Carolinas Premier League Rules  

Eligibility

All teams must be registered with the Carolinas Premier League and have their US Club Soccer passes and their official US Club Soccer team roster. All information must be current. All players must be on the single printed US Club official roster; US Club pass players from within a CPL club may be handwritten onto the game day roster. US Club passes, all from the same club, must be used for all Carolinas Premier League play. No coach or player may participate if his or her pass is not provided to the referee.

Roster Size

The master roster size for US Club teams is 26. Master rosters are not frozen and may include any valid US Club carded player within the Club.

Guest Players

Guest players, defined as players from an outside club, are NOT permitted in the Carolinas Premier League league play.

PLAYER REGISTRATION

Eligibility 

Eligibility is open to all youth irrespective of race, nationality, color or religious affiliation or non-affiliation. The league is limited to youth players.

Age Eligibility

Players must be registered with US Club. Players are bound to play on only one Club in the league. Players are permitted to play on any age-appropriate team, from within their own Club.

COACH REGISTRATION

Eligibility

Eligibility to coach is open to all adults irrespective of race, nationality, color or religious affiliation or non-affiliation. Clubs are responsible for selecting coaches. The Clubs’ coaches must adhere to the rules, regulations and guidelines set forth by the league. The league is not responsible for the selection process or for providing coaches to the Clubs.

Minimum Age of a Coach 

An individual must have attained the minimum age of 18 years old in order to coach up to U14 and 21 years old in order to coach up to U18, prior to being issued a US Club pass.

Coach Presence at Games

The Club must have a coach or administrator from within the same club, at all scheduled matches in which the team participates. The coach or administrator must be in possession of a valid US Club coaching pass, from the club as the team. A Coach must be present throughout the entire match or the match will be terminated and forfeited to the opponent, 3-0. A maximum of two (2) coaches are permitted on the team’s sideline per match.

Multiple Coaching Passes

Coaches may have a US Club pass for each team in which they coach. Coaches may only coach for a team affiliated with the same Club and USSF entity, and the pass they use must be present at the scheduled match.

RULES OF PLAY

All US Club sanctioned competitions must be played in accordance with the most current FIFA laws of the Game and the modifications noted within these rules unless specifically accepted by authorization of the Carolinas Premier League Board. It is the responsibility of all coaches and referees to be thoroughly familiar with and abide by the FIFA laws and these modifications.

CPL Rule Modifications and Substitution Recommendations:

Rules Modifications for 7v7

Opposition players to retreat behind the retreat line on goal kicks – U8-U10 ONLY – 7v7

Offsides will be played at all ages from U8-U12 

For 7v7 games, offsides will be played from the attacking retreat line rather than the halfway line

A reminder to all officials, players, coaches and directors that heading is not permitted at any age level or gender within CPL and that any intentional headers should result in an indirect free-kick to the opposing team at the place of the header (unless that header occurs within the goal area, in which case the ball should be placed on the edge of the goal area, in line with where the header took place)

CPL Substitution Rules 

U8 – U12 Substitution Rules

• Players should have at least 15 minutes of playing time before substitution.
• This is to ensure equal playing time for all.
• Also so that players can have time to perform and develop.
• Players are expected to play a minimum of 50% of each game, unless injured

Ball Size

• U12 and younger teams all utilize ball size #4

Host Club must provide at least 3 balls for each game, with a minimum of 1 ball placed behind each goal.

Duration of the Game

• Halftimes are five (5) minutes for all age groups.
• There shall be no overtime periods in regular Carolinas Premier League competition.

Age Group Format Number of Players Dressed

Number of Players

Two teams shall play a match with no more than the listed number of players on the field at one time, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper.

PLAYERS EQUIPMENT

Uniforms

The visiting club’s primary contact will verify the uniform colors with the home team’s primary contact, prior to the game date, for all matches in that fixture.  All field players on a team shall wear similar colored jerseys, shorts and soccer socks.  A legible non-duplicating number on the back of each field player and goalkeeper’s jersey is required.  Players and substitutes shall not change numbers or remove their jerseys prior to the completion of the game without specific permission of the referee.

