League Regulations

Membership

Divisions

Compliance Assessment

League Structure

Playing Rules

Venue Requirements

Team Post-Game Responsibilities

League Schedule

League Standings

Point System

End of the Season Tournament

Minimum Standards

Compliance with Minimum Standards

No-show / Forfeit / Cancellation / Rescheduled Games

Non-Performance by the Home Team

Fines

Team Rosters, Player Eligibility

Player Cards

Game Officials

Match Officials

Payments of Match Officials

Home Team Requirements for Referees

Disciplinary Regulations

League Discipline

June 27, 2008

This handbook provides you with the policies and guidelines to follow in the operation of your team(s), please take time to read through the entire handbook and make yourself familiar with its contents.

The East Tennessee Youth Soccer League is opened to all teams U9 to U19 boys and girls.

The ETYSL is divided into age divisions (U9, U10, U11…U19 boys and girls). ETYSL reserves the right to change any division for purposes of scheduling and standings. This also includes the right of ETYSL to move a team into different division, combine age divisions, or add additional divisions.

Following each season, the League Commissioner shall review the compliance record of each team. The commissioner may find that a team has not complied with standards of the league, has not paid fees, referees, or fines and recommend corrective actions. In extreme cases of repeated non-compliance the Commissioner may recommend the termination of the team or club in question.

All games shall be played according to the rules and regulations recognized and set by FIFA / U.S. Soccer (USSF) and Tennessee Soccer, except for those exceptions noted below.

Each team is required to have a home field to play their scheduled home games. The field must be properly marked and have goals (anchored), nets, corner flags, and provide match officials. Penalties are as follows:

If the field markings are not according to standard FIFA regulations there is a $10 fine. No Corner flags, nets and goal posts (must be anchored) there is a $10 fine.

Both teams are responsible for mailing the Game Score Sheet to the league Bob Bratta 11509 Gates Mill Drive, Knoxville TN 37934 within 3 days of a game's conclusion. The formed can also be emailed if the signed original can be scanned. The email must have signatures on it.

This is the official statistical sheet for the game, which lists the teams, scoring summary and official statistics, including a list of the game’s cautions and send- offs. At the game’s conclusion, the coach must initial the score sheet while the referee must verify the cautions, send-offs and goals/assists by also signing the score sheet. This form can be found in the Forms section of this handbook or on the league web site.

The scores from games will be posted and a league champion will be decided either by league play or by an end of the season tournament. The league commissioner will decide if a tournament is feasible and a club is willing to host the event. If a tournament takes place only the top four seeded teams will play in the tournament.

The format for the tournament will be:

semifinal game 1: seed1 vs. seed4 games ending will go directly to a FIFA kicks

semifinal game 2: seed2 vs. seed3 games ending will go directly to a FIFA kicks

The championship game will be the winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2. Games ending in a tie will have a sudden death period followed by FIFA kicks.

3 points for a win

1 point for a tie

0 points for a loss

-1 point for forfeit

A forfeit will result in a 1-0 win to the team not at fault

Breaking Ties in the League Standings -- The breaking of ties in the final standings, playoffs and finals is accomplished by applying the following criteria, in order of importance:

1. Head-to-head

2. Goal difference in League games (max 3 goals per game).

3. Goals scored in League games (max 3 goals per game).

5. Most shutouts (forfeits do not count).

6. By decision of the league commissioner

In the event that a game cannot continued through full regulation play the game will count if one-half of the game was completed. If there is no result and the match is suspended prior to the expiration of one-half due to inclement weather or extenuating circumstances, it will be rescheduled at a date and time mutually agreed to by both teams. Once a match has begun the Referee has the final decision on postponement due to weather or field conditions.

In case the game delays or postponement due to inclement weather or field closures; the home team shall communicate delay or postponement with the visiting teams and submit a "Game Change Form" found on the league web site or at the end of this handbook with the league commissioner.

Incomplete Game / Standings -- If a game is delayed due to inclement weather or some other extenuating circumstance, and one-half of a game has been completed, the game will be considered complete.

Rescheduling a Postponed Game -- Any postponed game must be rescheduled within a reasonable time frame. If a match is not rescheduled before the end of the season the league commissioner will make a decision as to determine league standings and league compliance.

