Northeast Pre-Academy League. Rules and Regulations Season

Transcription

1 Northeast Pre-Academy League Rules and Regulations Season

2 Northeast Pre-Academy League Rules and Regulations The Northeast Pre-Academy League ( NEPAL ) is a player development platform for the elite boys youth soccer clubs in the Northeast. These Rules and Regulations (the Regulations ) provide the requirements and rules for NEPAL Competition (as defined below). Clubs/teams shall consult US Club Soccer s bylaws, policies and player rules documents, as necessary. These documents can be found at the members-only section of 1. Definitions 1.1 NEPAL means the Northeast Pre-Academy League. 1.2 NEPAL Advisory Committee means a committee consisting of the Director of Coaching from each NEPAL Club, or another individual appointed by the Director of Coaching, to provide feedback and advice regarding the structure of the NEPAL. 1.3 NEPAL Administrator is the administrator of the NEPAL hired and supervised by US Club Soccer. 1.4 NEPAL Club means a member club of the NEPAL as provided in by these Regulations. 1.5 NEPAL Competition means a NEPAL game played during the NEPAL Regular- Season. 1.6 NEPAL Game Report means the official game report that must be completed for all NEPAL Competitions as provided in Section 4 of these Regulations. 1.7 NEPAL Registered Player means a player on a NEPAL Team s NEPAL Roster. NEPAL Registered Players must be registered with US Club Soccer. 1.8 NEPAL Roster means the roster of a NEPAL Team during the NEPAL Season when playing in a NEPAL Competition. A NEPAL Roster shall only be used for NEPAL Competitions. NEPAL Rosters apply to the U-12, U-13, U14, and U-15 age groups. 1.9 NEPAL Season means the competitive season beginning August 1 of each year and ending July 31 of the following year NEPAL Team is the team of a NEPAL Club that participates in NEPAL Competition in either the U-12, U-13, U14, or U-15 age groups.

3 1.11 Incident Report is a form for reporting disciplinary incidents during NEPAL Competitions. 2. NEPAL Roster Rules 2.1 NEPAL Roster Maximums. For the Under-13, Under-14, and Under-15 age groups, a maximum of twenty-six (26) players may be rostered on any NEPAL Team s NEPAL Roster. For the Under-12 age group, a maximum of fourteen (14) players, and a minimum of ten(10), shall be rostered on the Blue Team and fourteen (14) players, and a minimum of ten(10), shall be rostered on the White Team. It is recommended that the Blue Team should generally be players born from January June, and the White Team should generally be players born from July December. 2.2 Full-Time Players. Each NEPAL Team must have a minimum of sixteen (16) Full- Time NEPAL Players. Full-Time Players must train with the NEPAL Team a minimum of three (3) times per week. Full-Time Players must satisfy Rule 2.13 (Restriction on Outside Players). 2.3 Part-Time Players. Each NEPAL Team may have a maximum of ten (10) Part-Time NEPAL Players. Part-Time Players are not required to train with the NEPAL Team, but must satisfy Rule 2.12 (Restriction on Outside Players). 2.4 Player Registration. All players on a NEPAL Roster must be NEPAL Registered Players. 2.5 NEPAL Game Day Roster. A maximum of eighteen (18) NEPAL Registered Players from a NEPAL Team s NEPAL Roster will be eligible for each game in NEPAL Competition (the NEPAL Game Day Roster ). If more than eighteen (18) NEPAL Registered Players appear on a NEPAL Roster, the active players for the NEPAL Competition must be identified on the NEPAL Game Report. In the U12 age group, a maximum of 14 players may be eligible on the game-day roster. 2.6 No Drops. No NEPAL Registered Players may be dropped from a NEPAL Roster during an NEPAL Season, except pursuant to the Transfer Regulations below, or unless approved by the NEPAL Administrator. 2.7 Roster Freeze Date. Players may be added to the NEPAL Roster until May 1 of each year. 2.8 Player / Club Tie. A player may only be rostered to one (1) NEPAL Club each NEPAL Season, except pursuant to the Transfer Regulations provided below.

