CJSA Guidebook & Policy Manual - Connecticut Junior Soccer Association

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THE CONNECTICUT JUNIOR SOCCER ASSOCIATION, INC. ADVANTAGES OF MEMBERSHIP

Organized leagues for all youth ages and skill levels.
State Cup tournaments indoors and outdoors.
Automatic medical and liability insurance.
Select team programs leading to national team considerations.
Coaches training and State certification opportunities.
Opportunities to participate in interstate and international invitational tournaments.
Player development clinics available to members.

Connecticut Junior Soccer Association is committed to serve and educate its membership through the development, promotion and administration of youth soccer in the state of Connecticut.

The Board of Directors of this Association is charged with providing administrative support to the Leagues, Clubs, Teams and Players under its jurisdiction. At one end of the spectrum, we attempt to afford all young people an opportunity to participate in this game and have fun while they learn to enjoy the finer points and skills. Adults directing these programs should keep in mind that this means all participants should play at least 50 percent of each game.

At the other end of the spectrum, we see the exceptional athlete who seeks a higher level of competition and achievement. For them we have the State and District Select Team programs. Many of our former select team players have gone on to excel in college socce3r and are even being drafted into the professional ranks.

The Board of Directors of this Association, as well as the thousands of other adult volunteers who donate so much time and energy to supporting youth soccer, don’t claim to be perfect. We need ideas and input of all our membership in order to achieve these goals. In 2019, 65,000 young people participated in CJSA activities, and the numbers are growing at an astonishing rate.

For up-to-date policies and information, including current club contacts, please visit www.cjsa.org.

CJSA Office

11 Executive Drive, Farmington, CT 06032
Office: (860) 676-1161
Fax: (860) 676-1162
www.cjsa.org
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Executive Director: Josh Krusewski, executivedirector@cjsa.org

State Administrator: Sue Schultz, sue@cjsa.org

Programs Administrator: Courtney Leone, courtney@cjsa.org

Accounts Administrator: Terry Gillan, terry@cjsa.org

Grassroots Coaching Coordinator: Andy Parker, grassroots@cjsa.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Administrative Staff
Bylaws
Board of Directors/Committee Members
Certificate of Incorporation
Club Affiliation
CJSA Fees
Connecticut Cup Policies
Definitions
Discipline Policies
Discipline, Procedures, Appeals-Appendix J
District Contact Information
District Referee Assignors & Referee Administration
District Select Policies
Indoor Play
Indoor Play – Commercial
Indoor Tournaments
International Clearances, Appendix F
Laws of the Game
League Policies
New Club Affiliation, Appendix D
Player Eligibility Rules
Passes
Age Divisions
Guest Players
Registration – Adult & Player
Olympic Development Program Policies
Players Release
Premier/Elite League Policies
Protest Policies
Referee Fee Structure, Appendix B
Rostering
Tips on Referees, Appendix I
State Cup/National Championship Policies
Sending Off Policy, Appendix H
Tournaments, Appendix E
Travel Policies

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Bob Goldman, bobgoldman@gmail.com

153 Krawski Drive, South Windsor, CT 06074
(860) 655-2010

First Vice President: Dave Rodriguez, roddag1@comcast.net

29 Overlook Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 294-1545

Secretary: Andrea Duffy, andrea.duffy@snet.net

417 Thoreau Street, Branford, CT 06405
(203) 488-6790

Treasurer: Tom Hayden, thayden01@comcast.net

24 Musket Trail
Simsbury, CT 06070
(860) 729-4792

Vice President (Central District): Mary Kay Brophy, marykbrophy@aol.com

1284 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033
C: (860) 338-4851

Representative (Central District): Maggie Girard, girard_maggie@yahoo.com

237 Oxford Street, Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-7856

Vice President (North Central District): Gary Schoedler, gary@southwindsorsoccer.org

54 Highview Road, South Windsor, CT
(860) 978-6831

Representative (North Central District): Chris Weller, r.chris.weller@gmail.com

21 Ellsworth Lane, Canton, CT 06019
(860) 352-8387

Vice President (Northeast District): Rick Bernstein, tcccsb@earthlink.net

56 Jonathan Lane, Mansfield, CT 06268
(860) 978-1592

Representative (Northeast District)

Vice President (Northwest District): Paul Maloney, phmaloney1@gmail.com

(203) 588-1802

Representative (Northwest District): Dave Brouillette, nwdstaterep@cjsa.org

719 Spindle Hill Road, Wolcott, CT 06716
(203) 879-6600

Vice President (South Central District): Dave Rodriguez, roddag1@comcast.net

29 Overlook Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 294-1545

Representative (South Central District): Andrea Duffy, andrea.duffy@snet.net

417 Thoreau Street, Branford, CT 06405
(203) 488-6790

Vice President (Southeast District): Joe Filippetti, jmflip@aol.com

11 Hillcrest Drive, Waterford, CT 06385
(860) 442-6473

Representative (Southeast District): Joe Zizik, reg@secjsa.org

66 Beechwood Road, Oakdale, CT 06370
(860) 848-8237

Vice President (Southwest District): John Montgomery, jbmontgomery203@gmail.com

9 Chapel Lane, Riverside, CT 06878
(646) 732-6653

Representative (Southwest District): Dave Nuttall, david.nuttall@wiltonsoccer.info

105 Old Highway, Wilton, CT 06897

State Youth Referee Administrator: Ron Packard, syra@ctreferee.net

6 Chatham Lane, Burlington, CT 06013
(860) 508-5420

Immediate Past President: Joe Conte, jcontejewelers@att.net

2582 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
(203) 248-9853

Director of Recreational Services

State Registrar: Joe Zizik, reg@secjsa.org

66 Beechwood Road, Oakdale, CT 06370
(860) 848-8237

Life Members

Alastair Bell, Bob Dikranian, Warren Swanson, Joe Morrone, Ray LeGates, Anthony DiCicco, Chico Chacurian, Al McWhirter, Andrea Duffy, Ed Tremble, Pat Hennig, Milan Keser

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Premier League Chairperson	Josh Krusewski	860-676-1161
CJSA Cup Co-Chairs	Josh Krusewski	860-676-1161
Boys Cup Chairperson	Ron Filipek	860-828-0821
Girls Cup Chairperson	Jay Mitchell
Discipline Chairperson	Jerry Garlick	860-651-0826
Cup Protest Chairperson	Dave Rodreguez	203-294-1545
Fair Play Chairperson	Josh Krusewski	860-676-1161
Finance Governance Chair	Tom Hayden	860-676-1161
Youth Soccer Month	Sue Schultz	860-676-1161
Registration Appeals Board Chairperson	Joe Zizik	203-294-1545
Recreation Chair TOPSoccer	Andrea Duffy	203-488-6790
Background Checks

OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Director of U13-17 ODP Boys: Todd D’Alessandro
Director of U13-17 ODP Girls: Jim O’Brien (203-913-5229)
CT Training Center, Director of U10-12 ODP Boys & Girls: Todd D’Alessandro (860-406-1670)

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT JUNIOR SOCCER ASSOCIATION, INC.

1. The name of the corporation is CONNECTICUT JUNIOR SOCCER ASSOCIATION, INC.

2.The nature of the activities to be conducted, or the purposes to be promoted or carried out by the corporation, are as follows:

a. To foster national or international amateur sports competition by promoting, developing and governing youth soccer activity in the State of Connecticut and coordinating such activity with other states through affiliation with the Connecticut State Soccer Association and the Federation of International Football Associations.

b. The general purposes and powers are to have and exercise all rights and powers conferred in non-stock corporations under the laws of Connecticut, including the power to contract, rent, buy, or sell personal or real property, provided, however, that this corporation shall not, except to an unsubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise, any powers that are not in furtherance of the primary purposes of this corporation.

c. No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporations shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in this article. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation except from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

3. The corporation is nonprofit and shall not have or issue shares of stock or pay dividends.

4. The classes, rights, privileges, qualifications, obligations, and the manner of election or appointment of members are as follows: The corporation shall have two classes of voting members, the qualification and the manner of election or appointment of which are to be provided in the by-laws.

5. Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of by the Superior Court of the County in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

d. 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

6. The corporation is nonprofit and shall not have or issue shares of stock or pay dividends.

7. The classes, rights, privileges, qualifications, obligations, and the manner of election or appointment of members are as follows: The corporation shall have two classes of voting members, the qualification and the manner of election or appointment of which are to be provided in the by-laws.

8. Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of by the Superior Court of the County in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

9. Persons occupying the positions of Immediate Past President, President, First Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President – Northeast District, Vice President – Northwest District, Vice President – Central District, Vice President – Northcentral District, Vice President – Southcentral District, Vice President – Southeast District, Vice President – Southwest District, State Youth Referee Administrator and CSSA Representative, shall constitute, ex officio, the Board of Directors, all with voting privileges except the President who shall vote only to effect the outcome.

10. No member of the Board of Directors, committee chairman, or voting committee member of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association shall receive compensation (other than reimbursement for expenses) for services or goods provided Connecticut Junior Soccer Association through a binding obligation unless the binding obligation is specifically approved by the Board of Directors. Any Board member having a financial interest in the contract, letter of agreement, or verbal understanding shall abstain from voting.

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF CONNECTICUT JUNIOR SOCCER ASSOCIATION, INC.

ARTICLE I – Name

The name of the corporation is Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, Inc. The principal office of the corporation shall be at Farmington, Connecticut, or such other place as the directors shall from time to time designate.

ARTICLE II – Members

The corporation shall have two classes of voting members, individual members and Club members. Individual members shall be those persons constituting the Board of Directors. Club members shall be each club currently affiliated and in good standing with the association. Each Club member may be represented at membership meetings by one adult delegate. Each Club member may cast one vote for each complete increment of fifteen (15) players registered by the club in the previous seasonal year, or each complete increment of fifteen (15) players registered by the club in the current seasonal year, whichever is greater.

ARTICLE III – Meeting of Members

1. Annual General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the membership, for the election of officers and directors and for the transaction of such business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held each year. One-half of the total voting members shall constitute a quorum. The use of proxies is allowed. One adult may vote for only three clubs either through direct representation and/or through proxy.

2. Special Meetings. Special Meetings of the membership shall be called at the written request of three directors, or at the written request of one-third of the total voting members, or by the President in an emergency. One-third of the total voting members and at least three individual members shall constitute a quorum.

3. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of the time, place and agenda of any annual or special meeting shall be mailed or delivered personally to each member at least fifteen (15) full days before each meeting. Such notice may be waived, however, by a written waiver signed by each member who received no such notice, and the presence of a member shall constitute a waiver of any lack or defect of notice.

ARTICLE IV – Directors

1. Members of Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of the persons occupying the positions of Immediate Past President, President, First Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President–Northeast District, Vice President–Northwest District, Vice President –Central District, Vice President–North Central District, Vice President–South Central District, Vice President – Southeast District, Vice President – Southwest District, State Youth Referee Administrator and Connecticut State Soccer Association Representative. In addition, each district shall elect one of the members to serve as District Representative and alternate to the Vice President at Board of Directors meetings.

2. Powers. The activities, property and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and of these bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have all the powers conferred upon it by statute. The Board of Directors is empowered to adopt and enforce such rules and regulations, not in conflict with those adopted by the general membership, as it shall deem necessary to regulate the operation of Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, Inc., the relationships among its members, and the rules of play of soccer.

3. Meetings. There shall be a minimum of eight (8) regular meetings of the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called at the written request of three directors or by the President. At all meetings of the Board of Directors one-half of the members shall constitute a quorum.

4. Nominations & Elections. At the annual general membership meeting each even numbered year the voting members of the association shall elect the First Vice President, and Secretary; AND the voting members present from the respective districts shall elect the Vice Presidents of the Northeast, Northwest, and South Central districts. At the annual general membership meeting each odd numbered year, the voting members of the association shall elect the President and Treasurer, AND the voting members present from the respective districts shall elect the Vice Presidents of the Central, North Central, Southeast, and Southwest districts. Each elected director will serve until a successor is elected and qualified. Any and all persons wishing to be considered for election as CJSA President, CJSA First Vice President, CJSA Secretary or CJSA Treasurer shall submit their names in writing to the CJSA Administrator designating the office they are seeking. Candidates for the positions of CJSA President and CJSA Treasurer shall submit their names each even numbered year by October 1 for incumbents, November 15 for all others. Candidates for the positions of CJSA First Vice President and CJSA Secretary shall submit their names each odd numbered year by October 1 for incumbents, November 15 for all others. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the AGM.

Time will be provided at the December (January) CJSA Board of Directors meeting for each candidate to present a brief statement in support of his/her candidacy. Each statement is to last no more than five (5) minutes. If the candidate is absent, an authorized representative may read the statement on his/her behalf. CJSA shall post the contents of these statements on their website.

5. Vacancy. In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors for any reason, the Board of Directors may appoint a person to fill such vacancy for the un-expired term, or, in the case of a District Vice President, until the district concerned elects a replacement. Any member of the Board of Directors absent from three consecutive meetings without cause shall have his office and directorship declared vacant at the discretion of the Board of Directors, who shall appoint a successor as provided for above.

6. Absence of District Vice President. The governing board of each district shall annually elect a person who, in the absence of the District Vice President, shall assume the powers and responsibilities of the District Vice President.

7. Honorary Life Members. The Board of Directors may designate as Honorary Life Members such persons as they determine have distinguished themselves in the interest of soccer. Honorary Life Membership shall be irrevocable, and Honorary Life Members may attend meetings of the Board of Directors but shall be without vote.

8. Emergency Committee. The President, First Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall constitute an Emergency Committee to represent the Board of Directors on matters demanding immediate attention where it is impractical or impossible to call a Board of Directors meeting. Their actions, however, shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, which, if withheld, shall invalidate their actions insofar as they were executory. Only the Board of Directors shall have the power to incur liabilities on behalf of the Association.

ARTICLE V – Officers and Duties

1. The officers of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, Director of Recreational Services, Seven (7) District Vice Presidents, State Youth Referee Administrator, and Connecticut State Soccer Association Representative.

2. President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the general membership, but shall vote only to affect the outcome. The President shall appoint all non-elected committees and shall serve ex-officio on all committees. The President shall be empowered to register players and validate player passes and rosters for players/teams within CJSA when necessary. The President shall be empowered to grant permission to travel to CJSA teams/players/clubs in emergency situations.

3. First Vice President. The First Vice President shall succeed to the powers of the President in his/her absence.

4. Secretary. The Secretary shall record all minutes of the meetings of the Board ofDirectors and the general membership and shall distribute copies of the minutes to all voting members.

5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of all monies of the Association and shall safeguard such funds. The Treasurer shall keep a detailed account of the income and expenditures of the Association. The Treasurer shall submit a statement of the financial condition of the Association at meetings of the Board of Directors and the general membership. In addition, at the AGM, the Treasurer shall present the audited or review financial statements of the Association from certified public accountants for the preceding fiscal year ending August 31. If the financial statements for August 31 have not been issued by the date of the AGM, the Treasurer will provide copies of the issued financial statements to all district Vice Presidents, within 30 days of the issuance date (date of the financial statement report) to be presented by the district Vice Presidents to their respective members at the immediate following district meeting.

6. Registrar. The President, with the consent of the Board of Directors, shall appoint the Registrar annually. The Registrar shall act as a coordinator with the district registrars in the registration of all players and participating adults to their respective clubs and the rostering of players to their respective teams and shall maintain appropriate records pertaining thereto. He/she shall be empowered to register players and validate player passes and rosters for players within CJSA.

7. Director of Recreational Services. The Director of Recreational Services shall be appointed annually by the President with the consent of the Board of Directors. The Director shall develop, coordinate and implement programs to aid and assist affiliated recreational level programs in meeting the needs and interests of players participating in such programs.

8. State Youth Referee Administrator. The State Youth Referee Administrator shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the Board of Directors and the advice of the State Referee Administrator. He/she shall coordinate all activities relating to the selection and training of referees and their assignment to all Association sponsored games. The SYRA and/or his/her designee shall assign all referees to State sponsored competition (Premier League, State Cup and Connecticut Cup).

9. District Vice Presidents. Each District Vice President shall be responsible for the conduct of play within the district and shall enforce the bylaws and rules and regulations of the District, the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, the United States Youth Soccer Association, and the United States Soccer Federation within the district. The District Vice President shall be empowered to register players and validate player passes for players registered to clubs within the district.

10. Director of Olympic Development Program (ODP). The Director of Olympic Development Program shall be appointed annually by the President with the consent of the CJSA Board of Directors. The Director shall be responsible for administering the CJSA ODP Program. The Director shall have such duties and responsibilities as the rules of this association or the directives of the CJSA Board of Directors shall require.

ARTICLE VI – Districts

1. Definition. The state association shall be divided into seven (7) geographical districts for the purpose of fostering effective administration at the local level and encouraging the development of soccer at all levels of play.

2. District Governing Board. A District Governing Board is an organizational and administrative body or board within and for each district and empowered with such authority and entrusted with such responsibility as their district bylaws and these bylaws shall convey thereto.

3. District Members. Each affiliated club shall be considered a member club of the district in which its home field is located and shall be entitled to fair and equitable representation on the governing board of that district. A club geographically located in one district may become a member of another district with, and only with, the approval of a majority of the CJSA Board of Directors AND the approval of the governing board of the district the club wishes to join. If the request of a club to move from one district to another is rejected by the Board of Directors, the club may petition the CJSA general membership for permission to move and shall be granted that permission upon a majority vote of the general membership.

4. Chairperson. The duly elected District Vice President of each district shall serve as chairperson of the governing board of that district.

