Austin Co-Ed Soccer Association

COMPETITIONS AND DIVISIONS
1. SEASON(S)
  The Association will have three (3) seasons that will run from early Fall of one year until the late Summer of the next. These seasons will be Fall, Spring and Summer. Teams that enter the Summer Season shall play in the highest division for which they qualify based on the regular season standings. All teams and players must be registered with TSSAS to play. The exact schedule shall be set each year by the BOARD or the Executive Committee in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) and Travis County.
2. COMPETITIONS
  The Association shall sponsor league play in one (1) competition, an Open competition. Any team meeting the general requirements of the Association may enter the Open competition.
3. CLASSIFICATION
  1. Teams shall be classified into divisions according to the following principles:
  2. Divisions shall be organized to reflect various levels of competition.
  3. The number of teams in a division shall normally be 8, except when necessary to accommodate a workable schedule among all registered teams.
  4. The top two teams in the lowest division shall be promoted to the next higher division for the next season of play. The bottom two teams from the second to lowest division shall be relegated to the lowest division for the next season of play. For all other divisions, the top team shall be promoted to the next highest division for the next season and the bottom team shall be relegated to the next lower division for the next season of play. There will be no promotions or relegations after the summer season of play. Promotions and relegations shall occur immediately upon conclusion of the season.
  5. A newly- formed team shall be placed in the division of its choice, or nearest to its choice, to the extent a vacancy exists after promotions and relegation have been accomplished.
  6. With the approval of the BOARD after all promotions and relegations have been accomplished, and to the extent a vacancy exists, any other team may move from one division to another, so long as the move is not detrimental to the overall league competition. A team requesting a promotion or relegation must make it to the registrar no later than ten (10) days after the last day of play for that season.
4. STANDINGS AND CHAMPIONS
  The standings for each division shall include only those teams active in that division. They shall not include teams that left the division during the course of the year because the team folded in mid-season. Standings shall be based on all games played in the division since the beginning of the season. The teams shall be ordered by the following measures:
TEAMS
1. TEAM REGISTRATION
  1. All teams shall be registered with the Association, TSSAS, and USSF. Teams will be responsible for registering on or before such deadlines as are set for league, tournament, and State or National Cup play.
  2. TEAM FEES MUST BE PAID IN FULL BY THE THIRD GAME OF THE SEASON, UNLESS PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH BOTH THE REGISTRAR AND THE TREASURER AND APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT OR VICE-PRESIDENT. FAILURE TO PAY IN FULL BY THE THIRD GAME OF THE SEASON WILL RESULT IN A FORFEITURE OF YOUR BOND, YOUR DEPOSIT, AND ALL YOUR REMAINING GAMES.
  3. Team fees must be paid in full by no more than three (3) checks or money orders. Individual player checks will not be accepted as a collective amount towards team registration fees team captains and managers are responsible for presenting the correct amount of fees.
  4. Cash will not be accepted under any circumstances.
PLAYERS
1. PLAYER REGISTRATION
  1. Every player must be registered and obtain from the Association a USSF player registration card. Players may only play with one team within a division.
  2. Player(s) are not considered to be registered until all the following requirements have been completed. Registrations must be submitted to the Registrar one week prior to the game in question Registrations will not be processed if they are incomplete including but not limited to incomplete or missing information, wrong forms, missing forms, missing player cards and/or pictures, no check or money order, cash in lieu of a check or money order and missing manager information on release forms
  3. Absolutely no cash will be accepted under any circumstances. Checks and money orders should have the name of the league, the name of the team and the player(s) written on them for identification purposes.
  4. ACSA and any of its officers will not be responsible for cash left in the drop boxes.
2. YOUTH PLAYERS
  No one under the age of 16 may play with ACSA.
3. PLAYER RELEASE RULES (TRANSFERS)
  1. A player may transfer from one team to another without penalty.
  2. A player may move from one team to another by submitting the player release form completed by themselves (and not requiring the previous team manager’s signature) her/his old player registration card, a new player roster form with the information of the team s/he is joining and a fee to the Association registrar, who will issue an updated card. Registrations will not be processed if received by the Registrar after Sunday of each week.
PLAYING RULES
1. GAME ROSTER
  Before each game, each team captain shall present the referee a standard team roster form listing the names and jersey numbers of all players registered with the team. There is no limit to the number of registered player who may play in any one game. A standard team roster form shall be issued by the Registrar. Teams will be responsible in duplicating the form for game use. Failure to submit the standard team roster form will result in disciplinary action to the team. It is the responsibility of the team captain to insure that all players listed are registered and eligible to play at the time of the game. An ineligible player on the roster either checked in by the Referee or written in shall be assumed to have played and so shall be grounds for a forfeit and possible further disciplinary action by the Rules/Judiciary Committee.
