We want the playing season to be a great experience for everyone in the 5 District Gold & Silver League: players, coaches, club and district personnel, game officials, and spectators - the best way to ensure that outcome is for everyone to understand the same set of guidelines.

The 5 District Gold & Silver League operates under the Constitution of the B.C. Soccer Association, and applies each year to the BCSA for permission to operate.

In co-operation with the member Districts, the League Board's overall tasks are to co-ordinate and govern boy's youth soccer in Gold and Silver level league play for the member Lower Mainland Youth Soccer Districts. Those youth Districts are Fraser Valley, Surrey, Alouette, Westminster and Delta and they each have a Youth Soccer Association that is responsible for the general operation and promotion of soccer within their geographic boundaries.

The League Board meets monthly on the 2^nd Wednesday each month from 7-9 PM.

The 5 District Gold & Silver League Board is responsible for making arrangements for the league and scheduling games.

Each member Youth District is represented on the 5 District Gold & Silver League Board by their appointed Representative. Each member Youth District has one vote. The Representative's job is to liaise between the League and the Youth District, i.e. collect the team information for league entry at the beginning of the season, to provide information throughout the season to teams about game or schedule changes, to arrange for score collection and reporting to the League Statistician.

The Representative or an alternate must be present at monthly board meetings, a $25 fine will be levied against the Youth District for any missed meetings.

The League may appoint additional officers (e.g. statistician, tournament or league co-ordinators) as required; these appointed positions do not carry a vote.

Performance Bonds

A performance bond of $50 per team to a maximum of $250 for each member District must accompany 5 District Gold & Silver League team registrations.

If fines have been levied and paid from the Bond fund, it is up to the individual districts to ensure that the bond is replenished to the maximum of $250. This must be done within 60 days.

The member Districts of the 5 District Gold & Silver League undertakes to annually re-affirm their individual District’s commitment to the Select League program. To this end, no District shall knowingly permit non-participation in the Select League for the reason of gaining advantage in 5 District Gold League play.

In each division where a member District does not put forward a Select team, that District must state its reason in writing and be granted explicit permission by the 5 District Gold & Silver League Board to enter a Gold League team(s) in that division of play.

A gold league team may only pickup a maximum of three (3) former Select level players without specific permission from the 5 District & Silver League Board.

A League affiliation fee of $45 per team entered will be charged to each District.

The 5 District Gold & Silver League will offer two levels of play, Gold and Silver in the Boys Under 18 to Under 12 age levels, Gold level being the most competitive level of play. Teams must be selected using a tryout process conducted by their Club or Youth District for entry into these levels. This is designed to ensure that teams are matched to the level of play required.

The League Board reserves the right to withdraw league privileges from, or reallocate to a more appropriate playing level, those teams whose league performance is such that they are misplaced in this league structure.

A $100 fine will be levied on any team that withdraws after August 1st. Applicable affiliation fees for withdrawn teams must still be paid. An additional $150 fine will be charged if a division schedule needs to be redone due to a team withdrawal.

Each and every season all players must be officially registered with BCSA following the registration processes required by their Youth District Registrar. Consult with your Club or Youth District officials to ensure compliance. No team shall use unregistered players at any time for league or cup play. A player shall not play for any team other than the one to which he is registered and players can only BE registered to one team in ONE league at any given time. Non-compliance will result in penalties.

Players are grouped as per BCSA age categories. For the 2005-2006 Season:

All new players being registered for their first season must submit proof of age for registration.

Proof of Age must be by: birth certificate, passport, landing document, baptismal certificate, or by an affidavit. Note: Medical cards are not acceptable.

After October 1st a BCSA transfer form must be used to move a player between teams. All transfers must be in accordance with the BCSA guidelines for the current season of play.

The transfer of players to one team during any one season shall be limited to three (3). No transfers are permitted after January 15th of the current Coastal season.

Out of District players must comply with the registration requirements set out by BCSA for the current season of play. A player Out of District (O.O.D.) form must be completed before the player can be registered on the new team. The onus is on the team to ensure this procedure has been followed. Any team found to be playing games using an ineligible out of district player will forfeit those games.

By October 1st, all players and team officials in the League must have Youth District issued Photo ID for all matches. These cards are the property of the issuing Youth District, and are to be presented to the referee by the team official before the game starts. These photo ID cards are not proof of player registration with BCSA.

ID cards must be stamped and/or initialled, then laminated by the issuing District's Registrar every year. Only then are they deemed to be valid ID cards. Any attempt to "forge" ID cards will bring serious disciplinary charges against team officials involved.

Will be replaced at the expense of the team. Please ensure that you get your cards back from the referee at the end of each game. Remember that you are not entitled to the card of a player who has been ejected from the game.

After October 1st, any team failing to produce valid photo ID cards or proof of eligibility for all players for a game will be fined $50. In the case of a missing card, written proof from Discipline or a District Registrar will be sufficient.

