235 Potomac Road
Wilmington, DE 19803
302.652.4714

Rules
Home Board Rules Registration Referee Fees

 

 

Rules Mid-Atlantic Soccer League - 8 v 8 League (U09 through U12)
Rules are primarily as laid out by USYSA.  To read the complete USYSA rules for U12 small-sided games go to: http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/RulesSmallGames.asp .  There will be no change regarding roster size, field size.  U09 and U10 divisions play 25 minute halves.  U11 and U12 divisions play 30 minute halves. MASL is still considering altering rules regarding yellow and red cards being issued to U10 players.

Rules Mid-Atlantic Soccer League U12 - U19
The rules of the game are basically those set out by USYSA. MASL follows the USYSA rules for teams U12 and younger playing on small fields, 8 v 8 (see above).  Teams in the U12 age bracket may choose to play 11 v 11 on a full field if permitted by their state association.  Games for all U13 through U19 teams are on full fields, 11 v 11.  All players must be registered with USYSA and have stamped player passes.  

Rosters
Each team must be USYS registered through its home state Youth Soccer Association and a copy of its official, stamped USYS roster must be on file in the league office.  

Adding Players
Generally, a team may add players to its roster until the end of the first week of the season.. After that a team must get permission from the league before adding a player to its roster for league play.  

Expanded Rosters and Guest Players
Teams U16 and older are permitted to use the USYS expanded roster of 22 players.  In all games the maximum number of players that can participate is 18.  For each game, the players who are not playing must be crossed off the copies of the rosters that are given to the referee and the opposing coach. 

Teams U15 and younger are permitted to use a maximum of 3 guest players for league games.  These players must be registered and have player passes.   Teams using guest players must complete a guest player form for each game in which they use one or more guest players.  This form must be submitted to the league office from the web site no later than 24 hours before the game in which they will participate. The guest player form must also be printed and attached to the copies of the team's roster that are given to the referee and the opposing team prior to the start of the game.  Guest players must have their player passes with them and have them checked, along with the rest of the team, by the referee prior to he start of the game.  Note: do not submit a guest player form without player pass numbers and birth dates for the guest players. Get the information before submitting the form.
NOTE: TEAMS THAT ARE USING MASL TO QUALIFY FOR STATE CUP ARE NOT PERMITTED TO USE GUEST PLAYERS. DOING SO COULD DISQUALIFY THEM FROM STATE CUP ELIGIBILITY. 

Game times
U09/U10 teams play 25 minute halves; U11/U12 teams play 30 minute halves, U13/U14 teams play 35 minute halves; senior teams (U15 through U19) play 40 or 45 minute halves.

Referees
The league employs several referee assignors, usually one for each site. These assignors are asked to provide three referees for every game. Referees are paid on the field, prior to the game. The fees are listed on the WEB site and are distinguished by the age of the competitive division, not necessarily by the age of the individual team. Referees are expected to submit game reports for each game. 

Game Day Rosters and Card Checking
Referees are expected to check player passes and rosters of both teams prior to the start of each game. Each team must give a copy of the team roster to the referee and the opposing team prior to the start of the game.  This roster can be a copy of the official state roster or a game day roster that lists name, birth date, shirt number and player pass number for each player as well as the names and pass numbers of the adults on the official roster. 

Schedule Changes
The league makes every effort to limit schedule changes once the schedule has been posted. A team that has an unavoidable problem or will be participating in a tournament may request a schedule change.  All requests to change a scheduled game (regardless of when the game is scheduled) must be made by email no later than 4 days before the game to be changed, At the beginning of the season coaches need to find out from team parents if there are school, church or other events that will conflict with scheduled league games so that they can ask for a change in a timely manor.  Requests to change a game that are made less than 4 days before the game may not be approved and teams may have to forfeit a game or play short.

If a schedule change is approved, the game will be played on the Saturday after the original date of the game unless the two teams have agreed on an alternate date and time to play the game and inform the league within 3 days of the request to change the game.  The rescheduled game may or may not be at the original site. Once the reschedule has been made official, the game cannot be changed again by either team. If one or both teams can’t play on the new date it will be considered a forfeit. 

The league reserves the right to refuse any request for a schedule change. The coach being away or unable to attend a game IS NOT a reason to change a scheduled game.  The league may refuse to allow a team to change more than two games in any one season.

Weather Related Cancellations
The league makes every effort to play games.  However, when there is significant rain or other severe weather, games will be postponed and rescheduled.  If fields are closed due to wet conditions, or weather is too severe to play, notice is posted on the web site as early as possible.  The decision to postpone games is usually made by 9am on the morning of the match.  Once the league determines that games can be played at a given site, teams must come prepared to play.  If conditions at game time are deemed unplayable by the referee, in consultation with the two coaches, the match will be postponed.  

Cautions and Ejections
If the referee cautions or ejects any player, it is the responsibility of that player’s coach to provide the referee with the player’s name, shirt number and pass number. The referee does not take the player’s pass. The information concerning the caution or ejection must also be reported on the team’s game report. A player who is ejected from a game outright (red card) is suspended for the next league game. A player who receives two cautions (yellow cards) in a game is ejected from that game and suspended for the next league game. A player who receives a second ejection in the season is suspended for the next two league games. Suspensions earned but not served in one league season may carry over into the next league season. Please note that the league board reserves the right to impose or increase the penalties for players, coaches or spectators involved in any fights or other acts of violence during any league sponsored activities.

Score reporting and Game Reports
Scores are reported on game reports submitted through the WEB only. It is important that each team submit game reports that include the names of the referees. The reports must be received by 5PM on the Monday following game. Every team must submit a game report for every game played. If the report is not received on time the following happens:
        1st late report: There is no fine. The report must be received by 5PM on the following Monday.
        2nd late report, and all subsequent occurrences: A $25 fine is imposed immediately and the report must be received by
5PM the following Monday.
        For each week that a report is late after the date it was originally due, there is an additional $5 fine. 
        If a report is not received at all the fine is $50.  

Forfeits
A team forfeits a game if it is unable to play as scheduled and does not inform the league prior to the start of the game. Such a forfeit results in a $100 fine plus full referee fees.  If a team will not have enough players to play a scheduled game the coach should ask for a change of schedule rather than forfeit.  Such a request should be made at least 4 days prior to the start of the game.  If the request is made less than 4 days but more than 24 hours before the scheduled start of the game the team will have to pay the referee fees, but there is no forfeit fine.  If a team forfeits a game and informs the league less than 24 hours before the scheduled start, the forfeit fine is $25 plus the full referee fees. Note that a game that has been rescheduled at the request of one team cannot be changed again by either team (see schedule changes above)  Coaches are not permitted to cancel or change a scheduled game for any reason without the express permission of the league. Doing so will result in a $50 fine and a possible forfeit for each team.  

Fines
All fines are deducted from a team or club performance bond. If the total of fines exceeds half of the bond paid, the team or club will be required to replenish the bond.  Failure to pay a fine or replenish the bond is grounds for suspension or ejection from the league.   

 

  TOP