Conduct, Ejections, and Protests at the Midwest Youth Cup
Conduct expectations, red card procedure, ejection consequences, and the formal protest process at the 2027 Midwest Youth Cup.
Conduct, Ejections, and Protests at the Midwest Youth Cup
The Cup is a family event. Sideline conduct, coaching behavior, and player conduct are expected to reflect that. The items below describe how the tournament handles the situations that occasionally come up.
Coach and player conduct
- Positive, instructive coaching from the technical area only.
- No coaching from the spectator side of the field.
- Referees may issue cautions to coaches for dissent or unsporting behavior.
- Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team's parents and spectators.
Red cards
A red card carries a minimum one-game suspension. The suspension applies to the next match the player or coach is scheduled to play in the tournament. The tournament director may extend the suspension for:
- Violent conduct
- Abuse of officials
- Repeat dissent
- Conduct that endangers other players
In severe cases, the player or coach may be ejected from the complex and reported to U.S. Youth Soccer for follow-up.
Spectator conduct
- Spectators stand on the opposite touchline from team benches.
- No coaching, refereeing, or directing of players from the spectator side.
- Confrontational behavior toward referees or opposing teams will result in removal from the complex.
- Tournament staff carry authority to enforce this on the director's behalf.
Protests
Most match outcomes are not subject to protest:
- Referee judgment calls (fouls, offside, advantage, cards) are final.
- Score lines as recorded by the referee are final.
The Cup will hear formal protests on:
- Rule application errors (substitution procedure, restart procedure)
- Player eligibility (ineligible player participated)
Protest procedure:
- Submit to the tournament director within one hour of the final whistle.
- Include the match number, alleged violation, and the rule reference.
- Submit a $100 fee with the protest.
- The tournament director rules on the protest. The ruling is final.
Facility rules
The Wintrust Crossroads complex prohibits:
- Outside food and beverage
- Smoking and vaping
- Pets (service animals excepted)
- Open coolers brought into the facility
Violations result in removal from the complex.
Authority
The tournament director carries final authority on all conduct decisions. Decisions are not subject to further protest.