Dear U.S. Soccer Members and Refereeing Community,
Protecting referees and building safe, respectful playing environments across all levels of the game is our shared responsibility and the U.S. Way. As the game continues to grow and evolve, so should our efforts to create exceptional soccer experiences for those who make it possible every day. We are pleased to share that following last week’s U.S. Soccer Board of Directors meeting, the Referee Abuse Prevention (RAP) Penalty Matrix has been officially updated, with the revised matrix taking effect on May 15, 2026.
Since the launch of the updated RAP policy last spring, we have remained committed to listening to our members, referees, and the broader soccer community. These revisions are the direct result of the thoughtful feedback, collaboration, and guidance shared with us throughout this process. We are grateful to everyone who participated in working groups, in-person discussions, and member feedback opportunities along the way. Your insights and perspectives helped shape these updates and strengthened the policy for the entire soccer community.
Continuous improvement is at the heart of everything we do and the RAP policy is a living framework, one that will continue to evolve through ongoing learning, engagement and partnership with all of you. We welcome continued dialogue and encourage you to connect with us as you begin implementing these updates within your organizations.
CHECK OUT WHAT’S UPDATED
The updated Penalty Matrix and accompanying video are now available on the RAP Website at www.ussoccer.com/rap.
You can find all toolkit assets here.
As you review the updates, you will notice adjustments to certain minimum penalties. These changes are intended to provide greater flexibility in how penalties are applied, while maintaining strong accountability standards across the game. Member Organizations retain the authority and responsibility to impose penalties above the minimum when the severity of the conduct warrants it.
After a full year of implementation, and through the review of incidents reported and adjudicated across our membership, two clear themes emerged. First, the mandatory 3x multiplier for incidents involving minor referees was producing disproportionate outcomes in many cases. Second, applying the same penalties to minor-on-minor incidents does not reflect developmental realities of the players. These updates reflect what we heard from you, and reinforce our continued commitment to a policy that is consistent, firm and fair.
Key highlights include:
- Minor offenses: The multiplier no longer applies to any offense committed by a minor.
- Non-physical Yellow: The minimum game suspension has been reduced from two games to one. As a result, if a Red Card is issued during the game for this offense, a hearing is not required.
- Adult-on-minor multiplier: We’ve introduced a tiered multiplier for offenses committed by an adult against a minor referee — 2x for non-physical Yellow and Orange offenses, maintaining the 3x for non-physical Red offenses.
- Non-physical Red minimum time: The minimum time suspension has been reduced from six months to three months, reflecting the distinction between threatening physical violence and physical violence itself.
NEW! AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
For the first time, all RAP materials, including the updated Penalty Matrix, video content, and supporting resources, are available in both English and Spanish. Expanding access to these materials is an important step in ensuring this policy is accessible, inclusive, and actionable. We are proud to provide resources that reflect and support our diverse soccer community.
NEW RESOURCES COMING SOON!
Alongside the Penalty Matrix update, we will be releasing two additional resources on the RAP website. Please keep an eye out for these in an upcoming issue of our Member Newsletter:
- Hearing Waiver Template: A suggested template to support the consistent and fair hearing processes across the membership.
- Minor Referee Hearing Guidance: Best practices for handling hearings that involve minor referees.
RAP PLATFORM: USER TESTING UNDERWAY
We are currently wrapping up user testing on the RAP digital platform and preparing to move into the build phase in June. We are on track to pilot the platform this fall within select environments, giving us the opportunity to evaluate functionality, incorporate final refinements, and ensure a strong foundation before a broader rollout.
If you have not yet had the opportunity to share your feedback and would like to contribute before testing concludes, we encourage you to complete this brief form: User Testing Interest Form
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U.S. Soccer is Yours and we thank you again for your partnership and commitment to creating safer environments for referees at every level of the game. We are proud of what we are building together and look forward to continuing this work with you.
With appreciation,
U.S. Soccer Federation
Participation & Environments