The color of a team’s jerseys may be different from the color of the team’s shorts and or soccer socks.  At each game, both teams shall be able to make a change of jersey color.  If both teams are wearing similar colored jerseys, the home team shall be required to change.  Goalkeepers shall change jerseys as the referee directs, regardless of the home/visitor status.

Teams may elect to display sponsorship on their team jerseys.

Shin Guards

Shin guards are required equipment for all players and are to be worn at all matches. Shin guards are to be covered entirely by the players’ socks. Shin guards are to be made of suitable-material, rubber or plastic to provide a reasonable degree of protection.

Team Captain Identification

The captain(s) of a team may wear an armband for identification purposes, which is to be displayed only on the arm, however there is no requirement for the captain(s) to do so.

Safe Equipment

In addition to the authority granted to the referee under FIFA Law V to determine the safety of a player’s equipment as defined in FIFA Law IV, the following shall not be permitted:

1. Hair control devices with any hard parts;
2. Earrings or any other jewelry, regardless of covering.

In addition to the authority granted to the referee under FIFA Law V, the following shall be permitted:

1. A soft splint or a soft cast, provided that the match referee has determined that it is not a danger to themselves or another player;
2. A brace, joint or prosthetic device, provided that the match referee has determined that it is not a danger to themselves or another player;
3. Sports Spectacles: Protective sports spectacles or plastic prescription frames sports spectacles with the lenses fully contained with the frame, and held on by an elastic strap are expressly permitted.  Any eyewear containing glass, metal or any sharp edges are prohibited.
4. Headgear:  Soft foam headgear for goalkeeper, Full 90 type headgear for player, provided that the referee has determined that it is not a danger to themselves or another player

If the Referee finds that a player is wearing articles not permitted by the Laws or this Rule, the Referee shall order the player to remove them. If a player fails to carry out the Referee’s instruction, the player shall not take part in the match.

Severe Weather

In the event of severe weather conditions, players will be permitted to wear a sweat suit or similar trousers and stockings, or other type of clothing under their team uniform. Sweat pants must have no metallic buckle, snaps, buttons or other items that the referee considers dangerous to any player.

Goalkeeper

The Goalkeeper is permitted to wear a tracksuit or similar trousers and stockings or other type of clothing in all League sanctioned activities. The Goalkeeper is also permitted to wear a vinyl foam soft soccer helmet.

Coaching from the sidelines  

Coaching from the sidelines is permitted, so long as one is giving direction to one’s own team on points of strategy, tactics and position provided that the following conditions are complied with:

1. No mechanical devices are used
2. The tone of voice is informative and sportsman like

PENALTY: Disciplinary action by the Disciplinary Committee.

Standings

1. Standings Determined: Standings are kept for all U11-U12 Carolinas Premier League games and are determined by the following point system:

2. Play-off Games: In the event of a tie for first place in the standings at the completion of the season’s regular game schedule, the winning team will be decided by the following tiebreakers, in order:

• Goal differential
• Most goals scored
• Fewest goals allowed
• Head to Head

In the event that the teams are tied after all tiebreakers, the 2 teams will play each other to determine the winner.  A Neutral Field will be provided by the Carolinas Premier League.

1. Tie Games: If a regularly scheduled game ends in a tie score at the end of regulation playing time, the game and score shall stand as official.
2. Team Withdraws from Competition: If a team withdraws from competition prior to having completed half of the original schedule of games, results of these games will be deleted from the records.
3. Team Withdraws from Competition: After Half of the Original Schedule of Games: If a team withdraws from competition after half of the original schedule of games has been completed results of such games will be recorded as played and all remaining games as 3-0 forfeits.