4 2.9 Initial Roster Submission Date; Roster Add Periods. An initial NEPAL Roster with a minimum of sixteen (16) NEPAL Registered Players must be provided by each NEPAL Team by August 15 of each NEPAL Season. No NEPAL Roster will be accepted prior to July 1 of each NEPAL Season. Additional players may be added to the NEPAL Roster of each NEPAL Team as provided in the attached Exhibit B Younger Players Playing Up. A NEPAL Registered Player may play for any NEPAL Team in the NEPAL Club for which the player is age eligible. Younger players on a NEPAL Team may play on the older NEPAL teams within their NEPAL Club, and shall not count towards the roster limit for such older NEPAL team. Age eligibility is determined by Exhibit A of these Regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, every NEPAL Registered Player may only play on one (1) NEPAL Team per day. A NEPAL Registered Player may play on different NEPAL Teams within her NEPAL Club from game-to-game during the NEPAL Regular Season An NEPAL Registered Player that will play-up on an older NEPAL Team in his NEPAL Club for a NEPAL Competition must be handwritten onto the NEPAL Game Report for that NEPAL Competition For purposes of clarification, no player may be handwritten onto the NEPAL Game Report at the Under-12 age group. In order to participate in NEPAL Competition at Under-12, the player must be on the Under-12 NEPAL Roster and must be a NEPAL Registered Player League Champions Cup Roster Tie. A NEPAL Registered Player may play for only one NEPAL Team within his NEPAL Club at the National Premier Leagues Champions Cup (if more than one NEPAL Team from the NEPAL Club qualifies for the National Premier Leagues Champions Cup) Restriction on Outside Players Rule 2.12 applies to all NEPAL Registered Players except for the enumerated exceptions provided in Rule After being registered as a NEPAL Registered Player for a NEPAL Season, a NEPAL Registered Player may not appear on any roster in any competition for any other club except for rosters of the NEPAL Club on which the player is rostered as a NEPAL Registered Player. (The NEPAL Registered Player may appear on any number of rosters, in any competition, of the NEPAL Club to which the player is registered as a NEPAL Registered Player.) If a NEPAL Registered Player appears on a roster for a different club besides the NEPAL Club to which the player is registered as a NEPAL Registered Player after the date the player became rostered as a NEPAL

5 Registered Player ( Multiple Club Rostering ), the eligibility of the NEPAL Registered Player will be reviewed by the NEPAL Advisory Committee. If it is determined by the NEPAL Advisory Committee, at its sole discretion, that the NEPAL Club to which the NEPAL Registered Player is registered was aware of the Multiple Club Rostering, the NEPAL Advisory Committee may recommend the following actions to US Club Soccer: (i) declaring the NEPAL Registered Player ineligible for the remainder of that NEPAL Season; (ii) declaring all games in which the NEPAL Registered Player appeared on the NEPAL Roster as forfeits by the NEPAL Team on which such player was rostered; and / or (iii) recommending immediate revocation of the NEPAL Club s membership in the NEPAL Rule applies to any NEPAL Club with franchises in multiple states, affiliates in multiple states, or with agreements licensing use of the trademarks of the NEPAL Club to youth soccer clubs in multiple states (such NEPAL Club a Franchise Club ). Each franchisee of the Franchise Club, affiliate of the Franchise Club, or licensee of the Franchise Club, shall be considered a separate and independent club for purposes of Rule Notwithstanding the foregoing, Part-Time Players may be from an in-state affiliate of a Franchise Club Rule does not apply to NEPAL Registered Players that participate in a tournament as a guest player with another club, provided that: (i) the Director of Coaching of the NEPAL club approves the player for participation in the event; and (ii) the tournament takes place over no more than four (4) days Recruiting; Try-Outs; Registration Recruiting; No-Tampering. NEPAL Clubs may recruit players for participation on NEPAL Teams from any geographic region at any time during the year (subject to these Regulations). Notwithstanding the foregoing, NEPAL Clubs may not train or tryout a player from a NEPAL Team of another NEPAL Club during the NEPAL Season until all games of that NEPAL Club for the NEPAL Season have been completed, except pursuant to Rule below. Note: NEPAL coaches and administrators may be subject to the rules of other U.S. Soccer organization members regarding recruiting Try-Outs; Registration. At the conclusion of the the NEPL playoffs, the month of June shall be considered an open month for player movement between NEPAL Clubs. During this month, players from one NEPAL Team may train or

