Austin Men's Soccer Association

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Austin Men's Soccer Association Rules 5.0 - 7.6

5.0  PENALTIES

5.1  The Association has the right to punish teams, coaches, managers, and players for violations of the Rules of the Association or other misconduct.

5.2  PENALTIES

The Association may impose any or all the following penalties on either teams, coaches, managers, and players:

1.  Suspend teams, coaches, managers, and players from play in any or all Association-sponsored competitions for any period of time. Such suspensions shall be reported to TSSAS, USSSA, USSF, or FIFA as required.

2.  Require a cash bond against future misconduct.

3.  Require that monetary fines be paid before a team of player again may participate.

4.  Forfeiture of one or more games, past or future.

5.  Automatic relegation at the end of the season.

5.3  MINIMUM PENALTIES AND FINES

The following are minimum penalties for the offenses specified:

1.  Two Yellow Cards, One (1) Game suspension and a $10.00 fine.

2.  Foul and Abusive Language Against Opponent, One (1) Game suspension and a $10.00 fine.

3.  Foul and Abusive Language Against Game Official, One (1) Game suspension and a $25.00 fine.

4.  Serious Foul Play, Three (3) Game suspension and a $25.00 fine. (Can only be against an opponent)

5.  Serious Foul Play by preventing a goal by use of the hands, One (1) Game suspension and $10.00 fine.

6.  Serious Foul Play by handling the ball outside of the penalty area whilst playing as a goalkeeper on a "breakaway" situation, One (1) Game suspension and a $10.00 fine.

7.  Violent Conduct (Directed at Anyone) Three (3) Game suspension and a $50.00 fine.

8.  Physical violence against a league officer or game official, One (1) Year suspension and a $100.00 fine.

9.  Three (3) YELLOW cards by an individual player over a full season, One (1) Game suspension and a $10 fine. additional Three (3) YELLOW cards shall result in a doubling of the fine and suspension. As this is not to be construed as receiving a RED card (5.3 A) , then no points shall be added to the teams accumulation of Disciplinary Points for the suspension(s).

10.  A team that accumulates twelve (12) points where a yellow card counts as one (1) point and a red card counts as two (2) points will result in a team fine of $10.00. If the team accumulates an additional twelve (12) points, then the fine will be $20.00 and the loss of three (3) points from the standings. Any team with an accumulation of more than (24) points in a season shall be subject to further disciplinary action by the Discipline and Procedures Committee.

11.  Except as permitted in Rule 6.4, “Games With No Officials,” teams (i.e,, participation by six or more members of a team) and individuals who participate in unsanctioned play or play after notice of a rainout or field closure at any of the field complexes used by AMSA, are subject to the following penalties: Participating teams will be fined $150.00 and be suspended from play until the bond is restored (subject to review by the Discipline and Procedures Committee). In addition, any and all identified participating players will receive a $25.00 fine and be suspended for one game. Notice is sufficient if (a) the gate to the field complex is closed; (b) a sign is posted at the entrance to the complex or at the side of the field; (c) nets have been removed from the field; or (d) oral notice has been given to any member of the team by an AMSA Officer or Commissioner.

12.  Causing a referee to terminate a match due to violence, serious foul play or repeated infractions of the laws of the game, Three (3) Game suspension and a $50 fine.

13.  Failure to produce an official game roster as supplied by the Registrar, will result in a $10.00 team fine. Successive offenses will result in 2 points deducted from the teams standings and a $20.00 fine for the first successive offence. Repeated offences will be punished by a doubling of the fine and the points deducted for each successive offence.

14.  The Discipline and Procedures Committee shall review the actions of any that team has an accumulation of red cards, to determine if the team shall continue in the league or be subject to a fine, probation or have to present a bond or any combination of above.

5.3.1  SECOND RED CARD

If a player gets more than one (1) red card for items 1-7 above in a complete season, then the punishment and fine shall be double for each current offense. Suspension for accumulated yellows shall not count as a suspension when applied to items 1-7 above but shall apply to item 9 above.