GAME REGULATIONS

Scheduling

The Carolinas Premier League Schedule is created by the League Director using the dates agreed upon by CPL member clubs. The location and time for all Carolinas Premier League games is provided by the Carolinas Premier League Clubs and reported to the League Director by the league deadline prior to each season.  

Fields

Home Team Responsibility: The Home team is responsible for the condition of the playing area including the proper field markings, and proper equipment – Nets and corner flags are required.  If the referee determines that the field is not playable due to improper conditions (unrelated to weather), then the home team will forfeit the match and be responsible to absorb the full cost of referee, assignor and field rental fees.

Neutral Playing Fields: Neutral playing fields are provided by the Carolinas Premier League to help ease travel conditions for both teams when needed.

Position of the Team and Spectators at the Game Site: Spectators for each team will take a position on the opposite side of the field than the valid Coaches and rostered players. Spectators and teams are expected to abide by the COVID-19 RTP spectator/field map which shows where benches, spectators and coaching staff should be based.

Start at the Scheduled Time: At the scheduled time for the match, the minimum number of players will constitute a team and the match will start at the scheduled time. There is no permissible waiting period to wait for additional players to arrive at the game site.

Substitutions with the consent of the Referee at any stoppage in play:

1. Change With The Goalkeeper: Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper provided that the Referee is informed before the change is made, and that the change is made during a stoppage in the game.
2. Substitution Procedure: When a goalkeeper or any other player is to be replaced by a substitute, the following conditions shall be observed;
   a. The Referee shall be informed of the proposed substitution before it is made.
   b. The substitute shall not enter the field of play until the player he is replacing has left, and then only after having received a signal from the Referee.
   c. Enter the field during a stoppage in the game, and at the halfway line.

Incomplete Games: In the event a game cannot be completed, the game counts if half the game was completed. If there is no result and the match is suspended prior to the expiration of one half, the games shall be repeated at a time agreed upon by the competing teams in consultation with the Carolinas Premier League League Director.

Any team directly responsible for the termination of the game due to poor sportsmanship toward referee, opposing fans or opposing players will result in that team forfeiting the match.  This could also lead to other possible penalties set by the Carolinas Premier League Disciplinary Committee.

No-Shows/Forfeits: A no-show occurs when a team willfully does not show up to a game agreed to by the teams.  Penalties for no-shows are as follows:

• A forfeit to the opposing team: 0-3 loss
• See FINES for additional repercussions

A team unable to attend a scheduled game because of an accident, weather or act of god should immediately notify the opponent and the league office.  Each situation shall be reviewed by the Carolinas Premier League League Director, who shall enter a decision.

If Both Teams Fail to Appear: In the event both teams do not appear for a scheduled match, and the Referee rules the ground playable, both teams will be assessed a forfeit.

FINES: $250 fine will be accessed upon 1st Carolinas Premier League team forfeit.  Club president MUST write a formal letter to Carolinas Premier League Board of Directors regarding forfeit.  Club President will present Carolinas Premier League with a $250 check within 3 business days. If the Carolinas Premier League does not have the check within the required timeframe, then that team’s succeeding week’s match will NOT be played and the team will be issued a 3-0 loss. Should a second forfeit occur within a Club in the same seasonal year, by same or different CPL team, then the matter will be sent to the Carolinas Premier League Disciplinary Committee to determine sanctions.

Team Uses Illegal Player: An Illegal player shall mean any player who does not have a valid, unexpired and age appropriate US Club soccer player pass presented to the referees officiating the match.  The US Club soccer player pass must specifically display the player’s date of birth and membership to the participating club.  Club is assessed a $1000 fine, coach is banned from coaching for one (1) year starting from date of match; team cannot win the division for that seasonal year. Second occurrence with the same club in the same seasonal year is dispatched to the Disciplinary Committee to determine sanctions, with permissible fines up to $2500 and possible expulsion from the league as considerations.

