CPL League Rules

Spring 2024

Communication

The league will communicate the schedule and standings on this webpage. Changes may be posted on the home page or to the schedule pages. Do not link to a schedule page, always go to our home page. It is your responsibility to review the website, and schedule and to stay updated.

Group announcements will be made by email or text message through soccercasa.com. Please give us two (2) email addresses that you check regularly. Add me [email protected] 303-941-3530 to your contact list so that our emails or texts do not get marked as spam.

Rosters for Each Game

Every player must have a 2023-2024 CASA USSSA registration and show up on your www.soccercasa.com roster. Roster size is unlimited but only 18 players may check in and play for a team each game day. Move inactive players to page 3 or 4 in CASA. Print pages 1 and 2 for each game. You must provide one copy of your PRINTED roster to the referee and one copy to the opposing team. Rosters must be less than 24 hours old. There is a time/date stamp at the bottom of your roster. Each player’s registration date and age is printed on the roster.

Check in Procedures

Each team must be checked in by a referee before kickoff. Ideally, at least 10 minutes before kickoff. Players must be present, in their numbered jersey and ready to play. The referee will take a copy of your provided roster and check in each player individually. If your team does not record player numbers on their roster, the referee will record them at check in.

Challenging a Player’s Eligability

A coach may challenge a player’s eligibility to play at pregame check in, or later if that player is late to the game. If challenged, at half time or the next possible stoppage (determined by the referee), the referee will check the player’s age and picture against a player provided government ID of any type from any government. Players without an ID that appear to be not registered are ineligible. Any properly registered player will be allowed to play. A player may register at any time until rosters are frozen by the league for playoffs. Any non-registered player that steps onto the field during play causes an automatic forfeit and the loss of a point.

Fields

Please remember that we are guests and we must follow the rules of any field that we play on. Be a good neighbor and clean up after your team. Field providers rely upon us to take care of their facilities. Make sure you are familiar with our weather and field guidelines here: https://coloradopremierleague.com/weather-field-conditions/

Nets and Flags

Very few facilities provide nets and flags. At Broomfield, Blue Pod Grass, we are required to put up both nets and flags. They are located in the orange box between field 3 and 4, south side of the blue pod. The first teams on the fields will put up the nets and flags. Use the provided bungee cords only to put up nets. If you are the last team of the day, take BOTH the nets and flags down and return them to the box. This is usually the fall 3PM games but this is not guaranteed. To lock, push down the lid, push in the lock, turn the tumbler dials.

For Broomfield Yellow Turf 6, nets are provided, flags must be put up and returned to the box on commons blue after the last game of the day.

Season and Playoffs

Divisions with 7 or more teams will play regular season games plus a semi final and final. 6 teams or less will play a final. The number of regular season games will vary by division. A semifinal or quarterfinal may be added where appropriate. Regular season games may end in a tie. Playoff games must have a winner. Over time is 2×15 no golden goal, then kicks from the mark.

Game Length

Game Length 90 minutes.  Games must kick off within 10 minutes of the scheduled time.   At that time all players must be checked in and on the field ready to play.  Referees will use their best judgement regarding extenuating circumstances.  Please communicate with them.  Get your players to arrive 45 minutes early. If a game starts late, the referees may shorten half times to keep the league on schedule. Game length may only be shortened with the permission of both teams.

Weather Policies

Please see our weather policies here: https://coloradopremierleague.com/weather-field-conditions/

Unlimited Substitutions

Substitutions may be made on a goal, goal kick, at half, while it is your throw in or when a player is injured (both teams). No substitutions on offsides, free kicks, or corner kicks.  If the opposing team substitutes, both teams may substitute.

Home field policy

With at least three weeks notice, a team may elect to host some of their home games away from the league home base of Broomfield Commons, Victoria or Country Estates. Home games must be within 10 miles of these venues. Priority will be given to clubs which can host two games consecutively. Exceptions will be made to reduce drive times on a case by case basis. Clubs that host games will cover the entire cost of the field. A single game may be scheduled only in the event that referees accept the match. If the league has difficulty assigning referees, there may be an added referee fee of up to $100 (covering actual league costs). Teams charging for admission shall provide the opposing team with 20 tickets.

Reschedule and Forfeit Policy

Teams asking for ANY game to be rescheduled must pay a $50 reschedule fee. Any game rescheduled within 7 days of the original date and time will be charged the full referee fees of $200 in addition to the $50 reschedule fee. Teams traveling to a tournament or other scheduled team event such as a wedding must provide the league with at lease three weeks notice.

Changes may be denied.  It is your responsibility to communicate with the league in a timely manner.  

Any team forfeiting a game FOR ANY REASON will have 1 point deducted from their final standings. A team forfeiting more than one game in a season may be removed from the league and will receive no refund. 

A game day no call, no show forfeit incurs a fine of $100.   You must give the league and other team at least 90 minutes notice BY PHONE AND EMAIL.  If the opposing team drives to the field, they will receive the $100 directly from the team forfeiting. Refusal to pay the fine within three (3) days of the forfeit, will result in immediate removal from the league with no refund.

Unregistered Players

Coaches are NOT players.  A coach must be registered as a player to play.

Any team playing knowingly or unknowingly playing an unregistered or suspended player will automatically forfeit the game and lose a point. It is up to team leadership to know each player’s registration compliance.

Alcohol and Substances

Alcohol is not allowed at any of our fields. Players may not play while drinking or inebriated or under the influence of any substance, legal or otherwise.

Suspensions

Suspensions are generally, but not always, noted on your soccercasa.com roster.

