GENERAL RULES
• Maximum 25 players per roster; up to 18 players may suit up for each game.
• Shin guards must be worn; all jerseys must have numbers.
• Free substitution on all goal kicks, throw-ins on your possession, and any injuries (all at the discretion of the referee).
• Games will consist of two 45-minute halves. Game clock starts at posted game time.

TEAM REPS MUST:
• Submit registration materials and fees on time. After the initial player registration, players must be registered by noon Tuesday for a 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 a $50.00 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 $10.00 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 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 for the game, notify the women's 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 $40.00 ref fee.
• Print out a map to the field if you need one.

RAINOUT INFO
• Bear Creek Park and George Bush Park make their own field closure decisions; this information is posted on the HWSA hotline by 7:30 am on gameday: 713.267.1517.
• Teams that use other fields must contact the women's commissioner no later than 7:30 am on gameday in the event of inclement weather or other field closure issues to avoid being liable for ref fees.
• 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. Contact the women's commissioner immediately.

AT THE FIELD
• Give the ref your game report, player ID cards and the $20.00 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 may suit up only 18 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.
• 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.

DURING THE GAME
• 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 organization for referee abuse or assault.
• Team reps are expected to set an example by displaying sportsmanship and enforcing league rules.
• 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.

AFTER THE GAME
• Sign the game report after you've reviewed it. Make sure all yellow card, 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 to the women's commissioner by phone, email or using the online form within 24 hours.
• If one of your players received a red card, that player must, at a minimum, sit out the next women's league game. Red cards issued for violent conduct (fighting, etc.) include a minimum three-game suspension and an appearance before the Discipline & Protest Committee before the offending player may play again. Playing a suspended player results in automatic forfeiture of the game. 
• 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 longer suspensions for threatening behavior, violent conduct referee abuse, referee assault and bench-clearing incidents.
• 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 are inclement weather (when fields are closed or if the referee/field owner determines that the field is unplayable before the 60th minute of a game) or a conflicting sanctioned tournament (with prior permission of the women’s commissioner). Makeup games will be scheduled by the women’s commissioner.

DISCIPLINE
The HWSA women's league is intended to be a fun, recreational sports environment. 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.

Each yellow card costs your team $1500.. Red cards are a minimum of $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 longer suspensions for more serious infractions. HWSA frowns on players who have a history of serious misconduct, and will assess longer suspensions and even banishment when appropriate for repeat offenders. More information may be found in in the HWSA Constitution, Bylaws, and General Rules online.

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

1. a referee's 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 women's 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 petition 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 one of your players is injured, notify the vice president as soon as possible. HWSA maintains very limited supplemental health insurance through the U.S. Adult Soccer Association. Insurance 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.