# BY-LAWS

# of the GODDARD SOCCER LEAGUE

# 

# August 2007

# Article I: Player Eligibility

1\. A person shall be considered eligible to be a member of the GSFC
Soccer League if he/she is in one of the following categories:

a\. [Active]{.underline}

He/She is listed in the Goddard Locator and Information Services
Tracking System (LISTS) or is a retired GSFC Civil Servant. (March 1998)

He/She is a member of the immediate family of a person found in LISTS,
or a retired civil servant. The immediate family is defined as: (March
1998)

son/daughter

husband/wife

brother/sister

father/mother

He/she produces a letter from their employer stating that they have a
working relationship with Goddard. Examples: offsite contractors, summer
students, interns, visiting faculty (March 1998)

b\. [Guest]{.underline}

Each team may contain up to six guests so long as they are named before
the fifth game played by that team for the given season. (March 1998)

A grandfathered guest is a previously active player who has participated
in the league for at least 15 years, but because of a change in
employment situation (by the player or their relative) no longer
qualifies as an active player based on the above rules. An unlimited
number of grandfathered guests are allowed in addition to the other six
guests. (August 2007)

A retired GSFC contractor can participate as a guest. An unlimited
number of these guests and their immediate family members are allowed in
addition to the other six guests. (August 2007)

A previously active player who has served as a league officer, but
because of a change in employment situation (by the player or their
relative) no longer qualifies as an active player based on the above
rules can participate as a guest. An unlimited number of these guests
and their immediate family members are allowed in addition to the other
six guests. (August 2007)

2\. Once before the season, or before a new player plays in their first
game, each player shall be required to identify him/herself to, as a
minimum, their Team Captain, or to an Eligibility Committee of one or
more persons agreed upon by the Executive Committee. Team Captains are
ultimately responsible for the eligibility verification of every player
on their roster and the collection of documentation proof as specified
below: (August 2007)

a.  Each player must appear in person, show a GSFC badge, driver\'s
    license, or valid picture ID, and sign his/her name on an official
    'Goddard Soccer League Registration / Release and Waiver' form. In
    addition, for players not in the LISTS: (August 2007)

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(i) Retirees must present documented proof in the form of a GSFC retiree
    badge or a letter, on GSFC letterhead that can be verified with the
    GSFC personnel office, stating that they are a GSFC retiree.
    (January 1998)

(ii) Family of GSFC retirees or persons on LISTS must produce
     combinations of birth certificates and /or marriage certificates
     establishing proof of kinship (example: siblings\' birth
     certificate must show one common parent, step siblings will need
     the parents\' marriage certificate as well as their birth
     certificates, if one relative is a retiree, proof of prior
     employment will be required) (March 1998)

(iii) Persons not on lists must produce a letter from their employer on
      company letterhead stating they work on a GSFC contract or
      subcontract, and which provides the name of the GSFC contracting
      officer and the GSFC contract number. Summer students and visiting
      faculty produce job offer letters or letters of invitation to work
      at Goddard. (March 1998)

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b.  Failing to have a badge or license, he/she must show identification
    sufficient to establish the connection between the name and the
    signature, acceptable to the Eligibility Committee.

c.  The eligibility to play in the League will be ruled on by the Team
    Captain and possibly the league-appointed Eligibility Committee.
    (August 2007)

d.  A player who is barred in this way may have his/her case appealed by
    the team\'s captain to the Executive Committee whose decision will
    be final. The appeal must be in writing within 1 week of the
    barrment or before the team\'s next scheduled game. Any
    documentation required to prove the player\'s eligibility must be
    submitted with the appeal. Eligibility Committee will make a
    decision on the appeal within 1 week of submittal. (August 1994)

3\. In order for a person to play in a game as a member of a team,
his/her name must appear on a roster containing the names of all the
members of that team. If a person wants to join a team after the start
of the season, the player\'s name and any pertinent information, along
with the signature, must appear on the team\'s drop/add form before the
first game in which the player will participate. (August 1994)

# Article II: Team Structure

1\. The Team Captain (or Co-Captain) is the representative of his/her
team. The Team Captain is responsible for:

a.  Having a legal line-up available at the start of a scheduled game.

