Northside Youth Soccer League

Rules of Play & Policies

*FIFA rules shall govern NYSL play except as modified herein.

Sportmanship

The common interest that members of the Association share is to inspire youth to practice the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. Any player, coach, team, parent, spectator, administrator or referee whose behavior detracts from this purpose is subject to disciplinary action regardless of technical soccer background, expertise, accomplishments or standing.

FIFA Field Regulations

  1. DIMENSIONS - FIFA Law 1 provides for flexible external field dimensions within a given maximum and minimum width and length. These dimensions should be adhered to for all fields used by teams under 12 and older.

  2. COMPETITION FIELDS - Fields used within the competition program must be a minimum of 100 x 60 yards.Leagues, districts or associations participating in the state competition program that are unable to provide a field that meets these minimum requirements must advise the State Competition Board which will assign its Fields Committee to inspect the field and recommend to the Board whether or not a waiver of the minimum dimensions should be granted. Teams from leagues, districts or associations that are unable to provide an acceptable field may be required to play all their games away.

  3. FIELDS USED BY YOUNG AGE GROUPS

    1. U-6 play on a field approximately 20 X 40 yards with no penalty areas. Fields for older age groups should be progressively larger.

    2. U-8 plays on a field 40-50 yards in length and 20-30 yards width

    3. U-10 play on a field 70-80 yards in length and 40-50 yards in width

    4. In addition, fields used by young age groups may have their internal dimensions and size of goal similarly modified

  4. TEAM BENCH AREAS

    1. Recreation & District Programs

      • The decision for team/spectator placement on the field will be made by the governing body of that team. A team’s bench area shall consist of that area at least one (1) yard away from the touchline and extending to twenty yards (20) both ways from the halfway line. In the event that field 2conditions require team benches to be on the same side of the field, a team’s bench area shall consist of that area two (2) yards away from the touchline and extending twentyyards one (1) way from the halfway line.

      • The home team has first choice as to where it wishes to locate its bench area. Coaches and substitutes are required to remain within their bench area during the game. Parents and spectators should occupy the same side of the field as the team they are supporting

    2. State Competition League Only

      • Except where it is determined by the referee to be impractical, team bench areas shall be along the same touchline. Each team bench area shall be located two yards outside the touchline, beginning not closer than five yards from midfield and extending not further than twenty yards from midfield. The home team shall have the right to choose the location of its bench area. Coaches and substitutes must remain within their team's bench area during the game

      • Parents and spectators must occupy the sideline opposite the team bench areas. Supporters of a team must assemble on the side of the midfield facing the team bench area of that team. There shall be a buffer zone extending ten yards on each side of the midfield that may not be occupied by parents or spectators. Match officials shall be empowered to enforce these provisions and may suspend or terminate games in the event that any team, coach, parent, or spectator declines to abide byrequests from match officials to comply with these standards.

Equipment

We will abide by and accept equipment standards as defined by FIFA, USSF and USYSA.

Number of Players

Substitutions

Teams may make an unlimited number of substitutions at the times indicated below. A player who has been replaced may re-enter the game as a substitute at a later time

  1. Prior to a throw-in your favor

  2. Prior to a goalkick by either team

  3. After a goal by either team.

  4. After an injury, by either team, when the referee stops play

  5. At half time

  6. When a player has been “cautioned”, only the player receiving “caution” may be substituted

Confiscated Player Passes

Passes of any individual(s) ejected from any match shall be retained after the match by the referee. The pass of any individual who has received a third caution (yellow card) during a playing year shall be confiscated by the referee at the conclusion of the match in which the third caution was received. That player will be suspended from playing in the next game in which the offending participant would otherwise be eligible to participate. This process will continue so that for every third yellow card received during a playing year, the player will be suspended from playing in the next game (after the receipt of a third yellow card) for which the offending participate wouldotherwise be eligible to participate. The referee shall deliver all confiscated passes to the UYSA State Office within forty-eight (48) hours of the conclusion of the match

All-Play

All-play means that every recreation player on every team shall play atleast fifty percent of each game. Coaches in the competition program are encouraged to play their players 50% of each game.

A Coach shall be permitted to not play a player 50% of each game under special circumstances, e.g., unexcused absences from practice and/or games, ungentlemanly conduct at practice and/or games, and injuries

Player's Equipment

Where the uniform colors of both teams are so similar that the referee orders a change, the designated home team must change to colors distinct from those of the opponent

Mixed Teams

Coaching from the Sidelines

Coaching from the sidelines, i.e., giving direction to one’s own team on points of strategy and position, is permitted provided that:

  1. No mechanical, electrical or other devices are used to amplify the voice

  2. The tone of voice is informative and not a harangue

  3. The coaching takes place within the team’s bench area

  4. No coach, substitute, player or spectator is to make derogatory remarks or gestures to the referees, linesmen, players, substitutes or spectators

  5. No coach, player, substitute or spectator is to use profanity or incite, in any manner, disruptive behavior of any kind

Game Termination

Any game terminated after 15 minutes into the second half by the referee by reason of the elements, or by reason of grave disorder on the part of the coaches, players or spectators of a team that is losing at the point that the game is terminated, shall stand as a completed game. If a team is ahead and the game is called because of their actions they will lose the game 1-0

Conditions of Replay of Games

Any game which is required to be replayed as a result of any protest or appeal, shall be subject to the following conditions:

  1. The game shall be replayed on the same field, as was the suspended or protested game, unless otherwise agreed by the coaches

  2. Impartial referees shall beassigned to the new game

  3. The PROTEST AND APPEALS COMMITTEE shall have the power to impose such additional conditions on the replay of the game, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances

Referee Responsibilities