X-LEAGUE SOCCER

2007 COMPETITION

RULES AND REGULATIONS

SECTION 1. GENERAL

A. All X-League games shall be played under the current “Laws of the Game” published by FIFA, subject to specific League Rules created by the X-League executive board.

SECTION 2. PLAYER ADMITTANCE INTO X-LEAGUE SOCCER

A. Players requesting admittance into X-League shall submit a completed registration form. Field Parameter data must be input online. Incomplete forms may be returned in which case a decision on the Player’s acceptance shall be deferred until completed forms have been received. Fees must be submitted to the X-League at the time of registration. 

B. Priority of Admittance into X-LEAGUE

1. Returning Players will be given priority in admittance to X-League.

C. All application fees and program fees shall be returned if the new applicant is not accepted prior to the start of the season (this does not apply to players withdrawing). Players shall be deemed accepted when the online registration has been completed in its entirety and payment has been received.

D. Any player that withdraws after its application is submitted will forfeit the $50 processing fee paid at the time of registration.

E. The Board of Directors may deny a Player’s admittance to X-League based on any violation of League, State or National Association, or other organization rules, or due to excessive disciplinary problems with the player, or the parents of the player.  

SECTION 3. PLAYER FEES

A. Player Fees shall be as determined by the executive board.

B. Any player that withdraws after February 15, 2007 will forfeit their entire player fee.

SECTION 4. AGE GROUPS

A. Age Divisions shall be comprised of players who are born, before the first day of August of that seasonal year:

UNDER 6 years of age  Born after 8-1-00

UNDER 7 years of age  Born after 8-1-99

UNDER 8 years of age  Born after 8-1-98

SECTION 5. PLAYER REGISTRATION

A. Players that register with X-League will be subject to the following rules:

1. All players must complete the online registration form. The player is registered from the moment the player or the player’s parent submits the registration form and pays the appropriate fees.

B. The executive board may request, from any player, proof of age. Proof of age shall be presented within seven (7) days. Failure to respond to such request shall result in the immediate suspension of the player involved and forfeiture of all league games in which the player participated.

C. Any allegation or indication of Falsification of Documents will be turned over to the X-League executive board for further investigation.

SECTION 6. FIELDS AND ETIQUETTE

A. Coaching from the sidelines is permitted, subject to the following conditions:

       1. Within ten (10) yards in either direction of the halfway line.

2. Coaching shall be of a technical or tactical nature, consistent with the game of soccer, i.e. giving directions to one’s team on points of strategy and position.

3. The Coach’s language and attitude shall be such that it is not conducive to misconduct or violence. It shall not result in verbal or physical abuse of the referee on the part of the team/players, team administrators and/or spectators.

B. Field Size: Length 60 Yards X Width 40 yards. 

C. All players, coaches and administrators from both teams will reside on the same side of the field during league games. All parents and spectators of both teams will remain on the opposite side of the field from the players, at a minimum distance of 5 yards from the sideline during league games. Administrators shall have the right to request the referee to enforce this rule during the game. Failure to comply with this rule shall, at the referee’s discretion, may result in game suspension.

SECTION 7. CLUB/TEAM COLORS, UNIFORMS AND PLAYER SAFETY

A. Each player participating in the game shall be in a complete uniform, with permanent numbers six (6) inches or larger in a contrasting color. Uniforms must be clean and presentable at the start of the game with shirts tucked in and socks pulled up over the shin guards.

B. The Goalkeeper of each team shall wear a shirt that does not resemble the shirt colors of either team, as judged by the Referee.

C. It is recommended that each player uses an approved type of soccer shoes. Any type of shoes determined to be unsafe by the Referee shall not be worn in the game.

D. All players must have an individual uniform number assigned at the beginning of the season, which does not change for the duration X-League competition. This number must be displayed on the player’s uniform during any X-League game in which they participate.

F. Player Safety

1. No player should be allowed to play in any regularly scheduled League game with an injury that can be aggravated by playing or which constitutes a danger to others.

2. A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player, including jewelry. (FIFA Law IV)

3. Shin guards are mandatory for all players in practice, league games and tournaments.

SECTION 8. NUMBER OF PLAYERS

A. No team shall have more than nine (9) players on its roster at any given time.

B. Seven players will be allowed on the field, (1 goalie and 6 field players).

C. Each player will play a minimum of one half of a game.

SECTION 9. PLAYER SUBSTITUTION

A. Substitutions may be made, with the consent of the referee, at any stoppage of play.

B. Substitution shall be made at midfield within (10) yards of the halfway line. The Substitute Player shall not enter the field of play until allowed by the Referee and the Player substituted has left the field of play.

