IOWA SOCCER ASSOCIATION, INC
MEMBERSHIP RULES (revised November 2004)
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CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL

PURPOSE

A. The rules contained herein shall govern Member Organizations (affiliates, teams) and all Members (players, coaches) of the Iowa Soccer Association, Inc. (hereinafter Association, ISA or National State Association) in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Association Constitution and Bylaws. All competitions shall be governed by the rules stated herein, unless the rules of a specific competition state otherwise. The rules of the USSF (hereinafter Federation) supersede these rules.

B. These State rules are intended to provide a uniform set of guidelines governing player eligibility and registration, team formation and player assignments, playing rules and standards of sportsmanship and conduct for use by all Members and Member Organizations.

DEFINITIONS

A. Registration means the signing of an intent to play the sport of soccer and the paying of a fee to become a member of the Association.
B. Team means a recognized entity organized for the purpose of playing the sport of soccer.
C. Rostering means assignment of a registered player to a team.
D. Eligible to play means registered, not under suspension.
E. Suspension means the temporary withdrawal of rights and privileges such as but not limited to the right to play, coach or otherwise administer or participate (directly or indirectly) in the game of affiliated soccer. Any person or group (team, club, league, player, coach, etc.) that has been suspended shall be in less than good standing for the entire term of the suspension with all rights and privileges withdrawn unless specifically stated otherwise by the suspending authority.
F. Add means the addition of a player to a team's roster.
G. Drop means to remove a player from a team roster.
H. Release means the withdrawal of a player from a roster during the current seasonal year.
I. Transfer means the movement of a currently or previously rostered player onto another roster or of a player who returns to the same roster within the current seasonal year.
J. Ejection means the send-off of any player during a game, the dismissal of a coach during a game or the dismissal of a player before or after a game.
K. Multiple Registration means having a player rostered to 2 teams during a seasonal year.

SECTION 1 LEVELS OF COMPETITION

The Iowa Soccer Association, Inc. sanctions play among teams at three (3) distinct levels:

1. Recreational
2. Select (Classic and Premier)
3. Olympic Development

Unless otherwise stated, these rules apply to all players, coaches and teams in all levels.

A. Recreational

Recreational soccer programs are intended to provide the opportunity for all interested citizens within the area served by the Member Organization to participate in and enjoy the game of soccer without regard for the athletic ability or soccer skills up to the limits of the Member Organization to accommodate them.

B. Select

Select soccer programs are intended to provide players with advanced skills and an expressed desire to experience a level of competition beyond that afforded by a recreational program. Team formation and player assignment guidelines that govern recreational teams do not apply to select teams. Member Organizations may establish their own criteria for player selection and team assignment provided there is no conflict with the Association Constitution, Bylaws and Rules. Select programs are prohibited at the U10 age division and lower.

C. Olympic Development

State Olympic Development teams may be formed to represent the Association in any competition approved by the Association, the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA), the Federation, or the United States Olympic Committee.

Formation of Olympic Development teams shall be vested with the Association Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate this authority at its discretion.

SECTION 2 TYPES OF TEAMS

A. Recreational Team - A team composed of players rostered specifically as detailed in these rules.
B. Classic Team - Any team not meeting the requirements to be considered a recreational team and by self selection do not want to or do not think they can compete at the State's premier level.
C. Youth Premier Team - Any team not meeting the requirements to be considered a recreational team.
D. Adult Premier Team - An adult team created to play at a higher level of amateur, adult competition which is eligible for National Cups competitions and interstate travel.
E. Tournament Teams - A team composed of players from more than one registered team. This team can only enter tournaments and competitions that allow Tournament Teams. Tournament Teams at the U10 age division and below are prohibited.
F. Olympic Development Team - A team selected through statewide tryouts to participate in activities as designated by the USSF Olympic Development Program.

