FALL - 2008
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR & COMPETITION COORDINATOR:
John Sozio
(888)637-6223 (NESOCCE)
BOOKKEEPER:
John Sozio
(888)637-6223 (NESOCCE)
Debbie Gleason
(Home: (402)291-6977)
Referee Line: (402)293-8401
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT:
Michael Perdunn
(402)210-1828
SECRETARY:
Pam Sweeney
5109 S. 162 Street
(402)896-420
VICE PRESIDENT:
Erick Schwartz
2808 Northwest Av.
(308)382-9325
fax: (308)382-9325
TREASURER:
Sue Newcomb
La
(402)596-1746
RULES COMMITTEE: Dennis Burling, Michael Perdunn, John Sozio, Orval Stahr, Erick Schwartz, Kris Walters,
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE: Erick Schwartz, Chair., Sue Newcomb, Kris Walters, Paul McCormick, Harlan Milder, Mary Hulbert, Pam Sweeney, Jim Norris, Michael Perdunn, Orval Stahr, Wayne Wilson.
5/6/1996, revised 4/1/2008
Through the game of soccer, the Nebraska Soccer League (NSL) will promote, provide and support opportunities for the development of team and individual growth-to enhance the practice of sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity as the fundamental basis for competition.
MEMBERSHIP:
Membership of the NSL is comprised of one Representative from each club that has a team registered in NSL during that seasonal year. These club representatives constitute the NSL Board and as such, each representative is entitled to one vote.
PLAYERS' RESPONSIBILITIES:
Each player shall be responsible for his/her own conduct and for the conduct of their team members. Sportsmanship shall be stressed at all times and shall take precedence over all rules except physical safety of players, referees and coaches. Sportsmanship shall take precedence over winning.
COACHES' RESPONSIBILITIES:
The most important responsibilities of a youth soccer coach are:
1. To provide a SAFE, HEALTHY environment for the practice and play of soccer, and
2. To provide MATURE, ADULT supervision for young athletes.
During games, coaches and players share these responsibilities with the referees and opposing coaches. These responsibilities must at all times supersede any other concern.
During games, the actions and comments of the sidelines have a tremendous impact on the game environment.
THE COACH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS/HER SIDELINES.
He/she is to ensure that:
1. Parents/spectators are aware that they, too, may be ejected for negative behavior/conduct. This is at the discretion of the referee.
2. All comments directed onto the field of play are positive and provide encouragement.
3. No disrespectful or degrading comments are directed at any participant. This applies to the referee, players on the other team, players on one's own team, and even parents to their own children. All participants must treat each other with respect and dignity. Negative comments like "push 'em back", "get your head in the game", etc. do not show respect for others or the spirit and laws of the game. Statements of this nature interfere with the game in an emotional sense just as throwing objects onto the field would in a physical sense.
4. No
negative comments about the referee, the accuracy of his/her decisions, etc.
are to be made. Any concerns about the qualification or performance of a
referee are to be directed to the NSL via the referee assessment section o the
game card that each coach is provided for each game. Such concerns are NOT TO
BE DIRECTED TO EACH OTHER OR TO THE REFEREE, and never in the presence of young
athletes. Remember, dissent with a referee's decision can cause ejection from
the game, and if necessary, termination of the game.
REFEREE ASSAULTS:
Verbal harassment or verbal intimidation of any referee by any person may constitute an assault, and may result in suspensions, fines, and/or legal action.
REFEREES HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DEAL WITH COACHES WHOSE CONDUCT DOES NOT MEET THESE STANDARDS BY EJECTING COACHES WHOSE CONDUCT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, BUT WITHOUT DISPLAYING A RED CARD. AN EJECTION MAY RESULT IN SUSPENSIONS FROM FUTURE GAMES.
ADMINISTRATIVE RULES:
All requirements prescribed by the "Official Administrative Rulebook" of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) will be followed. All laws and rules of the USSF, the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA), and the Nebraska State Soccer Association (NSSA) will be followed by the NSL.
REGISTRATION:
EVERY PLAYER WILL BE REGISTERED WITH THEIR STATE SOCCER ASSOCIATION PRIOR TO PLAYING IN THE NSL.
