Garden State Athletic Conference - Soccer


ARTICLE I - REGULAR SEASON PLAY

Section A
There shall be two divisions of competition in the Men's Division.

  1. The Division I Colleges shall play each other once.
  2. The Division III Colleges shall play each other once.

Section B
Women's Division shall play each other once.

Section C
The host institution shall provide for all contests:

  1. The diagonal or three person system will be used. Officials must be NISOA (National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association) certified.
  2. Two lines people and a timer.
  3. Three (3) soccer balls of the same make and model. (Baden is the official soccer ball)

Section D
An athlete or coach who is ejected for persistent misconduct (2nd Yellow), abusive language or gesture or persistent misconduct after receiving a caution shall not be allowed to participate in the next played contest as determined by the schedule of that institution.

Section E
An athlete or coach who is ejected for fighting, violent misconduct or serious foul play shall not be allowed to participate in the next two contests as determined by the schedule of that institution. An ejection report must be filed with the Region Director.

  1. If either ejection occurs in the last contest of a given season, the suspension shall be in effect for the first game(s) of the individual's next season.

Section F

  1. Unlimited substitutions will be in effect.
  2. The game time clock will not stop during substitutions.


ARTICLE II - DATE
The Regional Tournament will be held annually, two (2) weeks prior to the respective NJCAA National Tournament.


ARTICLE III - SITE

Section A
NJCAA Region 19 Tournament contests played prior to the finals shall be held at the site of the college seeded highest. The site for the Division III Men’s & Women’s tournament finals will be awarded each year at the winter meeting of the Region. In all cases, the host college shall be responsible for the provision of a game site that in all ways meets the rules and regulations of the NCAA.

Section B
Factors that are to be considered in the selection of a site are:

  1. Playing and dressing facilities.
  2. Housing and dining facilities.

Section C
Bids made by colleges wishing to host the tournament must be submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Soccer Committee at any time prior or during the Annual Winter Meeting.


ARTICLE IV - ELIGIBILITY

Section A
NJCAA Rules will govern college and individual participants except where superseded by Region XIX rules.

Section B
In all cases, determination of eligibility will be under the jurisdiction of the Region XIX Assistant Regional Director and not the Tournament Chairman or Soccer Committee Chairman.


ARTICLE V - SELECTION OF TEAMS

Section A
The criteria for the selection and seeding of the teams are as follows:

  1. For Men's Division III teams a minimum overall winning percentage of .500 or .500 winning percentage in region divisional play.
  2. For Men's Division I teams three (3) teams will be seeded.
  3. For Women's Division III teams - the four (4) top winning percentage teams within Region Divisional play will be seeded and any additional teams with a .500 winning percentage in overall and/or Region play will also qualify and be seeded for post-season play.
  4. For Women's Division I teams - the four (4) top winning percentage teams within Region Divisional play will be seeded and any additional teams with a winning percentage in overall and/or Region play will also qualify and be seeded for post-season play.
  5. Teams will be seeded based on their Regional Divisional Record on a point basis. Three points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss. Note: Teams playing each other twice during regular season play will only have the first game played count on their regional divisional record unless other contractual arrangements exist.
  6. Teams tied with same number of points will have the tie broken in this manner:
      a. head to head competition
      b. comparison of game results with other teams under consideration starting with the team with the best record and so on.
      c. coin flip
  7. Teams not reporting their weekly service bureau report or their weekly card accumulation report will be seeded last.

Section B
All teams that apply are to be seeded.

Section C
All games other than finals will be played at the home of the highest seed. All game expenses will be paid by the tournament host


ARTICLE VI - OFFICIALS AND DUTIES OF THE HOST COLLEGE

Section A
The host college shall arrange for the same officiating system as used in respective national tournament. Different nationally accredited officials shall be usedfor each game. Wherever possible officials for the Regional Tournament should be selected from a list of officials recommended by the coaches. The list of officials should be given to the Tournament Director by the Region XIX Soccer Service Bureau Director by October 1st.

Section B
The host college shall assign at least two (2) and preferable four (4) linemen (sideline personnel) for each game.

Section C
The host college shall assign an official timer and scorer for each game.

Section D
The host college shall provide three (3) game balls of the same style and make for each game.

Section E
The host college shall make all arrangements pertaining to the preparation and maintenance of the playing fields and locker rooms.

Section F
The host college shall provide water for participants.

Section G
The host college shall see that spectators are stationed in accordance with the NJCAA Rules and Regulations.

Section H
The host college shall purchase the appropriate awards including the Harry Nowich MVP awards for the Men's Division.

Section I
The host college shall, with the assistance of all entry fees, be responsible for all expenses incurred in the direct operation of the final rounds of the tournament.


ARTICLE VII - FEES/SEEDING

The entry fee for the Region XIX Soccer Tournament will be $350.00 per team. Colleges must submit to the Region Tournament Director on the preceding day of the seeding meeting a listing of completed games in regional divisional play with the date, opponent, score, outcome and region divisional record as well as any remaining regional divisional games to be played with dates. Non compliance could result in being seeded last and/or other sanctions.


ARTICLE VIII - RULES AND REGULATIONS

Section A
NCAA Rules will govern play except where superseded by NJCAA National Tournament Rules.

Section B
The Tournament will be a single elimination event with a championship game on the final day.

