I. ELIGIBILITY:
A. Any person requesting permission to play in this Association may do so provided all State and National requirements have been met.
B. Any person under suspension from any other Association, league or group must petition the Executive Board for permission to play in this Association.
C. Any person currently registered as a professional soccer player will not be eligible for play in the Coppell Co-Ed Adult Soccer League.
D. All female players must turn 18 prior to January 1, of the current playing year, which runs September 1 to August 31, or they must obtain a Youth Release from NTSSA. A Youth Release from NTSSA will also be necessary to play in any U19 play conducted during any CCASL season or event. All male players must be 30** by Jan. 1 of the current playing year.
**New policy effective July 20, 2016- each team is allowed maximum of two players that can be 26 or older.
E. Any team playing an ineligible or illegal player shall forfeit that game and said team shall be suspended from further play until they appear before the Coppell Adult Co-ed A&D Committee in order to answer charges.
F. Only with good cause and approval of the League Commissioner can a team register after the designated registration date(s) each season.
** All fines must be paid within thirty (30) days of infraction to the North Texas State Soccer Association.
II. REGISTRATION:
A. All required fees, registration forms, liability release, identification cards and other forms of information must be fully completed, typed, and submitted to the Association on the designated Association date(s) for each season. A maximum team roster shall be 24 players (no less than 12 players), all USASA/USSF registered.
1. All fees are due on the designated registration date(s). To register, all fees must be paid at registration. Any team/player that is not current on their fees will not be allowed to continue in League play until all fees have been paid.
A. Refund policy- Refunds will be given provided the request is received in writing before the player is officially placed on a team.
B. Each player must have a signed liability release on file with this Association for the current year before being allowed to play.
C. Any player may be registered with one (1) USSF registered men's or women's team per association and still be allowed to register with one Coppell Co-Ed team concurrently. He/She must be registered with the Association prior to participation in any league game.
D. A team that knowingly plays an unregistered, ineligible or suspended player shall forfeit all of the games in which the player participated. A coach, assistant coach and/or manager of the team playing such player could be suspended pending NTSSA hearing.
III. ADD/DELETE/TRANSFER
A. After registration a team may add a player with permission of the League Commissioner. All roster changes must be made no later than 1 week prior to the 3rd scheduled game of each season and under no circumstances shall a team exchange players on a roster without written consent of the League Commissioner.
1. Coppell Co-Ed reserves the right to refuse the registration of any player who has not paid their fee to any team for which they have played in the past.
2. Any team deleting players after registration must turn in those player’s (Co-Ed) ID cards before being allowed to add new players.
3. A player may transfer to any other team with permission of the League Commissioner and a release from his/her present team, during any playing season in accordance with the deadlines defined in (paragraph 3.A) above.
IV. TEAM RESPONSIBILITY:
A. Furnish a suitable game ball. (See Rule VI, sec. C)
V. TEAM CAPTAIN/REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSIBILITY:
A. Responsible for his/her teams conduct on and off the field of play, this includes litter control and alcoholic beverage consumption which is not allowed on any field.
B. Responsible for his/her teams’ spectator conduct.
C. Keep coaches, spectators and players within ten (10) yards either side of mid-field on your team’s sidelines.
D. Submit game sheet and roster to the referee before the game begins.
1. Game sheets must be completely filled out with players' names and jersey numbers prior to the game.
2. If the opposing team plays with an illegal jersey number or in an illegal jersey, the game may be played under protest. Write all the information on your game sheet and have the referee initial it.
E. Both teams must provide game scores to the Adult Commissioner no later than 3 business days after the played game.
F. Any red carded player refusing to leave the field of play, can be immediately dropped from the team roster by the captain and said player will also be subject to an A&D Committee review in order to be reinstated. Any captain that does not enforce the rule of getting the player away from the field will also be sent to A&D. The captain may also be subject to suspension and/or fined.
G. Team Captain or Team Representative is responsible for all sit out verification forms for any player under suspension of theCoppell Adult Co-Ed League. The form must be given to the referee for the referee’s signature and faxed into the league office prior to the suspended player(s) being released for play.
VI. EQUIPMENT:
A. All teams must wear matching shirts with minimum 6" numerals (unique and different with no duplications), PERMANENTLY AFFIXED to the back in order for a player to be eligible for league games. Numbers must be sewn, stenciled by heat process, or heat transferred. If there is a color conflict, the HOME team must change jerseys, or wear pinnies, and the number rule DOES apply. The first team listed on the schedule is the home team. Home team must change jersey color in case of a color conflict. If your team color is changed after the schedule is published and causes an unplanned color conflict, the team making the jersey color change must switch to another color. In the case of both teams changing colors causing a conflict – it falls back on the home team to switch to another color. All numbers worn must match the number on the game sheet for that specific player. A goalkeeper is not required to have a number unless that player plays on the field as a field player, then a proper uniform with a number not listed to another player is required. No taped or hand written numbers shall be allowed. Any player in violation of this rule shall be considered ineligible and the game shall be a forfeit win for the opponent.
