Rules

The information below is a synopsis of the changes and NOT the actual revision due to the brevity of the bulleted items. Please refer to the actual rule for the full details and intent.

0.0 Revision History

• 12/2009 Update for USYSA age groups and recommendations
  
• 04/2009  Update coach responsibility on player participation
  
• 11/2007 Updated lop sided rule and team meetings per week
• 11/2006 Age groups updated
• 10/2006 Major change in lop sided rule
• 7/2006 Clarified regular season tie breaker
• 4/2006 Added additional clarification on ages (especially seniors).
• 3/2006 Changed playing participation to reflect 1/2 the game
• 10/2005 Added no pet rule
• 5/2004 Add forfeit scoring
• 4/2004 Coaches now report scores to CSA. Referees still retain the official scores
• 3/2004 Modified how play time is allotted for the teams that play halves instead of quarters (i.e. SRs)
• 12/2003 Allowed 18 year olds (league age) to participate as long as they are still in high school during the spring
• 5/2003 Added info in Section 12 for Game cancellations
• 3/2003 Senior team info added
• 11/2001 Broke down bantam group into separate age groups (7s and 8s)
• 7/2000 (since there were numerous changes, all change marks have been removed) Revised age groups and added 6 year old division (SIXES)
• 12/1999 1.3 Emphasize coach certification and affiliation with MSYSA; 3.5 Changed Lop sided rule enforcement of points
• 12/1998 3.1 Change points award; 3.5 Added Lop-sided rule; 4.8 Altered age groups, added 17 year olds to Seniors, move 14 year olds to Juniors, allowed age 5 children that participated in the Tykes program to participate in an advanced instructional program

1.0 Team Meetings

1.1 Team practices shall not exceed two per week. Senior teams shall not exceed ONE practice per week.

1.2 Duration of team meetings/practice shall not exceed two hours.

1.3 Each team shall be represented by an adult specifically designated for this responsibility. The team head coach, an assistant, or a designated parent may fulfill this requirement. Team coaches should be certified by USSF or NYSCA. CSA is now affiliated with Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA). It is highly recommended and desirable that all coaches attain their 'F' license.

2.0 Player Participation

2.1 All players present at a game must play one FULL INCLUSIVE quarter and total play time of at least ½ the game. Exception is allowed only for sickness, injury, or suspension.   Coaches must inform the opposing coach prior to the start of the game of any exceptions.  In the younger age groups, CSA has opted to have the game divided into quarters instead of halves to help coaches manage play time to meet this rule.

Any division that plays halves instead of quarters (ie Senior Teams), must ensure that each player participates in 1/2 of the game. The play time in divisions that plays halves need not be continuous but will need to be managed by the coach.

Failure to comply so is subject to protest by the opposing team and forfeiture of the game.

The referee is not responsible for monitoring player participation.

2.2 Players/Coaches/Spectators ejected ("Red carded") from a game are immediately suspended from playing in their next game. A player sitting out a game may attend the next game, but must not be in uniform and must not be on the team sideline, and must not assist in any function related to the game.  An ejected coach/spectator is not permitted to attend the next game.  Multiple ejections or other gross infractions may be cause for suspension for the season(s).

2.3 Any team not complying with player participation requirements will forfeit the applicable game. Forfeited games will be scored as 0 to 1 (0 to forfeiting team).

2.4 All team members shall be accounted for on each team at the request of a coach and should be during a protest.

3.0 Division Standings

3.1 Team points will be awarded for each game.

Forfeits will be recorded as 1-0 loss against the forfeiting team. A double forfeit is recorded as a 'non-game' and both teams receive 0 points.

3.2 Division schedules consist of the season, with the exception of tournaments, and is played in its entirety to determine a division champion.

