EASTERN AREA SOCCER LEAGUE
 2026 Soccer AND TOURNAMENT Rules

Season Edition: 2026

1. League Overview & Administration

1.1 Introduction & Governance

The Eastern Area Soccer League (EASL) provides a safe, organized, and positive soccer experience emphasizing development, sportsmanship, and fair competition.

• Rules Framework: Games follow the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Laws of the Game except where explicitly modified by this handbook. In case of conflict, EASL policy governs.
• Executive Board: The EASL Executive Board and Committee oversee administration, rule enforcement, discipline, tournament operations, exceptions, and disputes. All Executive Board decisions are final.

1.2 Season Schedule & Key Deadlines

• Season Start: The season begins the first Friday following Labor Day.
• Match Count: Teams play eight (8) scheduled league games as set by the EASL Scheduling Coordinator.
• Deadlines: Recreation Councils must submit preliminary team counts at the July EASL meeting and final counts by August 1. Fees are established prior to the start of each season.

1.3 Recreation Council Responsibilities

Recreation Councils must ensure accurate rosters, submit required documentation, and verify that all team personnel meet league standards. Submitting falsified information will result in disciplinary action or removal from the league.

2. Eligibility & Rosters

2.1 Player Eligibility & Roster Rules

• Age Divisions: Operates U6, U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, and U18 divisions (Co-ed, Boys, Girls) based on the USSF age matrix.
• Gender Identity & Division Placement:
  • Coed Division Requirement: Players who identify as non-binary, gender-nonconforming, or whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth play in the league's Coed Division.
  • Single-Gender Divisions: Single-gender divisions (Boys' or Girls' teams) are designated based on birth-assigned sex.
• Roster Limits: Players must be on an approved roster prior to participating and may play for only one EASL team per age bracket, per division.
• Age Exceptions: Players may play up one age division with Recreation Council approval. Playing down an age division requires prior EASL Committee approval. Female players (based on birth-assigned sex) may participate in both Coed and Girls divisions.
• Check-In, Deadlines & Updates:
  • Laminated official rosters are mandatory starting Week 2; referees perform pre-game checks. Failure to present an official laminated team roster at the pre-game check will result in an immediate game forfeit.
  • Roster changes are permitted up to September 30th, after which rosters are locked.
  • Whenever a roster is edited, a new official laminated roster must be issued.
  • If a player is being added to a team, that player cannot play until the new official laminated roster has been issued.
  • Late-arriving players must check in with an official before entering.
• Player Eligibility Challenge Procedure:
  • Each team is limited to no more than 3 challenges per match.
  • If a coach challenges an opposing team's player(s), the challenge must be made before game start or prior to player check-in.
  • Unlike tournament play, the match will continue to be played as scheduled.
  • The challenged player is reported to the EASL Executive Board.
  • The challenged player's program chairperson will have 48 hours to provide age documentation for the player. 
  • If it is determined that the challenged player cannot be verified for the team they played on, that game will be recorded as a forfeit.
• Acceptable Proof Of Age Documentation:
  • Birth Certificate
  • Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (DD Form 1173)
  • Certified Birth Registration* issued by an appropriate government agency or board of health records (DOES NOT INCLUDE Birth Registration Notices).
  • Alien registration card issued by the United States Government
  • Certificate issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service attesting to age
  • Unexpired Federal-Issued government ID (ex. passport)
  • In accordance with USYS Rule 204, hospital and religious records cannot be accepted.

2.2 Uniforms & Equipment

• Required Uniform: Matching jerseys with unique assigned numbers matching the official roster, an official EASL patch/logo visibly displayed, shin guards completely covered by socks, and proper soccer footwear.
• Prohibited Items: Temporary or duplicate jersey numbers; footwear with a full center toe cleat or metal-tipped cleats; micro/mini shin guards; hard casts (including padded casts); braces with metal components; and hard hair accessories (beads, barrettes, clips).
• Jewelry Policy: All jewelry is strictly prohibited (including covered with tape/bandages). Exception: Medical alert necklaces secured against the chest under the jersey. Violations are subject to a yellow card.
• Eyewear: Glasses must be secured with an approved strap.

