Milton Soccer League: 2010 Official Rules & Regulations

LEAGUE COMPOSITION

LEAGUE STRUCTURE
Milton Soccer League is composed of the following categories designated by the year of birth and gender:

Men's MSL League (2 divisions) – 18+ years of age

Women's MSL League – 18+ years of age

PLAYER REGULATIONS

AGE REQUIREMENTS
Players must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years of age as of December 31, 2010. Players may be required to submit proof of age with photo identification (i.e. photocopy of driver's licence, passport etc.) and be approved by the Milton Soccer League before participating in league play.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Complete registration is comprised of:

payment of registration fee;

proof of age;

completion of PHSA application & waiver form;

approval of the Milton Soccer League

Failure to comply with these requirements will disqualify eligibility to play.

UNREGISTERED PLAYERS
No registered player shall play on more than one (1) team in the League. No unregistered player may play in any game. An unregistered player is defined as any player who has not officially registered with Milton Soccer League.

EQUIPMENT
No player will be permitted to play wearing footwear other than soccer cleats (Metal/Aluminum studs are not permitted). All players MUST play with shin guards. It is mandatory for players to remove ALL jewellery before playing (this includes rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches)

Eyeglasses and headgear are not permitted unless the article in question is FIFA approved. Please click here for full FIFA rules and regulations.

REFUNDS
REFUNDS WILL NOT BE ISSUED AFTER THE SEASON HAS BEGUN. Each player that quits his or her team before the start of the season and requests a refund will incur a $25.00 administration charge that will be deducted from their original registration fee payment. Team Deposits are non–refundable.

PLAYER PLACEMENT
Any player who has registered as an individual applicant; Milton Soccer League will be responsible for assigning that player to a team based on past experience and league objectives. Milton Soccer League will attempt to accommodate any requests from individual applicants to play with a particular player and/or team.

TEAM REGULATIONS

TEAM MAKE-UP
Teams are eligible to have a maximum of twenty (20) registered players on their roster. Players can be added to your roster until July 1st, 2010 to replace injured players who cannot finish the season. Under no circumstances may players be added after the July 1st deadline. Players that are removed from your roster and replaced due to injury may not rejoin the team at anytime.

Players will not be permitted to move between teams without the approval of the Milton Soccer League Board of Directors.

PLAYER TAMPERING
Under no circumstance should any team or team official(s) try to persuade any registered player of any other team to leave his/her team before the end of the season to benefit their own. The league does not condone this type of activity and any occurrences will be reviewed by the league.

INELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Any team that is found to have an ineligible player(s) he/she will be suspended immediately, pending a hearing with the league. A team that is found guilty of knowingly using an ineligible player(s) shall forfeit the game(s) and point(s) in which the ineligible player(s) is deemed to have participated in.

TEAM PRACTICES
Teams and/or team officials may attempt to practice on their own time and discretion. Practices are not covered or sanctioned by the Milton Soccer League.

REGULATIONS FOR GAMES

FIRST POSSESSION & DURATION OF GAME
Field position and first possession will be decided by the referee with a coin toss before the start of play. The team that wins the coin toss will choose field position while the opposition will get first ball possession.

The duration of games will be two (2) halves/periods of 45 minutes, separated each by a 5 minute half–time break. Games will be considered official if at least 45 minutes have been played. This may include events of non–completion including inclement weather, insufficient lighting, or referee stoppage at their discretion.

SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitutions can only be made with the notification and permission of the referee.

Teams are allowed unlimited substitutions, however may ONLY occur on the following stoppages of play:

On a goal kick

After a goal has been scored

At half–time or overtime periods

When the game has been stopped due to an injured player. Done at referee's discretion and only the injured player may be substituted.

Throw-Ins (at the referees discretion)

UNIFORMS
All players on each team MUST be dressed in the same jerseys as approved by Milton Soccer League (bearing the league logo) with the exception of goalies who must wear a jersey/shirt of a different colour from those of his/her own teammates as well as those of the opponent. Goalies can at their own expense purchase a goalie jersey; pending the above rules are followed.

Players who are not in proper uniform will not be eligible to play that particular game. Jersey numbers cannot be duplicated on the same team. Should either be the case, the player in question's team will forfeit the game to their opponent.

Goalkeepers are allowed to wear long pants. All other players must wear shorts.

Referees will prohibit players from participating if they are not properly dressed. No Exceptions will be made.

*Players who require replacement uniform items for whatever reason can order them through the Milton Soccer League for the following cost(s): Jerseys $25, Shorts $10.

