General Rules and Policies

The purpose of the general rules is to provide a comprehensive set of standard policies and procedures covering all aspects of the total soccer program as offered by the Association. The intent is to improve communications and understanding between the coaching staffs of all divisions, referees, players, team sponsors and spectators, thereby ensuring a quality soccer program. The Board will insure that every member of the Association has access to a copy of these rules. In the event of any queries regarding the rules that follow, an interpretation will be rendered by the Board.

Players are entitled to receive the following:

  1. Fair and just treatment by all league personnel and fans.
  2. The opportunity to learn fundamental soccer skills.
  3. Encouragement to try their best.
  4. A FUN environment.
  • The Association may sponsor both a spring and fall season.
  • In general, a season will consist of eight to ten games depending on enrollments in each division. If a game cannot be played due to inclement weather, every effort will be made to reschedule that game
  • The fall season shall begin no later than the second Saturday after Labor Day and end no later than the third Sunday in November. The spring season shall begin no later than the third Saturday in April and end no later than the third Sunday in June.
  • The Association will take responsibility for providing a decent game ball for each team.

Registration

Registration will be held prior to each spring and fall seasons with the dates and times for each to be determined by the Registration Coordinator. The following policies will be applied:

  • A birth certificate, to be kept by the Association, must be supplied as proof of age for all players.
  • Players not residing in the town of Franklin must have the approval of the Board prior to the start of the season in order to participate in any of the programs of the Association. Additionally, non-resident players interested in playing in the Travel Division may be subject to the rules and regulations of the league entered.
  • No youth may play on more than one team in the Association during any one season, with the exception that a player may be transferred between an In-House Division team and a Travel Division team with the consent of each Division Director.
  • No youth may be placed on a roster and play a regular season game unless an injury waiver/registration is held by the Association.
  • All registration dates will be appropriately advertised in the local news media, schools, etc., at least two weeks prior to the selected dates.
  • At the end of the formally advertised registration dates, registration is officially closed. At the discretion of the Board, registration can be reopened, but only for the purpose of filling out complete team rosters. In the event this happens, children will be accepted and placed on a first come, first serve basis until the rosters of the teams requiring children have been filled.
  • No member is allowed to register a child without the permission of the Registration Coordinator, and if permission is granted, all registration rules must be followed or the registration will be void.
  • Minimum age for a child to register is such that the child is four (4) as of August 31 (of the current calendar year) for the fall season and five (4) as of August 31 (of the previous calendar year) for the spring season.

Fees

  • Registration fees will be set at $40.00 for one child, $80.00 for two children, and $120.00 for three or more children in the same family. Amended 05-06-2003
  • Registration fees will not be refunded unless the child cannot be placed on a team by the Association or is otherwise disqualified from play by the Association prior to the start of the season.
  • The Association will assess a late fee of $20 for any registration accepted after the formal and scheduled registration dates. Those families with multiple children who register after the published registration dates will be assessed a $20 late fee per child up to a maximum of $60 late fee per family.
  • If the complete registration form and fee is not in the possession of the Registration Coordinator on or before the posted registration deadline for a given season, the registration is considered to be "late" and late fees will be applied.
  • Late fees will not be charged to new residents who are registering in the Association for the first time.

Roster Sizes

Amended 10-01-2002

In order to maximize playing time for all players, rosters for the teams within the Association shall be limited depending on the number of on-field participants of the competition, as follows:

  • 3v3: 9 players (with the intent that two teams of 3v3 will be formed from the total)
  • 4v4: 11 players (with the intent that two teams of 4v4 will be formed from the total)
  • 5v5: 8 players
  • 6v6: 10 players
  • 8v8: 13 players Amended 04-01-2003
  • 11v11: 17 players

A roster limit may be waived for a team with the approval of the Board.

Coaches

  • The formal coaching staff of each team should consist of a coach and an assistant coach. During the actual play of games, only the players, the two staff members and the team sponsor will be permitted to be on the designated sidelines.

Note: A team may utilize the services of any number of assistants as may be available for that team's practices.