2.3 Staff & Volunteer Requirements

• Background Checks: All adults having player contact (Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Team Managers, Volunteers) must complete a current-season background check and be listed on the Baltimore County Recreation Volunteer List.
• Annual Requirements: Coaches must annually attend an EASL Rule Review meeting and sign the EASL Code of Conduct.
• Game Staffing: An adult coach (age 18+) must be present for all games. Each team may have one Head Coach and up to two Assistant Coaches in the designated coaches' box (midfield line to the 18-yard line on their team's side).

3. General Match Specifications & Divisions

3.1 Division Specifications Summary

Halftime breaks shall not exceed three (3) minutes.

3.2 Game Start, Forfeits, & Color Conflicts

• Clock & Forfeits: The game clock starts at the scheduled time. Official forfeit time is 5 minutes post-schedule. Teams failing to meet minimum player counts forfeit the match and are responsible for both teams' official fees.
• Jersey Conflicts: Visiting teams must provide alternate jersey colors in case of a conflict. Failure to do so within 5 minutes of start time results in a forfeit.

4. Modified Playing Rules & Safety Policies

4.1 Substitutions

Substitutions are unlimited and permitted at:

• Goal kicks, goals scored, and halftime.
• Own throw-ins and own possession corner kicks.
• Opposing team substitutions on throw-ins/corner kicks ("piggyback").
• Injuries: 1-for-1 substitution permitted
• Cards: A yellow-carded player must leave the field but may be substituted and re-enter at the next substitution opportunity. Red-carded players cannot be substituted.

4.2 Restarts, Free Kicks & Penalties

• Kickoffs: Touch required; initial kicker may not touch the ball twice consecutively.
• Free Kicks: Ball must be stationary and clearly move to be in play. Opponents must yield 10 yards of space; encroachment may result in a yellow card.
• Penalty Kicks: Taken at 12 yards (large fields) or 10 yards (small fields). Only the kicker and goalkeeper are permitted in the penalty area/arc prior to the kick.
• Slide Tackling: Prohibited for all field players (results in a yellow card). Exception: Goalkeepers may slide within their own penalty area making a play on the ball.

4.3 Heading Policy

• U10 and Younger: Heading is prohibited. Accidental heading results in an uncontested drop ball. Intentional heading awards an indirect free kick to the opponent (taken outside the penalty area if the infraction occurred inside).
• U12 and Older: Heading is permitted.

4.4 Goalkeeper Provisions

• Jerseys: Must contrast in color from teammates, opponents, and officials.
• Handling: May use hands within their penalty area; must release the ball within 8 seconds. Hand contact is prohibited on deliberate pass-backs or throw-ins from teammates.

4.5 Goal Differential & Competitive Balance

• 5 Goal Lead: Leading team must remove 1 player.
• 8 Goal Lead: Leading team must remove an additional player.
• 10 Goal Lead: Game score sheet signed by both coaches must be submitted to the EASL Board for review of the coach.

5. Age-Specific Division Rules

5.1 U6 Division Procedures

• Format: 4v4 with no goalkeepers and no official referees.
• Coaching Staff: Up to 3 credentialed coaches are permitted (1 on the field, 1 at the bench, 1 behind the goal area). On-field coaches may not stand directly in front of the goal.
• Play Flow: On-the-fly substitutions; no throw-ins (coaches immediately return out-of-bounds balls); teams sit on opposite sidelines. Coaches set up and take down goals; all teams must clear the field 50 minutes after scheduled start time.

5.2 U8 Division & Build-Out Line Rules

• Build-Out Line Purpose: Promotes playing the ball out from the defensive third.
• Goalkeeper Possession: When the GK gains possession, opponents must retreat behind the build-out line. Play restarts via pass, throw, or roll (punts and drop-kicks are prohibited). Opponents may cross the line once the ball is released and leaves the penalty area.
• Goal Kicks: Opponents must stay behind the build-out line until the ball is kicked and clears the penalty area. The kicking team does not need to wait for opponents to retreat to restart play.
• U8 Offside: The build-out line serves as the offside reference line (players cannot be offside between midfield and the build-out line).

6. Conduct, Discipline & Field Expectations

6.1 Spectator Policies & Conduct

• Placement: Spectators must sit on the designated sideline opposite the players, remaining at least 6 feet from touchlines and completely away from goal areas.
• Coach Accountability: Head Coaches are responsible for spectator behavior. Misconduct may yield cautions, ejections, or suspensions for the coach. If an offending spectator refuses to identify themselves, the Head Coach receives an automatic 1-game suspension.
• Facility Rules: EASL venues are smoke-free and alcohol-free. Air horns and noisemakers are strictly prohibited. Teams must clean bench areas post-game.

