1.11.1. By the Team Registrations Deadline for each season submit the required team registration information via the online form.

1.11.2. By the Team Fees Deadline submit the team registration fee to the MVYSA office (at this time the fee is $150 for a single season). Teams playing in the U15-U19 age groups will also submit a $100 bond which will be returned at the end of the season provided they play all scheduled league games. After the Divisioning/Restrictions Deadline the registration fee and bond will be non refundable.

1.11.3. By the Divisioning/Restrictions Deadline for each season complete the on-line restrictions portion of the team registration form.

1.11.3.1. No games will be scheduled during Easter, Labor Day, Memorial Day weekends and the weekend following Memorial Day weekend.

1.11.3.1. MVYSA retains the right of limiting the number of restrictions per team.

1.11.4. By the Divisioning/Restrictions Deadline for each season submit a MVYSA Field Form containing:

1.11.4.1. The name and contact information for the field coordinator of the home field.

1.11.4.2. Field availability information (site, field, dates and times open, field size) with enough flexibility to allow a viable schedule to be built

1.11.4.3. Field conflicts with recreational leagues

1.11.4.4. Verification that current map directions are correct or submit the necessary changes

1.11.5. When requesting a Game Change, the team or club requesting the change shall coordinate with the affected Field Coordinator and ensure that games are back-to-back on weekends so that the referees do not have a game break between games.

1.14.1. Assign referees with appropriate rating to the schedule of games.

1.14.2. Provide an online view to see the status of referee(s) assigned to MVYSA games.

1.14.3. Notify both coaches of teams where they have failed to schedule referees for a game 24 hours prior to the scheduled game time.

1.15.1. The Game Change Coordinator will be the Vice President of Competition.

1.15.2. Upon reasonable request by a coach, the Game Change Coordinator may approve a game schedule change. Said approval is subject to the discretion of the Game Change Coordinator. Game schedule change requests submitted within ten (10) days of the scheduled game date may be assessed by the Game Change Coordinator a $50.00 cost per change. Said fee to be submitted to MVYSA prior to the game.

1.15.3. In the case of a scheduled game not being played, the affected teams shall reschedule within 7 days of original date. If they fail to use the proper procedure or reschedule within 7 days then the game may in the discretion of the Game Change Coordinator be dropped from the schedule.

1.15.4. Changes will only be made via the Game Change Request online form and subject to the scheduling guidelines published for that season.

1.15.5. Both coaches of teams requesting a game change MUST confirm that Game Changes have been made as requested. No response from coaches involved in a change will mean everything was properly changed.

1.15.6. The online game schedule will be the only schedule. The online schedule will immediately change as any change is made by the Game Change Coordinator.

1.15.7. If a team or teams drop from the league after the schedule is posted, the League Director will attempt to resolve the schedule.

2.4.1. The head coach or assistant coach of any team must be at least 18 years of age or older prior to the first league game for any season for which the coach is carded.

2.5.1. The Vice-president of Competition may authorize a waiver of the requirements contained in 2.5 on a case by case basis as he deems appropriate.

2.6.1. A player or coach shall not be considered to be registered with MVYSA until the proper registration forms, with all required documentation, are submitted to MVYSA and approved by the Registrar.

2.6.2. A player or coach shall not be considered to be no longer registered with MVYSA until the proper forms and the player or coaches card are submitted to MVYSA and approved.

2.7.1. For Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 - Teams playing in the U8, U9, and U10 age groups shall play 6v6. Teams playing in the U11 age groups shall play 8v8. All other age groups shall play 11v11.

2.7.2. For Fall 2008 and thereafter - Teams playing in the U8, U9, and U10 age groups shall play 6v6. Teams playing in the U11 and U12 age groups shall play 8v8. All other age groups shall play 11v11.

3.1.2. Any U-7 or younger player is not eligible to participate in play in MVYSA.

3.1.3. U-8 players may not play on U-10 or older competitive teams.

3.1.4. Once a player or a player’s parent or guardian signs the player registration form and the player signs the US Youth Soccer/Ohio South player pass, the player is bound to that team for the entire seasonal year, unless the player is properly transferred or the player properly quits, pursuant to these rules. Players may only register with one team during a seasonal year, except if the player properly transfers to another team, pursuant to these rules.

