GENERAL RULES
• Maximum 25 players per roster; up to 18 players may suit up for each game.

• Shin guards must be worn; sliding shorts underneath regular shorts must be same color. All jerseys must have numbers.

• Free substitution on all goal kicks, all goals, throw-ins on your possession, at halftime and any injuries (all at discretion of referee).

• Games will be played on Monday and Sunday nights. Games will consist of two 40-minute halves, although lack of daylight (during the summer season) may cut some games short on unlighted fields.

COED-SPECIFIC RULES
• Slide tackling is prohibited, except as noted. "Clean" slide tackle results in caution to player and indirect free kick (dangerous play); slide tackle that is careless, reckless and/or endangers the safety of an opponent results in yellow or red card and direct free kick. 

Exceptions
1) sliding to tackle the ball in the absence of a nearby player is permitted, if in the referee's judgment no other player is endangered
2) goalkeepers may slide to tackle the ball if, in the referee's judgment, the tackle is properly executed (i.e., does not carelessly or recklessly endanger the attacking player). Players should be aware that the keeper may slide and proceed accordingly.

• Goals by women count as two points, including penalty kicks.

• Any number of women may play on the field (up to a full team of 11 players); however, no more than six men may be on the field at any time (goalkeeper included). If a woman plays in goal, only five men are allowed on the field.

TEAM REPS MUST
• Submit registration materials & fees on time. After the initial player registration meeting, players must submit complete registration materials and payment to the league by Tuesday noon for player to eligible the following Sunday/Monday. Should unregistered people play, we jeopardize our liability insurance coverage and affiliation with the state association & certified referees. Playing an unregistered player will result in automatic forfeiture of your game and a fine. See player registration instructions.

• Attend league meetings. Attendance is mandatory. If you are unable to come, please ask someone on your team to take your place. Failure to attend will result in a fine. See the calendar.

• Obey league rules and set an example for teammates.

BEFORE GAME DAY
• Check the schedule to see if there's a color conflict. Home team (listed first) is responsible for changing jerseys, if necessary. Make sure all your team jerseys are the same color and have 8" permanent numbers.
• If you know you can't field a team, notify the coed commissioner immediately. You still have to pay the referee if you forfeit at the field; if you cancel the game at least 24 hours beforehand, you don't. If your team is a "no-show," you will be fined the entire ref fee.



RAINOUT INFO
• Call the rainout hotline after 5 pm on Mondays or after 3:30 pm on Sundays (713-267-1517), EVEN IF THE WEATHER SEEMS FINE. The Houston area is quite large, and although it may be raining where you are, it may not be raining at the field you are scheduled to play on. An out-of-date rainout message on the hotline indicates that games will be played as scheduled.
• If the game is rained out after the 60th minute, the score stands.
• If the game is rained out before the 60th minute, the game will be rescheduled in its entirety.

AT THE FIELD
• Give the ref your game report, player ID cards and your team’s $25 referee fee in cash. Complete the game report in advance, listing each player and jersey number. The game report allows you to list every player on your roster (up to 25). You can only suit up 18 players for a game, so cross off names of those not playing.
• Players must have a current player ID card specific to their team to be eligible to play. Referee does not have to allow players without ID cards to play. Playing an unregistered player will result in automatic forfeiture of the game and a fine.
• Be ready to play by the published start time. Teams are allowed 10 minutes grace time after the published start time to field a team (minimum of seven players). A forfeit may be declared after 10 minutes if a team is unable to field at least seven players. Teams playing short are still subject to gender restrictions.

DURING THE GAME
• Red-carded players must leave the field for the remainder of the game without a substitution, and are required to leave the park/field area immediately.
• Only the designated captain of each team should speak to the referee. Abusive and/or threatening behavior toward the referee will not be tolerated. Severe penalties (long suspensions, including permanent expulsion) may be assessed by both HWSA and the state association for referee abuse or assault.
• A brief list of HWSA coed-specific rules is printed on the game report for your reference and for the referee. Please remember that our refs cover matches for many leagues with different rules. If they're in doubt, show them the game report or keep a copy of these rules in your kit.

AFTER THE GAME
• Sign the game report after you've reviewed it. Make sure all yellow cards, red cards, goals scored and injuries are correctly noted and accurately detailed. The referee will return the game report to HWSA.
• Report the score online within 24 hours. If you are unable to use the online form, either call or email game results to the coed commissioner.
• If one of your players receives a red card, that player must, at a minimum, sit out the next coed league game. Red cards issued for violent conduct (fighting, etc.) include a MINIMUM three-game suspension and an appearance before the Discipline and Protest Committee before the offending player may play again. Playing a suspended player results in automatic forfeiture of the game and a fine. 
• Pay fines when notified by the HWSA secretary. Red cards incur a minimum $30 fine each, and yellow cards are $15 each. There are additional fines and suspensions for threatening behavior, violent conduct, referee abuse, referee assault, etc..
• Submit an online referee evaluation to give positive or negative feedback.

FORFEITS/MAKEUPS
Forfeits result if a team is unable to play a scheduled game for any reason (except as noted below), or if an ineligible player plays. Forfeiting a game results in a 1-0 loss. If the forfeit happens at the field, the forfeiting team pays the entire referee fee ($50).

The only valid reasons for rescheduling games are inclement weather (when fields are closed or the referee determines that a field is unplayable for any reason before 60 minutes of play) or a conflicting sanctioned tournament (with prior permission of the coed commissioner). Makeup games will be scheduled by the coed commissioner.

DISCIPLINE
The HWSA coed league is intended to be a place where men and women can play together in an environment that promotes fun and sportsmanship. Please insist that your players play under control at all times. Referees have been instructed to have no tolerance for misbehavior. Verbal abuse of players or referees will not be tolerated.

Again, each yellow card costs your team $15. At a minimum, red cards are $30 each, plus that player is, at a minimum ineligible for the team's next league game (see above). There are additional fines and suspensions for more serious infractions. HWSA frowns on players who have a history of serious misconduct, and will assess longer suspensions and even permanent banishment when appropriate for repeat offenders. More info at HWSA Constitution, Bylaws, and General Rules.

PROTESTS & GRIEVANCES
A game may only be protested for the following reasons:

1. a referee breaking a Law of the Game;
2. a team playing an ineligible or suspended player; or
3. a suspended coach being present and coaching the team.

A grievance may be filed to express dissent for any reason not covered by a protest.

In order to be considered, a protest must be sent to the coed commissioner and the HWSA vice president by email, fax, or letter no later than three days after the completion of the game in question. Grievances must be sent within ten days of the completion of the game in question. This protest or grievance shall, in addition to the request, contain a full report of the facts and the grounds upon which it is based. The Discipline and Protest Committee may, when requested in writing to do so, waive the time limit for filing protests or grievances; but in no case shall it grant an extension of more than ten days.

A protest must be accompanied by a deposit of $50 and a grievance must be accompanied by a deposit of $25. If the protest or grievance is upheld, the deposit will be fully refunded. If the protest or grievance is rejected or withdrawn, the deposit is forfeited.

INJURIES
If a player is injured, notify the vice president as soon as possible. HWSA maintains very limited supplemental health insurance through the U.S. Adult Soccer Association. Claim forms are available from the vice president only on an as-needed basis. Claims must be submitted within 90 days of the incident. Coverage is not guaranteed.