All teams must pay a Seasonal Team Fee, and submit a roster and any other information required to properly register each player with the ASSA by the registration deadline.

Starting in Spring of 2017 ARCSA moves from Roster Limits to Roster Recommendations with input as needed from league/division coordinators, and registrar. The team roster for an 11v11 team should generally contain no more than 25 players. 7v7 team rosters should generally contain no more than 15 players.

Acceptable payment for registration will be cash, credit card, cashier’s check, or money order.

Teams wishing to withdraw after registering and paying for a season may receive a full refund of their registration fees (less 10% processing fee) if they withdraw by one business day prior to the first day of each season. Once the season has officially started, teams will not receive a refund. Team fees are due by the second game of the season for returning teams. New teams must pay ½ of the season fee by 1 week prior to the start of the season.

Midseason Registration Policies ‐ Teams may add players during the season for any reason with a hard deadline expiring after the completion of the 2nd game of the season. At this point, the rosters will be locked. If a team is having difficulty fielding a team after this point in the season, they must appeal to the Board under the current policy to add/drop players.

All players must register as a member of ARCSA. Registration must be completed in an approved ARCSA method before a player can be placed on a team. All players must be at least 18 years old before taking the field. All players are required to register with the Arkansas State Soccer Association as an adult player.

Transfers

Players should only change teams between soccer seasons. A player is bound to the teams for which they are registered for the entire soccer season. If a player has irreconcilable differences with the team on which they are playing, they may petition the Board for a transfer. No captain shall attempt to recruit another team’s player(s) without the consent of that team’s captain. Players who would like to play elsewhere may contact the captain of another team between seasons.

Added players may not include anyone under suspension or ban from another association.

Dismissal

A player’s team membership may be terminated by the captain if they have good reason as well as the approval by the President, Vice President and Registrar.

1. Uniforms
1. Uniform numbers are required and uniforms must be the same color. The goalkeepers must wear a different color shirt that is easily distinguishable from the uniforms of both teams on the field.
2. Teams must wear jerseys that are the color they registered with the ARCSA. Failure to do so may result in a forfeit. Teams may not change jersey colors after the Registration deadline, except with the Board’s permission.
3. All players must wear approved shoes (shoes with toe cleats are not allowed), shirts (jerseys), pants or shorts, and shin guards completely covered by socks.
4. Mesh pennies are allowed and may be worn over regular jerseys as a substitute for alternate jerseys.
5. Opposing teams must wear jerseys that are distinguishable from each other. The Center Referee will determine if a color conflict exists. The Referee’s decision will be final.
2. Game Balls
1. Each team shall provide the referee with a game‐quality, size 5 soccer ball that is in good condition prior to the start of each match.
3. Player Identification
1. Players should bring to the games a valid driver’s license or state/government issued photo ID in case of player eligibility spot checks by the ARCSA Board.
4. Official Team Rosters/Player Cards
1. In accordance with ASSA state registration requirements, by the second game and every game thereafter, every team must have an approved state roster and present it to the referee of the game. Each league will have the option whether or not to require player cards with the roster. Referees will not officiate the game without the proper documents.
5. Game Reports
1. Before each game, the Referee or Assistant Referee must present the official game report to the team captains. Official game reports are issued to the Referee or Assistant Referee before each game and include: Team name, Opponent’s name, date and place of game, and player’s names. Referees are instructed to note on the game report if all information is provided.
2. All captains should check the game report for completeness and should verify that results and information are correct.
6. Start of the Game
1. The referee will blow the whistle at the scheduled game time and let the teams know the clock is running to indicate the start of the game. This applies when waiting the allotted 10 minutes for teams to get enough players. The game clock will start at the scheduled time and, if at the 10 minute mark a team does not have enough players, the game will be called a forfeit. The referee's clock will continue from the originally scheduled start time. For example, ff teams can begin play within the 10 minutes, then the referee’s clock will continue until the 45 minute mark for 11v11 games – this means that actual playing time for the first half will be short. The second half will be a regular 45 minute half.
2. If neither team can field the minimum number of players, the game shall be declared a double forfeit.
3. Teams must let a member of the ARCSA executive board know prior to 9pm the day before the game if they must forfeit to avoid paying a penalty. This is to allow ARCSA time to cancel the referees and to inform the opposing team. Failure to do so may result in a $100.00 fine. Payment must be paid to a member of the ARCSA executive board by the Wednesday before the next game (for Sunday games) in order for the team to be reinstated into the schedule.
7. Other Requirements at Game Time and Afterwards
1. Keep substitutes and fans a minimum of 5 feet behind the touchlines.
2. Keep the field and surrounding areas clean. Deposit all trash from your team’s area in the supplied trash cans (whether you left it there or not).
3. Obey all NLR Parks and Rec Rules. One such rule is that no alcohol is permitted at the fields and ARCSA reserves the right to fine players or teams who break this rule.

