Tri-County Soccer League NJ Inc.
321 Clinton Avenue
Middlesex, NJ 08846

LEAGUE BYLAWS
ADOPTED FEBRUARY 7, 1995
UPDATED March 4, 2024

League Set-up | Registration | Referees | FIFA Rule Exceptions
Red Cards | Cancellations & Forfeits | No Shows | Make Up Games | Attire
Insurance | After the Game | Fields and Nets | Team Standings
Trophies | Player Suspensions | Transfers | Playoffs

I. League Set Up

Season	Age Groups	Minimum Age	Game Day	Start Time
May-July	Womens Over-28	28 unless Comm. approves	Wednesdays Sundays	Wed evenings Sun mornings
April-August	Over-30	30	Tuesdays	Anytime After 6:30 PM
April-August	Over-40	40	Thursdays	Anytime After 6:30 PM
April-August	Over-48	48	Tuesdays	Anytime After 6:30 PM
Sept-Nov	Fall	30	Saturdays	9:30 AM

A. Divisions: When the number of teams in an Age Group warrants it, a division is composed of groups of teams split by competition level. The league is set up to carry a maximum of 10 teams per division. At the end of the season transfers between groups for the next season are based on a team's performance. The worst teams move down and the best teams moves up a division.

B. Start Time: All games start promptly at the start time above. Both teams have a 15 minute grace period. Once 7 player per team are available the Referee may start the game. If a team can not field 7 players by the end of the grace time, the team forfeits the game by a score of 2-0. The team that forfeits must pay the Referee. In the event that the Referee is not paid at the field, the league will pay the ref. The forfeiting team must reimburse the league before they can play their next game. If a team forfeits more than one consecutive game, they will be suspended from the league until a formal hearing at the next available meeting.

C. Age Limit: [New in 2014] A player's age for the season is determined by their age on December 31st of the year, e.g. a player can play Over-30 if they turn 30 anytime during the year. The captain of a team may request permission from the captain of the opposing team to play an underage player prior to that player entering the field. No one under 18 is allowed to play in the TriCounty League. A team captain may challenge the age of an opponent prior to the start of play or at halftime. The referee must require original proof of age (i.e. Drivers License) from that challenged player. The referee has the discretion to challenge the age of a player without a request from the opposition's team captain. If no proof of age is presented, the player will NOT play.

Team managers/coaches must find out the age of any player they allow to play on the team. If an underage player is discovered playing prior to the opponent team being notified, the game will be forfeited by the guilty team and they will have to pay the referee fee.

Goalkeepers may be up to 5 years younger than the age limit for the team. An underage goalkeeper may only play as a goalkeeper. He may not play as a field player.

II. Registration

Each team must pay a League registration fee each year and cover insurance and other expenses. The amount is determined at the league meeting at the start of each seasonal year.

III. Referees

The league will assign licensed referees for all the games. Referees as well as team captains are responsible for sending in the game results within 48 hours. Referees that do not send in game reports will not be permitted to officiate in our league.

Temas competing split the Ref fee priorto the start if the game.

If the referee does not show up the game may still be played provided:

1. Both teams agree to play the game and agree on a referee, AND
2. The selected referee abides by FIFA and the league rules. Although it is undesirable, the referee may be a member of either team.

If both conditions (1) and (2) are met and the game is played, the results are final. If the conditions cannot be met the game can be rescheduled. If the game is not played and a team refuses to reschedule it, that team will forfeit the game with a 2-0 loss.

IV. FIFA Rule Exceptions

The referee will have full control of the game and abide by the FIFA Laws with the following exceptions:
1. Unlimited substitutions are allowed by either team on any stoppage of the game with the approval of the referee.
2. Any player receiving a yellow card must leave the game for 5 minutes and may be substituted. Note: changed from 10 minutes to 5 minutes in 2023.
3. NO slide tackles in the OVER 40/48 divisions. The goal keeper is permitted to make a save with a legal slide tackle in the penalty box.

V. Red Cards

Any player receiving a red card is suspended for the rest of the game and MAY NOT be substituted. In addition:

A. Any player red carded as a result of two yellow cards(2Y) is suspended for 1 (one) additional game.

B. Any player red carded for Serious Foul Play(SFP) or for Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) will also be suspended for the next game.

C. Any player red carded for Violent Conduct(VC) is suspended for 3 consecutive additional games.

D. Any player red carded for assault or attempt to assault a referee, either verbal or physical, will be suspended from the league. Reinstatement of any suspended player mentioned in this article needs a unanimous decision from all the participant teams on the first meeting of each seasonal year, providing that the player has been suspended for a minimum of one full season.

