Zero Tolerance Policy

The Keystone Region acknowledges the right for spectators to voice their opinion about the exciting action which takes place during a KRVA/USAV sanctioned volleyball event. We wish it could always be applause and cheering for a good play, or compliments for a well-officiated match or successful tournament, but too frequently it is negative in response to decisions made by coaches, match officials, or tournament directors/personnel.

Voicing an opinion about a coach or tournament director’s decision, or match official’s judgment, is certainly part of the game. On occasion, the opinion may be by a junior player’s parent or guardian, dissatisfied with the decisions of a coach resulting in negative consequences for the player and/or team.

Unfortunately, participants or spectators may go beyond just voicing their opinion to the point of threatening, attempting to intimidate, and/or intentional or unintentional aggressive physical contact of any kind.

The Keystone Region has zero tolerance for any person taking any of these actions against a USAV member coach, tournament director/personnel, other spectator, or match official during USAV sanctioned Keystone Region events.

Any threatened match official, tournament personnel or coach is now required to immediately remove themselves from the area without response (make no attempt to respond or engage the person making the threat), and report the incident to the nearest tournament director, facility manager or security officer who should provide a safe haven (a secure area away from the person making the threat).

There will be no acceptable excuse which will allow the person making a threat to remain on the premises. He/she must be asked to remove themselves from the premises immediately without further comment and not return to any facility being used for the remainder of the event, regardless of length. Additional sanctions (such as banishment from all region events) may also be applied by The Region upon review and possible subsequent appeal.

Should the person not comply with the request for removal, or the tournament director/personnel or facility manager also not feel safe, the appropriate law enforcement agency must be called to assist in the removal of the offender.

All appropriate event managers should be made of aware of the situation ASAP and a report filed with the Region office, to the Keystone Region Commissioner, in writing within 24 hours.