CCSL Procedures. Application, Bracketing & Scheduling. Approved March Page 1 of 7

Transcription

1 CCSL Procedures Application, Bracketing & Scheduling Page 1 of 7

2 ARTICLE ONE Application A. The Cal North Competitive Soccer League (CCSL) shall post the calendar with application, bracketing, scheduling and competition dates for each league season (fall, winter and spring) on the Cal North website. B. The application requires teams to designate their District, Club and Team name, age and gender along with two independent contacts on the application. C. Teams shall comply with all registration requirements and deadlines established by CCSL, their Registration League and Cal North District. D. Teams shall complete the CCSL application by the CCSL application deadline. The CCSL Director or Assistant Directors shall have sole discretion to accept late applications. Teams submitting late applications may be required to pay a late application fee. E. CCSL League Fees are set by each District and include a portion which is rebated to Districts for local programs and services. F. CCSL League Fees are collected in several ways. a. Some Cal North Districts will collect fees directly. Teams from these Districts will not be asked to pay at the time of Application. b. Leagues and Clubs may establish an agreement with Cal North to pay fees for their teams. These teams will not be asked to pay at the time of application. c. All other teams must pay fees directly, by credit card at the time of application. G. CCSL shall accept teams from any Cal North District, Registration League and affiliated Club in good standing with Cal North. H. Teams shall normally play a balanced home and away schedule, Region Assistant Directors may make exceptions for excessive travel distances. ARTICLE TWO Levels of Play A. CCSL shall provide competition for boys and girls teams from U8 through U19. B. CCSL shall host multiple levels of play: 1. PREMIER a. Administered by Cal North Premier League Coordinator in conjunction with the California Regional League (CRL b. Goal: U14 through U19 (Boys and Girls) 6 to 12 teams per age and gender. c. Premier teams shall be bracketed without consideration for the distance between cities where the teams are based. d. Premier teams that finish first or second in the fall league shall be considered for promotion to the California regional League (CRL) 2. CCSL SECTIONS and REGIONS a. The number of sections will depend upon the number and location of teams. Page 2 of 7

3 b. Brackets may be formed for Copper, Bronze, Silver and Gold levels with Gold as the higher skilled and more experienced teams. c. The Assistant Directors may appoint Section Age Group Coordinators or Seeders. d. Goal: teams from U8 to U19 (Boys and Girls); 6-12 teams per bracket. e. Goal: sufficient brackets to provide appropriate competition for all teams. f. Goal: no more than Twelve (12) teams in each bracket. g. Brackets will be formed with consideration for the travel distance between the cities where the teams are based. Remote teams may be required to play some or all of their games away. a. Teams that are geographically distant from the majority of the bracket teams may be required to play a greater percentage or all of their games away, or on Neutral Fields where possible. b. U 12 and younger teams or teams in the Bronze or copper divisions from outside the traditional District boundaries from the majority of the bracket teams may be required to play a greater percentage or all of their games away, or on Neutral Fields where possible. c. Gold and Silver brackets are considered Regional play and should expect some greater travel distances for games. d. Remote teams may schedule double-header weekends to minimize their travel and will be required to pay for referees and fields for any of their designated home games played at a neutral site. ARTICLE THREE Bracketing Guidelines A. CCSL Region Assistant Directors shall establish playing divisions that provide the most appropriate level of competition for all participating teams using the following guidelines: 1. Returning teams will be seeded based on results from the previous fall season, including the team s final standing, league match and recent tournament results and the recommendations of the local Age Group Coordinators 2. Club Directors of Coaching and Administrator s recommendations are considered for final placement of returning teams. 3. New teams shall be seeded based upon recommendations from Club Directors of Coaching, Club Administrators and local Age Group Coordinators as well as feedback from teams and coaches. 4. Spring League results are not normally considered for Fall Season seeding. ARTICLE FOUR Promotion and Relegation A. Promotion and relegation between brackets within a Region or Section shall be the goal. Where possible the top returning team in each bracket will be promoted to the next division (copper to bronze, bronze to silver, etc.) and the bottom returning team in each bracket will be relegated. Page 3 of 7