It is the responsibility of the manager or coach to have these cards on his or her person. In the event the usual cardholder is not in attendance they must be sure another team official has been given the cards in advance of the game in question. The referee can allow the game to proceed without ID and note on the game report that extenuating circumstances may exist.

The regular season schedule is prepared and distributed prior to the start of the season. Schedules for Conference Cup will be prepared and distributed following the October Board meeting.

Any team failing to play a scheduled game without sufficient cause and without first informing their District Representative at least 48 hours prior to game time, will be fined $100.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Scores for league and cup games should be reported to your team's assigned club statistician who will forward scores to the League Statistician for inclusion in the on-line league statistics, which are available at www.bcsoccercentral.com. Be sure to report all game scores, whether you win or lose, as this is how the League Statistician verifies correctness. Teams should also report to their statistician any game cancelled due to field conditions or abandoned by the referee. All game scores must be reported no later than Monday.

Final League Standings

Teams are required to complete all games scheduled by the board. Failure to complete all scheduled League and Cup games will result in a fine to a maximum of $200.

Exceptions may be granted for games that are cancelled or postponed due to field closures and not rescheduled by the Board.

The League plays under the guidelines established by the BCSA. Any item in this guide is subject to the operating rules of that body.

A total of seven registered and properly ID carded players are ALL that is required to begin a game. Less than seven players is a default. Under no conditions are teams to use unregistered or ineligible players.

Please report to your League Rep. if a home team fails to contact you, as this will be the only way the Board has of discovering that fact.

No game start times are to be scheduled before 10 am. by any member District. Games are to start promptly at the scheduled time subject only to the discretion of the referee. Should the opposing team not be at the field by the scheduled time, the referee will wait a 15-minute grace period. If the team does not show by that time, the game will be called, the referee will put in a report to his District and the League Board will make a decision as to the outcome.

Field changes must be organized in a timely manner and your League Representative must be notified. If moving to the visiting team's grass/turf field the visiting team must line the field, set up nets and flags and provide a Referee and Assistant Referees. The travelling home team must pay the Referee and Assistant Referees at the prevailing rate for the District where the game is played.

If the home team cannot provide a grass/turf field due to field closure, solutions are listed below in the order that they are to be arranged:

If any of these alternate arrangements can be put in place 2 evenings before the scheduled game day, the game MUST go ahead and failure to play will result in forfeiture by the refusing team. Advise your League Rep of the field changes when they are put in place. Do not phone the scheduler, only the League Reps communicate with the scheduler.

Only a Referee can abandon a game. Any game abandoned by the Referee will be investigated by the 5 District Gold & Silver Board, based on the Referee’s Report (and if requested by the Board, on reports from the two teams involved). The Board will decide what points, if any will be awarded for the game and determine any penalties further to those handed down by the Referee.

Any team determined to be at fault for a game abandonment will be subject to a fine of $200

i) if both teams were at fault, the match will be recorded as a 0-0 loss for both

ii) if one team is deemed at fault, the match will be awarded to the opposing team and recorded as follows:

Teams must communicate with their League Rep to let them know that the game has been postponed. Postponed games must be rescheduled and played within four weeks of the original game date.

A qualified, uniformed Referee is assigned to each game by the home team's Club or Youth District. Two uniformed, qualified minimum BCSA Class 5 - Assistant Referees must be assigned for all U16, U17 and U18 games.

Two copies of the Team List are required for all leagues for all games, and must be given to the referee before the game starts.

The list will detail those players taking part in the game, and shall not contain the names of players or team officials currently under suspension. It is the responsibility of the team official to obtain the opposing team's list from the Referee.

Player's names and jersey numbers should be printed clearly. Names should be given as they are on the BCSA player registration forms (no nicknames).

Teams may challenge concerning ineligible players at half time or at a throw-in or corner kick for your own team, the referee will witness.

Team officials are not to enter the field until the Referee motions you on. When permission has been given, only one team official will enter the pitch.

Coaching is not allowed on the goal end of the field. Players should not warm up in this area and playing gear should not be left in the area of the goal posts.

Home teams must line the field to the satisfaction of the Referee. Please ensure that sports field whiting or some other non-toxic material is used for this purpose.

The home team must provide corner flags standing a minimum of five (5) feet above the ground for all divisions. Bicycle flag-type corner flags are not permitted as there have been cases of severe eye injuries to players. The home team must also provide nets for all levels of play.

Team officials are responsible for the behaviour of their own fans. If requested by the referee to control the behaviour on the sideline, you are expected to do so immediately. A team official could be reported for failing to give his best efforts towards complying with this request.

If coaches or managers wish to question a decision it should be done quietly and politely at the end of a game. Nothing is gained, and much is lost, when this routine is not used. Note that the Referee is under no obligation to explain his/her actions.

It is very unlikely that a Referee will reverse a call once it has been made, and very likely that disciplinary action will be taken against offenders if the referee reports excessive disputing of calls or referee harassment.