2. PLAYER CARDS
  Each player should present a properly laminated player registration card with current team and season information, signed by the registrar. If the registrar finds the player to not have been properly registered with the team or the league, the game will be a forfeit and possible further disciplinary action by the Rules/Judiciary Committee.
3. UNIFORMS
  1. For all competitions each team member must have a similar color shirt with an 8 inch number on the back that match the numbers on the roster given to the referee.
  2. The goalie must wear a distinctive color from the two teams and referee. The goalie is not required to have a number on her/her/his shirt. In the event of a conflict, the referee is required to change colors.
  3. For all competitions no two players on the same team may have the same jersey number.
  4. If both teams have the same color shirts, the designated home team on the schedule shall change shirts or forfeit the game.
  5. Teams must use their designated primary colors that were given in the registration form.
4. GAME
  1. A game will consist of two 45 minute halves.
  2. If a team does not have the required minimum number of players 15 minutes after the scheduled start time the team must forfeit.
  3. The goalkeeper may be male or female, the team's choice. The 10 field players may consist of more than 5 women, but no more than 5 men. A team must have 6 field players on the field to be eligible to play plus a goalie of either sex.
  4. Each player must have a player card and be listed on the roster.
  5. Players must be at least 18 years of age before the start of a season to be eligible to play, unless they have parental consent.
  6. If a team suits an illegal player, the team must forfeit the game.
  7. The point system for the standings shall be as follows:
    a. 3 points for a win
    b. 1 point for a tie
    c. 0 points for a loss
  8. In case of force majeure, which is any situation out of control of either team, the following shall decide if the game is rescheduled: If the situation occurs before the first half of the game, the game shall be rescheduled, but should the situation occur after the half, the score at that time shall be the final score.
5. RULES OF PLAY Women’s Touch Rule (eliminated)
6. RULES OF PLAY
  The ACSA follows FIFA Rules w/ the exceptions listed below.
  1. There shall be free substitution and a player may be substituted several times.
  2. Players may be substituted during the following times: goal kicks, throw-ins on possession, after a goal is scored, kick-off, or for injured players.
  3. Substitutions are made with the permission of the referee, through the center of the field.
  4. Offensive goals:
    a. Men = 1 point
    b. Women = 2 points
  5. NO SLIDE TACKLES. Slide tackles are prohibited. The game is to be restarted by a direct-free kick by the opposing team from the site of the infraction.
  6. All drop balls must be taken by two opposing women.
  7. Penalty kicks may be taken by female or male player. If the female scores it will count as 2 points, if a male scores it will count as 1 point.
  8. No player may score more than 3 goals in any one game.
7. ENDING TIMES
  All games must end at least ten minutes before the next game scheduled on the same field. If necessary, the referee shall hold the half-time to five minutes and shorten both halves equally in order to end on time. If there is no following game, the game should be played full length.
8. DEFINITIONS
  Below are some definitions of terms that are used through out this document. They are described here in order to help eliminate confusion.
  1. Deflection: A ball is deflected when it is clearly re-directed from its original path.
  2. Own goal: A defensive player directing the ball into the net. It is always worth one point.
  3. Forfeit: If a team forfeits they are required to pay both team’s referee fees. The score shall be entered as a 2-0 loss for the forfeiting team. The teams may decide to go-ahead and play a non-official game and the referee can choose to officiate the game or leave. Games may be scheduled on fields that do not meet FIFA rules regarding size, markings, and equipment such as corner flags.
DISCIPLINE
The Association has the right to punish teams, coaches, managers, and players for violations of the Rules of the Association or other misconduct.
1. PENALTIES
  1. The Association may impose any or all the following penalties on either team, coaches, managers, and players:
  2. Suspend teams, coaches, managers, and players from play in any or all Association-sponsored competitions for any period of time. Such suspensions shall be reported to TSSAS, USSF, or FIFA as required.
