Commonwealth Soccer League, Inc.

Revised: July 6, 2007

SECTION 4—SCHEDULING

A)     SCHEDULE CREATION

1)     All schedules and schedule changes must meet the following criteria:

a)     Created by the Director of Scheduling and Referees.

b)     Created in conjunction with the Director of Fields.

c)     Submitted to the Vice President for final approval prior to dissemination to the League and referees.

2)     A schedule of matches for each CSL season shall be distributed at least one (1) week prior to the start of each season.  No team manager, coach, or player shall alter the schedule in any way without the permission of the Vice President.  The Vice President shall consult with the Director of Scheduling and Referees and the Director of Fields to check schedule, field, and referee availability before a decision is reached.

B)     PLAY DATES

1)     Each season's schedule of matches shall include a minimum of eight (8) designated play dates per team.  Designated play dates per team are defined as any combination of regular season games, in-season tournament games, and playoff games, whether they are regularly scheduled or make-up games.

2)     CSL will not schedule any of a team’s designated eight (8) play dates on either Memorial Day or Labor Day weekends, but may schedule any additional games on these dates as needed.

3)     Whenever a scheduling conflict arises between a League match and a match in a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), USASA, or MDCVSA-administered cup competition, the affected team shall be allowed to play the cup match and have its League match rescheduled without penalty.  A USSF, USASA, or MDCVSA-administered cup competition is defined as any of the competitions listed below:

a)     MDCVSA State Cup

b)     MDCVSA Challenge Cup

c)     MDCVSA Veterans Cup

d)     MDCVSA Women’s Challenge Cup

e)     MDCVSA Coed State Cup

f)       Any of the USASA national Cup competitions

g)     Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

4)     The CSL recognizes that teams may want to participate in tournaments that may conflict with League matches.  Teams may request a League match not be scheduled for a given weekend under the following stipulations:

a)     The tournament must be a USSF, USASA, and MDCVSA-sanctioned tournament.

b)     The team/manager is obligated to post the team’s request on its team registration form and submit this document no later than the team registration deadline. The team/manager recognizes and understands that the League neither implies nor guarantees any schedule request change of this nature.

5)     Games rescheduled under section 4(B)(2) will be mutually agreed upon by both team managers or by a popular vote of the EBOD.

C)     RESCHEDULES

1)     All teams are to play their games as scheduled unless weather conditions prohibit play.  Decisions on cancellation of games due to field or weather conditions shall be in the priority listed below:

a)     Field owner or management organization

b)     CSL President

c)     Vice President

d)     Director of Scheduling and Referees

e)     Director of Fields

f)       Referee assigned to officiate

2)     In the event of a cancellation or postponement of games, this information shall be conveyed in at least two of the following ways:  displayed on the League website, recorded on the League hotline, communicated via email, or communicated via telephone.

3)     The Director of Scheduling and Referees shall reschedule games that are postponed or cancelled for the next available date.  Games may be rescheduled for play in as little as 24 hours from the originally scheduled date and time. 

4)     CSL will make every effort to reschedule all postponed or cancelled games such that all teams are provided eight (8) games; however, due to matters beyond the League’s control such as inclement weather or lack of field availability we do not guarantee eight (8) games.

5)     In the event of dangerous weather, the referee shall temporarily suspend play of CSL games.  Games shall be resumed at the point at which they were suspended when weather conditions permit. 

6)     Games that are not completed because of dangerous weather, darkness, or some unforeseen event shall be considered official games if one-half (1/2) of the scheduled length of the game has been played. 

7)     Games in which one-half (1/2) of the scheduled length has not been played and that are not completed due to dangerous weather conditions, darkness, or some unforeseen event will be rescheduled and resumed at the point which they were stopped.

a)     Points of discipline for red and yellow cards received in suspended games shall be counted against individuals and their teams.

D)     PENALTIES

1)     Failure to play a game as scheduled shall result in forfeiture of that game.

E)     ADHERENCE

1)     Because of the complexity of the CSL schedule, adherence to these rules is necessary.  Failure to comply with the rules may result in forfeiture of affected games.