Lee Mt. Vernon Soccer Club	LMVSC
			P.O. Box 10202 Alexandria, VA 22310

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LMVSC GENERAL RULES
last updated 15 August 2007

Divisions

Division	Grade(s)	# players on the team	# players on field at one time	goalkeeper?	referee?	duration	ball size	field size (yards)	# games in season	# practices allowed per week	coed?	comments
F		N/A					3	20 x 30	0	1	yes	must be four as of September 8, 2007
E	pre & K	8	4	no	no	8 min x 4	3	20 x 30	6	1	yes	must be five as of September 8, 2007
D1	1	10	5	no	no	8 min x 4	3	25 x 35	7	1	no
D2	2	10	6	yes	yes	10 min x 4	3	30 x 50	7	1	no
C	3 & 4	12	8	yes	yes	10 min x 4	4	50 x 80	8	2	no
B	5 & 6	16	11	yes	yes	30 min x 2	4	60 x 100	8	2	no
A	7 & 8	16	11	yes	yes	35 min x 2	5	65 x 105	8	2	no
AA	9 & 10	18	11	yes	yes	40 min x 2	5	65 x 105	9	2	no
AAA	11 & 12	18	11	yes	yes	40 min x 2	5	65 x 105	9	2	no

Coach Selection

LMVSC recreational coaches are volunteer coaches. Their divisional Player Director, based on need and league policies, selects coaches.

A coach that has a child participating on a Select team in another club is prohibited from coaching or assistant coaching for a LMVSC recreational team within their child's age group. The "age group" is determined by the division the child is registered. Coaches in direct violation of this policy will be reprimanded as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board. The result of this particular infraction is dismissal.

Playing Up

Beginning in 2006, a player who has been held back in school will be allowed to play on a team of the appropriate age level. The registration must note the request to play up under "Special Requests." Other than this all placement will be based on the grade level of the player. There will be no other exceptions to this policy.

Playing Down

Any coach found playing a player down from an upper division will be reprimanded as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board. The result of this particular infraction is dismissal.

Equipment

Only gym shoes, tennis shoes or soccer shoes may be worn. Shirts of uniform color must be worn by all players; goalies must be distinguishable by shirts of different color. Shirts and shorts furnished by the LMVSC must be returned at the end of each season. No hard or dangerous items, such as watches or bracelets, are to be worn.

Goals

At the start of game day, goals are to be unlocked and placed on the field in their appropriate locations. Positioning of goals is to be handled by adults only with the supervision of either the team's coach, assistant coach or team parent. At the completion of game day, the goals are to be replaced in their designated location, nested together, face down and locked.

Team Formation

Teams, to the extent possible, will be comprised of players from the same sub-division, community, and/or school, as formed under the jurisdiction of respective Player Directors.

A & B divisions will have 16 players on the roster, with 11 players on the field.

C division will have 12 players on the roster, with 8 players on the field.

D division 2nd graders will have 10 players on the roster, with 6 players on the field including a goal keeper.

D division 1st graders will have 10 players on the roster, with 5 players on the field and no goal keeper.

E division will have 8 players on the roster, with 4 players on the field.

Practices

The LMVSC program is based on a low-key atmosphere with instruction and participation as major factors. Therefore, practices are limited to no more than three (3) times per week, including any games.

The "E" Division teams shall have no more than two (2) team meetings per week including a game, i.e. two practices, one practice and one game, or two games.

Number of Players

The number of players on A & B division teams should not exceed 16. C Division teams will be formed with 12 players, D Division 1st and 2nd grade teams will be formed with 10 players and E Division Teams will be formed with 8 players. (All player applicants must be referred to the appropriate LMVSC Player Director for registration and placement on a team. Teams with less than the appropriate number of players must accept players assigned by Player Directors).

