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ARTICLE SEVEN INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM 1. Team Assignments Team assignments of players shall be made by those persons delegated such task by the Regional Executive Board. Retention of players on any team shall be limited to the head coach's child(ren). Otherwise there shall be no automatic retention of players on any specific team or with any specific coach from the previous season. Every attempt shall be made to balance the skill level of teams within each division. Once teams are formed, no transfer of any player from one team to another may be made without the approval of the parent or guardian, the Boys or Girls Coordinator, the Regional Commissioner and the coaches of both teams involved. In the case of inter-Regional play no transfer of any player from one team to another, after such teams are formed, may be made without the additional approval of the Area Director and, if affecting section play, the Section Director. It is the policy of Region 149 that teams be balanced to the best of this region’s ability to do so. To accomplish this end many hours are spent to balance each team within each age group at each location. Therefore, requests to change a player’s team assignment from one team to another cannot be honored because to do so would result in teams that are not balanced with respect to player’s abilities or to numbers of players per team. If a player is assigned to a team which in not the first choice as to location, notice of this should be made on the subsequent year’s registration form. Region 149 will attempt, to the best of our ability, to insure that no player be assigned to a location not of his/her choosing in two consecutive years. Region 149 follows the National Guidelines and does not allow any player to play in a younger division than designated by the player’s age. If a parent desires to have his or her child play in an older division, that request must be made in writing to the Executive Board. During Spring registration, to be held in February, players will be added, as space is available on teams until the Monday that practice begins. As additional uniforms cannot be ordered after that date, registering new players will then be dependent on availability of uniforms. The Board will begin a waiting list at spring registration and will add players to teams as the Board is notified of players dropping. Players may be added until the first game of the spring season, if uniforms and space are both available. If team size is equal to or below the number of players on the field, the team may add players from (first) the waiting list or (second) recruitment. For post-season play, if more than one team is formed in a given age level, those teams will be balanced. All players are to be allocated a minimum of a half of a game playing time while they are members in good standing of the team. AYSO does not condone limiting children to playing one sport. Coaches must make an effort to accommodate other commitments when requiring practices and game attendance. 2. Registration Fees; Refunds The registration fee for each player participant shall be fixed annually by the Regional Executive Board. The fee for the current season shall be posted on the Region 149 website. The Regional Executive Board may by specific grant or scholarship, or by Regional policy, waive such registration in whole or in part with respect to any participant if such fee would create a hardship for such participant or his or her family. Any player who withdraws from the program prior to participating in the first game of the season shall be entitled to a refund of such registration fee. In exceptional circumstances, the cost of the uniform (if it cannot be reused) or other specific non-recoverable costs may be deducted from the refund. 3. Eligibility All boys and girls, between the ages of 4½ and 18, based on their age as of July 31st of the year in which the season begins, (unless a different season date is established by the Region and approved by the Area Director and Section Director), shall be eligible to register for the program, subject to field availability, volunteer support, AYSO operating regulations, and such rules as may be issued by the Regional Board. It is the duty of the region to assure that only eligible players are permitted to register and play. 4. Length of Season and Cancellation of Games The season shall be of such duration as determined by the Regional Executive Board, as set forth in the Regional Calendar. Inclement weather or poor field conditions may necessitate from time to time the postponing or canceling of games. Any such postponement or cancellation will be made at the discretion of the Regional Commissioner or the Regional Risk Management/Safety Director as early as practical before game time. Once the game begins, only the referee in charge of the particular soccer field may suspend or cancel the game, except that the regional commissioner or designee may suspend or cancel games due to inclement weather or other conditions that may warrant such action. 5. Attendance and Participation Every player shall be entitled to play at least half of every game. Moreover, it is the policy of the Region to encourage each coach to (a) play each player at least three quarters of every game, wherever possible, and (b) to allow different players to start the first quarter of each game. Each player is strongly urged to attend every team practice. Any player who misses practices regularly may have his/her playing time limited to one-half (but not less than one-half) of a game. Region 149 has no requirement limiting the amount of time any player can play as goalkeeper. Substitutions during the game: Substitutions will be conducted in accordance with National AYSO rules and policies. Substitutions shall be made only at the game quarters. The only exception shall be when a player is removed from play due to an injury, a substitution may be made to replace the injured player. Players coming on the field may be recognized by the referee before entering, and must enter and leave at midfield. It is the responsibility of the coach to make certain that all players