Dublin MTSO

Dublin Middle Tier Soccer Organization
Rules and Guidelines

Scheduling Matches

DMTSO will provide fields, referees and fees for referees for a maximum of five home matches per season. Typically, teams play ten (10) matches in a season; five home matches and five away matches. The number of matches played during a season is not to exceed 12.
The coach will schedule all matches on the dates and times most convenient for the team at a coachâ€™s scheduling meeting that will be held approximately two (2) weeks before the start of each GOSYL season. DMTSO will provide information on field availability at this meeting.
Coaches will schedule matches in the manner that will permit the players to have the most fun playing the game of soccer. If that means fewer matches and more practices, the coaches will schedule fewer matches. If that means tougher competition, schedule matches with only the stronger teams. If that means there are coaches or teams that do you do not like to play, do not schedule matches with them.
A coach may schedule games with any GOSYL team in good standing with the league. Generally teams do not play teams more than one (1) soccer year older or younger than their team. For example, a U-9 team may play U-8 or U-10 teams but generally does not play U-7 or U-11 or U-12 teams. Generally teams play teams of the same sex, but coaches may play teams of either sex.

Rescheduling Matches

It is the home coachâ€™s responsibility to cancel a match due to weather or field conditions. DTMSO and DSL will provide guidance on when field conditions are such that matches need to be canceled. However, all DMTSO coaches, players and parents need to be good stewards of the Dublin fields. When in doubt, error on the side of protecting the fields. In other words, cancel the match if you feel there is a chance that playing the match could damage the fields.
Either the home or visiting coach my cancel a game due to sickness of players or an event that the majority of the teamâ€™s players must attend.
Canceled matches need to be communicated to DMTSO by the DMTSO coach by 3:00 PM on the day of the match so that referees may be notified. If the cancellation is not communicated prior to 3:00 PM and the refereeâ€™s show up for the match, they must be paid.
A canceled game may be rescheduled provided that the two coaches can agree on a date, time and location for the rescheduled game. As always it is the responsibility of the home team coach to procure the field and referees for the game. DMTSO coaches must communicate the date and time of the proposed reschedule match to DMTSO at least 48 hours prior to the match. DMTSO will contact DSL and attempt to procure a field for the rescheduled match. DMTSO will communicate the field availability to the DMTSO coach. DMTSO coaches may not contact DSL directly.

Playing Time

Over the course of a season, all players should play an equal amount of time.
Over the course of a season, all players should have the opportunity to play all of the soccer positions.
No player shall be penalized for honoring commitments outside of soccer. For example, a player should not receive less playing time for missing soccer practice to attend a religious or school function.

Uniforms

DMTSO shall provide every registered player with a team uniform that consists of one home jersey, one away jersey, one pair of shorts and one pair of socks.
Each player must provide shoes, shin guards, an appropriate size soccer ball, a water bottle and additional clothing such as a sweat shirt, sweat pants or rain jacket to address the weather conditions.
Should a player lose or damage an article of their uniform, it shall be their responsibility to replace or repair the article. DMTSO will attempt to purchase uniforms from vendors who will be able to furnish replacement articles throughout the soccer year but no such guarantee is made.
DMTSO shall provide the team with one goalie jersey and one pair of goalie gloves. Should these articles be lost or damaged, it shall be the responsible of the team to replace or repair them.
Advertisersâ€™ names may not appear on articles of the DMTSO uniform unless authorized by DMTSO.

Equipment

DMTSO shall provide each team with one one size 4 soccer â€œgameâ€ ball, one air pump, one first aid kit, one whistle, ten cones, ten â€œpenniesâ€ and one carrying bag. Should these articles be lost or damaged, it shall be the responsible of the team to replace or repair them.