1. Divisions within the league will be established by the Executive Board prior to each season. See ARCSA website for division specifics.
2. The President, Vice President and Registrar have the authority to place a team in a division other than that which is requested at the time of registration.
1. Teams may appeal a division change. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the President of the ARCSA. The Board will reach a decision regarding the appeal and the decision will be final.
3. Each division requires a minimum of six teams. Divisions may be combined and reassembled in order to provide each division with at least the six team minimum. All teams will be placed in the division of best fit. Best fit will be based upon an attempt to create and maintain divisions that are competitively balanced while taking into account the composition of a team’s players.
4. From time to time, the ARCSA board may choose to add new divisions in order to achieve competitive balance or to accommodate public demand.

Special Rules for 7v7 divisions for the Thursday Night League and the Sunday League are as follows:

There are no offsides in 7v7 divisions. Players can score from an offsides position.

Slide tackling is allowed, but must be in controlled and safe manner. 7v7 divisions are primarily recreational in nature and referees may issue cards or penalties for dangerous slide tackles. There is no slide tackling allowed in the Sunday 7v7 D league. In that league, a slide results in the game being restarted by an indirect free kick.

Players can substitute “on the fly.” Players must leave and enter the field at midfield. The entering player must not enter the field until the other player has completely left the field.

Games will consist of two 30 minute halves.

Each team must have a minimum of 4 players on the field before the referee may allow a game to start.

The referee will start the game clock at the scheduled time and if at the 10 minute mark a team does not have enough players, the game will be called a forfeit. Should either team be unable to maintain a minimum of 4 players on the field throughout the game, the referee must suspend the game.

The game clock will start at the scheduled time and, if at the 10 minute mark a team does not have enough players, the game will be called a forfeit.

The roster must contain no less than 10 eligible players. During the season, if a team drops below 10 active players, all changes must be made with express permission of the President, Vice President, or Registrar.

Special rules for the 7v7 divisions for the O35 and O30 Wednesday Night League are as follows:

The B and C Divisions are in the Over 35 league. Players must be over 35 except for 1 male and 1 female player between the ages of 25 and 35 per team. Exceptions may be made at the league coordinator’s discretion, for situations such as additional young players who turn 35 during the soccer year, or additional young female players or keepers.

The A Division is an Over 30 league. Players must be over 30, except for 1 male player between 25 and 30, and no limit to female players over 25 per team.

On Wednesday nights players may play in multiple divisions.

Slide tackling is not permitted. Field players do not go to the ground in any attempt to play the ball. Field players do not slide to clear, and do not slide tackle. Keepers do not slide tackle. Keepers may slide to collect/deflect the ball. In this league, a slide results in the game being restarted by an indirect free kick.

Games will consist of two 25 minute halves.

If a player receives a yellow card, they must sit out 5 minutes. The team does not need to play short.

If a player receives a red card, the player is out for the duration of the game, must leave the field, and will serve a one game suspension.

