Last Updated:  Friday, April 18, 2008 03:27:44 PM

WCSSF Administration & Playing Rules for Spring 2008:

Players:

Indiana Youth Soccer (IYS) age cutoffs will be followed.  No overage players are allowed.  Under 10 age group players will not be allowed to move up into the U-12 age group.  Three U-15 age group players will be allowed on U-14 rosters for the fall season only.  These players would be eligible to participate in the season-ending tournament.

Players must appear on the official IYSA roster of his/her assigned team to be eligible to play.

No guest players are allowed.

A maximum of two secondary/travel players may be on a team’s roster.

Players must have a laminated player pass with picture, signed by the player and the club’s registrar.  Passes must be in order by the third Saturday of both fall & spring season.

No players may play on more than one recreation-plus team in this league.

If unrostered players participate in a game, the game will be forfeited.

Must follow the rules of IYSA on IHSSA players:

Students may participate in team sports contest as members of a non-school team provided that no more than the following numbers of students who have participated in the previous year as a member of one of their school teams in that sport are members of the non-school team at the same time.  Soccer-6.

Coaches:

Each team will be allowed 3 official IYSA Registered card holders to serve as coaches (Coach, Assistant coach or Manager) for a team.  These will be the only Adults allowed on the bench during a game.  Anyone that is on the bench and is not a card holder on the official roster will be asked to leave the bench area during the game.  This includes family members.

Teams will use the Roster given from the Resistor's software program as the official roster until IYSA sends out rosters and player passes.  No hand written rosters will be accepted.  All coaches must have a copy of this roster in order to provide information of his team to the referee's.  Once that team's player passes and roster is in from the IYSA, they must have them present at all games.

Coaches must send in ONE completed copy of the WCSSF Code of Conduct form with IYSA Roster attached by the third Saturday of both fall & spring season.

Coaches are responsible for fan and player conduct.

Any player receiving a red card will be suspended for the team’s next contest.

Any coach or team personnel sent off/ejected from a game will be suspended for the team’s next contest.

Scores must be reported within five days of the contest date.  Failure to report scores within the designated time frame will result in forfeiture of the game.

The WCSSF is a recreational soccer league.  Player development and enjoyment of the game are the primary goals of the Federation.  Every effort should be made by coaches to ensure that players participate in at least 50 percent of the game.

We have reinstated the "Playing Equal Strength" rule on the fields in the WCSSF.  This mean that all teams are to comply and if they don't, they will be on notice.

 

This pertains to all games within the WCSSF and WCSSF tourneys.

Games must start with teams playing at even strength (11 v 11, 10 v 10, etc.)If a team with 11 or fewer players (8 or fewer for U12, 6 or fewer for U10) elects to hold players out to use as substitutes, the opposing team is not required to play the same number of players (Team fields 9 players with 1 substitute, opposing team can play 10 players).  If a team with no substitutes has a player leave the field due to injury, the opposing team must remove a player until the injured player can return. (8-18-07)

If an injured player requires the attention of a coach, trainer or team personnel, the player must be substituted for and may not return until the next substitution opportunity.

If a player receives an injury to the head during the game, the player must be substituted for and must sit out of the game for a total of 5 minutes.  After the 5 minute period, if the referee and the coach feel the player is fit to return to the game, they may return at next substitution opportunity.

Teams have a 15-minute grace period from the scheduled start time of a game to field enough players to start the match.  If a team does not have enough players to start a match after the 15-minute grace period, the match will be suspended with the result (forfeit/reschedule) to be determined by the league commissioners.

Referees:

United States Soccer Federation (USSF) licensed officials must run centers.  The three-man system (referee, two assistant referees) must be used for all games, or the game will be declared a no contest.  Licensed assistant referees are strongly encouraged.  Non-licensed (club) assistant referees may be used to call out-of-bounds only.  The home team is responsible for providing and paying officials, unless otherwise agreed. 

Only Grade 8 referees or lower will center and line referee for the WCSSF Rec Plus games.  There will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule.

Referees MUST check ALL rosters and player passes for each team prior to game time.

Referees must file your Referee Report of each WCSSF game within 48 hours of game completion.  The game will not be considered “Complete” until your report has been received by WCSSF.

Games suspended by weather or darkness shall be deemed an official game if the contest has reached halftime (even if the halves have been shortened by agreement of both coaches).  Games suspended prior to that point shall be rescheduled and replayed from the beginning.

Reschedule Policy:

Games must be rescheduled through the league scheduler/age-group commissioner and may only be rescheduled for the following reasons:

1)     Fields or referees are unavailable on the designated day/time;

2)     School functions will prevent your team from having the minimum number of players to play the game (academic functions, not other school sports);

3)     One-time special events of other social or religious groups will prevent your team from having the minimum number of players to play the game; or

4)     Weather or field condition related cancellations.

With the exception of weather or field condition related cancellations, reschedules must be requested at least seven days prior to the scheduled playing date.  Failure to report reschedules within three business days of the regularly-scheduled game date will result in the game being declared a double forfeit.

League Standings:

Scoring teams will only be given a 4 goals margin when in a win occurs.  Running up the score is considered un-sporting.  If a team has a 4 goal advantage the team is to stop the attack and control the ball. Teams that "run up" the score may be dropped from the league.

Teams receive three points for each win, one point for each tie.

If all teams play an equal amount of games, standings will be based on total points earned if teams do not play an equal number of games, standings will be based on percentage of possible points earned [points/(games played x 3)]

If two or more teams have the same number of points or equal percentages, ties will be broken on the following:

1.   Games Won

2.   Head-to-Head Results

3.   Divisional Record (if divisions were used)

4.   Goals Allowed

5.   Coin Flip

If three or more teams tie for a position and all teams involved in the tie have the same number of wins, all three teams must have played an equal number of games against each other for head-to-head to be considered.  If not, skip to #3.  If so, the total number of points earned in these games will determine the winner of the tiebreak.

