Moline Soccer Club Rules for Spring 2010 RULE 1. USSF RULES - USSF rules will be followed with the exceptions as noted in these MSC rules. RULE 2. DIVISIONS Gnat Division (U6. Bumble Division (U8) Mosquito Division (U10) Hornet Division (U12) Grasshopper Division (U14) RULE 3. SOCCER SEASON The soccer season will consist of fourteen matches (weather and time permitting). Hornet and Grasshopper total matches may vary. RULE 4. LEAGUE STANDINGS - Standings will not be kept. RULE 5. AWARDS There will be participation awards given at the end of the spring season. All Gnat(U6) division players will be given a trophy. All other divisions will be given a medallion. RULE 6. NUMBER OF PLAYERS Boys and Girls Gnat (U6) Division: Maximum of 4 on field, minimum of 3 players on field. Boys and Girls Bumblebee (U8) Divisions: Maximum of 6 on field, minimum of 5 players on field. Boys and Girls Mosquito (U10) Division: Maximum of 8 on field, minimum of 6 players on field. Boys and Girls Hornet (U12) & Grasshopper (U14) Divisions: Short-sided Matches – Maximum of 8, minimum of 5 players on the field; Maximum of 11 on field, minimum of 7 players on field. If either team has less than the maximum number of players allowed on the field, the other team will be limited to that number plus one. NOTE: When a team does not have enough players to start the game, the short team may borrow players from the opposing team to even the numbers. RULE 7. DURATION OF GAMES Gnat division (U6): Four equal quarters of 8 minutes each. Bumblebee division (U8): Four equal quarters of 10 minutes each. Mosquito division (U10): Four equal quarters of 12 minutes each. Hornet division (U12): Four equal quarters of 15 minutes each.(or River Valley League rules) Grasshopper division (U14):Four equal quarters of 15 minutes or 2 halves of 30 minutes each. (or River Valley League Rules) The interval between the first and second periods and third and fourth periods shall be 2 minutes. The interval between the second and third periods (half time) will be 5 minutes. RULE 8. MINIMUM TIME PLAYED BY INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS Each player MUST play at least ˝ of the scheduled time of each game. RULE 9. PRACTICES Each team is to schedule two practices before every game (game schedule and field availability permitting). Coaches should encourage players to attend practice regularly. Coaches should also make every effort to reward players with excellent practice attendance records and improved skills through increased playing time. Players who are on both Rec and Travel Teams may skip one practice per week with their Rec. team. RULE 10. ROTATION of PLAYERS in Gnat, BumbleBee and Mosquito Divisions Each Gnat (U6), Bumblebee (U8) and Mosquito (U10) player must be given the opportunity at some time during the season to play at least two quarters at each of the following positions: 1) Any forward or wing position 2) Any midfield or halfback position 3) Any fullback, defender or sweeper position. The coach should also make an effort to allow every player who is interested the opportunity to play goalie. RULE 11. SLIDE TACKLING Slide tackling is prohibited in the Gnat (U6) and Bumblebee (U8) divisions. RULE 12. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT NOTE: ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY IS IN FORCE!!!!! ABSOLUTELY NO COACH/PARENTAL/ SPECTATOR DISSENTION WILL BE TOLERATED!!!!! By a majority vote, the Moline Soccer Club Board of Directors has the right to ban from, or deny access to a player, parent, spectator, coach and/or referee from the fields or any of the Club’s properties for a display of unsportsmanlike conduct. The person so banned does, however, have the right to come before the Board after receiving their letter of sanction to explain their side of the incident to the Moline Soccer Club Board of Directors. The referee may penalize a coach, player, spectator or all who are abusing game officials or opposing players, or are otherwise exhibiting unsportsmanlike conduct, by imposing one or more of any of the following sanctions singularly or in whatever combination or order the referee determines is appropriate in his sole discretion: a) A warning with a yellow card. b) A red card and ejection of the player or coach, spectator, or all, from the game. Normally a red card and ejection will be preceded by a yellow card warning, but the yellow card warning first is not mandatory and the referee can go straight to a red card and ejection in extreme cases. The penalty assessed for the red card is removal from the game and a one game suspension. The ejected individual must leave the soccer complex immediately. The son, daughter or relative of the offending coach or spectator that has been ejected may be asked to leave for the balance of that game only if there is no other available supervision for the child. c) Stopping the game and awarding a penalty kick for the opposing team. d) Ejection of spectators from game site. e) If a player is ejected, the team must play the remaining