Region I Premier League Rules
Spring 2003 Season (March – May)
Rule 101. Age Groups - The Spring Region I Premier League will consist of the following age groups:
Under 14 Boys and Girls
Under 15 Boys and Girls
Under 16 Boys and Girls
Under 17 Boys and Girls
Under 18 Boys and Girls
- Each age group can have a maximum of 16 teams.
Rule 102. Team Rosters, Player Eligibility and Team Composition Section 1. Rosters - The Official stamped State Association Cup Roster shall be used for the Region I Premier League play. Rosters are frozen on the day of the team’s first Premier League match or the date established by their NSA for frozen rosters whichever comes first. Any team that has already completed State Cup Competition MUST use their Official stamped State Association Cup Roster.
- Loan/Guest Players: There will be NO Loan/Guest Players.
Section 2. A maximum of eighteen (18) eligible players may be listed on a roster at any time. Each
player listed must be registered with the State Association in which he or she resides with his or her
parent(s) or guardian(s) or, for a student in residence at a boarding school, college, or university, the
player may register in the state in which the boarding school, college, university, or division of the
college or university is located. A minimum of seven (7) players must be listed on a roster in order for a team to be duly constituted.
Section 3. An ineligible player is one who is in violation of any of the provisions within the
SNICKERS® National Championship Policies or has been otherwise suspended by action of the Disciplinary Committee.
Section 4. Any player in the Region I Premier League
MUST has a valid and current USYS Player Pass.
Rule 103. Team Obligations Section 1. Each coach
MUST have a copy of his/her Official stamped State Association Cup
Roster, (copy of roster to be given to the referee or linesman) and USYS Player Passes at every game. Prior to the start of the game, the referee or linesman is required to check player passes against each player and against the names on the Official stamped State Association Cup Roster. This requirement is not optional and a referee’s refusal to check player passes shall be immediately reported to the Region I Premier League Commissioner following the game.
Section 2. Official Game Report Form - Prior to the beginning of each game, opposing coaches shall be responsible for completing the League’s Official Game Report Form to be supplied by the home team. The Game Report Form and a copy of the roster from each team will be delivered to the referee prior to the kick-off.
- Upon completion of the game, the referee shall submit the completed Game Report Form and both teams stamped Official State Rosters to the Region I Premier League Commissioner Bob Palmeiro:
- A referee shall immediately inform the Region I Premier League Commissioner information about any red or yellow cards given during the game FAX to (401) 647-1504 or email to: lutz2@aol.com).
Section 3. Reporting Scores Not later than 4 hours after the end of each game, each team shall report the final score of the game to the Region I Premier League Commissioner (FAX: (401) 647-1504 or email to
lutz2@aol.com).
Rule 104. Game Information Section 1. Except as otherwise provided by these rules, the FIFA “Laws of the Game” apply to the Region I Director’s Premier League games.
Section 2. The length of games, ball size, ball weight, and ball dimensions for each age group shall be as follows:
| Age Group | Game Length | Size | Circumference | Weight |
|
 |
Under 14
| Two 35’ halves | #5 | 27-28 in. | 14-16 oz. |
Under 15
| Two 40’ halves | #5 | 27-28 in. | 14-16 oz. |
Under 16
| Two 40’ halves | #5 | 27-28 in. | 14-16 oz. |
Under 17
| Two 40’ halves | #5 | 27-28 in. | 14-16 oz. |
| Under 18 | Two 40’ halves | #5 | 27-28 in. | 14-16 oz. |
Rule 105. Substitutions Substitutions may be made, with the consent of the referee, at the following times:
- prior to a throw-in by the team in possession.
- prior to a goal kick, by either team.
- after a goal, by either team.
- after an injury, by either team, when the referee stops play.
- at half time.
Rules 106. Standings and Advancement Section 1. A team’s standings in its division will be determined by the number of points it receives
based on its win/loss record during the league season. Points will be awarded as follows:
- Three (3) points for a Win
- One (1) point for a Tie
- Zero (0) points for a Loss
Section 2. In age groups with ten (10) teams (2 divisions of 5 teams), twelve (12) teams
(2 divisions of 6 teams], fourteen (14) teams (2 divisions of 7 teams), sixteen (16) teams (2 divisions of 8 teams) advancing to the Semi-Finals will be determined as follows:
- The top two teams in each Division with the most win/tie points will participate in the Semi-Finals.
- In the event of a tie within a division, the following criteria shall be used to determine the winner.
- Head to head
- Most wins
- Fewest goals allowed
- Most goals scored
- Fewest Red Cards
- Coin Toss
Section 3. In age groups with six (6) teams and eight (8), teams advancing to the Semi-Finals will be
determined as follows:
- The top four (4) teams in the age group.
