GUIDELINE RULES FOR SOCCER 

2011-2012

A. Participating Schools:

"A" Division       "B" Division
Antrim                  Avon
Belmar                 Bay Head
Brielle                  Bradley Beach
Manasquan          Sea Girt
Neptune City       Spring Lake Heights
St. Catharine        H.W. Mountz

B. Eligibility - Participants must not have attained age 15 prior to September 1 of current school year. To participate in the M.C.A.L. a student must be a resident in the town in which they wish to play and/or attending member school. (See Eligibility/Alternatives under general guidelines)

C. Practice - Practice may begin on the first day of school in September of the school year.

D. Rules - Standard rules of play for soccer will be utilized. Sneakers or all purpose rubber cleats may be worn by all participants. Metal cleats or spikes cannot be worn. (See all-sports dress code - attached) Fields of play may be modified due to particular conditions. Soccer nets must be used along with corner flags. Each team should provide a ball person to patrol the sidelines. Coaches must be informed of said modifications or special provisions before the game. The schedule will consist of one game with each school. Additional games may be played through special arrangement, but will not apply to the trophy or championship.

E. Time Limit - All games should start as close to 3:30 p.m. as possible. The visiting team should confirm the game by 1:00 p.m. on the day of the game. (See 25 minute halves rule - attached)
Play should consist of: 2 - 25 MINUTE HALVES
Five minutes between halves
Overtime - 2 five minute periods

F. Officials - The home team will be assigned two qualified officials. Rate of pay will be $57.00 (two officials) or $74.00 (one official). Pat Windle is the assigner. To cancel officials due to inclement weather each home team will have a list of their officials. They are to call the officials and the league director. The assigner is not to be called. Games can only be canceled with administrative approval. The league director must be notified of make-up date so that he may assign officials. (At least 2 days in advance)

G. Plaques -Plaques - In order to win a trophy you must have at least a .500 record within your division. A maximum of three plaques will be awarded in each division and only division games will count towards league standings. All soccer games will be scored as follows: Win - 2 point Tie - 1 point Loss - 0 points Forfeits count as a played game. All forfeits must be reported to the League Office in writing by the team receiving the win. If not submitted to the league office in writing the game will be considered cancelled See Forfeit Rule - attached

In case of a tie (Duplicate trophies for first place - tie breaker for second or third):     Tie breaker - 1. Overall Record (If same go to #2)    2. Head-to-Head Results (If a split go to #3)   3. Duplicate Trophy

TO QUALIFY AS OVERALL LEAGUE CHAMPION YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL OF YOUR SCHEDULED GAMES. OVERALL LEAGUE CHAMPION WILL BE BASED ON THE TEAM WITH THE MOST WINS. A FORFEIT IS CONSIDERED AS A GAME PLAYED. This rule may be waived by the League Director if there is sufficient cause for a game not to be played.

H. Disqualification Procedure - All red cards will result in an automatic 1 game suspension, which will be served in the next game. Two red cards in a season will result in a 2 game suspension. Three red cards in a season and the player will be suspended for the remainder of that season. Coaches must report a red card to their administrator within 24 hours of the incident. An incident report form must be filed with the league within 3 days. (See Disqualification procedures for players & coaches)

I. Non-Interference Rule - Only authorized coaches and assistants may coach players during M.C.A.L. games. Spectators may not actively* coach from the sidelines for the purpose of enhancing the chances of their team to win a particular game or games.

Exceptions to this rule will be for substitute coaches in the event a coach is ill or out of town, so as not to cancel a game. This should be made clear and approved by both teams prior to the game.

The M.C.A.L. Code of Sportsmanship states in part “...let the players play, let the coaches coach and the officials officiate. Let the spectators be positive.”

*Actively coaching is defined as continually attempting to coach an individual or team during a game. This rule is not trying to stop spectators from supporting their team, but to make the playing field level for both teams. The M.C.A.L. feels that the players, coaches and officials should be the only ones to decide the outcome of games.

If a coach feels that a violation of the above rule is taking place he should bring it to the attention of the opposing coach. That coach should talk to the person involved and ask them to stop. If that does not stop the situation, the coach should ask for an administrator at the school to come out and review the situation. (The officials or referees are to be informed, but are not involved in the process.)

