Tri-County Soccer League-Over-40 Division
League Specific Rules  
February 26, 2003

1. League Rules:
Tri-County Soccer League, Over-40 Division, games will be governed by United States Soccer Federation (USSF) rules except as noted hereafter. The “Over-40 Division” will also be governed by the By Laws and regulations of the Tri-County Soccer League except as specified in the rules hereafter.

2. Player Eligibility:
All players in the Over-40 League must be forty years old as of the date they participate in a League game.

3. Team Rosters:
Team Rosters will consist only of players properly registered with the League and holding an I.S.S.A. League Player Pass. Team Managers, who must be approved by the League, will maintain a current team roster at all times and provide a copy of this roster to the League and the I.S.S.A. as directed by the League. There will be no limit of the number of players carried on a team roster, however, team managers must notify the League and the I.S.S.A., via an official drop form, of any player who will not be an active member of that team. Players will obtain an official I.S.S.A. League Pass before participating in League Games.

4. Game Rosters and Player Passes:
For League games, prior to the start of each game, both teams will present to the Referee the I.S.S.A. Player Pass for each player participating in the game and an official Over-40 League Game Roster on which the Manager will indicate all players active in that game. Failure to present either the passes or the game roster will result in the game being forfeited by that team.

5. Game Cancellations:
A. Weather Related Cancellations:
Games should be played unless weather creates an unplayable field or severe or dangerous conditions are present at game time. If weather conditions require the cancellation of a game, the home team manager is to notify the visiting team manager and the game referee as soon as possible. Rescheduling of cancelled games is not mandatory and is at the mutual agreement of both team managers.

B. No Referee:
If the scheduled game Referee does not arrive at the field within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time, the teams may mutually select a qualified substitute Referee, as hereafter defined, and play the game. A qualified substitute Referee must hold a current and valid U.S.S.F. referee’s license and be able to supply proper credentials prior to the start of the game. The substitute Referee should complete all game reporting requirements, specifically the submission of game rosters to the League Director. If no qualified substitute Referee is available, the game is to be declared cancelled. If the teams agree to play a scrimmage match without a qualified Referee, all players are to be notified by team managers that the scrimmage does not carry the sanction of the Tri-County Soccer League or the I.S.S.A. and that insurance coverage provided by the I.S.S.A. is not in force. The home team manager must notify the League Director in any instance of a Referee who does not show up for a game and if a substitute was selected.

C. Miscellaneous Cancellations:
Teams wishing to cancel games for non-weather related reasons must notify the opposing team no less than 24 hours in advance of game time. The manager of the team requesting the cancellation must then notify the scheduled Referee, Referee Coordinator and League Director.

6. Forfeits:
A team will be declared to be in forfeit of a game if the team cannot field seven rostered players within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time of a game and cannot maintain at least seven players on the field for the duration of the game. In the case of a forfeit, the home must pay the game Referee the full game fee. If the forfeiting team is the visiting team, the visiting team will either immediately reimburse the home team for the Referee’s fee or the home team may apply to the League for reimbursement from the forfeit fund. If the League reimburses the home team, the forfeiting team must submit a new forfeit deposit to the League prior to competing in further games.

7. Complete Game:
A game will be considered as complete in case of suspension for weather or any other reason when the first half is complete.

8. Substitutions:
Substitutions are unlimited and may be made by either team on any dead ball situation.

9. Adjustment of Game Length:
All games are to consist of two halves of 45 minutes. Length of games may be adjusted, upon agreement of both team managers, to a format consisting of shortened halves or of four quarters with a rest period between quarters, under the following circumstances:

a) if either team is participating with 11 or fewer players.
b) if high temperature/humidity conditions create the risk of heat related problems for participants.

10. Player Conduct and Penalties:
Players receiving Red Cards will be subject to penalties and possible disciplinary action by the league under the following guidelines:

A. Preventing a Goal Scoring Opportunity (“Soft Red Card”):
1) Goalkeeper is issued a Red Card for handling the ball outside the Penalty Area.
2) Player is issued a Red Card for intentionally handling the ball in the Penalty Area.
3) Player prevents goal scoring opportunity as last defender (“last man back”) via non-violent foul.

Penalty for above: Player suspended from current game, no additional game suspension.

Referee does not retain player’s pass.

B. “Two Yellow Cards”:
Player receives two non-violent Yellow Card cautions, other than for verbal abuse of the

Referee. Penalty: One game suspension.

C. “Three Yellow Cards”:
A player receiving three Yellow Cards within one season will receive an automatic one game suspension. Additional Yellow Cards during that season will result in the assessment of multiple game suspension and/or other penalties recommended by the League Director.

D. Violent Conduct:
Players receiving a Red Card for Violent Conduct will be subject to a minimum two game suspension. The League Director, upon receiving the game report from the Referee, will determine if additional penalties should be proposed. Players receiving a second Red Card for Violent Conduct within one season will be immediately suspended from the League pending a review by the League Managers, which will be conducted within 30 days. By majority vote (excluding the offending player’s team), League Managers may impose additional penalties on the player, including a suspension of up to one year from the League.

