APPENDIX A

 

GREAT LAKES CO-ED SOCCER LEAGUE

 

POST-SEASON TOURNAMENT

 

Updated 06/08/03

RULES FOR COACHES, PLAYERS, REFEREES AND FIELD DIRECTORS

 

 

I.          ELIGIBILITY AND TOURNAMENT SIZE.  All teams will be members of the Great Lakes Co-Ed Soccer League (GLCSL).  Each player will be a bona fide member of that team (appearing on that team's roster) and will only play in that age group for the tournament.  Any coach who uses or attempts to use an illegal player (i.e. a player not on the official team roster) shall be suspended from all GLCSL participation for a minimum of 1 year and the offending team shall be disqualified from the tournament.  Age divisions which have greater than 15 teams may be divided randomly into smaller groups which shall play individual and independent tournaments. 

 

II.          TOURNAMENT FORMAT (QUALIFYING).  Each team will play 3 games within its own age division.  Each team will receive 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss.  The two teams with the highest point total in each age division will play in a championship match to determine 1st and 2nd places.  The next 2 teams with the highest point totals will meet in a consolation match to be played prior to that age division championship match to determine 3rd and 4th places.  Awards for places 1 through 4 will be presented immediately following the individual matches.

 

            Note:  Teams in age groups in which only  3 teams enter will play 2 qualifying games and the top 2 teams will advance to the championship game.  When only 2 teams enter, the championship will be decided by a 3-game series.  If 4 or 5 teams enter, 3 games will be played and only the top 2 teams will advance to a championship game.   

 

A.        TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE  FOR  PRELIMINARY ROUND.  The tie-breaking procedure to determine which teams advance to the championship and consolation games is as follows:

 

1.  Head-to-head competition.  This applies if only two teams are tied.

 

2.       Bonus System.  If teams are still tied after heat-to-head competition, a bonus system will be used.  A team will receive a bonus point for each goal scored up to and including the third goal.  No team may receive more than 3 bonus points per game.  However, each goal a team allows up to 3 goals in a game will be subtracted from their bonus point total.  For example:

 

a.       If Team A beats Team B by a score of 3-0, Team A receives 3 bonus points.

b.       If Team A beats Team B by a score of 3-2, Team A receives 1 bonus point.

c.       If Team A beats Team B by a score of 6-3, Team A receives 0 bonus points.

 

3.       Goals allowed.  If teams are still tied, then the team(s) with the fewest number of goals allowed shall advance.

 

4.       Most Wins.  If the teams are still tied, then the team(s) with the most wins shall advance.

 

5.       Goals Scored (up to 5).  If the teams are still tied, then the team(s) with the most goals scored shall advance.  Goals scored beyond 5 in a single game do not count towards the overall goals scored.

 

6.       Red and Yellow Cards.  The team with the least number of red cards, including ones issued to coaches and assistant coaches, shall advance.  If the teams are still tied (hopefully with a 0), then the team with the fewest yellow cards shall advance.

 

7.      Playoff.  If a tie still exists at this time, both teams will be invited to a 10 minute playoff game, as designated by the league.  If after 10 minutes, the score is still tied, a shootout will be held to determine who advances to the championship or consolation round.  The shoot out will follow the procedures given in step B.2. below.

 

 

 

 

Note:  If a team must play more than 3 games in the preliminary round, the game denoted with an asterisk (*) will not count in determining point totals or in the tie-breaking procedure.

 

 

B.        TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE FOR  CHAMPIONSHIP AND CONSOLATION GAMES.  If a championship or consolation match is tied at the end of regulation play, the tie-breaking procedure is as follows:

 

1.  A 5-minute sudden victory overtime period will be played immediately.  The team which scores the next goal wins the game.  If neither team scores, then a second 5-minute sudden victory period is played.

 

2.  If the match is still tied at the end of the second overtime period, a shootout will take place immediately.  The shootout procedure is as follows:

 

a.  The shootout players shall be selected from those players on the team's official roster.  All players are eligible to participate in the shootout, except for a player who was disqualified earlier in the game, either during regulation play or overtime.  Note:  A player no longer needs to be on the field when the second overtime period expires to be eligible to participate in the shootout.  Referees may permit rostered coaches and players onto the field during the shootout, but this is done solely at the discretion of the referee.  Under no circumstances shall anyone other that rostered players and coaches be permitted onto the field during the shootout or any other part of the game.

