Excerpted from The Laws of the Game, as established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), with modifications by US Youth Soccer, Mass. Youth Soccer, and BAYS.
Includes revisions voted on at the August 2010 BAYS general meeting.
For ease of readability, we have broken the rules and bylaws of the BAYS organization into separate pages. Each rule/bylaw can be accessed by moving forward or backward from page to page. You may also navigate to any page by simply selecting a link below.
The field shall be a clearly marked rectangle between 100 - 130 yards long and 50 - 100 yards wide. The field should have corner posts and a halfway line with a 10-yard radius circle in its center. The goal areas (6 x 20 yards), penalty areas (18 x 44 yards), and the corner areas (1 yard quarter arc) should be marked. The goals should be 8 yards long and 8 feet high. The penalty mark is 12 yards away from the goal line and centered on the goal mouth, while a 10 yard arc extends from the penalty mark outside the penalty area toward the halfway line. Goal nets are required, and should be properly secured to the goalposts, crossbar, and the ground. Referees must not allow the game to begin until both goals are securely anchored to the ground.
BAYS regular season and post-season games may be played indoors provided that:
For regular season games, the home team shall be responsible for any rental costs.
The referee shall have the authority to designate where each team’s coaches and substitutes shall be located and where spectators shall be located. A referee may, at his or her discretion, limit non-player personnel in the team areas to coaches with valid passcards.
Any FIFA approved ball in good condition and properly inflated is allowed; size 5 must be used for U-14 age level and older, size 4 for U-12 and younger levels of play.
Each team consists of 11 players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A minimum of eight qualified players must be on the field to start a game. (Exception: for age groups U-17 and older, a minimum of seven qualified players is sufficient to begin a game.) If there are fewer than seven players on the field for a team, the game ends. (See exception for yellow-carded player.)
Unlimited substitutions can be made with the referee's consent prior to a throw-in, on a goal kick, after a goal, and at half time. Both teams may substitute prior to goal kicks, after a goal and at half time. As to throw-ins, however, only the team in possession has the initial option of so substituting, but if it does, the other team may also substitute as well. If the game is stopped to allow a substitution for an injured player, the other team may also substitute, on a one-for-one basis. No substitution is allowed prior to a corner kick. Note: No substitution can be made without the referee's consent.
A cautioned (yellow-carded) player must leave the field immediately, and a substitute may enter with the referee's consent. If that player's team has no substitutes, his/her team will play short-handed until its next substitution opportunity. If the yellow-carded team's player strength falls below seven, the game will still continue. Note: This BAYS rule for temporarily removing cautioned players is not intended to cause a game forfeit.
No sent off (red carded) player may reenter the game nor may the player have a substitute.
All injuries that result in bleeding will be substituted for immediately. No bloodied player will return to the game unless bandaged, and blood-soaked uniforms cannot be worn.
Equipment consists of a jersey (each with a unique number at least six inches high), shorts, shin guards, stockings, and shoes. Shin guards must be worn (properly covered with stockings) when a player is on the playing field. In a case where the visiting team and the home team have similar colored jerseys,
the home team must change to a markedly different jersey color. Pinnies worn over a numbered uniform shirt are acceptable; otherwise, substitute uniform shirts must conform to requirements for numbering.
Goalkeepers must wear colors which distinguish them from other players, from each other, and from the referee. Articles that may constitute a danger to the wearer or any other player must be removed, i.e. jewelry, earrings, watches, barrettes, chains, belts, head coverings with any visor or protrusions, etc.
A goalkeeper may wear a soft billed cap or soft headgear with the approval of the referee.
Players will have shirts tucked in. Players who enter the field but fail to have proper equipment or who have duplicate jersey numbers will be sent to the touchline until the next stoppage in play (while their team plays short-handed) and may rejoin their team after being inspected by the referee.
Players with plaster casts or hard splints, even if padded, cannot play -- even with the permission of a parent, or medical approval. Players with orthopedic braces that have exposed or uncapped metal parts are also not allowed to play.
All referees shall be USSF certified, and should be older than the age group playing the game. Referees are assigned by the local referee assignor. The referee is responsible for control of the game. The referee's decisions are final and his/her judgments are not protestable.
Two different officiating systems will operate for BAYS games, as follows:
For U-19 through U-16 games the local referee scheduler will assign one referee and two assistant referees; for spring season playoff and tournament games, the playoff committee will assign three-official crews whenever possible.
In all other regular-season games, both spring and fall, the local referee scheduler will assign one referee, and each team will provide a volunteer club linesman (see Law 6, below).
The BAYS on-line referee reporting system shall be used for all spring season games, and shall also be used for fall season games unless referees are instructed otherwise by their local referee assignor. The referee shall report the score; any cautions or ejections; and any other pertinent information. The referee should also fill out a USSF referee report when any serious unusual incident occurs, including when any player is seriously injured.
In games requiring passcards, the referee must keep the passcard(s) for the person(s) ejected, and must send the passcards to the BAYS ejection secretary.
Whenever a BAYS game is begun but not completed for any reason, the referee does not have the authority to determine the result of the game. Instead, the referee must include in his/her report the circumstances which caused the game to be stopped (abandoned, terminated, or suspended), including the score at that time and the amount of playing time not completed. Except in the case of excess red cards awarded to both teams, which must be referred to the sportsmanship review committee (see Law 12 below), the division director will make a determination as to the outcome of the game - either the results will stand as final, or the game will be completely replayed.
If a scheduled referee does not arrive by 15 minutes past the stated game start time, he/she is not entitled to any fee, unless the acting referee, already selected and agreed upon by both coaches, relinquishes his/her whistle. The referee assignor must be notified by the home coach if a referee is either a no-show or tardy, so that corrective attention can be taken.
Note: Some towns have ongoing referee training programs and at times, non-tournament U-11 through U-14 games could be officiated using a referee and two assistant referees.
When assistant referees are not available, each team will provide a club linesman. The club linesmen's participation in the game, unless requested by the referee to do more, is to signal the ball "out of play" when it crosses the touchline.
U-19 and U-18 play 45-minute halves; U-16 play 40-minute halves; U-14 play 35-minute halves; U-12 and younger play 30-minute halves.
The referee is the official timekeeper, and he/she may add time to compensate for obvious timewasting, prolonged injury, or time lost by excessive substitution.
The referee and the coaches must recognize that every field is tightly scheduled and that all games must start on time. Youth referees are typically assigned to more than one game, sometimes at different locations. However, if a delayed start time is beyond the control of both teams, all efforts should be made to play a complete game, without disrupting the subsequent games at the same site.
The following obligations must be taken care of before a game may begin. These are mandatory procedures for the referee, and may not be omitted even with the consent of the coaches.
A. The referee or substitute referee shall inspect the field, flags or markers, and goals to determine that conditions are safe for the game. A referee's decision to declare a field unsafe for play is final and unprotestable.
B. The referee shall check all players for proper, non-dangerous equipment and required equipment. At this time the problem of players with identical jersey numbers must be corrected by the coach.
C. Coaches must provide two copies of their BAYS roster/game form exactly as it was submitted to their division director, to the referee for all games in both fall and spring seasons. Any players not participating in that game must be crossed off the roster. Unique uniform numbers are required and must be filled in or corrected on the roster/game form. The referee must verify that the BAYS roster/game forms accurately list the players and their uniform numbers. Players not listed on the roster may not play. If a team does not have a roster, it will be considered late and will be governed by section E.
