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Q:  We had a soccer team that had a coach receive 2 yellow cards and get ejected from the game officially ending that game.  From information sent to me from the coach he was thinking of taking his players off the field and ending the game prior to the official completion.  I know this would have some WIAA ramifications but can’t find the language.  Can you help me out with what the penalty would be.

A:  Here is the language that is sent to schools that have coaches pull their teams off the field:

VIOLATION – PROBATIONARY STATUS – Boys Soccer
WIAA Constitution Article II, Section 1 and Article VI, Section 3; WIAA Bylaws, Article II
 
 
The WIAA has reviewed your explanation of events surrounding the decision made by (school’s) head soccer coach to forfeit, rather than complete your May X, 2016 soccer contest vs. (school2) High School.
 
The WIAA views the judgment applied in this instance to be questionable and the decision to leave the field and not return, to be contrary to the mission and purpose of this association and unacceptable action on the part of a member school.  This decision not only deprived (school2) players an opportunity to compete but deprived the players of (school1) of that opportunity as well.  This action also adversely impacts students, parents and spectators from both communities and does nothing to enhance healthy, respectful relations within the Association.
 
As a result, I am notifying you that the (school1) boys soccer program is being placed on a probationary status through the 2016 WIAA soccer season and tournament series.  Should the WIAA become aware of additional compliance concerns with respect to the program during this probationary period, it may result in additional WIAA sanctions.
 
It is the WIAA's most sincere hope that the corrective measures and strategies you have outlined will eliminate the need for any additional WIAA action on this matter in the future.  If you have any questions about WIAA constitutional issues, rules of eligibility, season regulations or this interpretation, please don't hesitate to let me know.
 
The WIAA Board of Control will be notified of this action at their next meeting.    

If your coach were to pull his team from the field again, it would most likely result in probation with the potential of the program being removed from the WIAA tournament.

 Keep in mind, if the coach is the only coach available, the game is a forfeit unless the team is accompanied by a coach or another appointed member of the school faculty. (ROE, Art. 1, Section 7, page 32)

Section 7 – Coach must be Present
A. No team (or student) shall represent his/her school at any time in connection with interscholastic competition, unless accompanied by a coach or another appointed member of the school faculty.

1) It is recommended that a female member of the faculty accompany any girls team coached by a male and a male member of the faculty accompany any boys team coached by a female.

2) A game shall be forfeited or a team disqualified from further participation in a meet if, after a game or meet official has ejected a coach for any reason, there is no other coach or faculty member of that school present to supervise the team.