BAYS referees have a duty to determine if “the condition of the field of play or its surrounds or the weather conditions are such as to allow or not to allow a match to take place.”  BAYS referees are empowered to stop, suspend, or terminate a match for infringement of the Laws, for outside interference, and for the safety of the players should weather or field conditions require that action. 

 If a match is terminated, the decision on a resolution of that match is NOT up to the referee or the coaches of the teams playing.  It is an administrative decision of the league.  In BAYS, the administrative decision belongs to the responsible Division Director.

The responsible Division Director has three options available:

1. Declare the game valid and accept as final the score when the game was terminated
2. Declare “no game” and instruct the teams to schedule a replay of the entire match
3. Declare “no game” and not schedule a replay.  (In this option, the game would not be treated as a double forfeit and no loss of points in the standings or fines would be assessed)

 The responsible Division Director does NOT have the option of directing the teams to resume play from the point of suspension.

It is recommended that each responsible Division Director would treat all terminated matches within a given Section in the same manner.

It is recommended that each responsible Division Director would require that all terminated matches in MTOC eligible sections be replayed in their entirety.

Factors which the responsible Division Director might consider in deciding an option could include:

• Information included in referee’s game report
• Age of players (U9 & U10 are not results oriented)
• Competitive Level (MTOC eligible or recreational)
• Impact of game result on Section standings
• Time remaining in the season to schedule a replay

 Submitted:  Paul Snover,   BAYS Referee Representative              

Approved Spring 2005