participate on the field at least 50% of the game. If a team does not have sufficient players at game time, other AYSO registered players from the same or lower division may be used, provided that the coach is either in possession of a copy of the player’s emergency contact form, or the player’s parent or guardian is present. If a player has attended neither practices nor games for four consecutive weeks, the team parent will contact the family to determine whether this absence is due to an excused problem. Reasons for excused absence are: illness, injury or family circumstances which preclude attendance. If the absence is not excusable the team parent will forward the player’s name to the Executive Board and the Executive Board will drop the player from the roster. No refunds will be issued. All players shall be insured of playing at least one half of game time of each game attended. It is the policy of Region 149 that players playing time be equalized to the best of the coach’s ability with the exception that a coach may limit playing time to one-half of the game if needed for disciplinary or motivational purposes. These purposes must be clearly explained to the player each time he/she does not receive equal playing time with other players during a game. 6. Protests No protest of games shall be permitted. However, coaches are encouraged to file with the Regional Referee Administrator a written report within 48 hours after a game of any misapplication by a game referee of the Laws of the Game or rules and regulations. This procedure shall not be used as a means of complaining of, or criticizing, any judgment call of a referee or assistant referee. If, after investigation by the Regional Referee Administrator, it is found that a law, rule or regulation was misapplied, such referee shall be so informed in order to ensure that no further misapplication occurs. 7. Conduct during Games The highest standards of conduct and good sportsmanship must be maintained at all times by players, coaches, referees, spectators and all other participants. Offensive, insulting or abusive language or behavior is forbidden. The use of alcohol, tobacco products or illegal drugs in the vicinity of the playing field during practices or games is strictly forbidden. Any criminal act on or near the playing field will result in prosecution to the full extent of the law, and will cause immediate exclusion from any further participation in Regional activities pending Board action. All participants must wear the official uniforms provided for all games and dress in them in a neat, clean manner. The use of shin guards is required at all practices and games. Coaches are expected to be positive and set the best possible example for the participants. Excessive coaching from the sidelines shall not be permitted, and the function of the coach should be to provide encouragement and a positive direction. The coach may enter the field of play only with the consent of the referee and may coach only within 10 yards in each direction from the half-way line of the field (in no event in either of the penalty areas or from behind the goals). Spectators at games must remain behind the spectator control line (three yards from the sideline) and between the penalty areas and their vocal efforts should be limited to positive compliments to the participants. Spectators are expected at all times to act positively around players and to demonstrate respect for opponents, officials, and all other volunteers. Under no circumstances should they attempt to coach or address remarks derogatory to players, coaches or the referee. At the end of the game, the players on each team shall line up and shake hands with the players of the opposing team and thank the referee and assistant referees. Discipline shall be up to the referee at each game. The referee shall have the power and authority to caution and send off players and coaches (as well as spectators, in the case of outside interference) from the playing area, or terminate the match if necessary, if their conduct violates the Laws of the Game, these Guidelines or otherwise interferes with the course of play. No appeal of disciplinary action taken by a referee shall be allowed. A player or coach who is sent off (red card) or cautioned (yellow card) may be subject to additional disciplinary action (e.g., parent conferences, game suspensions, expulsions) at the discretion of the Regional Executive Board upon thorough review of the incident following the procedures outlined in Article 9 (Dispute Resolution). A coach, assistant coach or spectator who is sent off or cautioned may also be subject to similar or additional disciplinary action at the discretion of the Regional Executive Board upon thorough review of the incident following the procedures outlines in Article 9 (Dispute Resolution). The Regional Executive Board may adopt an automatic additional one game suspension for any participant who is sent off the field by a referee for a disciplinary reason. 8. Refreshments at Games It shall be the responsibility of each team to supply its own refreshments. It is suggested that the best kind of refreshment is cool water. It is the responsibility of the coach and team parent participants to assure the absence of any drug, stimulant or other harmful substances in any refreshment given to any player. 9. Parental Participation As AYSO is an “all-volunteer” Organization, each parent or guardian who has a player in the Region shall be strongly encouraged to volunteer his or her valuable time and services in some way. The Region shall not reduce or eliminate the player fee based upon voluntary work done by a participant's parents or guardians and shall not charge an additional fee to those parents of players who do not volunteer their services or who do not donate funds to the program. No fee distinction shall be made based upon parental or player participation in Regional fundraising activities. Region 149 does not condition the registration of a player based upon any requirement of volunteer participation by a parent or guardian. Each team must provide a coach, assistant coach, two referees, a team parent, and a registration volunteer. 