1. Shin guards are mandatory and socks must be pulled up over the guards. Shin guards must be those manufactured for specific use as shin guards and approved by FIFA.
2. A player will be allowed to wear slider shorts,
B. Playing shoes must meet FIFA standards and be in safe repair.
C. Game ball shall be size 5 and conform to FIFA standards.
VII. PLAYING RULES:
Unless otherwise modified by these rules, all competition under jurisdiction of this Association shall be Governed by the FIFA Laws of Soccer.
A. Game Suspension
1. If a game should be suspended before the second half begins, it shall be replayed.
2. If a game should be suspended once the second half begins, it shall be considered a full game.
*see: XII PLAY-OFF GAMES
3. If a game is rained out or suspended as in 1 above, it shall be re-scheduled.
B. Number of Players
1. A team shall consist of 6 male and 4 female field players. A keeper may be either male or female. There shall never be more than 6 male field players. There may be up to ten (10) female field players provided the goalie is a male (one male and one female player is required at all times).
2. In the event a male field player is sent off (red carded), the offending team will be limited to a maximum of 5 male field players (a total of ten field players). Should a second male field player be sent off (red carded), the offending team shall be limited to a maximum of 4 male field players, and so on, including a keeper being suspended from the game.
3. A minimum of seven (7) players is required to play a game (maximum of five (5) male field players, minimum 1 female, and one (1) goalie--see VII B 1). If a team has only seven (7) players at the scheduled game time, they must start the game with those seven players or forfeit. If for ANY reason a team falls below the 7 player minimum, that team will forfeit the game at that time. The game will be abandoned and a forfeit win awarded to the opposing team.
C. Substitution
1. Free substitution shall be allowed for either team at any stoppage of play at the discretion and consent of the referee.
2. Any player bleeding from a wound must leave the field and get permission from the referee before returning to the field of play.
D. Misconduct / Discipline
1. All misconduct shall be reported, in writing, to the Adult Co-Ed Commissioner, by the game official.
2. The Coppell Adult Co-ed League Appeals & Disciplinary Committee, shall have the authority to suspend or remove players or team officials guilty of misconduct.
3. Serious misconduct will be reported, if necessary, to the North Texas State Soccer Association for further disposition .
4. An ejection (being sent-off) during a game is an automatic suspension for the next scheduled game, accordingly, any red card (ejection) issued shall be a minimum 1 game suspension and a $50.00 fine. Any red card issued during a final game shall be carried over to the first game in the following season.
a. Any involvement in fighting shall be a minimum three (3) game suspension and a $60.00 fine, while joining in to a fight shall be a MINIMUM four (4) game suspension and a $80.00 fine.
1. The use of offensive, insulting or abusive language directed at an opponent, official and/or spectator shall be a minimum two game suspension and a $40.00 fine. Foul language not directed at an opponent, official and/or spectator shall be left to the discretion of the referee.
2. A send-off (2nd caution) received for dissent toward the referee, can carry up to a minimum three (3) game suspension and a minimum $50.00 fine.
All fines must be paid within 30 days of the infraction.
**This is the minimum disciplinary punishment taken by all Member Associations on ejections. Nothing herein prevents a Member Association from enacting more severe sanctions. Each case should be judged on its own set of circumstances and degree of misconduct or violence, the latter of which must be dealt with swiftly and severely.
3. In the event of an abandoned game, the teams involved will be heard by the Coppell Adult Co-Ed A & D Committee, before their season can continue. Action could take the form of awarding a forfeit win, declaring that the game may be replayed or that the game stands with the score at the time of abandonment.
4. All referee calls are final and shall not be protested.
5. Slide tackling is defined as a play where any player intentionally tackles an opponent who has control of the ball and comes in contact with the playing surface with any part of their body other than the soles of their feet. Slide tackling without any contact with either the opponent or the ball is a Foul. Any player that is persistently called for this infraction may be issued a Caution (yellow card) for Persistent Infringement. Slide tackling where any contact is made on the opponent or the ball will be considered Unsporting Behavior and a Caution (yellow card) will be issued to the offender. Any Slide Tackle that the Referee feels is made using excessive force will be considered as Serious Foul Play and will result in the offending player being shown a Red Card and that player will be dismissed from the game.
