Rules - U12 and U14 Boys: season 2004

1. F.I.F.A. laws of the game apply: The Referee's decision in all matters relating to the game is final. (For example: you cannot protest the score).
   
   
2. Points will awarded in the following manner: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss.
   
   
3. Personal abuse (especially of referees) must be acted upon immediately. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of themselves, their players, and the parents of their players, and for finding solutions in the first instance. Coaches and referees (or Head Referee on referee's behalf) must report unseemly behavior to the Discipline Chair for immediate action.
   
   
4. Any game postponed by the referee or by mutual agreement of the coaches must be rescheduled and played as soon as possible. Home coach is responsible for rescheduling and giving visitor coach reasonable notice. If coaches can't agree, the Convenor will define the solution.
   
   
5. Only the referee may call off a game once play has started. If the referee abandons the game for natural causes (e.g. weather, injuries) with less than half of the second half played, the game will then be considered a reschedule UNLESS BOTH COACHES agree to let the score stand (e.g. it's the last day of the season). If more than half of the second half has been played, the score at that time will be considered official.
   
   All rescheduled games, for whatever reasons, will follow the reschedule rules as set out in rule #4.
   
   
6. A referee may abandon a game at any time for abuse or misconduct. All infractions must be reported to the convenor within 48 hours of the game in question. If a card has been issued as a disciplinary action, it will also be reported to the disciplinary committee.
   
   
7. Coaches may not enter the field of play without the permission of the referee except in the case of injuries.
   
   
8. No coach, parent, or spectator may coach or stand behind the net or the goal lines at any time during the game.
   
   
9. Substitutions may be made, with appropriate consent of the referee:
   • prior to a throw-in in your favour, if you elect.
   • on an opponent's throw-in, only if they have already elected to substitute.
   • prior to a goal kick, by either team.
   • after a goal is scored by either team,
   • after an injury
   • at half time
     
     
10. Each player present at scheduled games must be allowed to play at least 50% of the game. The Convenor should be notified of any infraction of this rule.
    
    
11. All games must start within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time. Teams with less than 7 players 15 minutes after the scheduled start shall forfeit the game points. If both teams are in this position: reschedule. Forfeits are recorded as 1-0. In the case of a tie break situation at the end of the season the score will stand.
    
    
12. Any yellow or red cards and the match score must be reported to the convenor within 48 hours, properly filled out game sheets must be supplied within a reasonable time as defined by the convenor. Yellow and red cards are to be reported to the Discipline Chair as soon as possible.
    
    
13. The home team is responsible for nets, flags, and a properly inflated ball (pressure 9-10 lbs/sq inch)  of the correct size:
    • Under 12 - size 4
    • Under 14 - size 5
      
      
14. Playing times:
    • Under 12 - two 35 minute halves
    • Under 14 - two 40 minute halves
      
      By mutual consent of the coaches, during hot/humid weather, halves may be shortened in the interests of both safety and enjoyment. Water breaks during the halves are encouraged during hot weather (for safety) at a suitable break in play.
      
      
15. No guest players are allowed in any scheduled games. Players may be drawn up from lower age groups throughout the season to a maximum of two available substitutions per team. A team may call up any one player a maximum of 3 times except by mutual agreement with the other coaches in the division, requests to be directed through the convenor. Called-up players must be designated as such on the game sheets. These players must be given their fair share of playing time as would any regular roster player.
    
    A coach may not, under any circumstances, use a player who is registered to a select or competitive team, to an older age team, or another team in the same league, no matter what their age may be. Girls from the same age, registered to a girls-only team, may be called onto boys teams but NOT vice-versa.
    
    
16. A team can only field two players more than a team that is short of players.
    
    
17. The maximum score recorded will be no higher than three goals over the opposing team. Regardless of the goal differential in the game, the referee will record the final score on the game sheet with a maximum difference of three goals. Teams may use discretion in how they request newspapers to give scoring credit for games. (e.g. If a player scores his first goal on his last day, but would not receive credit because of the cap etc.)
    
    The intent of the goal cap is not, however, to primarily influence the score appearing in the newspaper. It is to encourage coaches to find ways a preventing large score differences, thus promoting respect between opponent and greater enjoyment of the game by all participants.
    
    
18. Any team plays or dresses an ineligible player shall forfeit the game.
    
    
19. Proper shoes must be worn on the fields at all times. Footwear constituting a hazard to other players or to the players themselves will not be allowed. Hats and jewelry must be removed.  SHINPADS ARE MANDATORY.
    
    Goalkeepers must wear a shirt of a different colour than either the rest of their own team or the opposing team.
    
    
20. In the absence of a referee, a substitute may be appointed, provided that both coaches are in agreement, and the referee comply with the rules of the game and the league. Each coach may each referee one half of the game.
    
    
21. Rosters will be frozen as of June 20th. After this point, no additions to team rosters may be made unless:
    • a player elects to move down in calibre e.g. Select to house league, competitive to select or house league.
    • a player moves into the area after the deadline and wishes to join a team.
      
      
22. The League Convenor should be supplied with all rosters as soon as they are finalized. A copy to be supplied signed by the coach at an agreed date, filling out a blank game sheet is a good way to do this.
    
    
23. End of season Championship games have a few special rules, below. Only players who have played a minimum of five League games are eligible to play in Cup Day games.
    
