Alliance Soccer League

 LAW I - THE FIELD OF PLAY

 1.1. In all games, the team listed first on the official game schedule shall be designated as the home team.

 

 1.2. The home team shall be responsible for the condition of the grounds, field markings and proper, equipment. All ASL sanctioned matches shall have proper markings (cones and flags are not acceptable markings), grounded goals and fields shall conform to the USYS recommended dimensions.

 

 1.3. In all ASL sanctioned competitions, both teams and the coaching staff shall remain on one side of the field. All spectators shall remain on the opposite side of the field when feasible. The coach of the home team shall have the right to designate which side the teams and spectators shall be placed on respectively. Enforcement of this rule will be the responsibility of the Referee.

 

 1.4. All spectators shall remain at least 5 feet from touchlines or goal lines, unless spectator lines establish a different distance. No person shall be permitted behind the goal-areas unless seated in bleachers.

 

LAW 2 - THE BALL

2.1. Teams shall use balls as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.2. Each team shall supply the referee with one or more suitable balls, properly inflated and in good condition. The referee shall choose the ball to be used in the game.

 

LAW 3 - NUMBER OF PLAYERS/SUBSTITUTIONS

 3.1. Number of players shall conform to ASL Rules and Procedures.

 

 3.2. Developmental players shall play at least 50% of each game.

 

 3.3. With the referee's permission, a team may substitute or re-substitute any number of players at the following stoppages:

a. Prior to a throw-in, only by the team throwing in.

b. Prior to a goal-kick, by either team.

c. After a goal, by either team.

d. After an injury when the referee has stopped play, by either team.

e. Between periods, by either team.

 

 3.4. With the referee's permission, a team may substitute for a cautioned player at the time of the caution.

 

 LAW 4 - PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT

 4.1. The following items:

         a. Are NOT permitted:

             1) Hair control devices with any hard parts;

             2) Jewelry of any sort, including earrings of any kind regardless of covering.

         b. Are CONDITIONALLY permitted:

             1) Religious medals or medical tags which are taped to the body.

             2) Splints, casts, braces or other joint support devices which, in the referee's opinion, are not inherently dangerous or are padded with pliable materials to eliminate the dangerous condition.

             3) Goalkeeper hat with soft pliable brim for shielding eyes from direct sunlight. Note: Failure of the referee to notice illegal equipment shall not be cause for protest.

 

 4.2. All players shall wear shin guards. Knee-high stockings shall be worn over and shall cover the shin guards.

 

 4.3. All field players on a team shall wear similar color jerseys, similar color shorts and similar color stockings. A legible non-duplicate number on the back of each jersey is required. Players and substitutes shall not change numbers or remove their jerseys prior to the completion of the game without specific permission of the referee. The color of a team's jersey may be different from the color of the team's shorts and/or stockings.

 

4.4. Only undergarments, which are the same color as the predominant color of the uniform shorts, may extend below the bottom of the uniform shorts. Such undergarments shall not extend further than the top of the player's knee. No other undergarments may extend below the bottom of a player's uniform shorts. Any players not in compliance with these provisions after play begins shall adjust their equipment at the next stoppage of play. Goalkeepers may wear long trousers as they see fit. In the case of cold weather, any player may wear leotards or warm-ups, sweat suits, or similar trousers, the legs of which extend below the player's knee.

 

 4.5. At each game, both teams shall be able to make a change of jersey color.

 

 4.6. If both teams are wearing similar color jerseys, the home team shall wear dark jerseys and the visiting team shall wear light colored jerseys. If the visiting team does not carry a light colored jersey, then the visiting team should wear an alternate dark color that does not conflict with the home team’s colors. Either team’s goalkeeper shall change jersey as the referee directs regardless of home/visitor status.

 

 4.7. All players starting each half or entering the field as substitutes shall have their jerseys fully tucked into their shorts. The wearing of long sleeve shirts under short sleeve jerseys is prohibited unless adverse weather conditions exist.

 

LAW 5 – REFEREES

 5.1. Only the diagonal system of control (one whistle only) shall be used. If there are only two registered officials, one shall referee and the other shall be a linesman. If available, non-registered volunteers may serve as club assistant referees.

