A Club dropping a team after the Close of Registration will be fined $25 per team in addition to the loss of registration packet fee.

A Club dropping a team 10 days after the Close of Registration will be fined $50 per team in addition to the loss of registration packet fee.

A Club dropping a team after the Flight Meeting will be fined the cost of the registration packet in addition to the loss of registration packet fee.

A Club dropping a team after the Coaches Meeting will be fined the cost of the registration packet plus $100 in addition to the loss of registration packet fee.

A Club dropping a team after the first game of the season will be fined twice the cost of the registration packet in addition to the loss of registration packet fee.

Each club shall be issued one NJYSA player registration packet for each team registered with the NCSA. No packets will be issued unless all necessary registration information has been received, and all fees and fines have been paid.

2.6 PASS VALIDATION AND ROSTER SIZE

Each team shall submit a completed team roster, at least one fully completed coach's pass (with a copy of the USSF Coaching license), and at least eleven (eight for Divisions 5 and 6) fully completed player pass registration forms and matching player passes bearing color photographs (no more than one year old), and proper proof of age. Out of state teams must always include at least 11 players (eight for Divisions 5 and 6) who are residents of that state, effectively limiting the number of New Jersey players. Copies of the USSF Coach's license and player's proof of age may be retained by the Registrar.

Each coach must be at least 18 years of age, have participated in a coach's safety clinic, and must hold a USSF "F" License or higher. No players can be registered to any team until a USSF Licensed coach has been rostered to that team. Each coach must have a completed Disclosure Statement (Kid Safe Form) on file with the coach's Club.

A valid USYSA coach's pass is required by any individual who provides direction to players at any NCSA game or club practice.

2.7 PROOF OF AGE AND INDENTITY

Each pass submitted for validation shall be accompanied by a copy of one of the following:

1. The player's Certificate of birth.

2. The player's passport.

3. The player's certificate of Naturalization.

4. The player's Alien Registration Card with proof of age noted.

The Registrar or the District Commissioners may require submission of original proof of age documents at any time. District Commissioners will verify that each player has completed a US Soccer Medical Release to his/her team that is properly notarized. (Please Note: Medical Authorizations notarized by New Jersey attorneys, without a seal, although accepted in NCSA, may not be accepted for out of state games or tournaments.)

At the request of the Games Conduct Chairman or the Board, the Registrar or appointed member of the Board shall take all reasonable steps to establish the eligibility of a player or coach and to confirm the accuracy of information entered upon a player's pass. No coach or player shall unreasonably refuse to provide original documentation or cooperate in any such investigation. In order to ensure that clubs comply with this rule, each season the Registrar shall randomly select 8 teams who will be required to submit original proof of age documents.

2.8 INACCURATE INFORMATION

Any player or coach who has obtained a pass with incorrect information, any coach who knowingly allows a player to possess an inaccurate pass, or a pass that has been altered so as to deceive inspection, or any player who plays illegally for any team shall be suspended immediately, and the matter investigated by the Games Conduct Committee. The Games Conduct Committee may also recommend that all facts concerning the incident be forwarded to the NJYSA.

A team will forfeit every game in which a player with an inaccurate or illegal pass was included on the team roster. Any coach who possesses an inaccurate or illegal coach's pass will be subject to severe reprimand by the Games Conduct Committee that may result in any combination of a fine to the coach up to $1000, lifetime suspension, and game forfeiture.

2.9 REGISTRATION OUTSIDE OF NCSA

If a NJ team or NJ player on a NY team is registered by a District Commissioner outside of NCSA, the coach must send a copy of the validated roster and copies of USSF coaches' licenses to the NCSA Registrar within 72 hours. The same is true for the Player/Coach Status Forms used to make additions and deletions. Out of State teams or players are registered only at the NJYS Office. Failure to comply will result in the team or player being declared ineligible for NCSA competition, and those involved are subject to the provisions of Rule 2.8, which includes fines, suspensions, and game forfeitures.

3 PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

Except for U17 - U19 teams, as described below, no full sided (age divisions U11 -U16) team shall have more than 18 players registered at any one time. Additional players may be added to the roster as long as the passes of players who have resigned are first turned in and exchanged for a blank player pass. The number of players a full-sided team can register during a seasonal year (including all transfers to a maximum of three) is restricted to 21. The maximum number of players registered under a secondary pass shall be limited to three per registered team. Rosters for U1O teams (and younger) will be limited to 14 active players, 17 total for seasonal year. For U17 - U19 teams, the maximum number of active players can be 22 subject to the following requirements:

. Teams can participate in State Cup play Subject to 18 player game roster

. Teams can participate in tournaments subject to each tournament's roster size.

