Rules & Bylaws 2008
GSWSL RULES 2008 SEASON 1.1 League Structure: According to the number of teams that participate: Women s Open Division: Open A work to build (in development) Open B competitive Open C competitive but relaxed Youth players must be age 14 prior to August 1st of 2008. 1.2 League Schedule: Sunday/Wednesday night Holidays off: Fathers Day, Sunday June 15, 2008 July 4th, Wednesday July 2, 2008 TEAM COMMITMENT TEAM CONTACT INFO ROSTERS START DATE END DATE MARCH 21, 2008 APRIL 4, 2008 MAY 23, 2008 JUNE 11, 2008 AUGUST 3, 2008 (13 GAMES PLUS PLAYOFFS) 1.3 Registration and Fees: Teams may register as early as they like. All team managers are responsible for collecting/paying the registration fee before the season begins. Open B per team fees $100 NHSA $75 GSWSL $110 forfeiture bond* $30 per game ref fee $5 per game ref assignor fee $75 per game field fee Plus $20 per player Team invoices will be calculated and provided to you after the May 23rd roster deadline. Full payment is due prior to the first game. Individual teams may determine added costs for their players for game balls, shirts, first aid supplies, etc. *Any team that forfeits a game will lose their bond. Further forfeits may be subject to additional fines by discretion of the board. The board also reserves the right to forgive bonds in extenuating circumstances. 1.4 Roster Size: Each Women s team can hold up to a maximum of 25 players provided rosters and player passes are validated. For state championships and/or competitions all 25 players can suit up. No team can add players to the roster after the roster submission deadline without approval from the board. 1
1.5 Team Bonds Bonds will not be returned if a team forfeits a game. Teams may be subject to additional fines for additional forfeits. The board reserves the right to forgive a bond in extenuating circumstances. 1.6 Quorum Quorum will represent one more than half the board, as the board is defined in the bylaws. Quorum can be achieved by a meeting, phone call or email where motions and legislature will have a deadline by which voting will be done. Board members who are involved in a dispute (i.e. bonds) may not vote in their own appeal or contest. Results will be distributed via email and by request through mail. 1.7 Voting General Business of the board is to be conducted with a quorum via a meeting, phone call or email. Quorum is required for bylaw and rule updates. Team managers are given the opportunity to vote but must be present to cast vote. No proxy votes are allowed. BY-LAWS Granite State Women s Soccer League Affiliated under the NHSA, USASA, USSF, and FIFA 1.1 Name This League shall be known as the Granite State Women s Soccer League, a non-profit Organization hereafter referred to as GSWSL. 1.2 Objective To promote the game of soccer and to provide for the following: -organized soccer activity in the State of New Hampshire -an environment that emphasizes the ideals of good sportsmanship and fair play, and the importance of development of both individual and team skills for players, coaches, and officials -an opportunity for players, coaches, and officials to expand their participation in state, regional, national and Olympic levels of competition -goodwill through physical fitness 2
1.3 Structure of the organization The operating board will consist of at least three members, and no more than nine including but not limited to: GSWSL Director Treasurer Scheduler Secretary 1.4 League Structure: refer to GSWSL Rules 1.5 Championships All teams in all divisions may compete for eligibility for the Open Cup Championship. Please note that the paperwork for these competitions is due on January 31st. 1.6 League Schedule: refer to GSWSL Rules 1.7 Game time registration All players must present to the official a GSWSL, USASA issued player pass card or a valid picture ID. Players who fail to present a GSWSL player pass card will not be eligible to compete in that contest. Each team must also present a team insurance roster to the official before match commencement. Teams failing to present a team insurance roster will forfeit a match. In case both teams fail to present a team insurance roster, the match will be abandoned and not rescheduled to be played at a later time. 1.8 Game rules - all matches will be 80 minutes in length, playing 2 x 40 minute halves, or halves of equal time length mutually agreed upon by the team managers and referee. - a game may be determined as completed after the 1st half has been fully played as determined by the referee. 1.9 League Tiebreakers #1 Head to head competition #2 Goal Difference #3 Most shutouts during league play #4 Most # of victories #5 Least amount of goals against #6 Most goals scored #7 Penalty shoot-out 1.10 Roster Size: refer to GSWSL Rules 3
1.11 Membership fees and refunds The fee for membership in this league shall be determined by the operating board 2 months prior to the start of the summer season and shall be sufficient to cover those expenses necessary for operation of the GSWSL. The league does not refund teams that decide to dissolve or because a game is absent a linesman. All money that is left aside will be used for growth and development of this organization. 1.12 Uniforms Rules and Regulations All teams must have full matching shirts with numbers on the back, a color shirt, and a white shirt. The alternative shirts may be mesh pinnies or alternative matching shirts with numbers. If using mesh pinnies, the number on the team s shirt must be visual through the mesh. Players that do not match can be asked to leave the field by a referee. Only the referee has the power to remove a player from the field for a non-matching uniform. Please identify team captains. The home team must change if there is a conflict. 