Atlantic Coast Futsal League
Rules and Regulations
Venues
​Crown Sports Center, 28410 Crown Rd, Fruitland, MD 21826
Alternate Sites:
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Pittsville Elementary & Middle School, 34404 Old Ocean City Rd, Pittsville, MD 21850
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Beaver Run Elementary School, 31481 Old Ocean City Rd, Salisbury, MD 21804
Referees
Atlantic Coast Futsal League is a US Soccer affiliated futsal league. We use only US Soccer futsal-certified officials to call our games, assuring the game is played the way it should be played. In addition, Atlantic Coast Futsal League uses 2 experienced officials for U14 and older age groups.
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Participating Teams
Atlantic Coast Futsal League is fully sanctioned by United States Youth Futsal assuring the finest quality futsal program available to all participating players.
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Age Divisions/Groups
Boys & Girls U8 - U19. Atlantic Coast Futsal League reserves the right to drop or combine divisions or age groups as we strive to provide a balanced program.
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Season Play
Games begin the weekend of January 6th, and the season ends the weekend of February 25th, 2024. Depending upon the number of teams, weather issues and facility availability, the league schedule may change. Atlantic Coast Futsal League plays its games primarily on Sundays.
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Teams will be scheduled to play 8 games (No Playoffs)
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Conflicts
When you register your teams, you will be allowed only 2 conflicts. There will not be play on Super Bowl Game Day. Matches for that weekend will be on Saturday, February 10th. Please indicate any known conflicts in the conflict section upon your registration. We cannot guarantee to reschedule games due to conflicts; we will try our best!
IMPORTANT COACH INFORMATION
There is no coaching license to coach a team. Any adult who is registered with the team as a coach or manager can sit the bench. However, any adult who participates on the bench must provide a PA FBI fingerprint certification clearance to Atlantic Coast Futsal League prior to participating. This is a great option for teams with outdoor coaches who want to take a break, but still want their teams to have fun and play. There is no cost to register a coach.
Coaches with Multiple Teams
Atlantic Coast Futsal League will accommodate coaches with multiple teams in the same division by scheduling them with back-to-back games at the same facility as much as possible. We have been very successful with this in the past, so we encourage you to split your outdoor teams into two futsal teams.
Game Scorecards
Before each game, a pre-printed game card will be available from the referees. The cards will be populated with player names and numbers. Please check the cards for accuracy and then hand them back to the referees before the game begins. At the end of each game, the referee will hand the bench coaches the completed game cards. The coaches are to sign the cards and in doing so, verify the score. The scores on the signed cards are official and will be entered into the standings.
Competition Format & Rules
Official futsal FIFA Rules and Regulations as stated under the Laws of The Game will be enforced. Exceptions are noted below under House Rules. You may print up a copy of the Laws of the Game at the Atlantic Coast Futsal League
House Rules to the Laws of the Game
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Goalkeeper cannot throw the ball into the opponent’s penalty arc.
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No scoring from kick-offs.
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Goalkeeper cannot drop kick or punt the ball.
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Teams will NOT switch benches between halves to provide for substitutions in defensive zone only.
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Game length is two 25-minute halves.
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No time outs.
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League Fees
U13 and Younger $525 + $20 per game for referee fee with 1 referee.
U14 and Older $525+ $20 per game for referee fee with 2 referees.
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We feel that at these age groups, two experienced referees are necessary to assure the game is competitive, but officiated as the game was designed.
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Player Registration Fee - All players must be registered with USYF, and releases signed by player/parent/guardian (P/P/G). The fee is $13.50 per player and is completed online only (Waived for the Winter 2024 season but required by USYF for all Regional events). When the team manager inputs a player into the roster, an e-mail is sent to P/P/G with instructions as to how to complete player registration. There is no fee for managers, coaches, or assistant coaches, unless they are also players.
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Player Cards
Atlantic Coast Futsal League will institute the issuance of player cards. To be eligible to play, each player must have a card. Player cards are issued only after full payment of fees, signed Medical / Media Release forms have been received and all players have been registered online.
Players/Sister Teams/Double Rostering
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A sister team is created from an outdoor team that splits into two or more futsal teams. If you have a sister team in the league, you may borrow any number of players from the sister team.
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Players may be double - rostered on non-sister teams with knowledge and permission from both coaches.
Pre-game Check-In
Player cards and rosters may be checked before games. This is to ensure that all players are registered, and the league remains sanctioned by US Soccer. Team managers are to carry the game cards with them for inspection before games.
Game Balls
The home team is responsible for providing the game ball.
