South Fraser Soccer League Rules

South Fraser High School Soccer League Regulations

Home teams are responsible for:

1. Providing two nets, four proper corner flags, and an official match ball. Practice balls are not acceptable. It is suggested that schools purchase at least one Molten official match ball as that is the ball that will be used at the Provincial Championships and should be used during Zone Championship play. 

2. Providing a game sheet for the opposing coach and referee - team roster with numbers.

3. Changing to an alternate jersey if there is a colour clash.

4. Contacting the opposing coach and referee allocator if the location or time change

5. Providing a neutral person to assist the referee - ball in play or out of play only, no direction or offsides. Must be an adult. 

6. Ensure the field has been freshly lined - failure to do so may result in an appeal and potential forfeit.

7. Ensuring suitable sideline conduct of its players and fans.

8. Finding an alternate playing field if necessary - due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.

9. The home team has the right to pick their bench side and should be set up prior to the arrival of the opposition.

10. The home team has the choice of which end they would like to warm up on.

Visiting teams are responsible for:

1. Providing a back up game ball.

2. Providing a game sheet for the opposing coach and referee - team roster with numbers.

3. Providing a neutral person to assist the referee - ball in play or out of play only, no direction or offside. Must be an adult.

4. Ensuring suitable sideline conduct of its players and fans. At turf fields, only those players and coaches listed on the STARS roster and team managers may be inside the fence. 

5. The visiting team and its supporters will be on the opposite side of the field from the home team unless the game is taking place at a turf field where the team benches are located on the same sideline. 

Game Times: 

Should be a 3:30 kickoff unless both coaches and referee have agreed to a different time.

If a referee does not show up: If by 3:45pm a referee does not show up to the field, coaches would get together and see if they have a qualified ref suitable for the calibre of game being played. Perhaps a staff member or parent. If this is not possible or both coaches can not agree then each coach referees one half of the game. If this is not agreeable, then the game must be made up at a later date.  However, if this is agreeable there is no protests laid after the match because of the refs ability  or his or her calls etc. The results of the game stands.

Substitutions: 

Unlimited substitutions are allowed. Referees will signal a player on to the field at their discretion.

Game Lengths: 

Seniors play two 40 minute halves, Juniors and Grade 8/9 play two 35 minutes halves. In all league games, if the game ends in a tie, there is no overtime or penalty kicks.

Field Conditions: 

If games are in jeopardy due to field conditions, the home team should seek out an alternate field. If the home team is unable to find an alternate field, the visiting team has the option of finding one. All field changes must be reported to the zone coordinator and referee allocator. 

Forfeits: 

If a school is unable to field a team and forfeits a regular season game, there will be a $50 fine levied to that school plus the cost of the referee for that game and any field costs associated with the game. If a school forfeits a South Fraser Championship game the fine is $100 plus the cost of the referee and any field costs associated with the game. The result of the forfeit will be 5-0.

Registration:
Schools must register with their teams with the South Fraser Athletic Association as well as on the South Fraser Soccer website. In addition to this, the team registration deadline with BC School Sports MUST be adhered to as berthing to the Provincial Championships is determined immediately after this date. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a $100 fine. 

Protests: 

All protests must be filed immediately and must include making the referee and the opposing coach aware that a protest is being filed and the reason for the protest.  

All league games must be completed by seasons end. No points will be awarded for games left not played. A win is worth 3 points, a tie is worth 1 point, and a loss is worth no points.

Appeals:
All appeals must be filed within 48 hours of the game being played and are subject to a $100 appeal fee made payable to South Fraser Secondary Schools Soccer. Successful appeals will have the appeal fee halved. 

League Standing Tie Breakers:

Two way tie in points:   A. How the two teams did head to head

                                     B. Goal difference between the two teams 

                                          in games played against each other

                                     C. Goals against in all games played

                                     D. Goal difference in all games played

                                     E. Playoff at neutral site sharing costs and

                                          responsibilities

Three way (or more) tie in points:  A. How the three or more teams did

                                                            head to head 

                                                       B. Goal difference between the three

                                                            or more teams in games played

                                                            against each other

                                                       C. Goals against in all games played

                                                       D. Goal differential in all games played

                                                       E. Three way (or more) playoff at

                                                           neutral site sharing costs and 

                                                           responsibilities

Referees: 

The zone coordinator communicates with the referee allocator for that particular zone. 

Referees should be contacting the the home team's school by noon the day of the game to verify the venue. Referee's should email all cards given out to the zone coordinator and to Sunny Uppal. 

Card Infractions: 

3 separate yellows accumulated over the course of the league season = 1 game suspension (suspension carries over to playoffs)

5 separate yellow cards accumulated over the course of the league season = 2 additional game suspension (suspension carries over to playoffs)

Any red card = minimum 1 game suspension in addition to the game the player or coach was ejected from. Referee report will be emailed to Sunny Uppal.

The discipline committee spokesperson, Sunny Uppal, will contact the coach of the player involved with any further suspensions. The committee uses the BC Soccer Association Disciplinary Guidelines and will make a decision within 7 days of the incident. Players or coaches receiving red cards must not play or coach until the discipline committee makes a decision.

Two yellow cards in one game = 1 game suspension

Cards do not carry over to the South Fraser Championships. Any cards received during South Fraser Championship play will have discipline handled by BC School Sports.