FALL 2023-SPRING 2024 EDP LEAGUE

Number of Players

Teams will play a match with no more than the listed number of players per team on the field at one time, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper.

Minimum Number of Players

A minimum number of players are required for a scheduled match. Should a team not have at least the minimum number of players at the scheduled match time, it will forfeit the game 3-0 and will be responsible for the entire referee and associated assignor fees. The minimum number of players per age group is listed.

PLAYERS EQUIPMENT

Uniforms

All players on a team must wear similar colored jerseys, shorts and soccer socks. A legible non-duplicated number on the back of each jersey is required. If necessary, tape may be used to alter a duplicated jersey number. Players and substitutes are not permitted to 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 jerseys may be different than the color of the team’s shorts and or soccer socks. If both teams are wearing similar colored jerseys, the home team is required to change. Goalkeepers must change jerseys as the referee directs regardless of the home/visitor status. All players should have their jerseys tucked into their shorts. Teams may elect to display sponsorship on their team jerseys, but may only do so upon prior approval by the league. Decision of the league is final, without any permissible appeal.

Shin Guards

Shin guards are required equipment for all players and are to be worn at all practices and matches. Shin guards are to be covered entirely by the players’ socks. Shin guards are to be made of suitable-material, rubber or plastic, to provide a reasonable degree of protection.

Team Captain Identification

The captain(s) of a team shall wear a band for identification purposes, which is to be displayed only on the arm.

Foul Weather Gear

In the event of severe weather conditions, players will be permitted to wear a sweat suit, similar trousers and stockings, or other type of clothing under their team uniform. Sweat pants may not have a metallic buckle, snaps, buttons or other items that the referee considers dangerous.

Safe Equipment

Under FIFA Law V, the referee is granted the authority to determine the safety of a player’s equipment as defined in FIFA Law IV. The following shall not be permitted:

1. Hair control devices with any hard parts
2. Earrings or any other jewelry, regardless of covering

The following shall be permitted:

1. A soft splint, soft brace or a soft cast, provided that the match referee has determined that it is not a danger to himself or another player
2. Knee braces, if worn, must be safer per the referee’s discretion.
3. Sports Spectacles: Protective sports spectacles or plastic prescription frames sports spectacles with the lenses fully contained with the frame, and held on by an elastic strap are expressly permitted. Any eyewear containing glass, metal or any sharp edges are prohibited.
4. Headgear: Soft foam headgear for goalkeeper, Full 90 type headgear for player, provided that the referee has determined that it is not a danger to himself or another player

If the referee finds that a player is wearing articles not permitted by the Laws or this rule, the referee will order the player to remove them or the player will be removed from the match.

Coaching from the sidelines

Coaching from the sidelines is permitted as long as the coach is giving direction to one’s own team on points of strategy, tactics and position. The following conditions must be complied with:

1. No mechanical devices are used
2. The tone of voice is informative and sportsmanlike
3. Any coach, substitute or player must be within 20 yards from the mid-field line on their team’s sideline.

No club official, club member, team manager, player, or spectator may enter the field of play regardless of the circumstances, unless the referee has given them permission. If this is disregarded, they shall become subject to disciplinary action by the Disciplinary Committee.

Accidents or Unusual Incidents

The team coach or manager must report any accident or unusual incident to the league. An injury report which may be found on the NYCS site, must be completed and submitted to the league that issued the player’s pass.

Suspensions

Suspended Player

A player who has been placed on suspension is not permitted to dress for any match during the time period of his/her suspension, nor be present at the site of a match or areas immediately adjacent. Player may participate in team practices.

Suspended Coach

Any coach who has been placed on suspension is not permitted to participate in any manner whatsoever in the activities of the League during the suspension. The suspended person is not permitted to be present at the site of a match or areas immediately adjacent.

