Cal North

General Procedures

3:01 AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3:01:02 Districts and Leagues may deem fit to include rules and regulations more stringent than those included herein, but in no case may rules and regulations be less stringent. Districts and Leagues must submit their rules and regulations for review and approval by the Board of Directors of this Association.

3:01:03 Each team shall be responsible for the conduct of its players, coach, manager, team assistants and parents and it is the responsibility of each team to ensure that its actions, on or off the field, do not bring disrespect upon this Association. Each league shall be responsible for the conduct of those persons associated with its operations and it is the responsibility of each league to ensure that its actions do not bring disrespect upon this Association.

3:02 REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

3:02:01 All players, team officials, and administrators shall annually register with CYSA and timely pay all dues and fees.

3:02:02 Any player may register with any affiliated League in any District within this Association without restriction by the CYSA Board of Directors, its members, its program administrators, its Districts, or its affiliated leagues. This section does not change the right and authority of leagues to, among other things, establish the rules governing the players, team officials, and teams registered with the league, including the right and authority of leagues not to accept any person as a team official or any player the league chooses not to accept.

3:02:03 The rostering of a player to a CYSA team binds the player to that team for the seasonal year unless the player is granted a transfer or a release.

3:02:04 Each member league shall be responsible for ensuring proper registration of the players, team officials (i.e.: coach, assistant coach, team manager, and team official, etc.) and teams, proper accounting of fiscal transactions and accurate reporting to the District Commissioner and/or his/her appointed District Assistant within the time frames that have been set by CYSA.

3:02:05 This Association shall have first call on all players registered with the Association.

3:02:06 Each team official (i.e., coach, assistant coach, team manager and team official) shall be registered with this Association and have a proper US Youth Soccer Membership Pass.

All team officials (i.e., coach, assistant coach, team manager, team official and trainers shall have completed the proper and current CYSA Team Official Registration and Risk Management Disclosure Form.

3:03 LIMIT DEFINITION

3:03:01 The term "youth" as applied to the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures and Specific Rules of this Association, the US Youth Soccer (USYS), and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), shall mean a youth player who has not reached the age of nineteen (19) years prior to August 1st immediately preceding the start of any seasonal year in which they apply for registration.

3:03:02 All leagues, unless otherwise sanctioned by the Board of Directors of this Association, shall divide play among teams of equal age groupings: Leagues may set up their teams in age groups that are beneficial for their own program (single age groups, multi-age groups, etc.) The teams when registered will be registered by the proper grouping determined by the birthdate of the oldest player on the team. Teams will enter competition, playing in their proper age group as registered or higher.

3:04 SENIOR TRIAL GAMES

3:04:01A youth player will be permitted to play an unlimited number of senior games without losing his/her youth eligibility. The youth player must obtain permission from his/her youth coach or other authorized team official. The coach or authorized team official shall, in writing or by form, request eligibility clearance from this Association. The youth coach or other authorized team official must, in writing, or by form, request permission from the California Soccer Association-North (senior board). When the above clearance and permissions have been granted, the California Soccer Association-North has sole discretion in permitting a youth player to play senior games and will be responsible for establishing the procedure under which this will be implemented.

3:04:02 Any youth playing for a senior club without the approval of the Board of Directors of this Association shall be declared ineligible for youth games. Any youth team using such ineligible player shall forfeit all games in which that player took part by a score of 1-0.

3:05 PLAYING WITH PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS

3:05:01 Any player signing a "Letter of Intent," a professional contract or playing with a professional team, without the permission of the Board of Directors of this Association, shall be declared a professional player and shall lose all privileges of youth amateur status.

3:05:02 The Board of Directors of this Association may grant youth amateur player permission to play in benefit or exhibition games only, where professional players are involved. Permission must be requested in writing.

3:05:03 A player who has signed a "Letter of Intent," a contract, or played in any game where professional players are involved without prior permission of the Board of Directors of the Association, will not be permitted to be reinstated to youth amateur status

3:06 PROTEST AND APPEALS PROCEDURE

3:06:01 In the matter of protests and appeals, no person(s) associated with the operations of this Association at any level (team, league, district, or state) may invoke the aid of the courts of any state or of the United States without first exhausting all available remedies within CYSA/USYS/USSF, including a final appeal to the USSF Council at the Annual General Meeting.

