Likoni Community Football League
ADMINISTRATIVE
BYLAWS
as amended 3/ 1 / 2011
EMBED Word.Picture.8
Likoni Community Football League
ADMINISTRATIVE BYLAWS
as amended 3 /1 / 2011
0.0 General
0.1 The general rules and guidelines of F.I.F.A. shall be followed except where the rules contained within the L.C.F.L. Code of Regulations or these Administrative Bylaws are more restrictive, if not otherwise in conflict with the rules and guidelines of F.I.F.A.
0.2 As a participant in any activity associated with L.C.F.L., all persons, (players, coaches, trainers, referees, spectators, etc.) agree to comply with and to abide by these Administrative Bylaws.
1.0 Scheduling
1.1 There shall be a season during which 10-12 games will be scheduled for all teams during the months of January, February, and March.
1.2 There shall be a season during which 10-12 games will be scheduled for all teams during May, June, and July.
1.3 There shall be a third season during which 10-12 games will be scheduled for all teams during September, October, and November.
2.0 Divisions / Teams / Clubs
2.1 Prior to each seasonal year, every coach shall submit in writing a declaration of intention to coach for their team that will be playing during that season.
2.2 Based on the declarations that have been received, the Executive Committee shall determine the number of divisions, which teams will be in those divisions and the number of games each team will play, at a meeting that shall be held approximately 2 weeks prior to the beginning of each season.
2.3 The President and Vice President of Administration and Planning of the L.C.F.L. shall establish a date prior to each season after which no new declarations will be accepted.
2.4 For all teams, U-16 and older, the maximum number of players on a team’s roster shall be 22 and the minimum number of players shall be 13. For all teams, U-15 and younger, participating in an 11 v 11 format, the maximum roster size will be 20 players and the minimum roster size will be 13 players.
2.6 The maximum number of coaches on a team shall be three (4). The minimum number of coaches on a team shall be one (1).
2.7 A player or coach shall not be considered as added or dropped from a team or its roster until a written statement has been signed, submitted and approved by the L.C.F.L.
2.8 A team may transfer between divisions only if both member leagues agree to the transfer and do so in writing. If the member leagues do not agree, the Executive Committee shall be empowered to resolve the dispute. Such transfers may not take place during any of the three seasons. A transfer may be made during any of the holiday months.
2.9 All teams, U-14 and younger, must play in their own age group, (i.e., they are not allowed to “play up”), unless a specific exemption is granted on a season by season basis by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Executive Committee present at the preseason meeting outlined in Section 2.2.
2.10 A team may elect to have up to the below listed number of players participate in LCFL league games only, (see 2.11.5) that are not rostered to their team in the following two circumstances ONLY. Both the team that the players are rostered to and the team that the players will be playing for MUST be sponsored by the same member league. If the member league sponsors teams from more than one club, then the same club must organize both teams for the purposes of this section. If the member league sponsors, a club and also sponsors teams that are not part of a particular club, (i.e. independent of any one club), then those independent teams may act as a single club for the purposes of this section. If a club is associated with two separate member leagues, then for the purposes of this section 2.11, players from the club sponsored by one member league may not be a Club Guest Player for teams from that same club if the team is sponsored by another member league.
a) if those players are rostered to a team that is participating in a younger age division than the team that they will be playing for. (i.e. If they are rostered to a team playing in the U-12 division), those players that are U-11 & U-12 may play for a team playing in a U-13 division. A U-12 player may play for a team that is registered as a U-14 team but not for a team that is registered as a U-14/15 team, if both teams are sponsored by the same club.)
b) if those players are roster to a team that is participating in a lower competitive division in the same age division than the team that they will be playing for. (i.e. They are rostered to a team playing in the U-12 ‘B’ division they may play for a team playing in a U-12 ‘A’ division, if both teams are sponsored by the same club.)
NOTE: For Example: A U-11 or U-12 player on a team participating in a U-13 age division may not participate with a team that is playing in a U-12 age division. A player on a team participating in a U-12 ‘A‘ division may not participate with a team that is playing in a U-12 ‘B’ age division.
In a game using an 8 v 8 format, a maximum of 3 club guest players may participate the game
In a game using an 11 v 11 format, a maximum of 4 club guest players may participate the game
2.11.1 A maximum of 20 players may be on the sidelines, in uniform, and participate in any one game for a U-13 or older team. A maximum of 16 players may be on the sidelines, in uniform, and participate in any one game for a U-11 or U-12 team. A maximum of 12 players may be on the sidelines, in uniform, and participate in any one game for a U-9 or U-10 team.
These limits are applicable regardless of whether or not there are any club guest players participating in the game.
2.11.2 For the purposes of this section, boys may not participate on teams that are registered as a girl’s team.
2.11.3 Players may not play up more than two years above the player’s natural age group as outlined in section 3.6.
2.11.4 This section is not applicable while teams are participating in the LCFL end of the season tournaments unless the team that the player is originally rostered to is not participating in that season’s LCFL tournament. All other provisions of this section 2.11, including the requirement that the player and the team that the player would play for during the tournament are part of the same league and/or club, shall apply. No player may participate with more than one team during the entire tournament, including all age divisions. No player may play in more than 2 scheduled games in a single day.
NOTE: The LCFL end of season tournament is considered one event, spanning two days to a week , and as such a player whose team played in the LCFL tournament may NOT participate with any other team playing in the tournament, regardless of the weekend the teams involved played during the tournament.