3.4.1. Any player that voluntarily quits a team may not play as a guest player on any team registered through MVYSA in any sanctioned tournament.

3.4.2. Pursuant to OSYSA Rule 2.9.1, any player that voluntarily quits a team is considered to be in bad standing and cannot participate in any US Youth Soccer/OSYSA tournament, State Cup or league play with any other team during that seasonal year.

3.6. Any person, including any coach or player, who submits or uses or who permits the submission or use of, including the electronic transmission thereof, a fraudulent, fictitious or altered birth certificate, player registration form, coach registration form, team roster, travel permit, player pass, coach pass or other US Youth Soccer or OSYSA document shall, upon such a finding by MVYSA, be suspended. Any adult violating this rule shall be suspended for a minimum of three years. Any player for whom any such document is submitted shall be suspended for a period determined by the board of MVYSA, but said suspension will be for a period of less than three years.

4.0. Fields

4.1. Every team must have a playable field available for its use that shall be designated as its home field. No more than 4 teams may designate a particular field as their home field. If any team does not have a playable field available for its use, the team may elect to play all of its games “away”.

4.2. Fields must be maintained in a playable condition, with affixed goals of proper size, during the entire season.

4.3. Teams shall advise the MVYSA Scheduler, no later than July 15 for the fall season, and not later than January 31 for the spring season the location, availability and field number of the field that team will designate as its home field for the upcoming season.

4.4. In addition to all other factors, in order to be deemed “playable,” fields must comply with the following standards in terms of size and age group:

Age Group	Field Size (required minimum)	Goal Size (required minimum)	US Youth Soccer (recommendations)
6v6	40 x 60 yards	6'x18'	6v6 field markings
8v8	50 x 80 yards	7'x21'	8v8 field markings
11v11	60 x 110 yards	8'x24'	11v11 field markings

6.2.1. The following two levels of infractions/sanctions are established:

6.2.1.1. Minor infractions are offenses or occasions of objectionable conduct for which minor sanctions ranging from a letter of reprimand to a suspension of up to 3 games. Minor infractions are acts such as, but not limited to the following:

(a) A player or a coach receives a red card during a single season,

(b) Failure to attend the mandatory preseason coaches' meeting,

(c) Use of profane, vulgar, threatening or abusive language.

(d) A team receives 3 red cards or a total of 6 yellow and/or red cards during a single season.

(e) A player receives 3 yellow cards=1 red card during a single season.

6.2.2. Serious infractions are grievous offenses or acts of gross misconduct that threaten the integrity of the sport of soccer for which serious sanctions ranging from a multi-game suspension to a multi-year removal from some or all activities associated with MVYSA can be made. Serious infractions are those acts such as, but not limited to:

(a) Physical assault of a referee, player, coach or spectator,

(b) Deliberate falsification of player or coach records, including registration forms, transfer forms, birth certificates or similar documents or having specific knowledge of same where the person or the team or teams that the person is involved with benefited by such falsification. All players and coaches must have a properly validated pass to participate in any MVYSA or OSYSA sanctioned game. They must present the card at each game. If no carded coach is available for a game the game will not be played,

(c) A player or coach receives a second red card within a single season,

(d) Verbal abuse of a referee or Assistant Referee,

(e) Spitting is considered an assault resulting in a minimum suspension of 1 year

(f) Threats of violence, whether directed against a player, coach, referee, Assistant Referee or spectator,

(g) Recruiting or attempting to recruit a player,

(h) Verbal abuse of a coach, player or spectator,

(i) Having an improperly registered player participate in a game,

(j) Improper removal of a player from a team roster during the seasonal year, (i.e. cutting a player from the team roster),

(k) The use of any tobacco product, including but not limited to cigars, cigarettes, pipes, snuff and chewing tobacco, by coaches, trainers, players and referees while engaged in any MVYSA function that involves youth soccer players is prohibited. Under this rule, a MVYSA function is defined as any of the following activities: team or individual practices, league games, tournament games, and tryouts,

(l) The use of, the possession of, or being under the influence of, alcohol or illegal drugs by coaches, trainers, players or referees while engaged in a MVYSA function that involves youth soccer players is prohibited. Under this rule, a MVYSA function is defined as any of the following activities: team or individual practices, league games, tournament games, and tryouts.

6.3.1. Coaches may NOT be at the field in any capacity during the game(s) they are required to sit out. Players may attend game(s) they are required to sit out but cannot be in uniform.