SECTION 3 MEMBER ORGANIZATION RULES

A Member Organization may elect to adopt additional rules to govern play within its own organization. Organizations seeking ISA affiliation must provide a copy of their current rules for review by the Association prior to the Association's Board of Directors voting on the affiliation. If said organization does not have its own rules of play, a letter is to be submitted accepting the ISA Rules.

Written notification of subsequent changes to the organization's rules must be made to the Association within thirty (30) days of the adoption of such changes. The Association will notify in writing the Member Organization in the event an organization rule or rules appear to be in conflict with ISA Rules to the extent such changes may:

A. Preclude teams of the Member Organization from participating in competitions sponsored by the ISA or the USYSA; or
B. Jeopardize continued membership in the ISA.

A recommendation or finding by the Association is not binding on any Member Organization unless and until acted on and approved by the ISA Board of Directors in accordance with the ISA Constitution and Bylaws. The review process is intended to provide early identification, discussion and resolution of potential rule conflicts to the mutual benefit of the ISA and its Member Organizations.

SECTION 4 MEMBER ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Each Member Organization shall be responsible for ensuring proper registration of its players and teams, proper accounting for fiscal transactions and accurate and timely reporting as required to the ISA State Office or the appropriate designee.
B. Each Member Organization will plan and conduct player registration prior to each playing season and will establish dates for closing of registration and initiation of the team formation process for its own organization.

CHAPTER TWO: REGISTRATION/ROSTERING

SECTION 5 DEFINITIONS OF REGISTRANTS

A. All players must register annually and reapply each seasonal year. Registration is effective upon receipt of registration form and registration fee by the local registrar.
B. Youth registration of soccer players under these rules shall include all those registrants defined as youth by the Federation, being all male and female registrants of the age of under nineteen years. Amateur registration of soccer players will be all male and female registrants of the age over nineteen years.

1. Registration - The player is registered to the State Association through a Member Organization the moment the player or the player's parent or guardian signs the registration form and pays the appropriate fees to the member organization.
2. Rostering - Rostering means assignment of a registered player to a team. Initial rostering shall commence no later than the player's first participation in any competition sanctioned by the ISA. Rosters may change but only with the approval of the club registrar and in accordance with club, State, USYSA, USASA, and USSF rules and regulations.

C. Age grouping for the ISA and Member Organizations play will be:

*Age 4 is the minimum age

D. The age of the player for purpose of play shall be the player's age on July 31st of the immediately preceding soccer year. The current soccer year begins on September 1 and ends August 31 of the following year.

E. Member Organizations will require all players to present proof of age when they register to play.

1. Proof of age shall consist of a birth certificate or birth registration issued by an appropriate government agency, Board of Health records, passport, valid drivers license, alien registration card issued by the United State Government, a certificate issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service attesting to age, a Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card issued by the Uniformed Services of the United States or a certification of an American citizen born abroad issued by the appropriate government agency. Hospital, baptismal or religious certificates will not be accepted.

2. Member Organizations should keep a copy of proof of age of each player.

F. U06 and U08 teams may not play up in higher age divisions. U10 and U12* teams will not be allowed to play up in higher age divisions in any competition with the exception of league play. U10 and U12 teams may play up in a higher age division in league play only IF their opponents play the prescribed number of field players and adhere to the roster size as allowed by the youngest age division participating.

U10 and U12 players may play up on higher age division teams. U12 and U13 teams cannot be created to subverted this rule. Teams in the U12 and U13 age divisions cannot have a roster that has more than forty (40) percent of their players who are true U10s or true U12s respectively.

*In this rule U12 reference includes the U11 age division.

SECTION 6 REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS WITH MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

YOUTH

A. Youth players not residing in Iowa must request permission (in writing) from the ISA for the player to be allowed to register and roster on an ISA team. Such requests will be sent to the State Office for processing and appropriate decisions.
B. Youth players may only be registered to two ISA sanctioned teams (Olympic Development Teams excluded) at any given time during the seasonal year. One team must be declared the primary team. The other team will be considered the secondary team.