b.  The conduct and play of the team during a game, and the coordination
    of any penalties during the game with the referee.

c.  Keeping the team records.

d.  Turning in game results, including the names of those players that
    were awarded yellow and red cards, to the Executive Committee on
    behalf of the team. (August 2006)

2\. Each team roster shall consist of at least 15 people and no more
than 30 people. (August 1994)

3\. Each player, without exception, must sign the Registration/Liability
Waiver approved by the Executive Board, before the start of the first
game in which he/she plays. By signing the proper form, the player
agrees to release the soccer league from any responsibility of injury
sustained during play in a scheduled league game. (August 2006)

4\. Off-site players must be specially indicated on team rosters in
order to allow the League Secretary to make arrangements to have them
admitted on the base during a season.

5\. [Rosters]{.underline}

a.  Prior to each game, if a team\'s roster has been modified since it
    was last submitted, an electronic copy of the updated team roster
    shall be submitted to the Executive Committee by 3PM, and therefore
    accessible to all team captains prior to the start of the game.
    (August 2006)

b.  Players new to a team roster, without exception, must sign the
    Goddard Soccer League Registration/Release and Waiver form, approved
    by the Executive Board, before the start of the first game in which
    he/she intends to play. (August 2006)

c.  All games played using ineligible players will result in forfeiture
    by the offending team. (August 2006)

6\. If a player desires to move to another team, he/she must notify the
Team Captain of the team he/she wants to leave prior to playing for
his/her new team. A move between teams can only take place in between
sessions, i.e. before the start of the new season, or in between the
fall and spring sessions. The involved captains can then communicate
with each other and work out a form of compensation if so desired. Any
disputes should be referred to the League Executive Committee. (August
2006)

7\. Dues for each season shall be a fixed amount per team. The amount
shall be set by the Executive Committee at such intervals that the
Executive Committee finds appropriate. (July 1990) Team dues must be
paid as follows: Fifty percent must be paid to the treasurer by 1:00
p.m. on the day of the third game, 100 percent by 1:00 p.m. on the day
of the fifth game. All games will be forfeited by the team after this
date until payment is made in full. (August 1997)

# Article III: League Structure

1\. A League officer may not be a Team Captain and vice versa.

2\. N[ew Members]{.underline}

a.  At the requests of a new member, he/she may be placed on an open
    substitution list rather than on a team.

b.  The Secretary shall assist the captain of any team which does not
    have 11 people for a game in obtaining players for that game from
    the substitution list.

c.  New players can be added to the team at any time as long as they are
    eligible participants as described elsewhere in the by-laws. (August
    1994)

3\. The official league schedule shall be distributed to the team
captains by the Scheduling Chairman.

4\. [Non Goddard Soccer League Use of the Fields]{.underline}

No non-GSL team shall play on the GSL field without the permission of
the Executive Committee.

5\. [Work Party Rules]{.underline}

a.  Work parties may be required by the League to maintain the fields in
    a safe and useful status.

b.  On the date when a work party is designated, each team must provide
    a requisite number of persons, as requested to work for a specified
    period of time on that date. The Executive Committee sets the number
    of attendees per team per work party.(August 1997)

c.  Failure to satisfy this requirement will result in a work party
    (August 1997) fine for each person absent, payable to the GSL. The
    work party fine shall be \$25 per no show. (August 1997)

d.  A team will be ineligible for competition as long as any fines are
    outstanding.

# Article IV: Game Structure

1\. Games on weekdays shall begin at 5:15 P.M. with a 5 minute grace
period. A game shall consist of at least two 35 minutes halves, and
between halves, a rest period of no more than 5 minutes shall be
allowed.

