MISL Rules
MISL Rules & Regulations for the 2009/2010 Indoor Season
(updated Nov 29, 2004)
NB. ALL Team Coaches and Managers are Responsible for the actions of their players before, during and after the games. The Rules set out by Trade Centre Ltd. are to be enforced at all times.
1) No running in the hallways or upper runways at any time.
2) No persons allowed on the North side of the building or in the stands above the main entrance
3) No training in the hallways (anywhere anytime).
4) Soccer Balls are only to be in use on the Arena Playing Surface.
5) No Chewing Gum or Spitting on the Playing Surface.
6) Bench Rules: MISL Bench Rules (Effective Nov 7/05)
PLAYER'S BENCH AREA
Only those players that are eligible to play, plus 2 coaches, are allowed at the player bench area during the course of a game. This area is clearly defined as the area within the bench openings in the netting. Coaches must remain in their own bench area during the entire game unless permitted by the referee. (They may move to the main gate to assist players in and out but may not "Coach" from that area.)
SUBSTITUTIONS
Unlimited "on the fly" substitutions are permitted. However, any player who is leaving the field must be within the white dotted line in front of the player's benches or in the semi-circle at the main gate before another player can enter the field. Otherwise, an illegal substitution will occur.
Abuse in any of these areas will result in teams facing disciplinary action By the MISL Board of Directors.
RULE 1 - Team Registration
Team registration fees must be paid in full at the time of admission to the league. Fees not paid in full by December 15th 2009 will result in expulsion from the League and loss of any funds presented to that point.
Upon payment of the registration fees, each Club must provide the names and addresses, including telephone numbers, of a contact person for the purpose of receiving all communications from the MISL for that team and for uploading team data to the MISL website. Team Contact must have one of voice mail/answering machine or e-mail or fax. It is the explicit responsibility of the Club to ensure that the MISL is notified, in writing, of any changes in these contacts and to provide updated information.
Team Registration Fee Refunds – If teams drop out
Between Registration date and Oct 15 - 50% refunded. After October 15 – No refund.
RULE 2 - Player Registration
In order to participate in the MISL Canadian Soccer Association and Soccer Nova Scotia eligibility rules must be met
No player shall be deemed registered for participation nor shall a player compete in any game of the MISL unless they are registered with Soccer Nova Scotia and confirmation of their registration has been forwarded to the MISL Administrator prior to play.
Clubs shall register no less than ten (10) and no more than eighteen (18) players on an indoor team.
Only players registered on a team are eligible to compete in the MISL League Championships and playoff games between divisions. Call ups are not valid for these games.
The deadline for registering new players is December 15th for the indoor season.
Where a team has been found to have played an ineligible player, the game will be a forfeit and Rule 7 will apply. The Coach who allowed the ineligible player to play may be subject to disciplinary action by the MISL.
RULE 3 - Transfer/Movement of Players
A. Transfers will not be permitted after the 15th of December of the playing season B. It shall be an offense for any team or club to attempt to induce a registered player to transfer from the team or club with which he/she is registered. Any team or club charged and found guilty of this offense shall:
Where an attempt to induce a player to transfer has been made, pay the sum of two hundred and fifty ($250.00) dollars plus the costs of the disciplinary hearing to the MISL;
Where a player has been induced to transfer, forfeit all games in which the player in question participated (Rule 7 will apply).
C. Any team participating in the MISL may play a player who is not registered with the team only under the following conditions:
i. Transfer rules will be in accordance with Soccer Nova Scotia Regulations.
ii. There will be unlimited call ups from within the same club
- Playing up may be from a lower age division to a higher age division; or from “B” to “A” in the same or higher age division. For example: an U-16 B player cannot play at the U-14 A level, but can play up to U-16 A and U-18 A or B. A U-14 A player can play up to U-16 A or B.
No Tier 1 players shall play in any games organized by the MISL. No call ups are permitted during playoffs.
iii There will be no call ups between clubs
D. Players are not permitted to register or play up more than one MISL age category above where their birth date places them (U12 may call up only Registered U10 Players)
RULE 4 - Team Colours
A. Each team participating in the MISL shall have a complete kit consisting of a team shirt in club identified colours. Teams will declare their home colours by Nov 15th and will wear these colours at all home games.
B. Prior to the commencement of the game, if both teams are wearing the same or similar colors, the "away" team must change. Pinnies are acceptable in MISLgames.
C. All players of a team, with the exception of the goalkeeper, shall wear the same distinct jersey. The team goalkeeper must wear a different colour jersey. Failure to do so shall result in assessments to the team or club. Each player's jersey shall have a unique number on the back; goalkeepers must have a numbered jersey and will be designated 'K' plus # and specifically identified by name on the game sheet.