3:06:02 For violation of 3:06:01, the offending party(ies) shall be subject to the sanctions of suspension and fines, and shall be liable to CYSA/USYS/USSF for all expenses incurred by CYSA/USYS/USSF in defending each court action, including but not limited to the following:

1. Court costs
2. Attorney fees
3. Reasonable compensation for time spent by CYSA/USYS/USSF officers and employees in responding to and defending against allegations in the action, including responses to discovery and court appearances.
4. Expenses
5. Expenses for holding special CYSA/USYS/USSF meetings necessitated by the court action.

3:06:03 Only violations of the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures and Specific Rules of this Association, the US Youth Soccer (USYS) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), including the right of individuals to participate and compete, misapplication of the "Laws of the Game" for outdoor soccer and the "Official Indoor Soccer Rules" for indoor soccer, or violations of league rules and regulations, provided the latter are within the framework of the constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, and Specific Rules of this Association, the US Youth Soccer (USYS) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), shall be proper subjects to be considered for action.

3:06:04 In all league matters, the league management within each district shall provide procedures for protests and the hearing of an appeal. Within those procedures all parties to the appeal shall be given written notification at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing and not until that procedure has been completed and an adverse decision rendered on the matter in question, will it be forwarded to the Protest and Appeals Committee of this Association. Upon rendering a decision the league shall forward a copy of its evidence, findings and decision to the office of this Association for future reference. All pertinent data must be forwarded within fourteen (14) days of the league decision.

3:06:05 Should any person, team, or league desire to appeal any adverse decision; communication shall be from the league to the District Commissioner; from the District Commissioner to the CYSA Protest and Appeals Committee; from the CYSA Protest and Appeals Committee to the next higher level.

3:06:06 Should any hearing body choose not to hear a protest or appeal, that body may, if they desire, refer the matter directly to the next higher authority.

3:06:07 Upon receipt of any adverse decision, appeal may be made to the next higher authority including an appeal to a validly constituted Appeals Panel of USSF that has jurisdiction to approve, modify or reverse the matter.

3:06:08

1. Protest and appeals are to be in writing and describe in detail the grounds for the appeal. Protests and appeals will be sent to the appropriate league/District Commissioner/CYSA, depending on the level the appeal is being directed, and shall be postmarked within seventy-two (72) hours (Sundays and holidays excluded) following receipt of league/district disciplinary decision being protested or appealed. The proper fee must be enclosed.
2. The protest or appeal sent to CYSA shall include all supporting documentation. Documentation must include the CYSA Notice of Appeal and copies of all previous decisions in the matter. The appealing party will follow the instructions for appeal/protest submission outlined on the CYSA Notice of Appeal.
3. The protest or appeal fee shall be established at two hundred dollars ($200.00) for items arising before the Protest and Appeals Committee.
4. The protest or appeal fee shall be returned if the protest or appeal is upheld. This fee shall be retained if the protest or appeal is denied, unless the Protest and Appeals Committee is overruled by a higher authority.

3:06:09 The Chairman of the Protest and Appeals Committee shall set a date for the hearing of the appeal. Such a date shall be within thirty (30) days of receipt of said appeal. All parties to the appeal shall be given written notification at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing.

3:06:10 The Protest and Appeals Committee of this Association shall consider all pertinent information arising out of an appeal of a league or district disciplinary action. The parties involved shall have the opportunity to present their case. The decision of the Protest and Appeals Committee of this Association shall be conveyed, in writing, to the party initiating the appeal within seven (7) days of the decision. This decision may be appealed as outlined in USSF Bylaw 705 for appeals beyond the state level. A copy of the decision along with all pertinent information and findings, shall be filed with this Association and the involved league.

3:06:11 Decisions rendered by protest and appeals committees shall stand, and be complied with, until such a time as they are overturned by a higher authority.

3:07 INSURANCE

3:07:01 All injuries, to be claimed against the medical insurance program, shall be completely reported on the proper insurance claim form. This form shall be obtainable through the CYSA office.

3:07:02 All completed reports on injuries shall be submitted to this Association's office within thirty (30) days of the injury.

3:07:03 The Association shall, upon written request, provide member leagues with a copy of the liability and medical insurance policies covering players, coaches, managers, and league board members.

