Approved by the Rio Valley Governing Board on March 8, 2007

1. The Rio Valley Select Boys Vice – President and Girls Vice – President shall administer all games officially scheduled by Rio Valley Youth Soccer Association (RVYSA). The Select Vice – President may appoint a Competition Committee to assist him in administrating the competition(s). 
2. Any team, organization, club or individual participating in RVYSA must be in good standing with the Club, RVYSA, STYSA, USYS and USSF and all team shall be formed in compliance with the rules and regulations of RVYSA, STYSA, USYS and USSF.
3. A team will be permitted to have a maximum of eighteen (18) registered players on its roster at any one time.
4. Players residing outside the boundaries of the South Texas must obtain the appropriate permission based on the requirements in place by STYSA and USSF for each seasonal year (International Clearance).
5. A registered coach means an individual for whom requisite information has been submitted and fees have been paid to STYSA who has successfully completed at least a State “G” Coaching Certificate prior to 10/01/99.  Past coaching, teaching and playing experience will be considered on an individual basis in place of a “G” Coaching Certificate or the age appropriate Module License by approval from the STYSA Director of Coaching.  This Certificate must be completed within one year after the date the individual begins to coach. 
6. Any coach, assistant coach, trainers, managers or any other individual who coach or trains a STYSA youth soccer team must have a KidSafe Pass.  In case of an extreme emergency a parent without a KidSafe Pass will be able to coach for that game only and coach the team.  (This substitute parent may not replace the coach a second time during the season unless the Kid Safe requirements are met.)
7. The Division One Groupings will to be limited to minimum of four teams and a maximum of six teams but the respective Vice-President along with the Competition Committee reserves the right to conduct a competition to better distribute the teams into appropriate competition levels.  In situations where teams exceed the group limit, a game or preseason competition will determine who will qualify for any remaining openings.
8. Once a team has registered with Rio Valley in Division One, the team will maintain the Division One status for the subsequent season or year the team fails to re-qualify or that team fails to return a roster of 50 percent plus one player or the team finishes in last place in the previous season’s standings or the team is not needed to maintain a group size of four teams.
   
   Teams registered to compete in any lower levels of play and who place first or second in a district playoff or a team(s) advance to a state playoff must compete in the next higher level of play for the next season.  A team is defined as 50 % plus one player for this determination. (Adopt: 09/14/06)
   