The eligibility of players listed on the roster is not subject to review by the referee. Questions concerning player eligibility (age, residency, dual rostering, etc.) should be referred by the opposing coach to the division director or BAYS registrar.
Each coach shall each be given a copy of the opponents' roster. If a team only brings one copy of its roster, the opposing coach may either require that the game be delayed until a copy is provided or may waive this requirement.
In the spring season, the referee will submit his/her game report on the BAYS website. In the fall season, the referee should follow instructions from the local club. For both spring and fall seasons, the referee should retain his/her copies of the team rosters until the end of the season.
D. At least one person responsible for the team during the game must present a U.S. Youth Soccer coach's passcard to the referee prior to the game. Such person must be at least 18 years old and older than the age limit of the team. If at any time during the game a team does not have a responsible person with a passcard, the referee shall abandon the game and that team shall forfeit the game.
Player passcards are required in the spring season for the following age groups and divisions: all U-19 and U-18; all first and second division U-16, U-14, and U-12 (11v11 and 8v8). For games where player passcards are required, each player will present his/her passcard to the referee as the player's name is read off the roster/game form. Players without required passcards cannot play.
All coaches' and players' passcards must have a current photograph, and coaches' passcards must also have a validation sticker for the current year. The referee shall return the passcards at the conclusion of the game, except for any player or coach who has been sent off, in which case the referee shall send that passcard to the BAYS ejections secretary. If a team does not have its passcards by the scheduled game time, it will be considered late and will be governed by section E.
E. If a team has not arrived and taken the field ready to begin play by fifteen minutes after the scheduled time, the late team shall forfeit the game. However, if the referee is willing and both coaches agree without reservation, a game for the standings can be played, provided that valid pass cards (where required) and team rosters are presented to the referee. The coach of the team which is ready to play may alternatively accept the forfeit but offer to play a "scrimmage" game for the enjoyment of the teams. (In this situation, the referee need not stay, but will still be paid.) In either case, the understanding must be made prior to the game and shall be clearly recorded in the game report; and that game must end before the next game on that field is scheduled to start. If there is no game scheduled next on the field or if it is the last game on the field for the day, the length of the game will be entirely at the referee's discretion. The referee's decision is final. No replay for the game is allowed.
The winner of the coin flip chooses the end they wish to attack; the other team kicks off first half. The game starts with each team in its own half of the field and the defending players at least 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked-off forward.
A dropped ball will restart the game after a temporary suspension of play from a cause not otherwise covered by the rules, at the place where the ball was when play was suspended. The only exception occurs when play is suspended in the goal area. In this case the ball is dropped on the six-yard boundary line of the goal area nearest the spot where the play was stopped.
The ball is out of play when (a) it has completely crossed the goal line or touchline, whether on the ground or in the air, or (b) the game has been stopped by the referee. The ball continues to be in play even though it comes in contact with the field outlines, the goal structure in the field of play, the flags or the referee. On fields that use football goalposts or other devices to support soccer goals, the referee shall declare the ball out of play when it contacts the additional structure.
A goal is scored when there have been no infractions of the rules to disallow it and when, in the referee's judgment, the entire ball has passed beyond the goal line, between the goal posts, and under the crossbar.
A player is in an offside position if he/she is ahead of the ball, unless:
A player shall not be declared offside and penalized:
A player shall only be declared offside and penalized for being in an offside position if, at the moment the ball is played by one of his/her team, he/she in the opinion of the referee, is:
If a player is declared offside, the referee shall award an indirect free kick, which shall be taken by any player of the opposing team from the approximate place where the offside player was standing; or from anywhere within the goal area, if the infringement occurred within the goal area.
A player who carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force (a) kicks or attempts to kick, (b) trips or attempts to trip, (c) jumps at, (d) charges, (e) strikes or attempts to strike, or (f) pushes an opponent; or who g) tackles without first touching the ball, (h) holds, or (i) spits at an opponent, or (j) handles the ball deliberately; shall be penalized by a direct free kick.
Any one of these ten offenses committed by a player in his own penalty area while the ball is in play will result in the awarding of a penalty kick to the opposing team.
Use of hands or arms primarily to protect the body (for girls, this includes protecting the upper torso) should not be penalized as handling the ball, unless the referee judges these moves were also used to trap or direct the ball.
A player committing lesser offenses such as dangerous play, impeding an opponent's progress, preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball back into general play; or while playing as goalkeeper, exceeding the limitations specified under goalkeeper privileges; or who commits technical violations such as offside, or making a second consecutive touch of the ball after taking a restart; will be penalized by an indirect free kick.
A player committing unsporting behavior, dissent against the referee's decision, or unfairly delaying a restart, or entering or leaving the field without the referee's permission, may be cautioned and shown a yellow card.
A player guilty of participating in violent conduct or serious foul play, or who uses offensive, insulting or abusive language, or who spits at any person, or receives two cautions (yellow cards) in the same game, will be sent off and shown a red card.
When awarding a second caution, the approved technique is to show the player the yellow card, then immediately show the red card. The referee may send off a player without a prior warning or caution if the offense committed calls for an immediate send off.
Rules now require the immediate sending off of a defender who by illegal tactics deprives an attacker of an obvious goal scoring opportunity on a breakaway (e.g., shirt pull, illegal tackle, dangerous play, etc.). The same penalty applies to a defender who deprives an attacker of a goal, or an obvious goal scoring opportunity, by illegal and deliberate handling of the ball as it approaches the goal.
Coaches or other persons responsible for a team may be cautioned (and optionally shown a yellow card) or dismissed (optional red card) by the referee. Such dismissed person must leave the bench area, and is not allowed to take part in the remainder of the game.
If a team is left without a responsible adult in charge with a valid coach's passcard, or if a team has more than two people ejected (sent off or dismissed) from a game, the referee will terminate the game and that team will forfeit. If both teams have more than two ejections, the outcome of the game will be determined by the Sportsmanship Review Committee.
Free kicks are classified into two categories: Indirect and direct. "Direct" means that a goal can be scored directly against the defending team; "Indirect" means that a goal cannot be scored unless the ball has been touched by any player in addition to the kicker before entering the goal.
For all free kicks the defending team must get and remain at least 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked. The exceptions are (1) if the attacking team decides to "quick" kick before the defenders can position themselves; or (2) if there is an indirect free kick given to the attacking team in the penalty area with the ball placed less than 10 yards from the goal line, the defenders may stand on the goal line, between the goal posts.
An indirect free kick infraction by a defender within the goal area will cause the ball to be placed on the six-yard line of the goal area nearest the spot of infraction.
Note: A defensive player who delays the taking of a free kick should be cautioned (yellow carded). Any trickery by the team awarded a free kick to get the ball into the hands of the goalkeeper should be disciplined with a caution (yellow card) for unsporting behavior.
A penalty kick is a direct kick taken from the penalty mark, 12 yards in front of the center of the goal. All players except the one taking the penalty kick and the defending goalkeeper must stand outside the penalty area, at least 10 yards from the ball, and behind the ball, until it is kicked. (The arc at the top edge of the penalty area indicates 10 yards from the penalty mark.) The kicker must be identified before the kick is taken and should be inside the penalty area or the restraining arc. The referee's whistle must initiate the act of a penalty kick.