6.3.2. A player or coach suspended by MVYSA must serve that suspension in league games. The suspension will be effective until such time as the player or coach has served the entire suspension in league games. If the player or coach is suspended for three or more games, that player or coach will be placed in bad standing with OSYSA and USSF until the suspension has been served completely.

6.3.2.1. Teams, players or coaches may be declared in bad standing by MVYSA for violations of any rules and regulations of MVYSA and/or OSYSA or for any action which is detrimental to the benefits or goals of MVYSA, OSYSA and/or US Youth Soccer.

6.3.2.2. If a suspension is ordered for a coach or player for violation of MVYSA, OSYSA or US Youth Soccer rules and regulations, that coach or player will be placed in bad standing, and said bad standing will continue until the period of the suspension has expired.

6.3.2.3. Any team, player or coach in bad standing is not permitted to participate in any US Youth Soccer league, tournament or other US Youth Soccer sanctioned match during the period the team, player or coach is in bad standing.

6.12.1. It is the policy of MVYSA to provide due process to all members of MVYSA. All parties in any process are entitled to have copies of all materials involving the incident, to have the process conducted within time lines established, to provide comment and/or evidence concerning the incident, and have the right to appear before the Conduct Committee. Failure to comply with any procedural requirements of the Conduct Committee may result in suspension from MVYSA/OSYSA functions and/or other disciplinary actions.

6.12.1.1. The Vice President of Conduct shall appoint the members of the Conduct Committee. This committee shall consist of three voting members of the Board of Directors. The Conduct Committee shall be responsible for investigating and hearing any reported breaches of conduct by players, and hearing any reported breaches of conduct by players, coaches, or others.

6.12.1.2. In the event the Vice-President of Conduct or member of the Conduct Committee is directly involved in the alleged incident, the MVYSA Board of Directors will appoint alternates to serve as Conduct Chair and/or members as required for that hearing.

6.12.1.3. The Vice-President of Conduct shall notify in writing the parties involved in the conduct hearing of the complaint that was filed. The involved parties shall be given a copy of the rule violations, referee reports, or other parties written reports. The involved parties must respond in writing to the reported incident. Such response must be received within one week of the receipt of the Conduct Committee investigations. If the responding parties do not respond to the Conduct Committee within the time limit the hearing will be conducted and the involved parties will have forfeited their right to provide information on the incident. During the time, that the Conduct Committee is conducting their investigation and hearing, all penalties shall be served by the involved parties.

6.12.1.4. All reports to the Conduct Committee may require written reports from any other parties involved in the reporting incident. All parties affiliated with MVYSA are required to submit written reports if they are requested to do so. Failure to comply with this request shall result in immediate suspension from all MVYSA activities or other disciplinary sanctions.

6.12.1.5. The Conduct Committee must hear the complaint within 14 days of the date that the material was due from the responding parties.

6.12.1.6. If the responding party elects to appear before the Conduct Committee only the responding party may appear. In the case of a minor player the parent may appear. Outside representation of the responding parties is not permitted.

6.12.1.7. Only evidence submitted before, and at the hearing pursuant to rules and regulations may be taken into consideration in deciding the matter before the Conduct Committee.

6.12.1.8. The involved parties shall be notified of the action of the Conduct Committee within two weeks after the complaint is heard.

6.13.1. The appealing party(ies) shall file his/her appeal in writing with the Vice-President of Conduct within one week of the date of written notification of adverse action from the Conduct Committee. Receipt within the authorized time period to the Vice-President of Conduct Constitutes notice of appeal. A $100 money order or certified check is to accompany the appeal. The fee will be returned if the appeal is upheld.

6.13.2. All supporting material to the appeal must be received by the Vice-President of Conduct within two weeks after the receipt of the notice of appeal.

6.13.3. Failure of the appealing party(ies) to provide copies of all material to the Conduct Committee Chairman within the time period specified will result in dismissal of the appeal.

6.13.4. Any outstanding appeal will be heard prior to MVYSA's next scheduled Board of Directors meeting by the full Board of Directors, not to exceed 30 days from the date the material was received from the appealing parties.

6.13.5. Parties to any appeal cannot be represented by an attorney. Players under 18 years of age may be represented by their parent(s) or coach.

