West Chester United Soccer Club
Men’s League Over 40
Division Rules & Regulations
This is an over 40 year old recreational league. Emotional/Physical control and good sportsmanship are
expected. FIFA rules will apply except were specified differently.
Roster and Team Administration
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All players must be over 40 years of age before the start of the first game of each season. A
player turning 40 during the season is ineligible until the following season.
It is the responsibility of the team captain to ensure that all players are eligible for the current
season. (see next section)
An e-waiver agreement from each player on the roster must be submitted online before they play
any games.
All team fees are to be paid a week before the teams first game. If team fees are not paid,
teams will forfeit games scheduled.
Team rosters may contain up to 18 players. Players may be added or dropped from roster up
until the kickoff of the teams 4th game of the season. An up-to-date roster must be emailed to the
league administrator prior to the first game and immediately after any changes.
An up-to-date roster must be provided to both the referee and the opposition prior to any game
kicking off.
Ineligible Players
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Any ineligible player or player who is not on the team’s roster will cause the offending team to
forfeit the game 2-0.
If the team has lost the match (es), the result will stand
If an opposing captain challenges the legitimacy of a player, the team captain or player will need
to produce the identification, or copy of, immediately. This can be compared with copies held by
the league administrator. If identification cannot be produced, the game is still to be played under
protest with the referee noting the protest on the game report. The status of the player will be
reviewed by the league.
Team Uniforms
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All teams must have a matching shirt with numbers on back of the shirt that do not repeat.
Prior to the start of each season each team must advise the league as to the colors of their
primary and alternate jerseys. (on the team roster)
Players must wear the same number jersey each week.
Players should refrain from wearing shorts or socks that are the color of the opposing team's
jersey.
Address: PO Box 5, Westtown, PA 19395
Office: 610-399-5277 Fax: 610-399-5260
Web Site: www.wcusc.org
Standings
Points are awarded as follows:
 Win = 3 points
 Tie = 1 point
 Loss = 0 points
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Forfeits will be scored 2-0. Winning team receives 3 points in the standings.
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For final standings, tiebreakers are decided by:
1. Head to head results
2. Goals against
3. Most shutouts
4. Coin Toss
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Home team is listed first and supplies the game ball.
Match Details
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Each half is 25 minutes in length with a 5 minute half time.
Games will be played with eight players. A minimum number of seven players are necessary to
start an official game. Captains need to agree on status of each game prior to kick off. Teams
must have seven players to start the game, while the opposing team may field 8 players.
Unlimited substitutions are permitted only when the ball is out of play (throw in, goal kick, corner
kick or kick off after a goal is scored.) The referee must always be advised.
Results of every game must be sent to the league commissioner and the league administrator by
email within 24 hours of game completion. Captains must also provide the following information:
any cards issued and the reason for the card provided by the referee. Please also provide the
players name & number.
No offsides
Goalkeeper may not punt the ball over half way line. An indirect free kick to the opposition will be
awarded where the ball crosses the half way line if this happens. Goalkeeper may throw the ball
over the half way line.
Fouls and Carding
No slide tackles!
Violation of this rule will be considered an attempt to trip the opposition player and will result in a direct
free kick for the opposing team. When a player leaves his feet to tackle the ball an indirect restart must
be given if in the opinion of the referee it has affected the play and taken away the advantage of the
attacking player. For this infraction, the Referee may issue a caution.
Slide tackles within the penalty area will result in a penalty kick. Goalkeepers may attempt to tackle
by leading with their feet when trying to obtain possession of the ball or saving a shot. If the goalkeeper
does not make contact with the ball first and trips the opposition player, the referee will award a penalty
kick and the referee may issue a caution or red card.
Anytime the player leaves his feet to tackle or play the ball from behind, a caution must be issued. In
the event the offending player makes contact with the player possessing the ball prior to making contact
Address: PO Box 5, Westtown, PA 19395
Office: 610-399-5277 Fax: 610-399-5260
Web Site: www.wcusc.org
with the ball the more serious foul must be assessed and the player will be cautioned or sent off at the
referee’s discretion.