4 1. The Region Assistant Director or Premier League Coordinator will have the flexibility to promote, relegate, add new teams or adjust bracket sizes as needed, to form competitive brackets within the divisions. 2. Promoted teams may not refuse promotion without justification. CCSL Directors and Age Group Coordinators will consider special circumstances, such as significant roster changes or disciplinary history, including forfeits, when making final recommendations. ARTICLE FIVE Bracketing Procedures A. Each team shall be responsible for complying with all deadlines contained in the CCSL Calendar. B. The CCSL Calendar shall indicate the date when the Brackets will be posted online as preliminary placements. C. Once Posted brackets shall remain preliminary through the comment period as posted in the CCSL Calendar. During this time, brackets may change often as the AGCs and Assistant Directors respond to Club and Team comments. Teams are responsible for keeping track as revisions are posted. D. Brackets are developed with several goals in mind: team request, number of teams, and geography. Please review your bracket, with respect to the teams you are grouped with, not the name of the bracket. E. CCSL invites bracket feedback from Club Administrators and teams. Please feedback directly to the appropriate Age Group Coordinator or Assistant Director prior to the application deadline. Teams must include full club and team name, age and gender as well as complete contact information for two independent contacts. Ask your Club for assistance if needed. F. The CCSL Calendar shall indicate the date when the adjusted brackets will be posted online along with the Challenge Process timeline and procedures. a. A Challenge is where one team identifies a team in the higher bracket that the team feels that they are more deserving of the spot in the higher bracket. Any team may challenge for inclusion in any of the Silver, Gold or Premier brackets G. Challenge Process: a. Teams are responsible for providing all information for a challenge. b. A challenge shall be in the following format: i. To: Appropriate Assistant Director or Premier Coordinator. ii. Copy: CCSL Director. iii. Copy: your Club and District CCSL Representative iv. Subject: Challenge by (Club Name, Team Name, gender, age). v. Body: Challenge must include the name of team being challenged (only one team may be challenged), and any pertinent information including: head-to-head results or major team personnel changes that would support the bracket change. Challenges without supporting documentation shall be denied. c. A copy of the challenge document will be provided to the team being challenged and CCSL may request further information from both teams. Page 4 of 7

5 d. The team being challenged may submit a counter-challenge to another team in the initial bracket in case the challenge is upheld. i. The counter challenged team will be informed of the challenge and further information will be requested. ii. The counter challenged team may only defend the challenge and may not counter-challenge an additional team. e. All challenges and counter challenges shall be presented in writing and shall comply with all published procedures and deadlines. f. Prior to final division placement, The Assistant Director shall submit a final recommendation, including recommended resolution of all unresolved challenges and counter challenges, to the CCSL Executive Committee. g. The CCSL Executive Committee will meet either in person or by conference call to review challenges and approve final brackets. ARTICLE SIX Scheduling A. The purpose of these Scheduling Guidelines is to allow teams to plan for a full season of games and to allow Leagues and Clubs to efficiently schedule fields and referees. B. The Fall Season will begin no later than the first Saturday after Labor Day. CCSL may open the fall season prior to Labor Day. It is CCSL s intention to provide eight (8) to twelve (12) scheduled matches per season. C. Each CCSL Region Assistant Director may establish its own schedule of play dates, scheduling procedure and scheduling timeline. D. The CCSL Director, in consultation with the Assistant Directors shall create the bracket schedules. All possible play dates, including tournament weekends, shall be considered. E. Assistant Directors will request special scheduling requests or Club field restrictions from Club Administrators and Directors of Coaching. F. Where possible, CCSL Schedules will be balanced to allow clubs approximately half of their total games at home for each scheduling date and to accommodate Club field restrictions. G. Preliminary schedules shall be posted for comment. Teams, Clubs or Leagues of Registration may submit comments to the CCSL Assistant Directors. H. Participating Clubs shall be responsible for entering match locations and times CCSL league management program prior to the posted deadline. I. Clubs and teams shall consider travel time for visiting teams when creating schedules; teams shall not be expected to depart prior to 7:00am to arrive thirty (30) minutes in advance of game time (e.g., a team that has a two (2) hour travel time to a game should not be scheduled prior to 9:30am (e.g., depart at 7:00am to arrive at 9:00am for a 9:30am game). ARTICLE SEVEN Reschedules A. The CCSL Committee supports teams rescheduling matches by mutual agreement and expects a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. B. Teams may mutually agree on any reschedule for any reason provided: Page 5 of 7

