Suspension: KC Soccer-Coach Slotboom

2022-23 Season

February 28, 2023 

Facts:

The ACAC Executive Committee has directed this matter to me for a ruling relating to an incident that took place during an ACAC Championships quarterfinal match between KC and LETH on October 28, 2022.

During the match, a KC player required medical attention on the field. KC did not have an athletic therapist or trainer in attendance so the on site AT examined the KC player on the pitch. Given that the AT was required to treat the KC athlete on the field, the athlete was required to leave the game. The athlete exited the field with the AT on the side of the field opposite the team benches.

There is some disagreement about what happened subsequently.

According to the report of ACAC Soccer Convenor, Dean Studer, the AT reported that the KC athlete had signaled to her bench that she required a substitute. Mr. Slotboom has indicated that he saw no such signal and that despite attempts by the second AT to reach the attending AT by radio, Mr. Slotboom was unable to determine the status of his injured athlete. He then proceeded to make a substitution. According to Mr. Slotboom, his athlete, upon returning to the team bench, indicated that she did not require a substitution.

Following the match, which was won by LETH, Mr. Slotboom approached Mr. Studer to take issue with the incident in question. According to both Mr. Studer and LETH Manager of Athletics, Todd Caughlin, Mr. Slotboom was aggressive in his approach. He called the treating AT “unethical” and aid that it was “bullshit” that he was forced to make an unnecessary substitution during the late stages of a close match. These comments were made in a very public setting.

Mr. Slotboom is also the coach of the KC Men’s Soccer team. During the warmups prior to the Men’s bronze medal match, which involved KC, the Women’s bronze medal ceremony took place at the centre of the field. During a conversation with Mr. Studer, Mr. Slotboom asked “why the fuck are they doing the medal presentation on the field? It is taking away from my field space for warmup.”

Finally, Mr. Studer has also reported that members of the KC Women’s team, as well as an assistant coach, sat behind the medical staff during the remainder of the weekend, making negative comments each time a player was injured. It was also reported that inappropriate language was used.

Ruling:

Article I Section 3.1 of the ACAC Operating Code is worded (in part) as follows:

3.1. Coaches have a responsibility to:

3.1.3. Consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and of coaching. (Amended May, 2022)

3.1.3.3. Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of his/her duties.

It is clear that Mr. Slotboom’s conduct violated Rule 3.1. It is incumbent upon ACAC team officials to comport themselves in a manner that reflects favourably upon the Conference at all times.

While the identities of the KC student-athletes and assistant coach are unknown, the behaviour referenced above is also troubling.

It should be noted that Jonathan Lambert provided a detailed letter of apology following the incident, which affirmed that KC is committed to both the ACAC Code of Ethics as well as KC’s internal Coach/Student Athlete Guidelines and indicating that this incident will be used as a teaching tool for its coaches and student athletes.

Mr. Slotboom also provided a letter of apology, indicating that he would never intentionally jeopardize the integrity of the ACAC and that he will use this incident as a learning opportunity.

As the coach of both the Men’s and Women’s teams, it is incumbent upon Mr. Slotboom to ensure that the student-athletes on both teams understand the behaviour that is expected of them while enjoying ACAC games as spectators so that their actions reflect favourably upon the Conference.

Based on the above, it is my view that a suspension is warranted to reinforce the behaviour expected of Mr. Slotboom as an ACAC team official. Accordingly, Mr. Slotboom is hereby suspended for two (2) matches, with one (1) match to be served during the first match of the 2023-24 ACAC Women’s Soccer regular season and the remaining one (1) match to be served during the first match of the 2023-24 ACAC Men’s regular season.

Sincerely,

Bill Hendsbee 
ACAC Commissioner