Mission
To provide an opportunity for the most competitive play possible for the highest-level teams within US Youth Soccer Region III to aid in the development of the US Youth Soccer players.
Owner
Region III US Youth Soccer.
Management
The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League shall be managed and supervised by the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Committee. The US Youth Soccer Region III Director shall appoint the chairman.
Organization
Each National State Association that has team(s) participating in US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League will appoint a representative to sit on the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Committee. The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League State Representative will supervise all teams from his respective National State Association. The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League will be divided into Sub-Regions to reduce travel and related expenses.#MORE#
Territories
Any US Youth Soccer National State Association may request entry, but US Youth Soccer Region III National State Associations will have priority.
Divisions
Each US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Sub-Region committee will have authority to select teams to appropriate playing divisions. A division will not be formed with less than six teams for the same age group and gender except for the U-18 age group.
Teams
Each US Youth Soccer National State Association may allow club teams in the following age categories for Boys and Girls; U14, U15, U16, U17, and U18 to apply for acceptance. The US Youth Soccer National State Association will determine their teams that may apply for acceptance. (Generally it is anticipated that the club teams will be the Winner and Runner-up of the State's most recent Championship tournament, or in the case of an existing competitive league available to all state association teams, the Champion and Runner-up teams based on the teams prior full-year standing.) Participation is open to any properly registered competitive team in good standing with the member of the US Youth Soccer National State Association.
The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League (R3PL) Sub-Region Committee shall have the authority to accept teams for competition that have approved applications from their US Youth Soccer National State Association. The R3PL Committee shall have the final authority to accept teams and reserves the right to refuse admittance of any team based upon the team’s prior performance in the Premier League (i.e. repeated failure to play matches, failure to comply with league rules, excessive misconduct, etc.).
Schedule
Each team will play matches scheduled by the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Sub-Region Committee. The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Sub-Region Committee will establish sites and match competitions. The overall winners of each age group division may represent their respective US Youth Soccer National State Association in the Region III Championship.
Travel/Hosting
For the purposes of Region III Premier League (R3PL) competition, each team must properly submit “Notification to Travel” to their respective US Youth Soccer National State Association, in accordance with their rules. A seasonal “Notification to Travel” may be issued and considered valid for each R3PL team, for league play only. A permission to host form is not required for R3PL play.
Discipline
The R3PL Sub-Region Committee has the authority to enforce all R3PL rules within their Sub-Region, including fines & suspensions. The R3PL Discipline and Protest Committee has complete authority over any disciplinary matters arising out of all R3PL play, including suspensions, fines, and appeals. The R3PL Discipline & Protest Committee shall hear appeals resulting from any decisions of the R3PL Sub-Regions.
The R3PL Committee will hear any appeals resulting from decisions of the R3PL Discipline and Protest Committee. Appeals from R3PL Committee may be made to the US Youth Soccer Region III Committee and USSF as specified and limited in the USSF Appeals Manual.
Fees
Each team playing in the Region III US Youth Soccer League will pay the fees established by the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Committee.
Individual teams are responsible for the cost of travel, housing, coaching, and uniforms. Each team participating in the league will be required to post a renewable performance bond at the time of registration and provide playing fields that meet the minimum requirement per age group.
Housing
As part of the right to participate in the competition provided by US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League the team may be required to lodge in a hotel selected by US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Committee while attending US Youth Soccer Region III events away from home.
Rights
Any club team in this league shall have all rights and privileges of any team playing in a league within their US Youth Soccer National State Association. Club teams participating in this league must meet the requirements of the US Youth Soccer National Youth Soccer Championship.
LEAGUE RULES
The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League is owned and operated by the US Youth Soccer Association Region III. Participation in the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League is governed by the rules adopted by the United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer), US Youth Soccer and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) except where modified below.
SECTION 1. APPLICATION AND ADMISSION
1) Application for Participation
a) Participation of teams requires approval from the team’s National State Association.
b) Participation is open to any properly registered competitive team in good standing with a member National State Association.
c) All applications for participation must be received by the deadline dates established for each season.
d) A complete application package MUST include:
i) A completed US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Team Application along with play dates form.
ii) A check for the established League entry fee made payable to US Youth Soccer Region III.
iii) Bond entry checks made payable to US Youth Soccer Region III (only to be cashed if team forfeits a game(s) or fails to abide by the rules of the league).
iv) Field availability form.
