The appeals process available to those involved with affiliated soccer has several stages. Each stage must be exhausted before turning to the next. The Appeal Stages are in order:
- Local/League appeal;
- Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association Appeals Committee;
- United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) Appeals Committee.
The organization hearing appeals at each one of these stages may have their own procedures. This document describes the process and the contact people in each organization. If you have any questions, please contact us at the state office.
Please note that if you are appealing a CORI decision, you should go to the CORI appeals page.
To appeal a decision to the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association, contact:
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association
ATTN: David Dalrymple Chairman of Appeals Committee
512 Old Union Turnpike
Lancaster, MA 01523
To appeal, you must follow all of the following procedures:
- Complete and submit the Notice of Appeal Form.
- Follow the applicable procedures, and comply with the time filing requirements outlined in Section 270 of the Massachusetts Youth Soccer By-Laws (see below).
- Submit all relevant documentation, using the Appeal Document Directory Form.
- Submit the appeal fee of $200.00 made payable to "Massachusetts Youth Soccer". The fee is non-refundable unless your appeal is not heard.
Links to forms pertinent to the Appeal Process:
Notice of Appeal Form
Appeal Document Directory Form
US Soccer National Appeals Committee
How To Properly Run a Disciplinary Hearing
Section 9 of the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association Policies and Procedures provides information regarding the appeals process. A portion of section 9 is below...
An appeal to Mass Youth Soccer must be made in writing within ten (10) days of the incident or ruling by a lower appeals, protest, or hearing board. The written appeal must be accompanied by a check for the Appeal Submittal fee (the Appeal Submittal fee is $200) made out to the Mass Youth Soccer. The appeal fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the appeal. The appeal must include seven (7) copies of all documents pertinent to the appeal.
The Massachusetts Youth Soccer Appeals Committee must hold a formal hearing to which all parties have been notified and invited within twenty (20) days of the receipt of the written appeal.
All dates and time periods shall be calculated based on business days and do not include weekends and holidays
Any decision rendered by the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Appeals Committee may be appealed directly to the US Soccer National Appeals Committee. The appeal to US Soccer must be made by completing the Notice of Appeal Form, and submitting that Form and the required appeal fee to US Soccer. The US Soccer National Appeals Committee has the authority to approve, modify or reverse a decision made by the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Appeals Committee.
No party to an appeal or protest may invoke the aid of the Courts of any State or of the United States without first exhausting all available remedies within US Soccer.
Invitational Tournaments may have rules limiting protests or appeals provided that such limitations are clearly listed in the permission to host and in the tournament invitation. Such limitation can apply only to game results. A Tournament Committee cannot limit the right of a player, coach, or team to protest to US Soccer failure of the Tournament Host to deliver on promises given in the Tournament Invitation. US Youth Soccer Cups may have special channels of appeal and protest that apply to that competition only.