Referee Reports should be submitted for every League and Cup game. This is necessary to verify team lists, game scores, red and yellow card tallies and to permit the Board's general monitoring of the league. It is essential to ensure the member Youth Districts and the League Board can deal with any problems and with discipline on a timely basis.

Referee Reports must be submitted promptly with an accurate and full description of offences, with the time of the any incidents noted. Often the report will indicate who the instigator was. If offences occurred simultaneously, reports should reflect that information (e.g. dangerous trip, followed by retaliation - F/A language from opposing player). Refs should keep their opinions to themselves with regards to discipline to be levied.

Referees should not ignore the reporting of yellows - coaches keep track and it's a little embarrassing when a coach phones up expecting his player to be on his third yellow when, in fact, no yellows have been submitted!

Team Officials who are ejected must leave the playing field immediately. The best practice is to go to a car and keep the windows rolled up!!

Red-carded players are also to leave the field immediately and should be sent to a car or directly home and are not to take part in the post-game handshake.

All players, coaches and team officials taking part in the League are subject to the control of the 5 District Gold & Silver League Board and/or its Committees.

The Board may investigate , or cause to have investigated, all of the following:

All red cards carry an automatic one game suspension. This one game is served automatically by sitting out the very next League or Cup game (whichever comes first) after the game in which the red card was received. There are no exceptions to this procedure.

Yellow cards have the same automatic provision. Anyone with a total of three yellow cards in one season must sit out the game immediately after the game in which the third yellow card was issued.

All red cards require attendance at a discipline hearing. Failure to attend when called to a hearing may result in an indefinite suspension. Your District Discipline Committee member will call you as soon as the referee's report has been received to let you know the date you are to attend discipline. The District Discipline Committee at the hearing decides what additional penalty will be imposed on the person who was given the red card by the referee. This group can suspend players or team officials within guidelines established by the Canadian Soccer Association, B.C. Soccer Association and the B.C. Youth Soccer Association from one additional game up to a lifetime.

Appeals of any decisions made by a District Discipline Committee are to be made directly to B C Soccer.

Suspended team officials must arrange for someone to fill their position, and inform their league co-ordinator of that person's name and phone number.

The suspended team official may go to the field, but he must stay well back from the sideline. He must not coach verbally or by hand signals. The players must be told not to approach him, before, during or after the game. In most cases the best solution is for the suspended person to stay away from games.

A team may protest any scheduled League or Conference Cup game. All protests must be submitted in writing (oral protests are not considered) within 48 hours of the date of the match to which they relate. Fax, e-mail or mail the details of the protest to your League Representative. Protest fee of $100 cheque made payable to 5 District Gold & silver League must be mailed within 48 hours.

If the protest is upheld this fee is returned; if the protest is denied the League retains the fee, so heed the warning in:

A protest will only be considered on the grounds of interpretation of the F.I.F.A. Laws of the Game, on the eligibility of players, or on breaches of Competition Rules and Regulations.

Any protests relating to the ground, goal posts, or any other appurtenances (that's a big word for other things that are used to play soccer - nets, soccer balls, corner flags, etc.) shall not be considered unless notice has been given to the referee before the game starts. If the problem cannot be solved without delaying the game a protest must still be made in writing, and be properly submitted, to be considered. No protests will be considered if, in the opinion of the referee, the objection lodged did not seriously affect the outcome of the game.

All protests regarding the Provincial Cup in both the "A" and "B" levels are to be submitted directly to the BCSA Discipline and Protest Committee, 1126 Douglas Rd., Burnaby, B.C. V5C 4Z6

5 District Gold & Silver League -Discipline, Protest & Appeals Committee

All member Youth Districts must submit a performance bond of $50 per team to a maximum of $250.00 at the time of affiliation These funds shall be maintained by the League Treasurer and can be utilized to pay fines or penalties levied against a District. Districts must replenish the bond within 60 days of receiving an invoice from the League Board.

Offence:
Member Youth District having no representation at a League Board Meeting
Penalty: $25 fine

Offence:
Game forfeiture without just cause
Penalty: $50 fine

Offence:
Team drop out after the August 1 affiliation withdrawal deadline
Penalty: $100 fine, plus additional $150 charge if dropout necessitates a reschedule for division.
Applicable affiliation fees for withdrawn teams must still be paid.

Offence:
Failure to provide qualified Referee to scheduled game
Penalty: $50 fine

Offence:
Failure to provide assistant referees to U16, U17 or U18 division league games
Penalty: $50 for each assistant not provided

Offence:
Failure of a team to complete all scheduled League or Cup games, without just cause or specific permission of the Board
Penalty: $50 per game not played to a maximum of $200 per team for one season.

Offence:
No-Show - Failure to play a scheduled League or Cup Game without prior specific consent of 9 District Board
Penalty: $100 fine, plus game official costs as incurred by the home District

Offence:
Refusal to play a reschedule of a postponed game
Penalty: $50 fine