5. Powers. Each District Governing Board shall be empowered to organize, administer, and/or finance such teams, leagues, tournaments, competitions and related programs and establish such rules, constitution, bylaws, or their equivalents, governing intra-district affairs as it shall deem appropriate and that are not in conflict with the rules, bylaws, and jurisdiction of the United States Soccer Federation, the United States Youth Soccer Association and the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association.

6. Rights of Members. Within each district, each member club, each team sponsored by a member club, and each player registered with a member club, in good standing, shall have the right to participate fully and equitably in or on any district sponsored team, league, tournament or competition subject to the rules adopted by the governing board of that district.

7. Responsibility. Each District Governing Board shall have the responsibility to promote the sport of soccer at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of play.

8. Discipline. Each District Governing Board shall have the responsibility to promptly address matters of discipline with regard to its member clubs, officials, coaches and players.

9. District Registrar. Each district shall annually elect a District Registrar who shall be empowered and charged with validating player passes for players registered to clubs within the district, rostering teams sponsored by clubs within the district and maintaining accurate records pertaining thereto.

10. District Treasurer. Each district shall annually elect a District Treasurer who shall have duties comparable to those of the Treasurer of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. Each District Treasurer shall file with the Treasurer of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, quarterly statements of income and expenditures for the previous quarter, within thirty (30) days of the end of each quarter, in a manner prescribed by the Treasurer of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. In addition, on or before October 31^st of each seasonal year each District Treasurer shall file with the Treasurer of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, and with each club that is a member of the district, a statement of income and expenditures and financial condition of the district for the preceding seasonal year. All information shall be sent to the Treasurer care of the CJSA Office.

11. District Secretary. Each district shall annually elect a District Secretary who shall have duties comparable to those of the Secretary of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. Each District Secretary shall send a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the District Governing Board to each member club of the district and to the Administrator and President of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association.

12. District Referee Assignor (DRA). The DRA shall be appointed by the State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA) with the advice of the State Referee Administrator (SRA) and the consent of the President and the District Vice President. He/she shall assign all State sponsored competitions within the district and all district sponsored games. The DRA will report to the SYRA.

13. District Director of Recreational Services. Each district shall annually elect a District Director of Recreational Services, who in conjunction with the Directors from other districts and the Director of Recreational Services for the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, shall develop, coordinate and implement programs to aid and assist affiliated recreational programs within the district.

14. District Select Team Coordinator. Each district may, at its option, annually elect a District Select Team Coordinator who in conjunction with the coordinators from other districts, the state District Select Program Directors and the Director of Select Team Programs, shall develop, coordinate and implement programs for players participating in the District Select Team Program.

ARTICLE VII – Player Registration Fee

Any change in the player registration fee required for participation in the CJSA program or any statewide per player assessment must be approved by majority vote of the members at any AGM or special meeting of the general membership prior to becoming effective.

ARTICLE VIII – Sale or Disposition of Assets

Any sales, lease, exchange, or other disposition of at least thirty percent (30%) of total cash assets, other than in the regular course of CJSA activities, must first be initiated by a resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the disposition. After adoption of such a resolution, the Board of Directors shall submit the proposed disposition to the members for their approval.

The Board of Directors may condition its submission of a disposition to the members on any basis.

Notice of the meeting for the consideration and vote on the disposition shall be in accordance with Article III of these Bylaws.

The proposed transaction to be authorized must be approved:

by the Board of Directors; and
by the members by two-thirds of the votes cast or a majority of the voting power, whichever is less.

Both classes of members may vote.

ARTICLE IX – Amendment

Amendments to these bylaws and/or rules shall be made at any AGM by a vote of at least two-thirds of all votes cast. Any proposed amendments must be submitted to the State Administrator in writing and received by 3:00 PM the second Friday in November.* Any proposed amendment to these bylaws or to the Rules and Regulations must be proposed and co-sponsored by at least three (3) CJSA member clubs or by at least three (3) Members of the Board of Directors. Notice of any such proposed amendments shall be given to all individual members and Club members at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE X – Compliance with United States Soccer Federation (USSF)

1. The membership of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association and the members of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association shall be open to any soccer players, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators and officials not subject to suspension under Bylaw 201 of the United States Soccer Federation, and to any amateur youth soccer organization in the state of Connecticut.

2. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association will not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex or national origin.

3. The articles of Incorporation, bylaws, policies and requirements of the United States Soccer Federation shall take precedence over and supersede the governing documents and decisions of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association and its members to the extent applicable under Connecticut state law, and the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association and its members will abide by the articles, bylaws, policies and requirements of the United States Soccer Federation.

4. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association will not join any organization that has requirements that conflict with the articles, bylaws, policies and requirements of the United States Soccer Federation.

5. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association shall register all of its players, coaches, teams, referees and administrators with the United States Soccer Federation at least once each year and timely pay all dues and fees to the Federation.

6. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association and its members shall not discriminate against the participation of players or teams on the basis of that player or team’s membership in, or affiliation with, another organization. Association members are encouraged to allow teams of all other United States Soccer Federation members to participate in tournaments sponsored by the Association or any of its members when the teams otherwise comply with the tournament eligibility requirements.

7. Actions and policies adopted by the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association shall be reported to the membership annually at the annual general meeting of the Association membership.

8. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association shall provide to the Secretary General of the United Stated Soccer Federation an annual report on the activities of the Association and the most current annual financial statements within ninety (90) days after the start of the Federation’s seasonal year.

9. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association will provide annually to the United States Soccer Federation copies of the Association’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations AND submit changes to these documents to the Federation for approval not later than ninety (90) days after adoption AND make copies of these documents available to the membership.

10. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association will provide equitable and prompt hearing and appeal procedures to guarantee the rights of individuals to participate and compete. Those procedures shall include that all grievances involving the right to participate and compete in activities sponsored by the Federation and CJSA and its members may be appealed to the Federation’s Appeals Committee that shall have jurisdiction to approve, modify, or reverse a decision.

11. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association shall maintain its tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.

12. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association shall adopt policies prohibiting sexual and physical abuse that meet criteria established by the United Stated Soccer Federation (subject to any contrary requirements contained in Connecticut state or local law applicable to the Association or its members).

13. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association will allow the United States Soccer Federation to review the documents and procedures of the Association, on request of the Federation not less than once every four (4) years, to determine compliance with the bylaws of the Federation.

14. The provisions of Article IX take precedence over and supersede any provision to the contrary.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1000 – General

2000 – Affiliation, Standing Registration and Rostering

3000 – Player Eligibility, Player Passes, Age Division and Coaches Passes

4000 – Playing Rules, Referees, and Responsibilities

8000 – Indoor Play, Commercial Indoor, State Indoor Tournament

1000 GENERAL

1010 Lack of knowledge of these rules will not relieve any member of CJSA, official, league, club, team, player, parent, coach, administrator or referee from the responsibilities and possible penalties herein. All clubs, team officials, parents, and players by their participation in CJSA, agree to be bound by these rules.

1011 CJSA promotes good sportsmanship by any member of CJSA, officials, leagues, clubs, teams, players, parents, spectators, coaches, administrators and referees, and expects the support of players and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial or sexist comments, or other intimidating comments or actions directed at officials, players, coaches, team representatives, or spectators will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of the competition and for disciplinary action.

1012 The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association is not responsible for any item lost or delayed through any means of conveyance.

1013 CJSA agrees to abide by mandates of U. S. Soccer. All members of CJSA will be given appropriate notice of these mandates.

1014 Silent Sidelines. Each Fall and Spring playing season the Board of Directors shall sponsor a statewide Silent Sidelines weekend. Coaches will be permitted to give players direction from the sidelines. Spectators will be directed to refrain from making any comments to players, coaches or referees, but will be permitted to applaud efforts by players.

Note: The spring silent sideline weekend is the third weekend in May. The fall silent sideline weekend is the third weekend in October.

2000 AFFILIATION, STANDING, REGISTRATION AND ROSTERING.

2100 CLUB AFFILIATION

2100 Clubs. No group, organization or association may register players or roster teams with CJSA, or participate in any CJSA or US Youth Soccer competition, or solicit player registrations or fees on behalf of CJSA unless and until it has become a properly affiliated club.

2110 New Club Approval. The CJSA Board of Directors shall accept as a new club any petitioning organization satisfying all the New Club requirements and agreeing to abide by the rules and regulations of CJSA.

2111 New Affiliation. Any organization seeking recognition as a new club must field a minimum of at least four (4) teams and is required to follow rules and procedures of the CJSA Board, pertaining to New Club Affiliation (See Appendix D).

2112 Club Status. The petitioning organization shall be deemed a club and accorded all rights and privileges pertaining thereto. If all rules and procedures have been met, including acceptance by the district VP. If all rules and procedures have been met, including acceptance by the district VP. The club will be approved and presented to the BOD.

2113 Renewal of Affiliation. Any club currently affiliated with CJSA may renew its affiliated status for the prospective seasonal year by filing a properly completed current club affiliation prior to 3:00 PM June 1^st. This process is done online in the CJSA Registration System.

2114 Loss of Affiliation. Any club failing to renew its affiliation prior to September 1^st may be declared no longer affiliated with CJSA by majority vote of the Directors present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting of the CJSA Board of Directors.

2200 GOOD STANDING – PLAYER, TEAM, CLUB, ETC.

2210 Loss of Good Standing. Any player, coach, manager, club official, team or club may be declared not in good standing and have his/her/its rights and privileges suspended, in whole or in part, by a two-thirds vote of the Directors present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting of the CJSA Board of Directors for:

(a) failure to pay financial obligation and commitments.

or (b) persistent infringement of the rules of CJSA, US Youth Soccer, or USSF.

or (c) for other good cause consisting of actions detrimental to the sport of soccer or CJSA.

2211 Reinstatement Of Good Standing. Any person or team not in good standing pursuant to CJSA Rule 2210 shall be reinstated to all rights and privileges upon majority vote of the Directors present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting of the CJSA Board of Directors.

2220 Loss of Good Standing Within District. Any player, coach, manager, club official or team may be declared not in good standing within a district and have his/her/its rights and privileges of participation in district affairs and activities suspended, in whole or in part, by a two-thirds vote of the members of the district’s governing board present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting of the Board for:

(a) failure to pay financial obligations and commitments.

or (b) persistent infringement of the rules of the district, CJSA, US Youth Soccer or USSF.

or (c) for other good cause consisting of actions detrimental to the sport of soccer or CJSA.

2221 Reinstatement Of Good Standing. Any person or team declared not in good standing

pursuant to CJSA Rule 2220 shall be reinstated to all rights and privileges upon majority vote of the members of the district’s governing board present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting of the board.

2222 Player Not In Good Standing. Any player declared not in good standing by a district pursuant to CJSA Rule 2220, while registered to a club within that district, may not be registered or rostered thereafter by any club affiliated with CJSA until the player is reinstated to all rights and privileges pursuant to CJSA Rule 2221 OR the player has been given permission to register and roster by majority vote of the Directors present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting of the CJSA Board of Directors.

2300 PLAYER REGISTRATION, ADULT REGISTRATION

2310 Total Registration. CJSA shall register each and every soccer player of each and every soccer team that is sponsored, financed, coached, or administered by its member organizations. Only affiliated organizations may register players with US Youth Soccer. (See U.S. Soccer Bylaw 212/213)

2311 Player Registration. A player is registered with CJSA and is registered to a club when the player has submitted and the club has accepted a properly completed US Youth Soccer player registration form (or equivalent form used by the club) and the appropriate CJSA registration fee. Once a player is registered with CJSA, he or she is registered with CJSA and US Youth Soccer for the entire seasonal year. A player is registered from the moment the player or the player’s agent signs the Registration form and pays the appropriate fees. (See US Youth Soccer Rule 201.3). If the club uses its own form it must, in case of a player under the age of eighteen (18), include permission from the player’s parent(s) or guardian(s) to participate in the club’s program. Note: For a player who comes to the United States on or after the player is 10 years of age, the player must request and receive an international clearance from the Federation. See Appendix F for additional information.

2312 Player Registration Fee. The basic registration fee for all players shall be $11.25 per seasonal year with $1.00 to be directed solely to the online registration system (background check system). An additional Competition Registration Fee of $4.00 per seasonal year shall be charged for all players participating on any classic, developmental and/or premier team.

The player registration fees shall not be increased further for a period of 5 years, subject to the following exceptions:

1)The basic registration fee shall be increased automatically to reflect any player fee increase imposed by the US Youth Soccer Association or US Soccer Federation;

2)A proposal to increase the basic registration fee may be submitted for a vote by membership during this 5 year period if a budget line item for insurance increases by more than 20% or $20,000 over the expense as of January 30, 2016, whichever is greater.

3)The fee increase will be effective August 1, 2016.

During this time period, any surplus of $10,000 or more over actual expenses for a fiscal year will be utilized to provide programs for members and will not be added to the reserve.

2313 Local Registration. A player must register in the state in which he or she resides with his or her parent(s) or guardian(s), or in the case of a student in residence at a boarding school or college or university, the player may register in the state in which the boarding school, college, or division of the college or university is located. Any other question of residency may be determined by the state in which the player is registered to vote or holds a current driver’s license. (US Youth Soccer Rule 201)

2314 Club Registration. Any player registered to a club is bound to that club, for purposes of outdoor play, for the entire seasonal year unless the player requests and obtains a change of club registration, 1. a player registering to one club for the purposes of participating in district league or Connecticut Cup may concurrently register to a second club for the limited purpose of rostering to a team which is participating in, or intends to participate in, a state (and US Youth) administered league or 2. a player registering to one club for the purposes of participating in district league, Connecticut Cup or recreational play may concurrently register to a second club for the limited purpose of recreational play.

2315 Change of Club Registration. A parent may request a change of club registration for their child at any time and submit with the appropriate fee if applicable. The written consent of the player’s parent(s) or guardian(s) is needed, unless the player is at least 18 years of age. A transfer may be started by the releasing club or by CJSA on behalf of the player. Once the initial request is received the releasing club will approve twice and then the approval goes to CJSA. Once approved by CJSA the receiving club will approve twice and then the approval goes to CJSA. At this time the player is considered transferred.

OR The written consent of the Registration Appeals Board AND the written consent of the President, or Chief Officer of the club the player wishes to join.

2316 Approval Of Change. Whenever the CJSA Office receives a properly completed request for a change in club registration, including both current and new club approvals he/she shall approve the request. The change in registration shall be effective upon approval by the CJSA Office. (See rules 2210-2222)

2317 Appeal. Whenever a player has not received the written consent of the Club President within 48 hours after a written request for such consent has been made, the player may appeal to the Registration Appeals Board for permission to change club registration.

2318 Registration Appeals Board. Each seasonal year the CJSA President shall appoint, with the approval of the CJSA Board of Directors, a Registration Appeals Board which shall consider and act upon a player’s request to change club registration whenever the written consent otherwise required for such a change has been withheld. The Registration Appeals Board shall be composed of 3 members of the CJSA Board of Directors, one of who shall be appointed as chairperson. Any club, which refuses the change of club registration request of a player, should notify the player that there is a registration appeals board.

2319 Submission of Registrations. No later than 30 days after a player has been registered the registering club shall upload into the CJSA Registration system to verify that the player has been properly registered to the club. The appropriate registration fee will be submitted.

2320 Adult Registration. Each club shall annually register each adult serving the club, or any of its teams, (recreation, classic, premier) as a coach, assistant coach, manager, volunteer referee, administrator, official or director. The adult registration fee shall be $5.00 per seasonal year. No later than 30 days after an adult assumes such responsibilities the club shall upload the adult’s name, complete mailing address (to include email address) and registration fee to the CJSA Registration System. All registered adults must complete and pass a background check through CJSA’s website and have a current SafeSport Certificate on file.

2400 ROSTERING

2410 Player Rostering. A player is considered rostered to a team when a club has uploaded the proper completed team roster template assigning the player to a team or when the player first participates for the team in any competition sanctioned by US Youth Soccer, CJSA or its member leagues, clubs or teams, whichever comes first.

2411 Team Rostering. Whenever a club assigns players to a team for purposes of non-Recreational inter-club play, the club shall upload a properly completed team roster template. In addition, whenever a club assigns players to a team for purposes of participation in a specific non-recreational inter-club competition (i.e. district league, premier league, Connecticut Cup, State Cup, invitational tournaments, etc.) the club shall submit a copy of the team roster to the authority in charge of the specific competition. (The team may not RELEASE, voluntarily or involuntarily, any player from its roster UNLESS a written request, stating the reasons why this action has been requested, has been made to and approved by CJSA on a form provided. A team may RELEASE INVOLUNTARILY a player from its roster ONLY if the player is unable to play for one of the following reasons: 1) The player has violated US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, or CJSA rules; 2) The player has moved beyond a reasonable travel distance. 3) The player is injured in such a manner that the player will not be able to participate for the remainder of the season.)

2412 Team Roster Forms-Classic Team Roster Forms-Classic A properly completed classic team roster shall contain the names, uniform number, CJSA ID numbers, and Gender. Full sided rosters must consist of not less than 11, nor more than 22 players. Small sided rosters must consist of not less than 7, nor more than 16 players. All players must be registered to the club submitting the roster form.

Team Roster Game Day – A game day roster shall be prepared by the team and submitted to the game official prior to each match. This roster may include additional players from within its club. These rosters may not contain more than 16 players for the U11 and U12 and 18 players 0for the U13 – U19. No roster may have less than 7 players.

Team Roster Forms (Premier) – A properly completed premier team roster shall contain the names, uniform number, CJSA ID numbers and Gender. A roster must have not less than 7 nor more than 16 players for U11-U12 small sided; and not more than 22 players for U13-U19 at all times throughout the seasonal year. At the time a premier team names its State Cup (National Championship) roster it may not have more than 5 previously rostered players.