The restart for all Slide Tackling offenses except where Serious Foul Play was determined is an Indirect Free Kick awarded to the opposing team. A Direct Free Kick will be awarded to the opposing team on all offenses that were deemed by the Referee as Serious Foul Play.
FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES: Sliding to control a free ball, with no other player in the vicinity is not considered a slide tackle. The goalkeeper may slide tackle as long as the slide begins within the penalty area and that, in the opinion of the referee, the slide tackle does not put an opponent in danger of being injured.
7. Probation can be established by the Coppell Adult Co-Ed Soccer Association Appeals & Disciplinary Committee or Executive Board.
a. Any player or coach on probation who receives a caution shall be suspended from the next scheduled league game. A send-off shall carry an automatic two (2) game suspension.
b. Any team that has been placed on probation or suspension by this Association shall still be considered on probation or suspension if that team registers with five (5) or more players from the probated or suspended team, regardless of team name change, etc..
8. Any team whose conduct results in a loss of a field available to the Association, shall be ejected from the Association immediately and will forfeit the right to play any further games. Such team must appear before the Executive Board before being entitled to participate in the future of the Association.
E. Valid Identification; Each player is required to have a current player's card (ID) from Coppell Adult Co-Ed Soccer Association or a temporary pass signed by a league official, and present that card or pass to the game official or they shall not play.
F. Length of game
1. Games shall be two 40-minute halves. In the event of extreme heat or team playing down players, the referee must give water breaks.
a. All games must start at the scheduled time. If a team not present with a minimum of 7 players as described above (maximum 5 male/1 female players plus the keeper), the game shall be declared a forfeit and a 3-0 score shall be awarded to the opposing team. A maximum 15-minute grace will be allowed when a team has 7 players. NO SHUTOUT BONUS will be awarded for any game which is a forfeit. If neither team has a minimum of 7 players at the scheduled game time, the game will be declared a double forfeit and no points shall be awarded.
1. GAME START TIME shall be: The clock must start at the scheduled game time. The referee will allow a 15 minute grace period. If your game does not start within the 15 minute allotted grace period the game will be listed as a forfeit by the team.
b. In the case of a team forfeiting, the game will be scored as a 3-0 win for the opposing team.
See VIII.C. below
VIII. FORFEITS:
A. A team may request a forfeit, but must notify the League Commissioner at least 72 hours prior to the regular scheduled game in which they are forfeiting.
1. Any team that forfeits less than 72 hours prior to the regular scheduled game in which they are forfeiting, will be fined the entire referee fees plus field usage fee., and the other team is awarded a three (3) goal win, without the bonus point for a shut-out.
3. A team that does not timely advise the league or show at the field at the scheduled game time, will be considered a “no show” forfeit and they will incur the cost of the full referee fees for that game.
4. Any team that forfeits a positioning round game or semi-final, regardless of point standings, will not be allowed to participate in the division final or named division champion. The team with the next greatest point total will replace the offending team in the final or as champion. No awards will be issued to the team being replaced.
B. The League Commissioner will declare a game a forfeit for any of the following reasons:
1. Use of illegal or ineligible players.
2. ID cards must be presented to the referee for inspection, no later than the published game start time and before the end of the 15 minute grace period.
3. Lack of the minimum required number of players (as set forth in section VII).
4. Non-compliance with league uniform standards. This includes but is not limited to improper numbering, pennies, and home teams unable to provide alternate jerseys.
IX. TEAM STANDINGS (Regular Season):
A. A Division Champion shall be established by using the following point system:
6 points for a win and 1 point for each goal up to 3
3 points for a tie and 1 point for each goal up to 3
0 points for a loss and 1 point for each goal up to 3
1 point for a shutout (not awarded for forfeit win)
X. SCORING:
A. A woman's goal will count as two (2) goals. A man's goal will always count as one (1) goal. In the event of a deflection by the defense, the last offensive player touching the ball will determine the number of points awarded. ANY GOAL SCORED DIRECTLY BY A DEFENDER shall count as one goal.
1. Penalty kicks must be taken by a female, but, a PK shall always count as one goal.
2. No individual male player shall be allowed to score more than three (3) points in any game (including overtime).
XI. PLAY-OFF FORMAT:
A. In the event of a tie at the end of regular season play (7 guaranteed games), tie breakers shall be:
1. Head-to-head competition (if applicable)
2. The fewest number of goals allowed,
3. The greatest number of goals scored
4. An arranged meeting for FIFA penalty kicks
5. A coin toss if both teams prefer
B. Positioning round one (if applicable) will be 1st v 6th , 2nd v 5th and 3rd v 4th . Round two will be 1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd and 5th v 6th . The two teams with the greatest number of points will play the final.
