SWD Policies

• Competitive and comp development players: $15.25
• Recreational players: $11.25
• All adults: $5.00

• Teams must provide an approved/certified roster to the referee and opposing coach or manager prior to the start of the game.
• Roster changes will not be accepted after the game begins.
• Managers are encouraged to photograph the opposing roster for their records.
• If a player is not on the approved/certified roster, they may not participate. Guest players are not allowed.
• Only one single approved printed roster is permitted. Registrars must complete cross-rostering in advance.
• Anyone presenting multiple rosters must provide copies to opponents and email swdadmin@cjsa.org — otherwise the game will be reviewed for possible forfeit.
• No hand-written rosters will be accepted. Non-compliant rosters will result in a post-match review.

Each player on the team must meet one of the following:

1. Is a resident of the town in which the team's home field is located; OR
2. Is a resident of the district and lives in a town where no CJSA Classic competition team exists in the player's age division in the current season; OR
3. Is one of no more than 2 players not covered by conditions 1 or 2.

• Teams in district Classic Travel league play (including U9 and U10) may have no more than 40% of players rostered with another in-district classic travel team within the same club.
• If a club has more than 2 teams in an age group, players may only be double rostered to the next closest team by division(e.g., A↔B or B↔C, but not A↔C).
• All double roster requests must be sent in advance to the District Registrar for review with the district vice president.

• U9–U10: Maximum 12 active players
• U11–U12: Maximum 16 active players

Rosters may exceed the maximum, but participating players in a district match must not exceed these limits. Exception requests should be sent to the district vice president for approval.

Teams from outside the district may request participation in SWD leagues. If approved by the district vice president, they must furnish rosters and comply with all rules applicable to in-district teams.

• Teams must apply for league participation via SportsConnect by the cutoff dates published on the district website.
• Club registrars are responsible for entering teams correctly.
• Team naming convention: Town/Club, Gender (B/G), Birth Year, Nickname

• Classic Travel rosters will freeze approximately 2 weeks before the last regular season day(exact date communicated by SWD officers).
• Only players on the pre-existing roster at the freeze date may be included on a playoff roster.
• For playoffs, rosters must be substantially the same as the season roster.
• Players on A team rosters during the regular season may not play down on B or lower teams for playoffs.

• Elected annually by the Governing Board at the start of each seasonal year.
• Consists of five members and two alternates, each from a different member club.
• If a matter involves a member's club, that member shall recuse themselves; an alternate will serve in their place.
• The District VP shall appoint one member as Chairperson.
• Sanctions imposed shall be in accordance with CJSA policy 1000-7.
• A simple majority of three votes is sufficient to impose sanctions.

• 1st disciplinary action: Sanctions as applied by Discipline Committee
• 2nd disciplinary action: Sanctions + active probation
• 3rd disciplinary action (same seasonal year): Possible removal from SWD

Composition: 3–5 members from different clubs, including one Chairperson approved annually by district club presidents.

Responsibilities include:

• Preparing seasonal calendar with deadlines for team registration, feedback on age groups/brackets, and scheduling windows — for review and approval by district club presidents
• Reviewing prior and rolling seasonal data to inform future age groups and brackets
• Accumulating qualitative information from clubs about teams as needed
• Constructing age groups and brackets, gathering club feedback, and revising as appropriate
• Presenting final flights/divisions to district club presidents for approval by majority vote

Once age groups and brackets are finalized and approved, no changes will be made prior to or during a given season except in very extenuating circumstances, as determined solely by the Competition Committee.

Conflict of Interest: Any member of the District VP, Discipline Committee, or Competition Committee who has a conflict of interest in a matter must recuse themselves from related decision-making.

Bracket size: 8 or 10 teams preferred. Must be greater than 6 teams, ideally no more than 12. Competition Committee will endeavor to use even numbers of teams to avoid bye weeks.

Team Registration: At the start of each season, club officials register teams via SportsConnect by the deadlines set and approved by district club presidents.

Promotion and Relegation:

• Teams performing at a high level below the top division are subject to upward movement in the next season.
• Teams underperforming in a bracket are candidates for downward movement.
• Primary performance measures: points (wins, losses, draws) and goal differential.
• Secondary measures: playoff and CT Cup performances (U11 and older, where available).
• Qualitative factors are gathered but carry much less weight.
• The Competition Committee presents recommendations to district club presidents for approval.