2413 Multiple Rostering. A player rostered to a team in the (EDP) Premier League may also be rostered to a second club for purposes of district league or Connecticut Cup play. A player rostered to a classic team or recreational team may also roster to a second club for purposes of recreational play. Players may not register or roster concurrently to a third club.

Players may be rostered simultaneously to more than one team from the same club for purposes of participating in non-recreational league play. AND for purposes of league play, a player rostered to a Connecticut Cup eligible team may also be rostered to another Connecticut Cup eligible team, from the same club. (Note: Players may be rostered on more than one league roster, however, they may ONLY be rostered to ONE (1) Connecticut Cup Team.) See CJSA Rule 2314. NOTE: Although multiple rostering is permitted, team rosters submitted for any specific competition such as a league, cup or tournament competition, are fully subject to the more limiting or restricting rules of the particular competition.)

3000 PLAYER ELIGIBILITY, PLAYER PASSES, AGE DIVISIONS AND COACHES PASSES

3100 Player Eligibility and Player Passes

3110 Player Eligibility. No player is eligible to play in any CJSA sanctioned competition or activity without being registered and in good standing with CJSA. In addition, no player is eligible to participate in any non-recreational inter-club CJSA or US Youth Soccer sanctioned competition until the club to which the player is registered has uploaded the proper player registration information and supplied the district registrar with an acceptable document establishing the player’s date of birth. The district registrar will verify the player’s information. Except as provided for in CJSA Rule 2314 and CJSA Rule 3310 no player registered to a club may play for any team sponsored by another club unless the player first obtains a change of club registration. (See CJSA Rule 2315)

3111 Playing Ineligible Players. Any team playing a player who is not eligible to participate pursuant to CJSA Rule 3110 shall forfeit the game(s) in which that player takes part and may be subject to disciplinary action. (See US Youth Soccer Rule 209)

3112 Player Pass Requirement. A current and validated US Youth Soccer player pass in accordance with Rule 3113 shall be required of all players participating in any inter-club competition, unless the rules of the competition specifically waive the requirement.

3113 Proper Player Pass. A properly completed US Youth Soccer Player Pass shall contain the name, date of birth, (mm/yyyy) CJSA ID number, photo of the player and name of the club to which the player is registered. The pass shall be validated by the CJSA Registration system. This player pass must be laminated so that the entire pass is encased by the plastic. A Player Pass is valid only for the current Seasonal Year. A new pass must be issued each Seasonal Year. NOTE: (Seasonal Year is defined as from September 1^st through August 31^st of the following year).

3114 Lost Player Passes. Whenever a player pass has been completed and properly validated but the pass has become lost, stolen or misplaced, a player may participate in inter-club CJSA sanctioned competitions by signing his or her name and date of birth to a copy of an approved roster for the game officials and opposing coach prior to every game. If however, a player has never been issued a validated player pass for the current seasonal year, the player may not participate in any inter-club CJSA sanctioned competition unless the rules of the competition waive the requirements of a player pass.

3115 Proof of Age. Acceptable documents establishing a player’s date of birth consist of a birth certificate, a Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card issued by the uniformed services of the United States, a birth registration issued by an appropriate government agency, board of health records, a passport, an alien registration card issued by the United States Government, a Certificate issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service attesting to age, a current driver’s license, an unexpired federal, state, or local government identification card, or a certification of a United States citizen born abroad issued by the appropriate government agency. Hospital, baptismal or religious certificates will NOT be accepted. (See US Youth Soccer Rule 204)

3116 Coach Pass. A current laminated and validated US Youth Soccer coach pass shall be required of all team coaches and assistant coaches participating in any inter-club competition, unless the rules of the competition specifically waive the requirement. Coaches do not have to be named on the roster to be eligible for the competition however teams must have a registered adult present at all games. The adult does not have to be a part of the team or club, but they must be a currently registered adult with CJSA.

3117 Player and Coaches Pass. The referee must verify all players’ and coaches’ passes prior to all matches in which sanctioned CJSA teams participate.

3200 AGE DIVISIONS AND PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

3210 Age Division Eligibility. Under NO circumstances may a player participate in inter-club play in a younger age division than his or her age permits.

3211 Overage Players. Any team playing a player who is overage shall forfeit the game(s) in which that player takes part. (See US Youth Soccer Rule 209)

3212 Recognized Age Division.

The recognized age divisions for inter-club league, cup and tournament play consist of those players:

Under-19 years of age as of Dec. 31^st of the calendar year in which the seasonal year ends
Under-18 years of age as of Dec. 31^st of the calendar year in which the seasonal year ends
Under-17 years of age as of Dec. 31^st of the calendar year in which the seasonal year ends
Under-16 years of age as of Dec. 31^st of the calendar year in which the seasonal year ends
Under-15 years of age as of Dec. 31^st of the calendar year in which the seasonal year ends
Under-14 years of age as of Dec. 31^st of the calendar year in which the seasonal year ends
Under-13 years of age as of Dec. 31^st of the calendar year in which the seasonal year ends
Under-12 years of age as of Dec. 31^st of the calendar year in which the seasonal year ends
Under-11 years of age as of Dec. 31^st of the calendar year in which the seasonal year ends

3300 PLAYER ELIGIBILITY (MISCELLANEOUS RULES)

3310 Guest Players. Where permitted by the rules of a tournament or special competition, players registered to one club may play as guest players for a team sponsored by another CJSA club. However, the club registrar must create a tournament roster in the registration system and initiate the guest player request. Both club presidents will receive notification from the system to approve. Once completed the player will be put on the tournament roster by the system.

Your team’s tournament roster must include the guest player and the roster must be revised and submitted for the particular tournament in the registration system

3311 Participation in Senior Amateur Games. A youth player will be permitted to play an unlimited number of amateur games without losing his or her youth eligibility. The youth player must obtain permission from his or her youth coach or other authorized team official. The youth coach or other authorized team official shall, in writing or by form, request eligibility clearance from the National State Association (CJSA). The youth coach or other authorized team official must, in writing or by form, request permission from the State Amateur Association. When the above clearance and permissions have been granted, the State Amateur Association has sole discretion in permitting a youth player to play amateur games and will be responsible for establishing the procedures under which this will be implemented. In the event of a conflict between an amateur trial game and a youth game, the youth game shall take precedence. A youth player who is required to sign an amateur form shall retain youth eligibility. (US Youth Soccer Rule 208.1)

3312 Players And Teams Registered Outside Connecticut. Any player or team registered in

a state other than Connecticut wishing to compete in a CJSA league must receive written permission from the State Association where they are registered and CJSA. These permissions must be obtained each seasonal year (September 1-August 31). (See US Youth Soccer Rule 201.2)

3313 Games Against Non CJSA Clubs/ Teams. Team(s) sponsored by any CJSA club may play against any team sponsored or affiliated with CJSA or Region I. CJSA teams may play any non CJSA or Region I National State Association affiliated team, however, CJSA’s insurance is only in effect if the team gives prior written notification to the CJSA President.

3314 No CJSA affiliated club may sponsor, conduct, or otherwise organize any event or activity (for which a fee is charged or donation solicited) which involves players not registered to such club without the prior and express permission of the club’s District Vice President or the President of CJSA, or the CJSA BOD.

4000 PLAYING RULES, REFEREES, PROTESTS AND FIELD RESPONSIBILITIES.

4100 PLAYING RULES

4110 FIFA Laws Of The Game. Except as otherwise provided herein, the “Laws of the Game” according to the Federation Internationale de Football Associations (FIFA) shall apply to any and all non-recreational inter-club games under the jurisdiction of CJSA.

4111 Rules Modifications. The FIFA “Laws of the Game” shall be modified as follows…

Subject to the agreement of US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, and CJSA and provided the principles of these Laws are maintained, the Laws may be modified in their application for matches. Any or all of the following modifications are permissible:

size of the field of play
size, weight and material of the ball
width between the goalposts and height of the crossbar from the ground
the duration of the periods of play
substitutions
number of players

4112 Authority of the Referee. Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he/she has been appointed. The decision of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final.

See Appendix I – Tips on Referees

4200 REFEREES

4210 Systems of Officiating Outdoor Soccer Games. CJSA recognizes only one system for officiating all non-recreational inter club soccer games, the diagonal system of control (DSC), consisting of three officials – one referee, and two assistant referees.

4211 USSF Referees. Only US Soccer registered referees shall be used in all non-recreational inter-club CJSA games. Whenever three (3) USSF referees are not available, one (1) US Soccer referee shall be used with each team providing a club assistant referee.

4212 Age of Referees – Center. The Referee in U14 and below interclub matches must be two (2) age groups older than the games that they officiate or have written permission of the State Youth Referee Administrator. In U15 and above matches, the Referee must be at least one age group older than the players or have written permission of the SYRA. NOTE: This rule applies to the center referee not the assistant referees. Example: U11 game center referee would be age appropriate U13, U15 game center referee would be age appropriate U16.

4213 Protest of Qualifications. Any protests regarding the qualification of the referee and/or referee system shall be made in writing, to the referee and opposing coach, before the game begins, or at the point of time where the lack of qualifications of the Referee and or the Referee System becomes known. In such cases the game shall be played. In the event that the lack of qualifications becomes known after the competition was completed, notification to the referee and coach by mail is acceptable. This protest must comply with procedures as defined in CJSA Policy 1200-2.

4214 Filing of U.S. Soccer Referee Reports. Referees shall submit U.S. Soccer Report and referee Supplementary Report(s) in the event of send-off of players, coaches or managers, serious injury or other misconduct on the part of the spectators, officials, players, named substitutes or other persons which take place either on the field or its vicinity at any time prior to, during, or after the match in question so that appropriate action can be taken by the authority concerned.

Reports shall be filed within forty-eight (48) hours. Distribution policy for the reports will be established by the SYRA with approval of the BOD*. In the case of all Referee Assault or Referee Abuse, the CJSA President shall be notified immediately, and additional copies of the reports shall be sent by the referee to the SRA, the SYRA, and the CJSA President.

FIELD RESPONSIBILITIES

4410 Alcoholic Beverages Prohibited. The drinking or possession of any alcoholic beverages including beer or wine, by any player, coach, assistant coach, manager, club official or spectator before, during, or after a game, at the playing site is strictly forbidden. Violation of this rule will lead to disciplinary action.

4411 Protection. It shall be the home team’s responsibility to provide protection for the game officials, visiting team players, coaches and spectators before, during, and at the conclusion of the game. Any club not affording this protection shall be held accountable and may be subject to sanctions pursuant to CJSA Rule 2210.

4412 Player Safety. It shall be the responsibility of the home team to provide a playing area that is not dangerous. All goals MUST be securely anchored and no game will be allowed to be played, or practices held, until the condition is corrected. Violations of this rule must immediately be reported, in writing, to the District V.P. and the President of CJSA. “Anchored” can be achieved by, stakes, augers, permanent posts, sandbags, securely tying to a solid object or by an reasonable means.

4413 Shin guards are required equipment. Socks must be pulled up to cover the shin guards.

8400 INDOOR TOURNAMENTS AND OUT-OF STATE TRAVEL

8410 Indoor Tournaments. Any team, club or league wishing to host an indoor tournament must comply with CJSA policy section 601.

8420 Out-Of-State Travel. Any indoor team wishing to travel out of state or out of country must comply with CJSA policy section 701.

Appendix A – Listing of District Cities and Towns

Club contact information can be found on www.cjsa.org under District Contacts.

South Central District – Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Clinton, Coginchaug, Derby, Durham, East Haven, Hamden, Guilford, Madison, Meriden, Middlefield, Milford, Naugatuck, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Southington, Stratford, Wallingford, West Haven, Woodbridge.
Southeast District – Bozrah, Chester, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Lyme, Essex, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Haddam-Killingworth, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Preston, Salem, Sprague-Franklin, Stonington, Uncas, Voluntown, Waterford, Westbrook.
Southwest District – Bethel, Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Rowayton, Stamford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, Wilton.
Central District – Berlin, Bristol, Burlington, Cromwell, East Hampton, East Hartford, Farmington, Glastonbury, Haddam Neck, Hartford, Harwinton, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Newington, Plainville, Portland, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield.
North Central District – Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, East Windsor, Enfield, Granby, Simsbury, Somers, South Windsor, Suffield, West Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks.
Northwest District – Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Canaan, Colebrook, Cornwall, Danbury, Goshen, Hartland, Kent, Litchfield, Middlebury, Morris, New Fairfield, New Hartford, New Milford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Plymouth, Roxbury,Salisbury, Sharon, Sherman, Southbury, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Warren,Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Winchester, Wolcott, Woodbury.
Northeast District – Andover, Ashford, Bolton, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Ellington, Danielson, Hampton, Hebron, Killingly, Lebanon, Mansfield, Marlborough, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Stafford, Stafford Springs, Sterling, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Willington, Windham, Woodstock.

Appendix B – Referee Fee Structure (Mandatory Referee Fees for Premier League & Cup Games)

Clubs may not pay less than the following amounts for Premier, State or Connecticut Cup Games.

PREMIER/ELITE/OPEN

Under 19, 18, 17, 16, 15: Referee $80, Assistant Referee $50
Under 14, 13, 12: Referee $70, Assistant Referee $45
Under 11: Referee $60, Assistant Referee $40
Under 8, 9, 10: Referee $60 (Center Only)

CUP

Under 19-15: Referee $60, Assistant Referee $35
Under 14-11: Referee $50, Assistant Referee $30

SUGGESTED REFEREE FEES FOR LEAGUE GAMES

Under 19, 18, 17: Referee $30, Qualified Linesperson $20
Under 16, 15: Referee $30, Qualified Linesperson $20
Under 14, 13: Referee $20, Qualified Linesperson $15
Under 12, 11: Referee $18, Qualified Linesperson $12
Under 10: Referee $15, Qualified Linesperson $10

Appendix D – New Club Affiliation

CJSA will accept New Member Applications and will present any petitioning organization s All New Club applications must be completed in their entirety to be approved during the months of February through May. Approvals will only take place at this time and sanctioning for the new club will be effective for the next seasonal year.

The petitioning Club must:

Furnish a new club application with a minimum of 3 different adults serving as Club Administrators. On-line background checks and SafeSport certification for each Club Administrators must be successfully completed before the Club application will be processed.
Furnish New Club By-laws and a “Plan” outlining the Club’s goals and how they will be accomplished.
Furnish a $1,000 bond – the bond will be refunded after the Club has met the CJSA minimum requirements for 2 years.
Register a minimum of 4 teams, to equal a minimum of 50 players, in each seasonal year.
Provide a home field commitment letter from the policy making board or policy making person, stating the availability of the fields for the Club’s use.
Inform the appropriate CJSA District Vice President of their intent to form a new Club.

Any club found to be acting in an official capacity or member of CJSA prior to receiving sanctioning will be in jeopardy of its membership status.

Failure by the club to meet all the requirements of membership in the first and second year of membership will result in the loss of the application bond and the Club cannot reapply for membership for a period of one year.

Appendix E – Travel & Hosting Procedures

Check www.cjsa.org for E-Travel.

Procedures for Notification of Travel within the United States:

Any CJSA team wishing to have CJSA insurance in effect while:

1) Traveling outside of Connecticut for games, scrimmages or tournaments; or

2) Participating in games, scrimmages or tournaments against non US Youth Soccer affiliated Teams in or out of Connecticut; must give written notification to CJSA prior to the event.

With the use of the on line e-travel notification system, rosters are no longer required for initial approval of the travel permit, however, the certified roster being used for travel or game participation must be faxed to the CJSA Office with the event name listed on top. Teams traveling to US Youth Soccer Tournaments, outside of Region 1 events are still required to provide a copy of their approved travel permit, approved league roster and their guest player roster to the tournament director. Your team may not be able to participate in a tournament unless you have all of these forms. CJSA teams do not need permission to travel to a CJSA sanctioned tournament.

When a Permission to Travel Form is required and the tournament does not accept E-Travel, the District Vice President, District designee or the CJSA office shall act favorable on any request made by a team of properly registered CJSA players and coaches which are in good standing with CJSA and its district. Not later than 7 days prior to the date of travel submit to your district Vice President, District designee or the CJSA office the following paperwork for Notification of Travel:

1) Completed US Youth Soccer Application to Travel;

2) A Roster that has been signed, stamped, or both by the appropriate registrar and includes all players and team officials;

3) For the competition in which the team is to participate, a copy of the Approved Application to Host a Tournament or Games (if hosted by an Organization Member of US Youth Soccer) or the approved hosting form used by (A) a member of an Organization Member or the Organization Member itself that is not a member of US Youth Soccer, or (B) US Soccer.

Note: Districts will provide signed applications within 7 days at no cost, less than 7 days but more than 72 hours there will be a $50 processing fee, and less than 72 hours the processing fee will be $100. (CJSA President shall sign in an emergency).

Procedures for Foreign Travel:

All forms must be submitted to CJSA for approval prior to being sent to US Soccer.

A completed U.S. Soccer Application for Foreign Travel must b
A completed Travel – Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.
A copy of the official confirmed registration form or invitation letter from the game or tournament host. Travel itineraries, flyers or brochures are not accepted. Invitations must be on letterhead.
A copy of the Official Team Roster which includes all players and team officials, approved by CJSA.
Applicable fee ($50.00) per team made payable to U.S. Soccer Federation. A Credit Card Authorization Form and all necessary forms can be found at this link: https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/wdklgn3ldfk8q3sv4f6r

Procedures for Hosting Tournaments in Connecticut:

CJSA affiliated clubs wishing to host a tournament involving teams from the United States must complete all required forms in the Soccer Connect Registration System.