Referees

DMTSO Referees shall keep the DMTSO matches safe, fair and fun.
DMTSO shall make every attempt to provide two Referees licensed by the United States Soccer Federation for every DMTSO home match. Due to the shortage of licensed referees, this may not always be possible. Parents need to be prepared to assist when only one licensed Referee is available.
No match should be played without a minimum of one licensed Referee in attendance.
The DMTSO team shall pay the referee(s) at the beginning of every home match.
Referees shall maintain control of the match.
Referee decisions shall be final.
Referees shall direct any coach, player or spectator who is not following the DMTSO philosophy to leave the match area. The referee need not give a warning before directing the person to leave. The names of any person directed to leave shall be reported to DMTSO. DMTSO reserves the right to impose a sanction including but not limited restriction on attendance of matches and removal from a team on any person directed to leave the match area by the referee.

Player Registration/Team Formation

Teams will be assembled by the DMTSO board of Trustees with the best attempt to divide the teams in the most balanced way possible from residents of the City of Dublin and/or students of the Dublin City Schools. Every attempt including but not limited giving a player the opportunity to â€œplay upâ€ one age group will be made to place players who wish to register on DMTSO teams. Due to the number of registrations received, this may not always be possible. For example, insufficient or excess numbers of registrations may be received for a particular age group and/or sex.
A players who is not a resident of the City of Dublin and/or a student enrolled in the Dublin City Schools will be accepted only if there is room on existing teams for the player and no resident of the City of Dublin and/or student in the Dublin City Schools has submitted a registration for the position. In other words, residents of the City of Dublin and/or students in the Dublin City Schools will be given preference over others submitting registrations. Additionally, no teams will be formed simply to accommodate players who are not residents of the City of Dublin and/or students in the Dublin City Schools.
DMTSO player registration forms must be filled out completely, accurately and honestly. Failure to so may result in rejection of the registration.
Players must submit proof of their date of birth with their completed registration form.
Upon request, players must submit to DMTSO proof of residency in the City of Dublin or enrollment in the Dublin City Schools.
Players must submit valid payment for the player fee in the amount determined by DMTSO or a request for full or partial fee waiver due to financial hardship with their completed registration form.
Registrations post marked after the established deadline must be accompanied by a non-refundable â€œlate registration feeâ€.
Registration fees excluding â€œlate registration feesâ€ will be refunded to players whose registration is rejected.
No fees will be refunded to players who withdraw from a team after the first match of the season. However, injured players who for medical reasons will be unable to play for the remainder of a season may request a refund. Such a refund will be granted or denied by a simple majority vote of the DMTSO Board of Trustees. All DMTSO decisions on refunds shall be final and may not be appealed.
All checks for fees shall be made payable to â€œDublin Middle Tier Soccer Organizationâ€ or â€œDMTSOâ€.

Conduct

All teams are required to hold the parents and supporters of the players on those teams, to the highest standards of fair play, good sportsmanship and ethics.
Players are expected to:
Treat all players, coaches, referees and parents with respect.
Behave in a sportsperson-like manner at all times.
Have fun playing the game of soccer.
Assist their teammates in having fun playing the game of soccer.
Come to practices and games ready to play.
Listen to and follow the directions of their coach and the referee.
Play all of the positions on a soccer field.
Coaches are expected to:
Treat all players, coaches, referees and parents with respect.
Behave in a sportsperson-like manner at all times.
Understand that winning a DMTSO matches is secondary to having fun playing a DMTSO match and teaching players â€œlife lessonsâ€.
Permit the players to have fun playing the game of soccer.
Understand that players, referees, coaches and parents will make mistakes.
Referees are expected to:
Treat all players, coaches, referees and parents with respect.
Behave in a sportsperson-like manner at all times.
Apply the Laws of the Game fairly in an unbiased manner.
Maintain the safety of the players at all times.
Instruct the players in the Laws of the game.
Explain their calls to the players and coaches.
Parents are expected to:
Treat all players, coaches, referees and parents with respect.
Behave in a sportsperson-like manner at all times.
Cheer in a positive manner for all players on their childâ€™s team and on the opposing team.
Learn the Laws of the Game.
Assume the administrative duties of the team so that the coaches may spend their time coaching the players.
Assist the referee when only one is in attendance at a match.