C. When an injured player (excepting the goalkeeper) is attended to by anyone from outside the field of play, they must leave the field until after play has restarted, at which time with the Referees permission they may re-enter the field. On leaving the field the team may opt to substitute for the injured player instead.

D. Excessive substitutions resulting in confusion or delay of game are to be discouraged by the referee.

SECTION 10. SCHEDULING

A. Once the schedule is published no exceptions to the X-League schedule shall be allowed for any reason unless approved by the X-League executive board.

B. The Scheduler will notify teams whose game is rescheduled as early as possible prior to the new date and time. Teams are required to play officially rescheduled games.

C. Whenever possible, the pools in bracketing will result in a standard fourteen (14) game schedule.

D. The Scheduler shall not be responsible for communicating schedule changes to players and parents. Communicating schedule changes to players will be the responsibility of the team administrators.

E. Inclement Weather

1. In the event of inclement weather, the teams will assume that the game will be played unless notified by the Scheduler.

2. In an effort to play the game, the field authority may provide an alternate field. The teams will be notified at the earliest opportunity (It may be the morning of play).

4. If the game is suspended prior to the second half, the game will be replayed in its entirety. If the game is suspended during the second half, the game will be considered a full game, unless there was a purposeful misconduct or misuse of this regulation as determined by the Director of Competition.

SECTION 12. COMPETITIONS, STANDINGS AND AWARDS

A. LEAGUE COMPETITION

1. It shall be a home-and-away competition, with each team playing all opponents in the group twice. (This system may be altered before the first game of the season when the number of the teams in a group makes the above rule impractical.)

2. The standings of teams in their respective brackets shall be determined by points, with three(3) points awarded for each win and one (1) point awarded for each tie.

3. All teams and players shall receive awards at the end of league play. A first place award may be issued to the first place team in each bracket.  If teams are tied on points for first place, each First Place Team will receive first place awards.

SECTION 13. GAME PROCEDURES AND CONDUCT

A. All regularly scheduled games must be played on approved scheduled dates. No team shall be scheduled to play two regulation games on the same day or same weekend without approval by the X-LEAGUE executive board.

B. The Scheduler may reschedule League games on consecutive days.

C. Game duration and ball size shall be as follows:

U6 - two 20-minute halves played with size 4 ball

U7 - two 25-minute halves played with size 4 ball

U8 - two 25-minute halves played with size 4 ball

A five (5) minute intermission shall be allowed between halves.

D. Referees

1. The Official Referee shall be the sole judge on the field of play and his decisions shall be final. No protest based on “referee judgment” shall be allowed.

2. Any complaints regarding referees can be submitted on the X-League website to the Director of Competitions.

3. In the event that the official referee fails to appear, a certified referee may be appointed with the mutual agreement of both teams.

4. Referees shall have the authority to remove any spectator who is abusive to any player, parents, coach, referee, or spectator.

5. Each game will have one officiating referee.

E. Game Stoppage and Delays.

1. If for any reason a game is not played or is not completed, the Director of Competitions shall decide the standing of the game depending upon the reason for the game stoppage.

2. The Director of Competitions may reschedule the game, order the game to stand as played, order remaining time to be played off at a later date, or order such other action depending upon the circumstances as they are determined to be proper.

F. Parents and spectators are responsible for their actions.  No unruly behavior, threats, and /or assaults on players or officials, before, during and after the game will be tolerated. Any such action shall by a parent will result in their removal from the field and suspension from attending any and all further activities of X-League Soccer.

SECTION 14. FORFEITS, FINES AND SUSPENSIONS

A. The X-League executive board may fine and/or suspend any player in any of the following situations:

1. If such individual shall refuse or neglect to fulfill any of its/their obligations as a member, or violates any of the provisions of the Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of X-League.

2. If such member individual shall commit any act which is determined to be contrary to or inconsistent with the principles and standards of good sportsmanship.

3. Failure to submit to the X-League executive board request for proof of age of any Player.

4 . Behavior of an Administrator, Player or Spectator that encourages Referee Abuse, Referee Assault or Non-Referee Assault, or any verbal abuse by the other

B. Coaches, Players or Spectators.

1. Any Coach/Administrator sent off by the Referee shall be suspended automatically without appeal for the balance of that game and will be subject to disciplinary action as determined by the executive board.

2. Any player, team administrator who is alleged to have committed a physical assault on a referee or assistant referee may be immediately suspended, and such suspension shall remain in force and effect until the matter is adjudicated.

3. All physical assaults are to be reported to the X-League Competition Director at the earliest possible time, by phone or e-mail.  

SECTION 15. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

A. THE PURCHASE, SALE AND/OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AT ANY X-LEAGUE SANCTIONED COMPETITION OR EVENT IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED EXCEPT WHERE PERMITTED BY STATE LAW.