1. Each team is limited to three (3) secondary rostered players.
2. Players multiple rostered to a recreational team and a select team at the same time will have the select team designated as the primary team.
3. A multiple rostered player will have a player pass issued for each team designating the primary and secondary teams.
4. A player multiple rostered to a recreational team and a select team at the same time will have their player pass designated as a select player.

C. Those players wishing to play in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series Iowa State Cup must declare their cup team as the primary team.
D. All registration with the exception of unaffiliated Olympic Development players and college players must register with the State Association through a local Affiliate of the State Association.
E. Youth players may change teams during the seasonal year in the following manner:

1. Member Organizations reserve the right to reassign players and re-register the new teams by filing the appropriate forms (i.e. transfer forms, adds, deletes) with the State Office.
2. Youth playing on recreational and select teams may only change teams during the seasonal year by obtaining and completing a Transfer form. For select player transfers a transfer will be assessed to the receiving team. Transfers will not be assessed to the receiving teams for recreational players transferring to select teams.
3. Member Organizations may form Tournament teams in U11 through U19 age divisions from players who are rostered with Member Organization teams. These teams are registered for one event only and will be so designated on the roster. The Association will charge a fee for each Tournament roster. The roster must be completed and submitted by the Member Organization from which the Head Coach of the team is registered.
ADULTS

A. Adults must register with the State Association through league commissioners.
B. Adult players may register on one or more teams during the same seasonal year.
C. Adults may transfer to another team with notification to the league commissioner. The league commissioner must notify the State Association of the change.

SECTION 7 REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS IN AN ASSOCIATION OTHER THAN ISA

A. Basic to these rules is that a youth player must register through, or be released from, the state association of the player's residence. If the player wishes to play on a team in another state association, the player must obtain and complete an Interstate Transfer form. The form along with the appropriate fee must be submitted to the Member Organization with which the player would register. The form and the fee then is sent to the State Office for approval.

B. Upon receipt of such request, the State Association will take action as follows:

1. Should such request be approved, a copy of the approved request will be forwarded to the player and to the receiving National State Association or other designated Organization as specified by the receiving National State Association.
2. Should such request be denied, written notice of such denial shall be directed to the team or player involved with a copy sent to the National State Association office. Appeal of such decision may be made to the ISA Board of Directors.
3. Requests to play in another National State Association and approval or denial may be in bulk as opposed to individual requests and responses.

SECTION 8 CHANGING OF A PLAYER'S RESIDENCE

A. Any player changing residence inside the boundaries of the State of Iowa must immediately notify the Member Organization with whom the player is registered. The Member Organization must then notify the State Association office of the changes.
B. Any player moving residence outside the State of Iowa must immediately notify the Member Organization with whom the player is registered and surrender the player's pass to the Member Organization's Registrar.

SECTION 9 TEAMS PLAYING IN LEAGUES OTHER THAN IN ISA

A. Teams may request to play in leagues in other National State Associations. Such teams must notify the Member Organizations with which they are registered. The Member Organization must notify the State Association office of the team's request.
B. The State Association may take one of the following actions:

1. Approve the request and contact the receiving National State Association of the team's desire to play in their state. To avoid the filing of travel papers, the State Association has cross play agreements with some bordering states and in such cases, the State Association will seek permission for that team(s) to play through a letter of agreement with the receiving National State Association.
2. Approve the request and if there is no such agreement, travel papers or other forms of documentation may be required. It is the responsibility of the team to determine what paperwork will be necessary to seek approval.
3. Deny the request. The team(s) may appeal the decision to the ISA Board of Directors.

SECTION 10 MEMBER ORGANIZATION REGISTRATION RESPONSIBILITIES

Each Member Organization shall be obligated to register all its players with the State Association in accordance with these rules.

SECTION 11 REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS ONTO STATE TEAMS

The State Association may register players directly onto State teams in the following cases:

A. Olympic Development players who are not registered with a Member Organization.
B. Out-of-state college students who are not registered with a Member Organization.

