2011-12 NYCSL RULES

GENERAL
All NYCSL matches will be played in accordance with "The Laws of the Game" as issued by FIFA/USYSA except as modified in these "NYCSL Event Rules."

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
This league is an unsanctioned league for ALL NYCSL soccer teams. Each team shall be allowed a maximum of 18 players on their game day roster. Teams must be registered, in good standing with prior season, and players possess 2011-2012 player passes. 

TEAM ELIGIBILITY

All NYCSL teams must be carded and rostered to the member club, through our league. The NYCSL executive committee reserves that right to grant permission and approve teams/clubs and may do so on a case by case basis.

PLAYER PARTICIPATION LIMITATIONS

A player participating in an NYCSL event may be subjected to play a limited number of ninety (90) minutes per day. If an NYCSL Championship event match requires overtime to decide a match then a player may exceed the ninety (90) minute maximum but not exceed the total duration required to complete that match. This is to prevent youth players playing in Adult Games excessive minutes in one day. It is up to each club member to monitor youth player’s activity playing excessively. The New York City Soccer League wishes all teams and clubs adhere to their club member’s safety.

GUEST PLAYERS

Each NYCSL team is allowed to utilize a maximum of 4 guest players. “Guest Players” are defined as players above the 26 man maximum roster that are not primarily registered to your club. The guest players must be listed on your game day roster. Players are not considered “Guest Players” if they are officially rostered to the participating member club. Guest Players are any player who is a registered member under an officially registered NYCSL club, and has written permission from both clubs to play in a match. The player may play up in a match in a higher age category in unlimited matches, except for playoff games. No over-age player is permitted to play in a lower age or division.

PLAYING UP

Only officially rostered players are permitted to play up in an age group within league and championship play. Although a player is permitted to play up an age group, the player still must adhere to the player participation limitations (as defined above) of playing ninety (90) minutes, or as needed by its club in any given day.

Registration
Mandatory team registration and check in will take place at the registration tent at the field complex a minimum of one (1) hour before your first game. Teams must present valid NYC Soccer League Player Passes, Certified Rosters, Medical Release Forms and Permission to Travel Forms (if required per above). Teams may not play without having registered under penalty of forfeiture of games.

REFEREES
A center official referee system will be employed at all times. Three man referee will be utilized upon request, or special matches, including League Cup Final. Center Officials will be USSF certified and in good standing. The match must have each club designate a volunteer linesman, to save money for the clubs. Should the center referee arrive late at the field, Clubs may hire a licensed referee, or volunteer referee. Once the original official arrives, he/she shall enter the match at an appropriate time and the volunteer shall be relieved of their duties. For all ages U 13 and above, the referee and teams, if late, shall be allotted 30 minutes grace period. If travel more than two hours, an additional 15 minutes is allotted. Games can be shortened if agreed upon by both teams for any reason(weather related, field conditions, strength of competition, daylight, field permit expiring time, etc.) All games must be played. Games can be postponed only within reason, and agreement of both teams. All scheduled games must have both teams present to pay their half of referee fees, even if game is postponed.

PLAYER EQUIPMENT
Shoes must meet FIFA specifications and shin guards must be worn during play. In the event of a uniform color conflict, the home team shall change. For the purposes of NYCSL matches the team listed first on the schedule will be considered the home team. No jewelry may be worn by any player during a match (earrings, watches, necklaces)

UNIFORM BRANDING & PROFESSIONALISM
In the future, the NYCSL will provide each club with an official league logo patches to be heat transferred or sown onto all home and away jersey’s. The placement of the league logo is to be centered on the right sleeve approximately an inch to an inch and a half above the stitched hem on the bottom of the sleeve (on short sleeve jersey). The NYCSL branding on all jerseys is not mandatory (for first season). Teams are required to wear matching kits (jerseys/shorts/socks) and no t-shirts will be allowed to be worn by the teams during official NYCSL play unless approved by the Commissioner and NYCSL Executive Board.

DURATION OF MATCHES & POINT SYSTEM
The duration of halves is forty (35) minutes for U12-U13, (40) minutes for U14, U15 & U16 teams and forty five (45) minutes for U17, U18 & U19 and Adult teams. The interval between halves shall be five to ten (5-10) minutes with referee’s discretion. The referee is the official timekeeper of the match.  No overtime for league matches ending in ties.  The ties will stand. Three (3) points will be awarded for a win and one (1) point will be awarded for a draw during the league matches. 