Sanctions/Infractions

Head coaches shall be responsible for the conduct of themselves, their assistant coaches, their players and their teamâ€™s supporters.
In recognition of the fact that rules are not always followed and that to have effective rules, a method of imposing sanctions must be established, the following three levels of sanctions are established:
Minor infractions are offenses or occasions of objectionable conduct for which sanctions ranging from a letter of reprimand to a suspension of up to 4 games or two weeks may be imposed. Minor infractions are acts such as, but not limited to the following:
A player or a coach receives a red card during a single season,
Having an improperly registered player participate in a game,
Use of profane, vulgar, threatening or abusive language.
All of the above infractions may be applied to a coach, player or team supporter if required.
Major infractions are those offenses or acts of misconduct for which sanctions ranging from a suspension of 1 or more games to a suspension from all DMTSO sponsored activities for the balance of the current season, not to exceed one month. Longer suspensions may be applied with the agreement of the sanctioning organization. Major infractions are acts such as, but not limited to:
A player or coach receives a second red card within a single season.
Severe verbal abuse of a referee or Assistant Referee,
Extreme verbal abuse of a coach, player or spectator,
Threats of violence, whether directed against a player, coach, referee, Assistant Referee or spectator.
Serious infractions are grievous offenses or acts of gross misconduct that threaten the integrity of the sport of soccer for which sanctions ranging from a multi-game suspension to a multi-year removal from some or all activities associated with DMSTO can be made. Serious infractions are those acts such as, but not limited to:
Physical assault of a referee, player, coach or spectator.
Deliberate falsification of player or coach records, including registration forms, transfer forms, birth certificates or similar documents or having specific knowledge of same where the person or the team or teams that the person is involved with benefited by such falsification.
In those cases in which a serious infraction is alleged to have occurred and the President determines that it is in the best interest of the integrity of DMTSO, the President shall be empowered to immediately suspend the person(s) involved until such time as a Grievance Committee hearing can be held to review the allegation.
If the DMTSO Board of Trustees deems that a matter should be reviewed, a Grievance Committee hearing shall be held within 21 days of the receipt of written notification of an alleged violation of any portion of either the Code of the Regulations or the Bylaws, either in the letter or spirit of those rules, except as follows:
A person has been suspended, in which case the Grievance Committee shall meet within 10 days to review the matter.
A person alleged to have committed a second red card in a single season or severely verbally abused a referee shall be immediately and automatically suspended for either 2 or 6 matches, respectively. If all of the red cards that were issued to the person were for either violent conduct and/or serious foul play, then this suspension shall be for 4 or 8 games, respectively. Upon receipt of a written request for a hearing, addressed to the President, the suspension shall be stayed until a hearing can be held before the Grievance Committee.
These rules of conduct are applicable during the entire seasonal year, including league play and tournament play.
In those matters in which DMTSO chooses to impose sanctions, the sanctioning organization reserves the right to impose such additional sanctions as are deemed appropriate by the governing leagues proper authority.
In cases, the sanctions that may be imposed by SAY of Columbus are in addition to any sanctions that may have been imposed by a referee on the field.
All complaints, whether made by a coach, player, referee, parent, spectator or any person, must be submitted in writing, or e-mail, to the attention of the President in care of the DMTSO address. The complaint must provide the date, time, location of the occurrence, the name(s) of the person(s) involved and sufficient details as to the nature of the occurrence in order that an informed decision can be made in the matter. Complaints received more than 90 days after the date of occurrence shall not be reviewed.
If a person is registered as a coach for more than 1 team, the sanctions imposed, depending upon the nature of the occurrence, may impact on her/his association with 1 or more of the teams.
If during the course of a league game or league tournament game, a dispute arises as to whether the game should continue and the question of the dispute involves the Laws of the Game, conduct of the participants or the spectators, or any other issue under the general authority of the referee, the referee may order the match terminated or continued as the referee deems appropriate. If a team refuses to resume playing a match when so instructed by the referee, the President shall be empowered to declare that game as a forfeit. In addition, the President - shall be empowered to suspend the head coach or other person who refused to continue the game for up to 3 games. If within 7 days of the being notified of the suspension, the person being suspended submits a written request addressed to the President, the suspension shall be stayed until a hearing can be held before the Grievance Committee.
The use of any tobacco product, including but not limited to cigars, cigarettes, pipes, snuff and chewing tobacco, by coaches, trainers, players and referees while engaged in any DMTSO function that involves youth soccer players is prohibited. Under this rule, a DMTSO function is defined as any of the following activities; team or individual practices, matches or tournament matches. A violation of this bylaw shall be deemed a minor infraction as defined in the rules and guidelines.
The use of, the possession of, or being under the influence of, alcohol or illegal drugs by coaches, trainers, players or referees while engaged in a DMTSO function that involves youth soccer players is prohibited. Under this rule, a DMTSO function is defined as any of the following activities; team or individual practices, league matches or tournament matches. A violation of this bylaw shall be deemed a serious infraction as defined in the rules and guidelines