  • Coaches are entitled to receive a shirt from the Association if they do not already have one. Coaches in the Instructional Division will receive a t-shirt.
  • Coaches are entitled to receive a voucher which can be redeemed for the cost of one player registration fee in one of the two seasons following the season in which the coach lead a team (i.e. was the head coach). This voucher will only be given to a coach who holds the required license for their division (In-House and Travel Divisions only) and attends the preseason meeting held for the coaches in their division. Amended 07-01-2003

Selection

  • Coaches and assistant coaches shall be chosen by the Division Director based largely on an evaluation of the willingness and ability of candidates to work within the guidelines set out in the training program of the Association. When evaluating a candidate, the Division Director must consider whether the candidate:
  1. holds an appropriate coaching license
  2. has attended mandatory and optional training sessions
  3. has organized and delivered an appropriate training program to players in previous seasons
  4. exhibits sporting behavior on and off the field

The Division Director should consider whether the candidate:

  1. has first-hand playing experience

The Division Director may consider whether the candidate:

  1. has a child on the team
  2. has volunteered in the Association previously
  • Division Directors must submit a list of his or her selections for coaches and assistant coaches at least four weeks before the opening of a season.
  • Division Directors cannot vote on their own selections.
  • When decisions concerning Board members chosen to be coaches are made, the Board member in question will be asked to leave the room during selections and will be notified as all other candidates.
  • Appropriate communication should be made by the program director by phone or letter promptly after the Board's decision on coaches list.
  • Should a coach be removed from a team for any reason, a new coach will be appointed by the Division Director.

Responsibilities and Guidelines

  • Schedules will be provided to each coach, player and sponsor.
  • The coaching staff and sponsor of In-House and Travel Division teams shall be restricted to the area adjacent to the touch line extending from the half field line to the corner flag of that half of the field of play first defended by their team as determined by the coin toss at the commencement of the game.
  • Excessive yelling at, or intimidation of referees and assistant referees will not be tolerated. Coaches, assistant coaches and sponsors may be issued cautions or ejections for such conduct.
  • Coaching staffs for In-House and Travel Division teams shall be allowed on the field of play only during injury time outs. Under no other circumstances should a coach be on the field of play while the ball is in play.
  • Coaches can dismiss a player whose conduct is deemed detrimental to the team at any time during the season. Prior to such a dismissal, the coach must provide at least one warning to the player, and at the same time, notify both the parent and the child in question, and the Division Director stating the reasons and action to be taken if said conduct continues. The Division Director shall notify the Board if such a dismissal has been considered. All player dismissals can be appealed to the Division Director and, if necessary, to the Board.
  • If a coach or member(s) of a team engages in conduct which is considered a serious breach of sporting behavior, or is in some way detrimental to the Association, the Board may ban the offender(s) from further participation in Association activities.

Training

  • It is the individual's responsibility to meet the Association's requirements via certification and licensing clinics whenever they are held. The Association will promote and provide access to Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) sanctioned certified courses.

These courses will be held in Franklin whenever possible.

  • All head coaches of teams in the Association will be required to be licensed. Instructional Division coaches must attend a clinic sponsored by the Association. In-House Division coaches must earn at least a "G" (Junior age bracket) or "F" (Senior age bracket). Travel Division coaches must earn at least an "E" license.
  • The Association will reimburse any member who has completed a state-sponsored coaching license course in order to meet the Association’s coaching requirement. Specifically, the Association will reimburse as follows:

    100% reimbursement for G, F, E licenses

    50% reimbursement for D license

    0% reimbursement for C license

Variance from this policy can be made at the discretion of the BOD.

  • The Association will reimburse any Franklin student (up through high school age) for 100% of the clinic fees for an E or F license clinic sponsored by the state.
  • The funds will be distributed once proof of completion of the course has been established. A license certificate serves as valid proof.

Referees

Training

  • The Association will reimburse students involved in FYSA who take and pass a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) referee certification course 100% of the course fee.

Laws of the Game

Amended 08-27-2003

In as much as the Association serves a broad age spectrum of children, certain standards will be maintained except where specifically modified to enhance the quality of training and play for a specific division. The following shall serve as the determining criteria for such exceptions.

All coaches and managers are reminded that they will be dealing with highly impressionable young minds. Their personal conduct should be such as to instill the positive values of good sporting behavior, self-discipline, and self-development within a cooperative team environment.