3.3 The teams with the best records at the end of the season will be the Division Champions.

3.4 If teams end up with the same number of points in the regular season, the following order of precedence will govern:

• 1. Team head to head record. (Only used if two teams are involved, if more than two teams, go to second tie breaker.)
• 2. Team with highest number of wins.
• 3. Team with lowest number of losses.
• 4. Team with lowest total goals scored against them.
• 5. Team with highest goals scored for them.
• 6. Declare both teams as co-champions

3.5 Lop-sided rule – In order to improve the mechanism to help keep games competitive, CSA will employ a team size differential based on the score differential.

• If the difference in the score between two competing teams reaches 4 goals, then the losing team may add an additional player or require that the winning team play down one player.
• For each additional goal differential, the losing team may add another player or require the winning team to play down another player or combination of both (i.e. Score differential of 4, team differential of 1; score differential of 5, team differential of 2; score differential of 6; team differential of 3; …).
• The winning team may only play down to the minimum players defined in the Laws of the Game.
• CSA recommends that the losing team add players to give them more playing time.
• Once the minimum is reached for the winning team or the losing team has no more players to add, the game will continue without further adjustments in team sizes.
• The losing coach is not required to implement the team differential but may do so at his/her discretion. The winning coach must oblige.
• The method selected by the losing coach, adding or removing, prior to the game restart after a goal remains in effect until the next goal scored or player injury.
• As the goal differential increases or decreases, the losing coach may reassess their selected method.
• An ejected player on the winning team will force the winning team to play down but not below the minimum. Unless the team has multiple ejections that would put them below the minimum to play. Upon that circumstance, that team will forfeit the game.
• An ejected player on the losing team will force the losing team to play down and count against their team differential.
• Referees are not responsible for invoking this rule, they only enforce it at the behest of the losing coach.

3.6 No league standings will be published for the U7 and U8 Division. However scores MUST be reported. Failure of a coach to report in may result in sanctions.

4.0 Age Groups/Divisions

4.1 Age groups are subject to change depending on registration numbers.

4.2 Age groups are also called divisions.

4.3 LEAGUE AGE: The age group is based upon the "Cutoff Date" and birth date.  The Cutoff date will follow the USYSA year which runs from August 1st to July 31st.

4.6 Players may optionally request that they be moved up to the next age group, if the parents deem that the child is talented/skilled for the next level AND the player is within 3 months of the Cutoff date.

4.7 There have been no exceptions allowed to the Age Cutoff dates for a player to play 'down' an age group except into the Tykes instructional program.

4.8 Current Divisions

The divisions below are typical and may be revised without notice in order to accommodate the distribution of players during the open registration.  Some divisions may be combined and a separate girls division may not be offered.  In the Senior Age group, CSA will permit only those players that are still in HS. I.

DIVISION (AGE GROUP)

TYKES COED

U5 COED/GIRLS

U6 COED/GIRLS

U7 COED/GIRLS

U8 COED/GIRLS

U9 COED/GIRLS

U10 COED/GIRLS

U12/U11 COED/GIRLS

U14/U13 COED/GIRLS

U16/U15 COED

SENIOR COED U19/U18/U17 (still in HS) (Senior teams are formed county wide and not by district.  All senior teams will practice at HPP.)

The chart below shows the typical shirt size we see ordered for each age. Use this chart as a guideline only.

	AGE	SHIRT SIZE -Typical
	4	YXS
	5	YS
	6	YM
	7	YL
	8	YL, AS
	9,10	AS
	11, 12	AS, AM
	13, 14, 15	AM, AL
	16 -19	AM, AL

5.1 Any coach may play in any other non league tournaments not sponsored by CSA, provided consent from the association is received. The coach shall provide the CSA President with information regarding the tournament in sufficient time for the President to convene a meeting with the elected officers who will decide by a simple majority vote to approve or to deny the request.

5.2 CSA is committed to maintaining a safe and fun environment. NO animals/pets (except for sight assist guide dogs) are allowed at CSA practices or games. CSA has had several incidents and near-misses due to irresponsible owners. Please help us keep the kids safe and abide by our request. Coaches are responsible for enforcing this rule with their team. If this rule is violated during a game, the coach will have one opportunity to have the animal removed (at least to the parking area). If the coach fails to comply, the referee will terminate the game immediately. The outcome of the game will be decided by the CSA board and it will not be replayed.