PLAYER AGE:
Age divisions are in accordance with USYSA regulations, and are based on each player's age as of August 1.
TEAM AGE DIVISION:
All teams play in the age group that is determined by the age of the oldest player on each team.
TEAM SIZE:
A team may register up to 22 primary players. However, no more than 18 players may play in a game. Please Note! Beginning with the Fall-2005 Season, U11/U12 teams will be limited to 16 players. Any team planning on playing in the Challenge Cup may not have more than 18 registered players on their roster at any time.*
*Exception: The NSSA has changed this rule to accommodate U17,U18,U19 teams. Those age groups may have up to 22 registered players and still be eligible for the Challenge Cup (Nebraska Championships). Please Note! You still may not suit up and play more than 18 players in a game.
No team is allowed to have less than seven (7) registered players at any time.
GUEST PLAYERS:
No guest players are allowed in league play with the NSL.
PLAYER TRANSFERS & RELEASES:
Any player registered to a team is bound to that team for the entire seasonal year (fall and spring) unless he/she requests a transfer. A seasonal year is the period from August 1 to July 31. All requests for transfer shall be submitted to the Nebraska State Soccer Association on their transfer form, and shall be subject to all fees.
A team is limited to a total of five (5) transferred players per seasonal year if that team plans on participating in the
CHALLENGE CUP.
SECONDARY PLAYERS:
A player may register to a second team, provided that they receive written permission from the primary coach. In the case of a conflict, the player is required to play with the primary team. A player may play secondary on only one team.
DIVISIONS:
The divisions of play will be Premier, Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, and so on, with Premier being the top division.
ASSIGNING DIVISIONS:
The primary rule used by the League to promote or relegate teams will be a team’s placement in standings for their respective Division each Season. A team placing last shall be relegated to the next lowest Division. A team placing first shall be promoted to the next highest Division. This is provided there is a lower or higher Division available in the respective age group.
If there is a tie for first place or a tie for last place in a Division, a tiebreaker procedure has been established in order to determine promotion to the next higher Division or relegation to the next lower Division. Please see below.
1st Tiebreaker - Head to Head
2nd Tiebreaker - Fewest Goals Allowed
3rd Tiebreaker - Goal Differential
4th Tiebreaker - Most Goals Scored
5th Tiebreaker - Coin Toss
For Distribution of first place medals, there will be no tiebreaker applied. If there is a tie for first place in a Division, all teams tied for first will be awarded first place medals.
Each season, teams shall be considered for placement into divisions based on their record from the prior Season. Team preference may be expressed by each coach through their club to the NSL Competition Coordinator. If at the end of the season it is apparent that a team(s) does not have a reasonable opportunity to develop within the division it has been playing, then that team(s) shall be moved up to the next highest division or down to the next lowest division as appropriate. The Competition Coordinator sets up divisions as he/she sees best according to coaches' requests and records from the previous season and brings these proposed divisions to the NSL Break-out meeting which is held prior to scheduling each season. Each club representative is encouraged to attend the Break-out meeting. Any appeal for remaining in a division if a team has placed last or for promotion to the next higher division if a team has not placed first must be made prior to the Breakout meeting. The League will have an appeals meeting each Season at least two days prior to the Breakout Meeting. Appeals will be heard by the NSL Executive Board at the Appeals meeting. Appeals must be done in writing, either by E-mail or letter to the Competition Coordinator. Frivolous appeals will not be considered. The NSL Executive Board will have the final say on all appeals. The Appeals meeting date will be listed in the Registration letter that goes out well in advance of each Season. No appeals will be considered at the Breakout meeting.
NOTE: See Membership on Page 1.
NOTE: No additional teams will be accepted for the upcoming season and no changes will be made in divisions after the Break-out meeting.
NUMBER OF TEAMS IN A DIVISION:
There must be at least four (4) teams and no more than eleven (11) teams in each division. The highest level Division in a Multi-Division age group shall have a maximum of 9 teams.
TEAM SCHEDULING:
The goal will be to schedule teams for a minimum of a seven (7) game season.
TEAMS PLAYING IN AN OLDER AGE DIVISION:
A team may request to play up an age division. A final decision will be made by the NSL Board at the Break-out meeting.