  3. Require a cash bond against future misconduct.
  4. Require that monetary fines be paid before a team or player again may participate.
  5. Forfeiture of one or more games, past or future.
  6. Automatic relegation at the end of the season.
2. MINIMUM PENALTIES AND FINES
  Definition: A game suspension is any game which is played or forfeited. The following are minimum penalties for the offenses specified:
  1. Two Yellow Cards in one game=Red Card, One (1) Game suspension and a $10.00 fine.
  2. Foul and Abusive Language Against Opponent=Red Card, One (1) Game suspension and a $10.00 fine.
  3. Foul and Abusive Language Against Referee=Red Card, One (1) Game suspension and a $25.00 fine.
  4. Serious Foul Play=Red Card, Three (3) Game suspension and a $25.00 fine. (Can only be against an Opponent)
  5. Serious Foul Play by preventing a goal by use of the hands=Red Card, One (1) Game suspension and $10.00 fine.
  6. Serious Foul Play by preventing a goal by use of a slide tackle=Red Card, One(1) Game suspension and $10.00 fine.
  7. Serious Foul Play by handling the ball outside of the penalty area whilst playing as a goalkeeper on a “breakaway” situation=Red Card, One (1) Game suspension and a $10.00 fine.
  8. Violent Conduct (Directed at Anyone)=Red Card, Three (3) Game suspension and a $50.00 fine.
  9. Physical violence against a league officer or game official, One (1) Year suspension and a $100.00 fine.
  10. Three (3) YELLOW cards by an individual player over a full season, One (1) Game suspension and a $10 fine. Additional Three (3) YELLOW cards shall result in a doubling of the fine and suspension.
  11. A team that accumulates twelve (12) points where a yellow card counts as one (1) point and a red card counts as two (2) points will result in a team fine of $10.00. If the team accumulates an additional twelve (12) points, then the fine will be $20.00 and the loss of two (2) points from the standings. Any team with an accumulation of more than (24) points in a season shall be subject to further disciplinary action by the Rules/Judiciary Committee.
  12. Using Zilker soccer fields for practice or after games have been rained out both as an organized team or as an individual player in a pick up game, Three (3) Game suspension and a $25 fine.
  13. Causing a referee to terminate a match due to violence, serious foul play or repeated infractions of the laws of the game, Three (3) Game suspension and a $50 fine.
  14. Failure to produce an official game roster as supplied by the Registrar, will result in a $10.00 team fine. Successive offenses will result in 2 points deducted from the teams standings and a $20.00 fine for the first successive offence. Repeated offences will be punished by a doubling of the fine and the points deducted for each successive offence.
  15. The disciplinary committee shall review the actions of any that team has an accumulation of red cards, to determine if the team shall continue in the league or be subject to a fine, probation or have to present a bond or any combination of above. If a player gets more than one (1) red card for items 1-7 above in a complete season, then the punishment and fine shall be double for each current offense. Suspension for accumulated yellows shall not count as a suspension when applied to items 1-7 above but shall apply to item 9 above.
3. MATCH REPORT BY REFEREE
  The referee shall be responsible for making a detailed report in writing within four (4) days to the ACSA concerning any violation subject to penalties under these rules. In case of an send off or team misconduct report, the report shall identify the persons involved, describe the offensive conduct in clear concise language, and indicate if the conduct manifested an intent to injure.
4. ADMINISTRATIVE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES
  The Division Commissioner shall make an administrative imposition of minimum penalties. He/she shall review the match report for each match filed by the referee. When it can be determined from the match report, or from further conversation with the referee, that an offense was committed for which there is a specified minimum penalty, then he/she shall impose such specified minimum penalty. In the event that there is no specified minimum penalty, or in the event that the matter is of a serious nature, the matter shall be turned over to the Rules Committee. For all matters covered by administrative penalties, the Division Commissioner shall promptly notify the captain of the affected team(s) of the penalty imposed. The Division Commissioner shall be responsible in notifying the Rules Chairman of pending incidents that will result in a hearing and shall provide the Rules Chairman all of the information that is available regarding the alleged incidents. The Rules Chairman shall be responsible in setting up such hearings that require action by the Rules Committee and notifying the team captains and referees. The Rules Chairman shall be responsible in notifying the Rules Committee members of the hearing and notifying the team captains of the outcome of the hearings.
5. RULES/JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
  PURPOSE: A Rules/Judiciary Committee is established for the purpose of deciding penalties, match replays and other disciplinary issues which are referred to it by appeal from an imposed administrative penalty or by actions taken by a referee, players or other team members not covered by Minimum Penalties and Fines (5.3). The Rules/Judiciary Committee is responsible for reviewing the playing rules each season, accepting complaints, concerns and compliments and hold meetings at least one time each season. MEMBERSHIP: The Rules/Judiciary Committee shall consist of any active member of the league and an appointed Chairman by the President. A quorum shall consist of a minimum of two members. No member sitting on an Rules/Judiciary Committee may participate in a decision involving teams from the division which s/he represents. NOTICE OF HEARING: In any matter brought before the Rules Committee, the affected player and the captain of the affected team shall be entitled to notice and hearing. The Rules Chairman will give notice in writing at least seven days in advance of hearing. If the affected player or captain cannot attend the hearing, he may request a postponement from the Rules Committee, which shall not be unreasonably refused. The affected player or captain shall have the right to present evidence and make a statement at the hearing. If the affected player or captain fails to attend the hearing after due notice, the Rules Committee may proceed to decide the matter. The Chairman of the Rules Committee shall establish reasonable procedures for the hearing designed to insure a full and fair development of facts and applicable rules.