At the end of the half or at the end of the game, time will be extended to take (or retake if necessary) a penalty kick.
When a penalty kick has been legally taken or retaken at the end of either half or during a tie-breaking procedure, play is over as soon as a goal is scored (directly, or indirectly off the goalkeeper, the goal post, the crossbar, or any combination thereof); when any player other than the defending goalkeeper touches the ball; or when the referee has decided that a goal has not been scored.
When the ball has completely crossed the touchline (sideline), it is put back into play by a throw-in from the spot, indicated by the referee, where it went out, by a player from the team opposite to that of the player who last touched it. The throw-in must be taken with both feet on the ground and off the field or on the touchline using both hands delivering the ball from behind and over the thrower's head.
All opponents must remain at least two yards from the thrower until the throw-in is taken.
A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. A player who receives the ball directly from a throw-in is not offside. If the throw-in goes directly to the thrower's goalkeeper, that goalkeeper cannot play the ball with his/her hands.
If the ball is not put into play from the spot indicated by the referee, the throwing team loses the throw to the other team, who must restart the game with a throw-in from the indicated spot.
When the ball has completely crossed the goal line, but does not score a goal, after being last touched by a player from the attacking team, it is put back into play with a direct kick taken by a player of the defending team from any point within the goal area. The ball is in play when it leaves the penalty area.
When the ball has completely crossed the goal line, but does not score a goal, after being last touched by a player from the defending team, it is put back into play with a direct kick taken by a player of the attacking team from the corner of the field nearest to where the ball went out of play. The corner markers may not be moved. The ball must be placed on or within the corner arc. Defenders must remain at least 10 yards from the ball until the corner kick is taken.
In addition to (or in modification of) the regular playing rules of soccer, the following special rules for BAYS 6v6 boys' and girls' divisions shall apply:
A. Roster
There is no limit on the number of players allowed on a 6v6 team. BAYS, however, strongly encourages limiting rosters to 10 or 11 players so that a reasonable amount of playing time will be available for each player. Instead of the regulation eleven players on the field, there shall be six players including the goalkeeper. A minimum of five players must be present to start a game, and a minimum of four qualified players must be available to continue a game.
B. Rules Modifications
C. Field Dimensions
In addition to (or in modification of) the regular playing rules of soccer, the following special rules for BAYS 8v8 boys' and girls' divisions shall apply:
A. Roster
B. Rules Modifications from 11 v 11
C. Field Dimensions
The ideal field size for 8v8 is 70 x 50 yards, with a 14 X 34 yard penalty area. These are not rigid requirements. The penalty mark will be at the usual 12 yards.
Clearly visible dots or dotted lines may be used to mark the penalty areas to avoid excessive lining and confusion on regulation fields.
Intermediate goals of 6 ft x 18 ft are recommended, but again this is not a rigid requirement. The goals must be anchored securely to the ground.
A. New members -- In addition to the membership criteria imposed by the BAYS constitution, organizations that desire to register teams for the first time in BAYS competition must register a minimum of three teams.
EXCEPTION: This three-team minimum shall not be required for youth soccer organizations resident in the City of Boston.
When a completed registration packet is received from an organization applying for new membership, it will be reviewed by the Scheduling Manager, and then referred to the Competition Committee. The Competition Committee will consider the application on its merits, and will then submit the matter to the Board of Directors at their next meeting, along with the Committee's recommendation to accept or reject the application.
B. Present members -- Organizations which are members of BAYS but whose team strength declines below three for two successive seasons (i.e. Fall and Spring, or Spring and Fall) will have their continuing membership privileges reviewed by the BAYS board. This three-team minimum shall not be required for youth soccer organizations resident in the City of Boston.C. Exclusions -- The BAYS league shall not accept, nor allow participation by, any player, team, or person responsible for a team, who is under suspension by MASS. YOUTH SOCCER or by any other Massachusetts soccer league or organization affiliated with MASS. YOUTH SOCCER or US YOUTH SOCCER.
The primary intent of the BAYS league is to provide inter-town competition; the primary requirement for team play at all levels is town residency.
A. For all divisions - There are two types of waivers that may be requested: (1) automatic waivers and (2) discretionary waivers.
1. Automatic Waivers: Waivers that satisfy any of the following guidelines will automatically be granted.
a. A player who lives in town A and attends school in town B may play for either town. Players who live in town A and attend school in town B may continue to play for town B indefinitely, provided that: i) the player played for town B for at least two of three consecutive soccer years by virtue of attending school in town B; and ii) the player continues to play for town B. Once the player plays for a town soccer program other than town B, he or she may no longer play for town B under this waiver provision.
b. A player who moves from town A to town B and has played as a resident for town A for at least two of the previous three soccer years may play for either town. Such previous play need not have been in BAYS. If a player who has moved from town A to town B meets the initial requirements of this waiver provision, he or she may continue to play for town A indefinitely, provided that he or she does not play for any other town soccer program. Once the player plays for a town other than town A, that player may no longer play for town A under this waiver provision.
c. A player who has parents living in different towns may play for either town.
d. A player whose family is a member of a bona fide cultural organization may play for teams sponsored by that organization, provided that the organization was a member of BAYS on or before January 1, 2010.
2. Discretionary Waivers: Waivers that satisfy either of the following guidelines will be granted at the discretion of the Competition Committee.
a. A player who lives in a town that has no team or no opening on a team at the player's age level may play on an appropriate team in an adjacent town provided that the player has made a timely, good faith effort to try out for such an opening on his own town's team.
b. Adjacent towns which have an insufficient number of players to form two full teams at an age level may combine players to form a team, which would be placed in an appropriately competitive division.
c. Residency Hardship Discretionary Waiver. In the event of unusual player hardship to play in the town of residence, the Competition Committee may, in its sole discretion with a two-thirds vote in the affirmative, grant a seasonal year waiver that allows a player residing in a BAYS town to play with a team in another BAYS program in order to avoid or diminish that hardship. The waiver is only valid for play in divisions 3 or 4.
The waiver application needs to include:
- The nature and extent of the hardship if the player were to be required to play with his town of residence;
- The efforts made by the player to avoid or reduce that hardship so the player could play on a team from the town of residence;
- How the hardship would be avoided or diminished if the player is allowed to play with a team from the requesting town;
- Why this option was chosen and what other options within BAYS were available and not chosen.
- Review of the player's recent playing history and an assessment of the player's effect on team competitiveness.
- Town of residence response to the waiver request.
Any subsequent renewal of the waiver will require a unanimous vote of the Competition Committee.
B. For division 1: Additional waiver consideration -- The Competition Committee may approve residency waivers for the purpose of providing broader access to competition in division one. A request for such a waiver shall include a written justification. The committee shall review each such submission and inform the organization concerned of the action taken. In acting on such submissions, the committee shall be guided by the following fundamental principles:
1. Division 1, like all BAYS divisions, should be evenly competitive and in the spirit of inter-town competition.
2. Each player has a right to competition at the highest level his or her capabilities will allow. Premiere League (e.g. MAPLE) play will generally be considered to satisfy this requirement.