If the Referee Fails to Appear: If a Referee should fail to appear for a scheduled match, the Coaches of the competing teams must agree upon a person to substitute for the Referee.  If one of the AR’s assigned to the game is a grade 8, he/she will become the center referee with the other AR doing one sideline and a volunteer AR the other sideline. If the AR’s assigned are grade 9 they can only work the lines and both coaches must agree on a substitute volunteer referee. The substitute need not be a certified Referee. The substitute must officiate the complete match. The substitute Referee shall have those prerogatives granted to him/her by the ‘Laws of the Game’, as published by FIFA and amended by the Carolinas Premier League.

Bad Weather and/or Poor Field Conditions

Inspection of Playing Site: It shall be the home team Coach or team manager with the Club’s designated governing authority’s responsibility to inspect the game field prior to the match. In the event of bad weather, the Home Team’s Club Official, after inspection of the field, must notify the League no later than 3 hours prior to the scheduled starting time of the match that field conditions may require postponement of the match. ONLY a Club Official can cancel a match, not the coach.

Both Teams Must Appear: Should any part of the three (3) hour notification period or lapse, regardless of weather and/or field conditions, Coaches and their teams must appear at the match site, ready to play at the scheduled time of the match, or forfeit the match. Once any part of the three (3) notification period has lapsed, the Referee is the only person authorized to cancel the match. In the event that weather and/or field conditions are questionable for playing the match and the Referee fails to appear, the decision to play or cancel is granted to the Home team.  A four (4) hour notification period will apply for teams traveling 120 miles or further – (Driving more than (2) two hours)

Game Terminated by the Referee: Should the match be terminated by the Referee prior to the time specified in the rules, for reasons of bad weather, poor field conditions, or darkness, the entire game must be replayed. (FIFA Law VII) 

Availability of Home Field: Should a Home team find itself without a match site due to circumstances beyond the control of the team and/or Club, the Home team’s Primary Contact must notify the League no later than three  (3) hours prior to the scheduled time of the match.

Change A Scheduled Match: Under no circumstances will a Coach, team manager or any other Club representative change a scheduled match or reschedule a match without permission from the League. Should this occur, both teams will forfeit the match and will be responsible for their share of the referee and associated assignor fees.

Change of Game Location: Should there be a last minute change to a match site; the Home Team must provide a person at the original site to escort the Referee and the Visiting team to the new site.

Reporting the Score – Home Team Responsibility: It is the responsibility of the Home team to report the score of each match using the call in number or/link provided by the CPL prior to each season. Information for result reporting is on each game card, which is downloaded through GotSoccer.

The scores from CPL matches played at a NEUTRAL site need to be reported by the team listed as the HOME team in the CPL schedules.

Ejection from a Match: In instances where the designated Coach has been ejected from a game, or has failed to control the activities at the match site to the detriment of the match, the Referee will not hold the Coach’s card, but will provide a supplementary report to the League. The League’s Disciplinary Committee, at its discretion, will implement disciplinary action.

Referees

a) Player Verification

1. Game Roster Form. Game roster forms or US Club Rosters are encouraged, but not compulsory.
2. Verify the Player’s Identity. The Referee shall verify the identity of the players represented on the player’s pass by inspecting the Player’s photograph, which is on the pass, ensuring all information for each player matches (jersey numbers, US Club pass number, photo, name, DOB)
3. Player Not Permitted to Participate. The Referee will not permit a Player to participate unless a valid player pass has been furnished.
4. Verify Written Data. The Referee shall verify that the Player’s pass indicates the correct Club name and age group.
5. Discrepancy in the Data. Should there be a discrepancy in the Age Group, and/or Club name, the player shall be permitted to participate in the match. The Referee shall retain the pass and shall forward the Player’s pass in question, with his/her report, to the League, which will administer disciplinary action for any or all infringements and violations regarding Player eligibility.