Size ball used by each age group
Under U12 - size 3 or a Select "Jinga Jr"
U13 and older – size 4 or a Select "Jinga"
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Do not bring outdoor balls into the facilities. They are not allowed for warm-up. Only futsal balls are allowed. Home team is responsible for providing a game quality ball.
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Equipment
The wearing of shin pads will be mandatory for all players. Indoor, flat soled soccer shoes also must be worn.
Time Outs / Home Team Colors
Each team can call one time out per half. Each time out will be one minute in duration.
Home team is to wear white or lighter colors. If Home team complies and there is a conflict, the visiting team must change jerseys. If home team does not wear light/white and there is a conflict, home team must change jerseys. Visiting teams centers off first.
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Forfeited Games
If a team fails to show for a scheduled match, the referee shall allow a 5-minute grace period. After 5 minutes, if the team has not yet arrived or does not have enough players to field a team (4), the game will be forfeited. The game will be tallied as a 3 to 0 loss for the forfeiting team and a 3 to 0 win for their opponent.
If the referee terminates a match for reasons other than an act of God or field conditions, the Atlantic Coast Futsal League Competition Committee will decide the result of the match after hearing the official reason from the referee, and both coaches.
Teams forfeiting a match will not receive a refund on their registration fee.
Forfeited games are recorded as a 3 - 0 loss.
Atlantic Coast Futsal League Point System and Tiebreakers
The determination within the group standings is as follows:
3 points for a win
1 point for a tie
0 points for a loss
Forfeited games are recorded as a 3 - 0 loss.
Tiebreakers
1. Total Points
2. Goal Difference (max 7 per game)
3. Goals For
4. Head-To-Head
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There are no awards given for winners of divisions.
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Ejections - Red Cards
If a player is ejected from a match, the player’s pass together with a referee’s report of the incident shall be turned over to the Bucks Futsal administrator by the referee.
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The minimum penalty for an ejection is that the player shall not be permitted to play in the immediate next match.
The maximum penalty, after review by the Bucks Futsal Competition Committee, may result in the individual players or teams’ expulsion from the competition.
If a player is ejected from a match the referee will hold onto the player pass, document red card on the back of the score sheet and present it to the Atlantic Coast Futsal League administrator. The player will have his/her pass returned after a one game suspension.
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Coach Ejections
If a coach is ejected from any match, a referee’s report of the incident shall be turned over to the Atlantic Coast Futsal League administrator by the referee.
The minimum penalty for an ejection is that the coach shall not be permitted to coach or remain on the player’s bench in the immediate next match.
The maximum penalty, after review by Atlantic Coast Futsal League Competition Committee, may result in the individual coach or team’s expulsion from the League.
Games Cancelled by opponents
If an opponent cancels a game or does not show for the game, the other team may use the scheduled game time for their use. There are no refunds for games cancelled by opponents. If a team must cancel, call Atlantic Coast Futsal League as soon as possible so we can notify the referees and give the other team a chance to plan accordingly. Cancelling a game not only short-changes your team, but your scheduled opponent. Games cancelled by teams will not be rescheduled until the $125 reschedule fee received by Atlantic Coast Futsal League.
Reschedules
At time of registration, each team is allowed 2 conflicts if entered into registration system before registration deadline. If the manager does not enter conflicts, no reschedules will be made unless a $125 rescheduling fee is received by Atlantic Coast Futsal League. Atlantic Coast Futsal League will schedule 8 games for each team. We will make every effort to reschedule games that have been cancelled due to the weather, such as snow, ice, or due to the facilities cancelling games. While we will try to reschedule those games, we cannot guarantee that those games can be rescheduled. We only can reschedule games if the facilities have available times to reschedule them. If we reschedule games due to the above, you will not be asked ahead of the rescheduling process if you are available for the makeup game. Your team will be given a makeup game time and if you cannot make that, we will not reschedule.
Games cancelled by Facilities / Atlantic Coast Futsal League
We reserve the right to postpone or cancel games at any time for any reason such as bad weather or facility problems. Atlantic Coast Futsal League plays games in all weather and only cancels games if the facility cancels. Cancellations are very rare events, so teams should plan on playing. If there are games cancelled, reschedules are not guaranteed and refunds for cancelled games will not be provided. However, every attempt will be made to reschedule.
Referees
If you have an interest in joining the Atlantic Coast Futsal League referee pool, please email us. To be eligible for consideration, you must be licensed with US Soccer as an outdoor referee and be at least 17 years old.
Additional Questions
If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the Atlantic Coast Futsal League, please feel free to contact Michele Burns at mburns@c2sportsenterprises.com.