2.11.5 Teams making use of this rule during LCFL league games must provide a written list of those Club Guest Players that are to play in that game to the center referee and to the opposing team’s coaches prior to the start of the game. The head coach or in his absence, an assistant coach, shall verify that the name of all players that participated in the game pursuant to this section when the game card is signed at the conclusion of the game. All players participating in a game under this section must have their player pass at the game.
SPECIAL NOTE TO REFEREES: It shall be the responsibility of the referee, when so notified, to write the names and player id number located on the player pass, of the players who will be participating in the game pursuant to this section on the reverse side of the standard game card.
2.11.6 A player’s first playing obligation is to play all LCFL league games and LCFL tournament games, (see 2.11.4 concerning LCFL Tournament) with the team they are rostered to for the seasonal year. If a player is rostered on Team B that has a game that will be played on Tuesday at 6:00 PM, than that player can not play for Team A, under this section, if Team A also has a game on Tuesday at 6:00 PM.
2.13 LCFL will accept teams in the U-8, U-9, and U-10 age divisions in the following, “Academy” format. Players and their coaches so registered shall be considered as recreational players / coaches.
2.13.1 Member leagues / clubs may register a minimum of seven (7) players and an unlimited maximum number of U-7, U-8, U-9 or U-10 players in each of those respective age groups, subject to the following restrictions:
If a team is declared as a U-8 team, no more than ½ the number of players registered by the club for that team may be U-7’s.
A U-7 player may be registered in the U-8 age group but not within the U-9 or U-10 age group.
A U-8 player may be registered in the U-9 age group but not within the U-10 age group.
A U-9 player may be registered as part of the U-10 age group.
The age of the oldest player registered for a member league / club / team in an age group shall determine the “age” for that age group organized by the member league / club / team.
A coach must be registered with each member league’s / club’s / team’s age group.
2.13.2 If a member league, or if a member league sponsors more than one club, a club, registers some of it players using this format in either the U-8, U-9, or U-10, boys or girls age groups, respectively, then that member league or club must register all of it players in that specific age / gender group in this format. For example: Club XYZ chooses to enter some of its U-9 Boys in this format, then Club XYZ must enter all of its U-9 boys in this format. However, Club XYZ does not have to enter any other age / gender group in this academy format.
2.13.3 Any player registered under this format may be used as a Club Guest Player as provided in section 2.11 for a team that is not registered under this format, except that players registered as part of a U-8 academy team may not be a club guest player on a U-10 or older team. A player that is rostered to a team that is not participating in this format may not participate in this format of play under the Club Guest Player rules, Section 2.11.
2.13.4 The assigned team name will only reflect the name of the member league or club, “U-8”, “U-9” or “U-10”, and the gender of the team. For example: “XYZ S.C. U-8 Boys”.
2.13.5 The standard registration process, including the issuance of LCFL player passes, shall be followed.
2.13.6 After the pre-season deadline for the declaration of teams has passed, representatives of all leagues / clubs / teams that have declared teams in this format will be designated by the president as a committee charged with the oversight of the respective age groups for this format. This “U-8, (U-9 / U-10), (Boys / Girls), Committee” shall meet approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of each season to schedule 5 to 10 common play dates at one or more common sites and shall determine the parameters, (# of players on the field, field size, length of quarters, specials rules, etc.) for this age group.
2.13.7 During games using this format, any coach who has been issued a coach pass for another team from that same member league or club, that participates in LCFL, may coach during any game for that member league or club.
2.13.8 The per player fees for players participating in this format shall be as follows:
N/A
2.13.9 All of the rules contained in LCFL’s bylaws, including but not limited to, sponsorship of teams, conduct, recruiting, transfers, coach licenses, and Risk Management, remain applicable.
2.13.10 Team standings will be maintained. All leagues, clubs, teams, coaches, parents of players and players must recognize that the purpose of this format is to provide a competitive and disciplined environment where player development is most important.
2.14 For use in this section 2.0 and elsewhere in these administrative bylaws, the term “club” is defined to mean a collection of teams that have two or more of the following attributes:
are known by a similar set of team names,
have a common set of coaches and trainers,
and /or
have their game and practice fields at one or more common locations.
3.0 Player Eligibility
3.1 Players may be chosen at the discretion of the member leagues within the following guidelines:
a) Players should be chosen because of demonstrated skill or playing ability.
b) A team that has only male players or has male and female players shall be registered as a male team. A team that only has female players shall be registered as a female team.
c) No player shall be discriminated against because of their race, religion, creed, or national origin.
3.2 For participation in their respective age groups, (U-19, U-18, U17, U-16, U-15, U-14, U-13, U-12, U-11, U-10, U-9) all players registered must be born on or after Jan. 1st of the birth year.
3.3 No more than ½ of the number, to a maximum of six (6), U-8 players may be on the roster of a U-9 team. No U-8 players may be registered on a U-10 or older team. No more than ½ of the number, to a maximum of six (6), U-9 players may be on the roster of a U-10 team. No more than ½ of the number, to a maximum of seven (7), U-9 players may be on the roster of a of a U-11 team.
3.4 No player U-14 and younger may play on a team that is 3 years or more older than the player’s natural age group, (i.e. a U-9 player can not play on a U-12 or older team, a U-12 can not play on a U-15 or older team, a U-14 can not play on a U-17 or older team, but a U-15 player may play on a U-19 team).
3.5 A player may be released (dropped by the coach) from a team by the coach only if the player is unable to play for one of the following reasons:
a) The player has violated a LCFL disciplinary rule.
b) The player has moved beyond a reasonable travel distance.
c) The player is injured in such a manner that it is known with certainty that the player will not be able to participate for the remainder of the seasonal year.