- In the event of a tie, the elimination procedures in Section 2.b. will be used.
Rules 107. Wildcards- The following will apply to age groups that have 12 or more teams.
The Boys and Girls Under 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 Champions of the Spring 2003 Region I Premier League will be the AUTOMATIC wildcard (regardless of their team’s actual age level) for the 2003 Boys and Girls Under 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 SNICKERSÒ Region I Championships respectively. If a Premier League Champion is the State Associations’ State Champion then the wildcard of that age group will go to the Premier League’s Runner-Up. If the Runner-Up is the State Champion then the wildcard of that age group will go to the Premier League’s third place team (unless they are their State Associations’ SNICKERSÒ Region I Champion for said age group).
- The following will apply to age groups that have less then 12 teams.
The Boys and Girls Under 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 Champions of the Spring 2003 Region I Premier League will be the AUTOMATIC wildcard (regardless of their team’s actual age level) for the 2003 Boys and Girls Under 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 SNICKERSÒ Region I Championships respectively. If a Premier League Champion is the State Associations’ State Champion then the wildcard of that age group will go to the Premier League’s Runner-Up (unless they are their States Associations’ SNICKERSÒ State Cup Champion for said age group).
Teams participating in the Spring 2003 Boys and Girls Under 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 Region I Premier League are subject to their own State Associations SNICKERSÒ State Cup Rules as well as all US Youth Soccer National Championship Rules.
A team that participates in the Spring 2003 Boys and Girls Under 14, 15, 15, 16, 17 and 18 Region I Premier League and does NOT participate in their State Association’s 2002-2003 SNICKERS® State Cup Competition CANNOT be the automatic wildcard.
A team who captures the Spring 2003 Boys and Girls Under 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 Region I Premier League Championship and has forfeited a game(s) in their State Association’s SNICKERS® State Cup Competition (either prior to or after the Premier League Competition) CANNOT be eligible for an automatic wildcard in the 2003 SNICKERS® Region I Championships.
Rule 108. Canceling and Terminating Games Section 1. No game may be canceled except for inclement weather or other act of God. If there is
inclement weather or other act of God, the home team’s Premier League Contact Person shall immediately contact the Region I Premier League Commissioner at (401) 647-1501 for approval to cancel. If the Commissioner is not available, then the Contact Person shall leave a message and the circumstances regarding the inclement weather or act of God, and the game is then canceled without the Region I Premier League Commissioner’s approval.
Section 2. - Once a referee has jurisdiction of a game, the game may be terminated only by the referee as provided by the FIFA “Laws of the Game”.
- If a game is terminated before the second half of the game is begun, and the termination is not due to the conduct of one of the teams, the game shall be replayed in its entirety.
- If a game is terminated after play has begun in the second half of the game, but before the end of the second half with one of the teams winning and the termination is not due to the conduct of one of the teams, the game is considered complete, and the team winning at the time of the termination is the winner.
- If a game is terminated after play has begun in the second half and is tied at the time of termination, and the termination is not due to the conduct of one of the teams, the game shall be replayed in its entirety.
- If a game is terminated because of the conduct of one team, the offending team shall be awarded a 0-1 loss.
Section 3. A canceled or terminated game (not due to the misconduct of a team) shall be rescheduled
by the Region I Premier League Commissioner as soon as possible. If the Commissioner determines that rescheduling the game would be extremely difficult and would not have an effect on either team being in the Semi-Finals, the Commissioner may decide not to reschedule the game.
Rule 109. Fines Section 1: A team that fails to pay its referee fees will be fined $250.00.
Section 2: Any team forfeiting a game will be fined $250.00 and will also have to pay the entire referee fees of the forfeited game.
Rule 110. Suspensions Section 1. A player is suspended for at least one game for a red card or 2 yellow cards, in the same game, resulting in a red card.
Section 2. Sit Outs - A player receiving a suspension in a game other than the final must sit out the next Region I Premier League game(s).
- If a player receives a red card or a second yellow card in the Premier League final and is the
Wildcard for the SNICKERS® Region I Championships, the player MUST sit out the first game(s) of the SNICKERS® Region I Championships.
Section 3. - A player may be suspended for more than one game if the Region I Premier League Disciplinary Committee considers the offense one that should have more than a one-game suspension.
- A player may appeal a red card suspension to the Disciplinary Committee.
Section 4. The Region I Premier League Commissioner will notify the Disciplinary Committee and the appropriate State Association of all cards given.
Rule 111. Region I Premier League Disciplinary Committee
The Region I Premier League’s Disciplinary Committee has complete and final authority over any disciplinary matter arising out of the Region I Premier League play, including suspension and fining when the Committee considers it appropriate.
Rule 112. Region I Premier League Commissioner The Commissioner has complete and final authority for the administration of the League (except for matters related to discipline).