Section C
Tournament Games Overtime. All postseason tournament games requiring overtime regardless if there is or there is not another game scheduled the next day will be played with two – 10 minute sudden death overtime periods. Rule 4 Section 1b will apply. In the event the game is still tied, penalty kicks will be taken as follows:

  1. A coin toss (called by the visiting team) will determine whether to kick first or last. Each team will take an initial series of five kicks alternately. The team scoring the greater number of goals shall be declared the winner. The kicks shall end at the point where a winner has been determined.
  2. If the score is still ties after each team has taken five kicks, kicks shall continue alternately in the same order until a team has one more goal in the same number of kicks.
  3. Each kick must be taken by a different player until 10 kicks have been taken by each team. If the number of kicks goes beyond 10, the initial order of kicking shall be repeated.
  4. Only players listed on the official game roster are eligible to participate in the penalty-kick-tie-breaker.
  5. The non-participating goalkeeper must stay on the field of play at one corner of the penalty area. All eligible players except the kicker and the designated goalkeepers must remain in the center circle.
  6. One official should record the kicking order and one should administer the taking of the kicks.
  7. Once the goalkeeper is designated, he may not be replaced unless injured; and his replacement must be one of the number allotted by the NJCAA. "In the event of darkness, inclement weather or other circumstances beyond the control of the Tournament Director that would prevent games from being completed on a given day will be resumed from the point of suspension on the following day and the game and time schedule will be adjusted accordingly. If for any reason, a team must play more than ninety (90) minutes after a suspended game is resumed, they shall not be required to play again
    on that day."
  8. The game will be recorded as a draw.

Section D
Yellow Card Substitution. When a player receives a yellow card, he/she must leave the game until the next opportunity to substitute. Another player may replace the player receiving the yellow card. (NOTE: If a substitute is not available for the player receiving the yellow card, the team will play a player short until the next opportunity to substitute.)

Section E
Warm-up. Teams arriving within ten minutes of the starting time will be allowed a ten minute warm-up period prior to the beginning of the game.

Section F
Any coach receiving a red card must be reported to the Athletic Director of the offending coaches institution. The report should be made via fax or telephone on the first weekday following the incident. Card accumulations must also be reported to the Chair of the Region Soccer Committee. If a coach receives two red cards in one season, the matter should be forwarded to Standards and Ethics for appropriate action.

Section G
Although every attempt will be made to insure three officials for each contest, games may be played with less than three officials.

Section H
Coaches receiving five accumulated yellow cards in a season will be required to sit out the next scheduled game including post season play. Players with yellow & red accumulations will follow the NCAA rules. As per NCAA rules, caution accumulation will carry over into postseason play. Players and/or coaches participating in postseason will receive a one game suspension when a total of eight cautions has been accumulated. Further, each three additional cautions shall result in an additional one-game suspension.


SECTION IX - FINES AND PENALTIES

Colleges not submitting required reports by the due time because of emergency closures (i.e. weather closure) will have 24 hours (next working day) from the due time and date to submit their report. If it is known that the institution will be closed on the reporting date, the report should be sent prior to the closing and before the due time. If at this time no report is received a fine of $50 will be assessed (invoice sent by service bureau director, sport committee chair or director operating the service with copy to respective region director (men or women). Payment to be sent to respective region director. If no payment is received by respective region director 5 days prior to the region tournament seeding meeting, this offense will be reported to the Region Standards and Ethics Committee.


ARTICLE X - AWARDS

An outstanding offensive player and an outstanding defensive player will be selected from among the tournament participants. The Tournament Director will assume the responsibility of having an appropriate committee available to select the recipients of the awards.


ARTICLE XI - ALL REGION TEAM

Section A
The selection of the All Region Teams calendar date process for men, women, and all divisions will be as follows:

  1. Nominations will be called for on the Monday of the last week of the regular season.
  2. Nominations will be due on the Wednesday of the last week of the regular season.
  3. Nominations will be compiled into a voting ballot and sent out on Friday of the last week of the regular season.
  4. Coaches must return their completed ballot by Tuesday of Region Tournament Playoffs week.
  5. Teams announced on Wednesday of Region Tournament Playoffs week.

Section B
For Division III and Women’s programs First and Second All-Regional Teams will be selected based on a vote by the coaches. It will be done in the following manner:

  1. Coaches may nominate a maximum of three (3) field players plus a goalkeeper from his own team. The nominations must be in the hands of the SoccerChairperson by the designated date.
  2. The Soccer Chair will compile the list of nominees and send the list of all the regional coaches.
  3. Coaches are not to vote for any of their own nominees and are to vote for six (6) forwards, six (6) midfielders, six (6) backs and two (2) goalkeepers; awarding six (6) points to first selection, five (5) for second, etc.
  4. The all region team will consist of the top six (6) forwards, six (6) midfielders, six (6) defense, two (2) goalkeepers and two (2) playersreceiving the highest number of votes not included in the above.
  5. Final selection of the first and second teams will be made by the soccer chair.
  6. In addition, coaches will be asked to rank the top five players in the region. The top player will receive 5 points, the next 4, and so on.

Section C
For Division I an All Region Team of eleven (11) players will be selected.

  1. Coaches may nominate five (5) field players plus a goalkeeper. A ballot will be circulated among them.
  2. Coaches will select the top eleven (11) players in the region, one of whom must be a goalkeeper by ranking the names on the ballot, giving eleven (11) to the top player, 10 to the next and so on.
  3. Coaches may not vote for their own players.

Section D
The coach of the year will be the coach(es) of the respective divisional teams winning the region tournaments and will be awarded a certificate from the respective region directors.
NOTES: A line-up roster, with the names and members of the starting eleven (11) players checked, must be exchanged by coaches at least ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled starting time. This sheet must also include accumulated cautions. The roster must follow the form attached and must be signed by the Director of Athletics. The roster must be faxed no later than the day prior to the weekday game or the Friday prior to the weekend game.

Section E
In an emergency, regular season regional contests will be played with one or two officials.


Date Approved: 10/01/03
Last Revision: 6/01/06