3.6.1 Before such a player will be released from the roster, a written statement including the signature of the player and their parent(s) shall be submitted.
3.6.2 If a player refuses or is unavailable to sign the required written statement, the Executive Committee shall be empowered to authorize the release of the player from the team roster upon written request by the team’s head coach along with an explanation of the lack of the written statement.
4.0 Fields
4.1 Every member league must be able to provide a field that the member league has agreed to sponsor.
4.2 The fields provided by the member leagues must be available on Sundays. At either 10 am, 2 pm, or 4 pm.
4.3 For tournament play only, games will be held at the three fields located in Dimbwini, and field at Mshalee. (This will change)
4.4 No member league or representative of a member league may interfere with the relationship between another member league and the other member league’s field provider.
5.0 Financial Policy
5.1 Each member league shall be financially responsible for all teams that the member league has agreed to sponsor in all fiscal matters relating to LCFL.
6.0 Conduct
6.1 All member leagues are required to hold the teams that they sponsor, the players and coaches on those teams, the parents and supporters of the players on those teams, to the highest standards of fair play, good sportsmanship and ethics.
6.1.1 Member leagues shall be responsible for maintaining supervisory control of the players and coaches of the teams that they have agreed to sponsor.
6.1.2 Head coaches shall be responsible for the conduct of themselves, their assistant coaches, their players and their team’s supporters.
6.2 In recognition of the fact that rules are not always followed and to have effective management of the league, a method of imposing sanctions for violations of leagues rules must be established.: Accordingly, the following three levels of sanctions, which may be imposed upon players, coaches and any spectator at any LCFL league or tournament game, are established:
6.2.1 Minor infractions are offenses or occasions of objectionable conduct for which sanctions ranging from a letter of reprimand to a suspension of up to 4 games or two weeks may be imposed. Minor infractions are acts such as, but not limited to the following:
a) A player or a coach receives a second red card during a single season,
b) A spectator enters the field of play during a league or tournament game, without the permission of the referee.
c) Having an improperly registered player participate in a game,
d) Extreme use of profane, vulgar, threatening or abusive language.
6.2.2 Major infractions are those offenses or acts of misconduct for which sanctions ranging from a suspension of 1 or more games to a suspension from all LCFL sponsored activities for the balance of the current season or the following season of play may be imposed. Major infractions are acts such as, but not limited to:
a) A player or coach receives a third red card within a single season.
b) Severe verbal abuse of a referee or Assistant Referee,
c) Extreme verbal abuse of a coach, player or spectator,
d) Threats of violence, whether directed against a player, coach, referee, Assistant Referee or spectator,
e) A team receives 4 red cards or a total of 8 yellow and/or red cards in one match.
g) Improper removal of a player from a team roster during the seasonal year, (i.e. cutting a player from the team roster), as outlined in Section 8.1
6.2.3 Serious infractions are grievous offenses or acts of gross misconduct that threaten the integrity of the sport of football for which sanctions ranging from a multi-game suspension to a multi-year removal from some or all activities associated with LCFL can be made. Serious infractions are those acts such as, but not limited to:
a) Physical assault of a referee, player, coach or spectator.
b) Deliberate submission of or use of a fraudulent birth certificate, team roster, player pass, coach pass. Such individuals, if they are adults, shall be suspended for a minimum of two (2) years. Any player, for whom such a fraudulent birth certificate, team roster, travel permit, player pass, coach pass, shall be suspended for a minimum of 6 months.
6.3 In those cases in which a serious infraction is alleged to have occurred and the President determines that it is in the best interest of the integrity of LCFL the President shall be empowered to immediately suspend the person(s) involved until such time as a Grievance Committee (Executive Committee) hearing can be held to review the allegation.
6.4 If the President or the Vice President – Administration and Planning deems that a matter should be reviewed, a Grievance Committee (Executive Committee) hearing shall be held within 30 days of the receipt of written notification of an alleged violation, (or within 60 days of an violation that is alleged to have occurred during the Fall or Spring seasons), of any portion of either the Code of the Regulations or the Administrative Bylaws, either in the letter or spirit of those rules, except as follows:
a) A person has been suspended pursuant to Section 6.3, in which case the Grievance Committee (Executive Committee) shall meet within 10 days to review the matter.
b) A person alleged to have violated either rule 6.2.1 (a) or 6.2.2 (a) shall be immediately and automatically suspended for either 2 or 6 games, respectively. If all of the red cards that were issued to the person were for either violent conduct and/or serious foul play, then this suspension shall be for 4 or 8 games, respectively. Upon receipt of a written request for a hearing, addressed to the Vice President - Conduct, the suspension shall be stayed until a hearing can be held before the Grievance Committee (Executive Committee).
c) One or more of the persons who are alleged to have violated one or more portions of either the Code of Regulations or the Administrative Bylaws submits a written request to the Vice-President of Conduct for a postponement of the proceedings before the Grievance Committee. When such a request is received, the Vice-President of Conduct may grant a postponement of those proceeding for up to 30 days.
6.4.1 During a hearing held by the Grievance Committee (Executive Committee) , the order of the hearing shall be:
Statement by the committee chairman as to the nature of the dispute under consideration by the committee and the names of the parties to the dispute.
b) Identification of witnesses that will be present testimony for the committee’s consideration.
c) Opening remarks by the complaining party.
d) Opening remarks by the party who is the principal of the dispute.
e) Presentation and questioning by both parties of relevant witnesses and documentation.
f) Questioning of principal by complaining party.
g) Questioning of complaining party by principal.
h Questioning of the parties to the dispute by the members of the Grievance Committee (Executive Committee).
i) Closing remarks by the complaining party and the principal to the dispute.
