Spring League Rules of Participation

All teams are responsible to view the Spring Soccer web site for all communications relating to all aspects of Spring Soccer.

GOLDEN RULE – If any incident, event, conflict, controversy, or other dispute is not specifically covered by the following rules, it is understood that the Spring League Competitive Committee reserves the right to apply the CSL Rules contained in the CSL 2002-2003 Coaches’ Handbook to resolve the issue or issues.

GENERAL

Current FIFA “Laws of the Game” shall govern all official Spring League Soccer matches, with modifications,
as noted below. In addition, CSL and CYSA-S rules which are applicable will apply.

AGE OF TEAMS

Teams’ playing ages shall be the same as the fall 2002, CYSA-S – CSL, playing season.

TEAM PARTICIPATION

All teams, to be eligible, must submit the ON-LINE Application, complete the Team Certification information, submit the Team Play Dates Form, pay the proper entry fee and post a refundable Bond. Any Team not posting a Bond payment will have their bond paid from their entry fee payment.

PLAYER – COACH – MANAGER, PARTICIPATION

All players, coaches, managers must have current credentials at all games. Please contact your Registrar if you are unsure of “What is current?”

LOAN PLAYERS

Since one purpose of Spring Soccer is to try out new players, there will be unlimited loan players. However, no team may exceed 18 players on the roster for any one game, as defined by CYSA-S rules.

PLAYING VENUES

Field set-up is the responsibility of the home team / club. This is to include, nets, flags, and properly painted lines. Home teams are responsible for notifying Spring League Soccer when a field is not playable. The home team is also responsible for posting the condition of the field on the Spring Soccer web site Fields Information Page.

SCHEDULED GAMES

All games must be played when and where scheduled. The Spring Soccer web site shall be the sole source of all scheduled games. Teams must notify Spring Soccer Scheduler and Spring Soccer Director before Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. if they are unable to play any of their upcoming week-end games. E-mail will be the only form of notification accepted by Spring Soccer. Failure to notify Spring Soccer will result in a fine of the total referee fee plus $10. Fines shall be deducted (debited) from the team’s performance bond.

Notification to Spring Soccer Scheduler and Spring Soccer Director must include the following:

1) Age/Gender of team
2) Club Name
3) Team Name
4) Coach Name
5) Contact Phone number
6) Game #, Date, Time and location.
Spring Soccer will confirm receipt of e-mail by return e-mail.

ENTRY FEES, BOND PAYMENT, and REFUNDS

Entry fees will be determined by the total of games scheduled by Spring Soccer. If Spring Soccer cannot schedule the total amount of games for a team as paid for by the entry fee, Spring Soccer will pro rate the fee accordingly and credit the team’s Conditional Refundable Bond.

If a team did not provide a Bond , the required bond has been deducted from the team’s Entry Fee and the total games to be scheduled for the team has been adjusted. The team’s Conditional Refundable Bond balance will be refunded to all teams having a credit balance by July 4th, 2003. Reasons for a charge (debit) against a bond (but not limited to) will be:

Any payment made by Spring Soccer that is determined by Spring Soccer to be caused by the team.
Notice will be given to teams of such debits as they occur. Teams may present evidence on their behalf.
If a team does not contest the debit within 3 days of notice, the debit will stand and Spring Soccer will make the payment on the team’s behalf. No team’s Bond deposit shall be less than $50 on hand with Spring Soccer. If this occurs, Spring Soccer will request an additional bond deposit.
No Entry Fee refunds will be granted after the scheduler starts the scheduling process.
Notification of the scheduling process and progress will be posted to the Message Board.

PLAYER SUBSTITUTIONS

Unlimited substitutions may be made at the following stoppage of play:

1) Prior to a Goal Kick, either team.
2) After a Goal is scored, either team.
3) When the game is stopped due to injury, either team.
4) Prior to a Throw In, the team in possession only.

LENGTH OF GAME

Game duration and ball size shall be as follows:

U17 - U19 - two 45-minute halves played with size 5 ball
U15 - U16 - two 40-minute halves played with size 5 ball
U13 - U14 - two 35-minute halves played with size 5 ball
U11 - U12 - two 30-minute halves played with size 4 ball
U10 - U9 - two 25-minute halves played with size 4 ball

A ten (10) minute intermission shall be allowed between halves.

SCHEDULING

Once the schedule is published, no exceptions to the Spring Soccer schedule shall be allowed for any reason unless approved by the Spring Soccer Scheduler. A “schedule change fee” may be assessed to the team
requesting the game or field change.

In a case where the field condition or availability is involved, the Club or League President or their designated agent who holds the field permit shall be responsible for informing Spring Soccer of such conditions immediately and facilitate obtaining an alternate field for rescheduling the game to the earliest possible date.

Cancelled or Rained out games will be re-scheduled if possible. All teams recognize that Spring Soccer has no control over a facility which elects to close on a game day or for opponent teams not showing up.

SPRING SOCCER COMPETITION

Two competitions are organized by Spring Soccer:

a) SPRING SOCCER LEAGUE SEASON. Scores must be reported, however, although standings will be kept, they will not count for any type of status. Scores and Standings are for informational purposes only.

b) SPRING CUP COMPETITION. The Spring Cup competition format will be determined by the Spring Soccer Cup Scheduler. Rosters are to be frozen the day of the first scheduled Spring Cup game for that appropriate age group. More information will be published when completed.

A Championship Trophy will be awarded to the Coach of the Spring Cup Championship Team. In addition, Champion and Finalist Medals will be awarded to all players and coaches of the Championship Game teams.