SANCTIONING

Our NYCSL will apply once approved by vote of clubs, and we have requirements as set forth by sanctioning bodies of US Soccer (Federation).

OVERTIME

All league matches tied will remain a tie. NYCSL Championship placement bracket matches will play a maximum of two (2) overtime periods proposed by the host event director and approved by the NYCSL Commissioner and Executive Board.  If a match remains tied after two (2) overtime periods then the match will be decided by a five (5) man penalty kick shootout if necessary.

BALL SIZE: Size 5 U 11 and up, Size 4 U 8 – 10, Size 3 U 6-7.

TEAM/SPECTATOR FIELD POSITIONS
Coaches and players shall stand on opposite sides of the field from parents and spectators. No coaching shall be permitted within 18 yards of the goal line, from behind the goal line or from the parent/spectator sideline. No coach or parent or fan is permitted to be on the field, at any time of the game, unless directed by the referee. Penalty kicks all players must wait at center half.

Parents and spectators from both teams shall stand on the same side of the field, opposite the bench of the opposing teams.. The behavior of the parents and fans remains the responsibility of the coach. The referee and the Field Marshall are authorized to remove any spectator whose behavior, in their opinion, interferes with the play of the game. All spectators will remain behind spectator lines, as designated. Referees have authority to card the team for parent’s or fan’s behavior.

WARNINGS & EJECTIONS
If a player is ejected from a match (red card by the referee) that player must sit out the remainder of that match plus his/her team’s next league or tournament match. Two yellow cards constitute a red card and ejection, and result in a man down situation for the offending team. Coaches that receive a red card or two yellow cards in the same match are subject to the same penalties outlined above for players. Any coach ejected from a match will not be allowed in the general vicinity of the field (as defined by the referee) for the remainder of that match and the team’s next match. No team or club official may enter the field of play, regardless of the circumstances, unless that person has been given permission by the referee.
Red cards issued after the end of regulation play or as a result of physical assault are subject to review by the NYCSL Commissioner and the NYCSL Disciplinary committee and a more strenuous penalty, that is not subject to appeal, may be issued.  Should the infraction be sufficiently serious, law enforcement authorities may be summoned. All infractions shall be reported to the NYCSL Commissioner/Executive Board for relay to the team’s state association following the tournament. In accordance with USSF Policy 531-9, red cards for assault, abuse, or like offenses shall be reported immediately as decided by the event host.

PROTESTS
No protests shall be allowed.
FORFEITS
Teams that have not registered prior to their 1^st match and participate in a NYCSL match may be subject to forfeiting the match. A forfeit shall be awarded if a team is not present and prepared to play within thirty (30) minutes of the scheduled commencement time – unless a previous agreement has been approved by the NYCSL Commissioner. A fifteen (15) minute additional allowance shall be made for Semi-final and Final matches during the NYCSL Championship event. If a team that cannot field seven (7) players at the scheduled commencement time, the team shall forfeit the match.

SUBSTITUTIONS
Players that are substituted for may not re-enter a match within that same half of play. During the NYCSL Championship an overtime period is considered a new period and will follow the same substitution rule as a new half of play. Substitutions will be subject to the following conditions and upon approval of the referee:
Prior to throw-in by the team in possession.
Prior to a goal kick by either team.
After a goal.
Halftime or the beginning of an overtime period (NYCSL Championship event).
After a yellow card for the carded player.
Any time approval is granted by the referee (as in the case of injury for the injured player only). Note: When this occurs, the opponent may substitute a like number (1 for 1).
For a player that has been cautioned. Note: The opponent may substitute a like number.

STANDINGS/TIE BREAKERS
NYCSL results and standings will be recorded and published on the NYCSL website http://www.nycsl.com at the conclusion of each event weekend. All teams must e-mail their results to RudolfSanchezii@aol.com immediately following their respective match. Each team is to collect their team's results and player stata/data for each game.

For the NYCSL standings table and the Championship event the following tie breaker will determine seeding:

1.     Points

2.     Goal Differential

3.     Goals Scored