Properly completed US Youth Soccer Application to Host Tournament or Games (must contain the President or Chief Office of the club’s signature)
Properly completed US Youth Soccer Hosting Agreement Form
Copy of the Invitation and Team’s Application
Copy of the tournament’s rules
Copy of the Post Tournament Report (if applicable)
Submit a hosting fee of $100

*All tournaments must require a certificate of insurance from any non US Youth affiliate team evidencing liability and player medical coverage. Minimum liability limits must meet or exceed $1,000,000 and excess player medical limits must meet or exceed $25,000. A team must produce evidence of insurance prior to the tournament.

Any Region 1 team that is accepted into a tournament in Region 1 does not need Permission to Travel papers. Please note this policy in your tournament rules. A hosting organization that is hosting a tournament or games to be played in August of one seasonal year:

(1) May authorize the teams playing in the tournament or games to use its team roster for that seasonal year, the next seasonal year, or either seasonal year, if the team’s Organization Member does not prohibit the use of the team’s roster for the seasonal year that the hosting organization authorized for use during the tournament or games; and

(2) Shall specify in its invitation to teams which seasonal year’s roster or rosters may be used to participate in the tournament or games. (US Youth Tournament and Travel Policy, Sec. 303)

Reoccurring tournaments, without changes, will receive sanctioning from the Tournament Chairperson after his/her review. All first time tournaments will be placed on the agenda of the next appropriate BOD meeting for sanctioning.

CJSA clubs requesting sanctioning of a tournament must be in good standing. CJSA requires that tournament fees be made payable to the hosting CJSA club.

A club may not advertise their tournament or send out invitations prior to securing sanctioning from CJSA. If this does happen, the club is subject to sanctions by CJSA.

The CJSA Post Tournament Report MUST be received by the State Administrator no later than thirty days following the completion of your tournament. All sections of this report must be completed and you must sign and date the report. *If your tournament has accepted a non US Youth Soccer team, a copy of their certificate of insurance must be included in this report.

When a private organization provides sponsorship for a tournament, the permission to conduct the tournament is granted only to the CJSA member team, club, league, or association and not to the sponsoring organization. Tournaments inviting foreign teams must also comply with US Soccer’s hosting procedures.

Tournaments hosted by CJSA or its members shall fall within one of the following two (2) classes:

(1) Unrestricted Tournament: A tournament that is open to all federation affiliated participants. Any tournament that allows international participants must be an Unrestricted Tournament.

(2) Restricted Tournament: A tournament that is open only to members of US Youth.

Procedures for Hosting Interstate Games in Connecticut:

CJSA clubs wishing to host a US Soccer affiliated team from the United States for a game should submit to the CJSA State Administrator the following item (only necessary if paperwork is required by the traveling team):

(1) Properly completed US Youth Soccer Application to Host Tournament or Games (must contain the President or Chief Office of the club’s signature)

CJSA team(s) sponsored by any CJSA affiliated club may play against any unaffiliated team sponsored by any group or organization that is not affiliated with CJSA, US Youth Soccer, US Soccer or FIFA – however, CJSA’s insurance is only in effect if the CJSA team gives prior notification to the CJSA President.

Procedures for Hosting Foreign Teams in Tournaments or Games:

(Teams from outside of the 50 States of the United States and the District of Columbia)

CJSA affiliated clubs, wishing to host foreign teams, must submit to CJSA the following original forms and items:

(1) Properly completed US Youth Soccer Application to Host a Tournament or Games, signed by the president or chief officer of the hosting organization;

(2) Properly completed US Youth Soccer Tournament or Games Hosting Agreement, with appropriate supporting documents and information, signed by the president or chief officer of the hosting organization and by the tournament or games director;

(3) Properly completed U.S. Soccer Application to Host a Tournament or Games Involving Foreign Teams. (Must be original – no faxes or copies.)

(4) A copy of the Rules for the Tournament or Games;

Note: (1) The rules must provide for a point system of 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and no points for a loss. (2) In any Under 17 or older age group which will include more than one (1) foreign team, the Rules MUST specify FIFA limited substitution rules.

(5) Copy of the Tournament’s Invitation and Team Application

(6) Applicable fees made payable to U.S. Soccer: 30 or more days in advance – $75.00

(7) The Ted Stevens and Olympic Amateur Sports Act signed compliance statement.

CJSA is not required to approve any application not timely submitted. If the documents submitted are in order and in compliance and the hosting organization is in good standing, CJSA shall approve the application and send it on to U.S. Soccer. U.S. Soccer will then submit to FIFA a request for approval. Upon approval, U.S. Soccer will return the approved application to the organizer and the appropriate copy to CJSA. A club that hosts a foreign team without securing CJSA and U.S. Soccer approval shall be subject to sanctions by CJSA and U.S. Soccer.

Appendix F – International Clearance Forms

Proof of Entry Prior to 10 Form–Complete form and supply a copy of an official document to prove that the player entered prior to age 10 (school or doctor records, etc.)

First Registration Form
1. U.S. Citizens – U.S. citizens born outside the U.S. who has never been registered at any level to play soccer in any other country.
2. Non-U.S. Citizens – A player born outside of the U.S., who is currently over the age of 18, may complete the First Registration form. U.S. Soccer will contact the foreign association for confirmation.
Minors Process – Any player currently between the ages of 10 and 17 who is NOT eligible for one of the preceding methods must prove to U.S. Soccer that he/she meets one of the following exceptions:
1. The player has moved with his/her parents to the U.S. for reasons other than playing soccer (e.g. parent’s work). Complete First Registration clearance or International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the foreign association, depending on which process is applicable.
ITC Request – Any player over the age of 18 who has been previously registered to a club in another country must complete an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

	Living in U.S. prior to age of 10	Moved to U.S. after age 10, but was never registered outside U.S.	Previously registered to club outside the U.S.
Age 10-17, U.S. Citizen	Prior to 10	First Registration	Minors Process
Age 10-17, Non-U.S. Citizen	Prior to 10	Minors Process	Minors Process
Age 18+	Prior to 10	First Registration	ITC Request

Appendix H – League, Cup or Tournament (Sending Off Offenses)

Any player sent off (ejected) by the referee from any game played under the jurisdiction of CJSA for committing one of the following offenses, will be suspended for a minimum of two (2) games:

Is guilty of serious foul play
Is guilty of violent conduct
Spits at an opponent or any other person
Uses offensive, insulting or abusive language

The suspensions will be his or her team’s next two (2) scheduled games of the same competition. If the game from which the player is ejected is a league, cup, or tournament game, the player shall be suspended from his or her team’s next scheduled games of the same competition. If the game from which the player was ejected was not a league, cup, or tournament game or the game was the final game of such competition, the player shall be suspended from his or her team’s next regularly scheduled games whether or not such game is a league, non-league, cup or tournament game.

Any player sent off (ejected) by the referee from any game played under the jurisdiction of CJSA for committing one of the following offenses, will be suspended from his or her team’s next scheduled game of the same competition:

Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
Receives a second caution in the same match

The suspension will be his or her team’s next scheduled game of the same competition. If the game from which the player is ejected is a league, cup, or tournament game, the player shall be suspended from his or her team’s next scheduled game of the same competition. If the game from which the player was ejected was not a league, cup, or tournament game or the game was the final game of such competition, the player shall be suspended from his or her team’s next regularly scheduled game whether or not such game is a league, non-league, cup or tournament game.

(Note: If the player is shown the red card in the State Cup final game and his/her team advances to the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships the two (2) game suspension will be in effect. The Region will honor the suspension and the player will not be eligible to participate in the regional competition until the double suspension is served. If the player receives a red card during a US Youth Soccer Region I Championship match – the Region will determine the sanctions.)

League, Cup or Tournament – Sending Off Offense (Coach)

Any coach sent off (ejected) by the referee from any game played under the jurisdiction of CJSA, shall be suspended for at least two (2) additional games of the same competition. If the ejection occurred in the final game of such competition then the coach shall be suspended from his or her team’s next two (2) regularly scheduled games. A coach may not appear at the game site or its vicinity before or during the game(s) for which the coach has been suspended. A player may attend the game provided they are not in uniform and do not play.

Note: The above sanctions are only the minimum, clubs or districts may impose additional sanctions.

Appendix I (For Information Only)

TIPS ON REFEREES

The referee is the sole arbitrator of the competition and his/her duties are specific and his/her powers are discretionary.

You can rely on the referee to perform the following duties: Enforce the Laws; Act as record keeper and timekeeper; To allow no person to enter the field of play without his/her permission; Decide on the fitness of the game ball; To file a game report when necessary.

Among the discretionary referee powers are: To stop, suspend, or terminate the game; To caution or send-off (eject) a player.

Above all, the referee has the duty to use good sense in controlling a game so that players and spectators enjoy a fairly played game. Again, the referee is the sole arbitrator of the competition and his/her duties and powers are specific and decisions on points of fact connected with play shall be final so far as the result of the game is concerned.

Appendix J – Discipline, Procedures, Findings, Appeals (Abuse and Assault)

Whenever it is alleged that any player, coach, manager, club official, or game official has assaulted a referee or official assistant the CJSA President, State Referee Administrator and State Youth Referee Administrator must be notified immediately. The State Disciplinary Board shall have sole jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.

Whenever it is alleged that any player, coach, manager, club official, or game official has abused a referee or official assistant the CJSA President, State Referee Administrator and State Youth Referee Administrator must be notified immediately. The State Disciplinary Board shall have original jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. (See US Soccer Policy Book and CJSA Policy Section 10 for additional information)

Misconduct of Game Officials at a match or Away from a match

When any game official is accused of having committed misconduct toward another game official, participant, or spectator at a match, or of having a conflict of interest, the original jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter shall vest immediately in the State Association (CJSA). The CJSA President, State Referee Administrator and the State Youth Referee Administrator shall be notified immediately. (U.S. Soccer Policy 531-10 Sect.2(A))

Misconduct of Game Officials Away from a match

When any game official, referee or referee assistant or referee development person is accused of unethical conduct, misuse or abuse of authority or conflict of interest in any matter in the pursuit of or may affect the individual, the matter shall vest immediately in the State Association (CJSA). The CJSA President, State Referee Administrator and the State Youth Referee Administrator shall be notified immediately.

(U.S. Soccer Policy 531-10 Sect.2(B))

Penalties for Official’s Misconduct. Penalties may be among the following: letter of reprimand; a fine; suspension from all active participation in the Federation for a fixed period of time; any combination; dismissal from the Federation.

Appendix K – CJSA Fees

CONNECTICUT CUP FEES

Entry Fee: $100.00 per team if received prior to the designated date; $175.00 per team if received after the designated date but prior to the deadline date.

STATE CUP FEES

Entry Fee: $375.00 per team if received prior to the designated date; $475.00 per team if received after the designated date but prior to the deadline date.

REGISTRATION FEES (Effective 19-20 Seasonal Year)

Competition Team Player: $14.25 + $1.00
Recreation Team Player: $10.25 + $1.00

ADULT REGISTRATION FEE

$5.00 per seasonal year for each adult serving the club or any of its teams i.e., coach, assistant coach, manager, volunteer, administrator, official or director.

SANCTIONED INDOOR COMMERCIAL REGISTRATION FEE

Per Facility: $500 per year

APPEAL FEES TO USSF DISCIPLINARY BOARD: $300.00

CJSA PROTEST FEES: $300.00

USSF REREREE ADMINISTRATION

USSF State Referee Administrator Jesus Zornoza 203-438-6201

State Youth Referee Administrator Ron Packard 860-508-5420

Director of Instruction John Collins sdi@ctreferee.net

DISTRICT REFEREE ASSIGNORS

Central: Paul Barbagallo – 860-346-3837, centraldistrictreferee@yahoo.com
North Central: Gary Walker – 860-281-1411, ncdistrictassignor@gmail.com
Northeast
Northwest: John Hester – 860-542-5344, ajhester5344@att.net
South Central
Southeast
Southwest

Appendix L

CJSA has adopted the US Soccer & US Youth Soccer recommendations regarding heading and the protocol for suspected concussions. U10 Heading Restrictions and Concussion Protocol can be found on www.cjsa.org in the Resource Center. Due to the printing date of this book, details could not be included here.

CJSA POLICY MANUAL

The following Policy Manual has been created to allow us to remain current with US Soccer, US Youth and CJSA Rules and Regulations.

US Soccer holds their AGM in February, US Youth Soccer holds their AGM in July and CJSA’s is in January. The parent association’s rules supersede ours and we must be able to be in compliance with them. Therefore, this manual will be updated as changes occur, and changes will be posted on the CJSA www.cjsa.org.

Section 1 – Definitions
Section 2 – Leagues
Section 3 – Premier League
Section 4 – State Cup Competitions
Section 5 – Connecticut Cup Competitions
Section 6 – Hosting Tournaments or Games
Section 7 – Travel
Section 8 – Olympic Development Program
Section 9 – District Select Program
Section 10 – Discipline
Section 11 – Procedures, Findings and Appeals
Section 12 – Protests
Section 13 – Indoor Play-CJSA v Commercial
Section 14 – Commercial Indoor Facilities

SECTION 1 – DEFINITIONS

1) Registration means the signing of an intent to play the sport of soccer and the paying of fees to become a member of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) and the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer). (See US Youth Soccer Rule 101.2.(5))

2) Player means a properly registered youth who is an amateur player and who has not reached 20 years of age prior to December 31 for the current seasonal year. (US Youth Soccer Rule 101.1.(9))

3) Recognized age division means those age divisions listed in CJSA Rule 3212.

4) Multi-year age divisions are composed of other age divisions as follows: Under (19, 18, 17), Under (16, 15), Under (14, 13), Under (12, 11), and Under (10, 9).

5) Rostering means the assignment of a registered player to a team. (US Youth Soccer Rule 101.2(6))

6) Add means the addition of a player to a team’s roster. (US Youth Soccer Rule 101.2 (1))

7) Voluntary Release means the removal of a player from a team’s roster at the request of the player. (US Youth Soccer Rule 101.2 (11))

8) Involuntary Release means the removal of a player from a team’s roster at the request of team authorities. (US Youth Soccer Rule 101.2 (4))

9) A seasonal year shall begin on September 1^st and end on August 31^st of the following calendar year. (US Youth Soccer Bylaw 106)

10) Playing Season. The seasonal year is divided into three (3) playing seasons: fall, outdoor, winter indoor and spring-summer outdoor.

11) CLUB means an organization, affiliated with CJSA, which has an identifiable membership of youth soccer players on whose behalf the organization conducts or engages in youth soccer activities. A club (sometimes referred to as a “league” or “local association”) is the basic administrative unit of the United States Youth Soccer Association.

12) Club Pass means a US Youth Soccer pass which is-

A. issued to a registered youth player by a club in compliance with the rules of CJSA of which the club is a member

B. issued as provided by CJSA policy; and

C. specifies the club of which the youth player is a registered member.

13) Suspension means the temporary withdrawal of rights and privileges such as, but not limited to: The right to play, coach, or otherwise administer or participate (directly or indirectly) in the game of affiliated soccer. Any person or group (team, club, league, board, etc.) that has been suspended shall be in less than good standing for the entire term of the suspension with all rights and privileges withdrawn unless specifically stated otherwise by the suspending authority. (US Youth Soccer Rule 101.2 (8))

14) Team means a recognized entity sponsored by a CJSA member club and organized for the purpose of playing the sport of soccer.

15) In-house team means any team which participates only in intro-club play.

16) Travel team means any team which participates in inter-club play.

17) Competition team means any team for which the players are selected on the basis of talent or merit OR any team for which tryouts are held OR any team on which participation is by invitation.

18) Recreational Team means a team which participates in a RECREATIONAL LEAGUE.

19) Recreational All Star Team means an Intra-club Tournament Team whose roster only includes players selected from teams which participate in the same Recreational or Recreational Plus League.

20) Club Team means a travel or competitive team composed of players who are listed on the team’s roster for league play and which does not include guest players.

21) Premier Team means a team which participates in a Premier League or Premier Developmental Program.

22) Select Team means the official select (all-star) team of US Youth Soccer or any of its regions, affiliated National State Associations or any district or geographical subdivision thereof, or any league.

23) Olympic Development Team means the official “Select Teams” of CJSA where players are chosen on a statewide basis from club teams.

24) District or League Select Team means the official “Select Team” of a league or district whose players are chosen on a district-wide or league-wide basis from club teams.

25) Tournament Team means a team which includes guest players and is put together for the sole purpose of playing in a tournament or other sanctioned, non-league competition. A tournament team exists only for the duration of a tournament.

26) League means a structured group of four (4) or more teams joined for the purpose of inter-team play under a common set of administrative and competition rules. NOTE: Leagues are differentiated by the rules that govern the rostering of players to each league’s teams. The different terms used to describe the leagues do not necessarily reflect the level of ability or talent of teams participating in such leagues.

27) In-House Leagues (Intra-club leagues) are those leagues in which every participating team is sponsored by the same club.

28) District Leagues are those leagues sponsored or administered by the governing board(s) of the districts, and such intra-district inter-club leagues as are recognized and approved by the governing board of a district.

29) Premier Leagues are those inter-district leagues sponsored or administered by the CJSA Board of Directors.

30) Independent Leagues are those leagues which do not meet the definitions of an intra-club, district or state league.

31) Premier League means an inter-club league in which no rule restricts the manner in which players may be rostered to participating teams, except for rules which:

Define and prohibit unethical recruiting behavior; OR
Limit the participation of players previously rostered to another team.

