Competition Rules and Regulations Season

Transcription

1 Competition Rules and Regulations Season Updated: August 12, 2014

2 National Premier Leagues Rules and Regulations The National Premier Leagues ( NPL ) are player development platforms for elite boys and girls youth soccer clubs throughout the country. These Rules and Regulations (the Regulations ) provide the requirements and rules for NPL 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 NPL means the National Premier Leagues. 1.2 NPL Advisory Committee means a committee consisting of the Director of Coaching from each NPL Club, or another technical representative appointed by the Director of Coaching, to provide feedback and input regarding NPL structure and policies. 1.3 NPL Administrator is the administrator of the NPL hired and supervised by US Club Soccer. 1.4 NPL Club means a member club of the NPL as provided in by these Regulations. 1.5 NPL Competition means a NPL game played during the NPL Regular-Season. 1.6 NPL Game Report means the official game report that must be completed for all NPL Competitions as provided in Section 4 of these Regulations. 1.7 NPL Registered Player means a player on a NPL Team s NPL Roster. NPL Registered Players must be registered with US Club Soccer. 1.8 NPL Roster means the roster of a NPL Team during the NPL Season when playing in a NPL Competition. A NPL Roster shall only be used for NPL Competitions. NPL Rosters may apply to the U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-18 age groups. Each NPL may have different participating age groups, and not all NPLs will have every age group within the NPL. 1.9 NPL Season means the competitive season beginning August 1 of each year and ending July 31 of the following year NPL Team is the team of a NPL Club that participates in NPL Competition Incident Report is a form for reporting disciplinary incidents during NPL Competitions.

3 2. NPL Roster Rules 2.1 NPL Roster Maximums. A maximum of twenty-six (26) players may be rostered on any NPL Team s NPL Roster. 2.2 Intentionally Omitted 2.3 Intentionally Omitted. 2.4 Player Registration. All players on a NPL Roster must be NPL Registered Players. 2.5 NPL Game Day Roster. A maximum of eighteen (18) NPL Registered Players from a NPL Team s NPL Roster will be eligible for each game in NPL Competition (the NPL Game Day Roster ). If more than eighteen (18) NPL Registered Players appear on a NPL Roster, the active players for the NPL Competition must be identified on the NPL Game Report. An NPL Game Day Roster may include NPL Registered Players from any age group for which the player is age eligible. 2.6 Intentionally Omitted. 2.7 Roster Freeze Date. Players may be added to the NPL Roster until May 1 of each year. 2.8 Player / Club Tie. A player may only be rostered to one (1) NPL Club each NPL Season, except pursuant to the Transfer Regulations provided below. 2.9 Initial Roster Submission. No NPL Roster will be accepted prior to July 1 of each NPL Season. Additional players may be added to the NPL Roster of each NPL Team as provided in the attached Exhibit B Younger Players Playing Up. A NPL Registered Player may play for any NPL Team in the NPL Club for which the player is age eligible. Younger players on a NPL Team may play on the older NPL teams within their NPL Club, and shall not count towards the roster limit for such older NPL team. Age eligibility is determined by Exhibit A of these Regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, every NPL Registered Player may only play on one (1) NPL Team per day and may only play one (1) NPL Game per day. A NPL Registered Player may play on different NPL Teams within her NPL Club from game-togame during the NPL Regular Season An NPL Registered Player that will play-up on an older NPL Team in his NPL Club for a NPL Competition must be handwritten onto the NPL Game Report for that NPL Competition For purposes of clarification, no player may be handwritten onto the NPL Game Report at the Under-13 age group. In order to participate in NPL