1.13 Protests and Appeals All adult games that are protested at the state level should provide a written protest to the NH Adult Cup Commissioner within 24 hours of that contest. All adult games played at the league level should provide a written protest to the respective division s director within 48 hours of that contest. All protests will be presented to the NHSA Vice President of Senior Adults. Appeals arise as a result of an adverse decision from a hearing, administrative action, or disciplinary hearing. Only those parties to the original action, who are such impacted by such a decision, shall be allowed to appeal. All appeals would be presented before the NHSA appeals committee, only the appeals committee can reverse a decision. 1.14 Injury Procedure Any player receiving an injury during a competition must report that injury to the head referee. If a player decides to file for insurance on that specific injury, the referee must file an injury report in his game report. Managers are asked to contact the league registrar and notify her of any serious injuries. Insurance form claims can be claimed at the NHSA state office, (603) 626-9686. Fill out injury report form and mail to the NHSA State Office within one week after the injury occurs. Please make sure the coach has signed the Injury Report Form before mailing it into the state office. Contact the NHSA Office and confirm that the injury report form has been received, Keep accurate records for all bills pertaining to this injury. Contact the State Office and get the Insurance Claim form. This must be filled out and mailed into the state office with copies of all the bills from your primary insurance carrier. Contact State Office to confirm that your claim has been sent to the Insurance carrier. 1.15 Registration- refer to GSWSL Rules 1.16 Red /Yellow card Rule Players receive a warning for a yellow card issued by the referee. The 5th yellow card warning equals a one game suspension and equals a soft red. Any player receiving two yellow cards in a match will be ejected from that contest and will receive a soft red on their record for the season. A red card issued to a player during competition is automatically ejected from that contest. That player will also receive a one game suspension from the next contest that the team plays, League or State contests. 4
Any players that receive two hard reds or compiles enough soft reds to equal two hard reds during the season or state playoffs will be suspended for the remainder of the season (Two soft reds equal one hard red). Point deductions will be taken from the team standings: 1 point per hard red where 5 yellows (for the team) are 1 point. The league for three games will suspend any player or manager that verbally attacks an official at any contest during the season. Any player or manager that physically attacks an official will be suspended for the remainder of the season and will be brought in front of the NHSA disciplinary board for a hearing. 1.17 Referee Rules and Regulations -Referees must check the player pass cards and team insurance rosters before match commencement -A referee is the only one who has the right to remove a player from the field if that player s uniform does not match with team members. -Referees are required to send game reports to divisional directors, all game reports must be filed by the first week of the following month (i.e. first week of July for June games). -Every adult referee must know bylaw rule 1.16 -Any referee that does not show up for his assignment will be fined the amount in which he would have received for the game. -Referees are required to wait 15 minutes for a team or teams to show up to a given contest if they want to be paid for that game. -Please list all goal scorers in each match with the time of the goal when submitting game reports. Any center officials that fail to turn in their game report will be fined. -Any referee who has a complaint about a team or players must submit a written letter to the adult referee coordinator. 1.18 Forfeits a. Definition of forfeit Fewer than 7 players 1. After 15 minutes into the scheduled game time, if a team fails to reach 7 players. Team No Show 1. Team fails to show: loss of bond and loss of game * If a team has 2 forfeits in one season, the team is subject to review by the board to participate next season. Dual Roster 1. If a team allows a player to dual roster (definition: submit a name on two teams to play) that team receives a loss of bond and a loss of game. Responsibility falls on the team manager to make the team aware of the rules for dual rostering. 5
1.19 Lightning The following safety guidelines are used to deal with inclement weather. Games will be played unless the following occurs: There is lightning close to the field. If you see the flash and hear the thunder the match will be suspended until it is safe to play. You must wait a minimum of 15 minutes from the LAST lightening event. Not to exceed a total wait time of 30 minutes. The team managers and referees will meet together to discuss continuing the game. The game clock will continue to run during the suspension. No additional time will be added in the case of suspension due to weather. 1.20 Playoffs Round robin structure determined by number of teams registered. Teams will be placed by points accumulated during regular season. Matches will be 20 minutes long with match winner advancing to the next round. Substitution is on the fly; player on the field must exit at mid field prior to substitute player entering the game. The final 2 teams will play for the championship with the winner being named GSWSL Champion. Tie games will result in one 10 minute overtime periods; the first goal wins, game over. If the game remains tied, a shoot out (penalty kicks) will determine the winner. The shoot out teams will consist of any 5 players from the total of each team. If still tied the remaining players will now participate in the sudden death shoot out, no kicker will repeat until all players participate. 1.21 Roster Deadline Deadline for complete roster is 2 weeks prior to first game. If a team fails to meet the deadline, they give up the rights to participate in Drop/Add. 1.22 Drop Add *See Rules for Roster Deadline to participate Drop/Add remains open until 2 days after fourth league game day. 1.23 Dual Rostering No player is allowed to play on two teams in the same division. 6