A player receiving a red card MUST immediately leave the field and stay 100 yards away.  You may not go back and talk to the referee after the game.  You could receive an extra suspension.  Managers and captains will may choose to follow up for the player after the game.

When a player receives a red card they must sit out until their suspension, and fine is paid. If the suspension is not noted on your roster, they still must sit or you forfeit and lose a point. Be proactive.

Any player found to use racial epithets shall be suspended for a minimum of three games plus a committee review for additional fines and suspensions. A second offense is a 6 games suspension plus additional fines.. A third offense is a 364 day suspension.

To pay a fine, click HERE

Fines must be paid by Wednesday 10am of the week the player wishes to return to play. This is not an automatic process, you must follow up. If you play a player that is suspended, you forfeit immediately regardless of whether you have been informed of the red card by the league or not. That player knows they got a red. They must sit until cleared by the league.

Please note that a player with a red must serve the suspension on the team they are on. They cannot count games in other leagues or tournaments.

Reserve Team and Other Players

Reserve teams may play up to 4 players on their 1st team. Players may play for both teams on the same day unless they have received a red card. Players may play up to the Premier Division but not down to the Elite Division.

A club with two men’s teams in the same division may play 2 players from each team up to their first team in the next division up. Players may not play down.

Over 30 division teams may play 3 players that are aged 25+ and a goal keeper of ANY age (18+).

Men’s teams may not have any players that are under 18 years of age.

Technical Area

The technical area is located from the edge of the center circle 10 yards down the line towards the 18 yard line. Technical areas are not marked but please make sure to set up in the correct spot. Coaches must stay in the technical area.

Mass Confrontation Rule 

A mass confrontation occurs when more than two players (from either team) confront any of the referee crew.  All players that take part in a mass confrontation will be suspended for a minimum of 1 game.

Bench Clearing Rule

A player leaving the bench and entering the field for any type of confrontation will receive and automatic RED card. If more than two players leave the bench (bench clearing), for any type of confrontation or altercation that team will automatically forfeit the game and lose a point in the standings.

Spectators

Alcohol is not allowed by any of our facilities. Fans may NOT sit with or on the same side of the field as the teams. Both teams must put their benches on the same side of the field. In Broomfield, the benches should be placed on the north side of each field, in-between fields 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. Everyone on your bench MUST be on your roster. Spectators must be on the outside of the fields, teams on the inside. The game may be stopped to ensure compliance. On the yellow pod, teams should be on the inside with fans closer to the parking lot.

Dogs Are NOT allowed at any of our fields. 🙁

Teams are responsible for their fans.  

If your fans block, impede, or distract the Assistant Referee on either side, they may be asked to leave.  If they are inebriated, refuse to move, or leave, or escalate a situation, your team could forfeit the game. Spectators MUST leave if asked by any referee.

Rules of the Game

IFAB laws of the game can be found HERE. The latest changes are here: https://www.theifab.com/law-changes/latest

Offside 

Rules have been updated. Please make sure to review them, specifically rules on deflections.

A section by section guide can be found here: http://www.theifab.com/laws#!%2Flaws

Jerseys

Each team must have two sets of jerseys available for every game. Player uniforms must match. This includes socks, shorts and jerseys. Jerseys must have numbers, no duplicate numbers on the same team.  

Away team changes but both teams are expected to work together.

Player transfer rule

When a player asks for a transfer the coach has 7 days to respond. If the coach does not approve or deny the transfer, the player can request the transfer to be automatically approved. A coach may deny a transfer if the player owes league fees or equipment. In no case can a coach require a player to pay back more than $100 in value, fees or equipment.

Points and Tie breakers: 

Three points for a win and one point for a tie to each team. Tie breakers are:

1. Head to Head 

2. Goals Against 

3. Goal Differential 

4. Goals for

 5. Coin flip

Example 1: Two teams tied in the standings, and one team beat the other –Head to Head applies.

Example 2: Three teams tied in the standings and one of the teams did not play against one of the other  teams – Goals Against applies for all three teams.  In this instance a team that beat another team could still be knocked out due to a higher goals against.

Promotion and Relegation

At the end of each season (Fall and Spring), the winner of the Elite division may chose to be promoted to the 1st division. The last place team in the 1st division is automatically relegated to the Elite division regardless of the Elite division champion’s choice.

The 2nd place team in the Elite Division may challenge the 2nd to last place team in the 1st division for promotion. The challenging team must pay a $400 game fee within 7 days of the Elite Division Final. The challenge game will be played as soon as is reasonably possible. Whoever wins the challenge game takes the 1st division spot.

In the event that a team drops out of the 1st division, or that the 1st division is reorganized, or that teams chose not to be promoted, we reserve the right to bring in teams from outside the league to fill an empty slot.

Video Policy

The CPL may request a copy of any video taken by a team or spectator. Video may be used by the league for promotional or disciplinary purposes. Video can be used to protest a game according to our protest policies HERE. Video MAY NOT be used to protest a red card.

Competition Integrity

In order to maintain the CPL’s high level of competition, teams may be removed from the league or relegated to a lower division by our competitions committee for showing a pattern of forfeits, games played short, blowouts, lower standards of competition or any combination thereof. A team that is removed may be invited to come back the next season in a lower bracket. All decisions made by the competitions committee are final.

Teams which consistently exhibit conduct which is unbecoming or likely to prejudice the interests or reputation of the league may be removed.

The league reserves the right to make decisions for the good of the game and the integrity of the competition.

Ver 1.9 01/26/2024