4 Competition at Under-13, the player must be on the Under-13 NPL Roster and must be a NPL Registered Player NPL Finals Roster Tie and Added Players. A NPL Registered Player may play for only one NPL Team within the NPL Club at the NPL Finals (if more than one NPL Team from the NPL Club qualifies for the NPL Finals). Each NPL Team that qualifies for the NPL Finals may add a maximum of three (3) new players to their NPL Finals roster after the May 1 st roster freeze date. These players must be currently registered to the NPL Club, and may not be Discovery Players Club Loyalty Rule Rule 2.12 applies to all NPL Registered Players except for the enumerated exceptions provided in Rule After being registered as a NPL Registered Player for a NPL Season, a NPL Registered Player may only participate in competitions with that NPL Club for the duration of the NPL Season (unless released pursuant to the NPL transfer rules herein or otherwise as provided below in this section 2.12). (For purposes of clarification, the NPL Registered Player may appear in any competition in which the NPL Club participates during the NPL Season.) If a NPL Registered Player plays in a competition for a different club besides the NPL Club to which the player is registered as a NPL Registered Player after the date the player became rostered as a NPL Registered Player ( Multiple Club Rostering ), the eligibility of the NPL Registered Player will be reviewed by the NPL Advisory Committee. If it is determined that the NPL Club to which the NPL Registered Player is registered was aware of the Multiple Club Rostering, the NPL General Manager may (i) declare the NPL Registered Player ineligible for the remainder of that NPL Season; (ii) declare all games in which the NPL Registered Player appeared on the NPL Roster as forfeits by the NPL Team on which such player was rostered; and / or (iii) recommend immediate revocation of the NPL Club s membership in the NPL Rule applies to any NPL Club with franchises in multiple states, affiliates in multiple states, or with agreements licensing use of the trademarks of the NPL Club to youth soccer clubs in multiple states (such NPL 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 NPL Registered Players that participate in a tournament as a guest player with another club, provided that: (i) the Director of

5 2.13 Discovery Players Coaching of the NPL club approves the player for participation in the event; and (ii) the tournament takes place over no more than four (4) days Each NPL Team may have two (2) Discovery Players on their NPL Roster at each age group Discovery Players may only play for the NPL Team for which they are initially rostered within the NPL Season. Discovery Players are subject to Rule 2.6, and are club-tied and team-tied for NPL Competition during the NPL Season. Discovery Players may play in any NPL Competition in the NPL Season, including the NPL Champions Cup A Discovery Player is a player that is not a member of the NPL Club, and is not otherwise currently registered to another US Club Soccer team, and is an exception to Rule 2.12 above. Discovery Players are allowed to participate in NPL Competition as provided in this Rule 2.13 in order to provide opportunity for additional players to participate in NPL programming. In order to be considered a Discovery Player, a player must be explicitly designated as such on the NPL Roster before such player participates in any NPL Competition Discovery Players may not be registered with US Club Soccer to another club during NPL Competitions in which the Discovery Players participate. Discovery Players may not be from another National Premier League club Discovery Players may not be added to an NPL Roster after May 1 of the NPL Season Recruiting; Try-Outs; Registration Recruiting; No-Tampering. NPL Clubs may recruit players for participation on NPL Teams from any geographic region at any time during the year (subject to these Regulations). Notwithstanding the foregoing, NPL Clubs may not train or tryout a player from a NPL Team of another NPL Club during the NPL Season until May 1 of each NPL Season. Note: NPL coaches and administrators may be subject to the rules of other U.S. Soccer organization members regarding recruiting Try-Outs; Registration for the following year. The months of May and June shall be considered open months for player movement between NPL Clubs. During these months, players from one NPL Team may train or try-out with teams of another NPL Club. No roster for any NPL Team for the upcoming NPL Season will be accepted by US Club Soccer prior to July 1.

6 3. Competition and Participation Rules 3.1 General. Unless otherwise provided in these Regulations, all NPL 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 Club Commitment Requirements Minimum Age Groups. The NPLs are club-based leagues. As such, acceptance into the NPL is based on a club commitment to participate in all age groups required by US Club Soccer in the NPL. Each NPL may have different required age groups, as determined by US Club Soccer. US Club Soccer reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to allow limited exemptions for individual participating clubs due to exceptional circumstances, as solely determined by US Club Soccer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any club that does not meet the minimum required age group commitment, and that does not receive an exemption from US Club Soccer for any reason, may face sanctions from US Club Soccer, including without limitation, forfeiture of points, ineligibility for post-season play, or immediate removal from the NPL Play-Offs and Finals Commitment. All clubs participating in the NPL are required to complete all scheduled competitions for which they are scheduled or for which they qualify in the post-season, including without limitation participation in post-season play-offs and the NPL Finals. US Club Soccer reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to allow limited exemptions for individual participating clubs due to exceptional circumstances, as solely determined by US Club Soccer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any club that does not participate in all required competitions, and that does not receive an exemption from US Club Soccer, may face sanctions from US Club Soccer, including without limitation, forfeiture of points, ineligibility for post-season play for the relevant team or the entire club, or immediate removal from the NPL 3.3 Scheduling Competitions. US Club Soccer shall identify the dates and locations of all NPL Competitions for each NPL Season. 3.4 Number of Competitions. US Club Soccer shall determine the total number of NPL Competitions during the NPL Season. An NPL Team may only play one (1) NPL Competition per day. 3.5 Cancelled Competitions. If a NPL Competition is suspended by weather and at least the first half was played, the game will be considered a full game. If any NPL Competition is cancelled, the participating clubs shall attempt to reschedule the NPL Competition. If the participating clubs cannot agree on a reschedule date, the NPL General Manager shall