  DECISIONS: All cases shall be decided by majority vote. The Chairman of the Rules Committee shall promptly notify the President and the Registrar of the Committee’s decisions in all matters. The Chairman of the Rules Committee shall promptly notify the affected players and captains. .A decision of the President and Registrar or other, may be appealed to the Rules Committee, and a decision of the Rules Committee may be appealed to the Board of Captains. A player upon whom a penalty is imposed, or the captain of an affected team, may file an appeal. Appeals must be filed prior to the next scheduled match following the decision made by the BOARD or individual. Appeals must be submitted in writing, and must be accompanied by a good faith deposit of $50.00. In the case of a favorable finding for the Appellant, the deposit shall be returned by the Rules Committee.
6. EFFECT OF APPEAL
  The filing of an appeal shall suspend the imposition of the penalty appealed from, except in cases of Violent Misconduct or Referee Assault. In all cases the affected player shall sit out a mandatory first game following the offense. However, in the event the appeal is denied, the Rules Committee or the BOARD may, if circumstances warrant, forfeit any matches in which a suspended player or team participated during the period a suspension would have been in effect but for the appeal.
7. APPEALS TO THE BOARD OF CAPTAINS
  A decision of the Rules Committee may be appealed to the Board of Captains under the same rules as provided for an appeal to the Rules Committee, except that the President shall preside and the deposit accompanying the appeal shall not be returned unless the appeal is sustained.
8. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINES AND SUSPENSIONS
  Captains and/or managers are responsible for the proper conduct of the teams’ players at all times. If a player fine is not paid, the player shall not be permitted to play until the fine shall have been paid. If a team fine is not paid, the team shall not be permitted to play until the fine shall have been paid. In the event that a player is guilty of referee assault or other action for which the discipline is handled by TSSAS, the team that the player was playing with at the time of the offense shall be responsible for payment of the fine in the event that the player does not fulfill her/his obligation.. The ACSA shall not absorb fines unless instructed to through a decision from the Rules/Judiciary Committee. Failure to follow these rules will result in even further and more severe disciplinary actions against the players and teams
SCHEDULING RULES
1. CANCELLATIONS
  Scheduled games will only be rescheduled or postponed when the following conditions are met:
  1. When one of the teams is playing in a TSSAS sanctioned tournament.
  2. When the referee fails to show.
  3. Unusual hardship (for example, a religious holiday involving most of a team), the Executive Committee may agree to reschedule a game without the consent of both teams.
  4. Force majeure: The rainout number is incorrect, a county field is locked when the rainout number says fields are playable, Zilker is playable but a police officer removes you, etc. In the event that a game is cancelled in advance, but all other games are subsequently cancelled (e.g., due to force majeure), all games shall be scored as rain outs in the standings rather than a forfeit.
  5. FORFEITS
    A team that causes a game to be abandoned will forfeit the game. If a referee abandons a game due to extreme misconduct on the part of one team or fans clearly associated with one team, that team will forfeit the game and should expect other penalties as well. Teams that do not follow the procedures for POSTPONEMENTS 6.1 (above) or who fail to show up for a scheduled game or who do not have sufficient players at game time, shall lose the game as a forfeit and shall also be responsible in paying the FULL amount of the Referees Fees scheduled for that game plus a $10 league fine. Such fees shall be deducted from the Team Bond and the forfeit game shall count as one of the two forfeited games prior to ejection from the League. If for any other reason a team cannot make a schedule game, it is the responsibility of the team unable to play to request a cancellation by contacting the captain of the other team, the league registrar, the referee liaison and the division commissioner and alert them to their cancellation. They must get a response from the other team captain and the division commissioner that their cancellation message was received and accepted. A response must be received within 48 hours of the scheduled game. Her/his cancelled game will count as a forfeit with the league statistics, but will not accrue a fine associated with a forfeit. If the team requesting the cancellation does not follow the above procedures, they will be responsible for paying the FULL amount of the Referees Fees scheduled for that game plus a $10 league fine.