2) Acceptance of Teams
a) Deposit of the Entry Fee does not constitute acceptance. Teams not accepted will receive a full refund of the entry fee with a letter of notification within 30 days of the entry deadline.
SECTION 2. FORMATION OF DIVISIONS
_____________________________________________________________
1) Supervision/Management
a) Each age group in each division will be under the supervision and management of the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Sub-Region Committee.
2) Age Groups
a) Age Groups as defined by US Youth Soccer (i.e. Under 16) will be divided into single birth year divisions whenever there are sufficient teams participating in the League.
SECTION 3. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
1) Scheduling
a) The U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Sub-Region Committee will perform the required scheduling of each division for regular league play.
b) Teams must be available to play all scheduled dates as assigned after registration information has been provided for consideration.
c) Premier League will make every effort to schedule between 7 – 12 games for each team. The schedule listed on the Premier League web page is the OFFICIAL schedule.
d) Rescheduling of matches is at the sole discretion of the Region III Premier League Sub-Region Committee. Teams may not reschedule or cancel scheduled matches. Both teams will be fined and forfeit their match. The Region III Premier League Sub-Region Committee may also take disciplinary action.
2) Qualifying Matches
a) Qualifying matches are those scheduled league matches against teams in your own age division. Premier League will schedule you to play all teams within your division at least once.
b) Only qualifying matches will used to determine league standings.
3) Non - Qualifying Matches
a) Premier League may schedule non – qualifying matches with teams outside your age and or division to complete your schedule.
b) Non – qualifying matches WILL NOT be used to determine league standings.
4) Reporting of Scores
Game reports must be entered online by each team. The person completing the Game Report online will only need to enter the score; all other information is for your team to use.
Please note: There is a Tuesday morning 9:00am deadline to complete Game Reports.
Reporting Instructions:
Go to your Region III premier league home page Select your team’s age group/gender and then select your team page
Log in via the Coach/Manager Use Only field using your password (to be provided when team is notified of acceptance)
Select the Game Reports tab at the top of the page
Find the game you played and enter the score
After you enter the score select the Create button
Enter any other information you care to enter
When you are finished entering the information go to the bottom of the page
Select Submit Game Report
You are finished
* If the reported scores from both teams agree the records will be updated automatically
In the event of forfeit, the Region III Premier League Sub-Region Coordinator shall advise the Region III Premier League Director of the forfeit within the required time period (48 Hours).
5) Standings
a) The team with the highest points will be judged the winner of the division. Points will be awarded as follows:
i) Three (3) points for a win.
ii) One (1) point for a tie.
iii) Zero (0) point for a loss.
b) In the event two teams are tied on the basis of points the following tiebreakers will be considered in order until the tie is broken.
i) Winner of head to head competition. (This criterion is not used if more than two teams are tied.)
ii) Most wins.
iii) Team with greatest net goal difference (NGD) which is computed as goals for minus goals against with a maximum of four NGD in each game.
iv) Team with least goals against. (There is NO limit on the number of goals that will be counted to determine this tiebreaker.)
v) Team with the most goals (maximum of four goals in each game).
c) In the event more than two teams are tied on the basis of points the following would be used to break the tie:
i) The sequence of tie breakers will begin with 5)b)ii) and be followed until a team is eliminated.
ii) Once a team has been eliminated the sequence of tie breakers will begin again with 5)b)ii) and be repeated starting over after each team is eliminated until one team remains.
d) In the event that after having applied the tie-breaker rules above teams remain tied the winner of a coin toss will be adjudged to have placed higher in the standings than the loser of the coin toss.