7 determine if and how such NPL Competition shall be rescheduled. If the NPL General Manager finds that it is impossible to reschedule such cancelled NPL Competition, the NPL 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, the NPL General Manager shall alter the method by which NPL standings are determined for impacted age groups (for example to change to a point-per-games basis). 3.6 Competition Scheduling The dates, home team, and opponents for NPL Competitions are set by the NPL General Manager. The venue and time for all NPL Competitions must be agreed upon by the participating NPL Clubs and reported to the relevant NPL Administrator: (i) no later than August 1 of each NPL Season for fall NPL Competitions, and (ii) no later than February 1 of each NPL season for spring NPL Competitions (collectively the Final Fixture Venue Date ). No changes to dates and locations of NPL Competitions may be made after the Final Fixture Venue Date, absent exceptional circumstances outside the control of the NPL Clubs, as determined by the NPL Administrator. No changes to NPL Competitions may be made within 72 hours of kick-off, except due to bad weather or as permitted by the NPL Administrator NPL Clubs hosting NPL Competition should have a back-up turf field for NPL Competitions in the event that rain makes grass fields unplayable. If a host NPL Club does not have a turf field back-up, and the grass fields are unplayable due solely to rain, the NPL Club hosting the NPL Competition shall lose the home game for the replayed game, and may have to travel to the opponent for the rescheduled game if mandated by the NPL General Manager. 3.7 Competition Referee Assigning. It is the responsibility of the home club (or host club for neutral venues) to contact and pay the club s referee assignor(s) to schedule referees for all NPL Competitions. 3.8 Referee Fees. Each NPL shall submit a proposed referee pay scale for NPL Competitions to US Club Soccer for approval prior to the beginning of the NPL Season. Each NPL Team playing at home shall be responsible for payment of referee costs for each NPL Competition based on the pay scale set forth by the league and approved by US Club Soccer. If any NPL Competition is played at a neutral location, the NPL Clubs shall agree on which NPL Club is responsible for payment of referee costs. If no agreement is reached, the NPL Teams playing at a neutral site shall split the cost of the referees. 3.9 Competitions in Conjunction with Other Events. In the event that NPL Clubs agree to play an NPL Competition in conjunction with a tournament or other non-npl competition they may do so under the following conditions: (i) there shall be no entry fee paid for the NPL Competition except a fee that covers the cost of the referees per the NPL referee pay scale (if agreed to by the visiting teams); and (ii) all NPL Competition rules related to roster limits, game length, substitutions, etc., must be followed.

8 3.10 Deadline for Regular Season Competitions. All regular season NPL Competitions must be played by June 10 of the NPL Season. The NPL Administrator may extend this date under extreme circumstances at the NPL Administrator s sole discretion Substitutions. Once a NPL Registered Player is substituted in one half of any NPL Competition, such NPL Registered Player may not re-enter the game for the duration of the half. Once an NPL Registered Player is substituted in one period of overtime of any NPL Competition, such NPL 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 NPL Competition Yellow and Red Cards (Players). Any NPL Registered Player receiving a red card in a NPL Competition will be suspended for the remainder of that NPL Competition and also for the next NPL Competition played by the NPL Club at all age groups. For purposes of clarification, if a NPL Registered Player receives a red card in a NPL Competition, the NPL Registered Player will not be eligible to participate in the next NPL Competition for any team within the NPL Registered Player s NPL Club Yellow and Red Cards (Coaches). Any coach receiving a red card in a NPL Competition will be suspended for the remainder of the NPL Competition and for that NPL Team s next NPL Competition. US Club Soccer may add additional games to any red card suspension at its discretion Yellow and Red Card Carryover. Red card suspensions will carry over into subsequent NPL Seasons if the red card is received in the final NPL Competition of the current NPL Season Accumulation. There shall be no yellow card accumulation policy for NPL Competitions Player Transfers. A NPL Registered Player may not play for more than one NPL Club during the NPL Season, unless the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the Director of Coaching of both the prior NPL Club and the proposed new NPL Club consent to the transfer in writing; (ii) the new NPL Club has an available spot on a NPL Roster; and (iii) the NPL General Manager consents to such transfer in writing (such player referred to as a Transferred Player ). A Transferred Player shall be removed from the NPL Roster(s) of the old NPL Club Points. In each NPL Competition during the NPL 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.

