S.M.U.S.L. Rules and Regulations   2010

Section I:

A.    Officers of the SMSL for 2009 are:
1.  President, Peter Grosso (939-9896) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                                                    
2. Vice President, Bruce Gullifer     (# 730-4151)


Section II:

A.    GAMES  - Games start at 6:00 p.m.; 6:20 will be the maximum time limit unless agreed on by officials and both team captains. The official(s) may begin running time at 6:20. A team must have SEVEN players minimum to start the game. Failure to comply will result in a forfeit.

B.    RULES  - FIFA rules apply with the following exceptions:

a) Two 45-minute halves, running time (referee discretion required). Clock must stop for injuries. The injured player must    leave the playing field and a substitute may be accepted. The opposing team may also substitute one player (For each injured player) at this time.

b) Substitutions on corner kicks and goal kicks   for both teams. No substitutions will be allowed on throw ins. Substitutions during injury situations as mentioned above.

C. Overtime - Regular season   Two 5-minute periods sudden death. If no winner then the match is considered a tie.

Playoffs   Two 5-minute periods not sudden death, followed by two 10-minute periods of sudden death. If the match is still tied, penalty kicks shall decide the outcome (penalty kick format will be that used in High School Tournament games).

D.   Playing Field - All teams must have its own home field to participate in the SMSL, available for Wednesday and Sunday’s.  Any team not meeting the above requirement will be subject to playing additional away games and are not guaranteed that 50% of their games will be scheduled at home. Each team is responsible for maintenance of their field, including visible lines in accordance with Federation minimum standards and netted goals. No lines, no nets, home team forfeits.

EXCEPTION: The visiting captain can agree to play on a field that is not as stated above, by notifying the referee of the same. Once the game begins, there is no appeal and the game is official as it regards to field conditions.

E.    ROSTERS   The final date to add or delete players will be June 28, 2009.  If a final roster is not submitted by this date, rosters submitted prior to season start will preside. The SMSL MUST RECEIVE A COMPLETE AND FINAL ROSTER BY 6:00 PM ON THIS DAY which must be validated by the SMSL. If ineligibility is proven, PENALTY Section III, A9 shall apply. Prior to June 28, 2009, the SMSL must be notified 24 hours prior to any scheduled game of any change(s) to the initial roster in order to make a player eligible. The SMSL shall record such changes.

F.    Teams may carry up to a 22-player roster. Any team with one or more players of ages 16 or 17 will be required to have a waiver for signed by their parents or legal guardian. All players play at there own risk.

G.    A player must play in at least 8 regular season games to be eligible to participate in the playoffs. Injuries will be handled on a case by case basis. An injured player missing regular season games must be made aware of by the team captain to league officials during the time of the injury in order to qualify for playoff eligibility.

H.    LEAGUE DUES   Failure of any player or team to pay SMUSL any balances due will result in the ineligibility of either the player or team for the remainder of that season and/or the following season. All amounts due must be paid in full to the league.

I.    GAME STATISTICS   will count towards the league record.  Referee is responsible for logging in to: www.smusl.com to submit the final game statistics within 24 hr time period.   

J.    MAKE UP GAMES   When a game is postponed or changed in any way, it will be the responsibility of the HOME TEAM CAPTAIN to contact the SMUSL, the opposing team captain, and the referee assignor (Chris Hughes – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) at least 48 hours prior to game time. Failure to do so results in an automatic forfeit by the home team. Teams, which postpone games, are to try to reschedule games at the earliest possible dates. League officials must approve game postponement and makeup’s. Not enough players (less than 7) are not an acceptable reason for game reschedule. In this event, the team short shall accept a forfeit. In the event that a cancellation creates a conflict, the PRESIDENT shall render a ruling. This decision is final and shall not be appealed.

NOTE: Due to the difficulty in obtaining fields, the SMUSL recognizes rainouts. Also, if notification is to be offline due to rain, later than so stated above, the league (i.e. the teams) will pay the officials 50% of the regular fee.

K.    UNIFORMS   All league players shall have IDENTICAL team jerseys with proper numbering on the back of their jerseys. This number shall correspond to both the game card and the official roster card. NO PLAYER is permitted to participate in a game unless the proper jersey is worn. In the event of a uniform color conflict, the home team shall change to a different color.