32) Competition Leagues are those leagues in which competition teams are permitted to participate.

33) Recreational League means an intra-club league in which:

the use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting or any like process to roster players selectively to any team on the basis of talent or ability is prohibited; AND
the club administering the league accepts as participants in the league and all eligible youths (subject to reasonable terms of registration); AND
a system of rostering players is employed for the purpose of creating a fair or balanced distribution of playing talent among all teams participating; AND,
league rules require that each player play at least one-half (1/2) of each game except for reasons of injury, illness or discipline.

34) Out-of district league is any inter-club league not sponsored, administered or approved by the district in which the club’s home field is located.

35) Club’s district registrar is the district registrar of the district in which the club’s home field is located.

36) Club’s home field is the location of the field(s) where a majority of the club’s home games are played.

37) Each team’s home field shall be the home field of the club sponsoring the team.

38) Recreational Plus League means an intra-club or inter-club league in which:

the use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting or any like process to roster players selectively to any team on the basis of talent or ability is prohibited; AND,
the club or clubs administering the league accepts as participants in the league and all eligible youths (subject to reasonable terms of the registration); AND,
the league does not otherwise meet the definition of a recreational league.

39) Classic League means an inter-club league in which:

the use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting or any like process to roster players selectively to a team on the basis of talent or ability is permitted; AND,
one or more league rule restricts the manner in which players may be rostered to participating teams.

40) Recreational Plus Team means a team which participates in a Recreational Plus League.

41) Classic Team means a team which participates in a Classic League.

42 League Team means a team which participates in regularly scheduled league play.

43) Guest Player means a registered player participating in a competition for a team to which the player is not rostered for purposes of league play.

44) Intra-Club Tournament Team means a Tournament Team whose roster includes players who are members of only one club.

45) Inter-Club Tournament Team means a Tournament Team whose roster includes players who are members of more than one club.

46) Transfer means the removal of a player from a team’s roster at the request of the player, AND the contemporaneous addition of the player to the roster of another team.

47) Intra-Club Transfers means the removal of a player from a team’s roster at the request of the player, AND the contemporaneous addition of the player to the roster of another team from the same club.

48) Inter-Club Transfer means the removal of a player from a team’s roster at the request of the player, AND the contemporaneous addition of the player to the roster of another team from a different club.

49) Team Roster means a list of registered players eligible to play for a team.

50) Game Roster means the list of players who will participate in a particular competition.

SECTION 2 – LEAGUES

201-1 Leagues Must Be Recognized And Approved. No team may participate in a league unless the league is recognized and approved by CJSA. Any team participating in a league not recognized and approved by CJSA shall be subject to disciplinary measures including suspension.

201-2 Recognition and Approval. All in-house (intra-club) leagues, recreational leagues, district leagues and state leagues are automatically recognized and approved by CJSA. Independent leagues may only be recognized and approved by majority vote of the Directors present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting of the CJSA Board of Directors.

201-3 Participation In Out-of-District Leagues. A team may participate in an out-of-district league with the permission of the district(s) sponsoring the out-of-district league.

201-4 Recreational/Recreational Plus League Play. In all recreational/recreational plus league play, whether travel or in-house, each player shall play at least one-half (1/2) of each game except for reasons of injury, illness, or discipline.

201-5 Small Sided. CJSA shall not authorize, permit, sanction or otherwise tolerate inter-club competition or games involving teams U-11 or U-12, UNLESS such competition or game is conducted with not more than nine (9) players and U-9 or U-10 seven (7) players-per-side.

201-6 District Classic Leagues – Team Eligibility. No team may participate in any district classic league unless the team meets the residency requirements for participation in that league.

SECTION 3 – PREMIER/ELITE/OPEN LEAGUES

Premier / Elite League – The purpose of the CJSA Premier / Elite League(s) is to provide an environment to compete in a league that promotes development through competition and sportsmanship

OPEN League -The purpose of the Connecticut Open State League is to provide a league that qualifies teams to play in the CT State Cup.

301-1 Board of Governors

Each seasonal year the CJSA President, with the approval of the CJSA Board of Directors, shall appoint a Board of Governors who shall organize and administer the Premier League in accordance with all CJSA rules and regulations and in accordance with such rules or mandates as shall be adopted by the CJSA Board of Directors. At least one (1) member of the Board of Governors shall also be a member of the CJSA Board of Directors. The Premier League chairperson shall oversee the Board of Governors and may appoint additional persons (non-voting) for the purposes of improving the representation. Incidents warranting disciplinary action may be referred by the Board of Governors to the Premier League Disciplinary Board against any player, team official, team or club who fails to abide by the Laws of the Game and rules or policies adopted by CJSA. Suspensions involving players, team officials, teams or clubs can be recommended by the Board of Governors and referred to the State Disciplinary Board. Written statements and verbal statements can be requested as evidence to be considered by the Board of Governors and passed onto the State Disciplinary Board.

301-2 Premier League Structure

Each spring playing season the CJSA Board of Directors shall sponsor and supervise the administration of the small sided Premier League for U9-U10 (7v7), U11-U12 (9 v 9), U13 to U19 (11v11) The Promotion and Relegation will apply to 11 -19 divisions with 2 (two) teams being relegated and 2 (two) teams being promoted. All small sided teams may self-declare in the fall season. NOTE: Policies will be in compliance with USSF mandates.

Spring Open League

The CJSA Board of Directors shall sponsor and supervise the administration of the Connecticut Open State League U12 (9 v 9) and U13 to U18 (11v11) for boys and girls. Each age bracket shall consist of no more than then (6) teams, no less than (4). All league games must be completed PRIOR to the state cup final date. The Connecticut Open State League is not a promotion / relegation league.

League Season

The spring Premier League season shall conclude no later than the third weekend in June. The fall playing season shall conclude no later than the third weekend in November. The Chairperson of the Premier League’s Board of Governors may extend the seasons if adverse conditions arise preventing the majority of teams from completing their schedules.

Fines

1) $120 fine per occurrence for rule/policy/bylaw infractions, including but not limited to the following:

Failure to submit league entry by the deadline date
Failure to have your league roster approved by the set date or you first game
Failure of a team to show for a league game (second failure in same season will result in possible suspension)
Failure to enter online scores by date set

2) $150 fine per occurrence for rule/policy/bylaw infractions, including but not limited to the following:

Any team forfeiting a game
Failure to confirm game with opposing team at least 4 days prior to the scheduled game

3) $50 fine, per occurrence, for failing to meet the referee requirements at a league match

301-3 Eligibility Requirements. All teams participating in the Premier League must be in good standing with CJSA and meet the eligibility requirements set for participation in the State Cup.

1. The team must be comprised of properly registered and rostered CJSA youth players.

2. The team must be in good standing with CJSA and must be in compliance with, and has not violated any of the bylaws and policies of CJSA and/or US Youth Soccer.

3. The team must have at least fifty percent of its players registered with CJSA.

4. The team (except for the U19’s) must compete in at least a four-team sanctioned league during the current seasonal year within CJSA, Region I or the US Youth Soccer National League.

5. A full-sided team must demonstrate continuity of rosters between the league and every level of the State Cup competitions by maintaining a minimum of 9 players common to both rosters, small sided is 7 players.

6. A small-sided team must not allow more than 16 or less than 7 players on its team roster at any given time during the seasonal year.

7. Game rosters shall be prepared by the team and submitted prior to each game. The game roster for small-sided shall have a maximum of 16 and a minimum of 7 players, and all full-sided teams shall have a maximum of 18 and a minimum of 7 players on it. Every player on the game roster must be a CJSA registered member of the club. All rosters must include jersey numbers for each player. A team may have on its team roster only players of the following age groups for the seasonal year in which the team is participating in the National Championships:

For teams competing in the Under 14 and Under 15 age groups, each player on the team must be (A) of the age of the age group competition in which the team is participating in that seasonal year, or (B) of the age in either of the next 2 younger age groups of that age group competition in which the team is participating in that seasonal year.
For the teams competing in the Under 16, Under 17, Under 18, and Under 19 age groups, each player on the team must be (A) of the age of the age group competition in which the team is participating in that seasonal year, or (B) of the age of any younger age group, through the Under 14 age group, of that age group competition in which the team is participating in that seasonal year.”

8. The team may not RELEASE, voluntarily or involuntarily, any player from its roster UNLESS a written request, stating the reasons why this action has been requested, has been made to and approved by CJSA on a form provided. A team may RELEASE INVOLUNTARILY a player from its roster ONLY if the player is unable to play for one of the following reasons: 1) The player has violated US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, or CJSA rules; 2) The player has moved beyond a reasonable travel distance. 3) The player is injured in such a manner that the player will not be able to participate for the remainder of the season.

9. A team may compete in only one age group of the State Cup competition during the seasonal year.

10. The team may not ROSTER any player who has previously rostered during the seasonal year to another team, or the same team, UNLESS a written request, stating the reason why this action has been requested, has been made to and approved by CJSA on a form provided. At the time a team’s roster is frozen, it may not have more than 5* previously rostered players. A player is considered rostered to a team when a club has submitted to its local District Registrar a properly completed team roster form assigning the player to a team OR when the player first participates for a team in any competition sanctioned by US Youth Soccer or CJSA or its member leagues, clubs or teams; WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. Players on Recreational Teams as defined in CJSA Rule 1277 shall not be considered a Previously Rostered Player. *Players that were only rostered within a club will not be considered a previously rostered player for that club.

11. A player may be rostered to only one team’s State Cup roster at each level of the Cup competitions during the seasonal year.

12. A player who has been suspended may play after the player’s term of suspension has expired.

U12 and below developmental teams must be in good standing with CJSA and do not have to meet the requirements set for participation in the State Cup.

301-4 League Entries. Teams wishing to participate in the Fall Premier League must complete a CJSA Premier League entry form. This entry form must be submitted into the current software program no later than the second Friday in August. All teams wishing to participate in the Premier Spring League must also complete a CJSA Premier League entry form in the current software program. This entry must be submitted no later than the second Friday in February. A proper entry shall include the league fee as established by the CJSA Board of Directors.

Teams wishing to participate in the Connecticut State Open League must enter via the current software program by the 3^rd Friday in December.

301-5 Promotion and Relegation. All Premier Divisions must consist of not less than 4 teams therefore the total number of teams participating in an age group will determine the placement of each team in a Division. The following spring, if open spots become available due to teams not returning to the league, the BOG will make the final decision of which team will fill the open division spot(s).

Rights and Obligations of Qualification, Promotion, or Relegation

The right and obligation to field a team in any division (based on qualification, promotion or relegation) rests with the club sponsoring the team earning such placement (not with individual coaches, administrators, players or parents of the team itself).

301-6 Rosters. A current team roster must be approved by the State Office prior to the first game or start of league play, whichever comes first. It is the club’s responsibility to insure that the league roster is submitted and approved. For U-11 and U-12 small sided teams the team roster shall not have more than 16 youth players on the team roster at any given time during the seasonal year. For U13 and older teams, the team roster may have up to 22 youth players on the team roster at any given time during the seasonal year. A full-sided premier team roster shall have a minimum of 9 youth players on the roster at all times. A small-sided roster shall have a minimum of 7 youth players on the roster at all times. A premier team certified roster may not contain more than 5 previously rostered players at any time during the seasonal year. (Note: A player is not eligible to participate in any games until they are properly registered and rostered to the club and CJSA. If a team should disband before they complete their league season, they must notify the Premier League Chairman and the CJSA State Office in writing. The player/coach passes must be returned to the appropriate District Registrar.)

Game Day Roster – A game day roster shall be prepared by the team and submitted to the game official prior to each premier league match. It may not contain more than 16 players for U11 and U12 small sided and 18 players for U13 to U19. No roster may have less than 7 players. A U13-U19 team may have a maximum of 22 players rostered on their team roster but only 18 of its players may be listed on its game day roster.

Club Pass – In addition to the players listed on its team roster, a club may include in its game day roster additional players from within its club. For premier league games, the game day roster must include no less than 9 members from its certified team roster and may add no more than 9 additional players per game (total of 18 players for U13-U19). A premier player, from the same club, may only play in an older age group at any division of premier play unless the player is rostered to an older age team but is age appropriate for the younger team. A classic player, from the same club, may play at the same or older age group at any division of premier play. (NOTE: Club pass system may NOT be used for State Cup competitions at the State level, however at the Regional and National level cup rosters may be changed using the US Youth Soccer Club Pass. See US Youth Soccer National Championship Policies.)

301-7 Game Information

(There is no overtime in league play)

Division	League Play	State Cup	Ball Size
U17-U19	45 minutes	45 minutes	5
U15-U16	40 minutes	40 minutes	5
U13-U14	35 minutes	35 minutes	5
U11-U12	30 minutes	30 minutes	4
U09-U10	25 minutes		4

1. Lost Player Pass: See Rule 3114

2. Coach Pass: See Rule 3116

3. Substitutions

a) Substitutions may be made, with the consent of the referee, at any stoppage of play.

b) For the Under 14 and younger age groups, unlimited substitutions shall be allowed;

c) For all other age groups, a maximum of 7 substitutions for each team shall be allowed in each game during each half and during any overtime play. After leaving the game during a half of play, the substituted player may not re-enter the game during the same half of play.

4. Premier Age Divisions: See Rule 3212

5. If a team cannot field a minimum of seven (7) players within 15 minutes of the scheduled kick-off time, they will forfeit the game.

6. All games must be played in its entirety to be official

7. Lightning – Recognizing the threat. Apply the 30-30 rule: When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If this time is 30 seconds or less, seek proper shelter. If you can’t see the lightning, just hearing the thunder is a good back-up rule. Wait 30 minutes or more after hearing the last thunder before leaving shelter. Referees must protect the safety of all participants by stopping game activities quickly, so that participants and spectators may retire to a safer place before the lightning threat becomes significant. Remember, if you can hear the thunder, you are within reach of lightning.

8. Red Card – Sending Off Policy and Coach Ejection. See Appendix H; for additional sanctions related to referee assault or referee abuse, see Appendix J.

9. League Decisions. No protests, all decisions by the League Chairperson are final.

Home Team

1. When a team is scheduled to have a home game and cannot obtain a field, the away team will become the home team. Games MUST be played on or before the date listed on your teams schedule sheet unless teams mutually agree to another date. If mutual agreement cannot be reached as to the time and/or date of a premier game, the Premier Director will have say as to time, day and location of the game. Both teams involved will be fined $120. If a team requests a game date change for a reason other than weather, State Cup or unplayable field conditions and the other team does NOT agree to the change the team requesting the change will forfeit the game if the game is not played.

2. In the event a game is rescheduled, canceled or abandoned because of inclement weather, the game shall be rescheduled immediately. If a team travels and through no fault of either team the game must be replayed the traveling team becomes the home team.

3. The home team will set the time of the game. All games are to be scheduled for start between10:00AM and 3:00PM for the Fall League and 10:00AM and 5:00PM for the Spring League. If teams mutually agree games may be scheduled outside of the stated hours,

4. The home team is responsible for contacting the opposing coach at least four (4) days prior to the game to verify location, time and uniform colors. Failure to do so will result in loss of home field and $150 assessment.

5. If there is a color conflict with uniforms, the home team is responsible for resolving the conflict prior to the game.

6. The home team is to provide a game ball, a properly lined field, nets and corner flags. Goals must be anchored.

7. Winning team is responsible for reporting scores on-line.

8. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, parents and administrators. If a spectator’s conduct warrants their removal from the field by the referee, it is the responsibility of the coach to work with the referee to restore order so that the game may be continued to its completion.

9.Physical violence, foul or abusive language, harassment of players or referees will not be tolerated.

10. The referees are in complete charge of the field and adjacent areas from the time they arrive at the game site until they depart. If a referee terminates a game prematurely, the determination of the outcome shall be the responsibility of the Premier League Chairman.

Standings and Awards

1. A team’s standings in its division will be determined by the number of points it receives based on its win/loss record during the season. Points will be awarded as follows: Three points for a win; One point for a tie; Zero points for a loss.

2. In the case of point ties at the end of the league season, the following tie-breakers will be used to determine a league champion:

Head to head (disregard if more than two (2) teams)
Most Wins
Goal Differential – Maximum of 5
Goals For – Maximum of 5
Goals Against
Coin Toss

Forfeits are score entered as 3–0. Both teams must notify the Premier Chair in writing

301-8 Referees. Teams are to use only the designated league assignor to obtain referees for the Premier League games. Referees are to be paid at the start of the game by the home team.

Referee Fees: $80 ages 15 & up, $70 ages 12, 13 & 14, $60 age 11
AR Fees: $50 ages 15 & up, $45 ages 12, 13 & 14, $40 age 11
Center Fee: $60 ages 8 – 10, Center referee only

The Referee Assignor must be notified, by the home team, at least two (2) weeks in advance of allgames or changes to game schedule. To verify and confirm game officials you can log into http://csrp.ctreferee.net and find your game.

Failure by the home team to adhere to the notification period for any reason other than weather, closure of field or a cup conflict will result in the following:

Home field is awarded to the away team (Away team becomes Home team)
Offending Club/Team will pay for the referee fees

If the late game change (less than 96 hours) is caused by the away team not being able to fulfill its game obligation for any reason other than a delay in cup scheduling; the offending club/team will reimburse home team for referee expenses and will be fined.

If one or more of the officials fail to appear within thirty (30) minutes of the scheduled kickoff, and the opposing coaches mutually agree to play the game, the game shall be played and the results will be official. If the coaches are unable to agree – the game will not be played. Both coaches must notify the State Office and the League Chairman within 24 hours of the official’s failure to show.