Rescheduling Considerations – The League Commissioner shall have the authority to review all the facts, (including fault on the part of either team, unavoidable conditions, expense for both teams, and requests by a team to take a particular action in the best interests of ETYSL and its teams) in determining whether and when a game shall be rescheduled, who should bear the financial burden as a result of cancellation or rescheduling, whether the game should be forfeited or cancelled permanently, and whether other fines should be levied. The integrity of the league and the home team schedule shall be given considerable weight in the resolution of these matters.

Written Explanation of Postponement -- Whenever a game is postponed or canceled, the league must receive a notice of postponement or cancellation.

Teams are required to comply with the defined Minimum Standards. The Commissioner shall have the power to penalize, individual team members for non-compliance of minimum standards, with penalties consisting of warnings, fines, or permanent suspension from league activities. The league regularly monitors compliance. In addition, Teams are encouraged to report situations to the league which, on the surface, appear to be in non-compliance with Minimum Standards. Reporting non-compliance on the part of other Clubs should not be viewed as a negative but rather as a positive attempt to maintain consistent league-wide standards that ensure professionalism and fairness, both on and off the field. While all teams are required to adhere to Minimum Standards, some teams, because of extenuating circumstances, may have been given exemptions, approved in advance, to some Minimum Standards.

In the event the visiting team is present at the venue and able to perform and the home team has not properly marked the field there is a $10.00 fine. If any one of the following occurs: there are no nets, no corner flags or the goals are not properly anchored than the home team will be fined $10.00.

In the event, neither team is prepared to commence the playing of a game at the scheduled kickoff time. Or in the event a game is not played to a conclusion on that day or can not be rescheduled, ETYSL may declare the game to have been forfeited by both teams with neither team receiving any points for the game, and may impose further penalties on the teams.

In the event a team withdraws from the league without finishing its scheduled games, it shall forfeit its membership and the following regulations will take effect: If at least half of the full schedule of games has been played, all resulting scores will stand and a forfeit will be awarded in their remaining games. If less than one-half of the full schedule of games has been played, these completed games will be deleted from the standings. The team will be fined $50.00.

League teams assume all risks, responsibilities and liabilities for loss, damage, injury or death while using property and facilities during games in leagues affiliated with ETYSL, whether such loss, damage, injury or death be occasioned by the team or by the league, its officers, agents, or otherwise.

Fines will be assessed for violation of league rules, game changes, and any minimum standard requirements. Fines must be paid within 7 days of the violation. A table of fines is published at the end of this handbook.

All players and coaches must present their Player Card to the referee prior to the match. If the individual’s picture is not on the player card and the card is not laminated, the individual will not be eligible for the match.

All players must be TSSA or Club soccer registered or they may be registered with another state. Player Cards and a copy of the Roster are required for each league game. Each player’s number must be on the roster. Guest players are only permitted to substitute for an absent team member, a maximum of 3 guest players are allowed per game.

A maximum of three (3) non-playing personnel are allowed on each team bench. These persons can either be coaches, medical staff, or a maximum of one (1) person from team management.

Match Officials must be currently registered through USSF and assigned by the home team’s designated certified referee assignor. The match officials shall consist of the Referee, and Assistant Referees (AR1, AR2).

The each team will split the referee’s fees and pay the officials prior to the start of the game. Teams are required to split the referee fees in both league and tournament games. The referee fees for each game are listed below. If for any reason the home team has agreed to pay a referee or referees more than the rate listed below than the home team shall pay the difference. The visiting team will only pay only ½ the rate listed below. If a game has teams from different age groups playing together, the referee fees will be paid at the oldest age group rate.

U9, U10 $24.00 $18.00

U11, U12 $26.00 $20.00

U13, U14 $28.00 $22.00

U15, U16, $30.00 $24.00

U17, U18, U19 $34.00 $28.00

It is the home team’s responsibility to have referees assigned to their home games. They must use a referee assignor to provide referees. In the event a game is canceled or rescheduled it is the home team’s responsibility to inform the referee assignor that the referees will no longer be needed. If the home fails to notify the assignor that the game will not be played as scheduled, home team will be responsible to pay the referees. All teams are required to provide a comfortable, safe, welcoming environment for officials, with the basic necessities for an athletic event. Regarding referees, teams should take note of the following:

At no time should anyone imply -- in any way at all -- criticism of the game officials or refereeing in general or make comments that criticize the visiting team. Clubs who fail to heed the above guideline will be subject to disciplinary action by the league.

