WISL Rules & Spring and Fall 2009 Game Permutations

League meetings twice per year run by Robert's Rules of Order:
Ramon Madan, Parlimentarian

• In schedule, second number above is home team. (Example: "7 v 9", 9 is home).
• Home team contacts away and confirms game location and directions.
• FIFA rules apply except as noted below.
• All games versus WB3, Danish Dynamite, and IMF are played at Bretton Woods Recreation Center (BWRC)  [make sure you obtain code from your opponent to get through automatic locked gate; WISL Commissioner does not have code].
• All visitng teams playing at BWRC, excepting those team playing against the Danish Dynamite and IADB, pay a $ 40.00 per game field fee at the game by check made out to "BWRC."
• No rescheduling of games without Commissioner’s prior approval and even only then CONSIDERED when both teams agree.
• Makeup and rescheduled games are the responsibility of teams and must contact appropriate referee assigner directly to schedule time, location and referee presence.
• Games not made up by end of season are scored as a 0-0 tie.
• The home team provides field listed or forfeits.
• Games must begin no later than 10 minutes after scheduled time and each team must have at least 7 players dressed and on the field ready to start game;  if a team is short,  the short team shall forfeit and referees are to report such shortages to league commissioner for official designation of forfeit    Referees have been directed to begin clock running at time game is scheduled to kick-off and to initiate play as soon as 7 players are present.  Time removed will be deducted equally from the two periods of play.
• Teams must present referee a completed official team roster prior to the beginning of the first period of play.
• The forfeiting team pays the entire referee game fee; however, if both teams play friendly game after forfeit declared by referee,  then both teams split referee costs.  In every instance of forfeit, should either or both teams decide to play a friendly, referees are to referee a game within the alloted time remaining as if no forfeit were declared and each team splits referee costs.
• Teams must present ID cards to the referee and for inspection by opposing team prior to the beginning of the second period or it forfeits; referees are to report lack of cards to Commisioner for official league forfeit.
• Game result stands once game enters 2nd period of play.  Team causing termination of play at any point during game or using illegal player shall be sanctioned with a forfeit and a period of probation.
• Opposing team must bring complaints regarding IDs to referee's attention immediately after second period of play.
• Referee retains questionable IDs and forwards IDs to referee assigner.  I is the responsibility of the team to obtain a return of any card taken by a referee..
• Each team puts up one net and two corner flags.  No corner flags result in a $ 15.00 fine to be automatically paid to referee crew for that game. 
• Home team provides game ball & changes jersey color if color conflicts with visiting team.
• All team primary jerseys must be numbered.
• All games have prearranged referees.
• Both teams are responsible for canceling these prearranged referees. If not canceled, both pay.  If cancellation causes less than two games at a particular site, each referee receives a $ 20 appearance fee from team causing cancellation even when referees sufficiently notified regarding game cancellation meaning 24 hours. To cancel prearranged referee or to obtain player pass from carded player, call he appropriate referee assigner listed on the home page.
• Each team pays half referee fee before game. Cost of referees (per team) is as follows:
• Back to back games, 1 ref = $44.00; 2 refs = $54.00; 3 refs = $70.00.
• Unlimited substitution is allowed during games on:
  • all goal (not corner) kicks
  • own throw-ins or kick-off =
  • player injury
• …and up to 25 players per game.
• Each team may have on roster total of 25 players.
• A player may not play for more than one WISL team in the same level of competition.  Players may play on one team in each of the  First, Gemstone or Opal Divisions during seasonal play.  Player must have separate ID for each team he plays.   If both teams enter Terrill Cup, player must select primary team and turn in all other cards.  Once signed to a team and after the first game of the season, a player may not transfer to another team in the same competitive level; i.e. from a gemstone team to another gemstone team, from a first division team to a different first division team or an Opal team to a different Opal team.
• Steve Long (703) 971-3785 is WISL player ID registrar.
• New players may be registered until the end of the final regualr season game of a Terrill Cup competitor if they are not currently on another WISL team's roster with the following exception.  If that player is on another WISL team's roster, that player may still be registered to a second WISL team not in the same level of competition; however, after the fifth scheduled game of the season a player already registered with a WISL team may only be registered to another WISL team in a higher level of competition if  that player's original team is no longer in contention (has been mathematically eliminated from)  to play in the Terrill Cup. Rainouts, byes, cancellations or otherwise do not move back/alter the fifth game deadline.
• The fifth game limitation does not apply to teams not playing in the Terrill Cup who may add players through their final game of the season.
• Red-carded players' IDs are retained by referee and turned over to appropriate referee assigner from whom the  card may be obtained after a one game sit-out.  Team coordinators must take intiative to retrieve red cards directly from referee assigner.
• Cumulative yellow cards (three over a season or two in one game) are treated like a red card.  For card accumulation, Terrill Cup games count for the season immediately preceding cup play.  Teams are responsible for keeping track of cumulative yellow cards and if player plays with three yellows or red; team forfeits.  Player playing for more than one team is responsible for reporting to both teams his red card and/or cumulative yellow cards since red card and cumulative yellows will apply against both/all teams.  If player plays on red card or cumulative yellows or without being properly registered including playing on teams in the same level of play, he shall be automatically suspended for balance of season or at least five games which ever is more and suspension shall carry over to next season if incurred in last game.
• Referee shall have discretion upon issuing a yellow card to send offending player (replaceable) from field for up to 2 minutes based on harmful or threat of physical contact (this includes dissent, taunting, trash talking, etc).
• Red cards carry over to next season and player assaults incur a minimum 5-game suspension.
• If referees fail to appear, each team is to provide a referee for one half each and game must be played.
• All forfeits are scored 3-0.
• Three forfeits per season and team will not be registered the following season.
• League structure for Open Divisions:  League shall be composed of two ten team First Divisions one each on Saturday and Sunday,  4 ten team Open/Gemstone Divisions, two ten team Opal/Developmental Divisions [one Saturday and one Sunday] and an over thirty age or greater division(s).
• Standings are determined by point total:
  • 3 points for win
  • 1 for tie
  • 0 for loss