b) Referee Reports

1. Submit Referee Reports. The Referee shall submit email a Referee Report for each match officiated, within forty-eight (48) hours (Holidays excluded) after the completion of the match.
2. Supplementary Referee Report. The Referee shall submit email a Supplementary Referee Report for each player and/or Coach ejected from the match, to the League within forty-eight (48) hours (Holidays excluded) after the completion of the match. The Referee will not retain the pass of the ejected player or Coach.

c) Caution

1. Yellow Card – Cautioned A Yellow Card is displayed by the Referee to indicate that a Player or Coach is being cautioned for violating FIFA, Laws of the Game.

2. Two (2) Cautions If a Player or Coach receives two (2) cautions during one match, the Player or Coach will be ejected from the match, and a suspension is in effect.

3. Three (3) Cautions If a Player or Coach receives three (3) cautions during a season, a suspension is in effect.

4. Disciplinary Committee The Disciplinary Committee, at its discretion, will determine the length of the suspension and any other punishments, fines, and/or assessments.

d) Ejection

1. Red Card – Ejection A Red Card is displayed by the Referee to indicate that a Player or Coach is ejected from the match, and a suspension is in effect.
2. Disciplinary Committee The Disciplinary Committee, at its discretion, will determine the length of the suspension and any other punishments, fines and/or assessments.
3. Appear Before Disciplinary Committee A player or Coach who receives a red card or the equivalent, will, at the discretion of the Disciplinary Committee, be summoned to appear at a hearing. Should the player or Coach fail to appear, he/she will be suspended until such appearance is made. The Disciplinary Committee, at its discretion, will determine the length of suspension and/or any other punishments, fines, or assessments. The club will be assessed a minimum of $50.00 each time a coach (Coach) is issued a red card, unless waived by the Disciplinary Committee.  Should a player be summoned to appear, the Coach or Club representative from his/her designated team must accompany him/her. Any player under age 18 called before the committee will be required to make sure a parent or legal guardian be present.
4. Suspended from Consecutive Competition A player or Coach shall be suspended from consecutive competition in the league.
5. Team Refuses to Continue If a team refuses to continue to play after being so instructed by the Referee, the team will forfeit the game, 3-0.
6. Reports Will Be Reviewed By The Disciplinary Committee The Referee Report and the Supplementary Referee Report shall be reviewed by the League’s Disciplinary Committee, who shall determine the punishment, fine, and/or assessment. The Disciplinary Committee shall notify the parties involved, in writing, of the decision.

Eligibility Protest: Protests on questions of eligibility must be filed in writing, with substantiating facts to the Disciplinary Committee, anytime within the current season. 

PROTESTS and APPEALS

Disciplinary Committee: It shall manage all matters requiring arbitration that pertain to League sponsored competition(s). The Disciplinary Committee will administer Game Protests and Behavioral Incidents.  The Disciplinary Committee has the authority to suspend or fine any Player, Coach, Team, Team Official, Club Official, Team and/or Club Supporter. The Disciplinary Committee has the authority to fine any Member Club.