3. A player who has access to division 1 play in his or her town of residency should not be considered for such play in another town (except as already provided in Section A of this bylaw).
In applying these principles for Division 1 waivers, the committee may consider the following factors, among others: Town size, player pool, history or record of the organization or team, and age or history of the town's program.
C. Requests for all residency waivers of whatever type must be submitted by a club official to the Third Vice-President prior to the waiver deadline as posted each season on BAYS' website. Any subsequent proposed additions to a roster that need waivers will also require review and approval by the Third Vice-President or the Competition Committee depending on the type of waiver being sought as is described above. Any waiver requests that involve towns and/or players from non-BAYS towns require additionally the approval of each town organization affected as well as the approval of the President of each league (BAYS and non-BAYS.)
D. Determinations of the Committee under this by-law are appealable to the BAYS Board of Directors.
E. Organizations which represent two adjacent towns associated in a regional school district shall be considered as town organizations for purposes of these bylaws and shall have the same rights as organizations representing a single town.
F. Any waiver granted for the Fall season shall also be valid for the next Spring season provided that the conditions justifying the waiver have not changed. All waivers expire at the end of each spring season.
G. A player who lives in a non-BAYS area and who is seeking a waiver to play in BAYS, must satisfy the inter-league requirements for such play established by the Leagues Committee.
This portion of the by-laws establishes a procedure for considering requests from persons with disabilities recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"):B. Any request for accommodation under the ADA must first be presented to the member town soccer organization for action. If there is a need for BAYS review of the request, the transmittal to BAYS shall be sent from the member town soccer organization in writing, signed by the organization's president or registrar. A request submitted to BAYS by an individual shall be acknowledged, but it shall be forwarded to the appropriate town organization, which shall be asked to contact the individual and attempt to accommodate the problem at the town level. The town organization must act on the matter within 30 days; after which, if the town fails to act, the individual may proceed directly to BAYS.
C. A request to BAYS for a waiver of BAYS rules or other accommodation under the ADA from a town soccer organization, or where the town has failed to act or has denied the request, from the individual, shall be sent to the Third Vice-President of BAYS and contain the following information:
· A statement of the nature of the disability, certified by a physician.
· A statement of the accommodation requested by the soccer player.
· A summary of the actions taken by the town soccer organization to accommodate the player, along with an explanation of why those attempts have been deemed unsatisfactory by the town or the player, or why the attempted accommodation requires BAYS action.
· A recommendation from the town as to the specific action requested by BAYS. This requirement shall not apply where the town has failed to act.
D. Upon receipt of a request for a waiver of BAYS rules or other accommodation, the Third Vice-President shall review it for completeness and, if it is complete, shall forward the request to the BAYS Competition Committee, which shall evaluate the request and respond in writing to the town, or where the town has declined to act or its has rejected the request, the Committee shall respond to the individual with a copy to the town, subject to the following conditions:
E. The committee shall have the authority to seek further information from the player's family, the town, and competent experts to help evaluate the request. The Committee shall consider whether it seems more likely than not that the request bears a logical relationship to the disability, that it does not fundamentally alter the nature of the program being offered by BAYS, and that it does not present any undue risk of harm to any participant. Any request involving an MTOC eligible team must also be approved by the MASS. YOUTH SOCCER Leagues Committee.
F. If the Third Vice-President determines that a request is incomplete, he shall return it to the appropriate town official or to the individual where the town has failed to act or has rejected the request to be amended or revised as necessary for resubmission.
G. Waivers granted under this procedure shall, if appropriate, be noted on the roster of the player's team and otherwise publicized under normal BAYS procedures.
H. Determinations of the Committee under this by-law shall be appealable to the BAYS Board of Directors.
A. The league shall be subdivided into playing sections according to sex, age, and divisional levels of competition as provided for in these bylaws.
B. Within each age group, teams will be assigned to divisions that reflect differing team strength/ability characteristics in order to provide competitive games, with first division (or any other division established by the board as the highest) for the strongest teams, and higher numbered divisions for progressively less-skilled teams.
C. The BAYS board of directors will establish annually which playing divisions will be offered in each age group and will provide this information in the registration materials for the upcoming season.
D. The Competition Committee will be responsible for placing all teams in the appropriate competitive divisions, for each age and sex group. All divisions shall be re-formed prior to each playing season. At registration time, each town/club shall be allowed to identify the divisions in which it would like to have its teams play; these requests will be given due consideration, along with the teams' recent playing records and other pertinent factors. Ultimately, the Competition Committee has the discretion to place a team in a higher or lower division than requested.
E. The relative strength of a town's/club's teams in an age/sex group shall be listed in descending order on the registration form -- unless some of them are identified as being of equal strength.
F. Following placement into the applicable playing strength divisions by the Competition Committee, the committee shall assign each team into playing sections, duly taking into account geographical considerations. The priority for creating playing sections will be: 1) Six-team sections (wherever possible); 2) Double four-team sections; 3) Paired five-team sections with crossover games; 4) Other schedules as necessitated by the number of teams available.
G. If towns indicate special field-sharing or time change requirements on their registration packets, every effort will be made to accommodate these needs in the printed BAYS schedule.
The BAYS age groups shall be as follows, such that all players on a roster shall be under the specified age on July 31st preceding the start of the season:
U-19, U-18, U-16, U-14, U-12, U-11, U-10 & U-9 years of age.
In compliance with US YOUTH SOCCER and MASS. YOUTH SOCCER requirements no exceptions will be approved to permit players older than the specified age to play in any age group except that:
A. an age exception may be granted under bylaw 3 (ADA waivers);
B. the Competition Committee may grant an age waiver (at the request of a town only) to a child who is grade-appropriate for the age group but is otherwise too old for the age group, so long as:
1. the team that the child is playing on will play only in BAYS Division 3 or lower; and
2. the age group that the child is playing in is U-14 or below.
C. For the fall season only, the Competition Committee may grant an age waiver (at the request of a town only) to a U-15 age Grade 8 player to play on a U-14 Division 1 or 2 team.
For purposes of determining grade-appropriateness, a child who is not age-appropriate must be in Grade 8 or below to play in U-14, Grade 6 or below to play in U-12, Grade 5 or below to play in U-11, Grade 4 or below to play in U-10, or Grade 3 or below to play in U-9.
A. All teams: The following applies to all BAYS teams for Spring and Fall:
1. Affiliation: All players and all persons who may be designated as responsible for a team, including coaches and anyone substituting for them, must be currently affiliated with Mass. Youth Soccer. This complete affiliation must be done before a team may play in BAYS. By no later than the Monday before the season begins, the BAYS secretary will determine from Mass. Youth Soccer which, if any, BAYS clubs are not affiliated with Mass. Youth Soccer and will immediately so notify the club(s) that have not affiliated. That notification will be by email or phone and will include an explicit warning that no team of that club may play until the club is affiliated, and all scheduled games of that club will be deemed forfeited until the club is affiliated. BAYS will impose on the club a $25 fine for each game so forfeited. Sponsoring organizations must have copies of forms for all of their players with signatures confirming liability waiver and permission for medical treatment. Coaches should have copies of these forms for their players with them at games.
2. Boys' and Girls' Divisions: There will be separate boys' and girls' divisions. A team that has both boys and girls on its roster shall play in the boys' division.
