Upstate Soccer League - Rules and Procedures

1. The final schedule uploaded at noon on April 1, 2007 will be binding on all teams.

2. The Board of Directors has designated the following individual to serve as the Executive Director for the 2007 season:

Ken Voght
57 Greenleaf Avenue
Tonawanda, New York 14150

As Executive Director, Ken is empowered to make any and all rulings which may be necessary to interpret policies and procedures, and adjudicate any dispute which may arise.

3. The rules of USYSA will govern all play. Game lengths will be 70 minutes for U-11 through U-14, 80 minutes for U-15 through U-16, and 90 minutes for U-17 through U-19.

4. A three person system will be scheduled for all matches. In the event that an official fails to appear for a match, the attending officials will have sole discretion to determine the system to be used for that match, including the use a club linesman. Teams will pay only for the actual services rendered. The use of a two referee system is not allowed under FIFA rules.

5. Fees will be split between the teams at each match. Where a three man system is utilized, the fee due to the referee will be paid by the home team, while the fees due to the assistant referees will be paid by the visiting team. Tentative fees for the 2007 outdoor season are:

6. Games may be rescheduled only with approval of the Executive Director, and will only be requested due to an "act of God". Any request for a reschedule, or a game cancellation, must be made at least 72 hours before the scheduled match, and any associated costs (referee assignor and referee/linesman fees that still must be paid) will be assessed to the team requesting the change. The date for playing a rescheduled game must be communicated to the Executive Director within 7 days of the date that permission to reschedule was granted. Absent such action, the Executive Director will impose a binding date for the rescheduled game.

7. Every team must provide an e-mail address at the time of team registration.

8. Scores must be submitted on-line through the league web site, which will also provide a format for an assessment of the game officials. Both teams may report in this format, so that each has the opportunity to submit an assessment of the game officials. In the event that a team does not have the ability to access the league web site, scores and an ad hoc assessment may be submitted via e-mail to scores@upstatesoccer.com. Regardless of the method used, the home coach is ultimately responsible to submit the score within 48 hours of the completion of the match. 

9. Scores and standings will be posted on the League web site on a weekly basis.

10. Any forfeit will result in a $150 fine assessed against a club whose team does not field at least 7 players within 15 minutes of the scheduled start of a match, or who cancels a game absent an approved reschedule of the match. In addition, the team causing the forfeit will be assessed for the referee and assistant referee fees due for the game. Additional fines and punitive action may be imposed by the Directors.

11. At least 7 days prior to a scheduled match, the visiting coach should contact the home coach to secure directions to the location of the playing field.

12. If a team is not contacted by a referee prior to a scheduled home match, and it is likely that an official would not know the field location, the home coach is responsible to immediately communicate with the local referee coordinator.

13. The rostering of players, and the size of team rosters, will be done in accordance with the rules of the NYSWYSA. Play on the field at the U-11 and U-12 level will be 9 vs. 9 (including the goalkeeper). All other age groups will be 11 vs. 11. Guest players may be permitted to participate in league games on a very limited basis, and only with advance approval from the Executive Director. Players who are properly registered to teams, and for whom the coach possesses a player pass designating that team as the player’s primary or secondary team, will be allowed to play. Dual registration is permitted within the league, but a player can only participate on one team within a league division.

14. Coaches must present two copies of a Game Report, along with their player passes, to the referee at every match. The Home coach will also provide a preprinted envelope to the referee for submission of the game report. The referee will submit one copy of the Game Roster for each team to the designated address as his/her game report. The other copy of the Game Roster will be provided to the opposing coach. Coach/Player passes which are withheld by the referee for any reason (i.e. ejections or eligibility questions) will be submitted to the Executive Director who will return the coach/player pass once any disciplinary action is completed. The Executive Director will enforce a suspension of the next two USYSA sanctioned games with the USL team, in addition to any portion of the game in which an ejection occurs, for any player receiving a red card. Coaches and Team Managers will be expected to ensure that the suspension is served. Disciplinary action will be taken if the suspension is not served, and a forfeit (and its attendant fines) will be declared if the player illegally participated in a USL game. The issuance of yellow cards will be monitored by each coach, and every third cumulative yellow card issued to the same player during the course of league competition will result in a suspension from the next matche of the USL team. The Executive Director will verify compliance through review of game reports. NOTE: The accumulation of Yellow cards, or Yellow card suspensions, do not carry over from or to matches where the player is participating on another team under dual registration.

15. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of spectators, and will be expected to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times, both in their personal behavior as well as in the control they exhibit over their players and spectators.

16. Protests must be filed with the Executive Director in writing, and must be postmarked within 48 hours of the incident giving rise to the protest. A fee of $50 payable to the USL must accompany such protest, which is refundable only if the protest is upheld. Decisions of game officials regarding interpretation of rules or field playing conditions, may not be protested.

17. Points for League Play will be awarded as follows:

The team accumulating the most points in divisional competition will be declared the winner of their division. If two or more teams are tied in total points, the team with the greatest differential between goals for versus goals against will be declared the winner. If two or more teams remained tied at that point, the team with the fewest goals against will be declared the winner. If two or more teams remain tied at that point, the Executive Director will schedule a playoff game format and will be empowered to determine the date(s), time(s), and location(s), as well as any overtime rules. These will be communicated to the applicable coaches in advance of the match. Every playoff game will be played to a conclusion.

18. Each club (regardless of the number of teams participating in USL play) will be required to post a $500 bond at the time of registration. Bond money (net of any fines) will be refunded at the end of the season, but not later than September 5th, while any excess fines and assessments due, will be billed to the club by that same date. Any protests of assessed fines or the amount of the bond refunded, must be postmarked via e-mail to info@upstatesoccer.com, or via United States Postal Service to USL, 57 Greenelaf Avenue, Tonawanda, NY 14150, no later than September 15th of the playing year. Failure to submit a protest by that date will be considered acceptance of the validity of the fine. As a result, no protest will be accepted after September 15th. Payments of excess fines above the amount of the bond, must be received by the League on or before September 30th of the playing year. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in the offending Club being suspended from future play in the USL until such time as the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the USL Directors, and they determine that the conduct of the Club will remain acceptable in the future. 

19. Each team will be required to pay a $75 entry fee at the time of registration. This fee is nonrefundable, unless the team is not accepted into USL competition.

20. Miscellaneous fines will be assessed for the following:
    a. Reschedule Fee - game date or time - $10 per occurrence
    b. Failure to submit score - $25 per occurrence
    c. Failure to follow pre-game procedures (i.e. rosters, envelope) - $25 per occurrence
    d. Player receiving a red card - $50 per occurrence
    e. Player receiving their third cumulative yellow card - $50 per occurrence
    f. Coach ejection - $50 per occurrence
    g. Change in game location - $5 per occurrence

21. Matters not provided for in these rules, are reserved to the Board of Directors for final resolution.