District vs. Out-of-District Clubs:

• District clubs are subject to annual review and approval by district club presidents. New clubs are reviewed for approval once per year (June, prior to the next fall season).
• Out-of-district clubs/teams must be approved annually by district club presidents.
• All participating clubs/teams must comply with all SWD rules and guidelines.
• SWD teams/clubs may not be compelled to travel out of district for league games. If an SWD-based team compels an out-of-district team to travel despite being assigned as the home team, the SWD-based team bears the cost of referee fees.

Scoring:

• 3 points for a win
• 1 point for a tie
• 0 points for a loss

Standings Visibility:

• U9–U10 (non-A Division): Suppressed from public view
• U9–U10 (A Division): Public
• U11 and older: Public

• Unplayed, abandoned, or forfeited games are scored by the District Administrator.
• Weighted average scoring is used when teams have an uneven number of scheduled games:

Goal Differential Penalty:

• Loss of 1 point if goal differential exceeds 6 (except U11+ "A" brackets).
• For standings, maximum recorded goal differential is 6.
• Repetitious over-scoring or egregious high scores (6+ goal margin) may result in loss of home field assignment for the remainder of the season.

Playoffs (Fall Only, U11 and Older):

• Top 4 teams from each bracket qualify.
• Semifinals: 1st vs. 4th and 2nd vs. 3rd — first Saturday after the regular season.
• Finals: Sunday immediately following the semifinals.
• Semifinals and finals are played at predetermined neutral locations; the district assigns referees.
• Trophies: Champion and Runner-up in fall playoffs; first place in each bracket in spring season.

Tiebreaker Hierarchy(equal number of games played):

1. Most wins
2. Head-to-head results (not used if three or more teams are tied)
3. Fewest goals allowed
4. Most goals scored

If teams have played a different number of matches, weighted averages are compared first; if still tied, the above tiebreakers apply. Unplayed games count toward total games scheduled.

• The District Administrator develops and publishes each bracket's schedule by dates recommended by the Competition Committee and approved by district club presidents.
• Every effort should be made to play all scheduled matches, including rescheduling when necessary.
• The District VP makes forfeiture determinations when matches are not played, including when managers do not make good-faith efforts or show reasonable flexibility.

Priority of Matches:

1. State competitions (e.g., CT Cup) — highest priority. A team playing a CT Cup makeup cannot be penalized for missing a district match.
2. District matches — take precedence over tournaments. Reasonable flexibility should be afforded for tournaments. Clubs should opt for tournaments on designated weekends (e.g., Labor Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day).
3. Premier team conflicts — do not take priority over district matches. It is recommended that players not be double-rostered on both district and premier teams.
4. Coach unavailability is not an acceptable excuse. The team with the conflict is responsible for assigning another registered adult or coach to manage the game — applies to both home and away teams.

Game Time Assignment:

• Matches should be played on scheduled Sundays between noon and one hour before sundown ("Prime Time").
  • Fall season Prime Time: noon – 6:00 PM (adjusted for daylight saving time)
  • Spring season Prime Time: noon – 6:00 PM
• Games outside Prime Time require agreement from both teams (primarily for makeup games).
• The home team has final say on start time as long as it falls within Prime Time.
• The visiting team may request a time within Prime Time; the home team may honor at their discretion.

Scheduling Dispute Protocol:

• Managers should keep copies of all correspondence.
• The home team must inform the opponent of the start time at least 4 days in advance(i.e., by Wednesday prior to a Sunday game).
• If the start time falls within Prime Time, the opponent must agree or face default at the District VP's discretion. Opponents may also lose 2 points in the standings.
• If either team defaults within 72 hours of a previously agreed kickoff:
  • The defaulting team may lose 2 points.
  • The defaulting team may be charged with the forfeit.
  • The defaulting team will be required to pay referee fees (even if they were the away team).
• If the visiting team cancels/postpones within 72 hours, they are responsible for referee fees if the home team requests it. (Exception: CT Cup or state match delayed from Saturday to Sunday.)
• If a game is played at the original away team's field, the original home team is expected to pay referee fees at the away club's prevailing rates.

Makeup Games:

• Teams must attempt to complete makeup games by the last day of the season. The District VP may assess penalties (forfeits and point deductions) for failure to comply.
• If a match is cancelled/terminated beyond either team's control (e.g., sudden weather change) after the opponent has traveled, the visiting team may compel the home team to travel for a makeup — the visiting team becomes the host and pays referee fees.
• If a field is unplayable or the home team cancels due to their own circumstances (e.g., lack of players), the opponent may compel the home team to travel and the original home team pays referee fees.