A. RULES OF CONDUCT

1.    Rules of conduct and discipline shall as a minimum comply with all USSF procedures and policies.

2.          The ETYSL has the authority to formulate conduct and discipline that is stricter than that of USSF.

3.          Every individual that participates in any manner in events under the jurisdiction of ETYSL is subject to the policies and procedures of this policy. Such persons include the following:

a.          Players, including all substitutes

b.          Teams, including both traveling and non-traveling teams

c.          Coaches, including assistant coaches and team managers

d.          Spectators, including parents and other family members

e.          Referees, including assistant referees, instructors, assignors and assessors

B. DEFINITIONS

1.          Suspension shall be defined as no participation in the area(s) in which an individual is suspended.

2.          Suspension of a team shall be defined as suspension from any competition for any team having seven or more players who were members of an offending team for the time period specified.

3.          Dissent shall be defined as anything that demonstrates continuous disagreement with game officials either by action or word.

4.          Threats shall be defined as remarks, verbal statements, gestures, or physical act not resulting in bodily contact that carry the implied threat of physical harm against another individual or their personal property.

5.          Referee abuse shall be defined as the use of foul and abusive language toward a referee, spewing any beverage on the referee or their personal property, or verbally threatening a referee.

6.          Assault is an intentional act of physical violence. Assault includes, but is not limited to, the following acts upon another individual:

a.          Hitting

b.          Kicking

c.          Punching

d.          Choking

e.          Spitting at or on

f.           Grabbing

g.          Poking

h.          Deliberate bodily running into

i.            The act of kicking or throwing an object at

j.            Damaging personal property

7.          Next scheduled game is defined as the next game on the teams regular schedule at the time of the incident.

C. TWELVE POINT SYSTEM FOR DIVISION 1-3 YOUTH PLAYERS

1. A twelve point system shall be in effect for all Division 1-3 youth players effective September 1, 2000.

2. Players shall be given one point for each yellow card received.

3. Players shall be given two points for each red card received.

4. If a player received two yellow cards that result in a red card in a match the player will receive two total points for that match.

5. Point totals accumulate for the seasonal year, September 1 to August 31 of the following year.

6. Point totals include all cards received from both indoor and outdoor participation.

7. Players that accumulate five points must sit out their next scheduled game.

8. Players that receive a red card must sit out the remainder of that game.

9. If a player receives a red card due of their second cautionable offense or due to a sending-off offense, as defined in the Laws of the Game,of the match the player shall sit out the next scheduled game. If in receiving the red card the player has accumulated five or more points, the player shall sit out their two next scheduled games (one game for receiving the red card and one game for accumulating five or more points).

10. If a player receives a red card due to a sending-off offense, as defined in the Laws of the Game, the player shall sit out the next scheduled game. If in receiving the red card the player has accumulated nine or more points, the player shall sit out three scheduled games, (one game for receiving the red card and two game for accumulating nine or more points).

11. A player that accumulates twelve points is suspended for the remainder of the seasonal year.

12.Players that are found guilty of assault shall receive a minimum of a one-year suspension from the date of the incident.

13.A coach that knowingly plays an ineligible player shall receive a minimum of a one-year suspension from the date of the incident or from the date it is determined that the coach is found guilty of violating this Policy.

.

Age Group:

Home Team:

Away Team:

Original Date:

Original Time:

Original Venue:

New Date:

New Time:

New Venue:

Reason for the Game Change:

- I have attached the opposing club's agreement/correspondence to change the game.

This request has been made by:

Name:

Team:

Title:

Home Team: ______________________________    Visiting Team:___________________________________

Score             _________________                            Score _____________

Match Location: _______________________________ Match Date: _______________Match Time: ____________

Continue on reverse if needed

Confirmation

Home Coach: ____________________________     Visiting Coach: ______________________________________

                                                Printed Name                                                                                                           Printed Name

Home Coach: ______________________________    Visiting Coach: ____________________________________

                                                Signed Name                                                                                                            Signed Name

Center Referee: ________________   Assistant Referee 1: ________________ Assistant Referee 2: _____________

                                       Printed Name                                                              Printed Name                                                           Printed Name

Center Referee: ________________   Assistant Referee 1: ________________ Assistant Referee 2: _____________

                                           Signed Name                                                              Signed Name                                                            Signed Name