League Rules

As of September 19, 2022

DCSL was founded in 1982 as a moderately competitive coed league. Our objectives are to ensure our membership can play the game we all love, compete, enjoy the company of friends, and have fun. It is important that all players become familiar with our rules, bylaws, protocols and cities’ rules.

1. Field: The field size will be approximately 50 X 100 yards minimum and 75 X 120 yards maximum.

2. Playing Conditions: League officials will decide whether fields can be used prior to the games depending on environmental, weather conditions or input from city officials. Game time on field decisions will be made by the referees and Team Managers.

Decisions will be communicated with Team Managers as soon as possible via email or text messaging. On-field decisions about the acceptability of field conditions will be governed by the referees and team managers.

3. Team: A team will be composed of (a) goalie of either sex and (b) ten field players of which six (6) are men and four (4) are women. Should a team(s) be short of the six men players, they can add as many women as needed. If they are short of women, the team will play short of a female player as they cannot add an extra man. For the game to be played, a team must have seven (7) players, counting the goalie. If they do not have the required minimum, the game will be a forfeit in favor of the team that has at least seven players.

Having a female goalie, does not mean a team can play with seven men. The maximum is six (6) field male players.

In the event of a forfeit, the team forfeiting the game may borrow players from another team with the opposing team’s concurrence.  This game will be considered a friendly game and the score will reported as a forfeit.  Unless a game is declared a forfeit, a team cannot play with borrowed players.  If a borrowed player is issued an infraction card, the manager borrowing the player(s) will be responsible for identifying the player to the referee.

The forfeit score will 3-0 in favor of the team with at least seven (7) players.  If both teams do not have seven players it is a forfeit for both teams and the score will be 0-0.

4. Player Rules: When joining the DCSL, men must be 30 years old and women must be 21 years old.  Exception:  each team can have two under 21-year-old female who are at least 18 years old.

The deadline to add new players to a team is set at six (6) games.  Teams cannot add players to their rosters after the sixth game.

Tournament: Players must play at least three (3) regular season games to be eligible to play in the end of season tournament.

5. Credentials: All players must have a Player Pass (ID) with their jersey number on it.  It is up to the Team Managers to check each other player IDs.  All player ID must be turned over to the referees to start the game.  Referee will check player passes at their discretion or when issuing a yellow or red  card.

6. Game Starting Time: All games are scheduled to start at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.  Should a game start late, referees will deduct time from the quarters as appropriate.  Teams that consistently cause games to start late or are unable to field a complete team will receive a Board notice and their continuing participation in the league may be in jeopardy.

7. Game Duration: The game will be played in two 45-minute halves with a quarter break in each half approximately 22 minutes after play has begun. The quarter break will commence at the referee's discretion with a natural dead ball stoppage of play. Quarter breaks will be five minutes each while the half time break will be ten minutes. Regular season games that end with a tie score will remain as such, there will be no tie breaking procedures.

The Equipment

8. Shoes: Players must use appropriate cleated shoes. Football cleated shoes, or shoes having a toe cleat will not be permitted. Footwear is subject to inspection and approval by the referee or team managers.

9. Glasses: Players may wear glasses on the field at their own risk. All glasses worn on the field must be adequately secured to the head.

10. Jewelry: Except for wedding rings, nose rings, and other non-removable jewelry, players are not permitted to wear jewelry during the game.  Player must make every effort to tape non-removable jewelry to protect themselves.  Players choosing to play with non-removable jewelry do so at their own risk.

11. Electronic accessories: Players cannot wear electronic devices on the wrist or taped to their arm or leg during the game.

12. Hats: Players are not permitted to wear hats on the field. The goalkeeper may be exempted at the discretion of the referee.

13. Cast and Braces: Players with casts, braces, or other prosthetic devices, apart from approved knee braces, will not be permitted to play. All approved braces will be completely covered allowing no exposure of plastic or metal. The referee and team managers will inspect all devices before beginning play. A player having inadequate protection may be excluded from play at the discretion of the referee.