 

 5.2. Prior to the start of each state league, inter-league game, the referee shall:

         a. Provide each coach with the name of each official participating as referee and assistant referee     on that game.

         b. Collect a copy of the certified team roster for that competition and the USYSA member passes of the players and coaches desiring to participate in the game.

         c. Verify the identity of each player and coach with the picture of his or her USYSA member pass. d. If a team does not have a valid NMYSA roster and/or one or more of its player member passes the referee is encouraged to allow the game to proceed with the following understanding:

         1) The referee will send a written report to ASL noting the absence of roster(s) and/or member passes.

         2) If a roster is not available the offending teams coach or team official will provide the referee with a written list of players names and corresponding jersey numbers of participants in the game.

         3) The referee will advise the non-offending team coach or team official of the missing information.

         4) The fact that there is missing information is not a valid reason to protest the game.

         5) ASL will review the referee report and will discipline coaches and/or players who are deemed to have taken unfair advantage of this rule including but not limited to suspension of players and/or coaches, forfeiture of the game.

           e. Compare the player's signature to the signature on the player pass, if identity is in question.

           f. he name of any person on the roster not participating because of suspension.

           g. Inspect the equipment of each player for safety and conformance with ASL rules.

 

 5.3. In state league, at the completion of each game the referee shall:

         a. Report in writing the identity and details of the offense of any participant who has been cautioned or sent off, or has committed equivalent misconduct prior to, during or after the completion of the game

         b. Retain the pass of any participant who has been sent off or has committed equivalent misconduct.

         c. Return the rosters and remaining passes to the appropriate team representatives.

d. Report through the telephone system or ASL web site the game score and other requested information within 48 hours.

         e. Within 48 hours, deliver or mail any passes retained for misconduct to ASL.

         f. Be available to explain or clarify incidents in writing and/or in person and/or by telephone at an official hearing.

         g. If the referee's report is not received in the ASL office within 7 calendar days of the game date, or is lacking crucial information, the referee shall not be paid for that game.

 

 5.4. In state league, if a scheduled game is not played, the referee shall submit a written report and state the reasons for not playing the game.

 

 5.5. In state league, if a scheduled game is not played due to a lack of a referee, the coach(s) shall submit in writing a report to ASL.

 

 5.6. The referee's judgment with regard to the fitness of the field for play shall be final. Exception: Persons who hold park or field permits and/or have responsibility for field condition may close the field to play.

 

5.7. Disruptive behavior from the boundary lines by coaches or spectators is prohibited and will be regarded as ungentlemanly conduct warranting a report of misconduct equivalent to a caution and if continued, a sending off. Tactical coaching from the boundary lines is permitted but must be done in a manner which is not disruptive to the game.

 

 5.8. In recreational league play, the referee shall not retain the pass of a participant who has been sent off or who has committed equivalent misconduct, but shall notify the home club, which shall take such disciplinary action against the participant as it shall deem appropriate. If the participant was affiliated with the visiting club, the home club shall notify the visiting club, and the visiting club shall take appropriate, disciplinary action against the participant as it shall deem appropriate.

 

5.9. In recreational league play, the referee shall return the rosters and all passes to the appropriate team representative and, after accurately completing the game report, return it to the home club.

 

LAW 6 - ASSISTANT REFEREES

No modifications.

 

LAW 7 - DURATION OF THE GAME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*There will be no overtime play for games during the regularly scheduled season.

 

LAWS 8, 9, 10, - THE START OF PLAY, BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY, METHOD OF SCORING

 No modifications.

 

 

LAW 11 - OFFSIDE

11.1 Off-side rules may be modified for small-sided games.

 

LAWS 12, 13, 14, - FOULS, MISCONDUCT, FREE-KICK, PENALTY-KICK

 There may be modifications for small-sided games.

 

LAW 15 - THROW-IN

15.1 Throw-in rules may be modified for small-sided games.

 

LAWS 16, 17 - GOAL-KICK AND CORNER KICK

There may be modifications for small-sided games.