5.4  MATCH REPORT BY REFEREE

The referee shall be responsible for making a detailed report in writing within four (4) days to the AMSA concerning any violation subject to penalties under these rules. In case of an send off or team misconduct report, the report shall identify the persons involved, describe the offensive conduct in clear concise language, and indicate if the conduct manifested an intent to injure.

5.5  ADMINISTRATIVE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES

The Referee Coordinator shall make an administrative imposition of minimum penalties. He/she shall review the match report for each match filed by the referee. When it can be determined from the match report, or from further conversation with the referee, that an offense was committed for which there is a specified minimum penalty, then he/she shall impose such specified minimum penalty. In the event that there is no specified minimum penalty, or in the event that the matter is of a serious nature, the matter shall be turned over to the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES Committee.

For all matters covered by administrative penalties, the Referee Coordinator shall promptly notify the captain of the affected team(s) of the penalty imposed. The Referee Coordinator shall be responsible in notifying the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES Chairman of pending incidents that will result in a hearing and shall provide the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES Chairman all of the information that is available regarding the alleged incidents. The Rules Chairman shall be responsible in setting up such hearings that require action by the Rules Committee and notifying the team captains and referees. The DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES Chairman shall be responsible in notifying the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES Committee members of the hearing and notifying the team captains of the outcome of the hearings.

5.6  DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES (D & P) COMMITTEE

PURPOSE:  A DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE is established for the purpose of deciding penalties, match replays and other disciplinary issues which are referred to it by appeal from an imposed administrative penalty or by actions taken by a referee, players or other team members not covered by Minimum Penalties and Fines (5.3).

MEMBERSHIP:  The DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE shall consist of the Commissioners of each division one of whom shall be appointed Chairman by the President.  A quorum shall consist of a minimum of three Commissioners.  No Commissioner sitting on a DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE may participate in a decision involving teams from the division which he represents.

NOTICE OF HEARING:  In any matter brought before the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE, the affected player and the captain of the affected team shall be entitled to notice and hearing. The DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES Chairman will give notice in writing at least seven days in advance of hearing. If the affected player or captain cannot attend the hearing, he may request a postponement from the Rules Committee, which shall not be unreasonably refused. The affected player of captain shall have the right to present evidence and make a statement at the hearing. If the affected player or captain fails to attend the hearing after due notice, the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE may proceed to decide the matter. The Chairman of the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE shall establish reasonable procedures for the hearing designed to insure a full and fair development of facts and applicable rules.

DECISIONS:  All cases shall be decided by majority vote. The Chairman of the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE shall promptly notify the President and the Registrar of the Committee's decisions in all matters. The Chairman of the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE shall promptly notify the affected players and captains. .A decision of the President and Registrar or other, may be appealed to the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE, and a decision of the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE may be appealed to the Board of Captains. A player upon whom a penalty is imposed, or the captain of an affected team, may file an appeal.  Appeals must be filed prior to the next scheduled match following the decision made by the BOARD or individual. Appeals must be submitted in writing, and must be accompanied by a good faith deposit of $50.00. In the case of a favorable finding for the Appellant, the deposit shall be returned by the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE.

5.8  EFFECT OF APPEAL

The filing of an appeal shall suspend the imposition of the penalty appealed from, except in cases of Violent Misconduct or Referee Assault. In all cases the affected player shall sit out a mandatory first game following the offense. However, in the event the appeal is denied, the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE or the BOARD may, if circumstances warrant, forfeit any matches in which a suspended player or team participated during the period a suspension would have been in effect but for the appeal.

5.9  APPEALS TO THE BOARD OF CAPTAINS

A decision of the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE may be appealed to the Board of Captains under the same rules as provided for an appeal to the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE, except that the President shall preside and the deposit accompanying the appeal shall not be returned unless the appeal is sustained.

5.10  RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINES AND SUSPENSIONS

Captains and/or managers are responsible for the proper conduct of the teams' players at all times. If a player fine is not paid, the player shall not be permitted to play until the fine shall have been paid. If a team fine is not paid, the team shall not be permitted to play until the fine shall have been paid. in the event that a player is guilty of referee assault or other action for which the discipline is handled by TSSAS, the team that the player was playing with at the time of the offense shall be responsible for payment of the fine in the event that the player does not fulfill his obligation.  The AMSA shall not absorb fines unless instructed to through a decision from the DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE.  Failure to follow these rules will result in even further and more severe disciplinary actions against the players and teams.