9 3.18 Standings. The standings in each age group shall be determined at the end of the NPL Regular Season (the Regular Season Standings ) Tie-Breakers. The following tie-breakers will be used for resolving ties between NPL Teams in determining the Regular Season Standings, in the following order: 1. Most Points 2. If Two Teams are tied, head to head. If more than Two Teams are tied, this tiebreaker shall not apply. 3. Goal Difference 4. Goals For 5. Goals Against 6. Coin Toss There shall be no cap on goal difference in any NPL Competition Game Length. NPL Competitions shall be played with the following game lengths: U-13: 2 x 40 minutes U-14: 2 x 40 minutes U-15: 2 x 40 minutes U-16: 2 x 40 minutes U-17: 2 x 45 minutes U-18: 2 x 45 minutes 4. Game Day Procedures 4.1 An official NPL Game Report must be completed for each NPL Competition. The NPL Game Report must be provided by the home team. 4.2 The NPL Game Report must be completed in full, signed by both teams, and submitted by the referee to the NPL Administrator within twenty-four (24) hours of completion of the NPL Competition. 4.3 The home team shall call the score in to Demosphere s automated system after each game within four (4) hours of the game s completion using the procedure below: Dial the toll-free number (866) When asked, say or enter the pin number for the appropriate NPL. You will then be asked for your game number, which is located on the left-hand column of the schedule on your league s website. You will then be told the division, teams playing, and field location - if this is the correct game, confirm by saying yes. When asked, say or enter the score for each team, then confirm. You can do more games in the same call, or just say goodbye when done.

10 5. Miscellaneous 5.1 Disciplinary Matters. Any disciplinary matters brought before the NPL General Manager through submission of an Incident Report shall be addressed and responded to at the discretion of the NPL General Manager. Before any disciplinary action is taken by the NPL General Manager, 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 NPL Competitions or by the NPL General Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any decision by the NPL General Manager 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 U.S. Soccer Federation. Any hearing for such appeal shall be conducted pursuant to US Club Soccer and U.S. 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.

11 Exhibit A: NPL Age Group Eligibility BOYS Age groups for the Season are provided below: U-13 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1, 2001 U-14 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1, 2000 U-15 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1, 1999 U-16 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1, 1998 U-17 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1, 1997 U-18 Age Group: Players born on or after January 1,1996 Players may play for their own age group and for older age groups GIRLS Age groups for the Season are provided below: U-13 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 2001 U-14 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 2000 U-15 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 1999 U-16 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 1998 U-17Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 1997 U-18 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 1996 Players may play for their own age group and for older age groups.

12 Exhibit B: Registration; Player and Staff Passes; Roster Add Process Types of Player and Staff Passcards for NPL Clubs and NPL Competition US Club Passcards are passcards validated by US Club Soccer on the US Club Soccer website, and then printed and laminated by the NPL Club for use in NPL Competition and other US Club Soccer competition. Player Add Process NPL Competition: NPL Registered Players may be added to a NPL Roster for NPL Competition at any time, provided that they appear on the official NPL Roster prior to the game. No player may participate in NPL Regional Competition without a pass. Player and Staff Fees and Expiration Dates Player Passes: For the NPL Season, individual player fees for players registered to NPL 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 NPL Club shall be issued for a two- year period. For staff registration purposes, all coaches who will coach a NPL Team, as well as the NPL Team manager, shall be required to have a staff passcard. All staff shall submit to a background check every two years. Staff passcard fees shall be $15 per person.