6.0 Conduct

6.1 Head coaches are responsible for the conduct of the team and their fans.

6.2 Coaches, players, and their fans shall not argue with or comment on the integrity of the officials.

6.3 Coaches, players, and their fans shall not interfere with or make any derogatory remarks to the opposing team coaches, players, or fans.

6.4 Unacceptable behavior by a coach or parent or spectator may not only result in the ejection of that person from the immediate game but also for the following game. Additionally, the coach of the team may also be suspended based on the incident. A review by the commissioner shall ensue to determine if additional penalties are to be imposed.

6.5 The use of noise making or amplifying devices is PROHIBITED

7.0 Complaints

7.1 Division Commissioners should try to resolve any disputes or complaints concerning their divisions. If unable to resolve the problem, the Commissioner shall ensure that the affected parties understand the CSA grievance procedure defined in the By-Laws.

7.2 In the event that a game must be protested, the Referee should be made aware of the protest at once.

8.0 Coaches Responsibilities

8.1. The home team for the first game for each Division is to line the field at least one day before the game. Also, this team is to set out the corner flags.

8.2 The home team for the last game is to pick up the flags and store them in the shed at end of game.

8.3 U7 thru U13 Coaches must provide one linesman for each game.

8.4. Each team must have a head coach, assistant coach or other adult present at all practices and games.

8.5. The head coach should get certified by NYSCA or USSF.

8.6 Teach good Sportsmanship and soccer skills.

8.7 The winning team, or in case of a tie the home team, shall report the scores to the age group commissioner within 48 hours of the game.

8.8 Ensure a safe environment for the players and no pets are allowed

9.0 Referees

9.1 CSA is responsible for selecting and training the referees.

9.2 Referees are to be certified by the Maryland State Referees Association. This requires an annual test.

9.3 Referees shall wear proper uniforms.

9.4 Must notify head official at least one day ahead, if not able to make game.

9.5 Referees decided if weather conditions are not suitable for play. Games are not to be played in lightning storms.

9.6 The Referees must inspect players and player equipment before game

9.7 The Head Referee is to retain the official score. Scores are reported by the coaches.

9.8 The referee is to report any conduct violations.

9.9 The referees are to be self employed "1099 employees" and should carry their own insurance.

9.10 Terminate the game after one opportunity of a coach to remove any pet/animal

10.0 Parents Responsibility

10.1 Be positive.

10.2 Let the kids be kids.

10.3. Ensure child has proper equipment.

10.4 Provide transportation to games and practices.

10.5 Ensure your child is fit to play. A physical by medical doctor is recommended.

10.6 Notify coach and league officials of any medical condition of your child.

11.0 Team Selection

11.1 A random draft system is now used to select the teams.

11.2 Volunteer coaches are selected by the CSA directors.

11.3 Due to the size of the league "special requests" are not possible or promised.

11.4 Protected player. Only the children of the head coach and one (1) assistant coach are automatically placed on their team.

11.5 Late Registration. If you register late, you may not play. Also, late players are placed in the "new Player" draft pool. CSA officials, not the head coaches will determine where late registering players might play. Late registers have been not allowed to play.

12.0 Game Cancellations

12.1 Games can only be canceled by the referee decision at the field (i.e. inclement weather that threatens the safety of the players and spectators). Soccer games are played in the rain. All teams must be at the field and ready to play. A team that is absent will forfeit the game. Any other cancellations and/or rescheduling of games must be issued by the CSA board (not by individual coaches). Any coach that cancels or reschedules a game without approval by the CSA board will forfeit that game. Games are NOT rescheduled if your team will be short players or missing the coaches due to other commitments.

12.2 Any coach rescheduling a game without explicit permission from CSA President or the scheduler will forfeit the game and be subject to additional sanctions.