3. Roster forms: Whenever a BAYS roster/game form is required, it must be complete with required signatures and all other required information or the roster will not be considered valid for league play. A different (computerized) form may be substituted so long as all of the required information, game and referee reporting blanks, statements with signatures, and so forth are provided in a format similar to the BAYS roster/game form. Note: Coach's signature and uniform numbers are not required on the form until game time.
All player information must be typed. Handwritten insertions are not permitted. Exception: uniform numbers may be added or corrected by hand.
The coaches' signature on the BAYS roster/game form certifies that the coach has read and agrees to follow the rulebook. The name of the club registrar, or of another officer designated by the club, must be printed or typed on the roster, signifying that the club, through birth certificates or other such documentation, has determined that those players are eligible. (Eligibility includes: age, residency, and affiliation issues.)
A complete and accurate BAYS roster form, signed by a club official, must be in the possession of the BAYS division director before the first game. By no later than the Monday before the season begins, the division director will review all rosters in his/her possession, and will identify any team for which he/she does not have a roster, or whose roster is incomplete or defective or has an overage or otherwise ineligible player, and will immediately so notify the coach of any such team of the absence of a roster or any other roster problem. The notification will be by email or phone and will include an explicit warning that the team may not play until the division director has a complete and accurate roster for that team, and that all scheduled games of that team will be deemed forfeited until the proper roster is in the director's possession. BAYS will impose on the club a $25 fine for each game so forfeited. A player may not play in a game unless he/she is on the roster. A team which plays with a player who is not on the roster in the possession of the division director will be subject to forfeiting all such games played and BAYS will impose a fine of $25 on the club for each such forfeit.
4. Dual rostering: No youth may play on more than one BAYS team at any one time during the season. If a player is detected playing on a second BAYS team, the matter shall be referred to the BAYS Sportsmanship Review Committee. BAYS teams are also subject to any current Mass. Youth Soccer restrictions on playing in more than one league at any one time.
B. Non-MTOC Teams: The following additional requirements apply to all Fall teams, and to all Spring teams playing in divisions which are not eligible for the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (collectively referred to as "non-MTOC teams"):
1. Rosters:
a. Sizes: Non-MTOC eligible teams are limited to 22 players, except for 6v6 and 8v8 teams - (see appropriate section). Waiver applications to permit rostering more than 22 players should be submitted to the third vice-president for determination by the competition committee.
b. Submissions: All non-MTOC teams must prepare a BAYS roster/game form and submit the form by mail or email to the appropriate BAYS division director no later than the Monday prior to the start of the season.
c. Changes: Non-MTOC team roster changes may be made at any time, although the local club may place any restrictions it deems appropriate, such as drops. No added player may play until the division director has an updated roster.
C. MTOC Teams: The following additional requirements apply only to spring season teams playing in MTOC-eligible divisions ("MTOC Teams").
1. Eligibility: The age group and divisions within an age group that are eligible for MTOC will be determined annually by the Mass. Youth Soccer Leagues Committee. This information will be included in the Spring BAYS registration materials.
2. Rosters:
a. Size:
i. Teams playing in U-14 MTOC eligible divisions are limited to 18 players (see bylaw 21 for U-12 8v8). Waivers to this requirement for U-12 and U-14 teams will be considered only if submitted prior to March 1st before the spring season in question and if the club does not have other teams in non-MTOC eligible divisions of the same age group where players could be accommodated. If a waiver is granted, the team will be ineligible for MTOC play, but must still meet all other registration requirements for MTOC teams.
ii. Teams playing in MTOC eligible divisions in age group U-16 and older are limited to 22 players for regular season play. Waivers to this requirement may be considered as long as the submittal is done prior to the first game date. In order to retain eligibility for MTOC and the BAYS playoffs leading to MTOC a team with more than 18 rostered players must submit an MTOC-only BAYS roster with a maximum of 18 players to the BAYS registrar, prior to the MTOC roster freeze date. This roster is only to be used for the playoffs and MTOC. The regular season roster may be used for any regular season games including make up games. Should the regular season roster be at 18 or less, it becomes the roster used for playoffs and MTOC. Should a team with more than 18 rostered players fail to file an MTOC-only roster by the roster freeze date, the only penalty is ineligibility to enter the playoffs or MTOC.
The MTOC roster must be a subset of the regular season league roster with no more than 18 players that are age eligible and reside in the club's residency town or have residency waivers. MTOC-only rosters are frozen when submitted and accepted by the BAYS registrar. Multiple MTOC-only rosters are not allowed.
b. Submissions: All MTOC teams must prepare a BAYS roster/game form, which must be submitted to the BAYS registrar or an assistant BAYS registrar for review and stamping. After stamping, the roster shall be submitted by mail or email to the appropriate BAYS division director no later than the Monday prior to the start of the season.
c. Rosters for MTOC teams must be stamped by a league registrar before being so submitted or being used in a game.
d. Roster changes: Roster changes for MTOC teams are requested by following the same procedure and satisfying the same requirements as for the original roster. No added player may play until a copy of the updated and stamped roster is in the possession of the division director. The BAYS registrar will annually publish the deadline for making roster changes.
D. Coach Passcards: For both Spring and Fall seasons, any person who will be responsible for the team at a game, including the coach, or other person acting as a substitute in charge of the team, must have a US Youth Soccer coach's passcard with a current photograph and a validation sticker for the current year.
E. Player passcards: For the Spring season, US Youth Soccer player passcards are required for each player on the following teams: all U-19 and U-18, all first and second division U-16, U-14, and U-12. Passcards must have a current photograph. Passcards shall be issued and validated by the town registrar or other authorized town official in accordance with procedures published by the BAYS registrar.
F. Players' rights with respect to roster changes. Once a player has been listed on a roster filed with a BAYS division director, the player is entitled to remain on that roster for the remainder of the current playing season. Clubs may make involuntary transfers or drops only in cases involving poor attendance, disciplinary problems, or safety issues. Players may appeal such actions to the BAYS protest board, which shall review whether the club had a reasonable basis for its decision.
The BAYS board of directors shall establish for each season a schedule of registration fees, which shall cover referee payments, general administration, booklets, trophies, etc.
The BAYS board of directors will establish annually the playing times for each age group and will provide this information in the registration materials for the upcoming season.
All teams must play each game as scheduled or properly rescheduled; or else the team responsible for the match not being timely played will be assessed a forfeit by the division director.
All references to season week numbers refer to the 10-week BAYS schedule - even for U-16 and above, which plays a different schedule.
A. Rescheduling Games. Any rescheduling of games requires written notification to the appropriate division director. Such written notification may be made by email, by fax, or by regular mail.
1. Mutually agreed upon preponements. Any game can be preponed upon mutual consent of both coaches. The section captain and division director will be notified as soon as the preponed game has been played.