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14 Northeast Girls NPL Rules and Regulations Season Updated: August 15, 2014 Northeast Girls NPL Page 1

15 Appendix 1: Rules and Regulations Specific to NE NPL Girls Date Approved by US Club Soccer: September 2, 2014 National Premier League: Northeast Girls NPL. Scope and Order of Precedence: The rules in this Appendix 1 Competition Rule Supplement are supplemental rules, approved by US Club Soccer, that are specific or unique to the National Premier League designated above. In the event of a conflict between the rules in this Appendix 1 and rules in the base NPL Competition Rules and Regulations, this Appendix shall prevail for this National Premier League. Rule Changes: With respect to the National Premier League designated above, the following rules shall replace the rules of the same number in the NPL Competition Rules and Regulations document with respect to this NPL. 1. Definitions No changes 2. NE Girls Roster Rules 2.6 No Drops. No NE Girls Registered Players may be dropped from a NE Girls Roster during an NE Girls Season, except pursuant to the Transfer Regulations below, or unless approved by the NE Girls Administrator. 2.7 Roster Freeze Date. Players may be added to the NE Girls Roster until April 30 th, 11:59pm of each year. 2.8 Player/Club Tie. A player may only be rostered to one (1) NE Girls Club each NE Girls Season, except pursuant to the Transfer Regulations provided below. For the NE Girls Season, the following clubs are considered separate and individual clubs. Club/Team loyalty rules apply: Albertson SC Match Fit Academy Boston Breakers Academy Match Fit North (U-16, U-17, U-18) Connecticut FC PDA North Continental FC (U-13, U-14, U-15) PDA South FC Bucks Penn Fusion SA FC Stars of Massachusetts World Class FC FSA FC Page 2

16 2.9 Initial Roster Submission Date; Roster Add Periods. An initial NE Girls Roster with a minimum of sixteen (16) Full-Time NE Girls Registered Players must be provided by each NE Girls Team by August 15 th of each NE Girls Season. No NE Girls Roster will be accepted prior to July 1 of each NE Girls Season. Additional players may be added to the NE Girls Roster of each NE Girls Team as provided in the attached Exhibit B Club Loyalty Rule NE Girls Clubs with multiple teams in the same age groups will be considered separate and individual clubs as designated in Rule 2.8. Any NE Girls Registered Player or ECNL Registered Player that appears on a roster for any NE Girls Team is tied to the NE Girls Club of that team. Example 1: Any NE Girls Registered Player who is rostered to any age NE Girls Team for PDA South is eligible only to play for another age eligible NE Girls Team for PDA South for the NE Girls Season. She is ineligible to play for PDA North in any NE Girls Competition for the NE Girls Season. Example 2: Any ECNL Registered Player who plays for any age NE Girls Team for Match Fit Academy may only play for another age eligible NE Girls Team for Match Fit Academy for the NE Girls Season. She is ineligible to play for Match Fit North in any NE Girls Competition. Club Loyalty applies to the individual ECNL Registered Player and not the ECNL team as an entirety. (Clarification: one ECNL player may be club tied to MFA and her ECNL teammate may play for MFN.) 2.15 ECNL Players. An ECNL Registered player may play for any NE Girls Team in the NE Girls Club for which the player is age eligible. Age Eligibility is determined by Exhibit A of these Regulations. Regardless of age, any ECNL Registered player that appears on any NE Girls Roster for any NE Girls Team will count as one (1) of the twenty-six (26) maximum player roster limit for the entire NE Girls season. A younger ECNL Registered player playing up for an older NE Girls team will count towards the twenty-six (26) roster limit. There is a limit of four (4) ECNL players allowed to participate in NPL games per team for the entire regular and playoff season. Regardless of the number of games, once an ECNL player appears on any NE Girls Roster she will count towards the four (4) ECNL player limit for that NE Girls Team One Game Per Day Limit. Every NE Girls Registered Player and ECNL Registered Player may only play on one (1) NE Girls Team or one (1) ECNL Team per day, and may only play one (1) NE Girls Competition or one (1) ECNL Competition per day. A NE Girls Registered Player may play on different NE Girls Team within her NE Girls Club from game-to-game during the NE Girls Regular Season pursuant to the Fixture Tie Rules. Page 3