                        Example – Three Teams

                        Team B defeats Team A

                        Team C defeats Team B

                        Team A ties Team C

                        Team A – 1 point (0-1-1)

                        Team B – 3 points (1-1-0)

                        Team C – 4 points (1-0-1)

Team C wins the tiebreak.  The two-team tiebreaker may now be used between Teams A and B, with Team B winning the tiebreak on Head-to-Head.

Complaints:

Procedures for filing complaints to the WCSSF:

  • $150 fee to file the complaint at which $75 is refundable if you win your case.  $50 fee will pay the use of a neutral mediator/timekeeper.
  • Hearing date will be set.  All Hearings are private and there is to be no children or parents present.
  • A neutral mediator/timekeeper will be used during any hearing.
  • The accusing party has 30 minutes to present their case and what action they want taken; they must be present and present their own case.
  • The defending party has 30 minutes to rebuttal; they must be present and present their own case.
  • The other club representatives have 30 minutes for questions of both parties.
  • The two parties leave the room.
  • The rest of the clubs discuss and vote on whether to accept, modify or reject the accusing party's course of action.  Majority vote must be obtained.  Each club will be allowed one vote per club.  The accusing club/party and the club/party in question will be excluded from the voting process.
  • The two parties will be brought back in and be informed of the decision made by the WCSSF.
  • All decisions are final and any clubs not adhering to the decision will be suspended for play within the WCSSF for one season, but players will be allowed to participate in soccer with other clubs.

In the case of a complaint against a coach, player, parent, club member, or board member, the one who the complaint is against must be the one that represents themselves.  The above rules will still be enforced.

FIFA Rules will be used with the following modifications:

Law 1 – The Field of Play

U12

Maximum Field Size – 80 yards by 60 yards

Minimum Field Size – 75 yards by 55 yards

Center Circle – 8-yard radius

Penalty Area – 14 yards by 34 yards (14 yards from each goalpost).

Goal Area – 4 yards by 14 yards (4 yards from each goalpost).

Goals – 6 feet by 18 feet (goals up to 7 feet by 21 feet may be used).

Penalty Spot – 10 yards from Goal Line.

Penalty Arc – 8-yard radius from Penalty Spot for area outside Penalty Area.

U14

No change.

U16/U18 HS:

Same as U14

Law 2 – The Ball

U14

No change.

High School:

Same as U14

U12

Size 4 ball.

Circumference – 25 to 26 inches.

Weight – 11 to 13 ounces.

Law 3 – The Number of Players

All Divisions

Substitution is unlimited, may occur during the following situations:

                        Prior to a goal kick;

                        After a goal has been scored;

                        After a stoppage of play for an injury;

                        Between periods;

Prior to a throw-in (team with possession only); and after a yellow or red card has been issued to a player.  (Added 1/16/03)

[Note: Substitution of a cautioned player is no longer mandatory, but voluntary]

Games must start with teams playing at even strength (11 v 11, 10 v 10, etc.).  If a team with 11 or fewer players (8 or fewer for U12, 6 or fewer for U10) elects to hold players out to use as substitutes, the opposing team is not required to play the same number of players (Team fields 9 players with 1 substitute, opposing team can play 10 players).  If a team with no substitutes has a player leave the field due to injury, the opposing team must remove a player until the injured player can return.  (8-18-07)

If an injured player requires the attention of a coach, trainer or team personnel, the player must be substituted for and may not return until the next substitution opportunity.

Teams have a 15-minute grace period from the scheduled start time of a game to field enough players to start the match.  If a team does not have enough players to start a match after the 15-minute grace period, the match will be suspended with the result (forfeit/reschedule) to be determined by the league commissioners.

U14

Maximum roster size of 18.  Minimum of 7 players to play.

High School:

Same as U14

U12

Maximum roster size of 14.  Eight players on the field to start game.  Minimum of six players to play.  (Revised 6/24/04)

Law 4 – Player Equipment

All Divisions

If both teams wear similar-colored jerseys, it is the responsibility of the home team to change to an alternate uniform (scrimmage vests, etc.).

It is strongly recommended that each team wear the same color shorts and be uniform but not mandatory.  They should not wear the same color as the opposing team's jerseys.

A Team must wear the same color socks.

Mouth guards are strongly recommended but not mandatory.

A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewelry).  Taping is not permitted.

High School:

Same as U14

Law 7 – Duration of the Match   

U14

35-minute halves; 5-minute halftime.

High School

45 minute halves, 10 minute halftime

U12

30-minute halves; 5-minute halftime.

Law 11 – Offside

Law 13 – Free Kicks

U12

Players from the opposing team must be at least 8 yards away from the ball on free kicks.

Suspended Games:

Every reasonable effort will be made to complete games suspended due to weather or field conditions.  Games may be terminated at the point of suspension upon agreement of both coaches if the second half of the game has started and the score is not tied.  If terminated, the score at the point of suspension will be the official result.

FOR U-12, U14, & High School TOURNAMENTS ONLY

Tiebreaker Procedures

After a two-minute break, two five-minute overtime periods will be played to conclusion, no matter how many goals are scored.  The referee will conduct another coin flip to determine kickoff and choice of side.  Teams will switch sides between the overtime periods with no delay.  If the score is still tied after the overtime periods, the official result of the game will be a tie, with advancement determined by a penalty kick shootout.

After another two-minute break, the penalty kick shootout will be conducted according to FIFA rules.  Players on the bench may not participate in the shootout until all players on the field at the end of overtime have taken a shot.

       


Last Updated 04/18/2008 03:27 PM

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