2. Unilateral Preponements
a. Religious Holidays -- From time to time the BAYS spring or fall game schedule conflicts with the observance of a religious holiday. Longstanding BAYS policy is to allow any coach the option of preponing or postponing a game where such a religious conflict may exist. All BAYS coaches and BAYS member towns are expected to cooperate in assuring that players and their families are able to choose freely and without pressure between religious observances and participating in BAYS activities. It is expected that a player who chooses to observe a religious holiday in lieu of playing soccer will not jeopardize his or her playing time or position on the team in future games as a result of such choice.
b. Memorial Day Weekend -- A team may for any reason, unilaterally prepone its regularly scheduled game for Memorial Day weekend. This requires notice (see below) to the opposing team and the division director by May 1.
c. Columbus Day Weekend -- A team may, if it is planning to play in a tournament that weekend, unilaterally prepone its regularly scheduled game for Columbus Day weekend. This requires notice (see below) to the opposing team and the division director by September 15.
d. Notice -- In any notice of a unilateral preponement (under 2b and 2c above), the opposing team must be offered three dates (all of them prior to the holiday weekend) on which the game can be played. If the preponement/postponement is due to a religious holiday (2a above), the three dates offered may be before or after the holiday but within the time guidelines provided for unplayable field situations. If agreement on a date cannot be reached, both coaches will notify the division director, and he/she will choose a mutually feasible date, which then becomes the rescheduled date.
3. Field scheduling conflict -- If it is known in advance that a game cannot be played because of a valid field scheduling conflict the division director must be notified in writing, (delivered by email, fax or by mail), then the game will be rescheduled using these criteria:
a. The visiting team must be offered a chance to host the game at its own field on the scheduled date, at a different time if needed. The division director must be notified in writing (as above) of any such agreement to change field sites and/or game times. (It is expected that if such a field change occurs, and if the two teams play another game that season, they will try to play the second game at the field of the team that did not play at home in the first game. In other words, each team should play one game at home and one away. )
If a game cannot be played on the visiting team's field on the scheduled date, the game must be rescheduled to be played:
- For U-14 and below: no later than three weeks after the original scheduled date (season weeks 1 to 7), or two weeks after week 8, or one week after week 9, or by the Monday after week 10.
- For U-16 and above: no later than three weeks after the original scheduled date (season weeks 1 to 7), and by the Monday after week 10 for all other games.
This rescheduling must be agreed to by both coaches and approved by the division director no later than 9:00 PM of the Wednesday before the originally scheduled date.
b. If the two coaches cannot agree on a date, time and site certain by the indicated deadline, the division director will select a date, time and site that is feasible for both teams, and that will become the rescheduled date.
4. Unplayable field
a. The determination that a field is unplayable is not the decision of the home team coach. A designated official of the home team's sponsoring organization must make the decision.
b. If a field is declared unplayable, the home team coach shall notify the away team by 7:00 am on the day of the game (for morning games), or by 10:00 am (for afternoon games).
c. In situations where field conditions continue to deteriorate, the referee has final authority to declare a field unplayable at game time. However, the referee does not have the authority to declare a field playable if the official in charge of fields for the home team's soccer organization has declared the field unplayable.
d. In case a game cannot be played as scheduled due to an unplayable field, then the game will be rescheduled using these criteria:
- For U-14 and below, the game must be rescheduled to be played within three weeks after the original scheduled date (season weeks 1 to 7), within two weeks after week 8, within one week after week 9, or by Monday after week 10.
- For U-16 and above, the game must be rescheduled to be played within three weeks of the original scheduled date (season weeks 1 to 7), and by the Monday after week 10 for all other games.
This rescheduling must be agreed to by both coaches and approved by the division director no later than 9:00 PM of the Wednesday after (season weeks 1 to 9), or the Sunday of (10th week) the original scheduled weekend. If the two coaches cannot agree on a date, time and site certain by the indicated deadline, the division director will select a date, time and site that is feasible for both teams, and that will become the rescheduled date.
5. Where a game must be rescheduled because of a field scheduling conflict or an unplayable field, if the division director determines that either coach has not made a reasonable effort to reschedule the game, then the division director shall declare a forfeit, or a double forfeit, depending on the circumstances and so notify the coach(es).
6. Games not played for other reasons. It is the policy of BAYS that teams should make every effort to play games on or before the scheduled date. Agreements by coaches to postpone a game are strongly discouraged. If a game is not played by its scheduled date for a reason other than a field conflict, an unplayable field, or a religious holiday, the division director shall assess a double forfeit. However, if the division director determines that one of the teams was ready to play on the scheduled date, the director has the discretion to assess a single forfeit instead of a double forfeit.
In the interest of playing as many games as possible, coaches may voluntarily agree to make up an unplayed game for which a single or double forfeit has been assessed. If the game is played within the following criteria, the division director shall remove the forfeit(s) and accept the results of the played game.
- For U-14 and below, the game must be played within three weeks after the originally scheduled or rescheduled date (during season weeks 1 to 7), within two weeks after week 8, within one week after week 9, or by the Monday after week 10.
- For U-16 and above, the game must be played within three weeks after the originally scheduled or rescheduled date (during season weeks 1 to 7), and by the Monday after week 10 for all other games
Coaches shall inform the division director of their intent to make up an unplayed game under the provisions of this section. If the teams are unable to make up the game within the time limits described above, the forfeit(s) as originally assessed by the division director shall stand. The provisions of section B of this bylaw (“Rescheduled Games”) shall not apply to make-up games played under this paragraph.
7. A section captain has no authority to approve any change in the schedule of games.
8. If BAYS announces time extensions for rescheduling games (which frequently happens for wet Spring seasons), such extensions shall apply to games postponed by mutual agreement, as in paragraph 6. Either the time limits of paragraph 6, or the extensions announced by BAYS may be utilized-but not cumulatively.
9. If the time period for rescheduling ends on a Saturday, the time period will be extended by an additional day to include the next day, Sunday, as well. And, should that weekend be a traditional Monday holiday weekend (e.g.: Columbus Day, Memorial Day) the time period will be extended to include that Monday as well.
B. Rescheduled Games
1. Once rescheduled with the agreement of the division director, a makeup game becomes a scheduled game and must be played as rescheduled. Failure to play a makeup game as rescheduled (except for unavailable or unplayable field) will be cause for declaration of forfeit by the division director.
2. Failure to notify the division director in advance of a rescheduled game which is actually played within the allowable time limit will not be used as grounds for declaring a forfeit.
3. If a rescheduled game is not played as rescheduled and a dispute arises as to which team is responsible for the games not being played then, the division director may award either a single or double forfeit, depending on the facts available to the division director.
4. A rescheduled game may be further rescheduled if on the originally rescheduled date there is a field scheduling conflict or unplayable field.
It is the responsibility of both home and visiting team coaches to email or phone the results of a game to their section captain within 48 hours after the game.
In all dealings among players, coaches, referees, and administrators, BAYS relies on the honesty and integrity of each participant. The Sportsmanship Review Committee, at its discretion, will review reported breaches of this honor system and is empowered to take appropriate corrective measures.
In particular, the honor system is used in establishing the eligibility of players. It is the final responsibility of the coach or person responsible for the team at a game to insure that all players are qualified according to the BAYS constitution, bylaws, and rules.
At each game, each team must have a qualified responsible person present who can be a coach, or someone designated to substitute for them, and whose responsibilities shall include maintaining control and discipline over the team and its spectators. The responsible person must present his/her passcard to the referee before the game commences.
If at any time during the game the team does not have a person with a valid coach's passcard able to be responsible for the team, the game shall be abandoned and the team shall forfeit the game. In all cases the person responsible for the team must be older than the qualifying age for the team.
