Greater Boston Soccer League                    

 

                                                                    RULES & REGULATIONS

 

 

1. REGISTRATION – All players must either sign their Team Roster Form or fill out an Individual Registration Form, which includes a Waiver of Liability, prior to participation in any GBSL games. Team Managers are provided with the Team Roster Form and responsible for ensuring all players are properly registered. Players assume all liability and risk for participation in GBSL games whether properly registered or not if permitted to play by a Team Manager. Teams found to have played a game with an unregistered player will forfeit that game. Players may not play for more than one team in any given division.  Any player wishing to switch teams within a division after playing 2 games with one team must secure written authorization from the League Director prior to playing for the new team.

 

2. GAME TIME - Games will be 80 minutes in length, and officially start at the times designated on the schedule.  Minimum 7 players are required to start the match.  Every effort should be made to play the game, even if the time of the match has to be shortened to a minimum of 60 minutes due to weather, darkness, or other circumstance. Safety is of primary concern, and a match may be stopped at the referee’s discretion.

 

3. ROSTERS & PLAYER I.D. - Game rosters must be submitted to the referee before each game, and your Team Roster must be submitted to the League Director prior to your fourth game. If a player’s legitimacy is protested by an opposing team manager at any time prior to the start of the second half of a match, the referee shall verify player identification by requesting to see his photo ID (driver’s license, etc.).  NO I.D., NO PLAY!  Players without photo identification must be authorized by the League Director prior to the game.  The League Director will provide a signed authorization form for the Team Manager to provide to the referee. 

 

4. TEAM COMPOSITION - All teams must have a minimum of 7 players on the field at all times.  Teams unable to field the minimum number of players will forfeit the game. Coed teams must have 3 women on the field at all times.  If one or both coed teams do not have the required 3 women players, the team having more women available will decide the number of women to be required on the field for that match (thus allowing for availability of substitutes).

 

5. PLAYER PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY - 2 games minimum.  Playoff rosters are to be frozen prior to your team's last game.  Players may be added to your team after this date, though they will NOT be eligible for post-season play.  Goalkeepers must have played at least 1 game to be eligible.  Any exception must be authorized by the League Director, with only extraordinary circumstances or significant injury being considered.

 

6. SUBSTITUTIONS - Permitted on goals and goal kicks, and on your own throw-ins and corner kicks. If your opponent substitutes on their throw-in or corner kick, you may also substitute at that time at the referee’s discretion. 

                                                       

7. GENERAL RULES - FIFA rules govern anything not otherwise specified. 

 

8. SLIDE-TACKLING – Not allowed in any co-ed divisions, is allowed in summer men's division. A player may leave his feet to make a sliding play on a ball to keep it from going out of bounds or to clear it away from a defender that is not within playing distance, but any contact with an opposing player during or after a sliding play is not allowed and will be whistled for a slide-tackle. A sliding play by an offensive player to redirect a ball on goal may be called an obstruction if the referee feels the defensive team was denied the opportunity to make a play on the ball as a result of the offensive player's slide, otherwise this is also an acceptable play. If a stoppage is called, the resulting restart is a direct free kick if contact is made with an opponent and a foul is called, or an indirect kick if the play is ruled a "dangerous play" or "obstruction" by the official.

 9. EQUIPMENT - Shin pads MUST be worn.  Nobody will be allowed to play without them, period.  NO PADS, NO PLAY!  Game ball is to be provided by the home team, unless the visiting team has a better ball. (In other words, use a good ball)

 

10. RED CARDS - One red card = one game suspension.  Second red card carries minimum 3 game suspension, with possible expulsion from the league, pending a review of the incident between the referee, the League Director and the team captains.  Teams accumulating 2 red cards during the season will lose 1 point in the standings. Any additional red cards will cause the team to lose 2 more points for each card, and be subject to a disciplinary review with possible expulsion from the league.

 

11. FIGHTING/ABUSE OF REFEREE OR OPPONENT - Zero tolerance.  Fighting will be cause for expulsion from the league.  Abuse of the referee or on opposing player will be subject to a red card and suspension.

 

12. FORFEITURES - Use of non-roster or suspended players will be cause for forfeiture of the affected match.

 

13. UNIFORMS - Teams must have matching shirts with numbers (exceptions may be made at the discretion of the referee).  In case of two teams with the same shirt colors, the visiting team is responsible for ensuring contrasting colors.  Check with the opposing team captain to coordinate before the match.  All players should carry a matching alternate color (white t-shirts are fine if regular shirts are dark) in preparation for unknown conflicts.

 

14. FIELD PERMITS (where applicable) - Both team captains should have a copy of the field permit where required.  This will ensure that at least someone has one, which may be necessary at some locations.

 

15. FIELD CONDITIONS - Not all fields are well maintained.  It is suggested that team managers have something available to touch up lines if necessary.  *Cones or flags must be provided by the home team for the corners of the field.

 

16. WEATHER - Most fields are playable in the rain, and all games are to be played unless cancelled in advance by the League Director or at the field by the referee. Danehy Park (limited use) is very conservative with their fields.  Others may be as well, but there is nothing specified on permits. If the weather is questionable, the League Director will advise teams of any cancellations by 4:30 the day of a game. 

 

17. OFFICIAL GAME - In the event that a game is abandoned by the referee due to extreme weather, unplayable field conditions, or some other unforeseen circumstance, the game result will count as long as a minimum of 40 minutes has been played during the regular season, 60 minutes in playoffs.  If the minimum time has not been played, the game will be considered suspended and will be concluded from the time it was stopped at a later date to be determined by the League Director.

 

18. PLAYOFFS - Format may vary by division, details to be provided by the League Director.  Playoff matches ending tied play 5-10 minutes of golden goal OT depending on field time constraints, then 5 player PK shootout (4M,1W co-ed). If still tied, one PK at a time until winner, alternating by 2M,1W.

 

19. SPORTSMANSHIP- The league is recreational yet competitive.  Play clean, respect the referees and your opponents, pray for good weather and enjoy the season!!!

                

 

 

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