Any coach or manager who displays a disregard for these laws, the aims of the Association or otherwise fails to maintain an acceptable code of conduct is subject to dismissal.

For all cases, one should first refer to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Laws of the Game. Listed here are modifications and/or additions to the FIFA laws for the In-House Division of the Association. The In-House Division includes under-9, under-10, and under-12 (Senior) age brackets and slight variations exist between these brackets.

Law I -- The Field of Play

  1. Dimensions. The field should measure 50-70 yards in length by 30-50 yards in width.
  2. Field Markings. The center circle should measure 6 yards in radius and be split in half by the haflway line.
  3. The Goal Area. This area should include lines drawn 6 yards from the inside of each goalpost, extending into the field of play 6 yards and connected with a line drawn parallel with the goal line.
  4. The Penalty Area. For the under-9 and under-10 brackets, this area should include lines drawn 12 yards from the inside of each goalpost, extending into the field of play 12 yards and connected with a line drawn parallel with the goal line.
  5. Flagposts. [no changes]
  6. The Corner-Arc. [no changes]
  7. Goals. Goals should measure 7 feet in height by 12 feet in length.
  8. Safety. [no changes]

Law II -- The Ball

  1. A Size 4 ball is to be used for the In-House Division.

Law III -- Numbers of Players

  1. Teams in the under-9 and under-10 brackets will field a maximum of five (5) players and play "5-versus-5". Teams in the Senior bracket will field a maximum of six (6) players and play "6-versus-6".
  2. If a team has less than a full team, the opposing team shall play with the same number of players on the field as the shorthanded team.
  3. Substitutions.
    1. A player who has been removed in favor of a substitute can later return to the game as a substitute according to the provisions of this Law.
    2. Substitutions may be made freely at the following points of the game: halftime, goalkick, offensive throw-in, and after a goal is scored. When substitutions are made on an offensive throw-in, the defensive team may also substitute.
  4. After a yellow card has been issued, the player receiving the yellow card must be substituted.
    5. Only the player cautioned may be substituted.
  5. Any injured player(s) causing a stoppage in play must be substituted. The opposing team may substitute during this stoppage. All injuries that result in bleeding will be substituted for immediately. No bloodied player will return to the game unless bandaged, and blood-soaked uniforms cannot be worn.
  6. Each team may have one head coach and one assistant coach behind the team bench. Spectators must be on the side of the field opposite the team benches.

Law IV -- Players' Equipment

In addition to FIFA Law IV.1 - Law IV.3.

  1. Players must wear shinguards.
  2. Shirts (uniform jerseys) will be made available by the Association.
  3. Players with casts or splints, even if padded, or with exposed and unpadded metal on orthopedic braces, will not be allowed to play.
  4. Articles which may constitute a danger to other players must be removed prior to the start of a game. This includes, but is not limited to, jewelry, earrings, watches, barrettes, chains, belts, and head coverings with any visor or protrusions.
  5. Players are not permitted to have food, gum, or candy in their mouth, nor wear any jewelry while playing in a game. Any players failing to follow this guideline shall be sent off the field and may re-enter the game at a stoppage in play in accordance with Law III.
  6. At the discretion of the Referee, players may wear sweatpants, sweatshirts, or jackets under their uniforms in cold weather.

Law V -- Referees

[no changes]

Law VI -- Assistant Referees

[no changes]

Law VII -- Duration of the Game

  1. All games shall consist of two halves of 30 minutes each.
  2. The interval of 5 minutes at half-time shall be extended only by consent of the Referee.
  3. Play shall stop when time is expired and the Referee has blown the whistle. The ball is considered out of play at that point and no scoring shall be allowed.
  4. Overtime play. Overtime periods will be played only during playoff competition in the Senior bracket if, at the end of regulation time the score is tied, according to the following provisions:
    • In preliminary round competition or a championship game, a maximum of two 10-minute sudden-victory periods will be played with no goalkeepers.
    • If the score is still tied in a preliminary round game, the game will be decided by a shoot-out.
    • If the score in a championship game, the game will be declared a draw.
  5. Rules for a Shoot-Out:
    • A coin toss decides which team shoots first (the winner of the toss shoots first).
    • All kicks will be taken from the center of the field (on the midfield line, halfway between the touch-lines).
    • All kicks will be taken toward the same goal, decided by the Referee.
    • No goalkeepers are permitted.
    • Only those players on the field at the end of the game will be allowed to shoot.
    • In the first round, all players from each team shoot once, alternating between each team.
    • The coach decides the order of shooters for his/her team. The same order shall be used in each successive round.
    • If each team scores the same number of goals in the first round, shooting continues with sudden-victory shots. That is, the team that scores while the opposing team misses, becomes the winner.
    • Both teams always shoots an equal number of times.