It shall be the sponsoring soccer organization's responsibility to insure that it selects coaches who are not only qualified to coach, but who are also able to promote the highest levels of good sportsmanship and are able to maintain proper control and discipline of the team and its spectators.
It is expected that every person responsible for a team and each and every spectator and player will support the referee. This support is essential to the proper play of the game and to the development of our players. Failure to support the referees, especially by the person (s) responsible for the team, undermines the authority of the referee, sets a bad example for everyone else, especially the players, and can rapidly lead into a hostile, negative game environment which is entirely inconsistent with the sportsmanship goals BAYS is trying to promote. Therefore, the basic rule is that persons responsible for a team and spectators will not address the referee at all during the play of the game. This prohibition, its exceptions, and the penalties for violating it, are described below.
A. Persons Responsible for a Team
With the exceptions of responding to a communication initiated by the referee, making a substitution, or pointing out an emergency safety issue, during the play of the game the persons responsible for the team should not say anything to the referee, nor should they do anything which in any way conveys any criticism of the referee. Coaches may ask questions before the start of the game. Coaches may not approach the referee at half time or at the end of the game. Coaches who have concerns about a referee's officiating may express those concerns orally or in writing to the referee assignor and/or the BAYS Referees Representative. They may not express those concerns directly to the referee.
BAYS recommends that the referee deal with infractions of this rule in the following manner:
As to the first infraction, the referee should determine if the conduct involves serious misconduct under the ordinary FIFA rules. If it does, a caution (optionally showing a yellow card) or a dismissal (optionally showing a red card) should be awarded, depending on the nature of the conduct. (For example, a threat of bodily harm or an obscenity directed at the referee should result in a dismissal. A prolonged, significant outburst of dissent should result in a caution.)
On the other hand, the first instance of a short, reasonably low-keyed referee criticism by a person responsible for the team should be ignored. The second instance should result in a warning, the third in a caution, and the fourth in an ejection. In giving the warning, the referee should make clear the next instance of dissent of any sort will result in a caution. Similarly, after a caution, the referee should make clear that the next instance of dissent of any kind will result in an ejection.
With the exception of responding to a communication initiated by the referee or pointing out an emergency safety issue, spectators should not say anything to the referee, nor should they do anything which in any way conveys any criticism of the referee.
BAYS recommends that the referee deal with infractions of this rule in the following manner:
As to the first infraction, the referee should stop the game and ask the person responsible for the team to quiet the offending spectator.
As to the second infraction, the referee should stop the game and ask the person responsible for the team to warn the spectator that the next infraction will result in the spectator leaving the game; otherwise the referee will abandon the game, and file a report with the club and BAYS. BAYS policy will be to generally impose a forfeit on the team with which the spectator is affiliated, and the referee should so inform the person responsible for that team.
As to the third infraction, the referee should instruct the person responsible for the team to direct the spectator to leave the field. If the spectator does not leave, the referee should abandon the game, and file his/her report.
The referee may need the assistance of the responsible persons from both teams if the spectator is not affiliated with either team.
If a member or members of a team, any person responsible for the team, or a team's spectators engage in unbecoming conduct before, during, or after a game, the offenders will be subject to discipline by the Sportsmanship Review Committee.
A. If the referee ejects a person from any game between two BAYS teams, that person will be automatically suspended from participating in the next BAYS game that his/her team actually plays. If the ejection is received during a BAYS playoff game, the person is suspended from the next BAYS playoff game. If the ejection was for violent conduct, fighting, or certain forms of serious foul play, the suspension will automatically be for two BAYS games. The ejection report and passcard (when required) shall be sent immediately to the ejection secretary; the passcard MUST be retained by the referee at the game in all circumstances. If a suspended person does participate in a game for which the suspension applies, the team will forfeit the game and this violation will be referred to the Sportsmanship Review Committee.
B. If a person receives a second ejection during a season, the matter will be referred to the Sportsmanship Review Committee, which may subject the offender to additional discipline.
C. If the ejection secretary considers an ejection offense to be serious, or if there are more than two ejections in a game, the ejection secretary shall refer the situation to the Sportsmanship Review Committee.
D. To have a passcard returned, you must contact the ejection secretary immediately after all games for which the suspension applies have been completed to indicate where to mail the passcards that are to be returned. The ejection secretary will not mail any passcard until notified. A person who needs his/her passcard for activities outside the BAYS league during the period of suspension from BAYS games may make arrangements with the ejection secretary to obtain the passcard, after providing the ejection secretary with an appropriate contact for the outside activity. The ejection secretary will notify that contact of the suspension in effect in the BAYS league. It is the responsibility of the person to return the passcard to the ejection secretary immediately after the outside activity.
If a player leaves the bench area to take part in a fracas and is ejected by the referee, he shall be subject to additional discipline, by action of the Sportsmanship Review Committee.
The second vice-president will receive all referrals on sportsmanship issues, other violations of the constitution, bylaws, or rules that arise before, during, or after any BAYS games, and abandoned games requiring disposition. The second vice-president will decide if a particular issue will be reviewed; referrals will also receive a review if requested by five BAYS board members. A quorum to review a particular issue shall consist of any three members of the Sportsmanship Review Committee (SRC). The SRC may request as an advisor a certified USSF referee to be designated by the referees representative. The SRC will inform all parties involved of its decisions.
In addition to penalties specified in the constitution, bylaws, or rules, the SRC may impose such additional penalties as are judged to be appropriate to the severity of the issue, including suspension of participation, determination of forfeits, and decisions to replay games. Decisions and penalties imposed by the SRC will take effect immediately upon notification of the parties involved.
Decisions by the Sportsmanship Review Committee may be appealed only to the BAYS board of directors. Such appeals may be considered at a regular board meeting, or at a special board meeting if called by the president or at the request of five BAYS directors. The president may delay the imposition of penalties until a board meeting has been held to consider the appeal.
All protests prior to the Friday of the tenth scheduled week of the season shall be sent to the BAYS first vice-president, and must be postmarked or accepted within 48 hours of the game in question. Each protest must be accompanied by a protest fee of $50. The protest will be forwarded to the chairperson of the protest board. For teams in MTOC-eligible divisions, all protests starting with the Friday of the tenth scheduled week must be reported by the later of 8:00 PM or one hour following the completion of the game on the day of the protested game. For these final week protests, the protest board will meet the night of the protested game if the allowing of the protest could affect the divisional playoff pairings. The $50 fee will be hand carried to the meeting. The opposing coach and the referee must be notified at the field of the intention to protest. Failure to give this notification could lead to disallowing the protest.
The chairperson for the BAYS protest board shall establish a group of people knowledgeable about the game of soccer who will agree to be available to participate on the protest board. For a particular protest, a quorum will consist of at least three people from the protest board who are assigned by the chairperson. At least one of the assigned members must be a USSF referee. None of the people assigned for a particular protest shall have any direct interest in that protest. The chairperson shall contact all parties involved to solicit information and written materials concerning the protest, notify all parties of the protest board meeting when it is set, and see that a written decision concerning the protest is provided to all parties.
Disposition of all protests will be given within 14 days after the receipt of all required written materials, except for those protests handled under the 10th week rule, in which case disposition will be given the night of the protested game.
