Spectator Policies

Our tournaments are designed to be both fun and competitive, while maintaining a safe, respectful, and positive environment for everyone involved — players, coaches, officials, event staff, and spectators.

To help support that goal, we have established clear expectations for behavior through our Spectator Code of Conduct and Purple Card Policy. These guidelines outline how we promote sportsmanship, respect, and accountability across all events. We encourage all spectators to review both policies prior to attending to help ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Policy Documents

Spectator Code of Conduct

Entry to this privately sanctioned event is granted as a courtesy. If you enter/attend this or any Evergreen Region sanctioned event, you agree to abide by the following code of conduct guidelines.

ERVA Spectator Code of Conduct

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  ENTRY TO THIS PRIVATELY SANCTIONED EVENT IS GRANTED AS A COURTESY.  IF YOU ENTER/ATTEND THIS OR ANY EVERGREEN REGION SANCTIONED EVENT, YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING CODE OF CONDUCT GUIDELINES:

I WILL:

  1. I WILL abide by the official rules of USA Volleyball
  2. I WILL display good sportsmanship at all times
  3. I WILL encourage my child and his/her team, regardless of the outcome on the court
  4. I WILL educate myself on the unique rules of this facility
  5. I WILL honor the rules of the host and the host facility
  6. I WILL generate goodwill by being polite and respectful to those around me at this event
  7. I WILL direct my child to speak directly with his/her coach when coaching decisions are made that may be confusing or unclear
  8. I WILL redirect any negative comments from others to the respective Site Director
  9. I WILL immediately notify the Site Director in the event that I witness any illegal activity
  10. I WILL support the policies and guidelines of the team/club that I represent
  11. I WILL acknowledge effort and good performance, remembering that all the players in the event are amateur athletes.
  12. I WILL model exemplary spectator behavior while attending this event
  13. I WILL respect the history and tradition of the sport of volleyball by being a good ambassador

I WILL NOT:

  1. I WILL NOT harass or intimidate the officials
  2. I WILL NOT coach my child from the bleachers and/or sidelines
  3. I WILL NOT criticize my child’s coach or his/her teammates
  4. I WILL NOT participate in any game or game-like activities unless I have a current membership card with the Evergreen Region of USA Volleyball
  5. I WILL NOT bring and/or carry any firearms at any Evergreen Region event
  6. I WILL NOT bring, purchase, or consume alcohol at any Youth/Junior volleyball event
  7. I WILL NOT bring any animals into an Evergreen Region event

Any violation of this Code of Conduct will result in you being asked to leave the site/facility, and may result in you possibly being banned from attending future Evergreen Region sanctioned events.  The Day Official and Site Director have the final say regarding the individual event.  Local law enforcement will be contacted if necessary to resolve any disputes or altercations. Questions or concerns may be directed to the Evergreen Region office.

ERVA Spectator Purple Card Policy

The purpose of the Purple Card Policy is to give officials another tool to address behavior from spectators. The goal of this policy is to help preserve a respectful, positive, and fun playing environment and keep the focus on the student-athletes. This is in addition to all other tournament- and facility-specific policies in place at ERVA-sanctioned events, including the Parent/Spectator Code of Conduct.

Spectator Purple Card Policy 

Summary  

The purpose of the Purple Card  Policy is to give officials and tournament directors another tool to address behavior from spectators. The goal of this policy is to help preserve a respectful, positive, and fun playing  environment and keep the focus on the student-athletes. This is in addition to all other  tournament- and facility-specific policies in place at ERVA-sanctioned events, including the  Parent/Spectator Code of Conduct.  

Prohibited Behavior  

  • Comments made or actions displayed that are deemed by others as rude, profane, disrespectful, disruptive, or aggressive, which interferes with the normal progress of a  tournament match.  
  • Inappropriate actions or comments directed at members of an officiating crew.
  • Behaviors or comments attempting to influence the calls made by officials 
  • Behavior prohibited by USAV and/or ERVA codes of conduct.  
  • Misconduct deemed contrary to normally accepted behavior, resulting in the  unnecessary interruption of a match.  

Applicability  

This policy applies to the below-listed groups at ERVA-owned events. Club-hosted events will  also have this policy in place.  

  • Any member of the ERVA region (e.g., club director, coach, rostered adult, player, chaperone) not currently participating in a match who has assumed the role of a  spectator.  
  • Any non-region member, such as parents or relatives of a region member.  
  • Any attendee or spectator at any ERVA-sanctioned event.  
  • Yellow & red card sanctions may still be used for match participants, in accordance with the  USAV Rules Book.  

The Purple Card is applied to any situation during a match where spectator misconduct occurs,  and the on-court official deems the misconduct serious enough to be addressed. An ERVA  official may issue a Purple Card either from the stand or while overseeing the court.  

Misconduct occurring before or after a match is handled through applicable policies, such as the  Parent/Spectator Code of Conduct.