6) Regional Tournament Slots
a. The regional tournament slot for each playgroup will be awarded to the team who finishes in the highest position in the US Youth Soccer Premier League standings who is not a state cup champion.
b. Any playgroup that is awarded more than one regional tournament slot will award the additional slot to the team who finishes second highest in the US Youth Soccer Premier League standings who is not a state cup champion.
c. A team that participates in the Boys or Girls Under 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 Region III Premier League and does not participate in their State Association’s US Youth Soccer State Cup Competition (either prior to or after the Premier League Competition) cannot be an automatic selection for the regional tournament slot.
d. In the event that no eligible teams are able to fill the regional tournament slot in a Sub-Regional bracket then that bracket may be filled by an eligible team from one of the other Sub-Regional brackets of the same age group and gender. An initial selection order will be established by blind draw of the Sub-Regions. From that point forward the selection order will alternate after having filled a region slot by the first Sub-Region becoming last and continuing in order until all region tournament slots are filled by eligible teams or returned to the region tournament.
e. A team that captures the Boys or Girls Under 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 Region III Premier League Championship and has forfeited a game(s) either in their State Association’s US Youth Soccer State Cup Competition and/or in their regular season play for the Region III Premier League Competition cannot be eligible for an automatic selection for the regional tournament slot in US Youth Soccer Region III Championships.
f. Should a team chosen to participate in the US Youth Soccer Region III Tournament Championship fail to participate in the aforementioned tournament the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Committee reserves the right to substitute another eligible team in accordance with the rules regarding filling the regional tournament slot.
g. The number of eligible teams in a division is determined by the number of teams who complete the season with no forfeits and no teams will be counted in the division who withdraw from the competition prior to completing the season.
SECTION 4. MATCHES
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1) Dates/Times
a) It is the intent to schedule one match per day.
2) Failure to Play as Scheduled
a) Scheduled matches may not be played due to inclement weather
otherwise all matches must be played as scheduled.
b) Failure to play a match as scheduled will result in forfeiture of the
match for league standings. The opposing team will be awarded a 3-0
win.
c) Any team that forfeits a scheduled match shall be fined $500 per
match plus the entire referee fees for each scheduled match. Any
team that forfeits their bond due to failure to comply with league
rules, including forfeited matches, will not be allowed to continue in
league play until another $1,000 bond is posted with the Region III
Premier League. Teams may also be subject to further discipline by
their National State Association. A Region III Premier League Sub-
Region Committee may award all or part of a forfeited bond to teams
whose opponents have forfeited a match. Also the Sub-Region
Committee may issue further sanctions including but not limited to
banning coaches, teams, and/or clubs/associations from further
participation in the league subject to the right of appeal.
d) Any team which fails to play two or more officially scheduled games
shall be considered to have abandoned the competition. Its games will
not count to determine league standings nor shall they be considered
in the standings as forfeits. The team is not eligible to receive awards,
shall not advance from the league into other competitions nor shall it
be considered in the league standings for other teams in the league.
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SECTION 5. RULES OF PLAY
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1) Games will be played under the applicable rules of US Youth Soccer.
Teams are responsible for obtaining and being familiar with the US
Soccer Federation Official Administrative Handbook and the FIFA Laws
as they govern League play with the modifications noted below:
2) Substitutions
a) Unlimited substitutions may be used. A player may
leave the field, and be substituted for, and then return to replace
another player an unlimited number of times.
b) Substitutions may be made when the team is in possession of the
throw in, or by either team when there is a goal kick, or after a goal is
scored, or there is an injury situation.
c) If a player is removed from the game and no substitute enters the
game for the player (team plays short), the original player may reenter
the game. Entry shall be at a normal substitution point (with approval
of the referee) or at any point during game if the referee signals for the
player’s reentry.
3) Match Length, Ball Size
Match Length / Ball Size
Age Group Length of Half Ball Size
U-17 & 18 45 min. 5
U-15 & 16 40 min. 5
U-14 35 min. 5
a) Teams will use their age group as defined by US Youth
Soccer for the current seasonal year in determining length of match
and ball size.
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4) Fields
a) Fields for all age groups must meet the FIFA requirements of full size
fields. Minimum 100 x 60 and Maximum 130 x 80
5) Official Match
a) A match shall be considered official after one full half of play (the
second half does not have to start). If less than one half is completed
and the match is called, the entire match must be replayed to become
an official match.
b) The Region III Premier League Discipline and Protest Committee will
decide the disposition of the match if called for gross misconduct by
either team, coaches, or parents.
c) Scheduled matches are to wait a minimum of 1 hour before a forfeit
can be assessed.
d) Failure to appear will result in a forfeit.