    
24. DISCIPLINE: The Discipline Chair, if required, may convene a Discipline Committee comprised of representatives from at least three Clubs, including any club whose member player has received a red card. The Discipline Committee has the authority to address any disciplinary matter involving a player, team official and spectator.
    
    Any player receiving a red card will be automatically suspended for the current match and the next one. At its discretion, the discipline Committee may suspend red-carded players for additional games.
    
    Three yellow cards over the course of the season is the equal of one red card, resulting in the suspension above.
    
    Referees must report on the game sheet the names of yellow and red carded players.
    
    
25. Any player found spitting on their hands or showing other such unseemly behavior at the end of game line up and handshake will automatically be given a red card, be suspended from the next game, and be subject to discipline.
    
    
26. All Game Protests must be made within 72 hours to the division convenor for your age group, must be recorded on the game sheet and must be signed by the Referee.
    
    
27. The Convenor shall, with the consent of the Clubs, as required:
    • Convene a special meeting to discuss and seek resolutions for a situation where a team is evidently badly outclassed by its division rivals. In particular, such solutions may include roster reassignments after the June 20th roster freezing date.
    • Discuss and make recommendations regarding the placement of players who are in their proper House-League age group but who are clearly dominant to the detriment of both their team and league competition.
    
    

THESE RULES ARE GUIDELINES TO ENABLE THE LEAGUE TO RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS  POSSIBLE. THESE GAMES ARE FOR FUN! GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, FAIR PLAY AND RESPECT FOR YOUR OPPONENT ARE ESSENTIAL!

---

END OF SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP. ALL RULES ARE THE SAME AS REGULAR SEASON UNLESS NOTED BELOW.

1. Length of Games. To accommodate schedule, duration of play during round robin may deviate from the season length of game, but will return to standard during semi-final and final play.
   
   
2. Scoring. As for the league, except that ties can't happen in semi-finals or the final.
   
   
3. Neutral-town referees will be used for all weekend games unless both coaches and the convenor agree otherwise.
   
   
4. Protests. No protests concerning officials will be considered. All decisions of the referee are final. Protests must be filed within one half hour of the game, to the score keepers table, and will be dealt with by committee as they deem appropriate.
   
   
5. Fouls and Misconducts. In the event of a player receiving a red or yellow card, the referee will report the infraction on the appropriate form to the score keepers table. Any player receiving a red or two yellow cards within one game, or three yellow cards over the tournament will be suspended from the next tournament game. Further suspension or discipline can be dispensed as the committee sees fit. Dismissal of coach(s) or team officials from a game by a referee will automatically result in suspension from the next two tournament games, with possible further suspension if so decided by the committee. It will also be brought to the attention of both the league and their home club, to be dealt with as seen fit.
   
   
6. Time Allowance. All teams shall report to the field at least 10 minutes before, and shall be warmed up and ready to take the field at the scheduled kick-off time. If a team is unable to field the required minimum of players at the scheduled kick-off, they shall forfeit the game to their opponent. In no case shall a team who has forfeited a game be considered a pool or divisional winner. If an apparent pool or divisional winner deliberately forfeits a game, they will be eliminated for moving on to semi-final or final play regardless of their record. In either case, the team or teams with the next best records shall be named to the abandoned position(s).

 

Round Robin Tie Breaking Rules

Game results will be totaled according to the following point system:

• Win - 3 Points
• Tie - 1 Point
• Loss - 0 Points

Pool or Division-standings will be decided as follows:

1. Most Points
   
   If there is a tie in points between two or more teams which affects the standings of teams eligible to move on to semi-final play, the following format will be used to break the tie:
   
2. Head to head in cup
3. Goal Differential
4. Most goals scored

If, in the event a tie situation remains, a shoot-out between the tied teams will be scheduled to determine a result, and will be scheduled according to the availability of officials, fields, and the teams.

Note:    League results will not under any circumstances be used to determine an outcome.

Semi Final And Final Play

All teams will play their regulation time in semi-final and final games.

In the event of a tie in any of these games, each team will play 2 x 10 minute overtime halves. If a goal is scored, the tie ends at that point. This is known as a "GOLDEN GOAL". If overtime is scoreless, they will go to a shoot-out according to the following rules:

• At the conclusion of the overtime and before the shoot-out, both coaches are required to submit to the assigned official, the numbers and shooting order of eleven players, all of whom have played during the overtime periods and one of which one must be the goal keeper.
  
  
• The goal keeper cannot be changed after the conclusion of the second overtime period.
  
  
• Coaches and players, with the exception of the shooter and the goal keepers, shall remain behind the center line at all times during the shoot-out.
  
  
• Coaches may not coach from the side lines during the shoot-out. No person may coach, instruct or spectate from behind the goal-line.
  
  
• Each coach will select five players, of which the goalkeeper may or may not be included. Each player will take a penalty kick, shooting alternately with the opposing team until all selected players have kicked. If the tie remains unbroken, the teams will proceed to a sudden death shoot-out.
  
  
• Each coach will choose a second set of five players. Players who shot during the first round may not be chosen to shoot again.
  
  
• Player 1 from team A and player 1 from team B will shoot alternately. If one scores and the other does not, the team that scores becomes the winner.
  
  
• If both score or neither scores, the next two players will shoot. This process will continue until one scores and the other does not. If the second set of five players do not break the tie, an eleventh player from each team will shoot. If the impasse is still not broken, each team will begin again with the players from the first set of players, shooting in the same order, followed by the second, and so on, until one team scores and the other does not.