301-9 Premier League Disciplinary & Protest Board

The authority and responsibility of the Premier League Disciplinary & Protest Board to hear and adjudge matters of discipline and to impose sanctions or punishment against any player, coach, manager, club official, or team shall be as hereafter set forth.

1. The Premier League Disciplinary & Protest Board shall consist of three (3) members and four (4) alternates, each representative of a different district. The Premier League Chairperson shall appoint one member of the board to serve as Chairperson. Except for those matters covered by CJSA Policies 1000-10 (Referee Assault) and 1000-17 (Suspension Because Of Litigation) the Premier League Disciplinary Board shall exercise original jurisdiction over matters resulting from Premier League play, which are referred to the Board by either the Premier League Chairperson or the State Youth Referee Administrator.

2. Whenever the player, coach, manager, club official, or team whose actions are under review is from the same district as any premier league disciplinary board member, or the same club as any premier league disciplinary board member, such member shall withdraw from consideration of the matter and the chairperson of the board shall appoint a temporary board member(s) from among the alternates. Whenever an insufficient number of alternates are available to create a at least 2 members of the board to impose any, or all, of the following sanctions in matters where it deems appropriate. The board may:

Issue a letter of reprimand to any player, coach, manager, club official, or team.
Place on probation with such special conditions as are deemed appropriate any player, coach, manager, club official, or team.
Suspend from Premier League play for a definite period of time not to exceed one year from the date of the offense any player, coach, manager, or club, official, or team.

4. Whenever a matter is referred to the Premier League Disciplinary Board the Disciplinary Board Chairperson shall set a date and convene a hearing within 30 days of the referral. The Chairperson shall provide timely written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing to all persons concerned and to all persons or teams against whom sanctions or punishment may be imposed. At the hearing the board shall receive such oral or written testimony as it shall deem appropriate except that any person or team against whom sanctions or punishment may be imposed shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard by the board in person and to submit such written evidence as they feel necessary and appropriate. At the conclusion of the fact-finding hearing the board, through its Chairperson, shall submit to the Premier League Chairperson a written decision stating the names of the persons heard; the documents examined; the procedures the fact-finding process followed; the factual findings of the board; the sanctions or punishments to be imposed if any; and, the reasons for the imposition of the sanctions. Upon receiving a written decision from a disciplinary board the Premier League Chairperson shall immediately notify those persons or teams against whom any sanctions have been imposed and shall forward to all such persons or teams, and to the State Administrator, a copy of the board’s written decision, a copy of the US Soccer Notice of Appeal and a copy of the US Soccer Procedure for Appeals. All decisions of the Premier League Disciplinary Board shall stand and be of full force and effect until changed by a higher authority. (See US Soccer Bylaw 705.7)

5. Only the State Disciplinary Board may impose a suspension in excess of 1 year from the date of the offense. Whenever the Premier League Disciplinary Board concludes that a suspension of more than 1 year is warranted, it shall impose a 1 year suspension and, in writing, refer the matter to the State Disciplinary Board for consideration of the imposition of a longer suspension.

6. A team, player, or official may be suspended only for stated reasons, and for a defined period of time. No player or official of any club or team which has been suspended for an offense committed by the management of club or team shall also be suspended, unless proof is submitted connecting such player or official with the offense committed.

7. Clubs are encouraged to act on their own to discipline persons or teams within their organization where they feel it is warranted. It is expected that where clubs have taken timely and appropriate disciplinary action the necessity of referring such matters to a Premier League Disciplinary Board or the State Disciplinary Board will be avoided.

8. Any person or team aggrieved by a decision of the Premier League Disciplinary Board imposing a suspension of more than 90 days may appeal the decision to the State Disciplinary Board in accordance with the following rules:

An appeal must be in writing and describe in detail the grounds for the appeal.
All documents, exhibits and other evidence in the case.
Copies of all rules, procedures, and bylaws used to support the charges and to conduct the hearing.
The notice of charges and/or hearing provided the defendant.
The written decision of the district.

The written appeal must be mailed within five (5) days from the date of the receipt of a written decision from the Premier Disciplinary Board. The appeal fee of $50.00, payable to CJSA, Inc., in the form of a money order, cashier’s check, or certified check shall accompany the appeal.

301-10 Recruitment

1. Any team participating in the CJSA Premier League play, or being formed for CJSA Premier League play, acting through its coaches, team officials, players or parents of players, which attempts to induce any player listed on a valid team roster of another team to leave their team shall be deemed to have recruited that player.

2. If the Premier League Disciplinary and Protest Board determines that a team has recruited a player, then the coach and/or team will be subject to a minimum three (3) game suspension for the first infraction; and the suspension of the team from the Premier League for any subsequent infraction.

3. Any team may conduct publicly announced open tryouts to acquire players. Any player or players’ parents may initiate direct contact with any premier league team for the purpose of joining that team.

4. Invitations to players listed on valid rosters for play on indoor teams or as guest players for tournaments must be initiated through that player’s coach.

5. Recruiting complaints shall be submitted in writing to the Premier League Chairman within thirty (30) days of the alleged recruiting.

STATE CUP COMPETITIONS

US YOUTH SOCCER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Each seasonal year the CJSA President shall appoint, with the approval of the CJSA Board of Directors, a Cup Committee, which along with the State Administrator, shall organize the State Cup and Connecticut Cup competitions. The Cup Committee shall include the CJSA Cup Chairman, the Girls Cup Chairman, and the Boys Cup Chairman. The Cup Committee shall oversee the competitions and shall appoint Cup Directors of each cup for each age division. The dates, times, places, and form of the competition shall be as determined by the Cup Committee and approved by the CJSA Board of Directors.

State Cup Age Divisions

Each spring season CJSA shall administer a State Cup competition to determine CJSA representatives to US Youth Soccer Region I Championships in the U12-U19 age divisions for both boys and girls.

Team Eligibility Requirements

The competitions shall be open to all CJSA teams composed of properly registered and rostered youth players (as defined by the rules of US Youth Soccer) and coaches provided such team is in good standing with CJSA and complies with the special eligibility rules governing the State Cup competitions. (See US Youth Soccer National Championship Series Rule 221.1). The State Cup competition is subject to US Youth Soccer National Championship Series rules. Where there are inconsistencies, US Youth Soccer National Championship Series rules take precedent.

Special Eligibility Rules

1. The team must be in good standing with CJSA and must comply with, and have not violated any of the bylaws and policies of CJSA and/or US Youth Soccer.

2. The team must have at least fifty percent of its players registered with CJSA.

3. The team (except for the U19 age group) must compete in at least a four-team-sanctioned league during the current seasonal year.

4. Every team in the State Cup competitions shall have a roster, a National Championships (State Cup) roster determined under this rule based on the players on the team’s roster, and a game roster for every match or competition.

1. Team Roster. A team roster shall have a minimum of 9 registered players on its roster at all times.

2. National Championships Roster (State Cup). A team shall have an approved State Cup roster based on its team roster at the State level. The team roster for U12 small-sided (9v9) may have up to 16 youth players on the roster at all levels of the competitions. The team roster for U13 and older may have up to 22 youth players on the roster at all levels of the competitions.

3. Game Roster. The game roster shall be prepared by the team and submitted to the competition authority at a time set by CJSA for State Cup play

Entries

Clubs wishing to enter teams in any of the State Cup competitions must submit their team entry through the Gotsport and pay the appropriate fee for each team.

Rosters

All rosters must be built in the CJSA registration system and approved by the state office.

Entry Fees The entry fee is $375.00 if received prior to the early deadline date, or $475.00 if received after the early deadline date and before the cup deadline. (This includes an East Region fee of $25.00 that must be paid by all teams entered in the cup.) Entry Fee is non-refundable. All U19 teams will be charged an additional $500 to enter this cup. When the team has fulfilled its obligation at all levels of the competition, the $500 will be returned, if however, the team fails to fulfill its obligation at any of the levels, the State will retain the $500.

Withdrawing from the State Cup

$100 fine before schedule is released.
Complete loss of entry fee if you withdraw from the competition after the schedule is released.

Rosters Frozen. All rosters must be built in the CJSA registration system and approved by the state office. A team must make any changes to the roster prior to the freezing deadlines as follows:

1. At the state level, the team’s roster, the one that has been approved by the state, will be frozen no earlier than 14 days prior to the beginning of U17 and younger age group competitions and no earlier than 7 days prior to the beginning of U18 and older age group competitions. (Note: Only players are frozen on a roster – coaches are not frozen and may be changed at any time.) The CJSA Registration System will freeze and stamp all submitted rosters at 3:00 PM on the deadline dates. Teams are required to submit a roster for approval by the appropriate deadline. Late rosters received after the deadline, but within 48 hours of the deadline date will be accepted and accessed a $100 fine. Cup rosters received after 48 hours of the deadline will not be accepted and the team will be disqualified. Teams failing to submit and receive an approved roster by the deadline will forfeit their cup entry fee and their right to participate in that cup for that season.

2. at the regional level, at the time of the team’s registration for the team’s age group competition at that level that shall be determined by the region which shall be no later than 7 days prior to the beginning of the team’s age group competition at the regional level; and 3. at the national level, at the time of the team’s registration for the team’s age group competition at that level that shall be determined by the National Championships Committee which shall be no later than 7 days prior to the beginning of that team’s age group competition at the national level.

USYS East Region Championship Policies

A copy of the team’s frozen state-approved roster with player pictures must be available at all cup games. Coaches have the right to view the certified roster before the start of the game. Coaches do not have to be named on the roster to be eligible for the competition however teams must have a registered adult present at all cup games. The adult does not have to be a part of the team or club, but they must be a registered adult with CJSA. In the event that player and/or coaches passes are not present at the match, the players and/or coaches may sign the roster or a piece of paper. If the roster is not present the players will print and sign their name and their date of birth. The referee shall submit the signed roster/paper with his/her referee report and the office will confirm the eligibility of players.

GAME DAY INFORMATION

Cup Dates of Play
PLAY by DATE
Month of April Group Game 1
Group Game 2
Group Game 3
Month of May Quarterfinal
Semifinal
June 2, 2024 Final

Game Day Information – State Cup

Age Game Length OT Ball Size
17U-19U 2 X 45 2 X 10* 5
15U-16U 2 X 40 2 X 10* 5
13U-14U 2 X 35 2 X 10* 5
12U (9v9) 2 X 30 2 X 10* 4

Knockout Rounds Only

*In all State Cup knockout rounds ONLY not group play – after a match has been drawn, two complete overtime periods of 10 minutes will be played. If a game is still tied, taking kicks from the penalty mark will be used to determine the winning team.

Age Group Format Approximate Field Size-Range (Yds) Goal Size (Ft)

12U 9v9 45/55 x 70/80 Min:6×12 – Max:7×21 *
13U and older 11v11 60 x 110 8 x 24

A minimum number of players shall be required for a scheduled match. Should a team not have at least the minimum number of players at the scheduled match time, it shall forfeit the game 3-0 and will be responsible for the entire referee and associated assignor fees.

Age Group Minimum Number of Players

12U – 6 Players
U13 and Older – 7 Players

Substitutions

a) Substitutions may be made, with the consent of the referee, at any stoppage of play.

b) Unlimited substitutions

c) NCS substitution rules must be followed at the next level of the National Championship Series (Regional Championships)

Group Stage

WIN – 3 Points
TIE – 1 Point
LOSS – 0 Points

Rules and Coaches’ Responsibilities Regarding Referees

The Diagonal System of Control (DSC), using only US Soccer currently registered referees, shall be used for all CJSA State Cup matches.
In situations where 3 USSF referees are not available, club assistants should be supplied. The dual or two (2) person, High School system is not permitted in CJSA games or competitions.
Clubs will use local assignors for all games except the semi-final and final. Those will be assigned by the Connecticut State Referee Program
A thirty (30) minute grace period will be granted for the arrival of the referee.
Referee Reporting. The referee report must be submitted online line through Central Assign, the state referee assigning system.
Coaches are responsible for their conduct AND the conduct of their players and spectators.

Protest Committee

The committee shall interpret the rules of the competition and the committee’s decisions shall be final and binding on all parties. Protests must be in writing and be accompanied by the appropriate fee ($300) and may only be lodged by a CJSA registered Team Official or the team’s Club President. Protests relating to the grounds, goal posts, field, etc. must be in writing and presented to the referee along with the appropriate fee before the start of the game. Protests based upon the judgment of referees, including the duration of games, will not be entertained.

VAR (video assistant referee) VAR does not exist in youth soccer, videos from cell phones or others, when challenging the calls of match officials made in real-time will not be entertained.

Cup Committee Decisions

All decisions by the Cup Committee are final.

CT CUP COMPETITIONS

Cup Committee. Each seasonal year the CJSA President shall appoint, with the approval of the CJSA Board of Directors, a Cup Committee, which along with the State Administrator, shall organize the State Cup and Connecticut Cup competitions. The Cup Committee shall include the CJSA Cup Chairman, the Girls Cup Chairman, and the Boys Cup Chairman. The Cup Committee shall oversee the competitions and shall appoint Cup Directors of each cup for each age division. The dates, times, places, and form of the competition shall be as determined by the Cup Committee and approved by the CJSA Board of Directors.

Fall Cups. Connecticut Cup competitions will be conducted during the fall season for both boys and girls in the U-11 & U-12 (9 v 9), U-13, U-14 and U-15 year old age divisions whenever 8 or more teams are entered. Winners of the Fall Cup can elect to continue on to the USYS East Region Presidents Cup.

Spring Cups. Connecticut Cup competitions will be conducted during the spring season for both boys and girls in U-11 & U-12 (9 v 9), U-13, U-14, U-15, U16, U17 and U-19 year old age divisions. A minimum of 8 teams are required for the U15 and younger brackets, a minimum of 6 teams are required for the U16 and older brackets. Winners of the Spring Cup can elect to pursue a wild card slot at the USYS East Region Presidents Cup.

Eligibility. The competitions shall be open to any team composed of properly registered and rostered youth players and registered coaches. This is provided such team is in good standing with CJSA and each player on the team:

1. is a resident of the town in which the team’s home field is located; OR

2. is a resident of the district in which the team’s home field is located and is a resident of a town in which NO CJSA CLASSIC competition team exists in the player’s recognized age division in the current playing season; OR

3. is one of not more than 2 players, not provided for by subsections 1 or 2.

One Cup Limit. No team entering a State Cup competition during the spring season may also enter a Connecticut Cup competition in the same spring season.

501-6 Premier Teams. No team participating in the Elite League, Premier League, EDP League or the Fall Premier League may enter the Connecticut Cup for that playing season. CJSA Board of Directors eliminated this rule at its November 2023 board meeting. Teams that meet the residency requirements are eligible for CT Cup. The elimination of the rule was presented to club leadership at the 2024 Annual General Meeting in January.

Entries/Rosters/Passes. Clubs wishing to enter teams in any of the Connecticut Cup competitions must submit their team entry thru SportsConnect and pay the appropriate fee for each team:

Entry Fees. The entry fee is $100, if received prior to the early deadline date, or $175 if received after the early deadline date and before cup deadline. Entry fee is non-refundable

Deadline for Entries. Must be submitted into SportsConnect on or before 3:00 PM of the applicable deadline date.

Withdrawals. A team may only withdraw from the competition prior to the cup draw; the team entry fee will not be refunded.

Forfeits. If a team entered in the competition withdraws or forfeits after the cup draw there will be a fine of $100.00 implemented for each CT Cup team. Extraordinary circumstances should be submitted to the Cup Committee for the final decision with regard to the fine being waived. Non-payment of the fine would result in the club being put in bad standing. When the home team in a match forfeits and the game is not played the team moving on will be charged a home game.

Open Draw. The State Administrator shall submit to the Cup Committee a list of all teams whose entries and rosters were received by their respective deadlines. The committee shall oversee a draw where the teams are drawn by chance with the following exception: In the first round of the CT Cup, no two teams from the same club will play each other in the same age and gender cup. The Cup Director will then post the draws on www.cjsa.org.

1. Rosters. Cup rosters must be submitted into the CJSA Registration System.

2. U13–U19 full sided game rosters may contain up to 22 players and a minimum of 11 players. All 22 players are eligible to play at any game. CT Cup rosters for U11 & U12 small sided games shall have a team roster with a maximum of 16 players and a minimum of 7 players. Rosters must include jersey numbers, which may be handwritten on the roster at game time.

3. No player may be rostered on more than one (1) team in Connecticut Cup competition each playing season. Rosters Frozen A team roster must be submitted into the CJSA Registration System and designated for CT Cup by the freezing date. Only players listed on the frozen cup roster are eligible to participate with their team in each Connecticut Cup match. (Note: Only players are frozen on a roster – coaches are not frozen and may be changed at any time.) A team not complying will be considered ineligible. Submitting a roster alone does not enter the team into the cup competition; an entry and payment are also required.

The stamped frozen CJSA certified roster is to be used in all cup games. Coaches have the right to view a copy of the certified roster prior to the start of the game. Coaches do not have to be named on the roster to be eligible for the competition however teams must have a registered adult present at all cup games. The adult does not have to be a part of the team or club, but they must be a registered adult with CJSA. In the event that player and/or coaches passes are not present at the match, the players and/or coaches may sign the roster or a piece of paper. If the roster is not present the players will print and sign their name and their date of birth. The referee shall submit the signed roster/paper with his/her referee report and the office will confirm the eligibility of players and coaches.

Late rosters received after the deadline, but within 48 hours of the deadline date will be accepted and assessed a $100 fine. Cup rosters received after 48 hours of the deadline will not be accepted and the team will be disqualified.

