CALIFORNIA YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION-SOUTH
LOS ANGELES FUTBOL CIRCUIT
2007-2008 RULES AND REGULATIONS
1 TITLE
1.1 The Cal South Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit shall be governed by these rules.
2 Administration
2.1 The Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee shall be under the direction of the Cal South Director of Competition and act as the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee Chairperson. The Cal South Board of Directors reserves the right to any final decisions with regard to the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit competition.
2.2 The Competitions Committee shall be appointed by the Competitions Committee Chairperson and confirmed by the Cal South Chief Executive Officer.
2.3 The Competition Chairperson shall appoint a maximum of seven (7), and but no less that three (3) representatives to the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee.
2.4 The Cal South Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee shall have the authority to rule on any matter pertaining to this competition.
3 TEAM ELIGIBILITY
3.1 A team entering the Cal South Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit shall meet the following eligibility requirements:
3.1.1 The team must be comprised of properly registered and rostered players (as defined by the rules of USYS and Cal South). No team may register a player not residing in Cal South to its roster without prior written permission from the Cal South president and the home State or National Association of the player.
3.1.2 The team must be in good standing with Cal South, its league of registration and competition league, if applicable, and must be in compliance with, and has not violated, any of the rules of USYS and Cal South.
3.1.3 The team must demonstrate continuity of team rosters between the league play and the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit competition, including subsequent circuit competitions, by maintaining a minimum of seven players common to the rosters of both. Player retention shall be based on the league roster as the previous seasonal year. (Except Under-19 teams).
3.1.4 A team may not roster any player rostered during the seasonal year to another team, unless a written request stating the reason for this action has been made to and approved by Cal South on the approved forms (Release and Transfer).
3.1.5 “Rostering” means assignment of a registered player to a team.
3.1.6 Every team shall have a team roster and will present a game roster for every game. For Under 16 and younger teams, the team roster may not have more than 18 youth players on the team roster at any given time during the seasonal year. For Under 17 and older teams, the team may have up to 22 youth players on the team roster at any given time during the seasonal year. Every team roster shall have a minimum of 7 players on the roster at all times. (USYSA Policy 205) (Cal South Rule 105)
3.1.7 The team must submit its game roster to the referee crew no later than 15 minutes prior to each scheduled Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit game. The game roster shall have a maximum of 18 players and a minimum of 7 players. Every player listed on the game roster must be included on the team roster to be eligible to participate with the team.
3.1.8 The team may not release, voluntarily or involuntarily, any player from its roster unless a written request stating the reason for this action has been made to and approved by Cal South on through the approved release process. A team may release involuntarily a player from its roster only if the player is unable to play for one of the following reasons:
3.1.8.1 The player has violated rules of the USSF or USYS or the affiliation through which the player is registered.
3.1.8.2 The player has moved beyond a reasonable travel distance. Determination of what constitutes a reasonable travel distance is subject to definition by Cal South.
3.1.8.3 The player is injured in such a manner that the player will not be able to participate for the remainder of the season.
3.1.9 The team, with at least seven (7) players and at least one (1) administrator must be registered with Cal South to be eligible to enter Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit.
3.1.10 Teams must enter the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit in the age group, or an older age group, in which the team was initially registered for the current seasonal year.
3.1.11 Teams must enter Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit no later than advertisted deadlines. All entries must be recorded and paid. Acceptance to Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit after this deadline is at the discretion of the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee.
3.1.12 Teams agree to play, without complaint, wherever they are assigned to play within the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit geographical area after the final approved schedule has been published.
3.1.13 Submission of the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Team Registration Application is the team and representative’s acceptance and compliance with the above requirements. An electronic submission will be considered to have been signed, the same as a paper entry, once the electronic entry has been posted to the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit.
3.1.14 All changes to team roster, adds, transfers, etc., including electronically posted changes to circuit entries made via Internet must be in prior to the release of the official game schedule.
4 Player Eligibility
4.1 Players must be properly registered to their team at the time it names its Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Roster for that team.
4.2 A player may play for only one team entered in a Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit during a seasonal year.
4.3 A player who has been suspended may play after the player's term of suspension has expired.
4.4 A player is circuit tied to his/her team once the team has registered/entered for his/her team’s respective age group.
5 Form of Competition
5.1 Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit competition shall be offered annually in the following age groups for boys and girls: Under-12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18, and U19. The Competitions Committee may chose to reduce or consolidate age groups offered if there is a lack of teams registered for a respective age group(s)or bracket.
5.2 Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit competition shall be a league format of complete round robin from which teams the top four teams will advance to a single-elimination format with semi-finals and finals. Round robin games may end in a tie. The Competitions Committee may alter the bracket size and or league competition format for any age group that does not meet the team bracket requirement.