SECTION 12 GUEST PLAYERS

A. When traveling out-of-state for friendly or tournament matches, ISA shall allow the use of the number of guest players that is allowed by the tournament of hosting organization provided that:
1. The request for guest player inclusion is made to the State Association
2. The player(s) names are included on a State approved roster that accompanies the Travel Papers.
3. The requests are made at least 48 hours in advance of the day in which the team expects to travel. If the request is not made within 48 hours of the day on which the team expects to travel, the team will be subject to an additional processing fee.
B. Unless requested by the hosting organization, guest player requests do not have to be submitted for ISA players wishing to guest play on ISA teams playing in ISA sanctioned events.
C. For ISA registered players wishing to guest play on teams from other National State Associations, a Player Loan Agreement request must be submitted to the State Association. The Agreement must have all authorized signatures and completed information prior to approval by the State Association. The request must be completed at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled event or an additional processing fee will be charged.
D. Under no circumstances can a player on a select team participate as a guest player for a recreational team unless that team is playing in an open or competitive tournament.

SECTION 13 RECREATIONAL TEAM FORMATION

Specific guidelines are contained herein for youth recreational team formation and player assignment.

· The team formation process will be random in nature. Special requests by players, coaches or parents for specific team assignments are strongly discouraged.
· Criteria for player assignment will include NO consideration for the ability of the player or the relative strength of the team.
· All forms of recruiting, invitations and tryouts are specifically prohibited at the recreational level. Coaches will have no direct input to or involvement with the assignment of players to their teams.
· Minimum half game playing time is mandatory for all Member Organizations in recreational play.
· Teams which fail to meet one or more of the rules for Recreational team formation and player assignment specified herein may be considered select in any Association sponsored or sanctioned competitions including tournaments. The team status/eligibility will be determined by the State Office Staff.
· The modified rules for small-sided games will be followed. U06 players may be bulk registered as an age group division. U06 will play 3v3. U08 will play 4v4. U10 will play 6v6. U11 and U12 will play 8v8.
· Clubs may choose to adopt the "side-by-side" approach to training and games for the U06 and U08 age divisions. In these cases the roster size for U06 will be 10 and U08 will be 12. Games will be played jointly between two (2) teams with two (2) games being played simultaneously. Each team MUST have at a minimum either co-coaches or one head coach and an assistant coach who are always in attendance at training and games. U08 teams choosing this format WILL NOT be eligible for tournament play.

A. For U06, U08, U10 age divisions:

1. There are no select players or teams in these age divisions.
2. If a Member Organization permits teams to remain together from season to season, the player has the right to stay on the team and the Member Organization must insure that all those rostered players have been contacted and given the opportunity to remain on that team.
3. New recreational teams and returning teams that need players are formed by one of the following methods:

a. Players are assigned (rostered) to a team by age groups on a territorial basis (neighborhood, schools, precincts, zip codes, etc.)
b. Players are assigned (rostered) to a team by a random draw from one (1) player pool on a territorial basis as stated in (a) above.
.
4. Players' names shall not be identified to the coach until the player is placed on the team. Only the Head Coach may request their child be rostered to the team that he/she is coaching.
5. If a person becomes the head coach of a new team formed by the Member Organization in the current season, the coach may request that their child be rostered to the new team he/she is coaching.
6. Any other method of player assignment or team formation is considered non-recreational and the players on such teams will be registered as select team members with the State Association.

B. For U11 - U19 age groups:

1. All rules of team formation stated in (A) above apply in these age divisions except: If no players are available in the player pool, Member Organizations may actively seek players of the proper age division to be added to the team as long as no methods are used to assess the ability of the player and:

a. The player is not presently registered on an existing team.
b. The player did not play for a returning recreational team during the previous season.

C. Adults

1. Adult recreational teams are formed by rules adopted by local leagues and these teams are not eligible for National Cups competitions or interstate travel.