5.11  MULTIPLE-REGISTRATION PLAYERS

If a fine or penalty is assessed against a player who is registered to play for more than one team,
a.  The amount of the fine shall be the same as for a player registered for only one team.
b.  The length of a suspension shall be measured by the number of games played by the team with whom he was playing when he committed the offense in question, and shall include any games played by any other team with whom that player is registered.  By way of example, if a player receives a three-game suspension while playing for Team Red and he is also registered with Team Blue, his suspension shall include all games played by Team Blue until the player has sat out three (3) games played by Team Red.  If Team Blue is scheduled to play a match on a day when Team Red is not scheduled, the suspension shall nevertheless apply.  A player may appeal the total number of suspended games.

6.0  SCHEDULING RULES

6.1  POSTPONEMENTS

Scheduled games may only be rescheduled or postponed by AMSA for such reasons as weather related, field availability, conflict in schedules and actions beyond the control of AMSA. There are four exceptions to this requirement.

1.  A team that has a State or National Cup game on the same weekend as a scheduled league game has an absolute right to have the league game rescheduled.

2.  Any team which has two or more players playing for an Association supported select team on the same weekend as a scheduled league game has the right to have the league game rescheduled.

3.  In other cases of unusual hardship (for example, a religious holiday involving most of a team), the Executive Committee may agree to reschedule a game without the consent of both teams. The team that is requesting the postponement of a regularly scheduled league matches must send in the request 1 full week prior to the game in question to allow the Registrar time to make a decision on the game. In these cases, the team requesting the postponement is still responsible for notifying the Registrar and the opponent.

4.  Teams may re-schedule a game to which no official has been assigned, as provided in Rule 6.4 below.

5.  In item 3 above, the team that is requesting the postponement of the regularly scheduled league match with the approval of the Registrar, shall be responsible for arranging a date, time, field, and a Referees for the subsequent replay of that game. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit and a $50.00 fine against that team.

6.2  FORFEITS

1.  Generally, a team that causes a game to be abandoned or not played because of actions, or lack of actions, on their part, shall be deemed to have forfeited; and a score of 2-0 will be entered in favor of the non-forfeiting team. In the case of both teams forfeiting, the score will be entered as a forfeit, and not points will be awarded. (The game will not be treated as a 0-0 tie.)

2.  Types of Forfeitures

a.  Abandonment of a game because of player or bystander conduct towards opponents---A referee abandons a game because of the conduct of players on one team or by bystanders clearly associated with that team towards the other team. If both teams are guilty, it is a mutual forfeit; and both teams are subject to penalties.
Penalties:
    (1)  Excessive Roughness/Verbal Abuse--$50.00 fine for the first offense. $200.00 fine and suspension pending review by the Discipline and Procedures Committee for any subsequent offense within 12 months of the earlier offense.
    (2)  Violent Conduct (multiple red cards for violent conduct and/or fights on or off the field)--$200.00 fine and suspension pending review by the Discipline and Procedures committee.

b.  Abandonment of a game because of player or bystander conduct towards a referee—A referee abandons a game because of verbal or physical assault on game officials.

Penalty:  $200.00 fine and team suspension pending review by the Discipline and Procedures Committee. If physical assault on a game official is involved, the AMSA Committee will assist in and encourage the filing of criminal charges against the offending player or players. A team whose member is guilty of referee assault and does not assist in identifying the offending player or players will be considered for permanent expulsion from the League.

c.  Unilateral cancellation of a game with notice—A team elects to forfeit a game and notifies the AMSA Administrator by 10:00 am on the Friday before the match in question.

Penalty:  $25.00 fine payable before the next game.

d.  Unilateral cancellation of a game with no notice—An entire team simply fails to show up for a scheduled game and gives no advance notice.