9. Once the schedules are established, no games may be changed, postponed or rescheduled except by the appropriate Vice – President (V. P.).  The VPs and/or the Competition Committee will only consider requests for changes if the request is made by 6:00 PM on the Monday prior to the game.  Each game change request must be in writing and will be considered on its own merits.  A non-refundable $ 50.00 fee must be attached to your written request.  Games that are approved to be rescheduled will be rescheduled within the next 15 calendar days from the original scheduled date to play the game.  The agreed scheduled date will be honored by the respective Vice – President if the game is played within the 15 calendar days.  If no agreement is reached by the opposing coaches within the first 3 calendar days form the original scheduled date, then the respective Vice – President will reschedule the game date at the Vice – President’s discretion within the 15 calendar days from the original schedule date.  Any team refusing or failing to play a game in compliance with RVYSA Rules may be required to forfeit the game.  Any scheduling errors are to be directed to the Competition Committee or respective Vice President. 
10. All teams are required to show up for all scheduled games (regular or make-up) 15 minutes prior to the start of the game.  However, if a team with at least 7 players and the team coach or a responsible person or parent for the team are not on the side line within 15 minutes of the scheduled start of the game, the game will be considered a forfeit.
11. The Division II Team Coach shall use the current official RVYSA Game Cards supplied to the coach for all Official RVYSA Games.  Every D II Home Team Coach that fails to provide the current Official Game Card for the game will forfeit the game. 
12. The Field Marshall or his designee will give division I Game Cards to the teams.
13. The Home Team is listed first on the schedule and shall provide the match ball for inspection to the referee to ensure that the ball meets Law 2 of Laws of The Game.
14. In case of a color conflict, the Home Team must change jerseys or use mesh color vests to resolve the conflict.  Failure to resolve a color conflict may result in a forfeiture being awarded against the Home Team.
15. The three-man system of referees will be used.  In the event that only one or two referees are available, the two coaches can agree to play the game anyway.  Once this is done, the game will be considered official and no protest will be allowed for not having three referees.  The judgment of a referee cannot be protested and shall be considered final.  However, player eligibility and misinterpretation or misapplication of the rules of play may be protested.
16. Prior to each game, under the supervision of the Referee and/or Field Marshall:
    1. The Coach of the Home Team shall provide a filled out or reviewed Official Game Card to the Opposing Coach to fill out his/her section.  The player’s complete full name and jersey number must be listed on the Game Card.
    2. Coaches will turn player passes to the Referee:
    3. The Assistant Referees will read the full name of the player ID Cards and the jersey number and the Center Referee will check off the player’s full name and jersey number as must be listed on the Game Card.
    4. Players showing up late to a RVYSA game shall report with the referee or assistant referee for inspection of equipment and player pass (ID Card).
17. No player may play without an approved players pass.  (The appropriate Vice – President shall be empowered to waive this requirement at his/her discretion in case of extenuating circumstances).  Players who are newly registered or added to teams is not an extenuating circumstance and may not participate in any games without the player ID Card.
18. Player uniforms must have numbers on the jerseys.  The jersey numbers cannot repeat and if numbers on shorts, the number must match the jersey number.  Uniforms must consist of a jersey, shorts (no cut-off jeans, etc.) socks (both the same color), shin guards completely covered by socks and must have soccer shoes.
19. A team must have minimum of seven (7) players to start or to continue in a game.  If a team cannot maintain at seven (7) players, the referee must abandon the match with appropriate notation on the official game card.  It will be up to the appropriate Vice – President in conjunction with the Competition Committee to decide if the match will be replayed, forfeit or will stand as played.
20. Player substitutions will be allowed in accordance with RVYSA and STYSA Rules and shall be unlimited.  The Referee has full discretion to allow substitutions at appropriate stoppages to best serve the game.
21. No playing time requirement exists for Division I players.
22. Each Division II or SII Coach must make every effort to play each registered player that is present at least one-half of each game unless unable to do so because of discipline, illness or injury. 
23. Teams will occupy one side of the field and spectators/parents will occupy the opposite side directly across from their team.  All adults on the player’s sideline must be registered with the RVYSA and/or STYSA team and must display their STYSA issued KidSafe Passes on a linear.  A team may not have more than four adults on the team sideline. 
24. Everyone at the game is required to be a minimum of five (5) feet from the touchlines on both sides of the field.  Sideline participation by coaches is limited to positive instruction and encouragement.  The team and coaches must remain within the team’s technical area that extends ten (10) yards from the half-line.
25. In Division I matches, the referee will turn over the Game Card to the Field Marshall after both team coaches have had the opportunity to reviewed it for accuracy and signed.
26. The winning Division II Coach is responsible for mailing the Game Card and shall be in the RVYSA Scorer’s possession within 72 hours of the game.  In case of a tie, the Home Team will submit the Game Card.  Failure to submit the Game Card to the RVYSA Scorer within the 72 hours will result in the Game being considered a forfeit.  It is recommended that the coach in possession of the game card make a copy prior to mailing the card.
27. The Coach must note on the Game Card: If three Referees were not on the field at the scheduled starting time, if the field was not properly marked, or if the nets were not provided.The match will be rescheduled at the visitors playing site.
28. All coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and parents.  Coaches may be given a Yellow or Red Card or Sent – Off due to the actions of the parents or spectators on their team.
29. Any coach that plays an ineligible player will forfeit that game and will be dealt with by the Disciplinary and Protest Committee.
30. The coach along with each player is responsible for keeping penalty points for each player.  A Yellow Card is worth 3 Points and a Red Card is worth 9 points. 
    1. An individual or player receiving 9 points must sit out the following match.
    2. Any individual receiving 18 points must sit out the following two (2) matches.  
    3. Any individual receiving 24 points must sit out the following three (3) matches.
    4. Any individual receiving 30 points must sit out the following four (4) matches.
       
       Suspension shall be considered served in games actually played by the team to which the person is currently rostered.  Suspension shall not be served in forfeited matches or invitational games.  It is imperative that the suspended player’s name not be shown on the Game Card unless it is marked off as “sitting out” for a game requiring his suspension.  If a coach plays a player that has accumulated excessive penalty points resulting in suspension(s), the game will be declared a forfeit.
31. Matters warranting discipline and/or protests shall be in accordance with RVYSA and/or STYSA established procedures.  No protest of games will be allowed (with the exception of playing an ineligible player) unless it is noted on the Game Card and made known to the Referee and the opposing coach immediately after the game.
32. A complete description of the situation being protested shall be submitted to the D & P Committee and a $ 50.00 protest fee must be sent to the RVYSA Executive Vice – President by the protesting coach. 
33. All RVYSA Tournament Standings will be determined by points: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and zero points for a loss.  A win by forfeit results in 3 points for the winning team and is scored as 1 – 0. 
34. Tie Breaker at the end of a competition or a stage of the competition:   
    1. Result of Head to Head Competition during the competition or a stage of the competition.
    2. Goal Differential with maximum of plus or minus 5 Goals in matches between / among the tied teams.
    3. Least goals allowed in matches between / among the tied teams.
    4. Total Goals Differential against common opponents in all games with a maximum of plus or minus of 5 per game.
    5. Least total goals allowed in all games.
    6. FIFA Penalty Kicks.
       