TEAM CONFLICTS:
Teams will be encouraged to indicate each season's potential conflicts on their NSL Team Registration form. Teams may need to play double-headers in order to complete a schedule. The NSL Competition Coordinator cannot guarantee the ability to honor all scheduling conflict requests.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
A field supervisor or referee has the authority to postpone or terminate any game due to inclement weather and/or field conditions. If the game has completed the first half, that game shall stand complete with the score at termination being the official score.
WEATHER-RELATED RESCHEDULES:
Coaches and/or team contact-persons involved in weather-related reschedules will be notified by the Competition Coordinator. Rescheduling of all weather-related games may not be possible.
PLAYING FIELD RULES:
Teams will not warm up in the goal box area. This is being done to protect the grounds from wear. Certain soccer parks are for scheduled games only. Teams that attempt to practice on these fields may be suspended from the league.
Coaches are to remain within ten (10) yards of the halfway line during the game.
Spectators must remain at least two (2) yards back from the touchline and are not allowed to linger behind the end-lines.
In order to preserve sideline areas, coaches, players, and spectators are encouraged to sit on benches and bleachers when provided.
COACHES ARE EXPECTED TO INSURE THAT THEIR SIDELINE IS CLEANED UP AFTER THE GAME.
PRE-GAME PREPARATION:
Each team provides one net and three flags.
The home team provides the game ball and the NSL game card (which should be filled out prior to arrival) and delivers it to the visiting team upon arrival. The visiting team completes the card and gives it to the referee.
GAME CARDS MUST BE FILLED OUT COMPLETELY WITH GAME NUMBER, ETC. Nets and flags are to be in place, the game card completed by both teams, and players ready for check-in at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled game time.
If a club linesman is needed, each team must provide an adult linesman and designate said person to the referee prior to the start of the game.
PLAYER PASSES:
A State Soccer Association's laminated player passes are required for players to participate in all NSL games. A player pass waiver signed by your club registrar may be used when passes have not yet been received or are lost.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS:
No team shall play an NSL league game with less than seven (7) players (six for U11/U12 teams), and no team may play or suit up any more than 18 players in any NSL league game. Please Note! Beginning with the FALL-2005 Season, U11/U12 teams will be limited to 16 players.
A TEN (10) minute GRACE-PERIOD shall be granted to any team that does not have the minimum seven players by game time (six players minimum for U11/U12 teams). If the team has seven (six for U11/U12 teams), the game shall start on time. Any team failing to field seven players (six for U11/U12 teams) after the grace-period shall FORFEIT the game.
PLAYER EQUIPMENT:
Player equipment includes a jersey or shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards, and appropriate footwear. All players must have the same complete uniform, goalkeepers will have a shirt that distinguishes him/her from the other players and the referee.
No hard casts and no jewelry are allowed (except for medical alert bracelets or necklaces, which must be taped to the body).
By Nebraska State Soccer Association Executive Board Decision on February 13, 2005; Hard Casts are not allowed in Youth play. This includes youth ages through U-19. Hard Casts that are padded are still not allowed. Soft casts are allowed.
A player with blood on his/her body, clothing, and/or other equipment must exit the field immediately as directed by the referee. Once the situation is cleaned/repaired the player may return to the game.
LAWS OF PLAY U-11 through U-19:
Play will be governed by the "FIFA Laws of the Game/Guide for Referees" published by the USSF incorporating those modification adopted by the USYSA.
In the event that a referee is not present for a game, and the coaches agree upon a mutual referee, the game score will be official, and no protests concerning that game shall be allowed.
SUBSTITUTIONS: U13 to U19
Substitutions shall be unlimited-a player may return if he/she has been substituted for previously.
Substitutions shall be made with the consent of the referee at the following times:
1. Prior to your team's throw-in
2. Prior to any goal kick
3. After a goal by either team
4. After an injury on either team, if the referee stops play
5. At half-time. (At half-time the only player substitution that needs to be cleared by the referee is when substituting the goalkeeper.)
SUBSTITUTIONS: U11/U12
Substitutions shall be unlimited-a player may return if he/she has been substituted for previously.