D. A team not formed of players assigned as defined above is considered a select team.

SECTION 14 ROSTER SIZES

A. Recreational - youth

There will be NO exceptions beyond the maximum roster sizes.

B. Competitive/Select - Youth

Roster sizes for competitive/select teams will be dictated by playing leagues, tournaments, and national rules and policies.

B. Adults

Roster sizes for adults will be a maximum of 25 players.

SECTION 15 TRYOUTS

ISA has no rule that condones or restricts tryouts except that tryouts are not allowed for the U06-U10 age divisions. It does, therefore, defer to its Member Organizations' rules concerning the matter.

SECTION 16 YOUTH PLAY IN ADULT DIVISION

A. A youth player will be permitted to play an unlimited number of amateur games without losing eligibility. The youth player must obtain permission from his youth coach or other authorized team official. The youth coach or other authorized team official shall, in writing or by form, request eligibility from the State Association.
B. If approved and released, the youth player shall be listed as a "provisional" amateur player.
C. A youth player may coincidentally register as an amateur player with the proper release as stated above.
D. A youth player must be age seventeen (17) to play as a provisional player.
E. Players fifteen (15) and sixteen (16) years old may receive written permission from the State Association to register on an amateur team if the player and team play in an area where youth play for the player's age group is not available.
F. Any youth player playing for an amateur team without the approval of the State Association shall be declared ineligible for youth games. Any youth team using such ineligible player shall forfeit all games in which the player took part. It is not necessary to drop an ineligible youth player from an amateur team.

CHAPTER THREE: SPORTSMANSHIP AND MISCONDUCT

SECTION 17 SCOPE

All Member Organizations are directed to distribute this rule to every youth player, every coach, team manager, administrator, and referee. It is intended that the player and/or coach will make known the contents of this rule to his/her parents and spectators.

All members and participants in soccer within the jurisdiction of the ISA have requested to participate in our programs. Therefore, these participants have agreed to abide by the Bylaws and Rules of ISA, their local playing organization as well as those of the Federation and its youth and amateur councils. The ISA Constitution and Bylaws provide that it has jurisdiction over all Member Organizations, players, coaches, team managers, administrators, and team representatives who choose to affiliate. Any member or participant within the jurisdiction of ISA found in violation of the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules, as well as those of the Federation and its youth and amateur councils may be subject to publication in the quarterly magazine of ISA of their name, the type of violation, and the disciplinary action.

All Member Organizations are directed to monitor, investigate and act as may be appropriate to insure any and all problems regarding unsportinglike conduct and ethical breeches are not permitted. Any and all such activity may in some cases preclude action by a league or ISA but will not in all cases eliminate such action by a league or ISA.

SECTION 18 UNSPORTINGLIKE CONDUCT

A. Any unsportinglike conduct by a coach, referee, player, administrator, parent, spectator, or other member of ISA is strictly forbidden at any game or other ISA sanctioned or sponsored function.
B. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of team supporters and are expected to assist the referee in his/her efforts to control the game. The referee has the right to eject any coach or player or to terminate the game for reasons of unsportinglike conduct.
C. Any serious act of unsportinglike conduct by any person on or near the field of play shall be reported by the referee to the ISA which will take appropriate corrective action.
D. Clubs are responsible for the conduct of all coaches and will act promptly to insure that a standard of conduct and ethical framework are clearly espoused.

SECTION 19 MISCONDUCT OF PLAYERS, COACHES AND OTHER TEAM OFFICALS

A. Ejections - Action taken due to ejections of players and coaches before, during and after matches is governed by the matches sponsoring authority.
B. Other Misconduct - Any misconduct justifying a report by a referee or any other person shall be directed to the Member Organization with which the player, coach or team official is affiliated. The Member Organization shall promptly (within 10 days after the receipt of the report) rule on the report and notify the State Association of the action. The Association will determine the extent of action to take, if any, in addition to that taken by the Member Organization.
C. Verbal and Physical Abuse - Verbal and physical abuse by a coach or player upon a referee is governed by Federation Bylaws. In matters of verbal and physical abuse by a coach, player or other team official upon all others the Member Organization is expected to act promptly (within 5 days of the incident) and in a manner appropriate for the violation. A full report of the incident and the Member Organization's subsequent action is to be delivered to the State Association immediately after action is determined. The Association will determine the extent of action to take, if any, in addition to that taken by the Member Organization.

