Schedule/Reschedule Policy
The Skyline League has two distinct schedule processes. One is for Premier Divisions and one is for Classic Divisions. See below for a description of both.
Scheduling in PREMIER DIVISIONS is done on a club to club or "block" basis. Clubs participating in Premier Divisions are expected to field a team in every age group that is offered for both boys and girls. The Fall Season will be age groups U11-U18/19 and the Spring Season will be age groups U11-U14.
A minimum of two months prior to the season the League will publish a Master Schedule of club match ups, dates and home/away assignments. The League Commissioner will work with Club DOC's as necessary to create the Master Schedule.
The Directors of Coaching will create the daily schedules for teams within the framework of the Master Schedule of club v club matchups. All of a club's teams will play all of their opponent's teams on the same day. One entire club will travel to another club on the same day for a set of games between the clubs in all age groups.
Once the Directors of Coaching have completed the daily schedules they will distribute them to their teams and provide the league a copy for posting on the League Website. Any changes to the schedule are to be worked out by the Directors of Coaching. The League is not involved in the schedules of individual teams. Once a change has been made it should be communicated by the DOC's to the teams and to the League Commissioner so that the online schedule can be updated.
Scheduling in CLASSIC DIVISIONS is done on a team basis. The League Commissioner creates the Classic Division schedules using information provided by the teams and clubs.
Prior to the season the League Commissioner will publish a schedule by a date approximately 1 month prior to the opening weekend. This schedule will accommodate predetermined “no play dates” for each team (in addition to the announced off dates such as Easter) that can be for any reason ie. tournaments, school conflicts etc. There are 4 no play dates allowed in the fall and 2 in the spring. These no play dates can be taken either as a full weekend (counting for 2 dates) or as individual dates (taking off a Saturday but playing on the accompanying Sunday). Games can be scheduled either on Saturdays or Sundays but they tend to be weighted to Saturdays.
Once the schedule has been published the League Commissioner will reschedule games for three reasons:
1) Game conflicts with a State Cup match
2) Game is canceled due to weather
3) Game conflicts with a graded academic requirement ("academic event", not heavy homework) for a significant portion of the team.
These reschedules will be considered “official league reschedules” and will be scheduled and communicated by the League Commissioner through the league office. The team requesting a schedule change must notify the League Commissioner at least 7 days prior to the game for it to be considered. Both teams must make themselves available for the rescheduled match which will be fit into an available date during the season.
Teams wishing to make changes to the schedule for reasons outside of the above list may do so on their own provided
1) Their opponent agrees to the reschedule
2) They notify the League Commissioner promptly of the change
3) Referee availability and field availability are adequate
A team wishing to reschedule a match for a reason outside the sanctioned list of three “official league reschedules” should contact their opponent directly and negotiate a new play date. The opposing team however, is under no obligation to agree to a reschedule request for any reason outside of the three noted “official league reschedules”. If the game can not be rescheduled and is not played during the time indicated on the “final schedule”, the team not able to make the match as originally scheduled will be deemed to have forfeited. If both parties agree to a reschedule, the League Commissioner should be notified immediately of the schedule change.
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Checking of Player Passes Policy
Player passes are the means by which the league ensures that all players participating in league matches are officially registered players. Teams may only field players that are rostered to their team and have a player pass signed by a VYSA Registrar. (The only exception is the use of guest players. See the policy on this page for a complete description of this.)
Player passes from both teams should be checked by the referee or Linesmen prior to the scheduled start of the match. Teams which cannot produce their player passes by the end of the match may be subject to forfeiture of the match. Player passes may be kept by the referee or assistant referees during the game. After the game, the passes will be returned to the coach or a team representative. If a referee fails to check player passes, it is the responsibility of both coaches to remind him of this SCSL requirement. If a referee refuses to check player passes, the teams should immediately report this to the league. A coach has the right to check an opposing teams player passes before or after the match.
A referee does not have the authority to forfeit matches for player pass issues. Only the match’s sanctioning body (the league) has the authority to declare a forfeit. In situations where passes are not present at the start of a match, referees are advised to play the match as normal. In their Official Match Report they are to note any and all circumstances including the absence of passes or the lodging of a protest by either team. The information is to be turned over to the league at the match’s conclusion so that it can make a determination on the status of the match. No coach, team manager, registrar, parent, player, spectator or club official is invested with the power to unilaterally declare a forfeit. That authority rests with the league and its Commissioner.