5.3 For all games beyond the regular league competition, games ending in a tie at the end of regulation time will play overtime periods per Cal South Rule 2.4 (USYSA Rule 303).
5.4 Teams will be awarded points for games in regular league competition:
3 points for a win
1 point for a tie
0 points for a loss
5.4.1 Ties in points in the regular league competition shall use the following tiebreaker rules in order:
1. The winner in head-to-head competition
2. Goal differential (goals scored minus goals allowed to a maximum differential of 4 per game)
3. Least goals allowed
4. Most goals scored
5. Shut-out wins (forfeits not counting)
6. FIFA kicks from the penalty mark
7. If there is a tie between two or more teams for the playoff team placement, step 6. will be a coin toss by the Cal South Director of Competition.
8. If more than two (2) teams are tied at the end of the round, the tiebreaker criteria listed shall be used in the order shown until one team is advanced or one team is eliminated, or both. If remaining teams are still tied at this point in the tie-breaking process, they will then be compared beginning again with step 1 until another team is either advanced or eliminated.
5.5 Entries into the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit will be seeded for the single- elimination playoff round according to final bracket standings. (Team #1 vs. Team #4 and Team #2 vs. Team #3).
5.6 Teams shall be notified of schedules a minimum of fourteen (14) days prior to their first game.
6 Precedence of Games
6.1 Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit games shall take precedence over all other Cal South sanctioned tournament games.
7 Playing Rules
7.1 CAL SOUTH/USYS/USSF Rules apply except as modified below:
7.2 Game Time:
1. As scheduled with a 15 minute grace period. Failure to field a team of seven (7) players will result in a forfeit.
7.3 Referee Fees: (Three man referee system is mandatory. Use of club linesman is at the discretion of the center referee.)
1. Each Team is responsible for referee fees. Referees are to be paid BEFORE THE MATCH.
2. If team does not show, the referee fee is still the responsibility of the team. Fee is based on a 3-man system. The rate will be published 2 weeks prior to the start of the season.
7.4 Substitutions
1. During Regular League Play, there are free substitutions.
7.5 Ball
2. All divisions will use a size 5 ball, except the U12 Divisions. U12 Divisions will use a size 4 ball.
7.6 Equipment
1. No unsafe knee braces. No “hard casts” are allowed. Shin guards must be worn and covered by socks. Bicycle (compression) shorts may be worn under shorts.
7.7 Home Team Responsibilities
1. Complete field set up and take down (nets, flags, field markings, trash case, etc.) must be completed within 10 minutes of game time or home field forfeits. As common courtesy, Visiting Team shall assist with set up and take down.
2. Home Team shall change to an alternate color jersey if colors conflict with Visiting Team.
3. Home team has choice of sidelines.
7.8 Games may not be rescheduled unless approved by the Competitions Committee.
7.9 Coaching from the sidelines.
1. All divisions shall coach from their side only. Teams and administrators, where possible, shall be on opposite sides of the field.
7.10 CYSA-S Player/Coach/Administrator Cards
1. All Player and Administrator Cards must be official Cal South Member Cards and Player or Administrator photo. Cards must be stamped, embossed or signed by the league registrar and be laminated.
2. All Players must have a medical release form with parent/guardian’s signature. Forms to be provided to the referee upon request. Player cards and medical releases are required in all divisions. Failure to provide either may result in a forfeit. Players or Teams without cards and or Medical Release Forms must not play. This means no scrimmages or pick-up games.
3. Licensed Coach/Manager. There must be USYS licensed coach for each team, at each game. The coach must have a Cal South 2007-2008 photo identification card. A team without a carded official will forfeit the match. Note: The coach may be from any team within the same league of registration as the team they are representing for the match.
7.11 Standings. Each team will supply a game card to the referee prior to the game (home team to supply a stamped envelope). The referee or league official will place the game cards in the mail within 12 hours after the game, along with a record of all cautions, ejections, injuries and other pertinent information. The game cards are the official record of Cal South Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit and are not to be kept by the teams, clubs or leagues for any reason.
7.12 Season. League play shall begin on the weekend following Labor Day and ending prior to Thanksgiving Day. The primary day for play is Saturday. Weekday or Sunday games will be scheduled if needed and approved by the Competitions Committee.
7.13 Red Cards. Referees must return all ID cards to the respective coaches following the match except when there is a Referee Assault or Violent Conduct on the field. A red carded player or ejected official will not be able to participate in the team’s next scheduled game. If it is the last game of the season, the suspension carries over to LA Fútbol Circuit postseason play. If a player or official receives a second red card during the season, they will be suspended from play or coaching until reinstated by a LA Fútbol Circuit hearing on the person’s conduct.