6 1. The reschedule is approved by both teams and complies with any home team field and referee assignor procedures. Home team Club or Central Field Scheduler must approve any rescheduled game. 2. The date, time and location are accurately published on the CCSL website prior to 9pm seven (7) days in advance of the originally scheduled match. This provision is designed to minimize disruption for families, field and referee schedulers. C. Valid reasons for a reschedule without mutual agreement after the schedules are final shall be: 1. Inclement weather. 2. Field unplayable, as determined by the Club or League Administrator. 3. Field unexpectedly unavailable, as determined by the club or league Administrator. 4. A team is accepted into a sanctioned USYS or US Club weekend tournament or USYS event. 5. A team has 5 or more players attending ODP State tryouts. D. Teams shall work to find a mutual date for games being rescheduled under 7.C. Home team will supply three dates and times and away team must select one. E. The Assistant Director shall have authority to resolve any conflict over rescheduling. F. Central or Neutral Field reschedules may have more restrictive rules and teams may incur additional financial penalties for reschedules (see Central and Neutral Field Scheduling below). ARTICLE EIGHT Forfeits, Abandoned & Terminated Matches A. All teams are expected to complete all of their scheduled matches during the season. B. When a match is not played during the season, CCSL will respond. C. The instigating team is the team: 1. That cannot appear, will not appear or has not appeared for a scheduled match. 2. With unacceptable player, team staff or spectator behavior. 3. That does not provide appropriate referees or field and equipment as defined in the Playing Rules. 4. That does not have a coach with an approved coaches pass 5. That is found to have used illegal or unregistered players B. The aggrieved team is the opponent of the instigating team. D. CCSL may encourage or require the teams to reschedule or replay the match. When a match is rescheduled or replayed, the instigating team is responsible for referee and field fees. E. The CCSL Director and Section Directors shall have sole discretion to require that a match be played and the location of the match. F. The CCSL Director and Section Directors shall have sole discretion to award a forfeit loss and penalties for an instigating team. The CCSL Director or Section Director may request a PAD (Protest, Appeal and Discipline) committee to assist with these decisions. Page 6 of 7

7 G. Decisions related to forfeits, abandoned or terminated matches may be appealed following procedures established in the CCSL By-Laws. H. Decisions shall be reported to both teams and may include one or more of the following: 1. Allowing the match result to stand. 2. Awarding a no game. 3. Awarding a 0-2 loss to the instigating team. 4. Awarding a loss of three (-3) points in the standings. 5. Assessment of an fine for losses incurred by the home team s club for referees and fields. Fines shall be billed by Cal North to the Registration League of the instigating team and will be forwarded to the Registration League of the aggrieved team. 6. Requiring the team to post a bond of $500 to allow a team to register for a future season. 7. Declaring the team ineligible for promotion. 8. Additional penalties for teams that demonstrate a willful disregard for fulfilling the obligations of the CCSL schedule. 9. Declaring a team ineligible for Awards I. The referee and the team staff will report the circumstances for a terminated, Abandoned or unplayed game via the CCSL Online Incident Report located at J. Neither the referee nor the team staff members can award or agree to a forfeit. Representations by the referee are not binding on CCSL. CCSL shall determine whether a referee abandoned or terminated a match and if the match will be rescheduled, replayed or forfeited. ARTICLE NINE Central and Neutral Field Scheduling A. CCSL may provide Central Fields to reduce travel time and distances. The CCSL Committee will provide instructions to teams, clubs and leagues during the schedule comment period. B. CCSL may decide to host some or all of a team s home matches at neutral field sites and designate a Referee Assignor in order to allow for scheduling of multiple matches at a single location or provide for a more consistent level of officiating. Clubs with teams designated as the home team at a neutral or central field site shall be responsible for any referee or field fees, payable directly to Cal North. Page 7 of 7