RULE 5 - Indoor Games
All MISL Games are played under the Soccer Nova Scotia Rules and Regulations for Indoor Soccer. With the following exceptions:
1) There is to be no kicking over half from the Penalty Area
2) Goal “Kicks” must be thrown but they may go over half.
3) Any player, who is attempting to shield the ball and places BOTH hands on the wall and thrusts themselves backwards to try to knock the opponent away, shall be considered “bridging”. Bridging only can occur once the player’s forward momentum has ended. Any player who places both hands on the wall to stop their momentum is NOT bridging. If bridging occurs, the referee will award a free kick to the other team.
4) In order to avoid unnecessary injury, the area within 1 metre of the boards will be a “limited contact zone”. Only light contact between players will be allowed due to the fact that a player can be injured by tumbling into the boards even during contact that would be allowed in the middle of the field.
The home team shall pick up the game sheet from the designated place at Exhibition Park and shall present it to the away team for completion at least five (5) minutes prior to game time. Only players whose names appear on the game sheet may take part in the game. If a player's name is missed at the start of the game, the Referee will add the name and note that the player was not on the game sheet when submitted to the Referee. The added player(s) will be considered eligible if they are registered team players and the team's roster does not exceed eighteen (18).
Game sheets are provided by the MISL Attendant on site. Coaches are to enter roster changes prior to the start of the game.
The MISL attendants at Exhibition Park are responsible for uploading game results as soon as possible after the conclusion of the game.
At the conclusion of the game, each Coach is to sign off on the game sheet prior to the Referee signing and handing the game sheet to the attendant for uploading. Once signed, the game sheet becomes the official record of the game.
Five (5) minutes before kick-off time, the home team shall provide the Referee with two suitable size game balls.
Each team may dress a maximum of eighteen (18) players per game.
MISL indoor games will be played with seven (7) players, one of whom shall be the keeper.
A team will be considered in default if they have less than five (5) players ten (10) minutes after the scheduled kick off time.
LENGTH OF GAME
Two (2) x 25 minute halves. (total of 50 minutes of game time)
Half time is 2 minutes. Referees are the official time keepers.
If it is the opinion of the Referee that the game cannot be played because the facility is not considered safe (e.g. power failure, leaky roof, etc.) or the facility is closed by Trade Centre Ltd., due to worsening road and/or weather conditions, the game will be abandoned and rescheduled (if possible)
Games are played under the Soccer Nova Scotia Rules and Regulations for Indoor Soccer.
RULE 6 - League Standings
For all divisions, a team's standing within a division shall be determined by a point system based on three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a draw and zero (0) points for a loss.
A maximum difference of five (5) goals shall be awarded in each youth game.
A maximum difference of five (5) goals in each game shall be considered when two or more senior teams are tied in the standings.
Where two or more teams are tied in the standings of a division at the conclusion of the season, the higher standing will be awarded to:
i. The team with the best winning record of the games between the teams; failing which
ii. The team with the best goal difference (goal difference shall be calculated by subtracting goals conceded from goals scored) in games involving tied teams (maximum 5 goal winning margin); failing which
iii. The team with the least goals against involving the tied teams; failing which
iv. The team with the best goal difference (goal difference shall be calculated by subtracting goals conceded from goals scored) overall (maximum 5 goal winning margin); failing which
v. The team with the least goals against overall.
Playoffs – Playoff positioning will be determined by the Final League Standings.
q The 1st Place team gets a bye to the finals
q The 2nd and 3rd Place teams meet in a 1 game semi-final
q The winner of the semi-final advances to the final vs the 1st Place team. The losing teams receives the Bronze Medal
RULE 7 - Defaults and Forfeits
A defaulted game is one in which one or both teams do not have the minimum number of players necessary to play the game.
A forfeited game is one that is played and subsequently forfeited for a rule violation.
Where a team defaults or forfeits an MISL game, the Board of the MISL may:
a) Assess costs up to a maximum of two hundred dollars ($200); assessments must be paid by the deadline stated on the notice of assessment; which will not be less than seven (7) business days after the date of the notice;
If not paid by the deadline, the team will be considered to be not in good standing.
b) Order the game to be rescheduled; or their opponent shall be awarded a win with a score of 3-0 or the score of the game, whichever is better; or declare the game a forfeited or defaulted game and award no points.
c) On the second default or forfeit within the same season, the Board will meet and at the discretion of the Board, the team may be expelled from the League.
d) A third default or forfeit within the same season is automatic expulsion from the League.
e) Teams who play while not in good standing will be deemed to have forfeited the game and the above rules will apply.
RULE 8 - Appeals and Protests
The MISL Discipline and Appeals Committee shall deal with all protests and appeals, except decisions of the Board of the MISL. Each hearing held by the League shall be conducted in accordance with Soccer Nova Scotia Rules and Regulations. A link will be provided on the website.