All violations of the rule should be submitted to the league director for review. If there needs to be additional action, the league director will make an appropriate decision.

J. Code of Conduct / Players/Coaches/Spectators - In line with the Shore Conference of High Schools, The Monmouth County Athletic League has adopted the code of good sportsmanship for their players, coaches and spectators. Players, coaches and spectators that violate the spirit of the code of sportsmanship will be subject to suspension from attending/participating in future M.C.A.L. games. (See code of conduct under general guidelines)

K. Reporting Scores - All scores should be reported the next day by both teams. Call the league director at 732-458-9554 or email to donneice@comcast.net and leave score.

L. Rosters - Team rosters must be submitted to the M.C.A.L. Director prior to the first game.

 

RE: 25 MINUTE HALVES - 2011

AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION THE MONMOUTH COUNTY ATHLETIC LEAGUE WILL CONTINUE WITH 25 MINUTE HALVES AND 2 FIVE MINUTE OVERTIMES IF NEEDED.

AFTER TALKING TO OUR ASSIGNER FOR SOCCER AND WITH INPUT FROM THE LEAGUE SCHOOLS I FEEL IT IS BEST NOT TO CHANGE TO 30 MINUTE HALVES. PAT WINDLE, OUR ASSIGNER FOR SOCCER, TOLD ME THAT IF WE WENT TO 30 MINUTE HALVES THERE WOULD BE NO OVERTIME. (UNLESS WE RAISE OUR RATE OF PAY CONSIDERABLY). WITH THE 25 MINUTE HALVES WE DO HAVE 2 FIVE MINUTE OVERTIMES. OTHER ARGUMENTS TO REMAIN AT 25 MINUTES WERE:

1- THAT EXTRA 10 MINUTES WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO MORE LOB SIDED SCORES.
2- GAMES WILL GENERALLY RUN LONGER- MANY GAMES START LATE ALREADY BECAUSE OF OUR BUS PROBLEM.
3- WILL THE EXPANDED TIME IMPROVE OUR LEAGUE OR HELP THE COMPETITIVE BALANCE? THE ANSWER IS NO.
4- THE VOTE WAS NOT UNANIMOUS, WITH SCHOOLS IN BOTH CONFERENCES VOTING AGAINST THE CHANGE.

WHAT MAKES THE MONMOUTH COUNTY ATHLETIC LEAGUE UNIQUE IS THAT WE CAN TAYLOR OUR RULES TO BEST FIT OUR LEAGUES NEEDS. NO LEAGUE IN NEW JERSEY HAS THE DIVERSE AGES THAT WE HAVE WITH SOME OF OUR “B” SCHOOLS PLAYING 4TH , 5TH AND 6TH GRADERS ON THEIR VARSITY TEAMS. MOST OF THE “A” DIVISION SCHOOLS HAVE THE ABILITY TO ONLY PLAY 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS ON THEIR TEAMS.

RE: FORFEITS

ALL FORFEIT WINS MUST BE REPORTED TO THE LEAGUE OFFICE IN WRITING BY THE TEAM RECEIVING THE WIN. IF NOT SUBMITTED TO MY OFFICE IN WRITING THE GAME WILL BE CONSIDERED CANCELLED.

SIMPLY LIST THE NAMES OF THE SCHOOLS, BOYS OR GIRLS, DATE OF GAME AND SIGNED BY WINNING COACH OR ADMINISTRATOR.

THIS RULE IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OUR REGULAR SEASON GAMES IN ALL SPORTS.

ALL SPORTS DRESS CODE

ATHLETIC TEAMS IN THE MONMOUTH COUNTY ATHLETIC LEAGUE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPRAY THEIR HAIR IN SCHOOL COLORS OR TO PUT SPARKLES ON THEIR FACES. THIS IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. (HAIR THAT IS PERMANENTLY DYED IS PERMITTED)

THIS INCLUDES BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER, BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL. THIS RULE EXCLUDES CHEERLEADERS.

NO TEMPORARY TATTOOS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED ON ANY ATHLETE PARTICIPATING IN THE MONMOUTH COUNTY ATHLETIC LEAGUE.


ANY PLAYER WHO DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE ABOVE RULE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE UNTIL THE ABOVE ITEMS ARE REMOVED.