Eligibility
All teams must be registered with the South Atlantic Premier League and have their US Club Soccer passes and their official US Club Soccer team roster. All information must be current. All players must be on the single printed US Club official roster; US Club pass players from within a SAPL club may be handwritten onto the game day roster. US Club passes, all from the same club, must be used for all South Atlantic Premier League play. No coach or player may participate if his or her pass is not provided to the referee.

Roster Size
The master roster size for US Club teams is 26. Master rosters are not frozen and may include any valid US Club carded player within the Club.  Players can only play in 1 game per day.

Guest Players
Guest players, defined as players from an outside club, are NOT permitted in the South Atlantic Premier League league play.
 
PLAYER REGISTRATION

Eligibility 
Eligibility is open to all youth irrespective of race, nationality, color or religious affiliation or non-affiliation. The league is limited to youth players. 

Age Eligibility
Players must be registered with US Club. Players are bound to play on only one Club in the league. Players are permitted to play on any age-appropriate team, from within their own Club.

COACH REGISTRATION

Eligibility
Eligibility to coach is open to all adults irrespective of race, nationality, color or religious affiliation or non-affiliation. Clubs are responsible for selecting coaches. The Clubs’ coaches must adhere to the rules, regulations and guidelines set forth by the league. The league is not responsible for the selection process or for providing coaches to the Clubs.
 
Minimum Age of a Coach 
An individual must have attained the minimum age of 18 years old in order to coach up to U14 and 21 years old in order to coach up to U18, prior to being issued a US Club pass. 

Coach Presence at Games
The Club must have a coach or administrator from within the same club, at all scheduled matches in which the team participates. The coach or administrator must be in possession of a valid US Club coaching pass, from the club as the team. A Coach must be present throughout the entire match or the match will be terminated and forfeited to the opponent, 4-0. A maximum of five (5) coaches are permitted on the team’s sideline per match. 

Multiple Coaching Passes
Coaches may have a US Club pass for each team in which they coach. Coaches may only coach for a team affiliated with the same Club and USSF entity, and the pass they use must be present at the scheduled match.
 
RULES OF PLAY

All US Club sanctioned competitions must be played in accordance with the most current FIFA laws of the Game and the modifications noted within these rules unless specifically accepted by authorization of the South Atlantic Premier League Board. It is the responsibility of all coaches and referees to be thoroughly familiar with and abide by the FIFA laws and these modifications.

SAPL Rule Modifications and Substitution Recommendations:

U13 - U19 Substitution Rules

• Substitutions: U12-U18/U19: FIFA, seven (7) per half.  Players may not re-enter in the same half.

Ball Size
 

• U13 and older teams all utilize ball size #5

Host Club must provide at least 3 balls for each game, with a minimum of 1 ball placed behind each goal.
  
Duration of the Game
 
Age Group / Duration of the Game
·       U12/U13: 35 minute halves (10 minute halftime period)
·       U14, U15 & U16: 40 minute halves (10 minute halftime period)
·       U17 & U18/U19: 45 minute halves (15 minute halftime period)
·       Referees should provide appropriate stoppage time in every game.

Miscellaneous:​​

• All games should have an international start.
• Referees should arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to scheduled kick off time.
• Game fees are to be paid to referees prior to kick-off
• Teams split referee fees at EVERY game regardless of who the home team is.
• Referees should be paid cash (no checks)

  • U17 & U18/U19 Fees:  $80 to referee and $50 to each assistant referee

  • U14, U15, & U16: $70 to referee and $40 to each assistant referee

  • U13: $60 to referee and $40 to each assistant referee.

• Uniforms: In a one-game weekend (teams will confirm uniform colors with each other) Home Team: light shirt, light socks, any short | Away Team: dark shirt, dark socks, any shorts 
• Uniforms: In a two-game weekend (teams will confirm uniform colors with each other)
  • Game #1 -Home Team: light shirt, light socks, any short| Away Team: dark shirt, dark socks, any shorts 
  • Game #2 -Home Team: dark shirt, dark socks,  any short |  Away Team: light shirt, light socks,  any shorts 

Standings
Games will be scored as follows: 

• 3 points for a win 
• 1 points for a tie 
• 0 point for a loss  

Tiebreaker
If total points are tied at the end of the season, placements will be determined by the following tie breakers:

• 1st tiebreaker - Goal Difference
• 2nd tiebreaker - Goals For
• 3rd tiebreaker - Goals Against

Severe Weather
In the event of severe weather conditions, players will be permitted to wear a sweat suit or similar trousers and stockings, or other type of clothing under their team uniform. Sweat pants must have no metallic buckle, snaps, buttons or other items that the referee considers dangerous to any player.

Goalkeeper
The Goalkeeper is permitted to wear a tracksuit or similar trousers and stockings or other type of clothing in all League sanctioned activities. The Goalkeeper is also permitted to wear a vinyl foam soft soccer helmet. 
 