       The tie-breaking rules are to be applied progressively in any case of three (3) or more teams involved in a tie.  That is, if three or more teams enter a sequence level tied, the top team will be identified with the tie-breaking progression.  If two or more teams remain tied after the initial progression, then the process is to return to the first tiebreaker and begin the tie-breaking process for the tied teams.
       
       
           
35. Inclement weather procedures will be as follows: Teams must appear at the playing site ready to play unless otherwise officially notified.  The notification process will start with the conferring of the local Club President, Designee or Division I Field Marshall with the local Playing Site Coordinator.  After a decision to cancel the game or games is determined, the Club President, Designee or Division I Field Marshall will first call both RVYSA Vice – Presidents to inform them of the cancellation of games and secondly, call the Home Team Coach or Designee to inform him/her of the cancellation.  Each Home Team Coach whose game was cancelled shall make a courtesy contact with the Visiting Team Coach or Designee to inform him/her of the cancellation within an hour of being informed of the cancellation.  If a game is suspended because of inclement weather prior to completion of the first half, it shall be replayed in its entirety.  If a game is suspended after completion of the first half, it shall be considered to be a completed game.  In many instances after the game has started the referee will make the final decision to abandon the game as to the playability of the field based on the condition of the field and dangerous conditions to the players.
36. If a team is declared to have two (2) forfeits in one season, they must appear before the RVYSA Discipline and Protest Committee for possible disciplinary action including but not limited to immediate and indefinite suspension from RYVSA and/or STYSA sanctioned competition and playoffs.  Any team that forfeits a match intentionally will result in an immediate and indefinite suspension. 
37. There will be no team name or age bracket changes after the initial Coaches Meeting.  Any team that is entered incorrectly in the wrong age or competition division will not be eligible for fall playoff competition.
38. All players and coaches are insured.  Contact the RVYSA Executive Vice – President with inquires relating to insurance.
39. Any RVYSA team will be allowed 5 transfers during the course of the seasonal year but must meet any established RVYSA deadline.    
40. Any Transfers, Adds or Releases requests be must be received and signed by the RYVSA Registrar by the established RVYSA deadline to be affected.

CLUB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Each Rio Valley Member Club must appoint a Commissioner to coordinate any RVYSA D-II game changes, referee and scheduling with the appropriate Vice – President.
2. A $ 50.00 fine will be assessed to any club that does not have a field properly prepared for each scheduled game (i.e. lined, nets, flags).  The coach, field marshal or referee must note the finable offense on the Game Card.
3. Clubs will be fines $ 50.00 for each Division II game that one of their teams forfeits.  If a team forfeits 2 games it will not be eligible to participate in the fall and spring championship and the coach shall face disciplinary action by the RVYSA Discipline and Protest Committee.
4. Every effort shall be made to secure USSF Certified Referees for all games, especially centers.  It is to the discretion of the Referee Assignor to schedule qualified match referees. 

Kid Safe and Conduct Policy
Addendum to the Travel Rules
Approved by the Rio Valley Governing Board on November 10, 2006
                       
            To be on the team’s sidelines, all coaching staff members (maximum of four per team) and who are registered to the team must visibly display their Kid Safe Pass (yellow colored pass) on a linear.  If a coach does not display his Kid Safe Pass, he will be ejected from the match and have to retire to the parking area.  A parent may stand in his place as the responsible adult and he will be required to sign the game report for the this match.  If no adult is available, the match will be abandoned and referred to the Rio Valley officials.

At no time are unauthorized individuals allowed on the field of play or on the team’s sideline.  A violation of this policy will result in a caution being issued to the coach.  The referee will use his or her discretion when a player’s safety is of concern.   

The team coach is held responsible and accountable for the conduct of the team’s players and spectators.  The team’s spectators must occupy the sideline directly opposite of their respective team.  All spectators must be no closer than one yard from the touchline.  No spectators are allowed along the goal line or behind the goal area.

The match referee or club/association official will require the coach to remove the offending party or parties for misconduct to the parking area for the duration of the match within a maximum allowable time of three minutes.  If the offending party or parties fail to leave within the allotted time, the match will be abandon by the referee.  In case of an abandon match, Rio Valley officials will review and determine if the match is declared a forfeit, if it will be replayed or if the results of the match stand as is. 

A forfeit will result in the team being assessed a $ 50.00 fine payable to the appropriate Rio Valley Vice – President or their designee within 72 hours of the forfeited match.  Failure to pay the fine will result in the cancellation of the team subsequent match and the respective Rio Valley Vice – President will rule this match as a forfeit.  A second forfeit in any given season will result in the team being expelled from the competition and may face other possible sanctions.