It is the obligation of the person in charge of a team to comply with all suspension rules. In cases C or D, the head coach should report this incident to the League President within 24 hours with the full name, address and phone numbers of the offending player(s).

If an assault on a player or a referee occurrs and the offending team does not produce the legal name, address and phone number of the player(s) involved, the offending team will be suspended from further participation in the league. The length of the suspension will be determined by the league President.

VI. Cancellations & Forfeits

The league expects that all games will be played according to the schedule. We don't want forfeits. When a team forfeits a game both teams are deprived of the chance of play.

If a team has to cancel a game for any reason other than inclement weather conditions, it must notify the opposing team and the Referee Assignor at least 24 hours before kick off time. The opposing team MUST AGREE to a reschedule else the team cancelling must show up to play or they will forfeit the game.

The cut off time to cancel a game due to inclement weather should be about 1.5 to 2 hours before game time. Only the home team can cancel the game due to weather conditions. If a game is not canceled only the Referee has the authority to cancel the game.

If the Referee cancels the game due to unplayable or dangerous field conditions other than weather, the HOME team must still pay the official. If a game gets canceled in the first half due to severe inclement conditions and after a 30 minute waiting period the game will be rescheduled. A game is considered official after one half is played and the home team must by the referee.

A forfeit is considered a 2/0 loss.

VII. No Shows

If a team fails to show at the appointed time and date, or shows up with less than 7 players, the team forfeits the game and is considered a No Show.

The HOME Team is responsible for the referee's fee since the ref must be paid. The home team will be reimbursed by the NO SHOW team if visiting is the NO Show.

The team present pays the referee and requests to be reimbursed by the No Show team representative.

If the No Show team does not reimburse the fee within 2 weeks or by the next league meeting, the money will be taken from the funds of the league, and the team shall be suspended from the league the following year.

VIII. Make Up Games

When a game is cancelled and is not considered a forfeit, that game must be made up if it effects the standings for 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th place. The home team will come up with 2 dates for the makeup game. If the visiting teams does not respond to one of these dates they will forfeit the game. If the home team can not provide a field, the visiting team can schedule 2 dates for the game. If the home team does not respond to one of the dates, they will forfeit.

IX. Attire

All teams must wear a uniform according to the FIFA LAWS. When there is a conflict in the uniform colors the home team is obliged to change shirts. Goalkeepers must wear a different color to distinguish themselves from field players.

If a visiting team

1. wears uniform colors different than those registered in the schedule, and
2. the new colors interfere with the colors of the home team, and
3. does not inform the home team 24 hours in advance;

the visiting team is obliged to change the uniform.

As of July 7, 1992 shin-guards are mandatory since its part of the uniform as stipulated in the July 1, 1990 FIFA LAW.

X. Insurance

All teams are covered by the league's 3rd party liability insurance.

The league does not provide MEDICAL INSURANCE. All players on every team must have medical insurance.

Each player on all teams participating in this league must sign a participant waiver. Team captains should have the waiver properly signed.

XI. Before and After the Game

Players are expected to shake hands after the game. Since most teams play on school or public grounds where drinking is strictly prohibited, it is mandatory that NO ALCOHOLIC beverages be consumed at the game sites.

XII. Fields and Nets

Is the responsibility of the home team to have the field properly lined and have nets on the goals. If field is not properly lined or there are no nets the game is an automatic forfeit by the home team. The referee has the choice whether to officiate the game or not. Regardless, the referee must be paid.

XIII. Team Standings

First and last place is determined by the number of points accumulated during the season. Points are assigned as follows:

Win	3
Tie	1
Loss	0

A. Tie Breakers: To determine teams for the playoffs, if two teams have the same number of points the following tie breaking rules are used:

1. Head to head competition.
2. The team with the best goal differential is considered a better team.
3. If teams are still tied the team with the greater number of goals in favor is considered a better team.
4. If the teams are still tied the team with the smaller number of goals against is considered a better team.
5. If the teams are still tied the same tie breaking rules are used but only the games between the contending teams are considered.

XIV. Trophies

A team Trophy will be presented to the First Place and Championship teams in each Division.

XV. Player Suspensions

For player suspensions call: Will Gallagher at 908-399-2867.

XVI. Transfers

Transfers between teams are only permitted on a permanent basis. A player cannot play for more than one team within the same division (0ver-30, Over-40 and Over-48).

XVII. Playoffs

The top 4 teams in each division advance.
The format is 4 @ 1, and 3 @ 2 in the semifinals.
Follow the rules for make ups to schedule field and date.
The winners play in the final at the home field of the higher seeded team.
A 3 referee system of control is used.
Referee fees are split between the teams.