2023 Father Baker Soccer League Rules
Revised September 2022. Subject to Change.

1. Laws of the Game - We will follow the FIFA Laws of the Game Guide for Referees United States Soccer Federation, most recent edition, as our final reference for game play (https://www.ussoccer.com/referee-program/laws-of-the-game). The referee’s call is the final decision in disputes. We rely on the referees we hire to call games.  Referees may not be perfect, however they will be the final authority relating to interpretation and enforcement of rules.  A review may be requested with the board and they will make the final decision in disputes.

2. Zero Tolerance Policy – There is a zero tolerance policy for coaches, players and spectators that are loud, rude, obnoxious or use demeaning / foul language to the referees, opposing coaches, opposing players or opposing spectators.

Referees will warn the offending coach, player, or spectator. Non-compliance will result in the referee leaving the match and the offending team will forfeit the match. Possible suspension from the next match or league may arise. 

Red Cards - Likely 1-2 game suspension. The board can lessen or increase the suspension based on the severity of the offense.

Yellow Cards - 3 at anytime during the season: next game suspension after 3rd yellow card. Also, a yellow card in 2 consecutive games: next game suspension.

3. Team Roster Policy - Each school must complete and submit to the league a roster for every team that the school has entered into the league. The league roster form can be found at the Father Baker Soccer League website - https://www.leaguelineup.com/handouts.asp?url=fatherbaker 

The roster must include:

1.     School Name

2.     Athletic Director’s name, phone number and e-mail address

3.     Coach's name, phone number and e-mail address.

4.     Each Player's name, grade, gender, and jersey number. 

Deadline to submit final rosters to the league:  Rosters must be submitted to the league on or before the Friday prior to the first match of the regular season.

Official Rosters:  The Roster submitted to the league will be deemed to be the team's Official Roster. Referees will have copies of the Official Rosters.  Referees have the right to check players against the Official Roster prior to each match.  A Master Roster will be kept by the league, consisting of the Official Rosters for every team in that Division. 

Coaches must present Official Rosters at every match:  Coaches are required to bring a copy of the Official Roster to every match and must give one copy of the Official Roster to the Referee before the match begins. The Official Roster submitted to the Referee will be kept for comparison against the Master Roster, to verify a player's eligibility and if requested by the opposing coach. If a Player is not listed on the Official Roster, that Player will not be allowed to participate in that match. If a Player that is not listed on the Official Roster participates in any match, the Coach of that team will be removed and not permitted to Coach in the Father Baker League for the remainder of that season and the offending team will also forfeit the match. The League's Board reserves the right to provide an additional suspension to that Coach, for up to one additional season.  

Changes to Official Rosters:  If a change is needed to the team's Official Roster at any point during the season after the Official Roster is submitted to the league (i.e., a player is added to the team, a new student requests to play soccer during the season, etc.) notification by email must be provided to the league before that player can participate in any matches. Written notification must come from the school's Athletic Director and Principal, who must agree to and approve the change to the Official Roster.  A Coach, alone, is not permitted to move or add Players from the Official Roster. 

4. Spectator Policy - All Spectators are required to sit a minimum of 2 yards from the opposing touchline to that of the Coaches and Players. Spectators are not allowed to sit behind the goals. Referees will warn the offending spectator. Non-compliance will result in the referee warning the coach and the match will not proceed until all spectators are sitting in the proper location.

5. Alcohol & Tobacco Use - This is an elementary school function and, therefore, the use of alcohol and tobacco products, including the use of e-cigarettes is strictly prohibited.

6. League Division - The league is divided into four co-ed divisions:

1st & 2nd Grade
3rd & 4th Grade
Junior Varsity - 5th & 6th Grade
Varsity - 7th & 8th Grade

These four age groups will typically be divided into two Divisions: the Cardinal Division and the Bishop Division. The league will strive to place teams appropriately in each Division based on competitive levels and ages of the teams. However, mixed-grade teams will likely be placed in the Cardinal Division, regardless of whether the team is not considered by that team's Coach/Athletic Director to be appropriately competitive for that Division. In order to have a manageable number of teams in each Division, it is possible that a predominately older team is placed in the Bishop Division.  In that scenario, the league will consider the school's competitive history, the make-up of the team's roster, the population of the school or the size of that team's class and the fairness to other teams. It is ultimately the decision of the board as to what division a mixed team is placed in.

7. No jewelry of any kind will be worn by any player. This includes string bracelets, earrings, body piercing, hair clips (metal or plastic).  Only cloth rubber bands will be permitted in a players hair.  Soft headbands are allowed.  No items may be taped over.

8. Younger players can move up to play one division; older players MAY NOT move down.  ONLY students in grades 2, 4, or 6 can move up.  Players can only play on one team.  If a player moves up, they cannot also play down.

9. Younger players who are playing up a division MUST have a release form signed by a parent / legal guardian and written permission from your school principal before stepping on the field to play.  ANY team or coach caught not following this procedure is subject to league action or sanctions.  Coaches are responsible for knowing and abiding by this rule. 
ONLY students in grades 2, 4, or 6 can move up.

10. Each team will have their players wear a common uniform / jersey, which can be as simple as t-shirts, which are to be numbered.  Each player MUST wear the appropriate equipment (shin guards, soccer socks, and shorts.)  If cleats are worn, they are to be molded plastic.

