LOWER STATE YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION

RULES OF OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION

AMENDED NOVEMBER 28, 2006

8.  OFFSIDE

9.  FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

The league has a zero tolerance policy with the use of foul language by players or coaches.  Referees are directed to send off players or coaches who use foul language.

10.  FREE KICKS

11.  PENALTY KICKS

12.  THROW INS

All age groups will be allowed only one (1) attempt.

13.  KICK OFFS

14.  CORNER KICKS

15.  GRACE PERIOD

Teams will be allowed ten (10) minutes after scheduled match time to field a minimum number of qualified players.  Matches must start on schedule if the minimum number of players are present for each team.  If the "no-show" team arrives before the referee leaves the pitch, the match may be played if both:

• The team that has won by a no-show elects to play the match with the final score deciding the winner of the match.

• The duration of the match is shortened by the amount of time between the scheduled match starting time and when the match actually starts.

The spirit of the game compels the referee to allow the match to be played if at all practical.

16.  UNIFORMS

• Every player MUST wear manufactured shin guards under their socks.  No exceptions.

• All players on a team must wear similar colored jerseys with differing numbers on the back.  Shirts must be tucked-in.

• If the jerseys between teams are similar in color, the home team must change colors.  This decision on whether or not a jersey change is required is left to the discretion of the referee.

• The goalkeepers of each team must wear a jersey of a color different from either team and from the other goalkeeper.

17.  BAD WEATHER

In the event of bad weather, the referee shall, upon arrival at the pitch, wait thirty (30) minutes from the scheduled match starting time before determining whether or not the field of play and weather conditions will allow for safe play.

To prevent undue damage to the pitch, a Club President may declare the pitch unusable due to bad weather.  Every effort should be made to contact the the visiting team coach(es) and the League Scheduler as soon as such a decision is made.

18.  SPECTATORS’ CONDUCT

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans.  Referees have full authority to terminate a match if fans become abusive and exhibit unsporting behavior.  Coaches and teams will be located on one side of the field and parents/spectators will be located on the opposite side.

19.  GAME OFFICIALS

• All U13-U18 matches will use three (3) USSF-certified officials whenever possible.

• All other matches will use a single referee and a club linesman from each team.

• For matches using a single referee, it is the responsibility of the coaches to recruit club linesmen.

20.  PLAYER PASSES

All players must have a validated USSF/SCYSA player pass in order to participate in any portion of a match.  All player passes must be laminated in clear plastic and include a recent picture of the player secured therein.  Referees are required to check player passes before the start of every match between teams of age groups U13 and above.  Player passes must be available for those teams of age groups U12 and below if requested by the referee.

There are no valid substitutes for a player pass.  If a player pass is not available, or if it does not comply with the forementioned requirements, that player will not be allowed to participate until such time as the pass is produced for the referee.  If, at the scheduled start of a match, there are not a sufficient number of players with valid passes available to achieve the minimum requirements (see Article 6 above), then that match will not qualify as a sanctioned match and will not be counted toward State Cup play requirements.  However, all fees due the referee(s) must be relinquished whether the match is played or is abandoned by either coach.

21.  EJECTIONS AND RED CARD TRACKING FORM

All U11-U18 teams will use the SCYSA Red Card Tracking Form, providing this is required by SCYSA.  All players and coaches will be listed on the tracking form and will abide by the SCYSA Red Card disciplinary requirements.  Players who are under suspension for an ejection must be in attendance at the next regularly scheduled match for which they have been suspended, but will not be allowed to participate in that match.  Players shall be present on the bench but not in uniform.  Suspended coaches are not allowed on any complex where a SCYSA game is being played until the suspension is served, regardless of the number of teams he/she coaches.

22.  MATCH FEES

• If the referee discontinues the match for any reason once the first half of the match has been completed, the match will stand and the officials will retain payment for the match.

• Officials will be paid full match fees for forfeited or cancelled matches if they are not personally notified of the forfeiture or cancellation at least two (2) hours prior to scheduled match time.  Teams that win by forfeit shall pay the referee at the field their normal fee (e.g. one-half of the total referee fee).

• If the officials arrive for a match at the pitch and the referee must cancel the match prior to the completion of the first half due to acts of nature (e.g,. weather, lightning, etc.), the officials shall not be paid.

• If the officials for a match arrive at the pitch and the match must be cancelled due to technical malfunctions (e.g., lights, vandalism, etc.), then the officials shall receive one-half the match pay.

• Each coach will pay one-half of the total match fees to the referee prior to the start of the match.  The coaches are expected to provide the exact amount (i.e., the referee should not have to make change).

• For the 2006-2007 seasonal year, fees for LSYSA matches are as follows, per match:

23.  MATCH RESCHEDULINGS/FORFEITURES

• In order for a forfeit to count as a game, the team must report to the field and have the referee declare the game as a forfeit (after the ten minute waiting period), unless otherwise determined by the LSYSA President.

• A team forfeiting two (2) or more matches in a season will be referred to the Ethics Committee for potential team and/or club sanctions.