6) Player Passes/Rosters
a) Each team must present their laminated and pictured US Youth Soccer
player pass signed by both player and an official of their current
National State Association and a copy of their official stamped
National State Association roster to the match officials prior to the
start of each match. In addition for U-17/18 matches a team official
will provide the match officials prior to the start of each match a
roster of no more than eighteen players from their current National
State Association roster.
b) Players listed on the team’s current official stamped National State
Association roster may play in Region III Premier League matches.
c) NO GUEST PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED
d) Playing of an ineligible player will result in automatic forfeiture of
the match and possible suspension of the coach and/or expulsion of
the team from the League with forfeiture of all bonds and fees and
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notification to the team’s National State Association.
e) US Youth Soccer Player passes shall be presented to the referee upon
entering the field of play. Passes will be returned to the players at the
end of the match.
f) Region III Premier League match roster must be made available to the
opposing team coach/manager upon request.
7) Other
a) Uniform Color Conflict
i) When there is a conflict in uniform color, the team
listed first on the schedule must change.
ii) The referee's judgment is final.
b) Coaching from Sidelines
i) Limited coaching is permitted only from one touch line from the
center-line to the 18 yard line
ii) Coaches may not enter the field without permission from the
referee. Violation of this rule may result in a caution.
8) Inclement Weather
a) Once a referee has jurisdiction of a game, the game may be terminated
only by the referee as provided by the FIFA “Laws of the Game”.
b) Each hosting association or club member is responsible for notifying
all participating teams as soon as possible if their fields are closed due
to inclement weather.
c) All reasonable efforts must be made to complete the match on the
scheduled date.
d) If a match is called in the second half for inclement weather, the final
score will be the score at the time the match is called. If fields are
closed and/or games are cancelled and the referees are not notified
prior to their arrival at the site, the officials will be paid for their first
scheduled match only
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SECTION 6. MATCH CONTROL
_____________________________________________________________
1) Three Person System
a) Matches must be officiated by the three person FIFA/USSF Referee
System.
b) In the event the assigned referee fails to appear (within 10 minutes of
the match time), a certified official must be found to officiate the
match. If no certified official is found to officiate the match then the
competition will not count as an official league match even if played
with uncertified officials officiating. The referee may appoint
replacements for assistant referees who fail to show up by the match
time. In the event certified USSF officials are not available, the
referee may appoint club assistant referees. Club assistant referees
shall be limited to decisions only on touchlines and possession as
specified by FIFA.
2) Payment of Referees
a) Referees and assistant referees appointed under the provisions of these
League Rules shall be paid by the Region III League Director or his
designee.
b) Referee match fees will be paid for all completed games AND ARE
THE RESPONSIBILTY OF THE COACHES 50/50 SPLIT.
3) Termination of Matches
a) Referees may suspend matches for lack of crowd control, poor team
behavior or other unsportsmanlike circumstances. (Note - each coach
is responsible for the behavior of his players. Each coach is
responsible to assist the official, when asked, in the control of parents,
fans, and spectators).
b) The Referee shall issue a written USSF Referee Report concerning the
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suspension to the Region III Premier League Chairman of the
Discipline and Protest Committee within 48 hours.
c) The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Discipline and
Protest Committee shall ascertain the facts and determine appropriate
disciplinary action.
d) Disciplinary action may include:
i) Reprimand
ii) Forfeiture
iii) Suspension from one or more matches or
iv) Recommendation of a more severe penalty.
SECTION 7. EJECTIONS AND DISCIPLINE
_____________________________________________________________
1) Ejections and Removals
a) Any player ejected from a R3PL match will be suspended from their
next scheduled R3PL match. If the R3PL season has ended, they will
be suspended from their next scheduled State or National Cup
competition, which ever comes first.
b) Any player guilty of fighting with another player on or off the field
will be suspended from their next two R3PL matches. If theirR3PL
season has ended they will be suspended from their next two
scheduled State or National Cup competitions, which ever comes first.
c) The referee should file a USSF Referee Report with the Chairman of
the Discipline and Protest Committee within 48 hours of the match.
d) All player passes of red carded players will be returned to the team at
the end of the match and a copy of the referee’s report will be sent to
the National State Association Disciplinary Chairperson of the team
and player involved by the referee.