1. Composition. There will be no less than three (3) and no more than five (5) members, including a Committee Chairman on the Carolinas Premier League Disciplinary Committee. Disciplinary Committee members shall be selected by the League’s Chairman, who will also act as Committee Chairman.
2. Voting of this Committee shall be one (1) vote for each member of the Committee including the Chairman. The Chairman may cast a vote only in case of a tie. A minimum of three (3) voting members, which includes the Chairman, will be required to hear a case and render a decision. No member of the Carolinas Premier League  Disciplinary Committee shall participate at any other level of appeal or discipline.
3. Participants at a Disciplinary Committee Meeting. The Disciplinary Committee reserves the right to determine the participants and number of participants that may attend any Disciplinary Committee meeting.
4. Convene Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee will convene at the discretion of the Chairman.
5. Club Notification. Each Time A Coach is Issued a Red Card In the event that a coach (Coach) or player is issued a red card, the Disciplinary Committee will notify the Club President in writing of the offense.
6. Coach to Appear at the Disciplinary Committee Hearing. In the event that a Coach is awarded a Red Card, at the discretion of the Disciplinary Committee, said Coach will be notified by the Disciplinary Committee to appear in person, at the Disciplinary Committee hearing of the case.
   a. The Disciplinary Committee will notify the Coach of the date, time and location of the hearing.
7. Player to Appear at the Disciplinary Committee Hearing. In the event that a Player is awarded a Red Card, at the discretion of the Disciplinary Committee, said Player and the Coach of the said Player’s team may be notified by the Disciplinary Committee to appear in person, at the Disciplinary Committee hearing of the case. The Coach must accompany the player to such a hearing. All players called before the committee will be required to make sure a parent or legal guardian be present.
   a. The Disciplinary Committee will notify the Coach of the date, time and location of the hearing.

Protests and Disputes: All questions relating to the qualifications of competitors or interpretation of the rules or any dispute or protest whatever, shall be referred to the Disciplinary Committee of the Carolinas Premier League. Protests and disputes are filed by the Member Clubs who will bear responsibility for adherence to the rules regarding disputes and protests and guarantee all fees and fines. Decisions of the Disciplinary Committee shall be final and binding unless and until overturned under appeal.

1) Valid and Eligible for Consideration: To be valid and eligible for consideration, each protest or dispute must:

a.          Be submitted on the League’s Game Protest Form. The form must describe in full detail the grounds for the protest or dispute and bear the signature of the Club’s President and/or Registrar, as well as the signature of the coach of the team initiating the protest or dispute.

b.         Be accompanied by any information to be presented by witnesses and/or supporting documents.

c.          Be provided by certified or registered mail (along with all supporting information and documents) to the opposing team and/or Club.

d.          Pertain to a League sponsored competition.

e.          Be initiated by a party directly involved in the incident under protest or dispute. An involved party, as used throughout this Part, is defined as a team coach, a club President and/or a club Registrar.

f.          Include all information necessary to allow a fair and just decision.

g.         Be e-mailed to chairman@carolinaspl.com, addressed to the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, no less than 24 hours following the incident giving rise to the protest or dispute. A business day, as used throughout this Part, is defined as any weekday excluding legal holidays. A business day shall not include Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays.

Lawyer Shall Not Represent: A Disciplinary Committee hearing is not a legal proceeding, thus, legal counsel may not represent involved parties. Attorneys may appear before the Board only as involved parties in an individual capacity and not as legal counsel.

4.         Ignorance of the Rules. A plea of ignorance of the rules and regulations of the League is not sufficient grounds for the filing of a protest or dispute.

5.         Conflicts of Interest. The members of the Disciplinary Committee shall avoid both apparent and actual conflicts of interest. In the event that a member of the Board may be considered on any basis by a reasonable individual to have a bias for or against any interested party in a protest or dispute, that member shall excuse himself/herself from the deliberations concerning that protest or dispute.

6.         Convening the Board and Notifying Involved Parties. The Disciplinary Committee shall be convened by the Chairman at his/her discretion. Notice shall be given to involved parties and those others invited to aid in the Board’s deliberations and/or to present relevant information, no later than five business days prior to the scheduled meeting.

7.         Forfeiture of Appeal Rights. An involved party failing to appear before the Disciplinary Committee after having received notice as required in the section headed Convening the Board and Notifying Involved Parties shall forfeit all rights to appeal.

8.         Basis of Decision. The Disciplinary Committee shall render a decision on any protest or dispute on the basis of any information, from any source, that it deems appropriate under the circumstances.

9.         Timeliness of Decision. The Disciplinary Committee shall render a decision within five (5) days of receipt by the Board of a protest or dispute. Failure to render a decision within this period shall entitle the party filing the protest or dispute to submit the protest or dispute to the Appeals Committee without determination and the protest fee submitted shall be applied to the appeal fee.