2\. A regularly scheduled league game may be canceled only by the
following or an officer designated by him/her:

a.  Scheduling Chairman

b.  League President

## 3. Rain-outs

a.  Rain-outs must be declared by 3:00 P.M. by the Facilities Chairman.

b.  The team captains and the referees must be notified by 3:00 P.M.

c.  Otherwise, the game can only be postponed at game time by the
    Facilities Chairman or the referee(s).

d.  Canceled games shall be rescheduled by the Scheduling Chairman and
    the two team captains whose teams were involved in the canceled
    game.

e.  The Scheduling Chairman shall be responsible for seeing that
    referees are provided for the rescheduled game.

f.  Make-up games will be played on the first available date, such that
    no team plays games on consecutive days.

g.  A game that is started but is abandoned before being played to 60
    minutes due to weather or field conditions will be replayed in its
    entirety. (July 2002)

# Article V: Game Rules

1\. All players of a particular team must wear a numbered shirt of the
color assigned to that team, except for the goal keeper who shall wear a
shirt distinctive in color both from his/her team and the opponent\'s
team- (July 1990)

2\. If a team captain suspects that the opposing team has fielded an
ineligible player during any regular League game or play-off game, the
following procedure must be followed:

a.  The team captain may not challenge any opposing player\'s
    eligibility unless a copy of the current official roster is
    available at the game.

b.  The team captain must challenge that player to the opposing team
    captain by half-time.

c.  The challenged player must produce identification (such as GSFC
    badge or driver\'s license and a GEWA pass) to establish connection
    between him, his name, and the signature on the roster.

d.  If a player is unable to produce proper identification, the player
    may not participate further in the game. (August 1994)

In the event that a team captain protests the game due to an ineligible
player, the following procedure must be followed:

a.  The team captain must inform the other team captain by half-time
    that the game is played under protest.

b.  Both captains and one of the officers for the league, not being a
    member of either team, shall resolve the dispute before the next
    scheduled game of both teams. (August 1994)

c.  The penalty to a team for having a player declared ineligible shall
    be forfeiture of the game in which he/she played and was caught.

d.  Notwithstanding, it is expected that all games will be played to
    completion, since the referee is paid and an incorrect roster may
    have been used for comparison.

e.  The Executive Committee shall resolve any disputes concerning
    forfeiture of games.

3\. League play shall follow current FIFA rules with local modifications
as described below:(March 1993)

a.  Free substitution is allowed at any time when the ball is out of
    play over an end-line or by the team which is making a throw-in. The
    referees must be notified by the Team Captains when substitutions
    are made.

b.  Late arrivals of an under-strength team may enter the game at any
    time with the referee\'s permission.

c.  If a goalie is touching the ball with any part of his hand or arm
    (even a single finger), he is considered to be in possession of the
    ball. He cannot be interfered with, touched, or in any way hindered,
    nor can the ball be kicked away. The offended team shall be awarded
    an indirect free-kick. If he is playing the ball with his feet he is
    considered another field player. All other FIFA rules pertaining to
    the goalie are still in effect.(March 1993)

# Article VI: Suspension of Players and Teams from the Goddard Soccer League

1\. All games sanctioned by the Goddard Soccer League shall be
officiated by one or two referees approved by the Executive Committee of
the League. All decisions of the referee(s) on matters affecting play
during a game shall be final.

## 2. Red cards (July 2002)

a.  Any player ejected from any League-sanctioned game by the
    officiating referee by being shown a red card (or by any other
    means) shall be given one penalty point.

b.  Such a player shall be suspended from play for the next number of
    League-sanctioned games of his/her team as determined by the
    sending-off offence:

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1.  Serious Foul Play - 2 games

2.  Violent Conduct - 10 games

3.  Spits at opponent or any other person - 2 games

4.  Denies obvious goal by hand ball - 1 game

5.  Denies obvious goal by a foul - 1 game

6.  Foul language - 1 games

7.  Second yellow card in same match - 1 game.

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c.  This decision of the referee and the type of sending-off offence
    must be confirmed in writing to a member of the Executive Committee
    of the League.

d.  Reckless or dangerous play can lead to a two game suspension.

## 3. Major suspension (10 game suspension)

a.  Any player who accumulates two or more penalty points in any one
    season shall be given a major suspension.

b.  The term \"major suspension\" shall mean the suspension from all
    League activities for 10 games.

c.  Any player receiving a red card for fighting will receive a major
    suspension. (Spring of 1990)

d.  Any player who is given a major suspension on two occasions shall be
    banned from League-sanctioned games for a period of 5 years.