The Chairman of the Grievance Committee (Executive Committee) may change the order of the hearing as necessary.
6.4.2 Only those persons identified at the beginning of the hearing as a potential witness may present testimony at the hearing. Persons identified as potential witnesses shall not be present in the hearing room while testimony is presented to the committee by other witnesses.
6.4.3 The chairman of the committee shall have the authority to rule on all matters relating to the relevancy of testimony and the submission of documentation. The chairman of the committee shall also be empowered to resolve any administrative matter that may come up during the hearing in order to provide that all parties have the opportunity to receive an open, fair and impartial hearing of the dispute. If during the course of the hearing, an administrative ruling by the chairman is contested by any party to the hearing, the Grievance Committee (Exec. Committee) , as a whole, will take up the matter. The decision of the Grievance Committee (Exec. Committee), when taken as a whole, shall be the final and binding.
6.4.4 The parties to the dispute shall be notified, via certified mail, of the decision reached by the Grievance Committee (Executive Committee) within 14 days of the conclusion of the hearing.
6.5 These rules of conduct are applicable during the entire seasonal year, including league play, LCFL tournament play, other tournament play, and at all functions in which the persons are participating based on their registrations as player or coaches within LCFL.
6.6 In those matters referred directly to LCFL reserves the right to impose sanctions.
6.7 In those matters in which the member league who sponsored the team, player or coach involved, chooses to impose sanctions, LCFL reserves the right to impose such additional sanctions as are deemed appropriate by the Grievance Committee (Executive Committee).
6.8 In those matters involving misconduct at tournaments, the sanctions imposed may include a prohibition against participation in subsequent in-town or out-of-town tournaments, by the coach, player, or team involved.
6.9 In all cases, the sanctions that may be imposed by LCFL are in addition to any sanctions that may have been imposed by a referee on the field.
6.10 All complaints, whether made by a coach, player, referee, parent, spectator or any person, must be submitted in writing to the attention of the President. The complaint must provide the date, time, location of the occurrence, the name(s) of the person(s) involved and sufficient details as to the nature of the occurrence in order that an informed decision can be made in the matter. Complaints received more than 365 days after the date of occurrence shall not be reviewed.
6.11 Any player or coach who is issued a red card, (sent off), during any game, whether a LCFL league game or LCFL tournament game, shall not be permitted to play or coach in the next LCFL league game or LCFL tournament game for that team during the current season or, if necessary, during the subsequent season. This section shall also apply where a player or coach has received a red card in a sanctioned tournament where the red card suspension was not served during that tournament. The term “during any game” as used within these bylaws shall include the time from when the referee and/or the assistant referee(s) arrived at the game site until the referee and and/or the assistant referee(s) leave the vicinity of the game site including any adjacent parking lot.
6.12 If a person is registered as a coach for more than 1 team, the sanctions imposed, depending upon the nature of the occurrence, may impact on her/his association with 1 or more of the teams.
6.13 If during the course of a league game or league tournament game, a dispute arises as to whether the game should continue and the question of the dispute involves the Laws of the Game, conduct of the participants or the spectators, or any other issue under the general authority of the referee, the referee may order the game terminated or continued as the referee deems appropriate. If a team refuses to resume playing a game when so instructed by the referee, the Vice-President - Competition shall be empowered to declare that game as a forfeit. In addition, the Vice-President - Competition and Conduct shall be empowered to suspend the head coach or other person who refused to continue the game for up to 3 games. If within 7 days of the being notified of the suspension, the person being suspended submits a written request addressed to the Vice President - Conduct, the suspension shall be stayed until a hearing can be held before the Grievance Committee (Executive Committee).
6.14 The use of any tobacco product, including but not limited to cigars, cigarettes, pipes, snuff and chewing tobacco, by coaches, trainers, players and referees while engaged in any LCFL function that involves youth soccer players is prohibited. Under this rule, a LCFL function is defined as any of the following activities; team or individual practices, league games, tournament games, tryouts. A violation of this bylaw shall be deemed a minor infraction as defined in bylaw 6.2.1.
6.15 The use of, the possession of, or being under the influence of, alcohol or illegal drugs by coaches, trainers, players or referees while engaged in a LCFL function that involves youth soccer players is prohibited. Under this rule, a LCFL function is defined as any of the following activities; team or individual practices, league games, tournament games, tryouts. A violation of this bylaw shall be deemed a serious infraction as defined in bylaw 6.2.3.