501-8 Game Day Information

The length of the Cup Game will be as follows:

Game Day Information – CT Cup

Age Game Length OT Ball Size

17U-19U 2 X 45 2 X 10 5
15U-16U 2 X 40 2 X 10 5
13U-14U 2 X 35 2 X 10 5
11U-12U (9v9) 2 X 30 2 X 10 4

In all Cup competitions (prior to the finals), if a match is tied after regulation time, 2 complete overtime periods of 10 minutes each will be played. If a game is still tied, taking kicks from the penalty mark will be used to determine the winning team.

CT Cup Finals

The schedule for the Cup Finals will be posted prior to the date – game times will not be changed for team conflicts.
If the match is still tied after overtime periods, Co-Champions will be declared

Field Size

The minimum field size is 100 yards long and 50 yards wide for full sided games.
11U/12U 13U Field Size L70-80, W45-55 Goal Range 6.5×18.5 ~ 7×21 Ball Size 4 5
Players: 9v9, 11v11
Game Time: 2×30, 2×35

Substitutions

Either team may substitute at any stoppage of play with the notification and approval of the referee. Game times Weekend games must be scheduled for start between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM for the Fall Competition and 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM for the Spring Competition. If teams mutually agree games may be scheduled outside of stated hours but must be played by date specified by cup committee. Games played on the designated day and between the stated hours DO NOT require agreement of away team. The game must be played in its entirety to be official (full duration, two overtime periods of ten minutes, and FIFA Kicks from the mark if necessary) Grace Period A 20-minute grace period, beyond the scheduled match time, will be allowed for the arrival of a team (a minimum of 6 players for U11 & U12 and 7 players for U13 and older). The referee shall notify the Cup Committee of either or both teams’ failure to appear within the grace period(s). whether the game will be rescheduled or declared a forfeit will be the decision of the Cup committee. Game Day All preliminary games will be played on the assigned day unless, by mutual agreement, the game can be played before the assigned date. In special circumstances the Cup Committee will have final say as to time, day and location of the game. If the game is not played by the assigned date, without the consent of the Cup Committee, both teams will forfeit the match.

Rescheduling of Games

CJSA will not reschedule games because there is a conflict with another event.
Conflicts arising from the coaching of more than one team will not be considered a cause for rescheduling games
Every attempt will be made to play the game on the day scheduled, beginning with using the visitor’s field. The hosting team will pay the referees. (In the event this occurs, the original home team in the bracket will still be charged with a home game for purposes of the competition.)
If your field becomes unplayable on the day of competition, the home team MUST notify the visiting team AND your Cup Chairperson by 10:00am or three hours prior to the scheduled game time – whichever is earlier.
When the visiting team has travelled to the field and a game is cancelled or abandoned because of inclement weather or the referee deems the field unplayable, the game shall be played in its entirety the following day. The visiting team will host this match. The original home team is responsible for the referee fees for cancelled or abandoned game. The hosting team will be responsible for referee fees for the replayed match. A member of the cup committee must be notified of the change in schedule.
Statewide weather concerns will be posted on www.cjsa.org and on social media. For isolated storm issues the teams need to contact a member of the Cup Committee. Lightning Recognizing the threat: Apply the 30-30 rule: When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If this time is 30 seconds or less, seek proper shelter. If you can’t see the lightning, just hearing the thunder is a good back-up rule. Wait 30 minutes or more after hearing the last thunder before leaving shelter. Referees must protect the safety of all participants by stopping game activities quickly, so that participants and spectators may retire to a safer place before the lightning threat becomes significant. Remember, if you can hear the thunder, you are within reach of lightning Home Team
The home team for each game shall be the team having played the fewest number of home games in the competition. If each has played the same number of home games, then the team listed on the top of the bracket shall be the home team. (1st round, team on top of bracket is home team)
Byes and forfeits count as a home game.
In the event that the scheduled away team travels and through no fault of this team, the game is not played or needs to be replayed, then the game will now be played on the field of the team that has traveled.

All teams awarded a home game shall:

1. Contact their Club Referee Assignor upon notification that they are the home team

2. Contact the opponent by the Wednesday prior to the scheduled match date.

Jersey Color. Each team should inquire as to jersey color so that any adjustments can be made prior to the match. In case of conflict, AWAY team must change. Reporting Scores Each winning team must report the game score on-line via the CJSA website “CT Cup page” by midnight of scheduled game day. Scores via phone calls will not be accepted.

All updated Cup brackets will be posted no later than Monday night.

The Cup Committee will determine home fields.

Failure to report the score by the above time will result in:

1) Loss of the teams next home field. Team will be charged with a home game (team benefitting from forfeiture of opponent’s home field loss will be charged with an away game);

2) The host team will pay referees.

3) The @ symbol within a bracket designates that team is being penalized for reporting their score late on a prior weekend.

Coaches, Teams and Spectators. Both teams should, whenever possible, be on the same side of the field with all spectators on the opposite side. Coaches must remain in their technical area or ten (10) yards off the center line of the field: on his/her own half of the field and on the same side as the “bench”. A three (3) yard spectator line is recommended. Coaches are responsible for their own conduct AND the conduct of their players and spectators. Abuse of referees will not be tolerated. Misconduct by coaches, players, parents and/or spectators may be referred to the CJSA’s Appeals/Discipline Committee for disciplinary action.

Spectators are the responsibility of the coaching staff.

Referees. The Diagonal System of Control (DSC), using only US Soccer currently registered referees, shall be used for all Connecticut Cup matches.

In situations where 3 USSF referees are not available, club assistants should be supplied. The dual or two (2) person system is not permitted in CJSA games or competitions.
CJSA will provide referees and assistant referees for all final competitions
In U14 and below matches the center referee must be at least two age groups older than the age of the team they officiate. (Example: in a U14 game the referee must be at least 16 years old on game day) See Rule 4211
A thirty (30) minute grace period will be granted for the arrival of the referee. If the entire referee team does not show up for the match, the home team shall notify the Cup Committee of the referee’s failure to appear within the grace period. The away team will become the host team for the rescheduled game.

Referee Assignments. For games prior to the quarterfinals the local club assignor will assign the referees. Games scheduled in the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will be assigned by the SYRA (SRC) or their delegates.

Referee Confirmation. In all rounds except the finals, the hosting coach will be responsible to confirm that a referee(s) has been assigned by the appropriate person to the match 48 hours in advance of the game.

Referee Payments

CT Cup Referee Fees

Age Group Fees (2023-2024)
11U -12U $60 R / $40 ARs
13U-14U $80 R / $50 ARs
15U $90 R / $55 ARs
16U-19U $100 R / $60 ARs

Protest Committee. Each seasonal year the CJSA President shall appoint, with the approval of the CJSA Board of Directors, a Cup Protest Committee composed of three (3) members of the CJSA Board of Directors. In the event that a member(s) is not available the President may appoint another member of the CJSA Board of Directors to serve. The Cup Protest Committee shall hear all protests of State Cup and Connecticut Cup games. The committee shall interpret the rules of the competitions and the decisions of the committee shall be final and binding on all parties.

Protests must be in writing and be accompanied with the appropriate fee (currently $300) and may only be lodged by a CJSA registered Team Official or the team’s Club President. Protests relating to the grounds, goal posts, field, etc. must be in writing and presented to the referee along with the appropriate fee before the start of the game. Protests based upon the judgment of referees, including duration of games, will not be entertained. Additional information concerning protests may be found on the CJSA website – www. CJSA.org – Protests, Section 12 in the CJSA Guidebook. Written complaints may be filed with the CJSA State Office without fee but they will not result in a change of game results.

Terminated Game. When a game is terminated by the referee, there is NO guarantee that the game is to be replayed. The terminated game will go before the cup committee as well as the CJSA discipline committee for a decision as to how to proceed and IF either team will advance or if the game will be replayed.

VAR (Video Assistant Referee) does not exist in youth soccer, videos from cell phones or other when challenging the calls of match officials made in real time will not be entertained.

East Region Presidents Cup. A grace period of one week will be given to any team that qualified previously for the East Region Presidents Cup should it conflict with the CT Cup Championship. Cup Committee Decisions All decisions by the Cup Committee are final.

SECTION 6 – HOSTING TOURNAMENTS OR GAMES

See Appendix E in the CJSA Guidebook for current hosting procedures.

601-1 Hosting Tournaments. Teams, clubs, or leagues wishing to host a tournament must request permission from CJSA in accordance with the procedures established by CJSA. Any team, club, league, or association affiliated with CJSA may be granted permission to host a tournament. When a private organization provides sponsorship for a tournament, the permission to conduct the tournament is granted only to the CJSA member team, club, league, or association and not to the sponsoring organization. Tournaments inviting foreign teams must also comply with US Soccer’s hosting procedures. (CJSA Tournament Rules should reflect the following: Any Region 1 team that is accepted into a tournament in Region 1 does not need Permission to Travel papers.)

601-2 Tournament Class. Tournaments hosted by CJSA or its members shall fall within one of the following two (2) classes:

(1) Unrestricted Tournament: A tournament that is open to all federation affiliated participants. Any tournament that allows international participants must be an Unrestricted Tournament.

(2) Restricted Tournament: A tournament that is open only to members of a single Organization Member or a subset thereof. (US Soccer Policy 601-7 Sec 2 (A)

601-3 Permission to Host Games – Interstate and/or Foreign. Teams wishing to host teams from another state or another country must notify CJSA in accordance with the established procedures. Teams wishing to host teams from another country must also comply with US Soccer Hosting Foreign Team Procedures.

601-4 Discipline. All teams traveling to Connecticut shall be under the primary jurisdiction of their National State Association or US Soccer Affiliate Member Association. Traveling teams shall remain subject to the rules and regulations of their own National State Association as far as disciplinary matters are concerned.

601-5 Games played in August. A hosting organization that is hosting a tournament or games to be played in August of one seasonal year –

(2) Shall specify in its invitation to teams which seasonal year’s roster or rosters may be used to participate in the tournament or games. (US Youth Tournament and Travel Policy, Sec. 303)

601-6 Small Sided. All CJSA Sanctioned tournaments shall only play small-sided (7v7 or less) non-result oriented games in age groups U10 and under.

SECTION 7 – TRAVEL

See Appendix E in the CJSA Guidebook for current travel procedures.

701-1 Notification of Travel. Teams wishing to travel out of state or wishing to play non US Youth Soccer affiliated teams in or out of the state must notify CJSA in accordance with the procedures established by CJSA. Foreign travel requires additional procedures; see foreign travel in Appendix E. Teams failing to comply with this procedure will travel without the benefit of CJSA insurance.

E-Travel. With the use of the on line e-travel notification system, rosters are no longer required for initial approval of the travel permit, however, the certified roster being used for travel or game participation must be faxed to the CJSA Office with the event name listed on top. Teams traveling to US Youth Soccer Tournaments, outside of Region 1 events are still required to provide a copy of their approved travel permit, approved league roster and their guest player roster to the tournament director. Your team may not be able to participate in a tournament unless you have all of these forms. CJSA teams do not need permission to travel to a CJSA sanctioned tournament.

701-3. When a Permission to Travel Form is required and the tournament does not accept E-Travel, the District Vice President, District designee or the CJSA office shall act favorable on any request made by a team of properly registered CJSA players and coaches which are in good standing with CJSA and its district. Not later than seven (7) days prior to the date of travel submit to your district Vice President, District designee or CJSA office the following paperwork for Notification of Travel:

1) Completed US Youth Soccer Application to Travel;

2) A Roster that has been signed, stamped, or both by the appropriate registrar and includes all players and team officials;

Note: Signed applications will be provided within 7 days at no cost, less than 7 days but more than 72 hours there will be a $50 processing fee, and less than 72 hours the processing fee will be $100. (CJSA President shall sign in an emergency).

701-4 Player Passes. US Youth Soccer player passes must be carried by teams traveling outside the jurisdiction of CJSA. Teams must also carry written medical releases from parents in case emergency medical care is required.

701-5 Discipline. All traveling teams shall be under the primary jurisdiction of CJSA and under the secondary jurisdiction of the Association in whose territory the games are to be played. Traveling teams shall remain subject to the rules and regulations of their own association as far as disciplinary matters are concerned.

701-6 Travel. CJSA teams traveling to tournaments within Connecticut must have in their possession a certified roster that has been validated by the District Registrar or District Registrar’s designee, that includes the names of all players participating. (NOTE: All players must be registered in accordance with US Youth Soccer and National State Association rules.)

SECTION 8 – OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (ODP)

801-1 ODP Teams. Each seasonal year CJSA shall sponsor an Olympic Development Program (ODP) for boys and girls in age divisions as determined by the CJSA Board of Directors.

801-2 Directors of ODP. Each seasonal year the President of the CJSA shall appoint, with the approval of the CJSA Board of Directors, the Directors, Assistant Director and the Administrator of the ODP

801-3 Coaching Appointments. Eachseasonal year the Coaching Director shall submit to the CJSA Board of Directors for its approval a list of coaching assignments for all ODP teams. No person may serve as coach or assistant coach of an ODP team and serve concurrently as a coach or assistant coach of a premier team when any player is on the roster of both teams.

801-4 Explanation and Notice of Olympic Development Program. Each seasonal year the Director of Coaching shall prepare and distribute to each affiliated CJSA club a written description of the state select team program, which shall include:

a description of the method and rationale of the selection process.
an estimate of the out of pocket cost per player to those selected for participation.
a description of the time and financial commitments required or expected of those selected for participation.
a description of the planned game and practice schedule for the program.
a description of the travel commitments required of those selected for participation.
a description of the regional selection process and an explanation of the additional financial obligations that may result from selection to a regional team or camp.
a description of the eligibility requirements for selection to a state select team.

801-5 Team Rosters. By the appropriate deadline each seasonal year the coach of each state select team shall submit to the State Administrator a final team roster containing the names of not more than 18 players.

801-6 Player Eligibility. Any player wishing to participate in the CJSA Olympic Development Program must be properly registered with CJSA or their appropriate National State Association. No player may try out for ODP in more than one (1) state in the same seasonal year.

SECTION 9 – DISTRICT SELECT PROGRAM

901-1 District Select Committee. Each seasonal year the President of CJSA shall appoint, with the approval of the CJSA Board of Directors, District Select Program Directors for both boys and girls.

901-2 Organization and Administration. The CJSA District Select Program shall be organized and administered by the District Select Program Directors in conjunction with the District Select Team Coordinators for each district that elects to participate and the State Directors of Select Team Programs. The program shall be in accordance with all rules and regulations here after proscribed and in accordance with such rules and mandates as shall be adopted by the CJSA Board of Directors.

901-3 Age Divisions. CJSA may sponsor District Select Team Programs in the Under-18, Under-16, Under-14, Under-12, and Under-11 year old age divisions for both boys and girls.

901-4 District Sponsored Teams. Only official district select teams sponsored by the governing board of a district may participate in the District Select Team Program.

901-5 Team Eligibility. No district select team may include on its roster any player who resides outside the district, UNLESS:

The District Vice President of the district sponsoring the team and that district’s governing board have concluded that the team cannot be formed solely from players residing within the district; AND
All players on the team who do not reside within the district are eligible, pursuant to CJSA 1000-7, to play for a district other than the district in which they reside.

901-6 Right To Try Out. Every registered player, in good standing with CJSA and the district in which the player resides, has the right to try out for a District Select Team sponsored by the district in which the player resides, even if the player is registered to a club outside the district.

901-7 Player Eligibility. No player may play for a district select team outside the district in which the player resides, UNLESS:

The player has participated in tryouts for a district select team in the district in which the player resides, and the player was not selected for the team; OR
The district in which the player resides has chosen not to sponsor a district select team in the player’s age division.

901-8 Playing Season. The playing season of the district select program shall begin no earlier than June 1st and conclude no later than August 15th each seasonal year.

SECTION 10 – DISCIPLINE (BOARDS, SANCTIONS, AND SUSPENSIONS)

(See Appendix J for Additional Information)

1000-1 Ejections – Player. Any player sent off (ejected) by the referee from any game played under the jurisdiction of CJSA, shall be suspended for at least one (1) additional game. If the game from which the player is ejected is a league, cup, or tournament game, the player shall be suspended from his or her team’s next scheduled game(s) of the same competition. If the game from which the player was ejected was not a league, cup, or tournament game or the game was the final game of such competition, the player shall be suspended from his or her team’s next regularly scheduled game(s) whether or not such game is a league, non-league, cup or tournament game. (Note: The above sanctions are only the minimum, clubs or districts may impose additional sanctions. See Appendix H for sanctions that apply.)

1000-2 Ejections – Coach. Any coach sent off (ejected) by the referee from any game played under the jurisdiction of CJSA, shall be suspended for at least two (2) additional games of the same competition. If the ejection occurred in the final game of such competition then the coach shall be suspended from his or her team’s next two (2) regularly scheduled games. (Note: The above sanctions are only the minimum, clubs or districts may impose additional sanctions. See Appendix H for sanctions that apply.)

1000-3 Disciplinary Authority. The authority and responsibility of CJSA and its districts to hear and adjudge matters of discipline and to impose sanctions or punishment against any player, coach, manager, club official, or team shall be as here after set forth.

1000-4 State Disciplinary Board. Each seasonal year the President of CJSA shall appoint, with approval of the CJSA Board of Directors, a State Disciplinary Board. The State Disciplinary Board shall consist of five (5) members and two (2) alternates, each a resident of a different district. The President shall appoint one (1) member of the board to serve as Chairperson. The State Disciplinary Board shall serve as a Board of Appeals for all matters decided by the District Disciplinary Boards and shall exercise original jurisdiction over matters resulting from inter-district or inter-state play, or any other matters, referred to the board by the CJSA President or the State Youth Referee Administrator.