17 2.17 Fixture Tie. Saturday and Sunday Regular Competitions: A NE Girls Register Player or ECNL Registered player will not be fixture tied to a specific age team for any regular NE Girls Regular Competition played on a Saturday or Sunday. Specifically: If a player appears on a game day roster for the U-16 NE Girls XSA (home) vs YFC (away) NE Girls Competition played on Saturday, May 17th, she is eligible to be rostered for the U-17 NPL XSA (home) vs YFC (away) NPL match played on Saturday, June 7th. Weekday (Monday-Friday) Regular Competitions: A NE Girls Registered Player or ECNL Registered Player is fixture tied to a specific age team for any regular season NE Girls Regular Competition played during the week, Monday through Friday. Specifically: If a player appears on a game day roster for the U-16 NE Girls XSA (home) vs YFC (away) match played on Tuesday, May 6th, that player is ineligible to play for any other age NE Girls XSA team (home) when they play YFC (away) regardless of when other matches are scheduled. This is also retroactive in that if a player has competed with one team on a Saturday or Sunday, she is ineligible to play with another age team in a weekday game at a later date. 3. Competition Rules 3.5 Cancelled Competitions. If a NE Girls Competition is suspended by weather and at least the first half was played, the game will be considered a full game. If any NE Girls Competition is cancelled, the participating clubs shall attempt to reschedule the NE Girls Competition. If the participating clubs cannot agree on a rescheduled date, the NE Girls Advisory Committee shall recommend to US Club Soccer if and how such NE Girls Competition shall be rescheduled. If the NE Girls Advisory Committee finds that it is impossible to reschedule such cancelled NE Girls Competition, the NE Girls Advisory Committee shall recommend to US Club Soccer that the NE Girls Competitions 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 NE Girls standings are determined for impacted ages groups (for example change to a point-per-games basis) Cancellations less than 72 hours to game time (weather related): These competitions should rescheduled as soon as possible. The new competition date must be reported to the NE Girls Administrator for posting on the NE Girls schedule within 2 weeks of the cancelled competition Foreseeable Cancellations (projected field conditions, tournament conflicts, religious holidays, proms, etc): The agreed rescheduled date must be reported to the NE Girls Administrator for posting on the NE Girls schedule at the time of cancellation. Specifically, the new date must accompany the old date Fall Season Rescheduled Game Deadlines: The NE Girls Fall Season Competitions (Sept Dec) must be completed by February 28 th. Page 4

18 3.7 Competition Referee Fees. Referee fees for each NE Girls Competition will be paid for by the home team based on the pay scale set forth in the attached Exhibit C Deadline for Regional Competitions. All NE Girls Competitions (U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16 and U-17 age groups) must be played by June 1 of the NE Girls Season. The NE Girls Administrator may extend this date under extreme circumstances at eh NE Girls Administrator s sole discretion U-18 Competitions: All U-18 NE Girls Regular Season Competitions must be played by Sunday, May 17, Tie-Breakers There is a 5 goal differential limit per each NE Girls Regular Season Competition. Example: A competition with the final score 6-0 will be scored as 5-0. Likewise, 8-1 will be scored as Official NE Girls Competition. When both teams take the field and the referee signals the start of competition, the match is considered official (pursuant to weather cancellation half competition Rule 3.4) and the results may not be challenged. Any change to the competition status must be communicated in writing by the referee to the NE Girls Administrator prior to the start of the NE Girls Competition. 4. Game Day Procedures 4.1 An official NE Girls Game Report must be completed for each NE Girls Competition. The NE Girls Game Report must be provided by the home team. In addition, each team must provide 2 copies of their Official US Club Roster. One copy goes to the referee and the other copy is collected by the home team. 4.3 The NE Girls Game Report must be completed in full, signed by both teams and the referee. The NE Girls Game Report and Official US Club Roster for both teams is to be submitted to the NE Girls Administrator within 48 hours of completion of the NE Girls Competition by the home team manager. 4.4 The home team shall call the score into Demosphere s automated system after each game within four (4) hours of the game s completion using the procedure below: Dial the toll-free number (866) When asked, say or enter the pin number. The NE Girls pin number is You will then be asked for your game number, which is located on the left-hand column of the schedule on you league s website. You will then be told the division, teams playing and field location if this is the correct game, confirm by saying Yes. When asked, say or enter the score for each team, then confirm. You can do more games in the same call or just say goodbye when finished. Page 5