1. Referees and the Laws of the Game
1. Unless otherwise stated in these rules, all games are governed by the FIFA “Law of the Game.”
2. The Referee is in absolute control of the game. Dissent with the judgment of the referee, profane or abusive language and unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated on or about the field, during or after a game. Conduct is subject to be penalized with yellow and/or red cards as per referee’s discretion.
3. The captain is expected to make every effort to control unnecessary behavior of his/her players and fans.
4. The referee is expected to note on the game reports any conduct violations. The Judicial Committee will declare any and all penalties after reading the game report, and will notify the captain and involved players. The league will notify captains and players of Red Cards within one day after the game. The email will also state "you will be notified within X days if your card is being reviewed for potential additional suspension."
5. Referees will turn in a long form within 48 hours when requested/needed. The player has 10 days to submit additional information after notice that it is being reviewed. The DC has 2 days to deliberate. Players will be notified 2 days prior to the game if they are being assessed additional suspensions. The player may state their intention to appeal within 48 hours of receiving the decision of the Disciplinary Committee. Adjustments to this schedule may be made at the board's discretion.
6. Division Finals – if it goes to a shootout in a 7's final– you pick 7 players and they are the only ones to do penalty kicks. No subs after you pick the 7.
7. Fake shin guards are a cautionable offense.
2. Number of Players on the Field
1. 11v11 Division ‐ Each team must have a minimum of 7 players on the field before the referee may allow a game to start. Should either team be unable to maintain a minimum of 7 players on the field throughout the game, the referee must suspend the game. No more than 11 players may be on the field.
2. 7v7 Division ‐ Each team must have a minimum of 4 players on the field before the referee may allow a game to start. Should either team be unable to maintain a minimum of 4 players on the field throughout the game, the referee must suspend the game. No more than 7 players may be on the field.
3. Substitutions – Unlimited substitutions may be made at the following times:
1. For 11v11 divisions, players are allowed to substitute at any stoppage of play at the referee’s discretion.
2. In 7v7 divisions, players are allowed to sub “on the fly.” Players must leave and enter the field at midfield. The entering player must not enter the field until the other player has completely left the field.
4. Ineligible Players
1. An ineligible player is any player who: is not registered on the team roster for the current season, is registered under false information, is not wearing the correct team jersey, or is playing without the proper personal safety equipment.
2. Any team using an ineligible player will forfeit all games in which that player participated. Team captains allowing illegible players on the field for their team will receive game suspensions.
5. Suspension of the Game
1. If a game is suspended before the second half begins, at the discretion of the President, it may be replayed. If the game is suspended, before the second half begins, because of misconduct or abandonment by either team, the President will determine if the game will be considered a forfeit by the offending team or a full game.
2. If a game is suspended during the second half because of misconduct or abandonment by either team, the President will determine whether it shall be declared a forfeit by the offending team or a full game.
3. If a game is suspended during the second half for any reason other than misconduct or abandonment by either team, it will be considered a full game and the score at the time or suspension will be considered the final score.
4. All decisions regarding game suspensions shall be at the discretion of the Center Referee.
6. Weather and Canceling of Games
1. Cancellation of games will be determined by, in order of importance: a. The City of NLR or Burns Park field officials, b. ARCSA Vice President. If ARCSA decided not to play, the ARCSA President or Vice President must call NLR Parks and Rec to inform them that we have cancelled our games.
2. Games may be played during inclement weather unless, in the opinion of the referee, the field conditions or weather conditions constitute a danger to players and fans or the fields. Referees may delay a game to wait and see if inclement weather will “blow” over. In this event, referees will stop the clock at the delay time and re‐start the clock when play is resumed. Referees have 15 minutes to determine if the weather will “blow” over, otherwise the game will be cancelled.
3. Games may be postponed at the discretion of the City of NLR, the ARCSA President or the Center Referee to protect the safety of players and the integrity of the fields. A notice in regard to game cancellation will be given by noon on match day by the City of NLR and ARCSA webmaster will post on ARCSA website as soon as possible.
4. Players may wear protective clothing during cold weather as long as their jersey is the outermost garment.
5. Water breaks in any season may be taken if both team captains ask the referee and agree at the start of the game or if the Center Referee believes it is necessary for player safety. The referee’s clock will continue to run during water breaks. Also rules of the game can be modified to include substitutions at any stoppage of play due to weather conditions.
6. If there is any doubt about playing a game because of the weather, contact the President the Vice President, or the Registrar. Official word will also be posted when possible on the ARCSA Facebook page and emailed to captains.
7. Rescheduling of Games
1. Do not assume postponement of a game due to weather. Contact President, Vice President or Registrar, look at the ARCSA Facebook page, or contact your team captain. Team captains will be notified.
2. Postponed games will usually be rescheduled for the first open game day following the regular end of the season. For multiple postponements, some games may have to be rescheduled on non‐regularly played days.
3. The Vice President is responsible to reschedule games.
4. Make‐up schedules will be communicated by email or will be posted on ARCSA website.
8. Misconduct and Suspensions
1. Yellow and Red Cards
• Yellow Cards. Every 4 yellow cards will result in a 1 game suspension. 2 yellows in one game are not included in that total because that is a red card. Once the suspension is served, the yellow card count resets to zero. Automatic suspension is limited to cards accumulated in one division. Habitual offences will consider yellows across all divisions by the disciplinary committee.
• Red Cards. 3 red cards in one season will result in suspension for the remainder of the season, or for 3 games, whichever is longer. (For example, if a player receives his third red in the last game of the season, he would be suspended 3 games the following season).
• Records of cards reset each season. If there is not enough time to serve a suspension in the current season, the suspension will be carried over to the next season. Cards are tallied only for the division they are received in and thus a suspension for card accumulation only applies to that division.
1. Extreme Misconduct