. Only 18 players may participate on game day.

. The number of players a team can register during a seasonal year (including all transfers to a maximum of three) is restricted to 25.

3.2 PLAYER PASSES

No coach or player shall be allowed to participate in a game without presenting a pass issued through an authorized District Commissioner (or secondary pass issued by the NJYSA) to the referee, except as provided for below:

No person shall be prevented from playing or coaching due to the tardiness of a referee's report. The Games Conduct Chairman or the President may issue a temporary authorization for a person to participate in a game pending receipt of a pass or report by the Games Conduct Chairman. This action shall not affect the subsequent decision of the Games Conduct Committee. If such temporary authorizations are not recognized by the assigned referee, the player's team may decline to play the match without penalty. However if the player's team chooses to play the match the result will be official and no protest will be accepted.

3.2.1 Residents of Military or Educational Institutions in New Jersey.

Any out-of-state player residing at a New Jersey educational institution or military reservation is considered a New Jersey resident and eligible to play on an affiliated team.

3.3 PLAYER TRANSFER AND RELEASE

As used in this Section and elsewhere in these Rules of Competition, the term "seasonal year" covers the period from September 1 through August 31. The current season year runs from September 1, 2006 through August 31, 2007. The term "season" refers to the Fall or Spring League Schedules during the seasonal year.

3.3.2 The Team-Player Relationship

A player should be bound to his/her team and the team to that player for the entire seasonal year. However, players are allowed to resign from their team and transfer to another team in a different Club.

3.3.3 Transfers

Teams are limited to registering a maximum of three transfer players during any seasonal year. Any player who leaves his/her club during the seasonal year will not be allowed to play the next three league games for their new team. The suspension period begins when the new pass is received at the League Office. The coach of the player's new team or a Club Official of the new team shall provide the pass to the League Office. The suspension period can overlap from fall to spring; a player leaving a club after the fall season will sit out in the spring. When the suspension period ends, the card will be returned to the player's new team Coach or an Official from the new Club.

No player may play for another NCSA team in league competition, other than playing up within his/her own Club.

3.5 TEMPORARY "PLAYING UP"

A player may temporarily play in an age group older than that in which the player is registered, or in the same age group in a higher flight, subject to the following conditions:

. The team for which he/she temporarily plays is a member of the same club and gender as defined in the NCSA Bylaws. A girl may play up on a boy's team, a boy cannot play up on a girl's team, and;

. The team from which the player temporarily transfers is not suspended and is registered with the NCSA, and;

. The player's temporary transfer status is clearly shown on the team roster and the referee's attention is drawn to the fact, and;

. The team for which the player temporarily plays up is not competing in the same flight, or lower flight than the team to which the player is registered. (This provision of the Rule shall not apply to the U8 or U7 Recreation Flights. In these age levels, flight placement is for purposes of scheduling and not based upon past performance, thus a player in any of these age groups can "play-up" on any other team from the same club at the same age level.);

. The player may temporarily play up one Division higher than the Division that the player is registered in during the current seasonal year, except that a Division 3 age eligible player can play up temporarily in either Division 1 or 2;

. Under no circumstances may a player play for any team in an age group younger than the team in which the player is registered. For example, a player who is a true U10 player registered to a U11 team may not play in the U10 age group, in any flight, and;

. The player may not play for a team for more than three games without the player losing his/her eligibility to return to his/her original team for the balance of the season. After the fourth game, the player is bound to that team for the remainder of the season. Any player who has lost eligibility to compete within his/her own age group or lower flighted team in the same age group must immediately return his/her pass to the Register and have a new Player Pass issued.

. Teams are allowed to have as many players playing up at any given game subject to an overall player limitation of 18 players for a full-sided game, and 14 players for a small-sided game. (Please note that the number of players is not limited to the number of positions on the Team Roster form.)

3.6 PERMANENT "PLAYING UP"

A player may permanently register in an age group higher than the player's correct age group. With the exception of Divisions 1 and 2, no player can play up more than 1 division.

3.7 SECONDARY PLAYER PASSES AND MULTIPLE ROSTERING

No player may participate in NCSA competition on a secondary player pass if the player's primary pass is with another NCSA registered team. A player may participate in NCSA competition on a secondary player pass if his/her primary pass is from a team in another league. Teams shall only be permitted 3 secondary player passes.

