Rules
Mission Statement
The mission of the Canadian Reformed Soccer League Executive Committee is to organize and govern an annual season and several tournaments in order to provide an environment that is as safe and fair as possible, in a Christian manner for the young people of the Canadian Reformed and affiliated churches.
Following is a list of rules which shall apply for the Canadian Reformed Soccer League which must be highlighted or are not found in the FIFA book
Please be sure to make these rules available to each player on your team.
1. Duration of Game
Games are 45 minute halves unless otherwise agreed by both teams and the referee before the game. It is suggested that if a game begins late because a team arrives later that you play the first half as a normal game, and let the ref call the game once it gets too dark to play. Suggested start time for a game (without lights) is 7:00. In order for a game to count, you must play a 45 minute 1st half, and a 10 minute 2nd half, or 55 minute equivalent, unless due to weather.
2. Postponing/Cancelling Games
The team rep must inform the league exec and the opposing team at least 48 hours before the game (unless due to weather) of a postponed or cancelled game. If the game needs to be cancelled due to the weather (lightning) during the:
1st half - it must be rescheduled
2nd half - game is over, leave score as is
3. Female Players
The maximum number of male players allowed on the field at any one time is eight. There must always be at least 3 female players on the field for each team. If a female player is missing her position must remain empty.
E.g. One female missing - ten players on field
Two females missing - nine players on field
Three females missing - eight players on field
4. Substitutions
Substitutions may be made on goal kicks and/or after a goal
has been scored (NOT on throw-ins). Players
being taken off the field should be off before the substituting player goes on
the field.
NOTE: During tournaments you may also substitute on your own throw-ins, at
which time the opposing team may substitute as well.
5. Kicks to the Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper may not pick up the ball if intentionally kicked by his/her player.
6. First Aid
Each team must be able to provide a first aid kit in case of injury.
7. Age Limit
All players must be 16 years old.
8. Attire
All players must wear shin pads and proper soccer shoes (cleats).
No steal cleats are permitted.
9. Roster Regulations
The league is currently open to all members of the Canadian Reformed, United Reformed and Orthodox Presbyterian Churches. As of April 2011, the following amendment has been made: there may be 3 player exceptions per team, providing these players are a member of a Christian Church or else faithfully attending a Christian church. In addition, a letter must be sent by the team rep on behalf of the player(s) to the league executives providing some background and valid reasons to include the player(s) on the team roster. Rosters must be submitted by League rep meeting, and changes can be made up till the 8th week of the season. Each player must have played 7 games in the season to be eligible to play in the playoffs.
Players will not be expected to change teams under this policy. If a player has been listed on a team roster in previous years, (2004 and before) he or she will be able to continue playing on that team without penalty to that team or player.
If a team wishes to include a player from outside the team's jurisdiction, that team may do so with the approval of the league (for every case) up to a maximum of 4 players per team.
10. Discipline
In order to promote the most safe and fair environment as possible, the behaviour of players will be continually monitored throughout the season. Any behaviour that does not promote the well-being of one's neighbour will be swiftly and decisively dealt with. Multiple cardings will be dealt with by the Executive. Actions that are aimed to intentionally harm another person, such as fighting, will be considered grounds for dismissal from the league for the rest of the season.
All behaviour occurring beyond the bounds of fair play and league regulations will be investigated by the executive committee, which retains the right to suspend players from play.
11. Cards
Swearing/Foul Language - absolutely no swearing or foul language is permitted. A yellow card must be given the first time this occurs, and will be followed by a red card if there is a second occurrence. (Players who receive a red card may not play the remainder of that game nor the following game). Let the referees know this rule and enforce it.
Fight/Intent to Injure - in the case of a fight or someone intentionally injuring another player, (a) red card(s) must be given. Each team must inform the committee what happened in writing sent to the league executive within 48 hours of the occurrence. The committee will decide how to deal with anyone who is reported in this way more than once (a fine of $50.00 will always be given for each occurrence of this particular offence). Red cards for fighting / intent to injure will always include a suspension, the length of which shall be determined by the executive committee for each offence.