GAME REGULATIONS

Standings

1. Standings Determined: Standings are kept for all U11 and older games and are determined by the above point system. Standings are not published for all U8, U9 and U10 games.
2. Team Forfeits: If a team forfeits a game, the team is ineligible to win the division and ineligible to qualify for any post-season competitions. If a team forfeits more than two (2) games during the season, they will be considered to have withdrawn from competition.
3. Tie Games: If a regularly scheduled game ends in a tie score at the end of regulation playing time, the game and score shall stand as official.
4. Team Withdraws from Competition: If a team withdraws or is removed from competition during the season of play, all records will be nullified and all games played or scheduled to be played shall be recorded as a 3-0 win for the opposing team.
5. Tiebreakers for First Place Division Winners and any Playoff Qualification: Should EDP hold a league ending event (ex: NY Champions Cup), determination of teams’ final placement, in the event of a tie, will be decided by the following tiebreakers in order listed.
   1. Head to Head (Does not apply if three (3) or more teams are tied.)
   2. Goal Differential: maximum of 5 goals per game
   3. Fewest Goals Allowed: maximum of 5 goals per game
   4. Number of Shutouts
   5. If two teams are tied after all of the tiebreakers above, a coin toss will determine which team is designated in the higher placement.

League Ending Event (ex: NY Champions Cup)

Penalty shootouts (FIFA rules) will be used to produce winners at this stage if necessary.

Scheduling

Prior to the season’s start, clubs are to do their best to accommodate the visiting team’s requests when scheduling their home team games. When there is a conflict between the home team and visiting team requests, the home team request will prevail. For league matches, teams must be available to play on the league specified weekend dates posted on the site prior to the season’s start. If a team is unavailable, the game will be forfeited unless the available team is able to host on a mutually agreeable date in time to be scheduled prior to the season’s opening weekend. Games may not be scheduled to start before 10 am if a team is traveling from 1-2 hours away and they may not be scheduled to start before 12 pm if a team is traveling 140 miles or more (unless agreed to by visiting team).

SAT/ACT/PSAT Testing

On SAT/ACT testing dates, the games will begin at 3:00 pm or later for U17-U18/19 age groups

Confirmation of Time, Field, and Colors

The visiting team’s primary contact shall confirm the game time, field location, and uniform colors with the home team’s primary contact prior to the game date.

Start at the Scheduled Time

At the scheduled time for the match, the minimum number of players will constitute a team and the match will start at the scheduled time. There is no permissible period to wait for additional players to arrive.

unRescheduling Considerations

When both teams cannot agree on a re-schedule date, EDP will have the authority to review all facts and inter-team communications, preferably team chats, in order to determine whether the game should be forfeited or canceled permanently.

Change A Scheduled Match

Under no circumstances will a coach, team manager or any other club representative change a scheduled match or reschedule a match without permission from the league. Should this occur, both teams will forfeit the match and will be responsible for their share of the referee and associated assignor fees.

Change of Game Location

Should there be a last-minute change to a match site; the home team must station a person at the original site to escort the referee and the visiting team to the new site and notify the league.

Field Conditions/Game Day Rules

Home Team Responsibility: The home team is responsible for the condition of the playing area including the proper field markings and proper equipment – nets and corner flags are required. If the referee determines that the field is not playable due to improper conditions (unrelated to weather), then the home team will forfeit the match and be responsible for all referee and assignor fees.

No-Shows/Forfeits: A no-show occurs when a team willfully does not show up to a scheduled game. Penalties for no-shows are as follows:

• A forfeit to the opposing team: 0-3 loss
• See FINES for additional repercussions
• A team that has forfeited a game cannot win its division for that season.
• Removal from the league and/or all other competitions at the league’s discretion

A team unable to attend a scheduled game because of an accident, weather or act of God should immediately notify the opponent and the league office. Each situation shall be reviewed by the league committee, which render a decision.

If the Referee Fails to Appear: The no-show policy for referees favors getting games played. Therefore, the league will allow the use of a designated referee or parent.

