· Two 45 - minute halves
· 5 minutes 1/2 time
· Shin Guards are required for each player
· FIFA Laws will be followed with certain exceptions listed below
LAWS OF THE GAME:
All matches will be played in accordance with current USSF “Laws of the Game” and USSF Directives will be enforced.
THE PLAYERS
· Each team will field 11 players.
· The minimum number of players allowable would be 7 people per team.
· Once player ID cards are issued, all players will need those ID Cards to be able to play.
· When asked, each player must present their player ID card to the referee or to any league official. If asked for a second photo ID, the player must present their Drivers License or other government issued ID, such as a passport for identity verification purposes.
· The referee will keep the player ID Card and return the License, once he or she has verified the information matches that on the line up sheet.
· ONCE THE PLAYER ID CARDS ARE ISSUED TO THE TEAMS, THOSE ID CARDS WILL BE NECESSARY AND REQUIRED TO PLAY.
Teams and Team Officials-
Teams and team officials (maximum of three (3) people can represent the team officials, e.g.coach, assistant coach, manager, trainer) will be on one sideline. A technical area will be established no closer than 3yards from the sidelines and no closer than 5 yards from the mid field.
Parents and spectators will be on the opposite sideline.
GAME DAY LINE UP ROSTER
Each team will be required to submit a game line up roster to the referee, along with each player submitting their player ID Card(once it has been issued). Use the USASA Game Roster Sheet. It will include your team name, individual player name, jersey number. The line up rosters can be downloaded from the website.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
· As per FIFA, all substitution requests must be made to the referee and the referee must give his or her authorization prior to the substitution being made.
· All substitutes must be done when the ball is dead.
· There is an unlimited number of substitutions
UNIFORMS AND GEAR:
· JERSEYS: Each team is required to have one set of uniforms, including matching jerseys, short and socks.
· Numbers must be on the back of each Jersey with minimum height of 6 inches.
· Age and/or size appropriate shin guards are required. This will be determined by the referee.
· Appropriate soccer footwear is required.
· Casts, splints or body braces made of hard materials are not allowed, unless they are padded to the satisfaction of the referee.
· Hats and headgear with any hard surface is not allowed.
THE REFEREE
· Enforce the “Laws of the Game” and all league rules
· DSC = Diagonal System of Control systems will be used.
· The authority of the referee starts when he/ she enters the field of play.
· All decisions of the Referee shall be final so far as the result of the game is concerned
· The referee shall submit the game report and results to the league director at the end of the game, including all pertinent information, such as goals, misconduct, injuries, etc.)
GAME LENGTH:
Each game will be divided into (2) 45 minute halves, separated by a brief halftime of approximately 10 minutes.
POST SEASON GAME LENGTH:
Each game will be divided into (2) 45 minute halves, separated by a brief halftime of approximately 10 minutes.
If required, overtime will be divided into (2) 10 minute periods played in its entirety.
If the game is still tied, the game will go to penalty kicks, as directed in USSF's ’kicks from the mark".
Players eligible to participate must have been on the field at the end of OT. No substitutions allowed during kicks from the mark.
START TIME:
All games should start at their scheduled time. If the team is not ready to start play after 10 minutes, then the team will forfeit.
FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
· Verbal abuse, such as taunting of players, referees, and/or spectators by players, substitutes, coaches or spectators are cause for immediate expulsion and suspension. A minimum 1 game suspension per person will be issued. The written report of the referee will used to determine if an extension to the minimum game suspension will be higher.
· Verbal abuse or abusive language or dissent or threatening actions used by a player to a referee or official, before or after they have been ejected from a game, will carry additional suspensions, up to and including expulsion from the league. Such penalties will be determined the league director, SRA and league review board, basing decisions on the referee report and any other comments from league officials who witnessed the incident.
PLAYER EJECTIONS AND TEAM OFFICIAL DISMISSALS: STANDARD, PROGRESSIVE AND ADDITIONAL PENALTIES
An ejected player must exit the facility immediately.
An ejected player must serve an automatic and minimum 1 game suspension and must contact the League Directors for a written approval prior to further participation in any league play.
An ejected player must exit the facility prior to commencing the game and may not return prior to the League Director’s approval.
Upon return, the player will serve a probationary period determined by the League Directors.
Team Official Dismissal:
A team official that has been dismissed during a match, must immediately leave the facility.
The League Director will inform the Referee Administrator and the team official of the expelled team official’s next opponent that the team official cannot participate in the forthcoming game.
If the team official should show up at the game site, and in any way officially participate in the game, his or her team will automatically forfeit the game
CUMULATIVE CAUTIONS:
Should any player receive 5 cautions in a season, he or she will be suspended for 1 game subsequent to their receiving the 5thcaution. Should any player receive 8 cautions in a season, he or she will be suspended for 2 games subsequent to their receiving the 8th caution.
IMMEDIATE EXPULSIION FROM THE LEAGUE:
An ejected player is also subject to additional multiple game suspensions, up to and including banishment/expulsion from the league, depending on the nature, severity and impact of the incident they were involved in and/or created. To be clear, a single and first incident by itself, could possibly warrant permanent expulsion. The league directors will make such a determination by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the referee report, any witness testimonies, and any other information that an investigation may reveal.
SIDELINE AND SPECTATOR CONTROL AND SUSPENSIONS
It is the responsibility of the team manager and coach of each team to control themselves and their sideline, including his substitutes, bench personnel and spectators. Any of these individuals, who may cause the sideline to behave in an inappropriate manner, such as causing the sideline behavior to be considered as bringing the game or sidelines into disrepute, this includes any substitutes or non-playing personnel, whenever they exhibit misconduct, be it at the start, during or at the conclusion of the game, the referee shall document the incident or incidents and inform the league directors. If the offenses are ejectionable in nature, and if they are committed by registered players, they will be suspended accordingly. If they are not registered players, then fines will be issued to the team accordingly.
SIDELINE CAUTIONS OR WARNINGS:
Warnings issued to any sideline personnel of a team, such as coach, manager, spectator or substitutes will be identified on the referee report as contributing to such cautionable issues. The team management will be held responsible for such bad behaviors and the referee report will be utilized in determining sanctions. If the individual is identified, then he/she will be facing some sort of disciplinary sanction, dependent on the incident report.
SIDELINE EJECTIONS/ REMOVALS: 1 game minimum suspension, per person
Ejections issued to any sideline personnel of a team, such as a coach, manager, spectator or substitutes will require their immediate expulsion from the field and be noted on the referee report and if they are a player, coach or manager on the team, a minimum of 1 game suspension, with the actual number of games of suspension determined by the league director, based on the referee report and/or witness testimony.
A team official that has been dismissed during a match, must immediately leave the facility.
The League Director will inform the Referee Administrator and the team official of the expelled team official’s next opponent that the team official cannot participate in the forthcoming game.
If the team official should show up at the game site, and in any way officially participate in the game, his or her team will automatically forfeit the game
POINT SYSTEM- Regular Season:
League games will have the following point system applied to game results:
WIN = 3 POINTS
TIE = 1 POINT
LOSS = 0 POINTS
Missed Match = no points for either team.
TIE BREAKING METHODOLOGY:
The following tie breaking procedures will be used to determine a league winner, in the event teams are tied with the same amount of points at the end of a season.
1. Head to Head competition in common games during the season.
2. Goals For minus Goals Against
3. Total number of goals scored in the league
4. Coin Toss
PLAYER TRANSFERS:
Once a player is registered with a team. He or she may not switch to register with a different team in the same league without the written authorization of his or her current team manager, releasing him or her from his or her team and authorizing him or her to be registered with a competing team in the same league.