11. Number of players - 

1st & 2nd Grade Teams: (8v8) 7 Field players plus a Goalie

3rd & 4th Grade Teams: (8v8) 7 Field players plus a Goalie 

Junior Varsity Teams: (9v9) 8 Field players plus a Goalie 

Varsity Teams: (11v11) 10 Field players plus a Goalie

12. Gender Rule - There must be a minimum of 4 girls on the field at all times for Varsity games. There must be a minimum of 3 girls on the field at all times for Junior Varsity, 3rd & 4th Grade and 1st & 2nd Grade games. 

If a team does not have the specified number of girls, they will play a player short for every girl that is missing (up to 2).  (If they do not have enough girls to put on the field, the girls' spot cannot be filled with a boy. The team must play with 1-2 less on the field than the other team.) The opposing coach with a full line up is under no obligation to play shorthanded, and may at anytime field a full team. 

EXAMPLE 1: Varsity Team A is short handed by 2 girls (only 2 girls are available for the game).  Team A plays with 2 fewer players against Team B who plays with the normal number of 11 players, or can play with fewer players if they would like to, but are under no obligation to do so.

EXAMPLE 2: Junior Varsity, 3rd & 4th Grade or 1st & 2nd Grade team A is short handed by 2 girls (only 1 girl is available for the game).  Team A plays with 2 fewer players against Team B who plays with the normal number of 9 players, or can play with fewer players if they would like to, but are under no obligation to do so.

EXAMPLE 3: Varsity Team A is short handed by 3 girls (only 1 girl is available for the game), or Junior Varsity, 3rd & 4th Grade or 1st & 2nd Grade Team A is short handed by 3 girls (there are no girls available for the game).  In both of these scenarios, Team A forfeits to Team B.  The game will still be played but the score will be recorded at 2-0 despite how many goals are made in the game. 

The League Administrators reserve the right to grant exceptions to this rule to accommodate schools that do not have enough girls signed up to play. 

13. Match Results - Match results will be reported by the winning coach by email to johnny14d@hotmail.com with a copy to the opposing coach, tfinn01@gmail.com and huck4tf@yahoo.com. The opposing coach will reply to all and either agree or correct the score. Coaches must report the scores as soon as possible, no later than Sunday evening.

14. Rescheduling of Matches - If a team can not play a scheduled game, Here is the process:

You must contact the coach of the opposing team. If they agree to reschedule the game, you then contact the league (mmolloy@nixonpeabody.com , johnny14d@hotmail.com , tfinn01@gmail.com , huck4tf@yahoo.com) to take the game off of the schedule (this must happen no later than Thursday night).
The two coaches then decide on a mutual time to play the reschedule game (around the other games in the schedule). They then contact the league to ask whether their mutual game time will work in the schedule. If so, it will then be rescheduled. Preferably the rescheduled game should occur within 2 to 3 weeks of the original game time, but must be completed before the last day of regular season. If the opposing team does not want to change the game time, then Team One will then forfeit the game with a game score of 0-2.

     **Any team to "no-show“ for a match or cancels within 24 hours of the scheduled match time, will be charged a $50 fee.

15. Match Times and Ball Sizes -

All Divisions will play 25 min. halves with a 5 min half time.

1st & 2nd Grade: Size 4 Ball

3rd & 4th Grade: Size 4 Ball 

Junior Varsity: Size 4 Ball 

Varsity: Size 5 Ball

16. There is no overtime period for matches that end in a tie during the regular season. Tie Breakers for Playoff season are as follows: If the match ends in a tie, two 5 minute overtime periods will be played. There is no SUDDEN DEATH or Golden Goal for the two overtime periods.  If the match is still tied after the completion of the two overtime periods, a shoot out will take place.  Each team will select 5 players, and they will rotate taking penalty kicks.  At least one girl must take a penalty kick.  If the match is still tied after 5 shooters, each team will select a 6th shooter, then a 7th shooter, etc. until a winner is determined. NO PLAYER can shoot twice.

17. There is NO offside for 1st - 2nd Grade matches only.

18. 1st - 2nd Grade will be allowed to re-do a bad throw in. One coach from each team in the 1st - 2nd Grade division may be allowed on the field to help with the players development as long as they do not interfere with the play or intimidate any of the players.  The referee at any time with or without cause may ask the coach to leave the field of play.  There will be no playoffs or "League Standings" for Mite Divisions. 

19.  For the 1st - 2nd Grade and 3rd - 4th Grade divisions, we will utilize a "retreat line". During goal kicks, the opposing team will need to move back to half field. Once the goal kick is kicked, the opposing team can then move forward.

20. Cancellations: No team is to assume a match is cancelled, unless they are informed that decision was made by a referee.  ONLY A0REFEREE CAN CANCEL THE MATCH!!!

21. Each school must complete a sign up sheet and submit it to the league with the number of teams they are entering in each division. This sign up sheet needs to also include the name, email address and phone number of each coach, as well as the School's Principal, Athletic Director, and designated school soccer contact.  

22.  The school Principal and Athletic Director will be sent a copy of referee reports when unfavorable behavior has been conducted before, during, or after any match.  This will be sent by the league, Tom Finn, Mark Molloy, or Malia DeAngelis.   Schools are requested to bring all concerns through the League, rather than trying to contact another school on their own, so an investigation can be conducted.

23.  The school soccer contact will be: Invited to league meetings, contacted with questions, concerns, conflicts, or information to update on weather or field conditions, referee decision to cancel matches etc. They will be expected to relay the information back to their schools teams, to ensure they are all notified.

24. Guest Players: No substitute or guest players are allowed. If a 6th grader plays for the Varsity team, he/she cannot play for the Junior Varsity team.

25. ALL COMPLAINTS and CONCERNS should be directed to Tom Finn, Mark Molloy, and Malia DeAngelis who will have the final say in the dispute and decisions.