4\. ~~Any team whose players have accumulated a total of four or more
penalty points in any one season shall have all of those players with
one or more penalty points given a major suspension.~~ (Deleted, August
2001)

## 5. Team suspension

a.  If a team is ejected from any League-sanctioned game by the
    officiating referee, then each of the players present at that game
    shall be given one penalty point.

b.  The entire team shall be suspended from play for the next two
    League-sanctioned games.

## 6. League governance (July 2002)

a.  All disputes arising out of the interpretation and enforcement of
    these rules shall be decided by a majority vote of all eligible
    votes of the Team Captains and the League President.

b.  A player whose behavior on or off the field is considered contrary
    to the rules and regulations governing the League may be given a
    warning orally and/or in writing. Such action shall be decided by a
    majority of vote of all eligible votes of the Team Captains and the
    League President. If 2 weeks or more after the warning the behavior
    of the player remains unchanged, then such player may be given a
    suspension. by a minimum of a 2/3 vote of all eligible votes of the
    Team Captains and the League President.

c.  The Team Captains and the League President shall reserve the right
    to suspend any player at any time for any reason deemed necessary
    for the welfare of the League and the safety of the players. Such an
    action shall require a minimum of 2/3 vote of all eligible votes of
    the Team Captains and League President.

d.  In any votes dealing with the suspension or length of suspension of
    a player whose infraction occurred during a game with the
    President\'s team, then the Vice-President, if present, shall vote
    in the President\'s place. If the Vice-President is not present, the
    President shall not vote. If the infraction occurred during a game
    with the Vice President\'s team, the Vice President shall not vote.
    (August 2003)

7\. Any suspension shall continue in the following playing season until
the total number of games is reached.

# Article VII: Division Alignment

1.  The alignment of the League into one or more divisions, the number
    of teams in the league, and the number of games which will be played
    during each season shall be set by the Executive Committee prior to
    the start of each season.

2.  As unanimously agreed to by Executive Committee (1990), the League
    is composed of two 4-team divisions.

3.  Each team within a Division plays the other teams in their division
    twice per season; each team plays non-division teams once per
    season; this yields ten game per team during a season.

4.  At the end of the combined Fall and Spring seasons, the top 4 teams
    which make the playoffs will be placed in the same division. (August
    2000)

# Article VIII: Playoffs and Championships

## 1. Champions

a.  The regular-season champion will be decided by the team with the
    most number of points (2 points/win, 1 point/tie, 0 points/loss).

b.  The Goddard Cup Champion is decided each Spring with four teams with
    the best composite record from the most recent Fall and Spring
    Seasons playing for the cup.

## 2. Resolving ties in the final standings

a.  If two or more teams are tied in points after the regular season,
    separate records of their games only against each other tied team
    shall be prepared.

b.  The point standings, the goal differential, and goals allowed among
    the tied teams from each of these head to head sub-records shall be
    computed. Teams are then compared head-to-head based first on most
    points, then largest goal differential, then least goals allowed to
    determine winners in each head to head contests. These results are
    used to break ties between the tied teams

c.  If two or more teams are still tied, the goal differential in all
    league games shall be used.

d.  If the goal differential is the same, then the least goals allowed
    in all league games shall be used.

e.  If two or more teams are still tied, the Team Captains will select
    numbered balls from a bag to determine the standing. Team Captains
    will select balls in the order of their finish the previous season.
    If team(s) did not exist the previous season, the Team Captains from
    any such teams will chose in alphabetical order of the team colors
    after the other teams finish.

## 3. Playoff games

a.  The 1st place team will play the 4th place team and the 2^nd^ and
    3rd place team will face each other in the first round.

b.  The two winners of this round will then play for the Goddard Cup
    Champion.

c.  In the playoff rounds there will be no ties - a tie will be broken
    by playing a 15 minute over-time period. If that ends in a tie then
    the winner will be decided by the best of 5 penalty shot competition
    with each team alternating shots by different members.(July 1990)

d.  If the play-off game or games are not completed by midnight on the
    day three weeks following the last regular season game, the question
    of league champion will be declared moot. (July 2002)