SECTION 20 MISCONDUCT OF SPECTATORS

Spectator misconduct must be acted upon by the club with whom the spectator is associated.

SECTION 21 ADVERTISING

The ISA supports the Member Organizations advertising for seasonal sign up and tryouts. But the Association requires that since message is different for general sign up and tryouts, and since tryouts are not permitted in the U10 age divisions and below, the advertising must be distinctly different and identifiable.

A. Seasonal Sign Up Advertising - Advertising for seasonal sign up should contain only the following information:

1. Member Organization name
2. Age groups offered
3. Geographical area limitations if decided
4. Dates and times of sign up
5. Location of on-site sign up
6. Name, address and/or telephone number of contact person

B. Tryout Advertising - Advertising for tryouts should contain the following information:

1. Member Organization name
2. Age groups
3. Team names if appropriate
4. Geographical if appropriate
5. Dates and times of tryouts
6. Location of tryouts
7. Coaches name and telephone number
8. What to bring to the tryout such as shin guards, ball, etc.

Note: Advertising is defined as but not limited to any notification on television, radio, periodicals, newspapers ads, newspaper articles, notices posted in public places, flyers, circulars, internet or direct mailings. The distribution of any team fact sheet, club information, brochures, or the like shall not constitute advertising.

SECTION 22 SANCTIONING OF COMPETITIVE LEAGUES

All competitive leagues within the ISA must be approved by the State Association prior to the commencement of competitions. The Association will review all requests from Member Organizations and submit a recommendation to the Executive Committee of the ISA Board of Directors for its disposition. In order to be an approved competitive league with ISA, the following conditions must be met:

A. A sufficient number of select teams exist within the geographical area to be served to warrant a competitive league.
B. The sponsoring Member Organization exhibits adequate financial and administrative strength to conduct competitions.
C. The sponsoring Member Organization has access to adequate fields and qualified referees to begin competitive play without compromising recreational play.
D. The sponsoring Member Organization submits league bylaws and rules acceptable for the administration of the league.
E. The sponsoring Member Organization is in good standing with the ISA.

SECTION 23 SANCTIONING TOURNAMENTS

The Association has the sole right to sanction Member Organization tournaments, and will only sanction those tournaments with Member Organizations as Hosting Organizations. The Member Organization must request to have a sponsored tournament sanctioned by submitting:

A. a completed Request to Host a Tournament or Game application
B. a Host Agreement
C. a copy of the tournament rules and regulations
D. the appropriate fee

The State Association will sanction tournaments with U08 and U10 divisions ONLY if those matches are played for recreational purposes as defined in USSF Rule 4094. The U08 division must be played 4v4; the U10 division must be played 6v6; and the U12 division must be played 8v8. The State Association will not sanction tournaments with the U06 age division.

SECTION 24 COACHING ETHICS/CONDUCT

All Member Organizations are required, at the very least, to adopt the ISA Codes of Conduct for coaches and parents. Organization Members may adopt their own codes if they wish to enhance the ISA codes or make the items more restrictive. In that case the codes must be submitted to the ISA for review.

SECTION 25 DISCIPLINE AND APPEALS PROCEDURES

All Member Organizations must have a written Discipline and Appeals Procedures section in their constitution, bylaws, rules or other appropriate document.

Board Approved (3/31/01)
Revised (8/2/03)
Revised (5/24/04)
Revised (6/24/04)
Revised (11/20/04)