| This summary attempts to
address frequently asked questions regarding HWSA Coed
League play. This is not a comprehensive list of all
League rules. Consult the HWSA
Constitution, Bylaws, and General Rules, or contact the coed commissioner if you have questions. 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 and fees on time.
After the initial player registration for the season,
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. Playing an unregistered player will
result in automatic forfeiture of your game and $50.00 fine. See player
registration instructions.
Attend league meetings. Attendance at the
meetings 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 $10 fine. See the HWSA 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 on schedule) is
responsible for changing jersey, 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 $40 ref fee.
Print out a map to the field if you need one: www.hwsa.org/maplinks.html.
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 metro area is quite
large, and although it may be raining where you live or
work, it may not be raining at the field you are
scheduled to play on. The reverse is also true. An old
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 the $20 referee fee in cash. Complete the game
report in advance (available online), 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 $50.00 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
Only the designated captain of each team (not
necessarily the team rep) 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 organization for
referee abuse or assault.
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.
Team reps are expected to set an example,
displaying sportsmanship and ensuring that her/his team
complies with league rules.
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, if
necessary. The referee will return the game report to the
league.
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 $50.00 fine.
Pay fines when notified by the HWSA
secretary. Red cards incur a minimum $30.00 fine each, and
yellow cards are $15.00 each. There are additional fines and suspensions for
threatening behavior, violent conduct, referee abuse,
referee assault and bench-clearing incidents, 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 ($40).
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 $15.00. At a minimum, red cards are $30.00 each, plus
that player is, at a minimum (see above), ineligible for
the team's next league game. 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 information may be found in the 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 $50.00 and a grievance must be accompanied by a
deposit of $25.00. 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.
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