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Red Card Policy
All red cards issued in Skyline League play incur the following penalty:
1) The offending player or coach must leave the match in which the card is issued. Players can not be substituted in that match and the team of the offending player must play down a man for the remainder of the match.
2) The offending player or coach can not participate in the next league game. Their team however, may play with a full 11 in that game.
Additional notes - Players who receive a red card must attend the following league match and sit on the team bench in street clothes. This is true for both home and away games. This is required so that the suspension can be properly served by the player, observed by the opposing team and recorded by the referee.
Coaches who receive a red card must stay away from their team's following league game.
Two yellow cards equal a red card. There is no "soft" red. Two yellows issued in the same match to the same player are treated the same as a straight red card and incur the same penalty.
Red cards are to be reported to the League Commisioner each week with the weekend scores. It is the responsibility of both participating teams/clubs to report any red cards issued in their match to the League. The player's name, jersey # and the offence committed should be reported. The League Commissioner will then notify the offending team's next opponent of the pending suspension so they can ensure it is properly served.
Red cards are only relevant within the competion they are issued in. Red cards issued in tournaments do not carry over into league play. Red card suspensions issued in league play can not be served in tournaments. If a player receives a red card in their last league match prior to a tournament they may play in the tournament unencumbered by the suspension but must then serve the suspension in their next leauge match after the tournament. If a team wishes to suspend a player on their own from their tournament match it does not exonerate the player from also serving the suspension in their next league match. If a red card is issued to a player in the final game of a season, the suspension must be served in the first game of the following season.
The Skyline League does not track yellow cards. There is no point accumulation for yellow cards issued over the course of the season. Clubs do not need to report yellow cards, only reds. Clubs are expected to control the behavior of their teams and players through internal measures. The League may impose sanctions in cases where clubs fail to demonstrate proper internal controls.
If a red card is deemed serious enough, additional sanctions may be levied by the league. Clubs will be encouraged and given the chance to take action first themselves.
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Some guest playing is allowed in the Skyline League. The rules governing guest playing are as follows:
All guest players must be registered to a team in the same club they are guest playing for. No one may guest play who is not registered to a VYSA team and no one who is registered to a VYSA team may guest play for a team in another club. All teams fielding guest players must use guest players from within their own club.
In age groups U14 and below, guest players may come from any team within the club regardless of its level provided the guest player is not of an age group older than that which the team is registered as. This means players from lower tier travel teams may play with teams of a higher tier (B to A) and players from higher tier travel teams may play with teams of a lower tier (A to B). Furthermore, players registered to Recreational teams within the club may guest play with Travel teams in their age group. Players registered to travel teams playing in other leagues (such as the VCCL) may guest play with Skyline teams provided all other requirements are satisfied. Players of one age group who are registered to play on an older team may guest play with teams in their own age group at U14 and below.
In age groups U15 and above, guest players may come from any team that is carded at a lower level than the team the player is guest playing for. Players may come from Recreational teams or from Travel teams that are of the same or younger age group and the same or lower tier of play (B to A). Players may not guest "down" with a team of a lower tier (A to B) or of a lower age group even if the player him/herself is actually of that age group. "A" level players may guest play with "B" level teams in U15 and above age groups only provided the following two stipulations are met; 1) The "B" team that the "A" level player is guest playing for is of an older age than the player in question (ie. U15 player guest playing with a U16 or older team) and 2) no more than 3 "A" level guest players are used in the match.
In no age group (U11-U19) may a team field a guest player who is of an older age group than what the guest team is carded for. This is true even if the team's opponent on game day is carded as an older team.
Guest players may play in a maximum of one game each day. Guest players may not play with their regular team if they have already played as a guest with another team that day and players may not guest with a team if they have already played with their regular team that day. Players may play once on Saturday and once on Sunday of the same weekend.
Guest players are to be announced prior to the match in which they are being used. Directors of Coaching (or another designated representative in cases where the club does not have a DOC) must contact their opposing club prior to the match to notify the opposing club of the guest players.
On game day the guest players must have their official current year player pass and this is to be presented to the referee prior to the game at the time of the standard player pass/roster check. All guest players are to be displayed on the game day roster. The game day roster may not exceed 18 for U13-U19 teams and 14 for U11-U12 teams including guest players.
