Match Official Abuse and Club Code of Conduct
The Board of Directors of USA Rugby South has approved this document. It describes the club's responsibility in dealing with the problem of match official abuse. Clubs have a responsibility for the behaviour of their members, players, coaches and supporters directed towards Match Officials. Clubs are expected to take all reasonable steps to protect Match Officials from any form of abuse.
The term "clubs" includes but is not limited to Men's, Women's, Colleges, Universities and High Schools.
Abuse of Match Officials is defined as:
Individual perception of personal degradation be it mental or physical, before, during and after the game including but not limited to:
 | verbal or physical assault |
| intimidating conduct |
| racial or sexual harassment |
The IRB Code of Conduct Regulation states that a person
| shall not abuse, threaten or intimidate a referee, touch judge, or other Match Officials, whether on or off the field of play (20.1.10) and |
| shall not use crude or abusive language or gesture towards referees, touch judges or other Match Officials or spectators (20.1.11). |
All members and supporters of clubs should be made aware of the provisions of this Code and are reminded that abusive behaviour is harmful to the reputation of the club. Parents who attend junior/youth matches should support the club by observing this Code.
Clubs are expected to commit to this Code. In so doing, clubs will commit themselves to take all reasonable steps to ensure that Match Officials are protected from Abuse. Those assigning match officials to club games have the option of not appointing match officials to clubs who do not acknowledge this Code.