1000-5 District Disciplinary Boards. Each seasonal year the governing board of each district shall elect a District Disciplinary Board. Each District Disciplinary Board shall consist of five (5) members and two (2) alternates, each member of a different club. The Vice President shall appoint one (1) member to serve as Chairperson. Except for those matters covered by CJSA Policy 1000-10, 1000-14 and 1000-17 each District Disciplinary Board shall have original jurisdiction, and the responsibility, to hear and adjudge those matters resulting from intra-district play which are referred to the board by either the District Vice President or the District Referee Assignor; and those matters resulting from inter-district or inter-state play which are referred to the board by the CJSA President.

1000-6 Withdrawal From Consideration. Whenever the player, coach, manager, club official, or team whose actions are under review is from the same district as any state disciplinary board member, or the same club as any district disciplinary board member, such member shall withdraw from consideration of the matter and the chairperson of the respective board shall appoint a temporary board member(s) from among the alternates. Whenever an insufficient number of alternates is available to create a board of five (5) persons, the CJSA President or District Vice President shall appoint a temporary board member(s) from a district or club not involved in the matter.

1000-7 Permissible Sanctions. Both the State and District Disciplinary Boards shall have the authority by affirmative vote of at least three (3) members of the board to impose any, or all, of the following sanctions in matters where it deems appropriate. (If the full five (5) member board is not present at the initial hearing and the matter ends in a tie vote the hearing must be re-held within seven (7) days of the initial hearing with the full board of five (5) members present). The board may:

Issue a letter of reprimand to any player, coach, manager, club official, or team.
Place on probation with such special conditions as are deemed appropriate any player, coach, manager, club official, or team.
Suspend for a definite period of time not to exceed one (1) year from the date of the offense any player, coach, manager, club official, or team.

1000-8 Suspensions in Excess Of One (1) Year. Only the State Disciplinary Board may impose a suspension in excess of one (1) year from the date of the offense. Whenever a District Disciplinary Board concludes that a suspension of more than one (1) year is warranted, it shall impose a one (1) year suspension and, in writing, refer the matter to the State Disciplinary Board for consideration of the imposition of a longer suspension.

1000-9 Sanctions Prohibited. A team, player, or official may be suspended only for stated reasons, and for a definite period of time. No player or official of any club or team which has been suspended for an offense committed by the management of club or team shall also be suspended, unless proof is submitted connecting such player or official with the offense committed.

1000-10 Referee Assault. The CJSA President, State Youth Referee Administrator and State Referee Administrator must be notified immediately of any alleged case of referee assault. Whenever it is alleged that any player, coach, manager, club official, or game official has assaulted a referee or official assistant referee, which assault shall amount to physical violence, the State Disciplinary Board shall have original and sole jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.

A) (i) Referee assault is an intentional act of physical violence at or upon a referee.

(ii) For purposes of this rule, “intentional act” shall mean an act intended to bring about a result which will invade the interests of another in a way that is socially unacceptable. Unintended consequences of the act are irrelevant.

B) Assault includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed upon a referee: hitting, kicking, punching, choking, spitting on, grabbing or bodily running into a referee; head butting; the act of kicking or throwing any object at a referee that could inflict injury; damaging the referee’s uniform or personal property, i.e. car, equipment, etc. (US Soccer Policy 531- 9 Sec.3(3))

C) Automatic Suspension. When an allegation of assault is verified by the CJSA President or State Youth Referee Administrator, the person is automatically suspended until the hearing on the assault. (US Soccer Policy 531-9Sec4(A)(2)).

D) Referee, as used in these rules includes:

all currently registered USSF referees, assistant referees, 4^th officials or others duly appointed to assist in officiating in a match.
any non-licensed, non-registered person serving in an emergency capacity as a referee
any club assistant referee. (US Soccer Policy 531-9 Sec.3(1))

1000-11 Hearing. The State Association must hold a hearing within thirty (30) days of the verification by the Association of the abuse or assault.

1000-12 Penalties for Referee Assault. With respect to any matter heard by the State

Disciplinary Board pursuant to CJSA policy 1000-10, if the board finds that such assault did occur theplayer, coach, manager, or official committing the referee assault is automatically suspended as follows:

Section 5. Penalties and Suspensions (Assault)

(1) The person committing the referee assault must be suspended as follows:

(a) for a minor or slight touching of the referee or the referee’s uniform or personal property, at least 3 months from the time of the assault; (b) except as provided in clause (i) or (ii), for any other assault, at least 6 months from the time of the assault:

(i) for an assault committed by an adult and the referee is 17 years of age or younger, at least 3 years;
(ii) for an assault when serious injuries are inflicted, at least 5 years.

(2) A State Association adjudicating the matter may not provide shorter period of suspension but, if circumstances warrant, may provide a longer period of suspension.

1000-13 Referee Abuse. The CJSA President, State Youth Referee Administrator and State Referee Administrator must be notified immediately of any alleged case of referee abuse. Whenever it is alleged that any player, coach, manager, club official, or game official has abused a referee or official assistant referee, the State Disciplinary Board shall have original jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.

Referee abuse as defined by US Soccer Policy 531-9.3(4):

Referee Abuse. Referee abuse is a verbal statement or physical act not resulting in bodily contact which implies or threatens physical harm to a referee or the referee’s property or equipment.
Abuse includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed upon a referee: using foul or abusive language toward a referee that implies or threatens physical harm; spewing any beverage on a referee’s personal property; or spitting at (but not on) the referee.

1000-14 Penalties for Referee Abuse. The minimum suspension period for referee abuse shall be at least three (3) scheduled matches within the rules of that competition. The State Disciplinary Board adjudicating the matter may provide a longer period of suspension when circumstances warrant (e.g., habitual offenders).

1000-15 Appeal Procedures. A CJSA player, coach, manager, or club official who is found to have committed the assault or abuse may appeal to the Appeals Committee by following the procedures of the Federation within ten (10) days from receipt of the decision from CJSA. (NOTE: See US Soccer Bylaw 704. The fee for such an appeal is $300.00)

1000-16 Suspension Because Of Litigation. Section 1. Any person participating in a US Youth Soccer program, CJSA, or in a program of CJSA, who becomes a defendant in litigation detrimental to the welfare of youth players or litigation based on activities detrimental to the welfare of youth players, shall be suspended from all soccer related activities. Suspensions under this policy shall be determined by CJSA or the US Youth Soccer Board of Directors. Matters detrimental to the welfare of youth players shall include crimes of moral turpitude and felonies. The person has a right to appeal the suspension only over whether the matter which is the substance of the accusation, if true, is detrimental to the welfare of youth players.

Section 2. On completion of the litigation, the suspended person may inform the body suspending the person under section 1 of this policy that the litigation has been completed and request that the suspension be terminated and the person reinstated. The suspending body may grant the request of the person or, if the decision of the litigation was adverse to the person, may continue the suspension for a period specified by the suspending body, fine the person, terminate all membership of that person with the suspending body and its members, or any combination of those authorized penalties. (US Youth Article VII, Sec. 2, (A) (2))

SECTION 11 – PROCEDURES, FINDINGS, AND APPEALS

1100-0 Clubs Encouraged To Act. Clubs are encouraged to act on their own to discipline persons or teams within their organization where they feel it is warranted. It is expected that where clubs have taken timely and appropriate disciplinary action the necessity of referring such matters to a District Disciplinary Board or the State Disciplinary Board will be avoided.

1100-1 Hearing Procedures. Whenever a matter is referred to a District or State Disciplinary Board the Chairperson shall set a date and convene a hearing within thirty (30) days of the verification by CJSA. The Chairperson, shall provide timely written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing to all persons concerned and to all persons or teams against whom sanctions or punishment may be imposed. At the hearing the board shall receive such oral or written testimony as it shall deem appropriate except that any person or team against whom sanctions or punishment may be imposed shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard by the board in person and to submit such written evidence as they feel necessary and appropriate.

1100-2 Findings. Atthe conclusion of the fact-finding hearing the board, through its Chairperson, shall submit to the District Vice President or CJSA President a written decision stating the names of the persons heard; the documents examined; the procedures the fact-finding process followed; the factual findings of the board; the sanctions or punishments to be imposed if any; and, the reasons for the imposition of the sanctions.

1100-3 Notification. Upon receiving a written decision from a disciplinary board the District Vice President or CJSA President shall immediately notify those persons or teams against whom any sanctions have been imposed and shall forward to all such persons or teams, and to the State Administrator, a copy of the board’s written decision, a copy of the US Soccer Notice of Appeal and a copy of the US Soccer Procedure for Appeals.

1100-4 Decisions in Force. All decisions rendered by a District Disciplinary Board or the State Disciplinary Board from which an appeal is taken is not suspended pending the final decision of the Appeals Committee unless the Committee otherwise orders. The decision of the District Disciplinary Board or the State Disciplinary Board may be upheld, reversed, or reversed and remanded. (US Soccer Rule 704.8)

1100-5 Appeal From Decision Of District Board. Any person or team aggrieved by a decision of a District Disciplinary Board imposing a suspension of more than ninety (90) days may appeal by submitting to CJSA, using the format below. The appeals record shall contain, at a minimum, the following:

An appeal must be in writing and describe in detail the grounds for the appeal.
All documents, exhibits and other evidence in the case.
Copies of all rules, procedures, and bylaws used to support the charges and to conduct the hearing.
The notice of charges and/or hearing provided the defendant.
The written decision of the district.

The written appeal must be mailed within five (5) days from the date of the receipt of a written decision from the District Disciplinary Board. The appeal fee of $50.00, payable to CJSA, Inc., in the form of a money order, cashier’s check, or certified check shall accompany the appeal.

1100-6 Appeal From Decision Of State Board. All grievances involving the right to participate and compete in activities sponsored by the United States Soccer Federation and CJSA and its members may be appealed to the Federation’s Appeals Committee that shall have jurisdiction to approve, modify or reverse a decision. The appeal shall be filed, processed and adjudicated in accordance with rules established by the Federation. (See US Soccer Bylaw 704. Appeal Procedures)

1100-7 Exhaustion Of Remedies. Neither CJSA nor any official, club, league, team, administrator, coach, referee, or player or their representative, may invoke the aid of the courts of any state or of the United States without first exhausting all available remedies within the appropriate soccer organizations as set forth in US Youth Soccer Bylaw 704. (See US Soccer Bylaw 706.1)

For violating this section the offending party is subject to sanctions and fines, and is liable to the Association for all expenses the Association and its officers, employees, and agents incurred in defending any court action, including but not limited to the following:

1. court costs;

2. attorney fees;

3. reasonable compensation for time spent by the Association, its officers,

employees, and agents in the action, including responses to discovery and

court appearances;

4. travel expenses; and

5. expenses for holding special meetings necessitated by the court action. (See US Soccer Bylaw 706.2)

SECTION 12 – PROTESTS

1200-1 Protests and Disputes. All protests and/or disputes with respect to the outcome of any game or competition under the jurisdiction of CJSA shall be referred to the league, tournament, or cup committee in charge of the competition or the protest committee for the competition if one has been established. The protest committee’s decision shall be final and binding on both teams.

1200-2 Protest Procedures. Every protest must be made in writing and must contain the particulars of the grounds on which it is based. A copy of the protest must be lodged with the protest committee in charge accompanied by the applicable protest fee. The protest must be lodged with the committee, and a copy of the protest sent to the opposing team, within three (3) days (i.e. seventy-two (72) hours) of the conclusion of the match to which it relates. The committee shall act and make a decision on the protest within seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the protest. The protest fee will be refunded if the protest is upheld otherwise the protest fee is non-refundable and shall be retained by CJSA. In the event of a State Cup or Connecticut Cup game other than the final, the protest time is reduced to forty-eight (48) hours and the committee must act and make a decision within forty-eight (48) hours after receipt of the protest. A faxed copy of the protest signed by the Club President or Club Official and the check, to the CJSA Office and a faxed copy or written notice of the protest to the opposing team/club will be adequate. The actual check must be received by the CJSA Office before the protest hearing is convened. In the event of a protest in a Cup Final game the protest must be in writing and presented to the Cup Committee with the appropriate fee prior to the start of the Awards Ceremony for that game. The Cup Committee’s decision shall be final and binding on both teams. Note: Current protest fee and Official protest form can be found on www.cjsa.org.

1200-3 Protest Re: Grounds, Etc. Any protest relating to the grounds, goal posts, field, bars or other appurtenances of the game shall not be entertained by the protest committee unless an objection was lodged in writing and presented to the referee with the appropriate fee (non-refundable) before the commencement of the game. The referee shall notify the opposing team of the protest and require the responsible team to remove or alleviate the cause of the objection, if this is possible, without unduly delaying the progress of the game. The referee shall submit to CJSA his/her referee report, the written protest, and check to the CJSA office. When an objection has been lodged in writing, a protest must be made and no objection or protest shall be withdrawn except by consent of the protest committee.

1200-4 Protests Re: Referee. Any protests regarding the qualifications of the referee and/or referee system shall be made in writing, to the referee and opposing coach, before the game begins, or at the point of time where the lack of qualifications of the Referee and or the Referee System becomes known. In such cases the game shall be played. In the event that the lack of qualifications becomes known after the competition was completed, notification to the referee and coach by mail is acceptable. This protest must comply with procedures as defined in CJSA Policy 1200-2.

1200-5 Length of Game. A protest concerning the length of time a referee called each half in a game cannot be considered as a protest as long as both halves were equal in playing time.

SECTION 13 – INDOOR PLAY

Indoor Play – CJSA vs. Commercial

1300-1 Types of Indoor Play. Indoor play consists of those indoor soccer competitions and/or events which are:

sponsored by the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association AND THOSE WHICH ARE
sponsored by a commercial indoor soccer facility.

1300-2 CJSA Sponsored Events. CJSA sponsored indoor competitions and events are those indoor competitions and events which are administered and/or directly controlled by any CJSA affiliated club or the governing board of the CJSA District or the CJSA Board of Directors.

1300-3 Special Approval Not Required. No special approval is needed for any CJSA registered player, team or club to participate in any CJSA sponsored indoor competition or event.

1300-4 Commercial Indoor Facility Sponsored Events. Indoor competitions or events sponsored by a commercial indoor facility are those competitions or events administered and/or directly controlled by a commercial indoor facility not directly affiliated with CJSA.

1300-5 Special Approval Required. In general indoor soccer competitions or events sponsored by a commercial indoor facility are NOT SANCTIONED OR APPROVED by the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. (See CJSA Policy 1400-1)

1300-6 Players-Teams-Clubs BEWARE. Players, teams, clubs and individuals participating in indoor play at a commercial indoor soccer facility do so outside the jurisdiction, authority and insurance protections of CJSA, and participate at their own risk UNLESS the competition or event at the commercial facility has been specially approved and sanctioned by the CJSA Board of Directors. (See CJSA Policy 1400-1)

SECTION 14 – COMMERCIAL INDOOR FACILITIES

1400-1 Requests For Approval. Upon written request from a commercial indoor facility the CJSA Board of Directors may specially approve and sanction the participation of CJSA players, teams and clubs in one (1) or more competitions or events sponsored by such facility.

1400-2 Contents of Request. Any request made pursuant to CJSA Policy 1400-1 must specify the date(s) and time(s) of the scheduled event, describe the event and state the facility’s willingness to abide by the conditions described in CJSA Policy 1400-3.

1400-3 Special Conditions. Any commercial indoor facility requesting CJSA approval of a competition or event must agree to and comply with the following special conditions:

1. The facility shall ensure that all players and adult volunteers participating in a CJSA sanctioned competition or event are registered with CJSA or another US Youth Soccer affiliated National State Association.

2. The facility shall ensure that all players and adult volunteers participating in a CJSA sanctioned competition or event, who reside in Connecticut and are not currently registered with a CJSA club, shall register directly with the CJSA State Registrar by properly completing a US Youth Soccer Registration form. The facility shall also ensure that all players and adult volunteers not registered with CJSA who reside outside Connecticut register with US Youth Soccer affiliated National State Association in the State in which they reside.

3. The facility shall pay $500 per seasonal year for insurance for CJSA registered players at a sanctioned competition or event at the facility.

4. The facility shall maintain a list of all players and adult volunteers participating in CJSA sanctioned competitions or events. The list shall include each participant’s name, address, date of birth and CJSA club affiliation (where applicable).

5. The facility shall not permit the drinking or possession of any alcoholic beverages, to include beer or wine, at or near the playing area of the facility, by any player, coach, assistant coach, manager, club official or spectator before, during or after a CJSA sanctioned competition or event at the facility.

6. The facility shall maintain a safe playing environment for all CJSA participants.

7. The facility shall forward to the CJSA State Administrator as required such US Youth Soccer registration forms, indoor registration fees and participant lists as are collected or maintained pursuant to these special conditions.

8. The facility shall ensure that all teams affiliated with a US Youth Soccer National State Association other than CJSA participate only with the written permission of their own National State Association. (Teams are required to follow their governing association travel guidelines.)

9. The facilities must honor the rules supported by CJSA, US Youth Soccer, USSF and recognized affiliates. Its’ ownership and staff must not support or conduct programs that directly conflict with CJSA programs.

8310 Revocation of Approval. If a commercial indoor facility fails to comply with any of the special conditions of CJSA Policy 1400-3, CJSA may revoke its approval and sanctioning of any competition(s) and event(s) at such facility.

8311 Non-Club Registrations. Players registering directly with the CJSA State Registrar pursuant to CJSA Policy 1400-3 are not considered registered to any club.