ACSA Sanctioning Standards

ACSA sanctioning signifies that an event, league, or competition meets the Association’s minimum standards for eligibility, safety, governance, insurance, and competitive integrity. Sanctioning is a privilege, not a right.

Standards Overview

To be sanctioned by ACSA, an event must:

Recognize ACSA as the sole sanctioning authority for the event

Agree to abide by all ACSA governance policies, manuals, and appendices

Accept ACSA’s right to:

Suspend or revoke sanctioning

Audit eligibility, rosters, and results

Nullify outcomes if violations occur

Deny sanctioning

This establishes final authority, not shared authority.
All sanctioned events must ensure:

All participants (players, teams, officials) are:

Active ACSA members or

Approved event-only participants where permitted

Rosters are submitted and locked per ACSA policy

No use of ineligible, suspended, or non-verified participants

No circumvention of eligibility rules (e.g., sandbagging, ghost players, dual participation)

Eligibility is verified centrally, not self-reported.
ACSA sanctioning requires:

Centralized event registration through ACSA’s system

Verified digital rosters prior to competition

QR or digital game-day check-in for all participants

Accurate team, player, and official records maintained by ACSA

If it isn’t in the system, it didn’t happen.
All sanctioned events must:

Use ACSA-certified officials only

Assign an event supervisor or designated authority on-site

Follow sport-specific rules as defined in the applicable ACSA appendix

Maintain competitive fairness and consistency across contests

Officials are part of governance, not just staffing.
Sanctioned events must be held at facilities that:

Are safe, playable, and suitable for the sport

Have proper permissions or permits secured

Meet minimum surface, access, and supervision requirements

Provide emergency access and procedures

Disclose known hazards in advance

Facilities are vetted, not assumed.
All ACSA-sanctioned events must:

Be covered under ACSA’s liability insurance program

Submit complete facility information for certificate issuance

Name required entities as certificate holders or additional insureds

Comply with ACSA’s risk-management procedures

Insurance is non-negotiable for sanctioning.
Sanctioned events must enforce:

ACSA’s Code of Conduct

Zero tolerance for violence, abuse, or serious misconduct

Immediate reporting of:

Injuries

Ejections

Altercations

Major disputes

Discipline follows the participant, not just the event.
Following the event, operators must:

Submit a Post-Event Compliance Report

Verify results, standings, and champions

Report incidents and disciplinary actions

Reconcile all sanctioning and insurance fees

Sanctioning is not complete until compliance is confirmed.
To remain in good standing, operators must:

Pay all per-team sanctioning and insurance fees

Meet reporting deadlines

Maintain accurate records

Cooperate with reviews or audits

Enforcement is discretion-based, but accountability is mandatory.
ACSA sanctioning standards may be:

Updated periodically

Expanded as new sports are added

Enforced retroactively when violations are discovered

Operators are expected to stay informed and compliant.

Access to Full Policy Documents

ACSA Governance policies apply to ACSA membes and sanctioned entiities. Full policy documents, procedures, and enforcement details are made available to members through official ACSA channels, including the member login portal and sanctioning documentation.