portion of the game without replacing the ejected player. If a player is ejected due to the ejection of one or more of his parents, the player may be replaced. f) A red carded/ejected player, coach, or spectator may appeal his one game suspension by submitting a written explanation in his/her defense, to the MSC Board of Directors no later than 24 hours after the infraction. When a coach is disqualified, (s)he must leave the complex immediately. The game must continue and the assistant coach or a parent will finish the game. Withdrawal of a team by a coach without permission of the referee shall result in forfeiture of the game by the withdrawing team and such further penalties against the team and/or coach and/or assistant coach as deemed appropriate under circumstances by the MSC Board. RULE 13. COACHING DURING MATCHES At game time, the coach must coach from the orange coaching box on one side of the field near the centerline. Both or all coaches must stay within this area during the game. This will make it possible to give instructions to his players from one spot without having to run up and down the touchline. It will also help the coach get his players on and off the field at the time when he/she makes substitutions. All coaches MUST accept the referee's decision regardless of their own opinion about the call made. Coaches should remember that shouting at the referee can be penalized with a yellow card warning or a red card ejection or a penalty kick for the opposing team. A coach must be prepared to accept the inevitable "bad" calls from referees. RULE 14. MAKE-UP MATCHES Subject to the referee's discretion, matches will be played unless thunder and/or lightning occur. This will also apply if field conditions are considered hazardous. In case of cancellations, make-up matches will be rescheduled only by the Moline Soccer Club. RULE 15. EQUIPMENT a) All players should wear their full uniform for all matches. b) Soccer shoes will be optional for players in all divisions. c) No player will be allowed to play with illegal equipment or without shoes. d) Players in all divisions MUST wear appropriate shin guards and have them fully covered by socks. (Exception: Soc guards need not be covered.) e) Goalies must wear the soccer club's official goalie shirt if available or a suitable alternative approved by the referee. f) Players will not wear any jewelry Illegal equipment consists of: a) Shoes with metal cleats or with metal showing through plastic cleats. Also, toe cleats are illegal. b) Casts of any material whether wrapped or not. c) Shin guards which have exposed sharp edges. d) Helmets, caps with hard or sharp surfaces except for soft-billed goalie caps, hats, or visors, sunglasses. e) Jewelry or watches (earrings, medals, chains, bracelets, rings, etc.), except for religious or medical identification as approved by the referee. In any case these items should be taped down to prevent injury. RULE 16. THE REFEREE All MSC designated referees shall: a) Be in uniform at the site of the game no less than 10 minutes before the scheduled time. b) Examine the uniform and equipment of each player to see that it complies with MSC rules. The referee should also examine the field conditions, nets and other playing equipment. c) Conduct a pre-game conference with coaches and team captains to: *?Review pertinent rules. *?Conduct a coin toss at least 5 minutes before the scheduled starting time of the game. The winner of the toss shall choose a goal to defend. The loser of the coin toss will have the ball first. d) Request coaches to provide a referee assistant for each touch line (if necessary). These referee assistants will be restricted to helping the referee determine touchline possessions and end line kicks in the Bumblebee, and Mosquito Divisions. e) A “2-3 man” referee system will be used in all divisions if available. f) Gnat coaches will serve as the referees for their matches. RULE 17. GNAT DIVISION(U6) RULE EXCEPTIONS. 1) Each team may have (1) coach on field and (1) coach next to the goal (not on the field). (Coaches must not touch players when play starts and must not interfere w/ opposing team play.) 2) No score 3) No standings 4) No offside 5) ALL rule infringements result in an INDIRECT kick 6) A goal can NOT be scored directly from a kickoff (direct kick) 7) All throw-ins will be kick-ins 8) Gnat coaches shall be responsible for refereeing the soccer match RULE 18. BUMBLEBEE DIVISION(U8) RULE EXCEPTIONS. 1) No penalty kicks - Fouls that would result in a direct kick inside the penalty box (normally resulting in a penalty kick) will be moved to the nearest point outside of the penalty box for an indirect kick from that point. 2) A goal can NOT be scored directly from a kickoff (direct kick) 3) Offside calls will be made at the referee’s discretion, but normally only when flagrant “cherry picking” is detected. RULE 19. Age Group BALL SIZE GNAT DIVISION (U6) #3 BUMBLEBEE DIVISION (U8) #3 MOSQUITO DIVISION (U10) #4 HORNET DIVISION (U12) #4 GRASSHOPPER DIVISION (U14) #5