10.   Notification of Decision. All parties to a protest or dispute shall be notified in writing within (5) days of a hearing of the decision rendered by the Disciplinary Committee.

11.   Rejection of Protests or Disputes. Any protest or dispute not submitted to the Disciplinary Committee in full compliance shall be returned, along with all submitted documents and fees, without consideration.

12.   Appeal of a Disciplinary Committee Decision. A Club may appeal a decision of the Disciplinary Committee only to the Appeals Committee of the League in accordance with Rules contained within this Protests and Appeals sections.

Part 3. Appeals Committee

The Carolinas Premier League Appeals Committee shall be responsible for hearing appeals pertaining to a decision rendered by the League’s Disciplinary Committee, Standing or Ad Hoc Committees. All avenues of appeal must be exhausted at all levels below this body before the Appeals Committee will consider hearing an appeal.

 a.          Composition of the Appeals Committee -There shall be no less than three (3) and no more than five (5) members plus a committee chairman. Committee members shall be selected by the League’s President. No more than one member from the League’s Executive Board shall be a member of the Appeals Committee. The League’s President shall appoint the Chairman of the Appeals Committee.

b.         Authority of the Appeals Committee The Appeals Committee has the authority to suspend or fine any Player, Coach, Team, Team Official, Club Official, Team and/or Club Supporter. The Appeals Committee has the authority to fine any Member Club.

c.          Minimum Number of Voting Members Voting of this Committee shall be that one (1) vote for each member of the Committee including the Chairman. The Chairman may cast a vote only in case of a tie. A minimum of three (3) voting members, which includes the Chairman, will be required to hear a case and render a decision. No member of the  Appeals Committee shall participate at any other level of appeal or discipline.

d.          Participants at an Appeals Committee Meeting .The Appeals Committee reserves the right to determine the participants and number of participants that may attend an Appeals Committee meeting.

e.          Convene Appeals Committee -The Appeals Committee will convene at the discretion of the Chairman.

f.          Records of the Appeals Committee The records of the Appeals Committee will be maintained for a three (3) year period.

Part 4. Appeals

All appeals of a decision rendered by the Disciplinary Committee, a League Standing Committee, or a Special (Ad Hoc) Committee shall be referred to the Appeals Committee of the Carolinas Premier League. Appeals are filed by the member Clubs who will bear responsibility for adherence to the rules regarding appeals and guarantee all fees and fines. Decisions of the Appeals Committee shall be final and binding unless and until overturned under appeal as provided within this document. 

1.         Valid and Eligible for Consideration – To be valid and eligible for consideration, each appeal must:

a.          Be accompanied by an appeal fee in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00), in the form of a check or money order made payable to the Carolinas Premier League.

b.         Be submitted in triplicate on member Club stationery. The submittal must describe in full detail the grounds for the appeal and bear the signature of the member Club’s President and/or Registrar.

c.          Be accompanied by three (3) copies of any information to be presented by witnesses and/or supporting documents.

d.          Be provided by certified or registered mail (along with all supporting information and documents) to all affected parties.

e.          Pertain to a decision rendered by the Disciplinary Committee, CPL Standing Committee or Special (Ad Hoc) Committee, or result from the lack of a timely decision by the Disciplinary Committee.

f.          Be initiated by a party directly affected by the decision under appeal. An affected party, as used throughout this Part, is defined as a team coach, a club President and/or a club Registrar who was party to the decision under appeal.

g.         Include all information necessary to allow a fair and just decision.

h.         Be hand delivered or evidence of mailing ,(postmarked,etc), to the League office.

2.         Appeals Fee Forfeited – The appeals fee shall be forfeited to the League if the appeal is not upheld by the Appeals Committee.

