Adopted: August 12, 2008

High School Girls House Soccer League

By-Laws

Purpose.

The purpose of the High School Girls House Soccer League (HSGHSL) is to provide an opportunity for high school aged girls (U-19) on house teams to play soccer in competition against teams of similar composition. Sportsmanship, fair play, and a friendly atmosphere among all participants, including coaches, players, officials, and spectators are requirements for participation in the HSGHSL.

Requirements.

1. All participating teams agree to the following rules. Failure to comply with any of these requirements may result in forfeiture of all games played and disqualification from further participation.

a. Clubs will form their teams on the same basis that they use in forming their regular house teams. Registration must be open to all eligible players. Each club agrees that teams are not formed on a "cut" or "all star" basis. Players who are registered as "travel" or "select" are not allowed to play in the HSGHSL.

b. Only girls born on or after August 1, 1989 are eligible to participate during the 2008/2009 season. In order to establish a minimum age, however, girls who are U-14 must be attending the 9th grade of high school. All girls must play at least 50 percent of each game.

c. Team rosters certified by the age group director of each sponsoring club must be set prior to October 1, 2008, and submitted to the League Directors by May 1, 2008. Failure to provide a certified roster by this time will result in temporary suspension of the offending team and forfeit of games until the roster has been received. The roster will include name, birth date, and uniform number. Roster and player changes may be made after May 1, 2008, with the express approval of the League Directors. Players rostered on a high school soccer team or travel soccer team during the 2008/2009 seasonal year will be identified on their team roster. Certified rosters will be made available upon request to all club commissioners and coaches.

2.The seasonal format will be determined by consensus at a commissioner/coaches meeting prior to start of the seasonal year. League Directors and a Scheduler will be chosen by the commissioners and coaches of participating clubs to coordinate league operation. Club commissioners and Head coaches will each have one vote. Where a Head coach is also the club commissioner, then that individual will have two votes. The HSGHSL League Directors will vote in case of ties. No individual will have more than two votes.

There will be at least three League Directors. The League Directors are George Getek, Larry Mark, Conrad Hertzler and Mark Pennypacker (Fall 2007 only). Schedules will be published with game fields and home teams clearly identified. End of season trophies will be awarded with costs shared on a pro rata basis by all teams. Operating fees for 2008/2009 are $90/team per season. Rosters should be submitted to George Getek (ggetek@aol.com) and fees will be submitted to Doug Alcorn, 8642 Tuttle Road, Springfield, VA 22152. Team/coach telephone lists will be published and distributed.

3. Normally, 50 percent of each teams games will be at home. Clubs are responsible for providing a suitable field with nets, lines, corner flags, and a stitched size 5 game ball for all home games. This may require inspection and positive action by the coach/club in advance of start time. Should a field develop problems that can be corrected through positive action, such as application of top soil or mulch in wet or boggy areas, then it is the responsibility of the Home Coach to take this action personally or through the Home Club so that scheduled games may be played. Further, clubs should provide three USSF certified officials. Single or two man systems may only be used in an emergency provided all officials are USSF certified. All clubs agree to use only their most experienced officials for this age group. When scheduled certified officials fail to show, both coaches may agree on use of substitute officials. Coaches are not compelled to accept substitutes. (Note: A home team will have 30 minutes from the scheduled match start time to fulfill the requirements of this paragraph that relate to field set-up and use of certified officials, or the home team will incur a forfeit.)

4. Both teams will be responsible to confirm home game times, field directions, and uniform colors not less than two days prior to game day. No home team will reschedule a game without the concurrence of the visiting team. All games are expected to be played unless cancellation is approved by the League Directors or Scheduler. Unauthorized cancellation could result in a forfeit. Home teams are responsible for resolving all uniforms conflicts. Visiting teams will cooperate fully in resolving any uniform conflicts. Home teams are responsible for notifying visiting teams of weather cancellations at least 2 hours prior to scheduled game time; reschedule canceled games within one week of originally scheduled game; and report game scores, player red or yellow cards, and coach or spectator caution or dismissal to the League Directors (Larry Mark will record this information) at the end of the game. Home teams have first choice of which side of the field of play it occupies for its spectators, coaches, and substitutes. This choice should be made as early as possible to avoid inconvenience to the visitors. In no case will opposing teams or spectators of opposing teams occupy the same side of the field.