7.0 Games.
Games shall be played using the following standards for each age group:
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| U-9 U- 10 | U-11 U-12 | U-13, U-14/15 Fall | U-13 & U-14 Spring | U-15 U-16 | U-17, U-18, U-19. |
| No. of players on field | 6 v 6 | 8 v 8 | 11 v 11 | 11 v 11 | 11 v 11 | 11 v 11 |
| Min. Goal size In Feet | 18 x 6 | 21 x 7 | 24 x 8 | 24 x 8 | 24 x 8 | 24 x 8 |
| Max. Goal size In Feet | 19 x 7 | 21 x 7 | 24 x 8 | 24 x 8 | 24 x 8 | 24 x 8 |
| Min. field size In Yards | 40 x 60 | 45 x 75 | 55 x 100 | 55 x 100 | 55 x 100 | 60 x 110 |
| Max. field size In Yards | 40 x 60 | 50 x 80 | 80 x 130 | 80 x 130 | 80 x 130 | 80 x 130 |
| Penalty box In Yards | 26 x 10 | 34 x 14 | 44 x 18 | 44 x 18 | 44 x 18 | 44 x 18 |
| Goal box In Yards | 16 X 6 | 18 X 6 | 20 x 6 | 20 x 6 | 20 x 6 | 20 x 6 |
| Circle & arcs In Yards | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Penalty spot from goal line | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
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Length of halves in minutes |
25 |
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35 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
| Halftime interval in minutes | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Ball size | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Min. Center Referee pay w/ 2 Asst. Ref. |
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| Min. Center Referee pay, with 1 AR & 1 club Asst. Ref. |
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| Min. Center Referee pay with 2 club Asst. Ref. |
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| Min. Asst. Ref. pay |
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| Min. Asst. Ref. pay with 1 club Asst. Ref. |
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As a point of clarification:
If a team chooses to use 1 or 2 certified Assistant Referees in a U-9 game, (they are not required to do so), the minimum pay for the certified Assistant Referees is .... Club Assistant Referees may be paid, if the home team for that league game chooses to do so, as provided above.
All games, U-10 through U-19, must always use ….., i.e. (1 center referee with two assistant referees...). The assistant referees can either be certified referees or club assistant referees. See Bylaw 7.5
The following special rules shall apply only in U-9 games.
The standard offside rule shall be applicable in U-9 games.
Games shall be officiated with a single center referee with the option to use certified or non-certified assistant referees.
7.2 Scoring: For the purpose of scoring in league and tournament play, points shall be awarded as follows: a win = 3 points; a tie = 1 point; a loss = 0 points; a forfeit = -3 points.
7.2.1 A game shall be considered as a forfeit for a team when;
a) the team plays with an ineligible player or
b) the team fails to report to the designated field within 15 minutes (after) the schedule kickoff time with the following minimum number of players:
If playing in an 11 v 11 format, the minimum number of players is 7.
If playing in an 8 v 8 format, the minimum number of players is 6.
If playing in a 6 v 6 format, the minimum number of players is 5.
c) the home team allows a person to act as a center referee who is not currently a registered referee or
d) a game is not rescheduled to be played within 14 days after it has been canceled as outlined in Section
e) in which cases the game may be considered as a forfeit for both teams.
7.2.2 LCFL shall make the final determination if the game in question shall be declared a forfeit. If game is declared a forfeit, the non-forfeiting team shall be a awarded a win and shall be scored as if the non-forfeiting team scored three (3) goals and the team that forfeited scored zero (0) goals. If a game is declared a forfeit for both teams, then the game will be recorded as a zero (0) to zero (0) tie with each team receiving -3 points, as provided in section 7.2.
7.3 At the conclusion of every game, the coach of the winning team shall be responsible in contacting LCFL. In case of a tie, the home team coach shall be responsible for contacting LCFL.
7.4 Standings will be determined on the basis of the online score recording system, using the points system as outlined in Section 7.2. If at the end of the season, there is a tie in the point standings, the results of head to head competition will determine the champion. If the teams remain tied, the teams will be declared co-champions.
7.5 Prior to the kickoff of a scheduled game, the home team coach shall be responsible for:
7.5.1 No team or coach shall refuse to accept any referee assignment made by LCFL.
7.5.2 To be considered as a certified referee, the referee must currently be registered with LCFL.
7.5.3 In addition, all referees working during LCFL games must be able to have a demonstrable ability to use basic Kiswahili verbal and written skills as those skills would relate to working as a referee of youth soccer games within LCFL. The Executive Committee shall develop the necessary procedures by which the required minimum level of Kiswahili verbal and written skills is to be determined.
7.6 The away team coach shall be responsible for contacting the home team coach at least 72 hours prior to the game to confirm the date, time, and place of the scheduled game.
7.7 If a game cannot be played due to a scheduling conflict, (See Section 7.7.1 below), the coach of the team that can not play the game as scheduled must notify the opposing team’s coach a minimum of 5 calendar days prior to the scheduled game. Both teams must notify the LCFL a minimum of 4 calendar days prior to the date the game was scheduled. Failure to provide the required notification and a resultant confirmation may result in forfeiture of the game.
7.7.1 For the purpose of bylaw 7.7, the definition of “scheduling conflict” shall not mean one or more of the following reasons:
The unavailability of a particular coach for a particular game. (Note: All teams have at least two coaches and teams may make use of a substitute coach as provided in section 7.9.2.)
The unavailability of players, where the number of players that are available for the game meets or exceeds the standard number of players on the field for a game, (6 players for a 6 v 6 contest, 8 players for a 8 v 8 contest, 11 players for a 11 v 11 contest).
c) Attendance at any tournament where the team applied to the tournament more than 30 days prior to the scheduled league game. Coaches should take advantage of the pre-season opportunity to block out known tournament dates, as well as other known conflicts, and to reschedule games as needed during the pre-season scheduling process.
7.7.2 The reasons listed in bylaw 7.7.1 are NOT sufficient reasons to request the re-scheduling of a league game.
7.7.3 If a coach of a team requests that a game be rescheduled, the requesting party must contact the opposing team and the two teams must agree upon a date, time, and place that the rescheduled game is to be played. Upon making such a determination, the coach that is requesting the change must notify the LCFL to have the original game cancelled and the new game scheduled. There needs to be a written statement that includes the date and time of the rescheduled game and signatures from both teams' coaches. A team that fails to follow these procedures may be held liable for payment for the referees who show up for the game as originally scheduled and the game may be declared as a forfeit for that team..
