1. The Academy Soccer League
a) The Academy Soccer League (ASL) is a player development league which will be administered by BC Soccer Academies Association (BCSAA), designed for Private Academies with BCRA designation.
b) The ASL is a league comprised of BC Recognized Academies (BCRA) only. The rules and regulations outlined in this document pertain solely to BCRAs registered to ASL.
c) Any rules and regulations not addressed within this document will be reviewed, revised and communicated as necessary to the league’s members and will go into effect 72 hours after approval by BC Academies Association’s Executive Director.
2. Code of Conduct
a) All ASL Academies must abide by all Governing Documents of ASL.
b) ASL Academies are responsible for the conduct of their membership; team officials, players, spectators/parents, administrators, etc.,
3. Playing Rules
The Laws of the Game shall be those adopted by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and shall come into force as mandated by Canada Soccer unless stated otherwise in this document.
4. Registration
a) BCRAs participating in ASL are required to register all players, team and team officials affiliated to their organization. All participants shall be registered to BC Academies Association.
b) For Players to be considered “registered”, all players must have an ASL Player Identification Card issued by the BC Academies Association. At no point shall a non-registered player participate in any BC Academies Association sanctioned games or events.
c) Validation of registration and all applicable procedures regarding registration (player IDs, transfers, deregistration, etc.) shall be administered by BC Academies Association and in accordance with BC Academies Association’s Operational Procedures unless otherwise stated in these Rules and Regulations.
5. ASL Playing Down Policy
Players from the same academy can play down for their respective academy team If and only if they are approved by the ASL Board. All requested players are subject to an evaluation for approvals
6. ASL Discipline
The ASL Discipline Review Committee shall be appointed by the BC Academies Association’s Board of Directors.
6.1 Jurisdiction
a) The ASL Discipline Review Committee shall be responsible for handling all cases of reported misconduct for Players, Team Officials, Administrators or Academies, Match Official Assault, Acts of moral turpitude.
b) Each ASL Academy is responsible for the actions of their team officials, players, spectators, and administrators, who shall be made aware of the ASL’s Discipline Rules and the discipline systems used.
6.2 Reporting and Review of Discipline
a) Within twenty-four (24) hours of the conclusion of a ASL game, the Match Official shall submit the following items to the ASL Discipline Review Committee:
i. Match Results
ii. Misconduct report for each incident of misconduct by a player, team official, administrator, or match official
iii. Special Incident Reports
b) Discipline by Review (DBR) will take place every Thursday of the ASL Season.
c) A decision rendered by DBR may not be appealed unless a hearing has been requested in accordance with these procedures.
d) Unless otherwise indicated by the ASL Discipline Review Committee, hearings shall take place on the next available and convenient date.
e) At the discretion of the ASL Discipline Review Committee, the accused, or any other party called, may attend a Hearing remotely via a communications technology that is duly approved by the ASL Discipline Review Committee. Where permission to attend a Hearing via such a communication technology is not expressly approved by the ASL Discipline Review Committee, attendance in person is assumed to be required by all parties involved.
6.3 Request for Discipline Hearing
a) An accused Player, Coach or other Team Official subject to Discipline by Review has the right to request a Discipline Hearing,
6.4 General Discipline Rules
a) The accumulation of cautions shall only apply to ASL competition.
b) Suspensions, penalties, and fines are levied by the ASL Discipline Hearing/Review Panel
c) On misconduct being proved to its satisfaction, the ASL Discipline Committee shall have the power to order the offender:
i. To be suspended from all or any specific soccer activity for a stated period of time, in accordance with ASL Operational Procedures;
ii. To be suspended for a specific number of games in the ASL competition; and
iii. To be fined (with or without suspension) for Organizations and Team Officials.
d) In the case of “suspensions for a stated period of time”:
i. The “beginning date” of a suspension shall be determined by the ASL Discipline Panel and will commence within an appropriate timeline following the Discipline Hearing in which the coach, player, team official was found guilty.
e) In the case of “suspensions for a specific number of games”:
i. ASL will communicate the specific matches from which the player is suspended to the Academy, in writing, via email.
7. Fines and Penalties
a) In the event a team, including team officials, contravenes ASL Rules and Regulations, the ASL Discipline Committee, has the authority to levy fine(s) against the offending Academy,
8. ASL Protests
a) All protests shall be sent to the ASL and must be received within 48 hours from the date of the game in which the protest has arisen.
b) Where a game is played under protest, such fact must be noted on the team sheet and a formal protest must then be lodged as stipulated in a) above.