3:07:04 Insurance coverage will be in effect for a newly registered player upon the payment of registration fees to the league. A player that has been registered the previous year has insurance coverage in effect until September 1 of the following year. All players must be properly registered with their respective leagues before insurance coverage is valid for any type of tryouts.

3:07:05 All team coaches, managers and assistant coaches are automatically covered with liability insurance and medical insurance. It is necessary that these persons submit the proper registration forms to the CYSA Registrar for entry to the computer listing. The medical coverage is valid only when these persons are acting in the capacity of a team coach, manager or assistant coach.

Specific Rules

4:01 AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

4:01:01 In addition to the General Procedures, the following Specific Rules shall apply to Cup games, tournament games, inter-district competition, Olympic Development and international games. Additionally, these rules shall apply to playing leagues involving teams from more than one league.

4:01:02 The authority for approval and/or operational control, including dates and times of games which are to be played for these competitions, when played or sponsored by registered teams or affiliated leagues, shall be vested with the Board of Directors of this Association. Approved games of this type shall take precedence over all league games.

4:01:03 The entrance fees and procedures for these competitions shall be established and/or approved by the Board of Directors of this Association.

4:01:04 These competitions will be open to all youth teams registered with this Association. A team entering these competitions shall have played in the current seasonal year as a team and be a member of a recognized league of this Association.

4:02 CUP COMPETITION PROCEDURES

4:02:01 In Cup competition, specific rules and regulations will be adopted by the Board of Directors of this Association. In those cases, the specific cup rules shall be published along with the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, Specific Rules and PIMs.

4:03 OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM PROCEDURES

4:03:01 The formation of District and/or State Olympic Development teams shall be vested with the Board of Directors of this Association; the Board of Directors may delegate this authority at its discretion.

4:04 PLAYER TRANSFER, RELEASE AND ROSTER LIMIT

Please refer toPIM 10-1 for additional information.

4:04:01 Players must register according to procedures in 3:02. Once a player is listed on a CYSA Team Registration form, that player is bound to that team for the entire seasonal year, except as modified by the following sub-paragraphs:

1. A team shall be limited to the number of transfers allowed by the CYSA Board of Directors for each seasonal year. A transfer means the movement of a currently - or previously rostered US Youth Soccer player onto another roster, or a player who returns to the same roster within the current seasonal year. The movement of a currently rostered player off of a roster shall not be a transfer. Neither this section nor any other provision of the Constitution and Bylaws, Procedures, Rules and Policy Interpretation Memoranda shall be interpreted or otherwise construed to make the movement of a currently rostered player off a team a transfer.

    

2. A player may be released from a team by the coach only if the player is unable to play for one of the following reasons:
   1. The player has violated US Youth Soccer CYSA or League rules.
   2. The player has moved beyond a reasonable distance.
   3. The player is injured in such a manner that the player will not be able to participate for the remainder of the seasonal year.
   4. Dissolution of teams. A dissolved team can be defined as a team which has been registered and has been playing but ceases to exist before less than one-half (1/2) of their league season has been played. Please refer to PIM 10-1 for additional information.

       

3. A player may voluntarily request to be released from a team.

    

4. A player, upon reaching their eighteenth birthday will not require a parent/guardian approval for transfer or release. To effect the release, the coach must complete and sign a CYSA Player Release form.

    

4:04:02 All requests for transfer shall be submitted to the District Commissioner, in writing, with the appropriate fees, on the proper forms, stating the reason for the request and subject to the following conditions:

1. Signature of both coaches of the involved teams
2. Signature of parent or guardian if player is under eighteen (18) years of age. or the signature of the player if eighteen (18) years of age or older.

4:04:03 Any team which, through its responsible officials, officers, or representatives, attempts to induce a registered player of any team under the jurisdiction of this Association to leave his/her team before the end of the current seasonal year shall be deemed to have committed an offense for poaching and shall be dealt with by the Board of Directors of this Association.

4:04:04 Any team entering State Cup competition that leads to Regional/National Youth Challenge Cup play must abide by US Youth Soccer Team Eligibility and Player Eligibility rules.

4:05 DISCIPLINARY RULINGS

4:05:01 The Disciplinary Committee shall act on all disciplinary matters and shall have discretionary powers in determining disciplinary action applied to team personnel and players. Game suspensions listed below are to be regarded as minimums for the charged offenses, depending on the findings of the Disciplinary Committee. Penalties may be increased according to the gravity of the infringements, and the reasons for such increases in penalties shall be documented on the Send-Off Report or on an accompanying document by the Disciplinary Committee. Only penalties above the recommended CYSA minimums may be appealed.