   

• At the end of regular season, in the event of a tie in total points within a division, the tie breaker is "head-to-head" results, then goal differential. If 3 or more teams are tied in points within a division, the tiebreaker is head-to-head competition (total points obtained) from within just the tieing group and if tied on points within tieing group then goal differential from divisional play.
• Promotion/Relegation
  • Bottom two teams from each 1st Division shall be relegated to the Open/Gemstone Divisions,
  • Winner of each of the four Open/Gemstone shall be promoted to the appropriate 1st Division -- Saturday to Saturday, Sunday to Sunday
  • The last place finishing teams from each of the Open/Gemstone Divisions shall be relegated to Opal Division and the top two finishing teams in Opal shall be promoted to the appropriate Open/Gemstone Divisions  --   Saturday to Saturday, Sunday to Sunday
  • If a team being promoted does not register or chooses not to accept promotion, then the team in the same level of competition for the prior season of the team choosing not to accept promotion or failing to register and that had obtained the most points shall compete for the open slot against the highest finishing team being relegated.
  • If an existing Premier or First Division team chooses not to re-register, the spot shall be filled by a play-off between the highest finishing team being relegated and the highest finishing team not promoted [highest team not promoted determined by the percentage computed by taking total points obtained during seasonal play divided by points possibly obtained.

   

• Single elimination playoffs (in Spring: between top two teams from each non-premier, non-1st Division teams [except Developmental Division] & top 4 Premier and 1st Division teams not currently participating in out of league Cups; in Fall between top two teams from each non-premier, non 1st Division teams [except Developmental Division] & top 8 1st Division teams not participating in out of league Cups) with revolving trophy and medallions to champ.  In event of tie in Cup play at the expiration of time: 2 @ 5 minute overtimes (golden goal) for round of 16 and quarterfinals followed by penalty kicks;  2 @ 10 minute overtimes (golden goal) for semifinals followed by penalty kicks; and 2 @ 15 minute overtimes (golden goal) for final followed by penalty kicks.                                                   
• Golden Boot Award goes to top scorer if and teams submit proper game report forms to referees.
• Check this home page field section for inclement weather cancellations.
• Referee assault results in lifetime ban with reinstatement possible after any USSF and/or Commissioner sanction completed and only then by majority vote of team coordinators present. Player assaults result in in minimum of 5-10 game suspensions depending on severity of assault.  Further questions, call WISL Commissioner, Chip Terrill at (202)374-WISL.
• Disciplinary actions imposed on players and reported on hotstat during season by Commissioner Terrill are not appealable; disciplinary actions against teams shall be determined by WISL Disciplinary panel composed of  Cliff Moy, Delbert R. Terrill, III and Giulio de Tommaso, the latter is Chairman of the panel.   Decisions of Panel are appealable to team representatives present at the next league meeting after Panel has made its recommendation.   
• A new team roster and liability waiver signature must accompany any new card being processed or otherwise team roster/waiver form must be emailed to Steve Long.

Disciplinary Issues

Disciplinary action against players pursuant to Commissioner's discretion during season not appealable and against teams pursuant to Disciplinary Panel with appellate review of Panel's actions by majority vote of team coordinators at following league meeting after Panel recommendation issued,; otherwise recommendation of Panel becomes final.

Disciplinary action has been taken against the following players pursuant to either Metro DC Virginia Soccer Association (WISL Premier teams need to review home page www.mdcvsa.org for players that are currently banned from any affiliated league), the Maryland Soccer Association or by the WISL Commissioner and the following named players may not play for a WISL team without obtaining a majority vote of the team coordinators:

*Appellate review of Panel's actions by majority vote of team coordinators.

Spring Game Permutations

Fall Game Permutations