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e) Any coach, trainer, or other person in the technical area who is
removed or “sent-off” from a R3PL match by a match official shall
receive a minimum one match suspension from their next R3PL
match. If their R3PL season has ended, they will be suspended from
their next scheduled State or National Cup competition, whichever
comes first.
f) Any spectator who is removed or “sent off” from a R3PL match by a
match official shall be barred from their team’s next scheduled R3PL
match. If their R3PL season has ended, they will be suspended from
their next scheduled State or National Cup competition, whichever
comes first.
3) Discipline
a) The Team Manager or Coach of a person who has been asked to leave
the match area shall complete the US Youth Soccer Region III
Premier League - 'Ejection Report’. The Team Manager or Coach
must forward a copy of the 'Ejection Report' to the Chairman of the
Discipline and Protest Committee within 48 hours of the end of the
match.
b) All ejections of players and removal of coaches, assistant coaches,
managers, or spectators from the match area shall be reviewed by U S
Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Discipline and Protest
Committee who may impose additional penalties.
c) Teams failing to submit an Ejection Report as defined in sub-section
(a), within 5 days of the match in question, shall forfeit their
performance bond of $1,000 and must post another performance bond
before the next match is played.
d) Teams that falsify information on their Ejection Report shall forfeit
their performance bond of $1,000 and must post another performance
bond before the match is played.
e) Any team that does not “sit-out” a suspended individual for the
required suspension period and allows this individual to participate in
a match shall forfeit that match and the opposing team shall be
awarded a 3-0 win. This team will also forfeit their performance bond
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of $1,000 and must post another performance bond before the next
match is played and the individual will sit out their next scheduled
match as noted in Section 7 (1).
SECTION 8. PROTEST & APPEALS
_____________________________________________________________
1) Filing of Protest or Appeal
a) Notice of intent to protest a competition must be registered, in writing,
with the game official and the parties involved at the game site. The
Protest must be mailed within 48 hours of match completion with a
certificate of mailing to the Chairman of the R3PL Discipline and
Protest Committee and all opposing parties.
b) The Opposing (Responding) party will have five (5) days to prepare a
response to an official protest, which must be mailed with a certificate
of mailing to the Chairman of the R3PL Discipline and Protest
Committee and all opposing parties.
c) All appeals must be properly submitted within ten (10) days of the
notification of the decision being appealed to the Chairman of the
R3PL Discipline and Protest Committee.
d) All Protest or Appeals must include the following before they will be
considered:
i) A non-refundable fee of $250.00 (certified check, or money order,
payable to the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League.
ii) A written statement describing the specific grounds for the protest
or appeal.
iii) All information necessary to make a fair and just decision on the
protest or appeal.
iv) A clear and concise statement of the relief or action sought by the
protesting or appealing party.
v) Five (5) copies of all documents relevant to the appeal including
but not limited to:
(1) USSF Referee report(s) on the match in question.
(2) Copies of Rules that are applicable to the protest.
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(3) Official League Roster, if applicable to the protest.
d) Judgment decisions of the referee are not subject to appeal or protest.
2) Consideration of Protest
a) A Protest may be disallowed for the following reasons:
i) does not deal with the violation of US Youth Soccer Region III
rules and regulations;
ii) Concerns a matter of 'referee judgment',
iii) Is incomplete or does not contain the required information,
iv) Is not filed in a timely or proper manner, or
v) The question arising from the protest does not deal with either the
application of these rules or the qualifications of the opposing
team.
vi) The protest may not be withdrawn.
b) The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Discipline and
Protest Committee shall issue a decision within fifteen (15) days of
the receipt of the Protest and the response if any of responding party.
c) The decisions of the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League
Discipline and Protest Committee on all matters of protest may be
appealed to the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League
Committee.
d) The decisions of the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League
Committee may be appealed to the US Youth Soccer Region III
Committee and their decision may be appealed as specified and
limited in the USSF Appeals Manual.
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APPENDIX:
1) Referee fees:
(a) 90 minute games $100.00 (50-25-25)
(b) 80 minute games $ 95.00 (45-25-25)
(c) 70 minute games $ 80.00 (40-20-20)
2) State Reps are responsible for seeing that there is a site coordinator at the
site on game days. Officials are to be paid only for their work. If there is
only one assistant referee, they receive only their payment. The other
assistant referee fee may be paid to a club assistant referee, if they are a
registered USSF official.