4:05:02 When sent off the field of play and shown the red card for infringement of the "Laws of the Game", players and substitutes shall be disciplined by further games suspension as follows:

1. Serious Foul Play
   1. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, intentionally impeding an opponent denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity; denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by handling the ball.

      All age groups- Suspend for a minimum of one (1) game.

   2. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, tripping, holding, unlawfully charging or pushing an opponent denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity; intentionally tripping, holding, pushing; unlawfully charging or tackling an opponent from behind or charging in a dangerous and violent manner.

      All age groups- Suspend for a minimum of two (2) games.

2. Foul and abusive language:
   1. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, words uttered in frustration and, in the referee's opinion, loud enough to be heard outside the field of play.

      All age groups- Suspend for a minimum of one (1) game.

   2. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, words or actions directed towards any person.

      All age groups- Suspend for a minimum of two (2) games.

3. Second cautionable offense after having received a caution:

   All age groups- Suspend for a minimum of one (1) game.

4. Violent conduct:
   1. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, spitting, or other unseemly act, on or at another person; striking or attempting to strike another player, team official or spectator; unlawfully entering the field of play during an altercation.

      All age groups- Suspend for a minimum of two (2) games.

   2. Pushing in an act of aggression, striking or attempting to strike a referee, linesperson [assistant referee] or fourth official.

      All age groups- Suspend for a minimum of one (1) year and review by the Board of Directors regarding further disciplinary action.

4:05:03 Any player, substitute or team official who refuse the referee's request for their name, or gives a false name, while the referee is gathering data to report an infringement of the "Laws of the Game" involving them, shall have one game added to the suspension that would normally be levied by the Disciplinary Committee.

4:05:04 Disciplinary actions listed above are to be regarded as minimum game suspensions, depending on the findings of the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee has discretionary powers to increase penalties befitting the infractions.

4:05:05 In specific situations, the Disciplinary Committee may place an individual on probation, in addition to the suspension, for a period of time not to exceed the length of the suspension. The probationary period is to be served immediately following the suspension period and is intended to monitor an individual's degree of reformation. Should an individual on probation be sent off the field of play and shown the red card during the probationary period, the original suspension and probation shall be re-applied and no appeal will be heard.

4:05:06 Coaches and assistant coaches sent off the field of play for infringement of the "Laws of the Game" shall have two (2) games added to the suspension that would normally be levied against a player for a similar infringement.

4:05:07 Any player ejected (sent off) from a game shall remain on the sidelines with his or her team and not leave the area without the permission of a team official. Any team official ejected (sent off) from a game shall leave the vicinity of the field of play and the area in which the game is being played. In the event that a team official is ejected (sent off) and there is no other team official properly registered to that team present, the game shall be terminated.

4:06 PROTESTS AND APPEALS

4:06:01 The Protest and Appeals Committee, or this Association, shall deal with all protests or appeals arising out of any Olympic Development, and/or International Youth game.

4:06:02 Any protest or appeal arising out of any Cup, Tournament, or Inter-District game shall first be determined by the Protest and Appeals Committee as prescribed by that competition's rules. In the event of an adverse decision, that party may then file their protest or appeal with the Protest and Appeals Committee of this Association per 4:06:03.

4:06:03 The protest or appeal shall be in writing (typed or printed) and mailed to the CYSA office (unless specified otherwise in competition directives) and shall be accompanied with the fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00). Such protest and appeals shall be postmarked within seventy-two (72) hours of competition being protested (excluding Sundays and holidays).

4:06:04 The decision of the Protest and Appeals Committee of this Association, concerning any protest or appeal, will be mailed to the person or persons initiating said protest or appeal as outlined in Section 3:06 of the CYSA General Procedure.

4:07 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE PROHIBITION

4:07:01 The use and/or consumption of any alcoholic beverages or controlled substances, immediately before, during or immediately after the playing of any youth soccer game, is expressly prohibited.

4:07:02 Any player, team official, league official, or any other member of this Association, who violates this prohibition, shall be subject to disciplinary action and/or suspension by the Board of Directors of this Association.