19 5. Miscellaneous No changes Exhibit A NE Girls Age Group Eligibility NE Girls Age groups for the NE Girls Season are provided below: U-13 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 2001 U-14 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 2000 U-15 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 1999 U-16 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 1998 U-17 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 1997 U-18 Age Group: Players born on or after August 1, 1996 Players may play for their own age group and for older age groups. Trapped Players. Clubs are allowed up to three (3) Trapped High School players born after July 31, 1995 to play in the U-18 age group. Trapped players are not eligible to compete in the NPL Finals. Page 6

20 Exhibit B Registration; Player and Staff Passes; Roster Add Process Types of Player and Staff Passcards for NE Girls Clubs and NE Girls Competition US Club Passcards are passcards validated by US Club Soccer on the US Club Soccer website and then printed and laminated by the NE Girls Club for use in NE Girls Competition and other US Club Soccer competition. ECNL passcards are acceptable for NE Girls Competition. Initial Roster Submission Date August 15, 2014: Every NE Girls Team must have a minimum of sixteen (16) NE Girls Registered Players. Player Add Process NE Girls Competition: NE Girls Registered Players may be added to a NE Girls Roster for NE Girls Competiution at any time prior to the April 30, 2015 at 11:59pm roster freeze, provided that they appear on the official NE Girls Roster prior to the game. No player may participate in a NE Regional Competition without a pass Player and Staff Fees and Expiration Dates Player Passes: For the NE Girls Season ending July 31, 2015, individual player fees for players registered to NE Girls 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 NE Girls Club shall be issued for a two-year period. For staff registration purposes, all coaches who will coach a NE Girls Team, as well as the NE Girls 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. Page 7

21 Exhibit C NE Girls Competition Referee Pay Scale The minimum pay scale for NE Girls Competitions in the NE Girls Season shall be as follows: For U-13, U-14, U-15 and U-16 NE Girls Competitions: Center Referee: $65 Assistant Referee: $40 Assistant Referee: $40 For U-17 and U-18 NE Girls Competitions: Center Referee: $75 Assistant Referee: $50 Assistant Referee: $50 Fees for referees are paid by the home team as specified in these Regulations. For NE Girls Competition, it is the responsibility of the home club (or host club for neutral venues) to contact and pay the club s referee assignor(s) to schedule referees. Page 8

22 NE Girls NPL U13 NPL, U14 NPL and U13 Pre-ECNL Player Substitution Amendment To: U13 NPL, U14 NPL and U13 Pre-ECNL Coaches and Team Managers Subject: Amendment to the NE NPL Girls Player Substitution Rules Date: September 12, 2014 As set forth by the NE Girls NPL Directors, this Substitution Amendment to the NE Girls NPL Rules and Regulations applies to the NE Girls NPL Regular Season and Playoff Competitions. This amendment does not apply to NPL Finals Competitions. The amendment will be written and added to the NE Girls NPL Rules and Regulations. It will apply to the U13 NPL, U14 NPL and U13 Pre-ECNL competitions only. This does not apply to the U14 ECNL competitions. The U14 ECNL teams are governed by the ECNL and must strictly adhere to the substitution rules outlined in the ECNL Rules and Regulations. Background: The objective of the U13 and U14 levels is player development. To achieve this objective and provide players with competition exposure, most substitutions occur midway into a half - around the 20 minute mark. An issue develops when a player is injured with 15 minutes left in a half and all substitutions have been made. The team would be forced to play the remainder of the game at a player number disadvantage. Substitution Amendment: A player may re-enter a half if, due to injury, the team would be forced to play the remainder of the game with less than 11 players on the field. The Following Restrictions Apply: This amendment applies to U13, U14 NE Girls NPL and U13 Pre-ECNL teams only. Applicable for NE Girls NPL regular season and playoff competitions only. NPL Final competitions adhere strictly to NPL base Rules and Regulations governing substitutions. This is permitted for injuries sustained during the game only. The injured player may not re-enter the game at any time. If injured in first half, she may not enter the game in the second half. Permitted only when all other substitutions have been made. Only 1 player may be substituted per injured player and must play the remainder of that half. Sincerely, Kathy Steinmetz NE Girls NPL Administrator