Rules of Competition.

1. FIFA Laws of the Game will apply except as modified by this section. Club commissioners will provide a copy of these rules to the head referee of their organizations.

2. Game time for U-19 Girls are 45-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime. Games may end in a tie.

3. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee at the following times:

a. Throw-in, in your favor. Also, the team not in possession of the ball may substitute an unlimited numbers of players on a throw-in if the team in possession of the ball is also substituting.

b. Goal kick, by either team.

c. After a goal, by either team.

d. A team may substitute one player for an injured player when the referee stops play. The opposing team may also substitute one player at this time if the injured player is replaced.

e. Halftime.

4. Teams must have matching colored jerseys with a number assigned to each player. If requested by the opposing coach, number may be made unique with addition of tape to jersey and correction should be made at first available opportunity.

5. Teams must field a minimum of 7 players to start a match. A team has until game time plus 15 minutes to field 7 players or they forfeit the game. Forfeited games will not be rescheduled. The game may commence at the discretion of the referee as soon as the 7th player arrives. Teams are under no obligation to reduce their number of players to match that of the opposing team.

6. A game halted due to unsafe playing conditions prior to halftime will be replayed. A game halted at halftime or after due to unsafe playing conditions will stand as indicated by the score at the time of termination.

7. League Standings will be determined by the following:

WIN - 4 points

TIE - 2 points

LOSS - 1 point

FORFEIT - 0 points

In the event of a forfeit the score will be recorded as 1 - 0. In the event of a tie in total points in the standings at the end of the season, ties will be broken according to the following criteria:

a. Head to head competition. (Not used if more than 2 teams tie)

b. Most wins.

c. Bonus points. For each winning game subtract goals allowed from goals scored. A maximum of 3 bonus points per game may be earned. In forfeits only 1 bonus point is awarded.

d. Least goals allowed.

e. Championship game with tie breaking procedures.

f. Once tie breaking eliminates a team the procedures will start over.

8. Shin guards completely covered by a uniform sock are mandatory and should provide a reasonable degree of protections.

9. If any teams are unable to complete the full 10-game (or other designated number) regular season, then final standings will be determined by percentages, in lieu of match points. The percentage is calculated based on the number of points a team has over the maximum number of points it could have earned. In the HSGHSL, the maximum points in a game is 4 (a win) so the denominator is always 4 times the number of games played. The numerator is the total points the team has earned. (Examples: A team with 1 win and 1 tie (4 + 2 = 6 points) would have a percentage of 75% (6/8); a team with all 6 wins would be at 100% (24/24); a team with 3 wins, 3 losses would be at 63% (15/24); and a team with 6 ties in 6 games would be at 50% (12/24). The tie-breaking procedures in Paragraph 7 will be used as necessary.

Discipline.

1. Misconduct. A red carded player, dismissed coach, or dismissed spectator must leave the playing area immediately and will be required to sit out the next game the team plays. Names of carded players or dismissed coaches or spectators will be reported immediately following the game to the League Directors. Suspensions carry over to the first game of the next season. This rule also applies for playoffs and final.

2. Game suspension and Termination. Should a referee terminate a game due to disciplinary problems, the League Directors will investigate the circumstances and rule on the game. Additional action will be taken if warranted.

3. Coaches are responsible for maintaining control of themselves, the players, and spectators on their sidelines. Coaches, players, and spectators are to refrain from making remarks to the officials or opposing players before, during, or after the match. "Trash Talk" is prohibited by all participants on or off the field of play. Coaches or spectators are prohibited from entering the field of play unless invited by the Center Official. Abuse of officials by members of the HSGHSL will not be tolerated. Disregard of this by-law could become the basis for suspension.

Protests.

1. Protests are strongly discouraged. In the event a protest is deemed necessary, the protest must be in writing and submitted to one of the League Directors within 24 hours of the protested event or condition. Referee judgement may not be protested.

2. The League Directors in consultation with the commissioners will resolve the protest and notify all parties in writing of the resolution as soon as possible. Any person with a conflict of interest in the protest agrees not to participate in the resolution of the protest. Should both League Directors have a conflict of interest, they will designate two other club commissioners not having a conflict of interest, to resolve the protest. However, the League Directors will still have administrative responsibility to assure the protest is resolved.