Verbal Warning-Stage 1 

It is the duty of the on-court officials (coach R1/R2), the certified ERVA officials on site (R1/R2 or  Day Official), team coaches, and the tournament staff to attempt to prevent spectators from  reaching the sanctioning level. This is done first through a verbal warning, then through the  issuance of a Purple Card. 

Issuance of Purple & Yellow Card Warning – Stage 2 

After a verbal warning is issued, if the behavior does not improve, the following happens:  

  • If the R1 on the match is a coach and NOT a certified ERVA Official, the coach will  request the Day Official and/or Tournament Director to come to their court. The Day  Official and/or Tournament Director will then proceed with the following procedures. 
  • If the R1 on the match is a certified ERVA Official, they may proceed with the  following procedures and request their Day Official and/or Tournament Director to  their court for reporting purposes.  

Purple Card & Yellow Card are displayed in one hand, as a warning to  the team with which the spectator is affiliated.  

  • Both team captains are summoned to the referee stand and will then  notify their head coach that a spectator potentially affiliated with their team has been sanctioned.  
  • Once the affiliation of the spectator is determined, the head coach will  inform the offender of the warning.  
  • If the offender refuses to identify their team affiliation, they may be  subject to more serious sanctions, including expulsion from the facility. Expulsion also carries a fine to the club.  
  • A Purple Card/Yellow Card warning is assessed to the team and is in  force for the entire match. A team may only receive one such  warning per match.  

Warnings are recorded on the scoresheet but have no immediate  consequences.  

  •  Record “PC” in the “W Warn” column, along with the team identifier,  set number, and score at which the sanction was issued.

 

Issuance of Purple Card & Red Card Penalty – Stage 3

Further misconduct by spectators affiliated with the same team during the same match (it does  not have to be the SAME spectator that was issued the purple card the 1st time) may be  sanctioned as follows:  

  •  If the R1 on the match is a coach and NOT a certified ERVA Official, the coach will  request the Day Official and/or Tournament Director to come to their court. The Day  Official and/or Tournament Director will then proceed with the following procedures. 
  • If the R1 on the match is a certified ERVA Official, they may proceed with the  following procedures and request their Day Official and/or Tournament Director to  their court for reporting purposes.  
    •  Purple Card & Red Card are displayed in one hand by the official.  Sanction is penalized with a point and service to the opponent.  
      • Both team captains are summoned to the referee stand and will then  notify their head coach that a spectator potentially affiliated with their  team has been sanctioned.  
      • Once the affiliation of the spectator is determined, the head coach will  inform the offender of the warning.  
      • If the offender refuses to identify their team affiliation, they may be  subject to more serious sanctions, including expulsion from the facility. Expulsion also carries a fine to the club.  
    • Penalties are recorded on the scoresheet 
      • Record “PC” in the “P Penalty” column, along with the team identifier,  set number, and score at which the sanction was issued.  
      • If the penalty is against the serving team, record the serving team’s exit score.
      • Record the awarded penalty point. Slash and circle the opposing team’s next point in the “Points” column. 

Discretion of Official  

Depending on the seriousness of the offense, an official may ask for a spectator to be removed  from the facility, with or without a warning.  

  • The referee stops the match and secures the safety of the match participants. If a coach is the  R1 then they may request the Day Official and Tournament Director to their court. 
  • The referee consults the tournament director, facility staff, and head coach of the team to ask  the spectator to vacate the facility. 

    • If the spectator refuses to leave the facility in a timely manner, law enforcement is  notified immediately.  

Reporting  

Day Officials will be asked to complete the “Behavior Reporting Section” on Day Official Report. Tournament Directors will be asked to complete the “Behavior Reporting Section” on the  Tournament Director Report.  

When a Behavior Report is submitted to the office, a formal notice will be sent to the club who  was reported. Clubs will have the option to respond to this notice via a standard form and the  information submitted may be used to determine the validity of the sanction. 

Information Needed: 

  • Name of Official OR Tournament Staff member who issued the card 
  • Match Time & Court Number 
  • Team Names & Club Names 
  • Name of Spectator and Team/Club they are affiliated. 
  • Full Details of incident and why card was issued and any consequences that were  implemented. 

Purple Card Threshold Sanction Penalties 

When a Behavior Report is submitted to the office, a formal notice will be sent to the club who  was reported. Club will have the option to respond to this notice as per the guidelines in the  ERVA Sanction Process and Appeal Process for Imposed Sanctions as outlined in the ERVA  Participant’s Handbook, Section 12. The information submitted by the Day Official may be used  to determine the validity of the sanction. 

  • Clubs who receive a second Purple Card in the same season are subject to a $250.00 fine. 
  • Clubs who receive a third Purple Card in the same season are subject to a $500.00 fine  and will be fined $500.00 for each subsequent Purple Card they receive.  
  • Fines will be invoiced and must be paid by the deadline indicated to remain in good  standing with Region to retain eligibility for upcoming events. 
  • Spectators receiving multiple purple cards may be subject to further Code of Conduct  violations and penalties including but not limited to spectator restrictions from ERVA  sanctioned events.