Some cases of misconduct may result in longer suspensions, regardless of whether or not any cards were involved. The league reserves the right to determine conduct that should result in a longer suspension, the length of a suspension, and the nature of a suspension. If there is not enough time to serve a suspension in the current season, the suspension will be carried over to the next season.

Extreme misconduct will be reviewed by the Disciplinary Committee on a case by case basis. The length of suspension may range anywhere from one game to complete expulsion from the league for any amount of time the league determines. The Disciplinary Committee may also assign a monetary fine for egregious behavior.

• Some examples of personal misconduct that may result in longer suspensions include, but are not limited to: fighting or other physical violence, spitting, sexual or racial harassment, inappropriate language, repeat infractions, or any other conduct determined by the referees and/or league to deserve a longer suspension. In most cases, misconduct of this nature will suspend a player from all divisions in the league, not just the division in which the incident occurred.
• Some example of team misconduct that may result in longer suspensions include, but are not limited to: game abandonment, playing unregistered and/or non‐rostered players or any other conduct determined by the referees and/or the league to deserve a longer suspension. These suspensions will be served by the team captain.
1. Appeal Process
• Suspensions are decided by the Disciplinary Committee and upheld by the league. Game suspensions must be served while the player is registered on the roster of an active team in the league.
• A player can appeal his or her own suspension to the full ARCSA Board of Directors. That decision will then be final. A player has two weeks after the Disciplinary Committee’s decision is handed down to exercise their right to an appeal. A $75.00 deposit is required at the TIME of the request for an appeal. If the appeal is granted the $75.00 deposit will be refunded.
• A player can only appeal his or her own disciplinary suspension. They cannot appeal the decision of another player's disciplinary suspension.
2. Forfeiture of a Game
1. Games will not be rescheduled just because a team cannot field enough players. Games will only be rescheduled for weather related issues.
2. If referees are notified of a forfeit by 10pm the day before the game, ARCSA will not reimburse the referees for their fees.
3. In the event of an ARCSA forfeit game, referees will inform the captains and players that since a forfeit has occurred, the game is no longer an ARCSA sanctioned game. Any continued play will not be under the sanction of the ARCSA and the league insurance is not in effect. Referees will then leave the field and will still be paid for the game. Any players that are present are free to play a pickup game that is not covered under ARCSA supervision or insurance.

1. Standings
1. Standings will be kept by the President.
2. Standings will be kept in an ARCSA Board approved manner at the discretion of the President.
3. Registrar will update team standings after each week’s games and will publish the results on the ARCSA website.
4. The following tie‐breaking criteria will be used to determine the final standings for each division:
• Total points
• Head to head results
• Goal differential using the sum of all league games
• Goals scored using the sum of all league games
• Goals allowed using the sum of all league games
2. Awards
1. The first place team in each division of each league will usually be presented an award.
2. A team which is suspended or expelled will not be eligible to receive league trophies or awards.

The ARCSA membership empowers the Board to interpret these rules and regulations and to act accordingly. Where an unexpected or unforeseen event mandates such action, the Board may act outside of or may change their rules and regulations. Implementation of any such action or change will require an official vote by the Board.

ARCSA is a young and evolving league and as such, its rules and regulations will be reviewed periodically and modified as necessary. Any change will require an official vote by the Board.