Coaching from the sidelines  
Coaching from the sidelines is permitted, so long as one is giving direction to one’s own team on points of strategy, tactics and position provided that the following conditions are complied with:
 

1. No mechanical devices are used
2. The tone of voice is informative and sportsman like

Substitutions with the consent of the Referee at any stoppage in play:
 

1. Change With The Goalkeeper: Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper provided that the Referee is informed before the change is made, and that the change is made during a stoppage in the game.
2. Substitution Procedure: When a goalkeeper or any other player is to be replaced by a substitute, the following conditions shall be observed:

1. The Referee shall be informed of the proposed substitution before it is made.
2. The substitute shall not enter the field of play until the player he is replacing has left, and then only after having received a signal from the Referee.
3. Enter the field during a stoppage in the game, and at the halfway line.

The referee will return all player cards at halftime to both teams for the second half.
 
Bad Weather and/or Poor Field Conditions
 
Game Terminated by the Referee: Should the match be terminated by the Referee prior to the time specified in the rules, for reasons of bad weather, poor field conditions, or darkness, the entire game must be replayed. (FIFA Law VII).
 
Referees
 
a) Player Verification
 

1. Game Roster Form The Referee shall require that both teams provide two (2) copies of the US Club Official Roster, one (1) to be given to the opposing coach.   A player may be handwritten on the bottom of this roster, .
2. Verify the Player’s Identity The Referee shall verify the identity of the players represented on the player’s pass by inspecting the Player’s photograph, which is on the pass.
3. Player Not Permitted to Participate The Referee will not permit a Player to participate unless a valid player pass has been furnished.
4. Verify Written Data The Referee shall verify that the Player’s pass indicates the correct Club name and age group.
5. Discrepancy in the Data Should there be a discrepancy in the Age Group, and/or Club name, the player shall be permitted to participate in the match. The Referee shall retain the pass and shall forward the Player’s pass in question, with his/her report, to the League, which will administer disciplinary action for any or all infringements and violations regarding Player eligibility.

 
b) Referee Reports
 
1.         Submit Referee Reports The Referee shall submit email a Referee Report for each match officiated, within forty-eight (48) hours (Holidays excluded) after the completion of the match. 
2.         Supplementary Referee Report The Referee shall submit email a Supplementary Referee Report for each player and/or Coach ejected from the match, to the League within forty-eight (48) hours (Holidays excluded) after the completion of the match. The Referee will not retain the pass of the ejected player or Coach.
3.        Email a copy of the Game Report to tphillips.ltmc@gmail.com with the following as the subject line:

• League - Game Number - Gender/Age - Home Team v Away Team
• Example - SAPL - #123 - BU13 - SSA v Wake FC

c) Caution
 
1.         Yellow Card - Cautioned A Yellow Card is displayed by the Referee to indicate that a Player or Coach is being cautioned for violating FIFA, Laws of the Game.
2.         Two (2) Cautions If a Player or Coach receives two (2) cautions during one match, the Player or Coach will be ejected from the match, and a suspension is in effect.
3.         Three (3) Cautions If a Player or Coach receives three  (3) cautions during a season, a suspension is in effect.
4.         Disciplinary Committee The Disciplinary Committee, at its discretion, will determine the length of the suspension and any other punishments, fines, and/or assessments.
 
d) Ejection

1.         Red Card - Ejection A Red Card is displayed by the Referee to indicate that a Player or Coach is ejected from the match, and a suspension is in effect. 
2.         Disciplinary Committee The Disciplinary Committee, at its discretion, will determine the length of the suspension and any other punishments, fines and/or assessments.
3.         Appear Before Disciplinary Committee A player or Coach who receives a red card or the equivalent, will, at the discretion of the Disciplinary Committee, be summoned to appear at a hearing. Should the player or Coach fail to appear, he/she will be suspended until such appearance is made. The Disciplinary Committee, at its discretion, will determine the length of suspension and/or any other punishments, fines, or assessments. The club will be assessed a minimum of $50.00 each time a coach (Coach) is issued a red card, unless waived by the Disciplinary Committee.  Should a player be summoned to appear, the Coach or Club representative from his/her designated team must accompany him/her. Any player under age 18 called before the committee will be required to make sure a parent or legal guardian be present.
4.         Suspended from Consecutive Competition A player or Coach shall be suspended from consecutive competition in the league.
5.         Team Refuses to Continue If a team refuses to continue to play after being so instructed by the Referee, the team will forfeit the game, 4-0.
6.         Reports Will Be Reviewed By The Disciplinary Committee The Referee Report and the Supplementary Referee Report shall be reviewed by the League’s Disciplinary Committee, who shall determine the punishment, fine, and/or assessment. The Disciplinary Committee shall notify the parties involved, in writing, of the decision.

Entry onto Field of Play
No Club official, Club member, team manager, player, or spectator may enter the field of play regardless of the circumstances, unless the Referee has given them permission. If this is disregarded, they shall become subject to disciplinary action by the Disciplinary Committee.
 
Accidents or Unusual Incidents
The Referee must report any accident or unusual incident to the league.