By Nebraska State Soccer Association Executive Board adoption, the following rule became effective on August 1, 2004 concerning U11/U12 Youth play;
“Substitutions may be allowed with the referee’s permission on all dead ball situations”. This means that either team may sub on any throw-in, corner kick, free kick, etc.
Please note the words “with the referee’s permission”. The League is instructing referees to not permit substitutions if a team is taking a quick kick, quick corner, etc. This rule is not intended to take away a team’s advantage.
GAME TIME AND BALL SIZE:
AGE BALL GAME TIME OVER TIME*
U-11/12 4 two 30-min. halves two 10-min. halves
U-13/14 5 two 35-min. halves two 10-min. halves
U-15/16 5 two 40-min. halves two 15-min. halves
U-17/19 5 two 40-min. halves two 15-min. halves
*Over-time periods are only played when directed by the NSL for a specific game.
FORFEITS, FINES, AND FEES:
1. Refusing to play a scheduled NSL game or failing to field a team of seven players (six for U11/U12 teams) within 10 minutes after start time. The fine is $150.00
2. A coach taking his/her team off the field of play before completion of the game without the consent of the referee. The fine is $150.00 and a minimum of a one game suspension.
3. Using an ineligible player. The fine is $100.00 for each occurrence, and each game in which an ineligible player is used will be considered a forfeit (unless the team not using an ineligible player wins the game in which case that score will be the final score). The information will be reported to the Club President and NSSA Board.
4. Misconduct by players, coaches, or spectators, which, in the referee's judgment, requires termination and forfeiture of the game. The minimum fine is $150.00 and a minimum of one game suspension.
5. If a team gives notice to the Competition Coordinator that the team is forfeiting a game prior to 72 hours away from game time, the fine will be $75.00. If a team forfeits within 72 hours of the scheduled game, the fine will be $150.00.
6. When a parent verbally abuses a referee after the end of a game, there will be a minimum $250 fine assessed to the team and a minimum two-game suspension to the parent. If the parent cannot be identified or team refuses to identify parent, the whole team will be suspended from play for the duration of the suspension. In addition to the $250 fine the team will then be assigned a forfeit for the games it is suspended for and forfeit fines will also apply.
Whenever a team forfeits a game, the team will be assessed the appropriate fine and penalty and the team will lose the game by the score of 0-1.
Other:
1. A team will be assessed a fee of $20.00 for every red card that is processed by the NSL Competition Coordinator.
2. Teams may ask for a reschedule of games after the schedule is out providing this request is made at least 72 hours prior to that game. If the request to reschedule is granted, a fee of $25.00 will be assessed to the team requesting the reschedule. This is for each of the first two reschedules granted. Beginning with the third reschedule, the fee will be $50.00.
PLAYER/COACH SUSPENSIONS:
Player and coach misconduct on or off the field during and after NSL game is subject to NSSA Rules.
PROTESTS OF FORFEITS, FINES, and/or SUSPENSIONS:
The following procedure must be observed in filing a formal protest with the NSL:
1. Protests regarding referee judgment shall not be subject to hearing.
2. A written protest of a specific event must be hand-delivered or postmarked within two (2) days of the event with a full explanation of the details and facts upon which the protest is based and signed by an officer of the protesting club.
3. A $50.00 protest fee along with two (2) copies of the protest must be mailed to the NSL President.
4. A formal protest, once filed, may be withdrawn. However, protest fees are non-refundable.
5. If the protest is rejected, the protest fee shall be retained by the NSL.
6. If the protest is upheld, the protest fee shall be returned.
7. Upon receipt of a filed protest, the Competition Coordinator shall convene the Grievance Committee. The Committee shall give all interested persons the opportunity to address the Grievance Committee and shall decide the matter by majority vote. (A tie vote rejects the protest.)
8. Protests will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.
9. A protest that is not related to game-play may be filed with the Grievance Committee.
GRIEVANCES:
If the Competition Coordinator is unable/unwilling to satisfactorily handle a verbal grievance, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the Competition Coordinator, who shall convene the Grievance Committee, which will then act as when dealing with a protest. (See Above.)