THE DIABLO ADULT SOCCER LEAGUE, INC BY-LAWS

THE PURPOSE OF DASL IS TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION AND ENJOYMENT OF CO-ED SOCCER FOR MEN OVER THE AGE OF THIRTY, AND FOR WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF TWENTY-FIVE. THE MEMBER TEAMS AGREE BY THE ADOPTION OF THIS CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS THAT ALL PLAYERS SHALL PARTICIPATE EQUALLY AND THAT NO SPECIAL PREFERENCE SHALL BE GIVEN IN THE RECRUITMENT OF PLAYERS OR TO PLAYERS' TIME ON THE PLAYING FIELD.

I. GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

DASL shall consist of teams from cities located within Central Contra Costa County and Alameda County north of Interstate Highway 580, confined to the Diablo Valley Corridor.

II. ENTRY OF A NEW TEAM

Any new team may apply to join DASL provided that the team is from a city within DASL's geographical area. The DIRECTORS shall review all applications and either approve or decline the application.  The DIRECTOR will take into consideration the resources, such as fields and referees, available to the new team. A new team must be voted upon before the recommendation of Realignment by the vice president to the board of directors. The cut off time will be the first week in July for the fall season and the first week of January for the spring season.

III. TEAM REGISTRATION

Each team must register a minimum of fifteen (15) players, at least seven (7) must be women, prior to each season's registration deadline. Additional players may be registered anytime, through the city representative. Regardless of when a player is added, each team may not have more than thirty (30) registered players on its roster at any time. Each player participating in a DASL game must be in possession of a valid player pass at the start of that game. A valid player pass will only be issued and approved by the Registrar upon presentation of proof of age by submitting two (2) clear color copies of their Driver’s License and the completed registration and waiver forms required by DASL.

Any player aged sixty-two (62) or older (an “Exempt Player”) can be rostered on a team and not count towards the 30 registered players. An Exempt Player must still have a valid player pass. A maximum of three (3) Exempt Players can be excluded from the 30 registered players count.

Teams must submit rosters to the league registrar two (2) weeks before the start of season or be subject to a $25 fee.

IV. PLAYING TEAM COMPOSITION

Teams may have a minimum of three female field players and a maximum of five male field players to start the game. The goalkeeper does not count as a field player and may be of either sex. One exception: if a female player is either ejected or injured during a game and the team does not have a female substitute, the team can play with two women field players as long as the total number of players meets the minimum number of required field players, seven (7).

V. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

No male player shall register before attaining the age of thirty (30). No female player shall register before attaining the age of twenty-five (25). A player participating in a DASL game must be in possession of a valid player pass at the start of that game.

VI. PLAYER TRANSFER

No player may transfer from a DASL team to another DASL team until after the last game of either the fall or spring season, unless approved by the team representative of the departing player's team.

VII. TOURNAMENT PARTICIPATION

DASL teams may participate in tournaments or play non-league games on non-scheduled league days.

VIII. AWARDS

DASL shall not give any awards for players, team or city performance.

IX. SEASON DURATION & HOLIDAYS

All scheduled fall playing season games should be played by the end of each December. All scheduled spring playing season games should be played by the end of each June.

Regularly scheduled games and make-up games will not be scheduled on the following holidays and holiday weekends unless both teams agree to play:

·       Easter Sunday

·       Mother’s Day

·       Memorial Day Weekend (Sunday preceding Memorial Day)

·       Father’s Day

·       Thanksgiving Day Weekend (Sunday after Thanksgiving Day)

X. CONFLICTS WITH YOUTH GAMES

All scheduled youth tournaments have priority over any scheduled DASL game. Scheduled games may be changed by request to the Vice President if a tournament causes loss of fields, players, or referees to either team participating in the DASL game.

XI. YELLOW CARDS

A player receiving a Yellow Card during a DASL game must be immediately removed from the game and may not return to the game for at least ten (10) minutes. In the event of a Yellow Card for Dissent, the player may not return to the game for at least twenty (20) minutes. The team is allowed to send a substitute for this player into the game at the same time the player leaves the field.

XII. RED CARDS

A red card results in immediate dismissal from the match. The team must continue with one fewer player of the same gender as the dismissed player.

If a player is issued a red card during a DASL match, the team manager shall submit written notification of the incident to the Disciplinary Committee Chairperson within seventy-two (72) hours following the conclusion of the match in which the red card was issued.

XIII. GAME PROTESTS

All game protests shall be heard by the Disciplinary Committee. Protests must be submitted in writing no later than seventy-two (72) hours after the game in question and must be submitted directly to the Disciplinary Committee Chairperson. A ten dollar ($10.00) fee must accompany each protest. The fee will be returned if the protest is upheld and retained by DASL if the protest is denied.

XIV. APPEALS

The DIRECTORS will hear all appeals of the Disciplinary Committee's decisions. The appeal must be submitted in writing no later than seventy-two (72) hours after being notified by the Disciplinary Committee and must be submitted directly to the President. A ten dollar ($10.00) fee must accompany each appeal. The fee will be returned if the appeal is upheld and retained by DASL if the protest is denied.

XV. USE OF ILLEGAL PLAYERS

Any player(s) or team who either knowingly recruits or allows an ineligible player to play in a DASL game will be suspended for a full calendar year. Such suspension shall start with the date set forth by the Disciplinary Committee.