 

b.  The coach shall submit a 5-player list (players' names and numbers) to the referee.  Five players from each team will alternate taking penalty shots and the team with the most goals scored shall be declared the winner.  If the game is still tied after the first five players from each team have shot, the coaches shall select a sixth player from the remaining rostered players who has not participated in the shootout.  A winner is declared when one player scores and the other fails to score.  If both players score or both players miss, a seventh player is selected and the process is repeated until a winner is declared or until every player on the team's roster has taken a shot on goal.  If all of the players on a roster have been used, the process shall start over.   

 

Note:  Goalkeepers may be changed at any time during the shootout.

 

Note:  The tournament finals site director shall assist in ensuring that the proper protocol is followed for overtime play.  However, as always, the referees are the sole authority in all matters pertaining to game play. 

 

 

III.         CONDUCT OF THE TOURNAMENT.  The rules of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) shall be followed with the following modifications adapted by GLCSL:

 

            A.  Duration of Games, Player Participation and Co-Ed teams

 

                                                            U-10 through U-15:   25-minute halves

                       

                                                            U-16 and U-19:          30-minute halves

 

All eligible players who are not under disciplinary action shall play in both halves of each tournament game and shall play as nearly a minimum of one-third of each half as possible.  This rule shall not prohibit players from playing more than the minimum required time. 

 

Note:  Coaches who blatantly violate the player participation rule may be assessed a red card by either the referee, site director,  tournament director or League president. 

 

Co-Ed teams in age divisions U10 and older must field a minimum of  2 girls at all times.  If this is not possible, then the team must play shorthanded.  This requirement is in addition to the above player participation rule.

 

B.  Team Rosters.  Prior to the tournament, the League Registrar will send to each tournament host representative an official copy of the rosters for the specific age group being hosted.  The roster must be an original and must not be duplicated.  The League Registrar shall also send a complete set of the rosters for all of the participating teams to the tournament director.  A stamp or signature on each roster shall designate its authenticity.  The roster shall list all eligible coaches and players on the team (not just those coaches and players present).  The roster must also include the jersey number of each player on the team, which shall be obtained prior to the first tourament game.  Disqualified players and coaches shall be highlighted or otherwise designated on each roster.  The rosters shall be retained by the site directors and tournament director.

 

Note: Only rostered coaches are permitted in the team's bench area during play and a team may not play in the absence of a rostered coach.  If a team's only rostered coach is red carded during a game, play may not continue and the game is immediately declared a forfeit (see III.D. below). 

 

 

C.  Severe Weather-Shortened Games.  Prior to the start of the game, the site director may cancel the games to be played due to lightening or other dangerous weather conditions.  Once the game begins, only the referee may terminate play, although he/she may discuss the matter with the site director.  Any game cancelled prior to the completion of one full half of play must be replayed in its entirety.  If at least one full half of play has been completed, then the game is considered complete and the final score of that game shall be the score of the game at the time when the game was terminated by the referee.

 

Note:  The referee shall end the game immediately when lightening is present, regardless of how much time is remaining in the half.

 

D.  Minimum Number of Players and Forfeits.  For the U12 and older age divisions, each team must start the game with a minimum of 7 players; the U10 teams may start with a minimum of 5 players.  A 5-minute delay may be granted to a team not having the required minimum number of players, but after 5 minutes have elapsed, the game shall be declared a forfeit.  In a forfeit,  the winning team shall receive 2 points for the win and the maximum number of bonus points and the number of goals scored and allowed shall be determined by averaging the goals scored and allowed in the team’s remaining preliminary games (but the winning team shall receive at least 1 goal scored regardless of the average).  Calculated averages must be left as fractions and may not be rounded up or down.  A team that  loses by forfeit shall be assessed a score of 0-5 for that game. 

 

E.  Halftime.  There will be a 5-minute halftime allotted for all games.  The halftime may be shortened if necessary. 

 

F.  Substitutions.  All substitutions shall be consistent with USSF rules.

G.  Cautions / Ejections and Disqualifications.  Per USSF rules, a player who receives a yellow card (caution) is not removed from the game.  Any player or coach who receives a red card (ejection) shall immediately leave the entire area of play and may not watch the remainder of that game.  Should a player or coach receive a second red card (from both regular season and/or tournament games), he/she shall be banned from the remainder of the tournament and shall not be considered part of the team.  Any player who receives a red card for throwing a punch or instigating a fight shall be disqualified from the tournament.  The referee's decision, as always, may not be contested or disputed. 

