, website or other social networking site to a LAHOA website without permission of LAHOA.