Penalty:  $25.00 fine plus the cost of a full complement of referees to be paid before the next game. The fine will double for each subsequent forfeit of the same type.

e.  Unintended forfeit at game time—One or both teams are not ready to play within 10 minutes (20 minutes with the permission of the team that is prepared or if both teams are not prepared) of game time.

Penalty:  Forfeiting team(s) pay the officials at the field. Subsequent forfeits in the same season incur a fine of $25.00 in addition to paying the officials.

3.  Multiple Forfeits—On the third forfeit by a team during a season, all games involving that team shall be considered “non-counting” games whose results will not be counted in league standings. After the third forfeit, the captain/manager for that team will appear before either the Discipline and Procedures Committee or Executive Committee to determine the future status of the team and what additional penalties may be levied.  Additional penalties may include increasing the bond amount, additional fines, or suspension of the team from the League. The opinions of the team playing in the same division as the offending team will be given heavy weight in the deliberations by the Discipline and Procedures Committee or Executive Committee.

4. Play after a unilateral forfeit with no notice or unintended forfeit at game time—Players who have shown up for a regularly-scheduled game and find that it has been cancelled due to a forfeit, either because a team has not shown up or because they are not prepared to play, may have an informal game on the field they were assigned to play on.

6.3  ABANDONED GAMES - WEATHER ETC

The following rules shall apply to any game that is abandoned as a result of weather or other act of God:

1.  If a game is abandoned after the second half has begun, the game shall be considered complete; and the result at the time of abandonment shall stand.

2.  If a game is abandoned before the second half has begun, the game shall be replayed in its entirety; and the result at the time of abandonment shall be ignored.

6.4 GAMES WITH NO OFFICIALS

1.  If by 5:00PM on the day before a game is scheduled, there is no scheduled official posted in Arbiter (www.thearbiter.net), the affected teams may, by mutual agreement, elect to postpone the game without waiting until game-time.  The team captains shall immediately notify the Referee Scheduler and the Field Scheduler.  If no postponement has been agreed by 5:00PM, a game may not be postponed until game-
time, as provided below.

2.   If on the day of the game, no official has been found by 10 minutes after game-time--

a.  either team may elect to cancel and re-schedule the game. The teams shall contact the Referee Scheduler and the League Administrator regarding re-scheduling; or

b.  by agreement, the teams may elect to play a counting game without a referee or with an unofficial referee.

Within the context of this section #2, if a qualified center referee is found within 10 minutes of game-time, whether or not that referee was scheduled to officiate that game, the game may not be cancelled.

3.  If a game is cancelled, any number of players may play an informal game or practice.

7.0  AGE RESTRICTED COMPETITION. APPLICABLE RULES

All FIFA, USSF, TSSAS, USSSA and AMSA rules shall apply to the Men's Over-30 Division, with the following exceptions and additions:

7.1  All players must meet the age requirements for the division in which they wish to play at the time of their participation (e.g., a player who turns 30 on October 1 is not eligible on September 30 but immediately becomes eligible on October 1).

7.2  Refer to 3.1-1.

7.3  Any player meeting the age requirements at any time in the season may register with an age-restricted team. If they are already registered with any other team in any other division in any other affiliated league within South Texas other than the one they are trying to register with, they will register for their new team as a multiple player. If, however, they wish to move from one age restricted team to another age restricted team within the same division, they must Transfer from one team to the other. See Transfer Rules 3.3.

7.4  A tie for the Division Championship shall be resolved by a playoff among the teams which are tied.

7.5  The Age restricted Divisions shall consist of any number of divisions. They shall be made up of a Premier Over 30 Division which shall be the most competitive, followed by 030-A Division which shall be somewhat competitive, an Over 30-B Division, an 040 A Division, an 040 B Division, an 050 A Division and an 050 B Division and so on, with each age group having the ability to add divisions as required.. At the end of each full season, within each age group with more than one division, the lowest ranking team in each Division shall be relegated and the highest ranking team in each Division shall be promoted.

7.6  Any number of registered players may play in a given game in any age-restricted division; except that in the case of 030 Premier, Rule 4.1.1 shall apply.

As amended through January 2009.