All protests shall be submitted in writing to the MISL Office or Discipline Committee Chair (Vice-President) no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the end of the game being protested, Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays excepted.
Appeals shall be submitted in writing to the MISL Administrator or Discipline Committee Chair no later than seven (7) days after the date of the original decision.
All protests and appeals must be accompanied by a fee of one hundred ($150.00) dollars. In the event that the appeal or protest is upheld, the fee shall be refunded. If the appeal or protest is denied, the fee will be forfeited.
On receipt of an appeal or protest, the MISL Administrator or Discipline Committee Chair, shall, within forty-eight (48) hours, send a copy of the appeal or protest to all related parties who shall have the right to attend a hearing. Any party may waive that right in writing, in which case the appeal or protest will be dealt with in their absence.
Any team directly involved in a protest or appeal which is not satisfied with the decision rendered may appeal to the Soccer Nova Scotia Discipline and Appeals Committee provided the said appeal involves only an interpretation of the By-Laws or Rules of Soccer Nova Scotia or of a League or District in Membership.
RULE 9 - Discipline
Please refer to SNS Discipline Rules Soccer Nova Scotia Rules and Regulations for Indoor Soccer.
Discipline Hearings:
Each discipline hearing held by the League shall be conducted in accordance with Soccer Nova Scotia Rules and Regulations. A copy of these may be obtained by calling the MISL Administrator In all cases of alleged verbal abuse, alleged physical contact, or attempted physical contact with a game official, by a player or by a club or team official, the accused shall be suspended until the case has been dealt with by the Soccer Nova Scotia Discipline Committee.
Every club is responsible to the MISL for the actions of its players, officials and spectators, who are allowed to take part in, or be present at, games on condition that they observe the MISL Rules and Regulations.
Every club is required to take all precautions necessary to prevent its players, officials and spectators from threatening or assaulting anyone present at games.
Any person who has been suspended as a result of a discipline hearing shall not take part in any MISL activity until the completion of the suspension.
RULE 10 - Summary Discipline
Where a team or player violates any of the Laws of the Game, rules and policies of the Canadian Soccer Association, Soccer Nova Scotia or the MISL; or
Where a team or player behaves in any manner that indicates or demonstrates a pattern of conduct which would, in the opinion of the Board of the MISL, be prejudicial to the best interest of the MISL;
Then the President of the MISL may:
a) issue a warning to any manager, player or coach about such conduct;
b)suspend one or more of the manager, coach or players of a team, or any combination thereof or not less than one and not more than five (5) games;
c) order the forfeiture of a game (Rule 7 will apply);
d) suspend a team from further MISL play until such time as they show cause to the MISL Board of Directors as to why that team should be allowed to continue to play in the MISL in the particular division affected or any other division.
e) In the event that a team is suspended, the affected team will have a minimum of seven (7) days from the date of written notification of its suspension to prepare their submission to the MISL Board of Directors.
The team affected may waive this preparation time in writing if it so chooses.
The MISL Board of Directors will meet no later than ten (10) days after the President has suspended a team to hear that team's reasons as to why they should be allowed to participate in the league. The onus will be on the team to demonstrate why the suspension should be lifted.
RULE 11- Game Officials
All indoor games shall have one Referee.
The MISL will ensure suitable arrangements have been made for the assignment of officials.
The MISL is responsible for the payment of officials at indoor games according to the schedule outlined in the agreement with Referees.
The reason for all ejections must be noted on the game sheet.
Referees shall file a SNS Misconduct Report on all players or team officials ejected from MISL games for offences against officials, violent conduct and serious foul play within twenty-four (24) hours of the incident. This report is to be submitted to Soccer NS and a copy submitted to the MISL
Note: When the number of postponed or abandoned games is greater than the number of days available for rescheduling, schedules & draws may have to be changed.
Unless otherwise provided in these rules, the MISL Board of Directors will determine the status of abandoned matches.
Rule 12 - Reschedules
If the MISL schedules have been posted correctly (no double bookings, date mix-ups etc.,) the MISL will not accept any requests for reschedules for any reason (Tournaments, school concerts, etc., etc.,) from any source (Clubs, teams etc. )
Obviously the League will make allowances for reschedules required for weather related issues. In addition the league will allow the team seeking relief from a particular game, to work out an agreement with the opposing team to play the game at another time. If successful, the costs for the new game must be borne by the team requesting the change as the original game costs will have to be paid from funds already received by the league. Please be advised that it will be extremely difficult to find available time at Ex Park.
If such an adjustment is successful, the MISL must be notified in writing (e-mail) within 48 hours prior to the start of the rescheduled game so that referees and the facility can be notified. In addition, only the MISL and its authorized referee assigners can assign referees to the new game (or any game for that matter). The agreeing teams are not permitted to get referees for the new game.
