Suspension-UAA Soccer-Trainer McKenzie |
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Commissioner's Rulings
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2015-16 SeasonOctober 5, 2015Facts: On September 26, 2015, Augustana Men’s Soccer trainer Braeden McKenzie was ejected for making physical contact with a NAIT player. According to the referee, Mr. McKenzie was on the field of play to treat an injured Augustana player. As he walked off the field, he dropped his shoulder and deliberately hit one of the NAIT players in the chest, knocking him backward. Initially, Mr. McKenzie took no issue with the referee’s description of events. He now suggests that events transpired somewhat differently than described by the referee. Mr. McKenzie indicates that he was assisting an injured player off the field when the NAIT player verbally engaged Mr. McKenzie and the injured player, standing directly in their path. Mr. McKenzie then continued to assist the injured player along the same path he had been on and while walking by the NAIT player, “bumped his shoulder into his.” Mr. McKenzie denies dropping his shoulder or striking the NAIT player in the chest. Ruling: Article I Section 3 Rule 3.1 of the ACAC Operating Code (which is applicable to Mr. McKenzie) states as follows: Coaches have a responsibility to: 3.1.3 Consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and of coaching. 3.1.7 Treat opponents and officials with due respect both in victory and defeat and encourage student-athletes to act accordingly. Actively encourage student-athletes to uphold the rules of their sport and the spirit of such rules. The behavior exhibited by Mr. McKenzie falls well short of the standard expected of ACAC team officials. This is the first case I have had to rule on involving physical violence between a team official and an opposing player. In this case, while I am inclined to believe the referee’s version of events. Even if I accept Mr. McKenzie’s version of events, it does little to alleviate the seriousness of this offence. In my view, these circumstances are much more serious than two opposing athletes getting into a physical altercation after the whistle, or to one athlete committing a hard foul on his opponent during the course of the game. Unlike those circumstances, an athlete should not expect to be physically struck by an opposing team official. It does not matter that Mr. McKenzie may have been caught up in the emotion of the game. As an ACAC team official, he is required to behave in an appropriate manner. As such, it was incumbent upon him to take active steps to avoid a physical altercation with an athlete, regardless of the circumstances. As such, Mr. McKenzie has breached the acceptable standard of behavior for an ACAC team official. Based on the above, a significant suspension is warranted to reinforce the standard expected of ACAC team officials. Therefore, Mr. McKenzie is suspended for the remainder of the ACAC regular season, which represents a five (5) game suspension, to be served as follows:
Sincerely, |