• There will be three (3) levels of penalties depending upon the nature of the rescheduling/forfeiture, as follows:

1)  A $25 fine per team per occurrence will be assessed to the Club if, due to a conflict, a scheduled match cannot be attended and the match is successfully rescheduled at least two (2) weeks prior to the date/time of the originally scheduled match.  Successful rescheduling means that both teams agree to the new date/time/location as decided by the League Scheduler, following approval for the change by the President of LSYSA, with said date to occur within the confines of the regular season.  This fine does not apply to reschedulings resultant from matches cancelled due to acts of nature or other non-controllable circumstances.

2)  A $100 fine per team per occurrence will be assessed to the Club if, due to a conflict, the match must be abandoned but the coach/manager of that team properly contacts the league representative of his/her Club prior to 6:00PM of the day prior to the scheduled match.  Proper contact means speaking to that person live or receiving confirmation of a receipt of a phone or email message.  This fine would also apply in those cases where a successful rescheduling of a match, at least two (2) weeks prior to the date/time of the originally scheduled match, was not able to occur (see above).

3)  A $150 fine per team per occurrence will be assessed to the Club if the match is abandoned and there was no notification, if said notification is received by the appropriate league representative of the Club later than 6:00PM of the day prior to the scheduled match, or if fewer than the minimum number of players appear on the pitch at the scheduled match time and the match is declared a forfeit by the referee.

In all the above cases, the League Scheduler will be responsible for notifying the LSYSA Treasurer who will, in turn, bill the Club involved.  It will be the Club's responsibility to seek remuneration from the culpable team(s).

24.  THE LAWS OF FIFA AND USSF SHALL GOVERN ALL LSYSA MATCHES EXCEPT AS MODIFIED HEREIN.

25.  PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

Protests of circumstances allegedly affecting the outcome of the game in youth soccer are discouraged.  However; upon posting a $50.00 fee, protests contesting the outcome of any game may be lodged with the LSYSA Board through the affected club.  If the protest is upheld, the fee will be returned.  It is at the discretion of the Board to reschedule a contest.  Note: Referee decisions are not disputable.

26.  COACHING LICENSE

SCYSA has mandated that at least one (1) coach for each team be licensed for the 2006-2007 seasonal year, as follows:

A one (1) year grace period may be allowed for coaches who have never coached or never registered with SCYSA as a coach.

27.  RECRUITMENT

Recruitment is defined as a coach or assistant coach approaching a player during the LSYSA playing year (e.g., August through May) who is already registered with another team with the intent to convince that player to switch to his or her team.  Recruitment is strictly forbidden.  Coaches found to be violating this rule may be restricted from active participation in LSYSA during the following season.  A player is considered registered with a team when the Club Registrar receives the player's registration form and fees.

28.  ETHICS COMMITTEE

The purpose of the Ethics Committee is to adjudicate complaints from any parents, coaches, players, referees, or other members of LSYSA concerning significant violations of rules or procedures of LSYSA or accepted standards of ethical behavior by any other member of LSYSA.  If doubt exists as to the significance of a violation, two means of determining if an incident requires investigation and possible disciplinary action are as follows:

• The complaint may be forwarded directly to the Ethics Committee chairperson who will determine if the incident is significant enough to warrant further action, or

• The complaint may be forwarded directly to a member of the LSYSA Board who may make the same determination.

The complaint should be submitted in writing to the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee for resolution within seven (7) days of the incident.

The Chairperson of the Ethics Committee will then notify the person or club against whom the complaint has been lodged of the following:

• The fact of the complaint.

• The specifics of the compliant.

• The time and place at which the committee will meet to consider the complaint.

• Their right to attend the meeting.

The chairperson may confidentially investigate the circumstances surrounding  the complaint.  Meetings of the Ethics Committee will normally be held thirty (30) minutes prior to the regular monthly meeting of LSYSA and the Committee will report its actions during the meeting.  In the event of a sufficiently flagrant violation or complaint, the chairperson may convene an emergency meeting of the committee.  Action by the committee in such circumstance will be coordinated with the LSYSA Board.

Wide latitude is permitted the Ethics Committee on disciplinary action for violation of rules or ethical standards.  It should be expressly noted that expulsion from LSYSA or suspension for a specified period from participation in LSYSA activities is within the mandate of the committee.  Disciplinary action by the committee may be appealed to the LSYSA Board.

29.  TEAM CONTACT INFORMATION

At the time of final registration for each season, each club will be required to furnish to LSYSA a primary and secondary contact person to include home phone number, work phone number, cell phone number and email address for each team registered for that season.  Each club will be allowed to list a contact person for no more than two (2) teams for that season.  The Secretary of LSYSA will compile this contact list and distribute it via the LSYSA website.  In the event a team/club fails to provide contact information for each team, the default contacts for that team will be the Club President (primary) and the LSYSA Representative (secondary).

30.  GAME CANCELLATIONS DUE TO FIELD CLOSURE

The responsibility for notification of a game cancellation due to field closure rests with the home team. The game cancellation notification will be made by communicating with the team contact for the opposing team.  Communicating by merely leaving a message on an answering machine is not considered appropriate nor satisfactory.  Game cancellation notifications should be made as soon as possible following the field closure decision.  Remember that some teams must travel a considerable distance and must have as much prior notification as is possible in order to avoid unnecessary travel.