6.13.6. All parties to this appeal shall be notified of the actions of the Board of Directors within two weeks after the appeal is heard.

7.1.1. Teams must report to the playing field ready to play, unless they are notified of postponement of the game by the Game Coordinator or his designee, to the contrary. The penalty for failure to appear is forfeiture of the game. Coaches may never assume that a game has been postponed.

7.1.2. The Referee Association will notify the Scheduling Coordinator of all games that have been postponed or suspended by referees.

7.1.3. If a game is suspended because of foul weather prior to the end of the first half, the game shall be re-played. After the first half, the game shall be considered complete.

7.1.4. If either thunder is heard or lightning is seen or dangerously high winds occur or is seen or other unsafe weather conditions occur prior to or during a game, the game shall be suspended and the fields shall be cleared. All players shall immediately go to safe shelter.

7.1.5. No player may retake the field until a minimum of 30 minutes has elapsed since the last occasion of lightning was seen or thunder was heard, or after any dangerously high winds or other unsafe weather condition has passed.

7.1.6. The Vice President of Competition shall have the authority, in his discretion, to cancel games for any and all age groups or sites based upon weather conditions that make it unsuitable or inappropriate to conduct a match. In furtherance of this policy, the Vice President of Competition may also cancel games for the U8, U9, and U10 age groups when the wind chill at game time is forecast to be under 36degrees.

7.2.1. The following point system will be used to determine league standings: Win - 3 points, Tie - 1 point, Loss - 0 points.

7.2.2. Within 24 hours of a game being played the coach of the winning team (home team in case of a tie) shall report the score using the on-line Score Report System. After a 24 hour period either team may post the scores. If the score posted is wrong, the coach of record shall send an email to the Website Data Manager. League Standings will be maintained automatically on the website. Disputes regarding League standings shall be resolved by the League Director.

7.2.3. In the event of a tie for First Place by one or more teams for the division championship, all teams tied for First shall receive first place awards. No second place awards will be given if multiple teams receive first place.

7.2.4. If only one team is in First place and a tie occurs for second place, all Second place teams receive awards.

7.3.1. A game shall be considered as a forfeit for a team when:

(a) The team plays with an ineligible player or
(b) The team fails to report to the designated field with at least 7 players for teams playing 11v11, 6 players for a teams playing 8v8, or 5 players for teams playing 6v6, within 15 minutes (after) the scheduled kickoff time.
(c) For any other reason providing for forfeiture of a game in the rules promulgated by USSF, US Youth Soccer or OSYSA.

7.3.2. When a game is forfeited:

(a) The total game fee will be paid by the forfeiting team. This team may not play a game until all fees are paid.
(b) The score will be recorded as a 1-0 loss for theforfeiting team.

7.3.3. The Vice-President of Competition shall make the final determination as to whether any game shall be declared a forfeit.

7.3.4. If a team forfeits two or more games in any one season (Fall or Spring), that team may be placed in bad standing at the discretion of the MVYSA Board of Directors. Any team placed in bad standing may not play in any USSF sanctioned match until that bad standing has been withdrawn.

7.4.1. Each team must have present at each game at least one properly carded coach.

7.4.2. Both teams, including a maximum of three carded coaches as well as a carded Director of Coaching per team, shall be stationed on one side of the field and all spectators shall remain on the opposite side of the field. During the match each coach shall remain on the side of the field assigned to that coach’s team, and shall remain at least ten yards from mid-field.

7.4.3. The referee has the discretion to determine if the field is playable.

7.4.4. The home team is responsible for changing jersey color in the event of a color conflict.

7.4.5 The coach of each team at each game shall pay one-half of the referee’s fees, as set forth in the MVYSA Referee Fee Schedule, prior to the start of the game. If either team fails to appear for a match, that team will be assessed the entire referee game fee.

7.4.6 No team or coach shall refuse to accept any referee assigned to a match by MVYSA or DASOA.

7.6.1. All players must wear uniforms, as approved by US Youth Soccer, in every game.

7.6.2. If, in the opinion of the center referee, the jerseys of the two teams are too similar, the home team shall be responsible for changing to an alternate color.

7.6.3. A player who is either bleeding or has blood on her/his uniform shall be required to be removed from the field and allowed to return only when the bleeding has stopped and the uniform changed.