Matches

Coaches and players shall sit 3 feet away from one sideline. Spectators shall sit 10 feet away from the opposite sideline. The referee shall determine who sits on which sideline.
No one shall sit or stand behind the end lines.
No more than three (3) coaches shall be permitted on the teamâ€™s side of the field.
No one may coach from the spectatorâ€™s sideline.
Referees and their decisions shall be respected. Their decisions are final and may not be challenged in any manner.
No team or coach shall refuse to accept any referee assignment.
All players must wear shin guards throughout every match.
If, in the opinion of the center referee, the jerseys of the two teams are too similar, the home team shall be responsible for changing to an alternate color.
A player who is either bleeding or has blood on her/his uniform shall be required to be removed from the field and allowed to return only when the bleeding has stopped and the uniform cleaned or changed.
Players may wear either flat soled shoes or shoes (soccer shoes, not football, rugby, baseball, etc.) with either molded or screw-in studs made of rubber, plastic or metal, provided the studs are not sharp nor present a hazard to other players. All elongated studs shall have the long axis of the stud run the length of the shoe. Studs shall not be more than 3/4â€(the height of a penny) in length.
Only those persons who are registered as players and coaches for the teams involved in the match may be on the teamsâ€™ side of the field. In the absence of a coach for a team, a substitute coach may be on the teamsâ€™ side of the field.
The center referee shall be able to issue either a caution (yellow card) or a send off (red card) to a coach during a DMTSO match, so as to document the coachâ€™s action. Yellow and red cards issued to coaches shall be reported by the referee to DMTSO.
Upon stoppage of play due to an injury of a player, the referee shall have the discretion to award an indirect free kick to restart play if, in the opinion of the referee, one side had clear possession of the ball at the time of the stoppage.
Should play be stopped for an injury, substitutes already at the mid-field flag at that time may be freely substituted by either team without limitation to the number of substitutes, in addition to a substitution for the injured player, if so desired by the coach.
At the conclusion of every game, unless excused from doing so by the referee due to inclement weather or other appropriate reason, all players and coaches are expected to congratulate the members of the opposing team in a sportsmanlike manner. (i.e. â€œgood gameâ€).

Administrator

The DMTSO may at their discretion hire an Administrator.
The Administrator may:
Act as an aide to the DMTSO Board of Trustees
Receive, investigate and present all grievances from DMTSO participants to the Board of Trustees
Receive, investigate and present all applications for participation in DMTSO to the Board of Trustees.
Perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these bylaws or assigned by the Board of Trustees.

Submitted: Tad Shilling DMTSO President

Last revised: February 10, 2006

Approved: DMTSO board 2/9/06