XVI. ALIGNMENT COMMITTEE

The Vice President shall form an Alignment Committee at the end of each playing season to promote and relegate teams between the divisions. The Alignment Committee will evaluate the teams based on their playing record, number of returning teams, and total number of teams per division. Before the next playing season the Alignment Committee shall submit a recommendation for the realignment of the divisions to the DIRECTORS.

XVII. HOME TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

The home team shall be responsible for three (3) game balls and game card. The home team shall change uniforms in case of a color conflict.

XVIII. GAME CARDS

The home team must forward the game card to the Disciplinary Chairperson by the following Wednesday by noon.

XIX. SCORING

A. A win will be awarded three (3) points, a draw will be awarded one (1) point and a loss will be awarded zero (0) points.

B. A forfeit will be recorded as a 3-0 loss.

C. Tie Breakers will be determined by the following:

            1. Head-To-Head

            2. Head-To-Head Goal Differential

            3. Total Goals Against

            4. Total Goal Differential

XX. REFEREES

All DASL games will be officiated in accordance with FIFA rules, except as superseded by DASL rules. No "Gentlemen's Agreements" concerning either the rules or playing conditions shall be made by the playing teams. Referees shall be currently licensed (national, state or local organization). If two referees are not available for a game:

A. Both teams may agree on playing the game with only one referee or

B. The referee may authorize two persons over 15 to act as linesmen so the game may be played.

If neither of the two options can be met; the VP of the league will try to reschedule that game as soon as possible prior to the end of the current session.  If the game cannot be rescheduled or neither team can play on the scheduled date; the game will be recorded as a null game. If either team refuses the scheduled makeup date or cannot field a team they will incur a forfeit.

Referee requirements are:

C.  A three person system: center referee at least twenty-one (21) years old and two lines person at least fifteen (15) years old. Or

D.  A two person system: both referees at least eighteen (18) years old. Or

E.  In the event of a referee not showing up; one referee with the consent of both teams.

Teams will share the referee cost, as determined by DASL, on an equal basis and will pay the referees prior to the start of the game. Qualified referees shall be paid for all games to which they are assigned and for which they appear, even if the game is forfeited or not played for any reason. Games must either be forfeited or canceled by 12PM local time the Friday before the game by notification of the other team, referee coordinator and DASL Board. Failure to notify the three parties by the deadline and the team responsible for the forfeit or cancellation shall be responsible for paying the referees.

XXI. PENALTY KICK

Women shall take all penalty kicks.

XXII. SLIDING, SLIDE TACKLING AND BICYCLE KICKS

A.    Sliding by field players is prohibited. The penalty shall be an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction. If a second infraction occurs by the same individual, a yellow card will be given as a dangerous play.

B.    Slide tackling is prohibited and will be penalized with yellow card as dangerous play. The penalty shall be an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction. Flagrant or purposeful slide tackling will be penalized with a red card as violent play. The penalty shall be a direct free kick from the spot of the foul, unless the foul occurs within the defensive penalty area, in which case a penalty kick will be awarded.

C.    Goalkeepers must slide hands first with an opposing player. If a goalkeeper slide feet first, the above sliding and slide tackling procedures will apply.

D.    Bicycles kicks are prohibited. The penalty shall be an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction. If a second infraction occurs by the same individual, a yellow card will be given as a dangerous play.

XXIII. USE OF HANDS AND ARMS

Any player may protect sensitive body areas from imminent danger from the ball by using the arms and/or hands to protect themselves, as long as the arms and hands are kept close to the body and are not used to direct the ball.

XXIV. EXCESSIVE FORFEITURES AND RESCHEDULES

Any team forfeiting and/or rescheduling three (3) or more games during a season will not be allowed to register for the next season unless a petition to the DIRECTORS is approved.

XXV. SUBSTITUTION RULE

Unlimited substitutions are allowed on any dead ball. In the event of an injury substitution, both teams may substitute an unlimited number of players at that time.

XXVI. RESCHEDULES AND MAKE-UP GAMES

A. League-Initiated Cancellations (Make-up Games)

If a game is cancelled by DASL due to weather, scheduling conflicts, or other unforeseen circumstances, the match (a “Make-up Game”) shall be rescheduled to the next available weekend on which both teams do not have a previously scheduled match.

Make-up Games shall not be scheduled on holiday weekends unless mutually agreed upon by both teams. Doubleheaders may be scheduled provided that both teams consent and field availability permits.

B. Team-Initiated Rescheduling (Reschedule Games)

If a team requests to reschedule a game due to player unavailability (a “Reschedule Game”), such request must be submitted no later than 5PM local time on the Wednesday preceding the scheduled match. Notification must be provided to the opposing team, the Referee Coordinator, and the DASL Board.

C. Referee and Cancellation Deadlines

All Make-up Games and Reschedule Games shall be subject to standard referee assignment rules. Any game must be formally forfeited or cancelled no later than 12PM local time on the Friday preceding the match. Notification must be provided to the opposing team, the Referee Coordinator, and the DASL Board.

Failure to notify the three parties by the deadline and the team responsible for the forfeit or cancellation shall be responsible for paying the referees.

D. Scheduling Priority

Make-up Games shall take precedence over Reschedule Games. In the event of a conflict, any previously scheduled Reschedule Game shall be moved to the next available weekend.

E. Reschedule Team Responsibility

If the opposing team in a Reschedule Game is unable to field a team on the newly scheduled date, the team that originally requested the reschedule shall be assessed a forfeit.