GAMES SCORING SYSTEM

A 3 point scoring system ( 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie) shall be used in the Spring Soccer Season and a 10 point system in the the Spring Cup Competition.

Win = 6 points
Tie = 3 points

1 point for each goal scored, either team up to 3 goals
1 point for a shut-out

GAMES DAY ROSTERS FORM

The Player’s complete information must be recorded on the on-line player roster form before the Roster is printed. Or, the Roster Form may be printed and thereafter completed by pen. It is the responsibility of the Team Administrator(s) to provide the Referee with an accurate, legible and
completed current official Spring Soccer Roster, along with their Player Passes. The Team Officials shall present their Player’s and Administrator’s Passes to the Referee prior to the game. If there is no Administrator/Coach with a valid USYS Administrator Pass AND a CYSA-S BLUE Risk Management Card, the Referee shall note that on the match report and the game shall not be played.

All players named on the Roster must have a valid Player Pass. This includes players with temporary cards. The Players’ ID numbers, if available, shall be listed. Each player must report to the referee before entering the game for the first time.

In the event a player misrepresents himself/herself during a game, either or both coaches may request notation of the irregularity on the Roster by the Referee, who should then initial the notation. Late arrivals shall be allowed to play, provided that the player checks in with the Referee before entering the
game.

The referee is required to report on the official Spring Soccer Report instances of misconduct on the part of club/team Players, Administrators or Spectators that he/she determines to be adverse to the conduct of the game.

In cases where a Player or Administrator is sent off, the Referee is required to complete the on line send off form. All Player and Administrator’s Passes should be returned to the team at the end of the match including those of
Players and Administrators sent off during the match. Only in cases of assault, referee abuse, serious foul play and suspected falsification of documents should the Player or Administrator Passes be withheld. In such cases, a
supplemental Referee Report detailing the events and violations shall be made. In the case of Serious Foul Play, the Supplemental Report, Match Report and Player/Administrator Passes should be sent to the Spring Soccer
Registrar within 48 hours. In the case of Assault, Referee Abuse, or suspected Falsification of Documents, the Supplemental Report, Match Report and Player/Administrator Passes should be sent to the CYSA-S Protests, Appeals and Disciplinary Committee (PAD) at the CYSA-S Offices within 48 hours. Contact CYSA-S about passes sent to the CYSA-S office.

REFEREES and REFEREE FEES:

The Official Referee shall be the sole judge on the field of play and his/her decisions shall be final. No protest based on “referee judgment” shall be allowed. Any complaints regarding referees shall be directed in writing to the Spring Soccer Director. In the event that the official referee fails to appear, a certified referee may be appointed with the mutual agreement of both teams. Signature on the official Roster by the Administrators for both teams shall constitute acceptance of the appointed referee.

In the event of a “no show” forfeit, the team determined responsible for the forfeit shall have the entire referee fee deducted from their Bond plus an additional $10 fee.

The referee fees for each team shall be as follows:

U17 - U19 - $45 for 3 refs. $36 for 2 refs. $27 for 1 ref.
U15 - U16 - $40 for 3 refs. $32 for 2 refs. $24 for 1 ref.
U13 - U14 - $35 for 3 refs. $28 for 2 refs. $21 for 1 ref.
U11 - U12 - $30 for 3 refs. $24 for 2 refs. $18 for 1 ref.
U10 - U09 - $25 for 3 refs. $20 for 2 refs. $15 for 1 ref.

Referees are to be paid in cash so they can split the fee with their assistant referees. Club linesmen are not paid. A team booster, certified or not, is a club linesman.

All referees must have a current USSF Referee License. The three (3) Referee System (diagonal system) shall be used for all games. The two (2) Referee System is prohibited. Should one referee fail to appear or be unable to continue, a club linesman shall be appointed by and at the Referee’s discretion as a replacement. Should two (2) referees fail to appear or be unable to continue, two (2) club linesmen shall be appointed by and at the
Referee’s discretion. But regardless of whether the Referee chooses to use club linesmen or not, the two (2) whistle system will not be used.

GAME STOPPAGE and DELAYS.

If, for a valid reason, a game is not played or is not completed, Spring Soccer shall decide the standing of the game depending upon the reason for the game stoppage. Spring Soccer may reschedule the game, order the game to stand as played, order remaining time to be played off at a later date, or order such other action depending upon the circumstances as determined by the Spring Soccer Competitive Committee.

All games shall start at their scheduled time or, at the very latest, after the expiration of the allowed fifteen (15) minute grace period. The Referee shall check the Player Passes of the team in attendance and follow the normal procedure before the absent team shall be subjected to forfeiture.

The Referee may terminate or suspend the game, but only Spring Soccer may determine a match to be a forfeit by one or both teams. Member clubs/teams are responsible for the actions of their teams, players, administrators and spectators. They are required to take all precautions to prevent and discourage unruly behavior, threats, and /or assaults on players or officials, before, during and after the game.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

THE PURCHASE, SALE AND/OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AT ANY CSL SANCTIONED COMPETITION OR EVENT IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED EXCEPT WHERE PERMITTED BY STATE LAW.

ADDITIONAL RULES AND UNDERSTANDINGS

These rules may be modified at any time during the season at the discretion of the Spring League Committee. If any rules are modified or new rules added, a notice will be placed below.

U-11 TEAMS

Any team which has an age appropriate U11 player registered to the team shall be considered a U-11 Team and must therefore play a U11 game schedule despite the fact that the team borrows numerous U10 players. Even if the team borrows as many as 10 or more U10 players, that team must still play a U11 game schedule.

RULE MODIFICATIONS, ADDITIONS

None at this time.