All actions of the protest board may be appealed to the MASS. YOUTH SOCCER appeals board by following their procedure. The protest board chairperson will provide information on the appeal procedure to all parties in the written decision.
Current FIFA, USSF, US YOUTH SOCCER, and MASS. YOUTH SOCCER rules of play shall be in effect, except as specifically stated otherwise in the section titled "Rules for BAYS Soccer Competition" or in these bylaws.
In addition to (or in modification of) the regular playing rules of soccer, the following special rules for BAYS 6v6 boys' and girls' divisions shall apply:
A. Roster
There is no limit on the number of players allowed on a 6v6 team. BAYS, however, strongly encourages limiting rosters to 10 or 11 players so that a reasonable amount of playing time will be available for each player. Instead of the regulation eleven players on the field, there shall be six players including the goalkeeper. A minimum of five players must be present to start a game, and a minimum of four qualified players must be available to continue a game.
B. Rules Modifications
1. There will be NO OFFSIDE in 6-versus-6 play.
2. Goal kicks shall be taken from within six yards of the goal line.
3. Indirect kicks awarded to the attacking team within the penalty area will be placed at the spot of the infraction, but no closer than six yards from the goal / goal line.
4. On goal kicks, or on goalkeeper saves followed by a throw-out, punt, or drop kick, the ball must touch the ground or be touched by any player in the defensive half of the field. Infringement of this rule will result in a turnover of the ball to the other team. Play shall restart with an indirect kick at the midfield line nearest the point of contact.
5. Penalty kicks will be taken from a point eight yards directly in front of the midpoint of the goal. All other players must stand beyond the midfield line.
C. Field Dimensions
The ideal field size for 6-vs-6 is forty yards wide by sixty yards long. This will not be a rigid requirement, as some organizations will, because of limited space, have to play their games across the width of regulation fields. An acceptable range for field size is thirty to forty-five yards wide and fifty to seventy yards long.
The penalty area should be 12 yards deep, and extend 12 yards to the outside from each goalpost. A separate goal area may, but need not be marked. Clearly visible dots or dotted lines may be used to mark the penalty areas to avoid excessive lining and confusion on regulation fields.
Downsized goals will be used which should be approximately twelve feet wide by six feet high (for U-10), or the next adjustable size larger (for older teams). They must be anchored securely to the ground.
In addition to (or in modification of) the regular playing rules of soccer, the following special rules for BAYS 8v8 boys' and girls' divisions shall apply:
A. Roster
The roster size limit for BAYS 8v8 teams eligible to play at MTOC will be identical to that specified for MTOC play: 15 players.
For non-MTOC eligible teams,
there is no limit on the number of players allowed on a 8v8 team. BAYS, however, strongly encourages limiting rosters to 13 to 15 players so that a reasonable amount of playing time will be available for each player. Instead of the regulation 11 players on the field, there shall be eight players including the goalkeeper. A minimum of six players must be present to start a game, and a minimum of five qualified players must be available to continue a game.
B. Rules Modifications from 11 v 11
1. Goal kicks shall be taken from within six yards of the goal line.
2. Indirect kicks awarded to the attacking team within the penalty area will be placed at the spot of the infraction, but no closer than six yards from the goal / goal line.
3. Penalty kicks will be taken from a point ten yards directly in front of the midpoint of the goal.
4. Note: Although not a modification, the OFFSIDE rule will be in effect.
C. Field Dimensions
The ideal field size for 8v8 is 70 x 50 yards, with a 14 X 34 yard penalty area. These are not rigid requirements.
Clearly visible dots or dotted lines may be used to mark the penalty areas to avoid excessive lining and confusion on regulation fields.
Intermediate goals of 6 ft x 18 ft are recommended, but again this is not a rigid requirement. The goals must be anchored securely to the ground.
A. If an organization enters teams in another MTOC-eligible league, then ALL teams of the same sex, regardless of age, from that organization will be ineligible for any BAYS trophies, playoffs or other awards. (The MTOC- eligible leagues are BAYS, Coastal, Essex, Middlesex, MAYS, Nashoba Valley, Pioneer Valley, South Coast, South Shore, and Berkshire.) This rule does not affect teams playing in-town or in MAPLE, nor teams of the other sex if teams of only one sex are so entered.
B. MTOC-eligible teams can qualify to represent BAYS at MTOC, via competitive playoffs to be arranged each spring season by the BAYS playoff committee. MTOC-eligible divisions include divisions 1 and 2 in U-12, U-14, and U-16; division 1 in U-18 and U-19; and any other sections as designated prior to the spring season by the competition committee.
A. Each spring the President will appoint members to the Playoff Committee, whose obligation it shall be to organize, schedule, and supervise the season-end playoffs designated to select BAYS teams to represent the team at MTOC.
B. The Chairperson of the Competition Committee will serve as chair of the Playoff Committee, unless the President chooses a different person as chair.
C. The Playoff Committee will be guided by policies established by the Board of Directors, and may consult the President or other appropriate officers for advice.
The standing of teams in each section will be determined on points awarded as follows: Win or win by forfeit - 3 points, Tie - 1 point, Loss - no point, Loss by forfeit - minus 1 point. Points are given only for non-crossover games. Games in double 4 team sections between the sections are not crossovers.
Leading teams having the same number of points shall be declared section co-champions.
Divisional playoffs will be arranged by the BAYS playoff committee among MTOC-eligible teams for the week following the last regularly scheduled Spring season game. The divisional playoffs will be used to determine BAYS representative teams to play in the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC).
Playoff and MTOC eligibility shall also depend on the team's not having a losing Spring season record (i.e. the team must have at least a .500 winning percentage record, where ties count as half a win, half a loss). Crossover games are excluded from this calculation.
Selection and placement of MTOC-eligible section representatives in the division playoffs are as follows:
A. All section champion teams will be placed.
B. If all section co-champions can be placed, they will be seeded according to the tiebreaker rules in effect.
C. If not all co-champions in a section can be placed, they will participate in a section playoff to determine which team(s) will advance.
D. If a section champion or co-champion is ineligible, the playoff committee may, but need not, select an eligible runner-up in its place, chosen by section standings and then by tiebreaker rules.
E. In division 1 sections with four or more teams, all outright second place teams will be placed. In sections with less than four teams, second place teams may be placed at the discretion of the competition committee.
Tie breaking will be according to the following hierarchy:
1. Points in the standings.
2. Points awarded in head-to-head games.
3. Most wins.
4. Fewest goals allowed.
5. Most shutouts of opponents.
6. Cumulative goal differential -- each game differential truncated at -3 or +3 goals.
If a playoff game is tied at the end of the second half as signaled by the referee, two 10-minute overtime periods will be played to completion. If the game is tied at the end of the second overtime period, the game will be settled by FIFA's method of kicks from the penalty mark. Notwithstanding the above provisions, at the end of regulation time the referee may decide, due to adverse weather or impending darkness, not to play any overtime and to proceed directly to kicks from the penalty mark.
Any team refusing to play in a playoff, or refusing to represent BAYS at MTOC after having qualified as a BAYS MTOC entry, will forfeit its right to the section championship and to all trophies. If BAYS suffers a monetary loss for such default by an MTOC-qualifying team, the team's town or club organization will be required to make good for the loss.