3.         Lawyer Representation – An attorney or other advisor may attend the Appeals Committee hearing.  During the course of the hearing, the party may confer briefly or request a recess in order to confer with the attorney or other advisor.  The attorney or advisor may not present the party’s oral argument, question any witness or directly address the hearing panel.

4.         Ignorance of the Rules – A plea of ignorance of the rules and regulations of the League is not sufficient grounds for the filing of an appeal.

5.         Conflicts of Interest – The members of the Appeals Committee shall avoid both apparent and actual conflicts of interest. In the event that a member of the Committee may be considered on any basis by a reasonable individual to have a bias for or against any affected party in an appeal, that member shall excuse himself/herself from the deliberations concerning that appeal.

6.         Convening the Committee and Notifying Affected Parties- The Appeals Committee shall be convened by the Chairman at his/her discretion. Notice shall be given to affected parties and those others invited to aid in the Committee’s deliberations and/or to present relevant information, no later than five business days prior to the scheduled meeting.

7.         Forfeiture of Appeal Rights -An affected party failing to appear before the Appeals Committee after having received notice as required, shall forfeit all rights to appeal.

8.         Burden of Proof – The appellant shall bear the burden of showing that the decision being appealed is clearly erroneous.

9.         Basis of Decision- The Appeals Committee shall render a decision on any appeal on the basis of any information, from any source that it deems appropriate under the circumstances.

10.   Timeliness of Decision -The Appeals Committee shall render a decision within fifteen (15) business days of the hearing of an appeal. Failure to render a decision within this period shall entitle the party filing the appeal to submit the appeal to the next level of authority without determination and the appeal fee submitted shall be refunded.

11.   Notification of Decision- All parties to an appeal shall be notified in writing within twenty (20) business days of a hearing of the decision rendered by the Appeals Committee.

12.   Rejection of Appeals -Any protest or dispute not submitted to the Appeals Committee in full compliance shall be returned, along with all submitted documents and fees, without consideration.

Entry onto Field of Play

No Club official, Club member, team manager, player, or spectator may enter the field of play regardless of the circumstances, unless the Referee has given them permission. If this is disregarded, they shall become subject to disciplinary action by the Disciplinary Committee.

Accidents or Unusual Incidents

The Referee must report any accident or unusual incident to the league.

Suspended Coach

Any Coach who has been placed on suspension is not permitted to participate in any manner whatsoever in the activities of the League during the suspension. The suspended person is not permitted to be present at the site of a match or areas immediately adjacent.

PENALTY: Disciplinary action by the Disciplinary Committee.

Suspended Player

A player who has been placed on suspension is not permitted to dress for any match during the time period of his/her suspension, nor be present at the site of a match or areas immediately adjacent 

Part 5. Matters Not Provided

Any matters not provided for in these rules shall be determined by the Carolinas Premier League Executive Board and decisions so made shall be final and binding. 

Part 6. Penalties

 No Carolinas Premier League official, club, league, team, coach, referee, player, or other representative may invoke the aid of the Courts of any State or of the United States without first exhausting all available remedies within the appropriate soccer organizations.

For violation of this rule the offending party shall be subject to the sanctions of suspension and fines and shall be liable to the Carolinas Premier League for all expenses incurred by the Carolinas Premier League and its officers in defending any court action, including but not limited to the following:

1.         Court costs

2.         Attorneys fees

3.         Reasonable compensation for time spent by Carolinas Premier League officers and/or employees in responding to and defending against allegations in the action, including responses to discovery and court appearance.

4.         Travel expenses

5.         Expenses for holding special Carolinas Premier League meetings necessitated by court action.

Part 7. Line of Authority for an Appeal

The line of authority for an appeal of a decision rendered by the Carolinas Premier League League’s Executive Board or Appeals Committee shall be:

1.         US Club Soccer

2.         USSF National Appeals Committee 

Appeals following the line of authority listed above are made directly to each level. The fee for an appeal is prescribed by each level of appeal and are made payable to each level.