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SLYSA IL Central Division 2025 FALL TIME FRAME

• Post Application May 26, 2025
• Application Deadline July 7, 2025
• Bracketing Meeting July 9, 2025
• Conflict Dates/ Drop Deadline July 9, 2025
• Scheduling Begins July 10, 2025
• Schedules Posted August 3, 2025
• Schedules Finalized August 8, 2025

        After date game changes will be charged $175 per game

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SLYSA IL Central Division Starts August 23, 2025

SLYSA IL Central payments due September 19, 2025

SLYSA IL Central Division Ends November 2, 2025

Play Dates                                                     

• August 23-24, 2025: Decatur
• September 27-28, 2025 at SASA Springfield
• October 18-19, 2025: Rantoul
• November 1-2, 2025: Rantoul

No play dates for SLYSA IL Central Division             

• Labor Day Weekend August 30-31, 2025

Fee Information

U6/U7/U8 4v4: 6 games, $295

U9/U10 7v7: 6 games, $573

U11/U12 9v9: 6 games, $783

U13/U14 11v11: 6 games, $933

U15/U16 11v11: 6 games, $1,053

U17+: 6 games, $1,053

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TOURNAMENTS FOR FAll 2025

• SASA Sept 5-7, 2025
• Lincoln Sept 12-14, 2025
• IFC Oct 3-5, 2025
• Peoria Oct 10-12, 2025
• FC Central Oct 24-26                                                                                                                   

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PLAYING RULES

Playing Rules: Download here

SLYSA IL U6 - U19 RULES OF PLAY 

All rules will be in accordance with FIFA and US Soccer with the following exceptions:

 

LAW 1 – The Number of Players 

 

1. All players on the roster may play in a match with unlimited entry and re-entry. SLYSA IL allows for free substitution on any dead-ball situation at the discretion of the referee. “At the discretion of the referee” is to be interpreted as assisting the referee in carrying out his or her mandate to “facilitate the continuous flow of the game.” Therefore, referees are expected to deny substitution by either team which would delay a quick restart, while allowing substitutions by either team when the flow of the game has been naturally interrupted.

 

2. Within a club, a player may be moved from one team to another for an individual match if the following conditions are met:

 

• a. No player can play down. Note: Playing down refers to both the age of the player and to guest playing on a team in a division lower than the rostered player’s team’s division. Examples:
• 1) A U12-aged player may not guest play on a U11 or younger team. 2) A player rostered on a team playing in U13D2 may guest play on any team in U13D2 or higher, but may not guest play on any team in U13D3 or lower. Similarly, a U13 player rostered on any team playing in a U14 division or higher may not guest play on any team playing in any U13 division.
• Guest Players/Club Pass players may play with other clubs.  Limit of 6 for U11 and up teams.  Limit of 3 for U10 and below teams .
• Note: Teams playing in the Academy, US Youth National Leagues, ECNL, NPL and any league competing at a regional level are considered to be in the Premier Division of their own age group and higher.
• c. Exceptions:
  • i. During the fall season, boys who are in 8th grade who fall under the U15 age group due to their legal age can play with a U14 team as a club-pass player. Each team can use up to six (6) club pass or /trapped players to play in a U14 division as guest players.
  • ii. During the spring season, girls who are in 8th grade and fall under the U15 age group due to their legal age can play with a U14 team as a club pass player. Each team can use up to six (6) club pass or /trapped players to play in a U14 division as guest players.
  • iii. Due to the recent birth year requirement, U15 divisions will be available for teams during both league seasons.
  • iv. Players must return to their own age group in their eligible season.
• d. A maximum of up to six (6) guest players and club pass players can be added for U11-U19 (9v9-11v11) teams. A maximum of up to three (3) guest players and club pass players can be added for U6-U8 (4v4) teams or U9-U10 (7v7) teams.
• e. Match suspensions because of red cards under the conditions of 2(c)(i) and 2(c)(ii) will be served with the player’s PRIMARY team. No matches can be played for any team by the suspended player until the suspension is served. If a player/team is in violation of this rule, the player will be deemed illegal, and the match will be forfeited.
• f. If a club-pass player receives a red card, he/she must sit out for the highest division team he/she guest plays on in that current season.
• g. Players not playing in a particular match should be crossed off the game card.
• h. Players can only guest play from their primary roster.
• Note: All guest players must be added to the match card and have a player pass. The following information MUST be written on the game card: Player’s full name, ID #, jersey #, division of primary team. (i.e.: Joe Smith, SM01012001, #15, D2) (i.e.: Joe Smith, SM01012001, #15, D2) .
• CLUB PASS and TRAPPED PLAYER CLARIFICATIONS:

 

• You are considered a "trapped player" if you are in 8th grade or senior year of HS and the remainder of your age has moved on to freshman year or college. Illinois Youth Soccer Association consider you a "trapped player meaning you do not have team to register with the entire season.
• Illinois club pass players can play on any team that they are age appropriate for. Club pass players must have an ID number that starts with CP. They still must follow the number of guest players for that age group.
• Players whose team is in high school can get a club pass player card (through the club) or a state pass player card (through the state). These players can only guest play in the U15/U14 age group as 8th graders or in the U19/U18 age group as seniors in high school/freshmen in college.

