League Documents
BCSL Winter 8v8 Guidelines and Rules
8v8 Format
8v8 - 5 men, 3 women on the field including a goalie
Female players must be over 18 years of age, male players must be over 25 years of age at the time of when the season starts
No more than 5 men may be on the field at any time with the exception of up to 1 male player over 50 years old taking the place of a female player
With regard to this rule, in no way is this to be interpreted as equating the ability of female players with a 50 yr old. That is not the intent of the rule. This rule is for expediency's sake.....meaning that it's very hard to find female players and this is a way to field teams and also include older players.
25 minute halves, 5 min halftime
If a game starts late for any reason (i.e. players arrive late), then time will be deducted from the halves. All games must end on the hour. However, teams can discuss and agree to cancel or shorten halftime to get more playing time. Teams must agree and notify the referee before the game starts if they decide to do that.
Half fields with medium sized goals
1 referee
8v8 Game Play Rules
No offsides
No slide tackling allowed
Throw-ins (not kick-ins). Throw-ins are indirect, and a goal cannot be directly scored by throwing the ball into the goal
Corner kicks are direct, and a goal can be directly scored from a corner kick. Any male or female player may take corner kicks.
Subbing may be done at any time, but they must be done from the half line
Women must take all free kicks on the opposing team’s half and all penalty kicks
Handballs must be deliberate and intentional for it to be a violation. Accidental handballs, including handballs in the box, may not be a violation. However, an accidental handball by the offense that immediately leads to a goal will be a violation. Referees use their judgment to determine deliberate and accidental handballs.
Players are allowed to cover their body parts, including their head and other sensitive areas, with their arms and hands on free kicks to protect themselves.
Players receiving a yellow card caution shall immediately leave the field of play and remain out of the game for a five (5) minute “cooling off” period. The player cannot be replaced until 5 minutes have passed.
A player receiving a Red Card is ejected from the game and his/her place may not be substituted. Further disciplinary action may follow.
Guidelines
General Waiver and Covid Policies
All players must sign the BCSL waiver form, which includes the general liability and covid waiver guidelines, and have provided proof of vaccination to the league by showing your physical or electronic vaccination card (i.e. picture of your vaccination card on your phone) to the league. The league will check off people on your roster that all of the above is completed before a player can participate in a league game.
HIPAA Guidelines: The league will not collect or store vaccination cards. If an electronic version is sent to the league, the league will check off the player’s proof of vaccination, and the electronic copy will be immediately deleted.
Team managers are responsible for making sure their players abide by all of the rules and guidelines
Roster and Player Policies
Rosters are limited to 20 total active players
Rosters will be generated by the signed BCSL Waiver Form. They will not need to be provided to the referee each week, but all players on the roster must have signed the BCSL Waiver Form and provided proof of vaccination (see above) before playing in a game
For teams and players that played in the ACSL Fall 2021 Season and have already provided proof of vaccination, they do not need to provide proof of vaccination again. Instead, the league will cross-check the team’s ACSL Fall 2021 roster with the BCSL Waiver Form “roster” to meet the vaccination requirement.
New Players: All new players must have signed the BCSL Waiver Form and provided proof of vaccination (see above) before playing in a game. Team managers and/or new players can contact the league (at this time, Alex Kim) during the week to electronically meet these requirements. Or it can be done at the field on Sundays before your game starts. Again, please let Alex Kim know if you will be adding new players.
All players in the league and on any team (men, women, goalies) can play on more than one team if another team is short players for a game. Teams are not allowed to invite friends, guests, random people at the field, etc. to play for them unless they are added as an active new player on the roster before the game starts. See above for new player procedures.
Teams and players that violate the above rules will forfeit their game, which can occur before, during, or after the game. A second violation can result in suspension or a league ban. A more serious first violation, such as providing a fake vaccination card, can result in an immediate ban.
Team and Player Code of Conduct
The Berkeley Co-ed Adult Soccer League will be conducted according to FIFA and the following ‘Team and Player Code of
Conduct’ from SANCRA (SPORTS ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECREATION AGENCIES). These rules will be strictly enforced. A suspension in one city may be recognized as a suspension in all cities.
No Player Shall: At any time lay a hand upon, shove, strike, harass or threaten an official. Officials are required to immediately suspend player from further play and report such player to the league director. Such player shall remain suspended until the league director has considered his/her case.
No Player Shall: Refuse to abide by official’s decision. Officials are required to immediately suspend play and report such player to the league supervisor. Such player shall remain suspended until the league director has considered his/her case.
No Player Shall: Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations of dissent at official’s decision.
Minimum penalty: Warning by the official.
Maximum penalty: Removal from the game.
No Player Shall: Discuss with an official in any manner the decision reached by such official except the manager or captain.
Minimum penalty: Warning by the official.
Maximum penalty: Removal from the game.
No Player Shall: Be guilty of using unnecessary rough tactics in the play of the game against the body of person of an opposing player. Officials are required to immediately suspend player from further play and report such player to the league director.
Minimum penalty: Placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
Maximum penalty: Suspension for two league games and placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
No Player Shall: Be guilty of either intentionally or unintentionally endangering a player, game official, or spectator.
Minimum penalty: Suspension from two league games and placed on probation for one calendar year.
No Player Shall: Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, official or spectator. Officials are required to immediately suspend player from further play and report such player to the league director.
Minimum penalty: Suspension from two league games and placed on probation for one calendar year.
Maximum penalty: Suspension for life and/or charges filed.
No Player Shall: Be guilty of an abusive verbal attack upon any player, official or spectator. Officials are required to immediately suspend player from further play and report such player to the league director. Player shall remain suspended until the league director has considered the incident.
Minimum penalty: Placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
Maximum penalty: Suspension for two league games and placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
No Player Shall: Appear upon the field of play at any time in an intoxicated condition. Officials are required to immediately suspend player from play and report to the league director for further consideration.
Minimum penalty: Placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
Maximum penalty: Suspension for two league games and placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
No Player Shall: Be guilty of gambling upon any play on the outcome of games with any spectator, player, or opponent. Officials are required to report violation of this rule to the league director.
Minimum penalty: Warning from official.
Maximum penalty: Suspension for the remainder of the season.
No Player Shall: Smoke while coming of or going on the area of play or while on the are of play.
Minimum penalty: Warning from official.
Maximum penalty: Removal from the game.
The Team Is: Responsible for the conduct of its fans and supporters. If the conduct of its fans and supporters becomes abusive towards opposing team members or any league officials, they place the team in jeopardy of forfeiting the game.
Minimum penalty: Placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
Maximum penalty: Forfeiture of the game.
No Player or Team Shall: Be guilty of repeatedly violating league rules of behavior in a manner that is disruptive to the smooth operation of the league and whose general conduct is, although not flagrant, undesirable to the standards of the adult sports program.
Minimum penalty: Placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
Maximum penalty: Suspension for the remainder of the season.
No Team Shall: Be guilty of breaking the rules in the ‘Team and Player Code of Conduct’. In any situation where the rules are broken and individual offenders cannot be determined (i.e., a major fight), then the league director can take disciplinary action against the team as a whole.
The team is in charged with the responsibility of its members. Any player who refuses to abide by the penalty against him by the officials or representatives places his team in jeopardy of losing the game by forfeiture.