The League Director will monitor game reports and determine if any player is exhibiting a pattern of violent conduct, foul play or verbally abusive behavior. This pattern will be determined from Referee Reports showing Red Cards, Yellow Cards, or written comments as well as written reports from League Managers. Upon determination of this pattern, the League Director will make a recommendation to League Managers who may impose, by a majority vote of all team Managers (excluding the offending player’s team), additional penalties, including up to permanent suspension from the League.

E. Referee Abuse:
Any player receiving a Red Card, including as a result of a second Yellow Card, for verbal abuse of a Referee will be subject to a minimum two game suspension. Any player reported for Violent Conduct toward a Referee, whether by the Referee or by team managers, whether or not a Red Card was issued, will be subject to immediate suspension for the remainder of the current season as well as possible additional penalties, up to permanent suspension from the League, upon verification of the incident by the League Director and approval of a majority of team managers.

F. A fine of $50.00 will be assessed to the Team Manager for any Red Card issued to any player for infractions described in, D. Violent Conduct, or E. Referee Abuse, above.

Fines are payable to the Tri-County Soccer League and must be delivered to the League Director within seven days of notification of the Fine. Failure to pay the fine will result in suspension of the team from League play until payment of the fine is received.

Right of Hearing:
Any player receiving a suspension from League play for one year or longer may request a hearing before the League Managers. The request must be made in writing and must include a statement of the facts that the player believes justify the review along with at least one supporting written statement from other witnesses. Upon consideration and approval of the request, the League Managers will schedule the review at a time that will allow a quorum of Managers to be present. The player’s Manager should be present at the review and will count toward the quorum but will not participate in any voting on the review issue. At the review, the player should be prepared to present qualified witnesses and information that the player feels would warrant a reduction or termination of the suspension.

Code of Conduct:
All players will sign the Tri-County Soccer League, Over-40 Division, “Code of PlayerConduct” prior to receiving an I.S.S.A. Player Pass. All players will be subject to the terms of the Code of Conduct as long as they participate in the League. Violation of the terms of the Code will be grounds for the player’s suspension from the League for a term determined by a vote of League Managers.

11. Definitions:

“Season”:
For the purpose of monitoring cumulative Red or Yellow Cards, a “season” will be defined as the period beginning with the first game in the spring and ending with the last game in the following fall.

“Game Suspension”:
Players suspended from any League game or games must serve that suspension beginning with the next game his team actually plays- not just the next scheduled game. This means if a player is serving a one game suspension and his teams next game is cancelled or not played as a complete game according to League definition. Game suspensions will also carry over from one season to the next.

Tri-County Soccer League, Over-40 Division
Information for Referees

1. League Rules:
Tri-County Soccer League, Over-40 Division, games will be governed by United States Soccer Federation (USSF) rules except as noted hereafter.

2. Player Eligibility:
All players in the Over-40 League must be forty years old as of the date they participate in a League game and in possession of a current I.S.S.A. Player Pass for the team on which he is competing.

3. Team Rosters:
Team Rosters will consist only of players properly registered with the League and holding an I.S.S.A. League Player Pass. There will be no limit of the number of players carried on a team roster.

4. Game Rosters and Player Passes :
For League games, prior to the start of each game, both teams will present to the Referee the I.S.S.A. Player Pass for each player participating in the game and an official Over-40 League Game Roster on which the Manager will indicate all players active in that game. Failure to present either the passes or the game roster will result in the game being forfeited by that team. Rosters are to be sent to the O-40 League Director.

5. Substitutions:
Substitutions are unlimited and may be made by either team on any dead ball situation.

6. Adjustment of Game Length:
All games consist of two halves of 45 minutes. Length of games may be adjusted, upon agreement of both team managers, to a format consisting of shortened halves or of four quarters with a rest period between quarters, under the following circumstances:

a) if either team is participating with 11 or fewer players.
b) if high temperature/humidity conditions create the risk of heat related problems for participants.

7. Complete Game:
A game will be considered as complete in case of suspension for weather or any other reason when the first half is complete.

8. Red Cards- Retention of Player Pass :
If a Red Card is issued, that player’s I.S.S.A. Player Pass will be retained by the Referee and sent to the League Director along with the game rosters. An explanation of the infraction should be made on the game roster form. An additional report should accompany the form for serious infractions, especially if fighting or referee abuse (physical or verbal) was the cause of the ejection.

9. Preventing a Goal Scoring Opportunity (“Soft Red Card”):
1) Goalkeeper is issued a Red Card for handling the ball outside the Penalty Area.
2) Player is issued a Red Card for intentionally handling the ball in the Penalty Area.
3) Player prevents goal scoring opportunity as last defender (“last man back”) via non-violent foul.

Penalty for above: Player suspended from current game, no additional game suspension.

Referee does not retain player’s pass.

10. Game Report:
All game Rosters, with completed scores and reports of yellow cards, red cards and injuries, as well as retained I.S.S.A. Player Passes must be sent within 48 hours to the O-40 League Secretary:

Carlos Solarte
315 Lake Gillilan Way
Algonquin, IL. 60102

REFEREES, PLEASE NOTE:

The Tri-County League is determined to reduce the level of violent play and verbal abuse towards other players and Referees. We encourage Referees to strictly enforce all laws of the game and to maintain order and sporting behavior on the field at all times. Leniency in issuing and reporting infractions encourages violent play and verbal abuse, therefore the League requests that Referees issue Cautions or Ejections whenever warranted and to accurately report all Cautions and Ejections on the game report.