ASL U9 to U12 Divisions
1. Playing Rules
| Description | U9-U10 | U11-U12 | U13 |
| Playing Format | 7v7 (6+GK) | 8v8 (7+GK) | 9v9/11v11 |
| Team Size | 8-11 players | 10-12 players | 11-18 players |
| Substitutions | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Competition days | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Game duration | 2*25 | 2*30 | 2*35 |
| Throw-in/Pass in | throw-in | throw-in | throw-in |
| Retreat Line | Yes | No | No |
| Off-side | Yes (retreat line) | Yes (haf line) | Yes(half line) |
| Field Size | Quarter of field | Modified Half Field | Modified Field |
| Ball Size | 4 | 4 | 5 |
2. Player Eligibility
a) Number of Players
The maximum number oflayers that may be recorded to a game day roster, named, dressed and played in any one game is:
| Division | Maximum number Players |
| Under 9 and Under 10 | 12 |
| Under 11 and Under 12 | 16 |
b) Playing Up
Players are permitted to ‘play up’ . Such allowance is at the discretion of the Academy’s Technical Director/Head Coach.
3. Schedule
Under no circumstances will squads be allowed to postpone games.
All games will be played as scheduled unless:
1. The Match Official insist on a postponement due to weather or field conditions
2. A game is postponed due to unforeseen circumstances out of the control of both teams.
4. Rescheduled Games
a) BCASL Committee must provide rescheduled fixtures to the league within 5 days of the originally scheduled fixture.
ASL U14 to U18 Divisions
4. Rescheduled Games
Description | U14 | U15 – U18 | |
Game Duration | 2 x 40 minutes | 2 x 45 minutes |
- a) A team must have a minimum of 7 players in order for the game to proceed. If a team is unable to field 7 players, the offending team will forfeit the game.
- b) Games abandoned after the 70thminute due to weather conditions the score of the game at that point will stand.
- d) League Standings for U14 to U18 will be determined by points gained as per the following:
Win | 3 points |
Tie | 1 point |
Loss | 0 points |
In the case tie (two or more teams gain equal points), standings will be determined based on:
- Greatest goal difference
- Greatest number of goals scored
iii. Greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams concerned
- Goal difference resulting from the matches between the teams concerned
- Greatest number of goals scored in all matches between the teams concerned
- Drawing of lots by the ASL
a) All the players need to have a number on the back of their jerseys.
b) Items that will not be allowed to be worn:
- Non-religious headgear
- Sunglasses or Glasses (players should wear sports goggles for vision aids)
- No Earings, Chains, Bracelets, and/or Rings.
3. Player Eligibility
a) Number of Players
b) The maximum number of players that may be recorded to a game sheet, named, dressed and played in any one game is: 18
c) Call-Ups
i) Players in the U13 and older age groups may use “Call-up” players, who must be registered with a team from with the same Academy.
ii) Call up players from within the Academy may be used without limit.
iv) A player playing up to an BCRA which has more than 1 team in a specific division of BCASL shall be tied to the team he is called up to.
v) There is no player movement allowed for BCRAs that have more than one team in a specific division.
4. Schedule
Under no circumstances will squads be allowed to postpone games.
All games will be played as scheduled unless:
1. The Match Official insist on a postponement due to weather or field conditions
2. A game is postponed due to controls out of the hands of both teams.
5. Rescheduled Games
a) The home squad must provide rescheduled fixtures to the league within 5 days of the originally scheduled game.
ASL FINES
CODE | DESCRIPTION OF INFRACTION | 1ST OFFENCE | 2nd + SUBSEQUENT OFFENCES |
1.2 | Inappropriate Behaviour by Team Officials or Players in Violation of ASL Code of Conduct | $75 | $200 |
1.4 | Game Abandoned due to Actions of Players/Team Officials/Spectators of a Team | $200 | $400 |
1.6 | Playing with an inelligible player | $75 | $100 |
1.7 | Late Payment of Fees and Fines | $50 | $50 |
1.8 | Red Cards U14 – U18
| $50 | $50 |
1.9 | Failure to show for the scheduled game | $250 | $500 |