A. The team fees shall be set by the Board of Directors. Such fees shall be forwarded with the registraion form(s) to the league on or before the specified dates set by the Board of Directors. Any team not in compliance of this rule will be fined $100; and will be subject to a disciplinary action by the Board of Directors.
B. Any team dropping out of the league shall forfeit all fees and fines paid to date.
ll. Forfeiture/Fine Bond
A. A Forfeiture Bond of $100 will be paid by each team prior to the start of the season. This bond will be held in escrow for referee or fine payment, should a team incur a fine for either missing a General Meeting or forfeiting a match.
B. Any use of the Forfeiture Bond during the season must be replenished by the offending team to the TSL Treasurer within ten(10) days of the forfeit/fine. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of all games until the bond is replenished.
C. If you leave the TSL in good standing you will receive a full refund of their Forfeiture Bond.
Twilight Summer League
Current FIFA and USSF rules of play shall be in effect except as specifically stated otherwise in these rules.
The playing season will begin on the dates specified by the Board of Directors.
l. Eligibility
A. There is no specified age requirements for participation in TSL, however all players who are minors must have the MASS waiver form signed by their parent or guardian.
ll. Registration
A. New teams desiring to join the league must submit an application in the form of a non - refundable deposit.
B. All teams must submit a roster, map and fee to the Board of Directors by the dates specified by the Board of Directors.
C. The Board of Directors shall be the final authority on all matters concerning eligibility of teams that fail to meet the registration requirements.
D. Teams which fail to submit the required materials (roster,map and fee) by the due dates shall be assessed a $100 fine. The postmark of the letter will be used as final proof.
E. All new teams will be reveiewed by the Board of Directors and placed in the appropiate Division. In case of team(s) dropping out , the Board of Directors will re- adjust the affected division(s).
lll. Rosters & Number of Players
A. All teams must submit an official TSL Roster / Game form with all required informationor the roster will not be considered valid for legal play. A different form may not be substituted for the official TAL Roster / Game form.
B. Rosters are frozen at midnight of the Monday prior to the fifth scheduled game.
C. Teams who make changes to their rosters after the league meeting shall send any revised roster to the TSL Registrar before any new players are allowed to play. Again, the postmark will be used as final proof. No oral changes will be accepted.
D. Teams using ineligible players will forfeit all games from the beginning of the season up to and including the game in which the player is discovered. The team will also be assessed a $100 fine.
E. Once the rosters are finalized, no person may play for more than one team in a season.
F. The registrar or Board member designated to receive registrations shall retain all postmarked materials from teams for a period of three (3) months to substantiate the correctness of any assessments. Additional records shall be kept if deemed necessay by the Board of Directors.
G. Maximum number of players per team shall be twenty-four (24) for all divisions.
lV. Uniforms and Equipment
A. Equipment shall consist of matching uniform shirts with clearly legible and unique numbers, shorts, socks, shinguards, and shoes meeting FIFA requirements. Players shall be able to wear spandex or other non - dangerous supporting material during league games.
B. Three regulation Size 5 balls must be provided by the home team.
C. Players numbers must match their numbers on the team roster, any exception must be disclosed to the referee and the opposing manager prior to the start of the game. A team which does not comply with this rule shall forfeit the game and be fined $50.
D. A goalkeeper playing as an outfield player must wear a numbered uniform shirt.
E. In the event of a similar color uniform , the home team must use alternate shirts. In such cases, numbers are not required.
V. Officials
A. A referee will be assigned by the coordinator(s) appointed by the Board of Directors.
B. If a referee does not appear, then both teams are responsible to provide a substitute agreeable to both teams. If the teams cannot agree on the substitute referee they may re- schedule the game.
C. The referee shall be the official time - keeper.
D. In the event that a team(s) forfeits a game due to lack of attendance the referee will receive full payment.
E. Referee relations will be handled by the TSL referee coordinator. Any suggestions, problems, or concerns of the referee must be placed in writing and forwarded to the TSL Board of Directors.
F. Referees must submit the official TSL game report to the appropriate Board member. Referees should retain photocopies of their original game reports for their own records.
G. Referee’s must be paid prior to kick off. The Referee fees will be split between the two(2) teams.
Vl. Number of Players
A. Maximum number of players shall be twenty - four(24) for all divisions.
B. A minimum of seven players must be on the field of play at the start of the game to constitute a legal game. A team which goes below the minimum number as a result of ejections will forfeit the game.
Vll. Preliminary to Games
A. The referee’s fee must be paid by both teams before the match commences. A team which fails to pay the appropiate fee prior to the game shall forfeit the match (2-0).
B. Prior to each game, the referee will confirm that each player is on the official TSL team roster. A player not on the roster is ineligible to play. Verification must be via a picture ID (driver;s license, immigration card, passport, or registry of motor vehicle picture ID.) Only originals will be accepted.
