Revised: July 6, 2007 

SECTION 1—GAME RULES

Match play in the Commonwealth Soccer League, Inc. (CSL) shall be in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game as published in the most recent edition of Laws of the Game and Universal Guide for Referees with USSF Supplement, English Edition and USSF Official Rule Book for Administration.

A)     LAWS OF THE GAME:  CSL modifications to the Laws of the Game are as follows:

1)     Law I – The Field of Play:  Fields used by CSL shall be marked in accordance with rental/lease agreements between CSL and the owner or managing organization.

2)     Law II – Overtime Play:  CSL will play extra-time in “golden goal” format as follows:

a)     Preliminary rounds will be two (2) five-minute periods.

b)     Finals will be two (2) ten-minute periods.

3)     Law III – Player Substitutions:  Players substitutions are as follows: 

a)     Unlimited for the team in possession on their throw-in, goal kick, or corner kick.

b)     Unlimited for both teams on throw-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks as long as the team with possession is substituting.  If the team with possession is NOT substituting, then no substitution is allowed.

c)     Unlimited for both teams on any kick-off.

d)     One-for-one for an injured player (injured player’s team may sub for the injured player and the opposing team may also sub for one player).

e)     A team may substitute for any yellow-carded player in the best interest of the game (i.e., in order to prevent potential problems by allowing the player a cooling-off period).

4)     Law IV – Players’ Equipment:  Teams allowing persons to violate this policy may be fined with no appeal.  Offending teams will be prohibited from all remaining matches until any payments due are rendered.

a)     All players on a team, excepting the goalkeeper, shall wear like-colored jerseys.

b)     All players on a team, excepting the goalkeeper, shall wear like-colored shorts.

c)     All players on a team, excepting the goalkeeper, shall wear like-colored socks.

d)     All players' jerseys shall be numbered distinctly, excepting the goalkeeper.

e)     Player numbers shall not be repeated on any player jersey for the same team.

5)     Law V – Referees

a)     A Game Report and USSF Supplemental Report must be provided to CSL within forty-eight (48) hours of the completion of any game in which a red card was issued.

b)     A Game Report and USSF Supplemental Report must be provided to CSL within forty-eight (48) hours of any abandoned or suspended game

B)  PRE-GAME REQUIREMENTS

1)     League pre-game requirements are as follows:

a)     The “Home” team manager will provide to the referee the league-provided envelope (stamped and addressed to the League Registrar) as needed.

b)     Both “Home” and “Visiting” team managers will provide the referee with a current copy of the applicable team roster for the referee’s exclusive use prior to the start of all games.

2)     General pre-game requirements are as follows:

a)     The team managers are responsible for ensuring only players with valid player passes are presented to the referee.

b)     Team managers are responsible for ensuring only players of the participating teams with valid player passes are present on the player side of the field, or in the team area depending on the field.  Exception:  Minors in the charge, care, and custody of a player/team manager.

c)     Players must provide their player passes directly to the referee prior to the scheduled start of the match.

(i)     No player may change jersey number once the referee has accepted his/her player pass.  Variation of this law will only be at the discretion of the referee.

(ii)   Players arriving after the start of the match must present their pass to the assistant referee before being eligible to enter the field.

d)     Players that do not have their player pass at the start of the game may use an appropriate pictured ID—i.e., passport, U.S. driver’s license, U.S. military ID, or green card ID.  The referee shall note on the official game card the player’s complete name as it appears on the ID, the applicable ID used, the ID number on that ID, and the jersey number to be worn by the player.

e)     Teams not having their player passes by the scheduled game time may be subject to forfeiture of the match.  The game is to be played.

f)       Team captains must be identified and appropriately marked.

g)     Prior to the beginning of the match, team captains and the referee shall meet and review any particulars of the field, substitution rules, game length, and other rules/requirements as necessary.

h)     If a uniform color conflict occurs, the home team, as designated on the schedule, must change jerseys, unless the visiting team offers to do so.

i)        Teams having less than seven (7) players “ready to play” by the start of the match are subject to forfeiture in accordance with procedures contained elsewhere in this manual (see section 5(B)(4), Forfeiture).  “Ready to play” is defined as being on the field, in the proper uniform, wearing all required equipment, and checked in by the referee.

j)       The start of the game may be delayed for ten (10) minutes from the scheduled start time if a team has less than seven (7) players.  If the previous game runs late and delays the game more than ten (10) minutes from its scheduled start time, there will be no grace period.

k)      At the discretion of the referee and the consent of both team managers, a match may be started after the grace period has expired.  If the match starts after the grace period has expired, the result of the game will stand and cannot be appealed.  Also, the referee will subtract the amount of time transpired between the end of the grace period and the start of the match from the standard 90 minutes of playing time.  For example:  The 7^th player arrives 10 minutes after the grace period expires (20 minutes after the scheduled start time).  The length of the game will be held to 80 minutes total.

l)        If a game is delayed because of the previous game running over and both teams have their players there and ready to play, then the game will be played in full (90 minutes) and the match will start once the referees have completed their regular pre-game requirements.

m)    All CSL games are to be officiated with the three-man system [center referee and two (2) assistant referees] unless the Director of Scheduling and Referees approves other arrangements prior to the game.  CSL encourages teams to play the match if at all possible.

n)     If any game official is not present at the start of the match, a club linesman from the home team [if one (1) official is absent] or from each team [if two (2) officials are absent] shall be enlisted in order to play the game.  A two-person refereeing system is not to be used.

o)     If an official arrives late, he/she shall assume officiating responsibilities, either as the center referee or assistant referee, at the direction of the current center referee.

p)     If no referees are present at the scheduled game time, the match may be played with a volunteer referee, if both team managers agree on the referee.  The result of the game will stand.

C)  HOME TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

1)     The home team is responsible for possessing and setting up the corner flags 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game and providing game balls for the competition.

D)  TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

1)  The team area for each team shall run from the midfield line to the 18-yard line and extend perpendicular to the touchline.

2)  The team manager/coaches/players shall not be allowed to enter their opponent’s team area.

E)  REFEREE RESPONSIBILITIES:  Referee responsibilities are defined by FIFA.  Exceptions and additions are listed below:

1)     The CSL modifications to the Laws of the Game as described in section 1(A), Laws of the Game.

2)     The referee, assistant referee, or designee shall, prior to the scheduled start of the match, verify the following:

a)     All players’ passes are valid CSL player pass for the applicable season and team.

b)     Picture ID on the player pass is representative of the player.

c)     Player pass number is identified and identical to the number on the player’s jersey and roster.

3)     The referee shall suspend the game if the spectators become unruly.  CSL requires the referee to request the assistance of each team’s manager to reestablish order.  If this is unsuccessful, then abandonment of the game is required.

4)     Game information is required to be reported within forty-eight (48) hours of the completion of the game.

5)     Upon completion of the game, the referee will return all player passes with the following exception:

a)     Player passes from players/managers ejected due to fighting or violent conduct should be kept and mailed to the League Registrar.