THE HEAD COACH IS 100% RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENFORCING PLAYER SUSPENSIONS.
7.14 CONDUCT/SUSPENSIONS/DISCIPLINARY ACTION
1. The safety of all participants and maintaining an atmosphere of good sportsmanship is the responsibility of all members.
2. Any player or member promoting violence, enticing team dissent, or generally in violation of item 1 (above) may be brought before LA Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee for disciplinary action (including suspension or removal of the player or member) subject to the Cal South and USYS Disciplinary Guidelines and Procedures.
3. Any member who instigates violence that leads to harming an opponent, spectator, official, or teammate, in addition to any action defined above, may be subject to criminal prosecution. This type of conduct will not be tolerated and will be aggressively pursued by Cal South and the LA Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee.
4. Any player, coach or administrator of the team receiving three (3) yellow cards (warnings/cautions) within six (6) consecutive matches will be suspended for one (1) game. After a suspension of this type is served, the count of yellow cards is reset to zero (0). A second offense of the three (3) yellow card rule, during the same season, will result in a two (2) game suspension and may be requested to appear at a Competitions Committee hearing. Any outstanding game suspensions received during the regular season shall be carried over and served in the post-season. All yellow cards accumulated during the regular season, will be cleared and reset to zero (0) for the post-season. (Oct 2007)
5. Any player, coach or administrator of the team receiving a red (ejection/send off) from the referee, shall be suspended for the remainder of that game and their team’s next scheduled game. Should the ejection be caused by two (2) yellow cards in the same game, both cautions will be counted as yellow cards described above (in Item 1).
6. Anyone receiving two (2) red cards (ejections/send off) in one season will be suspended until that person has been brought before the LA Fútbol Competitions Committee for a review of the ejections and any possible disciplinary actions including suspension and/or expulsion from the LA Fútbol Circuit.
7. Accumulated disciplinary actions (Yellow Cards, Red Cards, and Suspensions) may affect a team’s continued participation in league play as well as postseason play. )
7.15 FORFEIT. Any player/team found responsible for promoting violence, instigation, or enticing a team disturbance, causing the referee to suspend play prior to the completion of regulation time, will have forfeited the game (even if they are winning at the time of the incident). All such incidents will be reviewed by the LA Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee. Upon review the team may also be subject to league suspension. Any team under league suspension will forfeit all schedule games with a score of (0-1) until the suspension is complete. If it is found that both teams/player are equally at fault in the suspension of a game, then both teams will receive a forfeit (0-1, 0 points)
NOTE TO PLAYERS, COACHES AND OFFICIALS: The LOS ANGELES FUTBOL CIRCUIT IS A LEAGUE FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, FAIR PLAY AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. COACHES ARE RESPOSIBLE FOR ALL CONDUCT ON THEIR SIDELINE (Including parents, friends, visitors and spectators).
ANY PLAYER, COACH OR TEAM MEMBER USING FOUL AND OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE OR CONDUCT MUST BE PUNISHED WITH A RED CARD (EJECTIONS/SEND OFF).
8. Protests
If a coach deems it necessary to protest a game because of misapplication of FIFA LAW, not a judgement call, the coach must notify the referees of the intent to protest, write a brief statement on the card and sign the card. A $50.00 protest fee must be turned in within 48 hours to the Cal South office to the Attention: Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee Chairperson, along with a one page explanation of the protest, including citation of the FIFA or Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit rule the protesting team feels was misapplied. The Chairperson may, along with the concurrence of two competitions committee representatives, determine that no FIFA or LA Fútbol Circuit rule violation occurred and that it was a referee judgement call. If it is determined that there may have been a misapplication of the rules, a protest hearing will be held. An appeal of any decision of the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee may be made to the District Commissioner. No Judgement Call Protests will be allowed.
9 Appeals
17.1 The decisions of the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee (“Level 1”) may be appealed to the Cal South Protest, Appeals, and Disciplinary Committee (“Level 2”). Contact your District Commissioner, the Cal South office or refer to the PAD Manual of Operation for the proper procedures.
16.2 Filing an appeal shall not stay the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit competition. 16.3 The Los Angeles Fútbol Gaming Circuit will refer all assaults, either referee assaults or non-referee assaults, overage player violations, and falsification of document cases directly to the Cal South PAD Committee.
10 Appendix: Definitions
Except as otherwise provided, the following definitions apply to this policy:
add - the addition of a player to a team’s roster.