Two yellow cards in one game will be considered a red card. Red cards will always include a minimum of a 1 game suspension, plus the duration of the game the card was issued in.
Yellow and Red cards must be reported on the game sheets.
12. Game Sheets
Game Sheets are due to the league executive within 1 week of the game, no exceptions. When available, online gamesheets should be posted within 24 hours of the game.
13. Fields
A team is required to provide a safe and appropriate playing field for all games on the home schedule.
An appropriate field at MINIMUM must include:
- The outside field lines
- And the 18yd box lines.
- All fields must be cut appropriately as well.
- Properly sized goal posts
Each team will have an opportunity as scheduled with the league executive to discuss their field situations with the executive. Once fields have been selected and the season has began, a $50 fine will be applied against the home team if ANY player during a prescribed game complains within 24 hours to the league executive, and after proper investigation, improper field situations are found to be true based on the complaint.
14. Teams Showing Up
If a visiting team fails to show up for a scheduled game WITHOUT notifying the home team 48 hours PRIOR to game time, the home team has 24 hours to report this failure to the league executive whereas for almost ALL cases a fine will be levied against the visiting team, payable to the league executive which will be later applied to the home teams dues to the league, or a credit paid out to the home team if applicable. The fine shall be determined by the executive committee and will be a minimum of the cost of field use plus the cost of the referee. Weather is the only factor that can cancel a game within the 48 hour time slot, though the home team is still responsible to make the decision and notify the visiting team of a cancelled game. Any other VERY special situations resulting in a visiting not showing up will be dealt with by the league on a case by case situation, though few exceptions will be accepted regardless.
** If for some obscure reason the home team fails to show at their own home game without notifying the visiting team, the above situation will thus apply to them.
15. Referees
The team rep. is responsible for providing the referee with the league rules and regulations.
Referees must be 18+ years of age and cannot be an immediate family member of any of the team members of the home team they ref for. The league encourages teams to find refs that are registered and trained, but a case by case situation as advised by the league executive can allow unregistered persons to ref a team. Referees are subject to league approval.
The league executive encourages teams to find volunteering linesman in an effort to assist refs, though it is not mandatory.
Penalties will be as follows through this system:
At the beginning of the season teams must provide their
referees contact information to the league exec.
If the home team cannot provide a ref at the beginning of game time, the game
is AUTOMATICALLY forfeited to the visiting team. No exceptions
or deals may be made to continue play without a ref at any time.
NOTE: It is still the responsibility of the VISTING team to report a missing ref to their league representative as the reason for a forfeit within 24 hours of the game time.
If a complaint arises against a ref that a home team has designated, the person must file the complaint with their LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE, not the league executive committee, within 24 hours from which point the rep will specify if the situation can be resolved based on the guidelines the executive has provided the rep, or if it needs to be dealt with the executive committee as a whole.
16. Team Penalties
Teams failing to abide by the regulations, including monetary issues, of the Executive will be subject to the following penalties.
1st offence: maximum number of players allowed on the field reduced by 1 male to 10 players total
2nd offence: maximum number of players allowed on the field reduced by 1 female to 9 players total
3rd offence: maximum number of players allowed on the field reduced by 1 male to 8 players total
After the third offence a team will be suspended from play until the situation has been resolved with the Executive.
Currently teams may be penalized for the following offences: failure to pay League dues, failure to return game sheets and/or failure to abide by the League rules and regulations. All penalties will be administered by the Executive as a whole and will be enforced by the Vice President in charge of discipline. All penalties will be enforced two weeks after notification of the Team Rep by the appropriate Executive member and will last a set period of time. Thus the following timeline will be followed
Infraction occurred and reported -> reviewed by Executive -> notification of Team Rep of penalty -> penalty begins -> penalty ends
Ignore the following FIFA rules:
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# 3 - Substitutes
# 5 - Substitution