14. Shin Guards: All players are required to wear shin guards.

Rules of Play

Players are expected to know the game rules.  DCSL will use FIFA RULES with some minor changes.  Changes and clarification are listed below.

15. “Live Rule”: The league will be governed by the touch (live) rule. When the ball crosses the center line, a woman from the attacking team must touch it, or be touched by the ball, before it can be considered "live". A free kick (direct or indirect), a corner kick and a drop ball, taken by a woman will make the ball “live” when taken in the offensive end of the field. Referees will call out that the ball is "live" each time the ball crosses the attacking half. Exchange of possession within the attacking zone shall not be a factor unless the ball re-crosses the center line. Ball must be live for any shot by a opposing player to count, no matter any deflection.

Throw-ins do not make the ball “live” until a female player touches the ball on their attacking side of the field.

16. Penalty Kick: Only women can take penalty kicks.

17. Own goals: Own goals will be considered goals regardless of whether the ball is “live” or not when the defending team causes their own goal.  However, if the ball is kicked by an attacking player and it deflects off a defending player, the goal will count only if the ball is “live”.

18. Player pass back to goalkeeper: This league will conform to the current FIFA rules with respect to balls passed to the keeper by a teammate.  If the keeper picks up a ball that has been passed to him by a player on his team, the referee will award an indirect free kick to the opposing team.  Balls played off the knee, chest, head of the defensive player, or unintentionally deflected off any part of the body may be picked up by the keeper.

19. Sliding: Field players are not permitted to slide under any circumstances.  This means players cannot slide to take a ball away from an opponent, prevent the ball from going out of bound or under any other situation.

20. Goalies may slide inside the penalty area to take the ball away from a player, prevent the ball from entering the goal or from going out of bounds.  Goalies cannot slide feet first into an attacking player and they cannot slide outside the penalty area.  Depending on the nature of the slide, the Referees will decide whether to issue a verbal warning or issue a yellow or red card.

21. Substitution:  Unlimited substitutions are permitted.  Either team may substitute at any time during game stoppage when and if authorized by the referee. A player may not enter the game without a referee authorization.

Fouls

22. Field captains, identified at the beginning of the game, will be the only players allowed to talk to the referee concerning a decision during or after the game. Violation of this rule at the Referee's discretion will result in a warning, a yellow card or red card.

23. Shoulder to shoulder challenges shall be permitted. The goalkeeper may not be charged at any time. Overly aggressive challenges will be noted by the referee and at his discretion, he may award a direct free kick.

24. Foul or abusive language or gestures will not be permitted. Such conduct will result in a yellow card for the first offense and a red card for the second offense. Obvious loss of one's temper and self-control will result in a red card. In the event of a yellow card, the player must be replaced by a substitute for a period of five (5) minutes. In the event of a red card, the player must leave the field immediately. The player will automatically be suspended from the next game. The decision to issue a red card cannot be reversed. Physical or verbal abuse of a referee by a player will result in the suspension of the player for a period to be determined by the Disciplinary Committee.

