Rules Mid-Atlantic Soccer League
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. Teams
in the U11 and U12 age brackets may choose to play 11 v 11 on a full field.
Games for all other teams are on full fields, 11 v 11. All players
must be registered with USYSA and have stamped player passes.
Rules for Small-sided Games
MASL uses the rules for U12 small-sided games for teams in the U09 through U12
age brackets with the following exceptions for teams U09 and U10: teams play 8 v
8, including the goal keeper; each player must play the equivalent of half of
each game; length of play is two 25 minute halves. U11 and U12 teams play 30 minute halves.
Scores and standings are reported for U11 and U12 divisions only. To read
the complete rules for U12 small-sided games: http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/RulesSmallGames.asp.
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. The last day to add players for the fall 2009 season is September
20, 2009 . After that date 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 guest players
for league games. These players must be registered and have player passes.
Teams playing 11 v 11 may use 3 guest players; teams playing 8 v 8 may use 2
guest players in any one game. 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
U9 and U10 teams play 25 minute halves; U11 and U12 teams (playing 8 v 8 or 11 v
11) play 30 minute halves, U13 and U14 teams play 35 minute halves; senior
teams (U15 through U19) play 40 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 October 4 or 3
days before the game to be changed, whichever comes first.
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. After October 4 requests to change a 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 5 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.
There is no charge for one schedule change. If
a second change is approved the charge is $25. 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.
NOTE: there is no charge for games that must be changed due to a
conflict with a state cup game.
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
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