C. If the division goes directly into a semi-final (4 team division), 1st will play 4th and 2nd will play 3rd , with the two winners going to the final. Semi-finals must have a winner. In the event the game is suspended due to weather, lights or any other unforeseen event, or human error (mechanical problems with lights) regardless of the score, the game will be replayed in its entirety by reverting to a 0-0 at the start of the rescheduled game unless the game is into OT or kicks from the mark and then only the OT or kicks will be replayed.
D. A division of 8 teams will go directly into a final, without playoff rounds. The two teams with the greatest number of points will play.
E. The championship game shall determine the final position of first and second place.
F. Any team who forfeits either a positioning round or semi-final game shall receive a forfeit loss and be eliminated from the final game and lose all points received during the current season.
XII. PLAY-OFF GAMES:
A. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, the following will be the guidelines unless otherwise directed:
1. Over-time shall be fifteen (15) minutes, divided into two (2) periods of seven and one-half (7 ½) minutes each. Over-time periods will be played in their entirety (NO Golden Goal).
2. If the game is still tied, the game will be decided by FIFA penalty kicks. The kickers must rotate; male, female, male, female, male, if five kicks are necessary. If sudden death (more than 5 kickers) is necessary, the sixth kicker must be female.
3. In the event the game is suspended in OT due to weather, lights or any other unforeseen event, only the OT and/or kicks from the mark will be replayed.
4. In the event of pending filed condition(s) i.e.: darkness, inclement weather, etc., both captains, prior to overtime may elect to modify the length of overtime or go directly to FIFA kicks. (Must be notated on both game sheets by referee)
5. Positioning rounds may end in a tie, as they are not in the “finals” category. Semi-finals must have a winner. In the event the game is suspended due to weather, lights or any other unforeseen event, or human error (mechanical problems with lights) regardless of the score, the game will be replayed in its entirety by reverting to a 0-0 at the start of the rescheduled game.
XIII. Championship Games:
1. Final game cannot end in a tie.
A. Over-time shall be fifteen (15) minutes, divided into two (2) periods of seven and one-half (7 ½)
minutes each. Over-time periods will be played in their entirety (NO Golden Goal).
B. If the game is still tied, the game will be decided by FIFA penalty kicks. The kickers must rotate; male, female, male, female, male, if five kicks are necessary. If sudden death (more than 5 kickers) is necessary, the sixth kicker must be female
C. In the event of pending filed condition(s) i.e.: darkness, inclement weather, etc., both captains, prior to overtime may elect to modify the length of overtime or go directly to FIFA kicks. (Must be notated on both game sheets by referee).
D. In the event the game is suspended due to weather, lights or any other unforeseen event, or human error (mechanical problems with lights) regardless of the score, the game will be replayed in its entirety by reverting to a 0-0 at the start of the rescheduled game unless the game is into OT or kicks from the mark and then only the OT or kicks will be replayed.
E. Any team that forfeits a championship (final) game, regardless of point standings going into the final, will be replaced by the team with the next greatest point total prior to the final. No awards will be issued to the team being replaced.
XIV. PROTEST AND APPEALS:
A. A protest or appeal shall be in writing, and delivered to the CYSA Office within five calendar days of the game being protested. Any protest or appeal must be accompanied by the appropriate fee (cash or cashier's check), and shall be heard within the following week.
Regular season game or positioning round...........................…... $25.00
All other matters, including play-offs and tournament games..… $50.00
B. Appeals of an A&D Committee’s ruling, shall be in writing to CYSA Executive Board with the appropriate fee.
C. Appeals of an CYSA Executive Board ruling, shall be made in writing to NTSSA with the appropriate fee.
D. Any individual and/or team always retain the right to appeal/protest any decision in accordance with these rules. All decisions at any level of the appeals process shall stand in full force and effect until changed by a higher authority.
XV. CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
If a conflict of interest exists on any playing rule, that situation must be referred to the Executive Board for review.
XV. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
A. The Association reserves the right to act on these Rules and Regulations or any event of circumstances not covered by these Rules and Regulations where an unexpected or unforeseen event occurs that may cause undue hardship, if strict interpretation of these Rules and Regulations are applied, however, it will require an official Executive Board action to implement such a change.
B. All drop balls MUST be taken by TWO (2) female players.
C. All games must be completed, but may be played under protest (see Rule V.D.2.), with the exception of a team or player(s) without proper ID. Games may not be started without individual cards or temporary passes.
Any violation of these rules will result in a forfeit win for the opponent.
Promotion and Relegation will be the practice of this league. If you come in first, you will go up. If you come in last, for the sake of your team and your players, you will go down.