6 try-out with teams of another NEPAL Club. No roster for any NEPAL Team for the upcoming NEPAL Season will be accepted by US Club Soccer prior to July Minimum Starts. All Full-Time Players must start a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of NEPAL Competitions. 3. Competition Rules 3.1 General. Unless otherwise provided in these Regulations, all NEPAL Competitions shall be played in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game in force at the time of competition as provided by the International Football Association Board. 3.2 Scheduling Competitions. US Club Soccer, in consultation with the NEPAL Advisory Committee, shall identify the dates and locations of all NEPAL Competitions for each NEPAL Season. 3.3 Number of Competitions. US Club Soccer, in consultation with the NEPAL Advisory Committee, shall determine the total number of NEPAL Competitions during the NEPAL Season. A NEPAL Team may only play one (1) NEPL Competition per day. 3.4 Cancelled Competitions. If a NEPAL Competition is suspended by weather and at least the first half was played, the game will be considered a full game. If any NEPAL Competition is cancelled, the participating clubs shall attempt to reschedule the NEPAL Competition. If the participating clubs cannot agree on a reschedule date, the NEPAL Advisory Committee shall recommend to US Club Soccer if and how such NEPAL Competition shall be rescheduled. If the NEPAL Advisory Committee finds that it is impossible to reschedule such cancelled NEPAL Competition, the NEPAL Advisory Committee shall recommend to US Club Soccer that the NEPAL Competition shall be considered a non-played game, and neither team shall be awarded any points. In the event that any games are cancelled pursuant to this Rule 3.4, US Club Soccer shall alter the method by which NEPAL standings are determined for impacted age groups (for example to change to a point-per-games basis). 3.5 Competition Scheduling. The location and time for all NEPAL Competitions must be agreed upon by the opposing NEPAL Clubs and reported to the NEPAL Administrator no later than August 10 for the fall segment and March 1 for the spring segment of each NEPAL Season. Any changes to NEPAL Competitions after August 10 for the fall and March 1 for the spring must be agreed upon by both NEPAL Clubs. No changes to NEPAL Competitions may be made within 72 hours of kick-off, except due to bad weather or as permitted by the NEPAL Administrator.

7 3.6 Competition Referee Fees. Referee costs for each NEPAL Competition shall be split between the NEPAL Teams based on the pay scale set forth in the attached Exhibit C. 3.7 Competitions in Conjunction with Other Events. In the event that NEPAL Clubs agree to play an NEPAL Competition in conjunction with a tournament or other non-nepal competition they may do so under the following conditions: (i) there shall be no entry fee paid for the NEPAL Competition except a fee that covers the cost of the referees per the NEPAL referee pay scale (if agreed to by the visiting teams); and (ii) all NEPAL Competition rules related to roster limits, game length, substitutions, etc., must be followed. 3.8 Deadline for Regional Competitions. All NEPAL Competitions must be played by June 1 of the NEPAL Season. The NEPAL Administrator may extend this date under extreme circumstances at the NEPAL Administrator s sole discretion. 3.9 Substitutions U-12. There shall be unlimited substitution in NEPAL Competitions at U Substitutions U-13 and U-14. Once a NEPAL Registered Player is substituted in one half of any NEPAL Competition, such NEPAL Registered Player may not re-enter the game for the duration of the half. Once an NEPAL Registered Player is substituted in one period of overtime of any NEPAL Competition, such NEPAL Registered Player may not re-enter the game for the duration of such overtime period. There shall be a maximum of seven (7) substitutions in any half or in any overtime period of any NEPAL Competition Substitutions U-15. Once a NEPAL Registered Player is substituted in a NEPAL Competition, such NEPAL Registered Player may not re-enter the game. There shall be a maximum of seven (7) substitutions in any game of a NEPAL Competition Yellow and Red Cards (Players). Any NEPAL Registered Player receiving a red card in a NEPAL Competition will be suspended for the remainder of that NEPAL Competition and also for the next NEPAL Competition played by the NEPAL Club at all age groups. For purposes of clarification, if a NEPAL Registered Player receives a red card in a NEPAL Competition, the NEPAL Registered Player will not be eligible to participate in the next NEPAL Competition for any team within the NEPAL Registered Player s NEPAL Club Yellow and Red Cards (Coaches). Any coach receiving a red card in a NEPAL Competition will be suspended for the remainder of the NEPAL Competition and for that NEPAL Team s next NEPAL Competition.

8 3.14 Yellow and Red Card Carryover. Red card suspensions will carry over into subsequent NEPAL Seasons if the red card is received in the final NEPAL Competition of the current NEPAL Season Accumulation. There shall be no yellow card accumulation policy for NEPAL Competitions Player Transfers. A NEPAL Registered Player may not play for more than one NEPAL Club during the NEPAL Season, unless the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the NEPAL Registered Player s family moves to a new geographic area; (ii) the Director of Coaching of both the prior NEPAL Club and the proposed new NEPAL Club consent to the transfer in writing; (iii) the new NEPAL Club has an available spot on a NEPAL Roster; and (iv) the NEPAL Administrator consents to such transfer in writing (such player referred to as a Transferred Player ). A Transferred Player shall be removed from the NEPAL Roster(s) of the old NEPAL Club Points. In each NEPAL Competition during the NEPAL Regular Season, teams shall be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and zero (0) points for a loss. A forfeit shall be considered a 3-0 loss for the forfeiting team and a 3-0 win for the nonforfeiting team Standings. The standings in each age group shall be determined at the end of the NEPAL Regular Season (the Regular Season Standings ). Regular Season Standings shall be based on a points-per-game basis Tie-Breakers. The following tie-breakers will be used for resolving ties between NEPAL Teams in determining the Regular Season Standings, in the following order: 1. If Two Teams are tied, head to head. If more than Two Teams are tied, this tiebreaker shall not apply. 2. Most Wins 3. Goal Difference 4. Goals For 5. Goals Against 6. Coin Toss There shall be no cap on goal difference in any NEPAL Competition Game Length. NEPAL Competitions shall be played with the following game lengths: U-12: 2 x 35 minutes U-13: 2 x 35 minutes U-14 and U15: 2 x 40 minutes