7.6.4. Players must remove any piercings, from any location on their body, prior to any match. Any player who does not remove all piercings prior to any match may be subject to sanctions by MVYSA, including suspension for dangerous play.

7.8.1. Coaches wishing to file game protests must notify the referee of this intention in a courteous manner, at the field, either during, or just after the conclusion of the game. All protests shall be made in writing to the Conduct Committee Chairperson. Each protest must be accompanied by a certified check or money order for twenty-five ($25) dollars payable to MVYSA, Inc. If the protest is upheld, the fee will be returned. Protest must be postmarked not later than 48 hours after completion of the game being protested. Only carded coaches may file a protest. Calls involving referee's judgment may not be protested.

7.8.2. All Conduct Committee decisions may be appealed to the Board of Directors, provided such appeal is:

1) Filed by the Coach of record involved in the protest, and

2) Accompanied by a twenty-five ($25) dollar check made payable to the MVYSA, Inc., and

3) Postmarked within 48 hours of the game played or notification of the Conduct Committee Chairperson.

7.8.3. Appeals to the Board are to be submitted to the Vice-President of Conduct. All fees will be returned to a successful appellant at any level (includes prior $25).

7.9.1. U8-U10 Special rules

7.9.1.1. FIFA & USSF Law 11 – Offside: None - If the Referee determines that the offside infraction was Intentional and Obvious, he/she may signal for an indirect free kick for the defending team. The intent is to ignore offside. However if a coach is encouraging a player to remain in the opposing penalty area, shield a goalie or gain advantage by abusing Law 11 then the Offside infraction could be called. The Referee’s decision is final.

7.9.1.2. FIFA & USSF Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct: Conform to FIFA with the exception that an indirect kick is awarded to the opposing team at the center spot on the halfway line if a goalkeeper punts or drop-kicks the ball in the air from his/her penalty area into the opponents penalty area.

(a) Coaches may not deter, discourage or prohibit players from attending any tryout the player desires to attend, provided the tryout does not conflict with any scheduled league or tournament game in which the player's team is scheduled to play.

(b) Players and parents may not be charged a fee of any nature associated with any tryout.

(c) Coaches may not place demands on any player to join a team after tryouts. To that end, coaches may not, within 48 hours following the tryout, require a player to commit to a team, require a fee to hold a roster position, or require a player or parent to sign any registration forms.

(a) Clubs or teams may NOT advertise tryouts in any commercial media service, including on the internet in any manner, and in any newspaper publication of any kind, until after April 30.

(b) Clubs or teams may NOT advertise team tryouts on a poster or flyer placed in any public location, such as at soccer venues or commercial establishments, or with schools, churches, or other organizations until after April 30.

(c) Clubs or teams, including parents, coaches, administrators and trainers, may NOT attempt to use their position in a school or community, particularly as school coach, to influence or attempt to influence a player's choice, including, but not limited to, making any statement or inference that a player will not be selected for a high school team if he or she does not play for a particular team or club.

(a) Contact another team's registered player and attempt, in any manner, to entice, encourage, cajole that player to attend a team practice, game or tryout, except during the tryout period.

(b) Make a verbal or written contact with a registered player about transferring or changing teams, except during the tryout period.

(c) Use Olympic Development information, tournament applications or other such information to contact players for recruitment purposes.

10.3.1. Transfers are permitted solely in the discretion of the Vice-President of Conduct only after the conclusion of the Fall season. All requests for transfer must be submitted in writing to the Vice-President of Conduct prior to February 15 of the year in which the transfer is sought.

10.3.2. Transfers may be completed between the date of registration and the date of the first scheduled MVYSA league game for the fall season only in the discretion of the Vice-President of Conduct for good cause.

10.3.3. A completed USSF Transfer form, the player's card and a detailed statement explaining the reasons for the transfer, including why the requested transfer is in the best interest of the player must be submitted to the Vice-President of Conduct. A transfer is permitted only if the Vice-President of conduct, in his sole discretion, approves the transfer.

10.3.4. If documents submitted in support of a player transfer are false or fraudulent, or contain misleading information, the submission of such documents may result in the suspension of the player requesting the transfer or the coach submitting the documentation. If the Conduct Committee determines that a suspension is warranted for a player and/or coach under this rule, that player and/or coach may be placed in bad standing and may be subject to a suspension of no less than one year.