Minimum Participation

All healthy players must participate in each game and must play at least half a game. However, if a player has missed weekly practices or has misbehaved to the point of disrupting practices, LMVSC coaches has the authority to play that particular player one quarter. Prior to game time, the opposing coach must be advised which player is playing one quarter. No player will be denied playing time due to any other circumstance. If a player is late for the first quarter and that player has been assigned to play that quarter, the coach has the option not to make up an additional quarter.

Transfers

The appropriate LMVSC Player Director must approve all transfers from one team to another.

Eligibility

No player may participate in a league game without being properly registered. The appropriate LMVSC Player Director must be notified of a new registrant at least 12 hours before said registrant's first game.

Time

Kick-off time may not be changed nor games rescheduled or cancelled without prior approval of the LMVSC Club Commissioner. Approval will require mutual consent of the coaches and will not be granted for minor absenteeism. The LMVSC Commissioner must be notified of such proposed changes no later than 6:00 p.m. five days prior to that on which the game was originally scheduled or that on which the game is to be changed to, whichever is earlier. This is to prevent conflicts and to permit referee notifications.

Red Cards

Red Cards issued to players or coaches are to be reported to the Club Commissioner by both coaches and to the Referee Coordinator by the referee. Coaches are to forward a short memorandum which describes the events leading to the issuance of the card. Referees are to record the issuance of the card on their game report form and mail it to the Referee Coordinator. The issuance of a red card shall result in the suspension of the offender from the next game. The receipt of a second red card in a season shall result in the ejection of the offender from LMVSC for the remainder of the season.

Code of Conduct

Coaches, players and spectators are to sign and abide by the LMVSC's Code of Conduct.

Coach's Behavior

Any coach who withdraws his team from competition because of a dispute with the referee will be suspended from coaching for the next game on the schedule. Please know in no uncertain terms, if a coach's behavior is inappropriate during his/her role as a coach, LMVSC has the authority to dismiss that coach. Coaches must have a copy of the LMVSC handbook and their roster at each match.

Player's Behavior

If a player is unruly or presents persistent problems for a coach and will not respond to the coach's request to behave in an appropriate manner, the coach may insist that the player's parent/guardian attend practices and games. If the problem is severe, the coach can keep the player from practicing or playing in a game. Coaches taking such action must inform the League Commissioner and the player's parent/guardian before taking the action, or when that is not possible within 24 ours of taking action.

Referee/Player Assaults

Any LMVSC player or coach who physically assaults a Referee shall Assaults be ejected from the Club for one year. If a parent or relative of a player or a coach assaults a referee, the player or coach shall be ejected from the Club for one year. Assault is defined as any verbal threats or physical contact with the referee, or damage or threats of damage to the referee's possessions or his/her family. If a player physically assaults another player, that player must sit out the remaining of that game. The opposing coach must report the incident to their Player Director for appropriate action.

Rules Interpretation, Enforcement, and Protests

The Division Commissioners have full responsibility over the interpretation and enforcement of the rules. Any protest are to be made in writing, after coach's consultation with the appropriate Player Director, and will not be made until 24 hours after game (waiting period). The written protest will be mailed, e-mailed, or if desired, hand-delivered to the appropriate Division Commissioner. Rulings by Division Commissioners may be appealed to the Club Commissioner. Appeals will be submitted in writing by one of the parties involved and be accompanied by the Division Commissioner's ruling. FIFA rules govern LMVSC play with the exceptions listed in the Playing Rules of the LMVSC. Protests do not apply to the outcome of a game. We do not keep standings. Protests mainly applied towards reprimands, discipline decisions made by the Board and opposition of any LMVSC rules or policies.

Coach's Responsibility

Each coach will insure that his team and players are in conformity with the rules herein, especially player eligibility and the league's Code of Conduct. The coach is responsible for notifying the club of any significant injuries or player ejection.

Tournaments

LMVSC will honor a division player director's request to organize a tournament. It is completely up to the player director to organize a tournament. The V.P. of field lining and nets, scheduler, and V.P. of uniforms/equipment must be contacted prior to coordinating a tournament. Tournaments are optional.