1. The Individual designated to referee must be approved by both teams.
2. If teams decide to play the game as a friendly, both teams must send email notification to the league prior to kickoff.
3. The default position of the league is that if the game is played, the result will stand.
4. If the game is not played, it will be rescheduled and the home team will travel to the opposing team.

Ejection from a Match: In instances where the designated coach has been ejected from a game, or has failed to control the activities at the match site to the detriment of the game, the referee will file a supplemental report online. The league’s disciplinary committee, at its discretion, will implement any disciplinary action recommended.

Score Reporting

Reporting the Score: All scores must be reported no later than two (2) hours following the game’s completion, by using the enter game score button on the game reminder email. It is the responsibility of the home team to report the score and the responsibility of the away team to report any erroneously reported scores no later than 48 hrs. after they are posted.

Published Scores: Actual scores are required to be reported for U11-19 age groups. Actual scores are required for U9-U10 age groups, yet standings and scores are not published. Scores are not kept for U8.

Bad Weather and/or Poor Field Conditions

Inspection of Playing Site: In the event of bad weather, the home team’s club official, after inspection of the field, must notify the league no later than 2 hours prior to the scheduled starting time of the match that field conditions require postponement. If the visiting team is traveling 140 miles or more, the required notification period is four (4) hours. ONLY a club official may cancel a match. If a match is canceled, then the home team’s coach or administrator MUST notify the AWAY TEAM and center REFEREE by phone/text and email and the league by email. Failure to do so may result in a forfeit as well as full referee payment.

Referees

a) Player Verification

1. Game Roster Form Both teams are required to provide two (2) copies of the ENYYSA Official Photo Roster, one (1) for the referee and one (1) for the opposing coach. NO player’s names may be handwritten on this roster.  Any player not on the team’s printed roster may not play in that match. Any player not present for pre-match check-in must be verified against the game roster form by the referee, prior to playing in the match.
2. Jersey Numbers Teams must list a unique jersey number for each player present for that match and must match the presented roster (may be adjusted prior to presentation to the referee).
3. Verify the Player’s Identity The referee shall verify the identity of the players represented on the photo roster by inspecting the photograph.
4. Verify Written Data The referee shall verify that the roster indicates the correct club name and that the players’ date of birth are within or younger than the team’s age group range.
5. Discrepancy in the Data Should there be a discrepancy in the age group, and/or club name, the player shall NOT be permitted to participate in the match.

b) Referee Reports

1. Submit Referee Reports The referee shall submit a referee report for each match officiated, within forty-eight (48) hours after the completion of the match. The referee shall retain a copy of both team rosters presented until the completion of the season.
2. Supplementary Referee Report can be included in the online report submitted.
3. Violation Will Be Held In Abeyance In the event that the Supplementary Referee Report is not received by the league within forty-eight (48) hours after the completion of the match, the violation will be held in abeyance until the report is received.

c) Caution

1. Yellow Card – Cautioned A Yellow Card is displayed by the referee to indicate that a player or coach is being cautioned for violating FIFA Laws of the Game.
2. Two (2) Cautions If a player or coach receives two (2) cautions during one match, the player or coach will be ejected from the match, and a suspension is in effect.
3. Five (5) Cautions If a coach receives five (5) cautions during a season, a suspension is in effect.
4. Disciplinary Committee The disciplinary committee, at its discretion, will determine the length of the suspension and any other punishments, fines, and/or assessments.