3) Local hosting clubs should pay for field fees if possible.
4) Rule changes must be submitted thirty days prior to annual US Youth
Soccer Workshop.
5) These rules and policies may be temporarily modified when extenuating
circumstances or justified compelling considerations exist by a 2/3 vote
of the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Committee.
6) Due to time and distance the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier
League Committee may conduct its business, including voting on league
matters, via email or teleconference.
ADDENDUM TO U.S. YOUTH SOCCER REGION III PREMIER
LEAGUE RULES:
The information provided is to allow our member teams to understand how
recent decisions of the committee affect the interpretation of our rules.
1. June 26, 2004 Policy altered by rule change. Please refer to Section 3
– Operational Procedures 5) Standings. May, 2004. Breaking more
than a two way tie: State representatives of two states asked the
committee to review the rules and decide how a three way tie should
be broken. After a review of the tie breaking rules the committee’s
decision was that since there was no specific instruction as to the
procedure to break a three way tie after one team was eliminated by
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using the tie breaker rules the proper process was to continue down
the list of tie breaker rules until one of the two remaining teams was
eliminated. This is different from our U.S. Youth Soccer Region III
Tournament Rule procedure where after one team is eliminated from a
three way tie the proper procedure is to start over in the list of tie
breakers. We will continue to apply this procedure until the
committee sees fit to alter the rule.
2. May, 2004. Effect of automatic suspensions earned from ejections in
non-Premier League matches: The situation existed where a player(s)
were ejected in a local U.S Youth Soccer sanctioned invitational
tournament final match played and did not sit out from the next match
played which was a Premier League match. The committee
researched U.S Youth Soccer playing rules, FIFA documentation, and
USSF memorandum concerning the applicability of automatic
suspensions as a result of an ejection from a match. It was the
committee’s interpretation based on the review of the above
mentioned sources that when a player is unable to serve an automatic
suspension in the competition where the automatic suspension was
earned, the ‘governing body’ of the next competition determines
whether or not the automatic suspension carries into the next
competition. Where in this case the ‘governing body’ is the Premier
League committee and beholden to rules of the league and the rules of
the league are silent as to the applicability of an automatic suspension
earned in a non-Premier League competition; it is interpreted that an
automatic suspension earned in a non-Premier League competition
does not carry forward to a Premier League competition. Further, an
automatic suspension resulting from an ejection from a Premier
League match can only be served in Premier League competition
unless it is served in the player’s next State Cup or Regional Cup
match if the Cup match is the next match played. Recognizing that
the Premier League cannot mandate that the player serve the
automatic suspension in his first State or Regional Cup match, only
that the Premier League will recognize, for our purposes, that a
sanctioned player has served the automatic suspension in the first
match of a State or Regional Cup competition. It should be noted that
the automatic suspension will only be considered to have been served
in matches actually played by the team to which the player in question
is currently rostered. We will continue to apply this procedure until
the committee sees fit to alter the rule. Added June 30, 2005: Please
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note that the statement “Recognizing that the Premier League cannot
mandate that the player serve the automatic suspension in his first
State or Regional Cup match” is in error. The National State
Association Presidents of US Youth Soccer Region III have
empowered the Region III Premier League to enforce Section 7,
Ejections and Discipline, 1) Ejections and Removals, a) Any player
ejected from a R3PL match will be suspended from their next
scheduled R3PL match. If the R3PL season has ended, they will be
suspended from their next scheduled State or National Cup
competition, which ever comes first.
3.
NOTICE OF DECISION
Date of Notice: January 25, 2005
Hearing / Appeal: R3PL Western Sub-Region vs.
Dallas Sting 88
Hearing Date: January 24, 2005
Hearing Committee: Barry Bynum; Steve Kirkwood;
Charlie Freel;
Val O’Keeffe; Steve Ballentine -
Chairman
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
The Dallas Sting ‘88 Girls team failed to play in two (2) scheduled Reg. III
Premier League (R3PL) matches on December 11th & 12th 2004. As a result
Jesse Harrell, R3PL Western Sub-Region Director, declared the games a
forfeit and notified the Dallas Sting ’88 team of the following:
• The opposing team was awarded a 3-0 win.