3.8 PENALTY

Failure to comply with this section shall render a player ineligible and the team for which he/she played while ineligible shall forfeit all games that the player appeared on the official game roster, in addition to any other penalties indicated within these rules.

4 THE COMPETITION

The Board will annually establish the dates for the beginning and end of each season. All scheduled games must be played. The only exception is if, by the end of the last regularly scheduled week of the season, a game has not been played due to weather or field condemnation and the cancellation was reported to the Division Commissioner and the Games Chair(s). In this case, the game need not be played if all the following conditions have been met:

. The game has no impact on award standings for these teams or any other team in their flight; and

. Both coaches mutually agree not to play the game; and

. The Division Commissioner and the Games Chairman both approve the decision not to play the game.

If the game is not played and the above stated criteria have not been met, a mutual forfeit will be declared.

4.2 Flighting

With the exception of Division 6 (Fall and Spring Seasons) and Division 5 - U9 (Fall Season only) teams will be flighted each season by ability based on the judgment of the Division Commissioner. Flights will be finalized at the Flighting Meeting, which will take place approximately one month prior to the publication of the season's schedule. It is the responsibility of each Club Representative to notify their coaches of the Flighting Meeting. A coach has the right to appeal to the Board the flight his/her team has been assigned by the Division Commissioner. No appeals will be accepted or allowed for Division 6 (Fall and Spring Seasons) and Division 5-U9 (Fall Season) teams. The Division 6 Commissioner shall have the discretion to assign flight designations which are different from those assigned in Divisions 1 through Division 5. It is the coach's responsibility to notify the Division Commissioner of a request to appeal at the Flighting Meeting. This notification must take place at least 72 hours before the Flighting Meeting. If a coach fails to provide the necessary notification, the appeal will not be allowed. Appeals at the Flighting Meeting will only be permitted if:

. A different flight was requested in the initial registration; or

. There has been a significant change in team personnel from the time of registration through the time of flighting, which will affect the team's ability to compete at the same level as previously requested; or

. The proposed flighting moved the team's usual competition to another flight.

After the Flighting Meeting appeals will not be accepted.

4.3 SCHEDULING

After the Flighting Meeting the Games Chair(s) shall present his/her proposed schedule for the season to the Board for its approval. After the schedule is approved, it shall not be altered in any way except as provided for in these Rules. Failing to comply with any part of this section shall result in a $100 fine to the offending team.

4.3.1 Automatic Postponements

It is the intent of the NCSA to play games as scheduled. The only acceptable reasons for automatic postponement of a scheduled game are: State Sponsored Cup games; ODP tryouts; scholastic soccer conflicts; referee decision at game time; league-wide weather conditions; and local field condemnation.

4.3.2 State Sponsored Cup Games, and ODP Tryouts

State Sponsored Cup and ODP tryouts are the only priority NJYSA imposes over NCSA league games. Regularly scheduled games will be automatically postponed, provided the Games Chair(s), Division Commissioner, and opposing coach have been notified at least 5 days before the scheduled game. In any other case, the Games Conduct Chair(s) may impose a forfeit upon the offending team.

4.3.3 Scholastic Soccer Conflicts

A coach may request a postponement due to a scholastic soccer conflict. Depending upon the circumstances the Games Chair(s) may accept or deny such request. Requests made later than 5 days immediately before the scheduled game will be denied under any circumstances. The appropriate Division Commissioner and opponent coach must also be personally informed at the same time as the Games Chair(s).

4.3.4 Referee Decision At Game Time

The referee may decide to postpone the game for weather or any other reason pursuant to FIFA rules as modified by USYSA and/or NJYSA and/or NCSA. The Games Chair(s) and Division Commissioner must be informed within 24 hours of such decision by the home team coach.

4.3.5 League-Wide Weather Conditions

If weather conditions are deemed severe enough a league-wide postponement may be called by the President, vice-president or games chair(s). Such decisions will be posted on the NCSA website.