9 4. Game Day Procedures 4.1 An official NEPAL Game Report must be completed for each NEPAL Competition. The NEPAL Game Report must be provided by the home team. 4.2 The names of any younger players playing up in a NEPAL Competition pursuant to Rule 2.10 must be written on the NEPAL Game Report. Regardless of the number of players listed on a NEPAL Game Report, no more than 18 players shall be eligible to appear in the NEPAL Competition. 4.3 The NEPAL Game Report must be completed in full, signed by both teams, and submitted by the home team to the NEPAL Administrator within twenty-four (24) hours of completion of the NEPAL Competition. 5. Miscellaneous 5.1 Disciplinary Matters. Any disciplinary matters brought before the NEPAL Advisory Committee through submission of an Incident Report shall be addressed and responded to at the discretion of the NEPAL Advisory Committee or smaller Sub-Committee. Before any disciplinary action is taken by the Advisory Committee or Sub-Committee the impacted coach, player, or administrator will be provided the opportunity for a hearing, either in person or via teleconference. Testimony will be allowed by principal parties, eyewitnesses, and authorities on the subject at hand. Other rules regarding the hearing will be as provided in US Club Soccer and U.S. Soccer Federation policies and procedures, available at Protests and Appeals. There will be no protests or appeals of decisions made in NEPAL Competitions or by the NEPAL Advisory Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any decision by the NEPAL Advisory Committee that results in a suspension of a player or coach that is not due to a red card is appealable to US Club Soccer, and then to the US Soccer Federation. Any hearing for such appeal shall be conducted pursuant to US Club Soccer and US Soccer Federation policies and procedures, available at Matters Not Provided For. Any matter not provided for in these Regulations shall be decided by US Club Soccer. All such decisions are final.

10 Exhibit A: NEPAL Age Group Eligibility Age groups for the NEPAL Season are provided below: U-12 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1, 1999 U-13 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1, 1998 U-14 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1, 1997 U-15 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1, 1996 Players may play for their own age group and for older age groups.

11 Exhibit B: Registration; Player and Staff Passes; Roster Add Process Types of Player and Staff Passcards for NEPAL Clubs and NEPAL Competition US Club Passcards are passcards validated by US Club Soccer on the US Club Soccer website, and then printed and laminated by the NEPAL Club for use in NEPAL Competition and other US Club Soccer competition. Initial Roster Submission Date August 15, 2011: Every U-13, U-14, and U-15 NEPAL Team must have a minimum of 16 NEPAL Registered Players. Every U-12 NEPAL Team must have a minimum of 10 NEPAL Registered Players. Player Add Process NEPAL Competition: NEPAL Registered Players may be added to a NEPAL Roster for NEPAL Competition at any time, provided that they appear on the official NEPAL Roster prior to the game. No player may participate in NEPAL Regional Competition without a pass Player and Staff Fees and Expiration Dates Player Passes: For the NEPAL Season ending July 31, 2012, individual player fees for players registered to NEPAL Clubs (at any age group) shall be as follows: U-12 and Above: $18 per player Staff Passes: Staff passcards for any staff member in a NEPAL Club shall be issued for a twoyear period (expiring August 1, 2013). For staff registration purposes, all coaches who will coach a NEPAL Team, as well as the NEPAL Team manager, shall be required to have a staff passcard. All staff shall submit to a background check every two years. Staff passcard fees for the two-year period shall be $15 per person.

12 Exhibit C: NEPAL Competition Referee Pay Scale The minimum pay scale for NEPAL Competitions in the U-13, U-14, and U-15 age groups in the NEPAL Season shall be as follows: Center Referee: $75 Assistant Referee: $50 Assistant Referee: $50 The minimum pay scale for NEPAL Competitions in U-12 age group in the NEPAL Season shall be as follows although it is strongly recommended that U12 games be done with a 1-man system: Center Referee: $50 Assistant Referee: $25 Assistant Referee: $25 Fees for referee assignors for NEPAL Competition will be paid by US Club Soccer. The NEPAL administrator will work with the assignors to assign the games, but it is the responsibility of the home team to confirm games with the referee assignors the Monday or Tuesday prior to a scheduled game. Fees for referees are paid by the NEPAL Clubs as specified above.