 

            Any player or coach who accumulates during the course of the tournament a red card or 3 yellow cards shall be suspended from the next scheduled tournament game, including a consolation or championship game.  The referees shall report all red and yellow cards to the site directors.  Site directors shall report all red cards to the tournament director at the end of each day.  Site directors shall maintain a record of yellow and red cards accrued during the tournament in case there is a tie after the preliminary round (see II.A.6 above).

           

Note 1:  If an individual is a coach or an assistant coach for multiple teams and he/she receives a red card during a game, he/she is prohibited from participating in the next scheduled game for all of his/her teams.   

 

Note 2:  Any player who received 2 red cards during the regular season is not eligible to play in the tournament.

 

Note 3:  There are no "soft" red cards per USSF rules.  You may not substitute for a player who was sent off with a red card.

 

Note 4:  Any conduct that is deemed unfitting for the GLCSL tournament may result in the disqualification of an individual or a team at any point in the tournament by the site director, tournament director or League president.  Furthermore, the League president has the authority to cancel the tournament in any age division if he/she deems it to be in the best interest of the GLCSL.

 

H.  Disputes / Protests.  The site directors will not entertain any protest in any form about any portion of the outcome of a game.  Every possible effort has been made to use qualified referees for this tournament.  Any decision relating to the play of a match is solely the referee's responsibility and he/she may not be overruled.  Any decision pertaining to tournament procedure or format is solely that of the site director and he/she may not be overruled. 

 

I.  Reporting Outcome.  The site directors are responsible for posting all game results on the talley board immediately following each game.  Upon completion of the preliminary round at a particular site, the site director shall report to the tournament director (usually the League president) by 8:30 PM the teams who qualify for the championship and consolation games.  Individual coaches must not call the site director or the tournament director for results, since this only delays the reporting process.  On the Thursday prior to the tournament finals, the championship and consolation rounds will be announced on the league website, www.glcsoccer.org.    It is the responsibility of the club reps to inform their individual coaches. 

 

J.  Non-Appearance.  In the event a team does not show up for a scheduled game and a referee rules the grounds playable, the game will be declared a forfeit (see III.D. above).  The non-appearing team may be disqualified from further tournament play.  In the event that both teams do not show up for a scheduled game and the referee rules the grounds playable, both teams shall be assessed with a loss.  If a tournament tie is involved, then both teams shall be disqualified from further competition. 

 

K.  Pairings and Scheduling.  The tournament scheduler(s) shall be responsible for scheduling the preliminary round games and the time slots for the consolation and championship games.  All game pairings in age divisions with greater than 5 teams shall be drawn randomly.  The tournament schedule for each age division and a list of the sites and site directors shall be mailed to each Board member at least 2 weeks prior to the first scheduled preliminary game.  All games shall be played only at the approved host site.  All fees to be paid to the tournament scheduler(s) for services rendered must be approved by the Board prior to payment and may be subject to provisions as determined by the Board. 

 

L.  Referees.  The referee in all games shall be appointed by the GLCSL Board or its delegate.  Standard referee fees as established by the Board for regular season games shall apply, regardless of the absolute duration of the specific games.  In the event of a non-appearance by the appointed referee for a U10, U12 or U14 game, the opposing team coaches must agree to a solution.  The game is to be played and will be official.  U16 and U19 games may not be played without an adult USSF certified referee.  However, club linesmen (i.e. assistant referees) may be used if necessary.  If agreement cannot be reached, then the matter will be referred to the tournament director for further action.  The referee shall comply with the "Youth Soccer Score Reporting Procedure."  All red and yellow cards shall be reported to the site director, who shall keep a list of them and report them to the tournament director.  The game rosters are also submitted by the referee to the site  director.  A referee who is responsible for a late start of a game may be disciplined by the Michigan Referee Association upon request by the Board.  Referees may be called upon by the tournament director or Board to explain their reports.

 

M.  Appeals.  The tournament director shall deal with all protests arising out of any tournament game.  The referee's judgment with regard to the physical condition of the field and its acceptance for play,  the conduct of the game, and those options granted to him/her by the "Laws of the Game" as published by FIFA shall not be challenged.   Only violations of the Constitution of GLCSL and its Bylaws, rules and regulations and misapplication of the law shall be proper subjects for appeal consideration.  All appeals shall be in writing (typed or printed), in triplicate and sent to the tournament director by registered mail within 48 hours of the game and shall be accompanied by a $100.00 fee.  The fee will be returned if the appeal is upheld.  It shall not be returned if denied, unless such a refund is unanimously approved by the GLCSL officers.