4.3.6 Local Field Condemnation

Local fields may be condemned for climactic or other reasons by the entity that has custodial responsibility for the field. The visiting team must be notified by the home team immediately upon condemnation being known (no less than three hours before game time). In the spirit of sportsmanship, every effort should be made by the home team to inform the visiting team as soon as possible, in order to prevent unnecessary travel. The Games Conduct Chairman may investigate the details of the condemnation, and possibly award a forfeit win to the visiting team and/or other penalty to the home team. Whether the visiting team was forced to travel unnecessarily will be a factor in calculating any penalties. The Games Conduct Chairman may direct that the game be made up at the visiting team's field in such instances. When a local field is condemned, the Games Chair(s) and opponent coach(es) must be contacted immediately by the Club Representative. Club-wide field condemnation should be made as far in advance as possible. In such cases, if the home team has an alternate local field at the same starting time, or within 1 hour of the scheduled game time, the game must be played at the alternate field. If the home team does not have an available field, and the away team has a field available on the same date, it is mandatory for the home team to play that game on the visiting team's field provided that the visiting team's field is available within 1 hour of the originally scheduled game time, is within a driving distance of no more than 1 hour from the originally scheduled site of the game, and the home team field was condemned at least 24 hours before the original game. The home team must attempt to establish an alternate local field, or must agree to play at the visiting team's field subject to the above rules. If neither of these alternatives is available, the game will not be played as scheduled. If the game is not played, the home team coach must notify the Games Chair(s) and the Division Commissioner within 24 hours.

In the event a field is condemned, the home team's representative must meet the referee at the scheduled field and pay $25 per assigned referee. When multiple games are scheduled for that field, the referee shall only be paid for the first game that was scheduled for that field.

4.3.7 TBS Games

To Be Scheduled" games (TBS) will be granted if they are requested on the initial Team Registration Form sent to the Games Chair(s). A club will be allocated one TBS for each team they have registered with the NCSA for the season in which they are requesting a TBS. The club may divide this allocation as it sees fit. In other words, a club could distribute all of its TBS games to a single team. If a club needs more than its allocated share of TBS games, it can purchase additional games at a cost of $50 each. All TBS games listed in the initial NCSA Schedule are to be scheduled within 2 weeks from the first game played of the season. All such TBS games must be played no later than 7 days before MBOS or Position Play if MBOS or Position Play is part of the schedule. If MBOS or Position play is not part of the schedule, then the TBS must be played by the end of the applicable season.

4.3.8 Changes to Original Schedule

There will be a $50 dollar fee charged to the requesting team for changes in the predefined scheduled game date and time except as set forth above. A schedule change will only be granted if both coaches agree to the change and a re-scheduled date with the time and field location accompanies the request. If a re-scheduled match creates a "hole" in the schedule for referee assignment purposes, then the team initiating the change will be responsible for the Referee fee for the original game that was scheduled. If the visiting team caused the reschedule, the home team will pay the referee at the field and the visiting team will pay the referee on the rescheduled date.

4.3.9 Rescheduling Games

Schedule changes, whether automatic or requested, will only be accepted by an online Games Change Request, as prescribed by the Games Chair(s). Games Change Requests must be submitted no later then 6:00 PM on Monday and must be at least 5 days prior to the requested change. Games Change Request shall be submitted on line and only by the Club Representative. If the postponement of a game is for any reason other than an automatic postponement, the game must be played within 2 weeks of the date originally scheduled. All reasonable efforts should be made to reschedule the game at the time of postponement. If the postponement of a game is for any other reason, the rescheduled date and reason for postponement must be set forth in the comment box in the online Game Change Request in the Administrative section of the League Website. The Games Chair(s) will determine from the appropriate Division Commissioner if the reason is acceptable; if not acceptable, the Division Commissioner will notify the coaches. In all cases, the person submitting the online Games Change Request is certifying to the league that: (a) if a postponement is not automatic, the opponent coach has agreed to the request; (b) if a postponement is automatic, the opponent coach has already been notified; and (c) if a rescheduled date is set forth, such date, time and location has been agreed upon with the opponent coach before submission of the form. Any violation of this rule will result in a fine to the offending club of $100, non-acceptance by the Games Chair(s) of future online Games Change Requests for all teams in that Club, and a forfeit given to the offending team.

The two teams in a postponed game must attempt to agree upon a mutually acceptable game time. If the teams cannot agree, then the Division Commissioner will intervene and attempt to arbitrate an agreement. If the arbitration described above is not successful, the Games Chair(s) will schedule the game at a site and time of his/her choice. In flights where MBOS or position play occurs, makeup games that are not played at least 5 days before MBOS or position play begins will be declared as forfeits, at the discretion of the Games Chair(s), subject to review by the Board. Games not scheduled timely by the teams will be scheduled by the Games Chair(s) on as little as 48 hours notice. Failure to comply with any part of this rule will result in a $100 fine to the offending team.

