Field/facility status goes to the Demosphere schedules page for Iowa Soccer and is found in the left-hand column.

Have this information ready:

The Iowa Soccer League Rec Central takes a common sense approach to getting kids and coaches on the field and from that principle comes the allowance to use “guest players” in a game – so that your team has enough players to play the match as scheduled.

What it is

• This allowance is a tool for coaches to use to ensure they have enough players and/or substitutes at a game so that the game doesn’t have to be rescheduled, thus eliminating the work involved for coaches to reschedule.
• The tool is not a guaranteed answer to all scenarios, or to last-minute changes in player availability, but if planned for and used properly, the allowance should minimize the need to reschedule. In cases where the allowance can’t be applied, coaches are still able to reschedule matches.
• Maximum number of guest players in a match is three.

What it is NOT

• If the team has enough players and substitutes to play a match, the guest player allowance is NOT to be used.
• This allowance is NOT a tool for coaches to use to “stack” a roster with “ringer” type players just because the allowance exists or just because there is room on the team to still be under/within the maximum roster size.
• The tool is NOT to be used to gain a competitive advantage.

Abusing the allowance

• ABUSE of the spirit or the letter of this allowance will not be tolerated and will be dealt with harshly. Iowa Soccer will monitor guest player requests and impose strict penalties in the event a coach or club is found to have been abusing or finding ways around the allowance.
• Do NOT abuse the spirit of the allowance in order to gain a competitive advantage in your game. Abuse of the allowance will result in strict penalties. The allowance’s intent is to help take the burden of rescheduling off volunteer coaches; having up to three additional player options to add to your team so that a match can be played as scheduled is the foundation of the allowance. In the spirit of fair play, the allowance is guided by replacing a “like player” with a “like player” and, only in the event you need guest players.

Rec Central matches should be played as scheduled as match days are known in advance of the schedule.  However, from a practical standpoint, sometimes an unavoidable situation may come up during the season that necessitate your coach asking your opponent to agree to a reschedule.

In the event your coach seeks a reschedule due to a lack of players:

• The first step a coach should take before making a request of an opponent is to utilize the Rec Central’s Guest Player Allowance mechanism.  Visit the Guest Player Allowance & Form page for complete details and procedures.

In the event the match must be rescheduled

• ​STEP ONE: Team coaches or coordinators have contacted each other and agreed upon a date, time, and location to reschedule a match.
• STEP TWO: You must coordinate with field/facility directors and referee assignors to make sure there are no conflicts and referees are assigned to the new match.
• STEP THREE: The agreed-upon date and time must be submitted by the HOME TEAM coach as soon as the change is confirmed and no later than NOON on the Friday before the game.
• Once the league director receives the form (below) the public-facing schedule will be updated.