The following methods are used to break ties in the standings:
In divisions without a playoff, ties will remain and co-champions will be declared.
In divisions with a post-season playoff where seedings must be established to organize the tournament, the following tie breakers will be used in order:
#1 - Total goal differential accumulated in all games over the course of the season.
#2 - The aggregate score between the two teams in the two games played between them.
#3 - The fewest goals allowed in all games over the course of the season.
#4 - The highest total away goals scored in all games over the course of the season.
#5 - Coin flip
Weekly Contact Policy/Procedure
To ensure that the season unfolds smoothly it is important that weekly contact is made between opponents to confirm game times and locations, review directions, agree upon uniform choice, establish a weather contingency and communication plan and clarify any unresolved questions. This happens in one of two ways depending on the division the team is in.
For teams in Premier Divisions that are part of clubs involved in block scheduling, the club Directors of Coaching will make weekly contact with one another prior to each set of games. They will review and confirm the full slate of games for the weekend and pick a uniform kit for all of their teams to wear. Each DOC will communicate these confirmations and any potential changes directly to the teams in their club. If weather issues arise, the home club DOC will contact the visiting club DOC as soon as possible to notify them of cancellations. The visiting club DOC is in charge of communicating this with their teams.
Teams participating in Classic Divisions that are not part of block scheduling will make contact with their opponents each week. In Classic Divisions the weekly contacts are made on the team level rather than the club level. All team contacts for Classic Divisions will be posted on the Skyline Website and team managers and coaches should use the list to make contact with their opponent prior to games. They should confirm game times and locations, review directions, agree upon uniform choice, establish a weather contingency and communication plan and clarify any unresolved questions.
By following these procedures we can ensure that games come off smoothly without unnecessary trips and lost and confused participants.
All players competing in Skyline games are to have a number present on the back of their jersey. The number should be a unique number not duplicated by any teammate. This will allow for clear and proper identification of players by match officials. If two players on the same team are seen wearing the same number, the referee should ask that one of the players step off the field and not play until they have procured a unique number that does not conflict with a teammate. Using tape or ink on the jersey to create a unique number (ie. changing a "7" to a "71") is acceptable.
Each club must provide adequate quantity and quality of soccer fields for league matches. One full day of field availability for one field must be provided for every four teams entered in the league. Fields should be 1 1/2 times longer than they are wide. Therefore the ratio of width to length should be 2/3.
Fields should meet the following guidelines:
U12/U11 fields for 8v8 play should be 75-80 yards long with a width of 55-50 yards. The small goal box should be 6 yards off of the goal posts and the big box is 14 yards off of the goalpoasts. The penalty spot is 10 yards from the center of the goal line and the semicircle at the top of the box is to be 8 yards from the penalty spot. The center circle is 8 yards in radius.
U13-U19 fields for 11v11 play should be no less than 100 yards long by 66 yards wide. Maximum length and width should be 115 by 75.
Fields must be well maintained. Grass should be kept trim and evenly cut. Lines should be well marked. Goals must be anchored. Nets need to be in good condition and securely fastened to the goal.
Goals in U12/U11 8v8 divisions should be 7x21. If a 7x21 is not available, a full size set of goals should be used. Do not use 6x18 size goals for U12/U11 play.
Goals in U13 and older 11v11 divisions should be full size (8x24)
Goals must be anchored.
Length of halves for matches are as follows.
U18, U17 - 45 minutes
U16, U15 - 40 minutes
U14, U13 - 35 minutes
U12, U11 - 30 minutes
Half length is determined by the age group of the division rather than the individual team. If a U16 team is playing in a U17 division, the half length is 45 minutes. The age group of each division is determined by the majority of teams in the division.
League Fees are assessed on a team by team basis. Clubs may pay for all of their teams with one check and are encouraged to do so. The Registration deadline is published prior to the season and all Registration Fees must be received at the league office by the registration deadline for teams to be included in the upcoming season.
Once the Registration Deadline has passed, League Fees are non-refundable. The Fee is representative of the team's and club's promise to play in the upcoming season. Schedules and season plans are prepared based upon teams who have paid. If a team withdraws from the league after the the Registration Deadline the fee will not be refundable.
The League Fee includes all VYSA Registration dues for each individual player on the team including insurance. It also includes money for awards and League Admin Fees. The League Fee is assessed each season a team plays (fall and spring).
Currently the fee is $300 per team.