Tidewater Soccer Club - AYSO Region 1292 League Polices

Region 1292 is made up of teams from the Western Branch and Deep Creek Soccer Clubs, the Region is a recreational league, Which belongs to the American Youth Soccer Organization. The sole purpose is to provide a safe and fun environment for our Children, coaches, referees, and parents.

League Policies my be amended as deemed necessary by board decision.

The soccer year runs from August 1 to July 31. Players will be assigned to age group divisions based on their age as of August 1. Players may play in a higher age group but not in a lower except by special permission of the board for medical or physical handicap needs only.

Refunds cannot be approved after The teams have been formed and registration fees have been sent to AYSO. IF a Child can be replaced by a child on the wait list, then a refund can be granted minus any expenditures.

Teams, Schedule and Organization.

Team size and the number of teams will be determined at the conclusion of registration by the Commissioners and their board.

Teams and their rosters within a division will be determined by the President and Board in a distribution of players according to age- attempting to equalize teams.

Teams will be created in the fall and stay together, with voids be filled with new registrations in the following seasons; ie: Fall, Spring.

Brothers and sisters within the same division, coaches and their children may, if they elect, be assigned to the same team.

Schedules will be made based on number of teams and available play dates.

Games shall be played in accordance with the schedule set up by league officials, playing as close to ten games as possible. There will be no postponements except in the case of extreme emergency and/or weather conditions. No coach may cancel, postpone or reschedule a match, without the premission of the Region Commissioner and their league president.

At the discretion of the board, matches may be canceled or rescheduled due to weather or other conditions, inter-league and post season games may be scheduled.

5. PRACTICES:

Teams are limited to two practice sessions, including chalkboard sessions, per week, one and a half hours per practice (1 hour for U-8 and below).

6. LENGTH of GAMES

U-5: 3 vs. 3 maximum: 4 periods of 8 minutes (Substitution at the quarters and half)

U-6: 4 vs 4 maximum: 4 periods of 8 minutes (Substitution at the quaters and half)

U-8: 6 vs 6 maximum: 4 periods of 10 minutes (Substitution at the quaters and half)

U-10: 8 vs 8 maximum: two twenty-five minute halves.

U-12: 9 vs 9 maximum : Thirty minute halves.

U-14: 11 vs 11 maximum: two thirty minute halves. They play in the HRCL

U16: 11 vs 11 maximum: Two thirty Five minute halves. They play in the HRCL

U-19:11 vs 11 maximum: two forty Five minute halves. They play in the HRCL

Advanced & teams playing HRCL may have differing rules and times.

There will be a five minute period at half-time. The Referee will keep the official game time and will not stop time except for injury or other lengthy delay. Games ending in a tie will remain a tied contest. Each player will play at least half game except in the case of injuries, sickness, ejection, and/or any disciplinary action. Advanced & teams playing HRCL or other interleague play may have differing rules and times.

U-5/U-6 coaches are allowed to come on and off the field as needed to set up players ONE coach per team please! They should then leave the play area and stay at the sideline. They should NOT be in front of a goal area, and the coaches should NOT remain on the field any longer than necessary. The referee may ask a coach to move to the sidelines if in their opinion the coach is in the play too much. U-8 on field for setup for kickoff ONLY. And may help with throw-ins. U6 and U8 may have coaches on the opposite side of the field to help advance play. U-10 & older coaches and players must ask and receive permission before substituting on or before entering the field to attend to a player, etc. Coaches are asked to remain on their team's end of the field.

8. REFEREES

There will be at least one referee scheduled per game (except for U5). Club linesmen may be used. If there is no referee available at the assigned time the coaches have the option to play, however no match will be rescheduled or challenged in such case.

The official shall have the authority to call off any games on the field that he deems unsafe due to extreme weather conditions.

The game may be rescheduled at the discretion of the board, however no coach may cancel, postpone or reschedule a match.

No game will be repeated because of dispute as to the propriety of an official's call. Players, coaches and officials in the league are amateurs learning the sport together.

Please note that the referees will call the best game they can. Our referees are trained and/or have passed either or both, the U.S.S.F. National Referee Certification Test or/and The AYSO certification. They are watching up to 22 players, two linesmen, and a ball - all at once. Many decisions have to be made considering many factors from the beginning to end of the game, often in a split second. The Tidewater Soccer Club will not tolerate abusive behavior towards players, coaches, staff, or referees under ANY circumstances. This is a poor example for the children and has no place in our league. ANYONE who acts in a violent physical manner or threatens ANYONE forfeit refund of registration fees paid and is disqualified from participation in Tidewater Soccer Club for a period of not less than 6 months. Disqualification decision shall be made by the Board, and any board member involved in any such incident shall be prohibited from voting on such decision.

Referees will "officially" yellow card players that continue to commit fouls after being verbally cautioned. After being yellow carded, the player will be "officially" red carded and suspended for the remaining game and the following game. Parents/players/coaches who disrupt play, or create an incident either before, during, or after a game may receive a personal/team game suspension, followed by a suspension of the next scheduled game.

Cautions and Suspensions

A player, coach, or spectators shall be cautioned (YELLOW CARD) for:

(a) entering or leaving the field...without permission of the official.

(b) PERSISTENT INFRINGEMENT of any rules of the game.

(d) unsportsmanlike conduct including use of vulgar or profane language.

(A cautioned player may be substituted, and may return to the game later.)

A player, coach, or spectators shall be SUSPENDED/disqualified (RED CARD) for:

(a) exhibiting violent conduct or...serious foul play;

(b) using foul or abusive language;

Anyone who is disqualified shall leave the vicinity of the playing area the remainder of the game. The Referee may stop the game until the disqualified person leaves and may end a game if the disqualified person refuses with the offending team forfeiting.

A DISQUALIFIED PLAYER CANNOT BE REPLACED

EQUIPMENT

Footwear: players must wear either soccer cleat (molded rubber/replaceable) or tennis shoes. Referee will not allow a child to play with cleats considered to be a danger to other players, including worn studs and other sport's cleats.

Shinguards: use of shinguards is mandatory, commercially sold only.

Field equipment: Equipment will be furnished for league.

Uniforms: Each participant will be furnished by the league, a team jersey, and socks to be worn during all league play and which must be retained for the fall and spring season.

Soccer balls: Game balls are furnished by the club. Practice balls may also be furnished.

The sizes are as follows: U-5 THROUGH U-8 division: size #3 ball; U-10 & U-12 division: size #4 ball; U-14 and older division: size #5 ball

10. LEAGUE PLAY

Western Branch and Deep Creek play will be governed by Region 1292's Rules.