Law VIII -- The Start of Play

[no changes]

Law IX -- Ball In and Out of Play

[no changes]

Law X -- Method of Scoring

  1. Team standings shall only be kept for the Senior bracket (not for the under-9 or under-10 brackets) and will be calculated as follows:
    • 2 points for a win
    • 1 point for a draw (tie)
    • 0 points for a loss
  2. In case of a tie in team standings, the tie shall be broken using the following criteria:
    1. Head-to-head competition.
    2. Least goals allowed.
    3. Most goals scored.
  3. If the championship game ends in a draw according to the provisions of Law VII, cochampions will be declared.
  4. Every team in the Senior In-House Division shall participate in post-season playoff competition.

Law XI -- Off-Side

No off-side infraction will be called.

Law XII -- Fouls and Misconduct

  1. On goal kicks or on goalkeeper saves followed by a throw out or punt, the ball must touch the ground or be touched by any player in the defensive half of the field. Infringement of this rule will result in the loss of the ball to the other team. Play shall restart with an indirect kick at the midfield line nearest the point of contact.
  2. If a player (or coach) is issued a red-card and sent off the field by the Referee, that player (or coach) shall be required to sit out of the next scheduled game.
  3. If a player (or coach) leaves the bench to take part in a fracas and is ejected by the Referee, that player (or coach) will be suspended for the remainder of the season.
  4. Note: Girls may use their arms to protect the upper part of their body by crossing their arms over the upper part of the body, flat against the chest. No player may use their arms to trap or direct the ball.

Law XIII -- Free-Kick

  1. Players of the team opposing that of the player taking the free-kick shall not approach within 6 yards of the ball until it is in play. If the free-kick is a goal-kick, opposing players must stand outside the penalty area defined in Law I.

Law XIV -- Penalty Kick

  1. Penalty kicks will be taken from a point eight yards (for U-10) or twelve yards (for older teams) directly in front of the midpoint of the goal. All other players must stand beyond the midfield line.

Law XV -- Throw-In

[no changes]

Law XVI -- Goal-Kick

[no changes]

Law XVII -- Corner-Kick

  1. Players of the team opposing that of the player taking the corner-kick shall not approach within 6 yards of the ball until it is in play.

Law XVIII -- Field Conditions

  1. A field will be considered unplayable if its conditions could result in a hazard to the players.
  2. The Division Director shall determine whether or not a field is unplayable. The decision shall be made prior to the start of the game.
  3. Once the game has commenced, the referee with both coaches may stop a game. The game if stopped, must be replayed.

Law XIX -- Game Starting Time

  1. Every effort must be made to have games start on time. If a team has not arrived by 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time, the missing team shall forfeit the match.

Spectator Responsibilities

  • All league personnel are encouraged to seek the support and cooperation of their team's parents, relatives and friends to make each game an enjoyable experience.
  • Spectators should remain off the field and at a distance from the touchlines during a match. Under no circumstances shall spectators be permitted to be along either goal line during a match.
  • Unruly conduct, including harassment of players, staff and referees, and foul or abusive language will not be tolerated. Should such occur, the referee shall stop the game and, accompanied by both coaches, approach the individual causing the disruption. If the misconduct does not cease immediately, the spectator will be asked to leave the area. If it is determined the unruly spectator is related to one of the players and the spectator persists, the referee and coaches shall inform him/her that the related player is subject to ejection from the current game and suspension from playing in the next regularly scheduled game.
  • Spectators are asked to help the Association keep the fields in shape by properly disposing of trash into available receptacles.