7.7.4 Both coaches must make every attempt to reschedule the game at a mutually acceptable time and date. If the coaches can not agree as to when to reschedule the game, either coach may contact LCFL for assistance to avoid having the game declared as a forfeit as outlined in Section 7.2.1 (e).
7.8 Each team shall be responsible for its own uniforms. In addition:
7.8.1 Each player on a team must have a unique number on their jersey, including those players participating with the team under the 2.11 “club guest player” guidelines. Use of temporary measures such as medical or duct tape to facilitate this bylaw during a game will be acceptable.
7.8.2 A player who is either bleeding or has blood on her/his uniform shall be required to be removed from the field and allowed to return only when the bleeding has stopped and the uniform cleaned or changed.
7.8.3 Players may wear either flat soled shoes or shoes (soccer shoes, not football, rugby, baseball, etc.) with either molded or screw-in studs made of rubber, plastic provided the studs are not sharp nor present a hazard to other players. All elongated studs shall have the long axis of the stud run the length of the shoe. Studs shall not be more than 3/4” (the height of a penny) in length.
7.9 Both teams, including a maximum of four coaches for each team, shall be on one side of the fields and all spectators will remain on the other side. Each coach shall stay on his/her team’s half of the field and at least 10 yards from the half-line during the entire game.
7.9.1 Only those persons who are registered as players and coaches for the teams involved in the game may be on the teams’ side of the field. In the absence of a coach for a team, an adult substitute coach may be on the teams’ side of the field as provided in Section 7.9.2
7.9.2 In the event that one or more coaches for a team cannot be at a game, a substitute coach may be selected. The referee must be notified of the change before the game begins and the substitute coach(es) must be properly identified. Only one substitute coach is permitted per coach’s card. In the event that a substitute coach is ejected from a game, (red carded), the registered coach is to serve any suspension issued by the league for the actions of the substitute coach. No substitute coach is permitted for a coach that has been ejected and his serving his/her suspension or is otherwise prohibited from participating as a coach for the team to whom he/she is registered.
A person who has been suspended or otherwise prohibited from participating as a coach with a team may NOT serve as a substitute coach for that team under another coach’s card.
7.9.3 The number of coaches for a team on the team’s sideline during any LCFL league or tournament game shall not exceed the number of coaches rostered to that team.
7.9.4 Each team must bring their player and coach passes and a copy of their approved team roster to every league and tournament match. LCFL player and coach passes shall be presented to the referee prior to the game. The referee will view the team roster to verify the eligibility of players and coaches.
As provided in section 2.11.5, coaches of teams making use of section 2.11 of these Administrative Bylaws regarding the use of Club Guest Players during LCFL league and tournament games must provide a written list of those Club Guest Players that are to play in that game to the center referee and to the opposing team’s coaches prior to the start of the game. (Referees: See Special Note to Referees in section 2.11.5).
Players arriving late for a match, i.e. after the team check in has occurred, must have their eligibility to play verified by either the center referee or an assistant referee. This is to occur at the first stoppage of play after the newly arriving players present themselves to a member of the referee crew of the game.
Playing of an ineligible player will result in sanctions as described in 6.2 and elsewhere in these bylaws.
7.10 Players may be substituted during a game as follows:
a) After a goal is scored for either team.
b) Prior to a goal kick by either team.
c) Prior to the kick off of the second half.
d) After receiving a yellow card.
e) Prior to a throw-in that is in the favor of the team that will be substituting a player.
f) If a player for the opposing team is at the mid-field flag waiting to be a substitute when the team that is awarded a throw-in has a substitute to enter the game, the substitute for the opposing team may also enter the game. If the team that has been awarded a throw-in does not have a substitute, then neither team may substitute a player.
7.11 The center referee shall be able to issue either a caution (yellow card) or a send off (red card) to a coach during a LCFL game, so as to document the coach’s action. Upon request of the Referee, the head coach and/or assistant coach shall immediately turn over to the referee, the coach pass or player pass of any coach or player who receives a red card. Yellow cards and red cards issued to coaches and/or players shall be reported by the referee to LCFL via the game card report. The term “during a LCFL game” as used within these bylaws shall include the time from when the referee and/or the assistant referee(s) arrived at the game site until the referee and and/or the assistant referee(s) leave the vicinity of the game site including any adjacent parking lot
7.12 Upon stoppage of play due to an injury of a player, the referee shall have the discretion to award an indirect free kick to restart play if, in the opinion of the referee, one side had clear possession of the ball at the time of the stoppage.
7.13 Should play be stopped for an injury, substitutes already at the mid-field flag at that time may be freely substituted by either team without limitation to the number of substitutes, in addition to a substitution for the injured player, if so desired by the coach.
7.14 At the conclusion of every game, unless excused from doing so by the referee due to inclement weather or other appropriate reason, all players and coaches are expected to congratulate the members of the opposing team in a sportsmanlike manner. (i.e. “good game”).
7.15 The use of artificial noisemakers, i.e. air horns, tambourines, bells, whistles, bugles, horns, etc. during any LCFL league or tournament game by players, coaches or spectators is prohibited.
7.16 After receiving or accepting any assignment to officiate any LCFL league game, a referee who is unable to fulfill that assignment must report their unavailability. However, If they are requesting to be relieved of the assignment within 7 days of the assignment, the referee remains responsible for the assignment until another referee accepts the assignment.