6.2 Discipline, Cards & Violations

• Yellow Card: Issued for dangerous/reckless play or unsporting conduct. Player must temporarily leave the field. A second yellow card in a match equals a red card.
• Red Card / Ejection: Immediate ejection from the match and field area (must report to the parking area). Team plays short-handed. Ejections carry a minimum 2-game suspension. Suspended coaches/officials cannot participate in any EASL capacity during their suspension.
• Illegal Players: Knowingly fielding an illegal player (falsified rosters, unauthorized players) results in a 1-year suspension for the coach.

7. Standings, Reporting, & Weather Policies

7.1 Standings & Score Reporting

• Point System: Win = 3 points | Tie = 1 point | Loss = 0 points.
• Tiebreakers: (1) Head-to-head competition, (2) Total league goal differential, (3) EASL Board determination.
• Reporting: Final scores must be submitted via the TeamLinkt app or use post game reporting form (QR Code). 

7.2 Weather Cancellations

• Matches canceled due to weather that cannot be rescheduled will have standings calculated on a percentage basis as determined by the Executive Board.

8. Tournament Policies

8.1 General Tournament Rules & Authority

• Governing Rules: All standard EASL policies, safety standards, and playing rules remain in full effect during tournament play except where explicitly modified by these tournament provisions.
• Tournament Authority: The EASL Executive Board maintains full authority over scheduling, bracket decisions, eligibility, and rule interpretations. All Executive Board decisions are final.
• Goal Differential Exemption: Unlike regular season play, player safety/fair play goal differential rules (removing players for 5+ goal leads or board reviews for 10+ goal leads) do not apply during tournament play.
• Match Down Rule Exemption: The regular season "Match Down" rule is not in effect during tournament play. Teams are expected to field the standard maximum number of players permitted for their division format regardless of how many players the opponent has available (provided minimum player requirements for forfeit rules are met).

8.2 Registration, Eligibility, Rosters & Player Challenges

• Registration: All teams registered in the EASL regular season are automatically registered in the Boo Bash Tournament. If a coach does not want their team to participate in the end-of-season tournament, that program chairperson must email EASLBaltimore@gmail.com by that team's last regular season game to withdraw.
• Player Eligibility: Regular season eligibility rules apply. Player eligibility and division placement (including rules regarding playing up/down, single-gender vs. coed placement, and birth-assigned sex designations) adhere strictly to Section 2.1 (Player Eligibility & Roster Rules). Players may not appear on two rosters within the same division age bracket.
• Roster Deadlines & Checks: All team rosters are locked as of September 30th. Standard pre-game roster checks are performed before each match as outlined in the primary EASL governing rules.
• Player Eligibility Challenge Procedure:
  • A specific player eligibility/age challenge must be formally requested by the coach before the start of the game or prior to player check-in. Each team is limited to no more than 3 challenges per match.
  • When a challenge is initiated, the game start time will be delayed by up to five (5) minutes.
  • The challenged player has five (5) minutes to present valid documentation to verify their age.
  • If documentation is not received by the 5-minute deadline, the game will begin without further delay.
  • The challenged player cannot take the field until valid documentation is received and verified. Refer to Section 2.1 (Acceptable Proof Of Age Documentation)

8.3 Tournament Match Operations & Overtime

• Match Format: Tournament matches consist of two 25-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime break. All games follow FIFA Laws with EASL modifications (e.g., no slide tackles).
• Weather Policy: If inclement weather forces a match interruption, the game is considered official if at least one full half has been completed. Field conditions and scheduling adjustments are managed by the Site Director and EASL Executive Board.
• Overtime Procedures (Kicks from the Mark):
  • Round 1: Five (5) players selected from those on the field at the end of regulation (including the goalkeeper).
  • Round 2+ (Sudden Death): Teams alternate single penalty kicks. Remaining on-field players shoot first, followed by bench players, before the shooting order repeats.

9. Final Administrative Provisions

• Handbook Authority: This handbook serves as the official operating guide for EASL. The EASL Executive Board reserves the right to review rules annually and address situations not explicitly covered herein.

EASTERN AREA SOCCER LEAGUE

Approved By: ____________________________________ (EASL Executive Board Representative)

Date: ________________________