KICK–OFF RULES
Teams are to field 11 players (10 players and 1 goalie) during the game. The game will be forfeited if a team of at least seven (7) registered players are not fielded ten (10) minutes after the scheduled kick-off time. Opponents are awarded the game with a score of 1 to 0 and the three (3) points for a win. If both teams fail to field at least seven (7) registered players, both teams will forfeit the game and no points are awarded to either team. The referee is responsible for submitting a full report on the game sheet explaining what has occurred.

SLIDE TACKLING
To reduce chances of injury, slide tackles are prohibited. Trapping the ball from going out of play is not slide tackling and therefore permitted.

A keeper can slide in his own box to trap or save the ball from going out of play.

All other slide tackles (including ones in the penalty area) will result in discipline at the referee's discretion.

DISCIPLINARY CARDS
Referees will follow FIFA guidelines with regards to issuing yellow and red cards as they see fit. In keeping with FIFA guidelines; if a player receives two yellow cards during the same game; this will result in a red card and an immediate expulsion from the match. Three (3) yellow cards accumulated during the season will result in a one game suspension. Each subsequent yellow card after 5 will result in a one game suspension. A red card issued at any time will result in an immediate expulsion from the match and a minimum one game suspension. All red cards will be reviewed by the league and furthur action may be taken depending on the severity of the manner in which the card was received. Two red cards accumulated during the season (including those in the MSL Cup) will result in a review of the player's status for the remainder of the season as well as any other future involvement within the league.

No refunds will be issued to these players at any time.

All red cards carry a $40 fine payable by the offender to Milton Soccer League. The suspended player will not be allowed to return until his/her suspension is served and the fine has been paid.

For more information regarding laws of the game please click here.

POSTPONEMENT/FORFEIT
Any team that cancels any game less then 48 hours prior to its scheduled start, shall forfeit the game to the opposing team. A $60 fine will apply to the team that has forfeited and must be paid prior to their next game. The team will not be eligible to participate in any further games until the fine has been paid to the league office.

LEAGUE PLAY/STANDINGS
Team standings are determined on a point system as follows; three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie and zero (0) points for a loss. The team with the most points at the end of the regular season will be crowned MSL League Champions.

In the event of a tie in the standings at the end of the regular season between 2 or more teams; the following procedure will be used to declare the final standings:

Most wins during the regular season

Head–to–Head results between the tied teams (aggregate score will not be counted)

Greater goal difference (goals for minus goals against)

Least amount of goals conceded for the entire season

Most goals scored for the entire season

In the event that all things above are equal, a deciding game will have to be played between the affected teams to determine the league winner. The game will be scheduled at the discretion of Milton Soccer League. Pending availability, the game may be scheduled for any day of the week including a long weekend. The game will be played as usual with 2 (45) minute halves. Should this game be tied at the end of the 90 minutes, one (1) ten (10) minute period of overtime will be played. (The Golden Goal rule will apply). If still tied, five (5) penalty kicks by five (5) players from each team will be taken. If still tied alternate penalty kicks, by balance of team will be taken until a winner has been determined.

Only players on the field of play at the end of the overtime period will be eligible to take penalty kicks.

MSL CUP
The MSL Cup is played after the regular season has been completed. All teams qualify for the Cup and match-ups will be based on the final league standings in the womens league and based on a random draw in the mens league The Cup is based on a single elimination format until there is one team remaining that will be crowned MSL Cup Champions.
(Please see rules above concerning games that are tied after 90 minutes; same rules apply)

CLUB TROPHIES
The MSL cup(s) will remain the property of Milton Soccer League and will be awarded annually to the winners in the men's and women's divisions.

Individuals who are awarded medals and/or trophies are theirs to keep.

REPORTING OF GAME RESULTS
The referee is responsible for reporting the final score of a game within 24 hours of the final whistle. Results may be called in (905-693-0394) or e-mailed to the . The league requires the referee to send in the original game sheet for verification.

REFEREES
Referees will be randomly selected to officiate all games and are appointed by Milton Soccer League. All decisions of the referee are final. Any player that is bleeding, the referee will ask for the player to be removed from the pitch until proper treatment has been administered to the player. They will also ask that any unregistered players who are sitting on team benches to be removed. The referee is the only person who can call a game off due to weather. If it is raining, you should show up for the game as scheduled and follow the instructions of the Referee.

The referee will need to stop play of a game in the event of the following:

In case of a thunderstorm, the referee will stop play and restart play when the lightning has stopped. Players are reminded at this point to proceed to a safe area.

If heavy rainfall has saturated/damaged the field prior to the game, the game may be "postponed" since playing on a saturated field will destroy the grass.

Matches that are stopped by the referee for any non–weather related issues such as misconduct of players, teams or fans will be thoroughly investigated by the league. The league has the authority based on its findings to declare a double forfeit, order a replay of the match or assign a winner as they see fit.