d) Ejection

1. Red Card – Ejection A red card is displayed by the referee to indicate that a player or coach is ejected from the match and a suspension is in effect. The referee will make a notation in the supplemental portion of the online referee report. The pass does not have to be retained by the referee.
2. Disciplinary Committee The disciplinary committee, at its discretion, will determine the length of the suspension and any other punishments, fines and/or assessments.
3. Appear Before Disciplinary Committee A player or coach who receives a red card or the equivalent will at the discretion of the disciplinary committee, be summoned to appear at a hearing. Should the player or coach fail to appear, he/she will be suspended until such appearance is made. The disciplinary committee, at its discretion, will determine the length of suspension and/or any other punishments, fines, or assessments. Should a player be summoned to appear, the coach or club representative from his/her designated team must accompany him/her.
4. Suspended from Consecutive Competition A player or coach shall be suspended from consecutive competition in the league.
5. Team Refuses to Continue If a team refuses to continue to play after being so instructed by the referee, the team will forfeit the game by a score of 3-0.
6. Reports Will Be Reviewed By The Disciplinary Committee The referee report and the supplementary referee report shall be reviewed by the league’s disciplinary committee, who shall determine the punishment, fine, and/or assessment. The disciplinary committee shall notify the parties involved, in writing, of the decision.

e) Concussion/No-Reentry Protocol The referee will stop the game when he/she believes that a player has suffered an injury involving that player’s head and immediately remove the player from the game. The referee will make a notation in the supplemental portion of the online referee report. The player may not return to the game.

Matters Not Provided

Any matters not provided for in these rules shall be determined by the Executive Board of EDP and decisions so made shall be final and binding.

Penalties

No EDP official, club, league, team, coach, referee, player, or other representative may invoke the aid of the courts of any state or of the United States without first exhausting all available remedies within the appropriate soccer organizations. For violation of this rule the offending party shall be subject to the sanctions of suspension and fines and shall be liable to the EDP for all expenses incurred by EDP and its officers in defending any court action, including but not limited to the following:

1. Court costs
2. Attorneys fees
3. Reasonable compensation for time spent by EDP officers and/or employees in responding to and defending against allegations in the action, including responses to discovery and court appearance.
4. Travel expenses
5. Expenses for holding special EDP meetings necessitated by court action.

Line of Authority for an Appeal

The line of authority for an appeal of a decision rendered by the League’s Executive Board or Appeals Committee shall be:

1. ENYYSA
2. USSF National Appeals Committee

Appeals following the line of authority listed above are made directly to each level. The fee for an appeal is prescribed by each level of appeal and are made payable to each level

All coaches and players credentials must be verified by the referee prior to play or they may not participate. No player may participate if they are not on a photo roster. In order to participate, a coach must be on a photo roster or present his/her pass to the referee.

At EDP Soccer, we believe that expectations about the outcomes from participation in youth sports should consist simply of: 

1. Players learn and understand the value of teamwork to achieve common goals.
2. Players learn and understand the importance of dedication and hard work to accomplish individual targets and objectives. 
3. Players start to recognize that being physically active is an important element of a healthy lifestyle
4. PLAYERS HAVE FUN!

Players, coaches, and parents should always be polite towards referees and refrain from any disrespectful conduct.  

1. Support players; applaud and encourage them at all times. 
2. Maintain a respectful distance from the field of play.
3. Refrain from any conduct that will be detrimental to the player, team, club or league. 
4. Always be polite and humble regardless of calls from officials. 
5. Allow club officials (coaches, managers, etc.) to act as the leaders.
6. Coaches MUST always speak to officials in a polite and non-aggressive manner.
7. Be mindful of players’ emotions and damage caused to young players by overly aggressive sideline behavior. 

Players, coaches, and parents should always be respectful toward the opposing team and show good sportsmanship.   Not running up the score is an important way to show respect towards opposing players.

As a reminder:  U11 and older:  Maximum published Goal Differential (GD) is 5, do your best not to exceed this GD

U9:  Do your best not to run up the score above a GD of 3-5, keeping in mind that these are developmental teams and scores/standings are not published.

Suggestions to Avoid Running Up Scores

1. Move players to different positions
2. Keep midfielders at the midline and defenders in their own end of the field. Allow only the forwards to go into the opponents’ end.
3. Have players shoot on goal with their opposite foot only
4. Advise players that they can only shoot on goal from outside the penalty area
5. Tell players that in the opponent’s end of the field they must pass the ball three times before they can shoot to score.