11 v 11:

• U17–U20: Two 45-minute halves, Size 5 ball
• U13–U16: Two 40-minute halves, Size 5 ball

9 v 9:

• U11–U12: Two 35-minute halves, Size 4 ball

7 v 7:

• U9–U10: Two 30-minute halves, Size 4 ball

Halves may be shortened by mutual coach agreement prior to the match, but must remain equal in length.

11 v 11 (U13 and older):

• Minimum field: 100 yards long × 50 yards wide

9 v 9 (U11–U12):

• Field: Length 70–80 yds, Width 45–55 yds
• Goals: Height 6.5–7 ft, Width 18.5–21 ft

7 v 7 (U9–U10):

• Field: Length 55–65 yds, Width 35–45 yds
• Goals: Height 6.5 ft, Width 12–18.5 ft

• Provide a regulation playing field that is adequately marked and safe for play
• Provide regulation size goals and nets that are properly anchored
• Provide game-day balls of appropriate size and properly inflated
• Take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of players, coaches, spectators, and referees of both teams

Team Arrival — 15-minute grace period:

• If at least 1 player arrives within 15 minutes of kickoff, an additional 5-minute grace period is granted to field the minimum number of players.
• Minimum players: 7 for full-sided; 5 for small-sided.
• Failure to appear within grace periods may result in a forfeit loss and deduction of 2 standings points. The defaulting team is responsible for referee fees.

Referee Arrival — 30-minute grace period:

If a USSF-certified center referee does not arrive within 30 minutes of scheduled kickoff, either:

• The match is abandoned and information forwarded to the Commissioner to determine forfeit; OR
• The match is played with a non-USSF certified referee — both coaches must agree prior to the start. The match is binding; no protests will be entertained. A report must be forwarded to the district vice president.

• If a game is stopped for weather before two equal halves are completed, it must be rescheduled and replayed in its entirety.
• A game only counts if two equal halves have been played.
• The makeup game shall be hosted at the visiting team's field.
• The original home team is responsible for referee fees for the cancelled/abandoned game.
• The visiting team (now host) is responsible for referee fees for the replayed match.

• When you see lightning, count until you hear thunder. If 30 seconds or less, seek proper shelter immediately.
• If you can't see the lightning but can hear thunder, seek shelter.
• Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before leaving shelter.
• Referees must stop game activities promptly to allow participants and spectators to reach safety before the lightning threat becomes significant.

Teams should inquire about jersey colors in advance. In case of conflict, the home team must change.

Scores must be posted by both teams to the SWD website within 48 hours of the match (e.g., by Tuesday following a Sunday match). If the home team has not posted within this window, the away team may post the result.

• Only USSF Certified Referee Assignors may assign referees and/or assistant referees to SWD League games. The DRA may approve an assignment in an emergency.
• Referees or assistant referees shall not be assigned to a match if they are related (father, mother, brother, sister, or step-relation) to any player, coach, assistant coach, or manager on a team in that match.
• A three-person diagonal system will be used for U11 and older. U9 and U10 may use a single center referee.
• The home club shall assign a USSF certified referee and, when possible, two USSF certified assistant referees. When two assistants are unavailable, each team provides a club linesperson (function: signal ball out of bounds only). If one assistant is available, the visiting team chooses whether to supply a club linesperson; if they decline, the home team supplies one.

Minimum Referee Age:

• U9–U14: At least 2 years older than the players
• U15 and older: At least 1 year older than the players

• Disputes about referee qualifications must be submitted by email prior to the match. If a known qualification issue is not communicated before the match, no protest will be considered.
• Referees must submit a game report to the DRA for any match in which a red card is issued, a player or adult is sent off, or a serious injury occurs.
• As of Fall 2022, the DRA no longer assigns CT Cup or State Cup referees. See the CJSA Cup Policies page or contact the SYRA at ct-syra@ctreferee.net.
• The DRA will continue to assign all Fall Playoff Semifinal and Final matches.

Playoff Referee Fees(paid before game, includes travel fee):

• U8–U10: Center $60.00
• U11: Center $60.00, Assistant $40.00
• U12–U14: Center $70.00, Assistant $45.00
• U15 and older: Center $80.00, Assistant $50.00