• The team is fined $600 for each game forfeited; total fine $1200.
• The team is ineligible to advance to the Reg. III Tournament as the
R3PL representative.
• The team is ineligible to compete in the 2005-06 R3PL season.
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The Dallas Sting ’88 team has properly appealed the following to the R3PL
Discipline & Protest Committee:
1. The decision to declare the team ineligible to compete in the 2005-06
R3PL season.
2. The fine of $500 per game for not showing up for a scheduled match.
(The $100 per game assessment fee for referees was not appealed).
DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE
1. TEAM ELIGIBLITY:
After a review of the testimony and the documentation, the R3PL Discipline
and Protest Committee has determined the Western Sub-Region Director,
Jesse Harrell does not have the authority under R3PL rules to declare this
team ineligible for future R3PL play.
This authority is vested with the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier
League Committee, as stated in the R3PL Rules, League Policy: Teams
(par.3).
Therefore, the Dallas Sting ’88 team is eligible to compete in the R3PL next
season, unless further action is taken in accordance with R3PL rules to
consider this team ineligible.
2. TEAM FINE:
The R3PL Discipline & Protest Committee voted unanimously to enforce
R3PL rules regarding forfeits and fines (Section 4. Matches 2 b & 2 c), and
to uphold the $1200 fine to this team. It is the opinion of this committee that
it is crucial to the continued success of the R3PL for the league to have the
authority and ability to fine those teams for not showing up to scheduled
matches.
Teams participating in the R3PL travel hundreds of miles and journey for
hours to competitions, and there has to be the confidence by those traveling
teams their opponent will be there for the scheduled competition.
“Train wrecks” and other disastrous types of events could provide
exceptions to the rule and may be considered as justifiable reasons for
forfeiting scheduled matches. However, the R3PL does not have the
wherewithal to regularly review doctor’s excuses, medical records, or school
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reports to determine the competitive level of a team or it’s ability to compete
at a scheduled competition.
While the Dallas Sting ’88 team certainly had it’s share of accidents,
injuries, and illness during the season, and it does not appear they
intentionally forfeited these matches, a forfeit is still a forfeit, and the R3PL
rules are absolutely clear on the issue of fines and forfeits.
Therefore, the $1200 fine to the Dallas Sting ’88 team is within the R3PL
rules and shall remain in effect.
NOTICE OF APPEAL
Either party has the “Right to Appeal” this decision. If you choose to do so,
you must submit your appeal within ten (10) days of the receipt of this
notice to the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Director at the
address listed below.
Reg. III Premier League
Keith W. Chaple
P.O. Box 347
Covington, GA 30015
Your notice to appeal must include the following:
• A written statement describing the specific grounds for the
appeal.
• All information necessary to make a fair and just decision.
• A clear and concise statement of the relief or action sought by
this appeal.
• Copies of all documents relevant to this appeal.
Thank you to all parties involved please let me know if you have any further
questions or concerns regarding the decision of this committee.
Regards,
Steve Ballentine
R3PL Discipline & Appeals Chrm.
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4. February, 2006. Beginning with the 2006 – 2007 playing season the
US Youth Soccer Region III will be divided into three sub-regions for
play. The East will consist of the National State Associations of
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The Central
will consist of the National State Associations of Tennessee,
Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The West will
consist of the National State Associations of Oklahoma, North Texas,
and South Texas. These sub-regions will exist until the governing
body sees fit to alter the policy.
5. February, 2006. Beginning with the 2006 – 2007 playing season the
West Sub-Region will be awarded fifteen regional championship slots
to fill. The East will be awarded fifteen regional championship slots
to fill. The Central will be awarded ten regional championship slots
to fill. Initially, the West will fill the additional five slots with the
second eligible boy’s team from each age group. Initially, the East
will fill the additional five slots with the second eligible girl’s team
from each age group. After the initial year the East and West will
alternate giving the slots to girl’s and boy’s second eligible teams.
The division of regional championship slots will exist until the
governing body sees fit to alter the policy.
4. Decision of the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League Committee
July 3, 2006, Little Rock, AR.
By a vote of a majority of US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League State
Representatives it was decided to allow additionally rostered players on U17
and U18 teams who are inactive for the current match to sit on their team
bench in street clothes.