Administrator or Coach – A registered Cal South Administrator or Coach listed on the official Team Roster.
Cal South - California Youth Soccer Association-South
eligibility to play - registered and not Under-suspension.
Federation – the United States Soccer Federation, Inc.
involuntary release - the removal of a player from a team’s roster at the request of team authorities.
Referee Committee - the Cal South Referee Disciplinary Committee.
registration - the signing of intent to play the sport of soccer and the paying of fees to become a member of USYSA.
rostering - assignment of a registered player to a team.
Team Roster – means a list of registered players eligible to play for a team.
Game Roster – means the list of players who will participate in a particular game.
Suspension – the temporary withdrawal of rights and privilege, such as the right to play, coach, or otherwise administer or participate (directly or indirectly) in soccer, and the suspension is for the entire term of the suspension with all rights and privileges withdrawn unless specifically stated otherwise by the suspending authority.
Team - a group of soccer players playing on the same side in soccer games.
USYS - the United States Youth Soccer Inc.
Voluntary release - the removal of a player from a team’s roster at the request of the player.
Youth player - an individual who has not reached 19 years of age prior to August 1 immediately before the start of any seasonal year. A player who reaches 19 years of age during a seasonal year is allowed to complete that seasonal year. A player who reaches 19 years of age during August of one seasonal year shall be allowed to complete all of the next seasonal year.
11 Rule Changes
The Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee may revise the rules and regulations at anytime during the regular and or postseason and shall notify teams in writing via electronic email and or by publishing rule changes on its website.
Revised Oct. 2007
Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit
2007-2008 Bracketing Guidelines
Bracketing Guidelines
In the 2007-2008 seasonal year (Year 1) competition, teams will be bracketed in one of three flights: (a) Premier, (b) Gold, and (c) Silver.
Teams will be assigned to a bracket by the Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee based on verified final results or league standings submitted to the Competitions Committee (not necessarily in this order) from the following forms of competitions:
1) USYS Regional and National competitions,
2) 2007 Cal South National Cup,
3) 2007 Cal South State(Open) Cup,
4) Fall 2006-2007 Cal South League or Gaming Circuit,
5) Spring 2007 Cal South League or Gaming Circuit,
6) Summer 2007 Cal South League or Gaming Circuit,
7) 2007 Cal South Sanctioned Tournaments,
8) 2007 US Soccer or USYS Tournaments or competitions.
Team Promotion
The final bracket standings will be used to determine flight team promotions for the following year. The top two placing teams in each age group bracket will be promoted to the next higher flight. For example, Silver level promoted to Gold or Gold level promoted to Premier.
In the next seasonal year competition, promoted teams must return a minimum of seven (7) rostered players from the previous circuit competition team roster in order to qualify for promotion. Teams not meeting this requirement will not qualify for team promotion and must remain in the same bracket for the following competition. The Competitions Committee will select the next promotion team based on the final brackets standings. Bracket space permitting, additional team promotions may take place. These additional teams will be selected by the Competitions Committee prior to the new the seasonal year.
Team Relegation
The final bracket standings will be used to determine flight team relegations for the following year. The bottom two teams in each age group bracket will be relegated to the next lower flight. For example, Premier level relegated to Gold and Gold level relegated to Silver.
In subsequent seasonal years, relegated teams must return a minimum of seven (7) rostered players from the previous circuit competition team roster in order to qualify for the Circuit Competition. Teams not meeting this requirement may be dropped from the circuit competition. Dropped or non-returning teams will be replaced by the Competitions Committee from a waiting list.
Bracket Reservation
In the 2008-2009 seasonal year competition, all teams must return a minimum of seven (7) rostered players from the previous circuit competition roster in order to retain their previous bracket level. Teams not meeting this requirement will not qualify to remain in the same bracket for the following circuit competition. The Competitions Committee will select the next replacement team from the previous competition final brackets standings and or from a waiting list.
(The Los Angeles Fútbol Circuit Competitions Committee reserves the right to revise the bracketing guidelines after the end of the regular for the following seasonal year.)
Original June 2007
2007-2008 Los Angeles Futbol Circuit
Competitions Committee Members
1. Felipe Barbosa, BG Imperio SC - Member
2. Hugo Enciso, NYSL - Member
3. Angel Garcia, LUYSL - Member
4. Alfonso Hernandez, EVYSL - Member
5. Victor Otieno, Lancaster Spartans - Member
6. Frank Parodi, Cal South Volunteer -Member
7. Luis Salcedo, Cal South - Chairperson
For any additional questions, please contact Luis Salcedo at (714) 451-1507 or email at lsalcedo@calsouth.com.