L.    BALLS   Home teams are required to provide (2) properly inflated game balls to the referee prior to the beginning of game play. Balls are to be hand sewn, regulation size 5, and acceptable to the opposing team captain.

M.    DISCLAIMER   All league members shall participate at their own risk. It is advisable that each participant carries his or her own health and accident insurance. The league in no way assumes any responsibility for personal injuries or any other liabilities.

N.   DRUGS & ALCOHOL   Alcoholic beverages and drugs are not permitted at recreational and/or school fields. Therefore, they are not permitted at any SMSL games.  The referee shall enforce this by issuing a forfeit to the team disobeying this rule if the team is notified and does not immediately take action to remove the alcoholic beverage from the property. This applies to before, during and after any league sanctioned game.

O.   NO SHOWS   If a team does not show up for a game, does not notify the opposing team captain, or make the necessary arrangements to notify the referee (as stated above in SECTION II, H), that team shall pay the total cost of referees for both teams.

SECTION III:

A.    RULES COMMITTEE   The Rules Committee consists of the President, Vice President of the SMUSL. The (RC) shall review fouls and make rulings using the following guidelines to impose team and/or individual penalties. Red Card infractions penalize the team (no replacements allowed), and the player(s) will be subject to the corresponding penalties:

1.    Phys. Assault on referee before, during or after match
PENALTY: 1 calendar year suspension

2.    Ver. Assault on referee before, during or after match
PENALTY: 1 game minimum to 5 games maximum

3.    Unsportsman-like Conduct
PENALTY: 1 game minimum to 5 games maximum

4.     Assault on another player
PENALTY: 4 games minimum to 1 calendar year maximum

5.     Insulting another player
PENALTY: 1 game minimum to 3 games maximum

6.     Assaulting or insulting spectators
PENALTY: 1 game minimum to 3 games maximum

7.     Harassment of League Officials & Referees
PENALTY: 1 game minimum to 1 calendar year maximum

8.     Any Red Card (game ejection)
PENALTY: 1 game MANDATORY plus decision of RC

9.     Playing an illegal player (not on roster or card)
PENALTY: 1st Offense   Forfeit all games in which ineligible player played.  2nd Offense   Team DQ for remainder of current season
10.     Not abiding by rules of RC decisions

PENALTY: 1st Offense   Team DQ from playoff participation
2nd Offense   Team DQ from remainder of current season

11.    Player repeatedly cited for causing trouble/controversy
PENALTY: 1 game minimum to 1 calendar year maximum

12.     Player disciplined for alcohol and/or drug use
PENALTY: 2 game minimum to 1 calendar year maximum

B.               Any player suspended by the RC three (3) times during any season shall be disqualified for the remainder of the SEASON AND PLAYOFFS. The team captain may remove any player that is a disciplinary problem on the roster during the season, simply by notifying the SMSL.

C.    SMUSL will keep track of all yellow and red cards.  ANY PLAYER who receives THREE (3) RED CARDS or FIVE (5) YELLOW CARDS or any combination totaling EIGHT (8) POINTS shall be suspended for the remainder of the season and playoffs.

D.    SMUSL shall record all point accumulation and report to the SMSL or appropriate office for necessary action.

E.    POINT SYSTEM - Red card = 2 points, Yellow card = 1 point

1.     INDIVIDUAL - 8 points consisting of any combination – player out for the season & playoffs.

2.     TEAM – Any team accumulating more than 18 points during the regular season and playoffs are disqualified from the league and playoffs.

3.     Game Cards, which include Yellow and Red card results, must be mailed in by the referee within twenty-four (24) hours of the game.  If not done within this time frame, the referee will not get paid.

F.     All disciplinary action is subject to the review and discretion of the SMSL and the Rules Committee thereof.  The above penalties may be increased for extenuating circumstances. SMSL decisions are final. Any and all circumstances not explicitly covered in the league by laws subject to disciplinary action will be made by the Rules Committee.

G.    Playoff consideration: If two teams are tied at the end of regulation season, the following rules shall apply when determining the final placement for the tournament.
Point System:   (Win-Loss record), (Goal differential),  (Goals For),& (Goals Against)


Any referee that is assigned a game and does not show up to cover the game, he or she will be responsible to pay the league $25.00 in his or her absence.