In cases where physical abuse or assault has occurred on a match official, the game will immediately be halted and be reported by the referee to the league. The person(s) responsible will be suspended until Milton Soccer League has investigated the matter.

In the event field lights don't turn on, there is a switch that will activate the lights. If after a few attempts they do not turn on, please call the after hours dispatch at 905-878-7141. If the lights still don't turn on after these attempts have been made, it is up to the referee to make a decision whether to continue the game or call it due to darkness.

Although decisions of the referee are final a letter of complaint regarding a game official can be submitted and will be reviewed by the club.

In the event a referee does not show up to officiate his/her scheduled game, the coaches/captains must agree on a mutual referee to referee the entire game within fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled kick–off time. If the captains/coaches cannot agree on a referee, the game will be rescheduled by Milton Soccer League pending field availability.

When someone other then the appointed referee takes charge of the game, both coaches/captains will sign the game sheet prior to the start of the match to indicate they have mutually agreed that this individual will be given the full rights of a game official. The person who referees the game will complete the referee portion of the game sheet and must report all cards and/or misconduct within 24 hours of the game. The substitute referee will receive the regular fee for officiating the game.

* Important Note *
In the event of a game being postponed; Milton Soccer League reserves the right to schedule make–up games on any day of the week including long weekends and holidays. Every attempt will be made to try and avoid this from happening.

GAME SHEETS
Game sheets are supplied by the league prior to the season kicking off. They must be completed by each team in full and given to the referee at least (10) minutes prior to kick–off. Only a Milton Soccer League 2010 Official Game Sheet will be accepted by the referee. Failure to provide official game sheets will result in a forfeit.

Only players listed on the game sheet are eligible to play. A team official must sign the game sheet once the game has been completed; the signature shall verify that all the information on the game sheet is correct for the eligibility of players on his or her team including confirmation of the final score and goal scorers.

*No player will be allowed to participate in a game, if they have not signed the game sheet by the time the referee blows his/her whistle to begin the 2nd half of a game. Should the player play without signing the game sheet, it will result in a forfeit.

SUBMITTING A PROTEST
If a team wishes to file a protest, it must be done within 48 hours of the conclusion of the game. The protest must be sent by email or delivered in person. Protest letters must have a detailed explanation as to the exact events that occurred. Names and contact numbers of witnesses if any should also be provided.

DISCIPLINARY HEARING

GUIDELINES
Suspensions and misconduct of players, managers and coaches in any League game will be dealt with by the League's Board of Directors. Any coach of the disorderly teams may be present for the hearing along with the accused. All those who are accused of an offence which requires discipline by Milton Soccer League are required to attend a disciplinary hearing at the League's discretion. All parties will be given 3 day's notice of the location, date and time of hearing. Failure to appear at a discipline hearing, following notification will result in immediate suspension of the accused until he/she requests another hearing and appears at the subsequent hearing. Milton Soccer League's Board of Directors will make its final decision within 5 business days of the hearing and the decision will be final.

TEAM CAPTAIN'S RESPONSIBILITIES
Team captains registering a team will be responsible for obtaining a minimum of 16 players up to a max of 20 (18+). They will need to collect all registration forms and fees from each team member, making sure all registration forms are filled out correctly. You will need to select a name for your team (any racist, sexist or other derogatory names will not be accepted). If you do not select a name for your team, the league will designate one for you. You will be responsible for the conduct of the team including players on or off the field. The captain will be notified via email (preferably) regarding any sudden changes to the schedule and/or suspension to any of their registered players or any other reason regarding his/her team.

The league will also hold a Captain's meeting before the season begins where it is mandatory that the captain shows up to receive his/her team's schedules and uniform items (if applicable).
League rules will also be reviewed during this meeting. If the captain cannot attend, he/she can assign a member of their team to attend in their place.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS & AWARDS
League Champions (Men's and Women's)

1st Place Medals

"Golden Boot" as the League's Top Scorer (Men's and Women's)

Trophy

MSL Cup Champions (Men's and Women's)

1st Place Medals, Team Name Engraved on Trophy*

MSL Cup Finalists (Men's and Women's):

2nd Place Medals

MSL Cup Final MVP (Men's and Women's)

Trophy

* Note: The MSL Cup trophy will remain the property of Milton Soccer League and will be awarded annually to the winners

These rules and regulations have been approved for the 2010 season by the Milton Soccer League Board of Directors on Thursday December 31, 2009.

*Milton Soccer League has the right to modify or change any rules or regulations at anytime as they see fit if it betters the soccer experience for its players and fans.