C. Team managers are required to hand the referee and the opposing coach an official TSL roster prior to the start of the game. Under no circumstances can the game start without these acts. Failure to submit an official roster prior to the game will result in a forfeit (2-0). Only stamped copies of the last roster submitted to the league are official.
Vlll. Game Time and Location
A. Games shall be played on the evenings stated by the TSL Board of Directors at 1830 ET or as indicated in the schedule, unless both teams mutually agree to change off the kick off time.
B. Teams must be present on the field of play fifteen(15) minutes prior to the scheduled kick off.
C. It is the responsibility of the home team to provide a playable field at game time. If the home field is unplayable two hours prior to kick off and will be unplayable at the time of kick off, the home team must notify the away team and the referee coordinator of cancellation or field change to avoid a forfeit. If the field is unplayable/ unavailable and the away team has an available field, the venue will be switched. If the other team refuses it will forfeit the game (2-0).
D. There will be a minimum of a 15 minute grace period for teams to assemble enough players to play. Every effort will be made to play the game.
lX. Playing Periods
A. Normal playing period will consist of two forty-five (45) minute halves.
B. No overtime will be played in a regular season game.
C. All games shall be completed except that in the event a game is cancelled because of inclement weather or other hazards, the game will:
1. Be replayed entirely if the game was cancelled during the 1st half.
2. If the first half has been completed then the result stands.
X. Substitutions
A. Unlimited substitutions are allowed with the consent of the referee at any stoppage in play.
Xl. Cautions and Ejections
A. A player ejected from a game cannot play in the next game played. A player ejected from two (2) games cannot play in the following two (2) games and is subjected to further action by the Board of Directors. A player ejected form three (3) games is automatically suspended for the remainder of the season and is subject to further action by the Board of Directors. If ejected at the last game of the season the suspension shall be served in the following season or in the play - offs. Changing teams will not avoid the suspension(s).
B. Ejected players are to leave the field of play and the vicinity of the playing area as defined by the referee. If an ejected player refuses to vacate the field and its vicinity or causes dissent, the referee shall stop the game and the player’s team shall forfeit the game. The player in question shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Directors.
C. Any time a player accumalates six (6) yellow cards in one season, he will be suspensed from participating in the next game. This suspension shall count as one ejection (red card). Accumulating an additional six (6) yellow cards, totalling 12 for the season, will result in immediate suspension for that individual pending review by the Board.
D. A team which receives a total of fourteen (14) yellow cards(one red card equals two(2) yellow cards) within one season shall be penalized three (3) points in their division standings. A team with twenty (20) yellow cards will be penalized an additional three (3) points in their standings and shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Directors.
E. A Division Director shall have the authority to suspend until the next Board meeting any player(s) involved in physical or violent acts.
F. Physical and/or violent acts committed against an opponent or referee shall not be tolerated within the TSL. Players or managers who commit such an act shall be subject to immediate and severe action , pending a meeting of the Board of Directors.
Xll. Results and League Standings
A. Three(3) points shall be awarded for a win or a forfeit.
B. One(1) point shall be awarded for a tie.
C. Zero(0) points will be awarded for a loss or forfeit.
D. All results and cautions shall be called to the Division Director by the home team no later than twenty - four(24) hours after the game.
E. If teams are tied on points, the following rules shall be used to break the tie:
1. Head to Head competition
2. Goal difference
3. Goals for.
Xlll. Cancelled Play-off Games
A. If any play-off final is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions and cannot be rescheduled amicably between the two teams prior to the start of the next season, the two finalists shall be named co-champions.
B. If any semi-final is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions and cannot be rescheduled amicably between the two teams, the TSL president or a neutral assignee will reschedule the game. The team which declines to play at the time and place designated by TSL shall forfeit the game. If the game cannot be rescheduled, the team with the best record advances to the final.
XlV. Protests
A. The TSL President shall be the chairman of the protest committee, unless the case involves a direct conflict of interest. In this case, another TSL Board member will chair the committe. The protest committee shall consist of five(5) at large members appointed by the Board of Directors.
B. Game protests must be submitted in writing and postmarked within seventy - two(72) hours of the game date. All protests must be mailed to the appropiate Board member with a $50 dollar fee.
C. A protest of any Board action shall be submitted within seventy-two (72) hours of the notification. If the fine is not upheld, or is protested, payment must be made by the next registration date. Failure to do so will avoid the registration of such team(s).
D. If a protest is upheld, the fee shall be refunded.
XV. Conduct
A. All members of the team are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting this league and the adults who play in it. It is the manager / coach’s responsibility to control his players and spectators.
B. Any player/ team verbally or physically abusing the referee and/or his property will be dealt with severly, up to, and including being banned from the league for life.
C. No alcoholic beverages are permitted on or around the playing field before or during the game.
XVl. Playoffs
A. All field expenses for play off games are to be split between the two(2) teams competing.
B. If scores are level at full time, penalty kicks will decide the winner. This will be five (5) penalty kicks per team and if still level then a sudden death rule will apply.