Definition of a slide: "A player not in possession of the ball and in direct proximity to an opposing player
leaves his feet to play the ball in direct confrontation and opposition to his opponent. The player playing
the ball leaving his feet from the front view (the 180* in front of the opponent) is considered to be sliding.
Any play leaving the feet attempting to play the ball from the rear view (the 180* behind the opponent) is
a serious violation of the rule. This must be dealt with using a yellow card or red card depending on the
severity of the foul in the opinion of the referee.
Yellow Cards
A player receiving a yellow card will be required to sit out for a period of not less than 5
minutes (Including goalkeepers). Captains are responsible for enforcing this rule. Any player
receiving a total of three yellow cards during the course of the season will result in a one
game suspension the following week, or at his next game, whichever is first (including into
the playoffs). The player will be allowed to continue playing the game in which the yellow card
is received, unless an additional card is received. Yellow card accumulation will be erased
upon the completion of the season (i.e. a third yellow card in the championship game will not
cause a player to sit out at the first game of the following season).
If a player receives 2 yellow cards in one game, the players ‘yellow card count’ will
reset to zero for card accumulation purposes after their 1 game suspension has been
completed.
Red Cards
A player receiving a red card must leave the game immediately, as well as the vicinity of the
playing field (the player must retreat to the parking lot at a minimum). A player receiving a
red card will also be suspended for a minimum of one game and possibly more, depending
on the severity of the foul.
A player receiving a second red card within the same season will be suspended for a
minimum of two games and possibly more, depending on the severity of the foul. Any
player awarded a red card for serious foul play, violent conduct, or who receives a
second red card during the current season, may be ejected from the league, subject to
review by league officials.
Any player who receives a red card for violent conduct (including but not limited to
fighting, spitting on an opponent, head butting, verbal abuse, racial remarks) will be
suspended for a year from the league. Excessive verbal abuse towards a referee of
any kind will not be tolerated and can be cause for suspension of one year from the
league pending review by the league commissioner, WCUSC Director of Coaching,
league administrator, and referee officials.
Only captains may initiate discussion with the referee regarding calls made on the field.
Address: PO Box 5, Westtown, PA 19395
Office: 610-399-5277 Fax: 610-399-5260
Web Site: www.wcusc.org
Referees are asked to keep tight control of the games, and will not tolerate verbal abuse from players.
Foul language will not be permitted on the field, from the touchline, or from spectators. Referees will issue
a warning to an offending player. Second violation will result in a yellow card.
All players participating in the WCUSC men’s open league agree to follow league rules and abide
by the decisions made by league officials.
Playoffs – 8 team format
- The top 8 teams in the league standing earn a playoff spot.
o Quarter Finals
 QF1 – 1 vs 8
 QF2 – 2 vs 7
 QF3 – 3 vs 6
 QF4 – 4 vs 5
o Semi Final
 SF 1 – WQF1 vs WQF4
 SF 2 – WQF2 vs WQF3
o Finals
 WSF1 vs WSF2
- If a playoff game ends in a tie, one ten minute overtime period will be played in their entirety (no
golden goal).
- If the game ends in a tie, kicks from the penalty mark will be taken to determine the game winner. - All playoff games will be 1 period of 25 minutes.
Cancellations / Rainouts
- Games will be played in foul weather unless there is lightning present or another extraordinary
reason which will be noted if they arise. If for any reason the game is stopped/cancelled during the
first half of play and teams cannot return to the field, the game will be rescheduled and must be
replayed in its entirety. If a game is stopped/cancelled during the second half the score at the time
of cancellation will be the final score of the game.
- Captains are responsible to contact players in the event of a game cancellation.
- Captains will be contacted to arrange a suitable time for the cancelled game to be rescheduled.
No alcoholic beverages are allowed on the fields or in the parking lots. Violations may result in the
league losing the use of the WCUSC fields, and other various team ramifications to be determined.
Address: PO Box 5, Westtown, PA 19395
Office: 610-399-5277 Fax: 610-399-5260
Web Site: www.wcusc.org