7.17 Any game in league or tournament play that has begun and has proceeded to the conclusion of the first half shall be considered a complete game, if the remainder of the game can not be played in a timely manner, due to inclement weather, including but not limited to, the presence of lightning, the immediate threat of lightning or other circumstances beyond the control of the game’s participants. The score of the game at the time that the game is declared a complete game shall stand as the final score for the game.
7.17.1 If the first half of the game has not concluded and the game must be terminated due to inclement weather or other circumstances, then the game is an incomplete game and when rescheduled, must be replayed in its entirety.
7.18 If the center referee in any game believes there is a hazardous condition present, the center referee shall immediately suspend play. If there are hazardous weather related conditions present and the center referee does not immediately suspend play and if the coaches of the teams involved in the game mutually agree that the game should be suspended due to those hazardous conditions, then the game shall be suspended. If any game is suspended, either as a completed game or as an incomplete game, due to a hazardous condition, then the center referee and the coaches are required to complete a post game report and submit that report to LCFL within 48 hours on the game.
7.19 All referees, by accepting assignments to officiate LCFL league and tournament games, agree to abide by all LCFL league bylaws. This requirement includes but is not limited to those bylaws in reference to the use of bylaw 2.11 players, substitutions, number of players on the field, ball size, etc.
8.0 Tryouts.
8.1 Players can be added during the seasonal year from any recreational programs. Players cannot be “cut” from team rosters. However, tryouts may be held during the year to fill vacancies on rosters. The guidelines for recruiting must be adhered to when advertising tryouts.
9.0 Recruiting
9.1 It shall be deemed recruiting if any coach, manager, trainer, player, or parent of a player, entices, encourages, cajoles, and/or facilitates, in any manner, a player to transfer from another team to his/her team or club. The coach(es) of the team that the player wishes to transfer to, may only refer the player to LCFL, Executive Committee members or members of the Board of Directors to obtain assistance in the completion of the transfer process. In all cases, the Head Coach may be held ultimately responsible for all actions of his/her subordinates, players, or families. A player shall be considered a member of the team from the time the parent or guardian signs the player’s membership form. The form, when presented to the player and his / her parents, must show the team name and the age group the player will initially be playing with during the first season of play for that player.
The advertising of a team’s per player cost, including that of a reduced or a “No cost” option shall not be considered recruiting under these rules.
9.1.1 Examples of what may be done (but not limited to):
a) Advertise team tryouts in any commercial media service such as the News.
b) Advertise team tryouts on a poster or flyer placed in public use locations such as stores or pitches, websites, etc.
c) Distribute or locate posters or flyers about team tryouts in schools, churches or with other non-soccer organizations.
d) Holding / organizing of an “Open House” / “Information Session” where no player evaluation, skill demonstration by player or coach, or similar activity takes place, provided that the announcements of such events are only made where it is readily available to the general public, i.e. the club / league website.
9.1.2 Examples of what MAY NOT BE DONE (but not limited to):
a) Have any contact with another team’s player that attempts to entice that player to come to his/her team or team tryouts. Statements like “come play for me”, “ I have a uniform for you”, or “I can make you a better player” are all improper and a violation of these rules when made to a member of another team or club.
b) Make verbal, electronic, written contact by any medium or method with any player or player’s parent that is currently registered with a LCFL team about switching teams or clubs.
c) Uset tournament applications, or other such information to target certain players or teams for recruitment purposes.
d) Use his/her position in a school or community to influence an individual player’s choice of a team.
e) Files or assists in the filing of a transfer request with LCFL which, if approved, would allow the player to transfer to her/his team or club. Files or assists in the filing of an appeal of a denial of a transfer request which, if approved, would allow the player to transfer to her/his team or club.
f) Using any advertising or promotional material that refers to any other soccer club or organization that participates in LCFL, by name.
Posting or distributing tryout notices or other promotional material at any LCFL sponsored tournament or event, except that the member league that is hosting the tournament or event may post, but not distribute, tryout notices.
Distribution of information regarding the holding / organizing an Open House / Information Session as permitted in paragraph 9.1.1 (d) to specific players or groups of players who are not already registered to the member league or club.
Violation of this section shall make the head coach of the team(s) involved and/or other persons involved subject to the sanctions as outlined in Section 6.2.2 (e) or 6.2.3 (c).
9.2 The Administrative Bylaws relating to recruiting apply only to players who are currently registered as players within LCFL.
9.3 The administrative bylaws relating to recruiting applies to all players in LCFL except for players who will be participating on a U-15 or older team during the coming seasonal year.
9.3.1 The exemption from these recruiting rules contained in Section 9.0, as provided in bylaw 9.3, only permits coaches and their representatives to contact players who will be U-15 or older. All of the other bylaws governing the holding of tryouts, including the dates that tryouts can be held and the timing of when offers to join a team can be made, as well all of the other bylaws prohibiting recruiting in other circumstances remain applicable.
10.0 Transfers and Changing Teams
10.1 Any player rostered to a team on or before May 1st is bound to that team for the entire year unless a transfer is requested and received by L.C.F.L. on or before May 1st or the request meets one or more of the exceptions listed below in paragraphs a) through k) and the request is submitted prior to the deadlines listed in rules 10.1.1.1 or 10.1.1.2. For the purposes of this Section 10.0, the date that a player is “rostered” shall be the date that the player was first rostered to a team during the current seasonal year.