25. Player Game Suspensions

Game Sanctions
Verbal warning	Player should refrain from continuing behavior that prompted warning.  Up to Team Manager to give player time to cool off.
One (1) yellow card	Player must leave field of play for 5 min.  May be substituted
Two (2) yellow cards	Automatic red card.  Player must leave field and immediate area.
Red (1) card	Automatic one (1) game suspension.  Player must refrain from showing up to the next game.
Accumulation of Sanction in One (1) Season
Four (4) yellow cards in one (1) season	Automatic one game suspension.  Player must refrain from showing up to the next game.
Two (2) red cards	Automatic two (2) game suspension.  Player must refrain from showing up to the next game.  Player may receive further suspension or expulsion from the League.
Disciplinary Comittee	Disciplinary Committee will review and decide on additional action.  Player may receive further suspension or expulsion from the League.
Accumulation of Sanctions in Two (2) Seasons
Five (5) cards (of any color)	Automatic one game suspension.  Disciplinary Committee will review and decide on additional action.  Player may receive further suspension or expulsion from the League.
Conduct Towards Referees
Verbal or Physical Abuse by a player toward a referee	Physical abuse toward a Referee will result in an automatic expulsion from the League. Verbal abuse towards the referee by a player may result in the suspension of the player for a period to be determined by the league.
Verbal or Physical Abuse by a Spectator	Team managers are responsible for the behavior of friends and families.  Disciplinary Committee will review incident and recommend action.
Disciplinary Committee reviews that result on a recommendation to expel or ban a player from the League will require a majority vote by all Board Members.

26. Injuries: Play will be discontinued at the discretion of the Referee in the event of an injury. The restart will commence with a dropped ball or a pass back if the play was stopped by the Referee or by the natural play of the game. Good sportsmanship shall prevail.

Referee Responsibilities:

1. Familiarize self with the above league rules.  We have introduced some changes.

2. Start and finish games in accordance to schedule times.  If teams are not ready to start on time, the referee will reduce the amount of time played in the first quarter or where appropriate.  If there is substantial delay, referees and team managers can decide to play without team water breaks and play without quarters.  Should a player require a break, they can leave the field and return with referee permission.

3. Completed a Referee Report with the following information

1. Teams and game scores
2. Identify teams that forfeit games
3. Identify teams that are not ready to start game on time
4. Sanctions: Identify player jersey number in your ref card and, at an appropriate  time, check the player pass to confirm player identity and name.  You must report both jersey number and name.  Report any irregularities.

4. Send your referee report to “dcslsoccer@gmail.com”.  Report should be sent on Sundays after the game or no later than Monday night.

Team Manager Responsibilities

1. Alcoholic Beverages: Players are not permitted to have or drink alcoholic beverages on the field or field perimeter while League games are played.

2. Pets: pets are not allowed on the field or field perimeter.  Pets must be kept away from the playing area.

3. Players’ children should not play behind the goal area.  In Antioch, children are not allowed to play in the area between fields.

4. Antioch: chairs cannot be placed over the turf area.  Use the grassy area instead.

5. Make sure all your players are familiar with the rules of the game and with the Covid-19 Protocols.

HEALTH PROTOCOL (June 25, 2021)

• If you are sick, stay home and contact your health service provider.
• Similarly, if a player gets sick within two weeks after playing a game,player MUST inform Team Manager immediately.
• Check the Contra Costa County website for COV-19 updates (https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/.)
• If you were sick or quarantined you are not allowed to participate in League activities (games, pickup games, or practices) or participate as spectator.  Do not return to play until you have a written clearance from a Doctor.
• Prior to the start of the game and during breaks, players must observe a safe distance.

ADDITIONAL GAME RULES (June 25, 2021)

• Avoid celebratory embraces, high fives, etc.  Do a shuffle instead.
• Players must avoid “in your face” heated confrontations.  You can argue from a safe distance.
• Under no circumstances should a player approach a referee to argue a call.  Referees will be requested to issue a yellow card if that were to occur.

Top Six Tournament Tie Breaker

• In the event of a tie at the end of the game, there will be no extra time. The game winner will be decided by four alternative kicks from the penalty spot for each team.  The penalties kicks will be taken by four female players from each team, and it does not matter if the women were on the sidelines and not playing at the end of the game.   If the score remains tied after each team has taken four penalty shots, then the process will be repeated on a “sudden death” basis, with the same order of women.  In other words, the fifth shot could decide the outcome of the game if one team scores and the other misses.

  • NOTE: If a team has played the game with less than four women, the opposing team can choose to use the same number of women as the other.  Regardless, the shoot-out will consist of 4 penalty shots and sudden death kicks as indicated above.