4.4 OFFICIAL GAMES

Only games officially scheduled by the Games Chair(s) and played at the dates and times scheduled shall be recognized by the NCSA. Games may be postponed or otherwise delayed only for reasons described in these rules. Under no circumstances may Clubs or teams assign referees to games at scheduled or unscheduled times. There will be a $100 fine and potential disciplinary action taken against the club and coach who schedules and/or plays a game, or schedules and/or uses a referee other than as assigned by the NCSA. In the event a referee scheduled by NCSA does not arrive at a properly scheduled game, refer to Rule 5.8.

4.5 FRIENDLY GAMES

Any other games using an official and scheduled by NCSA shall be deemed as a "friendly." However, all of the Rules of Competition relating to the behavior of coaches, spectators, and players shall apply.

4.6 WITHDRAWAL FROM COMPETITION

If a team withdraws, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, the result of all games played up to the point of withdrawal shall be removed from the scoring and league standings by the Division Commissioner and it shall be as though the team was never in the competition.

4.7 STANDINGS

NCSA sanctioned games only will be recognized in determining points for league play. All Matches Based on Standings and Position Play will be determined by the Games Chair(s) with the approval of the Board before the beginning of the season. Such format will be published as part of the schedule. If a team is assessed a forfeit during the season it will not be eligible for awards or inclusion in the top four seeding in any MBOS playoff tournament or the top two seeds in any Position Play. At the discretion of the Games Chair(s), and the appropriate Division Commissioner, the team may still be flighted where appropriate for the level of competition. The team however will remain ineligible for an award. There will be no standings for the Division 6 age groups.

4.7.1 Points

Points will accumulate as follows:

Win 3 points (subject to provisions of 5.11).

Tie 1 point

Loss 0 points

Forfeited games shall be recorded as a 1-0 score in favor of the team that did not forfeit.

4.7.2 Match Based On Standings (MBOS)

1. Groupings with 8 teams or less may be scheduled for MBOS or for a regular 10 game schedule, playing 4 teams once and 3 teams twice, all selected at random at the discretion of the Games Chair(s). If MBOS is used, points accumulated prior to MBOS matches carry through. Final standings are based on all matches for the season. If MBOS is not used, except for six-team flights, only the second time the teams play counts for standings. The game that counts is the second game played between the two teams. The game number or date of play on the original schedule released by the Games Chair(s) does not dictate the game that counts. The second game actually played is the result that is used for final standing purposes.

2. MBOS will be used to schedule the 3 remaining weeks of play during the season.

3. MBOS will be flighted into two groups (a) Award Bracket - the top 4 teams based on total points and (b) Consolation Bracket - all other teams.

4. Only those teams in the top flight will be eligible for award competition.

5. In the event of ties in points to determine position for MBOS play the following

tiebreaker rules will be followed in the order listed until the tie is broken:

a. Head to head competition

b. Total wins

c. Least goals against (average per game)

d. Draw lots

In the event more than two teams are tied for a place, once the first tie is broken, the remaining teams are now tied and the process to determine the next place re-starts at 4.7.2.(i), and so on.

6. If possible, based on field and referee availability, the Games Chair(s) shall make every reasonable attempt to schedule the MBOS game at the field of the team who played "away" in the last meeting of the regular season. Higher team standing based on points is irrelevant. If this team does not have a home field available, then the game will be played at the other team's field.

4.7.3 Position Play

At the discretion of the Games Chair(s), in a 9 or 10-team flight, an additional game against a team selected at random may be scheduled to create a 10-week schedule. If so, only the second time the teams play will count for standings. (Same tiebreaker as above).

4.7.4 Ties at End of Season

1. In the event of a tie in points for First Place in Divisions 1 through 4, the following tiebreakers will apply to determine the First Place team

a. Head to head competition

b. Most wins

c. Least goals against (average per game)

d. Draw lots

2. In the event of a tie for first place in Division 5, all first place teams will be awarded first place awards.

3. In the event of a tie by points for any other place all teams will be presented with awards - the tie breaker system will not be used.

4.7.5 Cross Flight Play

At the discretion of the Games Chair(s), teams may be scheduled to play opposing teams in other flights or age groups. The sole purpose is to provide a full season of play and prevent byes in flights with a limited number or odd number of teams. These games do not count toward the standings within either team's flight and no points are awarded. These games are regarded as "friendly games" only. However, if a team does forfeit a scheduled cross flight game, it will be ineligible for award competition within their flight and will receive other fines associated with a forfeit.

4.8 AWARDS

NCSA will present awards (trophies, shirts, etc.) as determined by the Board.

4.9 LENGTH OF GAMES AND BALL SIZE