For players who are rostered to a team on or before May 1st and for whom a transfer is requested after May 1st, a transfer shall only be approved if one or more of the following conditions exists and the transfer is submitted prior to the deadlines specified in bylaw 10.1.1.1 and 10.1.1.2;
a) The player is a female player and she requests to transfer from a team that is registered as a male team to a team that is registered as a female team. The teams involved do not have to be sponsored by the same member league.
b) The player is registered on a team that is registered in an age group older than the player’s natural age group and the team that the player is requesting to transfer is in the player’s natural age group. The teams involved do not have to be sponsored by the same member league.
c) The player is registered on a team that played in a lower or same competitive division during the previous season than the team that he/she is requesting to transfer to play in and both teams are sponsored by the same member league. If a member league sponsors more than one organization within their league (i.e. clubs), then both teams must belong to the same organization, (i.e. club).
d) The player is registered on a team that played in a younger age division during the previous season than the team that he/she is requesting to transfer to play in and both teams are sponsored by the same member league. If a member league sponsors more than one organization within their league (i.e. clubs), then both teams must belong to the same organization, (i.e. club).
e) The player is a U-15 player and is registered on a team that played during the previous season in a U-15 age division and the player’s current team has or will declare to play in a U-14 age division during the next season, provided that the team that the player is requesting to transfer to, is a U-15 or older team. The coach(es) of the player’s current team may not pressure the player or otherwise attempt to force the player from his/her current team.
f) The player is registered on a team that played in a higher competitive division for the player’s age group during the previous season than the competitive division that the team the player is requesting to transfer to play in during the next season. The teams involved do not have to be sponsored by the same member league.
g) The primary residence of the player is changed by a distance of ten (10) miles or more as measured in a straight line and the player’s current primary home team fields are a greater distance to the player’s new residence than to the player’s former residence. Documentation in the form of bills of sales, rental agreements or other similar documents must be provided.
h) There has been a significant change in the parental custodial rights of the player, (i.e. divorce by the parents, change from joint custody to single parent custody, issuance of a restraining order, etc.) Documentation in the form of a court order or other similar documents must be provided.
i) The player did not participate as a member of his/her current team, by attending practices and/or L.C.F.L. league games, from the date of the first L.C.F.L. league game for the player’s current team and beyond. If there is a dispute as to whether or not a player stopped participating as a member of his/her current team prior to the team’s first L.C.F.L. league game, the representation by the head coach, club or member league in this matter shall be considered factual unless the player and/or her/his parent’s provide documentary information to the contrary.
j) The player was a member of a team during the current seasonal year that subsequently disbanded. Under this exception only, a player may transfer to another team at any time during the seasonal year.
k) The player participated on a team that played in the lowest competitive division in their particular age group during the previous season and the player is requesting to transfer to a team that participated in the same division as the team the player is transferring from, (a lateral transfer), during the previous season.
10.1.1 All players and/or their parents who request to transfer between teams based upon one or more reasons listed in bylaw 10.1 must submit a completed transfer request along with any additional documentation, if required, to the L.C.F.L. prior to the following deadlines.
10.1.1.2 If the reason for the player transfer is shown in paragraphs 10.1 b), c), d), f), g), h), i), j), and/or k), above, then the transfer request must be received by the L.C.F.L. on or before May 1st.
10.1.2 A player may not use Section 10.1 (f), (which allows a player to switch clubs and play down a competitive division), and then subsequently use Section 10.1 (c), (which allows a player to transfer to a higher competitive division but within the same club), during the same seasonal year.
10.1.3 During the current seasonal year, a player that has transferred from a LCFL team to a team participating in different different sanctioned league, may transfer back to the player’s original team in the LCFL or the player may transfer from the team in the non-LCFL league to a different LCFL team than the one the player previously played for provided the above paragraphs (a) through (j) are applied as if the player never transferred from the player’s original LCFL team to the non-LCFL league.
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10.1.4 Incomplete player transfer requests and player transfer requests received by the L.C.F.L. after the above dates shall not be approved.
10.1.5 A request to transfer between teams will only be considered a valid request if it is submitted by the player and/or his/her parent(s) or guardian(s).
10.1.6 If a player transfer request is submitted that contains false information or if the supporting documentation is false, a violation of bylaw 6.2.3 (b) may be deemed to have occurred. Following a determination by the Executive Board that a violation of bylaw 6.2.3 (b) did occur, the player who requested the transfer or on whose behalf the transfer was requested, as well as the persons who submitted the transfer request shall be placed in bad standing and suspended as a participant in youth soccer for a period of one year.
10.1.7 A coach may not withhold a player’s pass or the completion of the transfer request when submitted, in order to coerce or compel the payment of any outstanding fees that may be due to the team, club or member league.
10.2 It is the spirit and intent of these Administrative Bylaws that during the tryout process, between the seasons, players should be given wide latitude to select or be selected by teams or coaches that best suit that player’s development. Once that decision is reached by a player and his/her family, persons other that the coach of the team selected must respect that decision and not attempt to change the decision that the player has made.
Coaches must understand that once a player has been selected for a particular team, the coach has made a commitment to that player for the entire seasonal year.
Likewise, once a player has made a commitment to play for a particular team, the player should be prepared to be a member of the team for the entire seasonal year.
Risk Management Program
11.1 LCFL shall comply with and assist with First Aid training.
11.2 The President shall appoint one person to act in the capacity of the Local Risk Management Coordinator, (Local RMC) and one person as the Alternate Risk Management Coordinator, (Alternate RMC) and to perform the duties of those positions as defined by the Likoni Risk Management program.
11.3 At each match a Universal First Aid kit must be available.
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