10. Facilities It shall be the responsibility of both teams for the first game each day to set up the goalposts and nets and both teams for the last game of each day to take down the goalposts and nets. Each team should have designated volunteer(s) for field set-up/take down. Each field shall be lined under the direction of the Regional Commissioner and/or the Director of Playing Fields, and each group of fields shall be provided with a first aid kit. No trash should be left at the facility except in designated containers. 11. Sponsors The Region encourages local businesses and individuals to support its program. Suitable recognition shall be given to them. Contributions are strongly encouraged to be made to the Region rather than to a particular team. All such contributions are considered charitable contributions and are deductible for U.S. tax purposes, subject to the applicable limitations in the Internal Revenue Code. It is the responsibility of any sponsor to comply with the Internal Revenue Code and AYSO will give no opinion on whether a particular donation is or is not deductible. 12. Equipment The Region shall make arrangements to supply each player with a shirt with the original AYSO logo properly affixed thereto and, if possible, a pair of socks, and shorts. Each player is expected to provide his/her own appropriate footwear and shin guards. No player may participate in a game without such shirt, socks, shorts, appropriate footwear and shin guards. Players may not wear jewelry of any kind (including chains, watches, body jewelry and earrings), bandannas or other ornamentation or anything else that is likely to cause risk of injury to himself or herself or to other players during the game. Medical information bracelets should not be removed, but must be padded and taped to the player’s skin. Prescription eyeglasses may be worn, but must remain firmly on the wearer’s head or restrained by a strap. Non-prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses are not permitted to be worn by a player during a game. Hard casts (including padded casts), splints, helmets and hard padding are not permitted to be worn by a player during any game or practice. Players with permanent orthodontic braces are strongly encouraged to wear mouth guards. Region 149 has the following rules on player equipment allowed (adapted from the national AYSO guidelines). The referee shall check before each game is to make sure that all players conform to these rules. These rules are for the child’s safety and that of all players and referees on the field. Any exception, for medical, religious or other extraordinary reasons, requires a written waiver, signed by the Regional Commissioner, which must be shown to the referee on the field. Referees may also refuse to permit other items not listed here if, in their opinion, those items are dangerous. Head NO hair barrettes or hard fasteners (straps, combs, etc.).NO "pony tail holders" (elastic bands with hard plastic balls). Plain elastic fasteners, rubber bands, Scrunchies (cloth-covered elastic) are OK as long as they do not contain hard objects. Headband OK (cloth only). Long hair should be tied back or up. Glasses - prescription only, retaining straps strongly encouraged but not mandatory. Safety or sport glass are strongly encouraged; metal rims are discouraged. NO sunglasses, except for prescription. NO external head or neck gear (goalkeeper may wear a soft-brimmed hat; referee judges acceptability). NO dental retainers with protruding wires (must be removed before match begins). Molded retainers without wires are OK. Orthodontic braces are OK. A sports mouthpiece is allowed.Jersey Team jersey must be worn. Another shirt or sweatshirt (long or short sleeve) under jersey is OK. Cannot be the same color as other team jersey. Referee judges if color is acceptable. NO hooded shirts are allowed, unless the hood is securely tucked under the jersey and will not come loose during play.There must be 5 different jersey colors, and only 5 colors, on the field:
Team A goalkeeper, everyone else on Team A, Team B goalkeeper, everyone else on Team B, Referee. Shorts Non-regulation shorts are OK, but only if color matches team's shorts to referee satisfaction. "Bike pants" (tight-fitted stretch shorts) or sweatpants may be worn under regular shorts if they are of the same color as the shorts and do not cover any part of the shin guard or socks. NO knee pads except goalkeeper (soft pads only). Legs Team socks must be worn. Shin guards are required [Law IV(2)]. Shin guards are to be put on first, then the socks, which must completely cover the shin guard. Knee braces are permitted, provided the brace is adequately covered and padded so as to eliminate the possibility of its causing injury to other players. The knee brace should be one designed specifically for use in sports, and may not pose a potential hazard to the wearer or any other player.Feet Shoes are required. Cleats are recommended and should be FIFA-approved, without a single cleat at the toe (i.e., baseball/football shoes are illegal unless modified to remove toe cleat). Screw-in cleats are permitted if they meet FIFA requirements regarding size, shape, and method of attachment; a sharp edge or protruding metal core is not permitted. Turf shoes and sneakers are OK. In the younger age groups (Under 10 and below), remind players to tie shoes and suggest double knots. Jewelry NO earrings, at all, period. Earrings must be removed before the child can play - padding/taping is not an acceptable substitute. NO necklaces. NO hard bracelets (metal, plastic, beads, leather, anything that could cut or bruise). This includes "Medic-Alert" bracelets, which should be held by the coach or parent during the match, or taped to the skin. Cloth or string ("friendship") bracelets are OK if not loose enough to be caught or snagged (referee judgment; if loose, they can be taped or removed). NO rings or watches. NO body jewelry, such as nose rings/studs, eyebrow rings/studs, tongue rings/studs, etc.NO pins or pin-on buttons. Other NO casts or splints, at all, even if taped or wrapped in foam rubber. This applies even to plastic and Velcro strap-on casts.
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