 

 

3.. The maximum number of players on a game roster for a specific match is as follows:

 

 

AGE GROUP	GAME	ROSTER SIZE
U6, U7, U8	4 v 4	No more than 10 on game day
U9, U10	7 v 7	No more than 14 on game day
U11, U12	9 v 9	No more than 16 on game day
U13-U19	11 v 11	No more than 18 on game day

 

4.. The maximum number of bench personnel allowed in the coach area will be four (4). All bench personnel must have a current US Soccer Pass with picture. All other personnel will be viewed as spectators and must maintain the proper distance from the players.

 

5. Failure to comply with any of the above conditions may result in a forfeit of the particular match and disciplinary action for both player and coach.

 

LAW 2 – The Player’s Equipment 

 

1. The jersey of each player, except the goalkeeper, should contain a visible number, unique from the other members of the same team.

 

2. Hard Cast: It is at the discretion of the referee whether or not a player with a hard cast may play in a game.

 

 

LAW 3 – The Duration of the Match and Ball Size 

 

AGE GROUP	BALL SIZE	DURATION OF MATCH
U6, U7, U8	3 or 4	4 X 10 min. halves
U9, U10	4	2 X 25 min. halves
U11, U12	4	2 X 30 min. halves
U13, U14	5	2 X 35 min. halves
U15, U16	5	2 X 40 min. halves
U17, U18, U19	5	2 x 40 min. halves

 

 

1. Regular season matches ending in a tie shall remain a tie.

 

2. A game is considered final at half if it is cancelled for any reason.

 

LAW 4 – Playing Rules

 

SLYSA IL  Central  has adapted to the small sided standards and birth year registration from U.S. Soccer. Download the full PDF presentation: English | Español

 

4v4:

 

1. For 4v4 games, there will be one (1) referee and offsides will be called.
2. No goalies, 4v4 is all field players.
3. There will be no throw-ins, kick ins or dribble-ins only.
4. A 4v4 game may not start if either team consists of fewer than three (3) players. The minimum number of players on a team required for a match to continue is also three (3).

 

7v7:

 

1. For 7v7 games, there will be one (1) referee and offside will be called in the opponents end line to build up line.
2. For the 7v7 play, there will be a build-out line used to promote playing the ball out of the back in an unpressured setting. Please Click Here for additional information regarding the new changes.
3. A 7v7 game may not start if either team consists of fewer than five (5) players. The minimum number of players on a team required for a match to continue is also five (5).
4. Once the opposing team is behind the build out-line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw, or roll the ball into play (punts and drop kicks are not allowed).
5. After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build-out line and play resumes as normal.

 

Note: Build-out line practical applications • Ideally, the goalkeeper will wait to put the ball into play once all opponents are past the build-out line • However, the goalkeeper can put the ball into play sooner but he or she does so accept the positioning of the opponents and the consequences of how play resumes.

 

9v9:

 

1. For 9v9 games, there will be three (3) referees and offsides will be called.
2. A 9v9 game may not start if either team consists of fewer than six (6) players. The minimum number of players on a team required for a match to continue is also six (6).

 

For all other age groups, SLYSA IL will abide by the Laws of the Game by FIFA- Please click here for Fifa Rules

 

U.S. SOCCER CONCUSSION GUIDELINES

 

In accordance with U.S. Soccer’s recommendation on specific changes to rules on heading for certain age groups deliberate heading is not allowed in U11 age group games and younger. If a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred. Please click here to refer to U.S. Soccer Concussion Guidelines.

 

Click here for more information on Player Development Initiatives for 4v4, 7v7 and 9v9 games.

 

For all other age groups, SLYSA IL will abide by the Laws of the Game by FIFA- Please click here for Fifa Rules

 

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES/POLICIES

 

Discipline and Ethics 

 

1. All coaches, players, referees, team officials and spectators shall be subject to the SLYSA IL discipline and appeals policies.

 

2. No wagering of any kind will be tolerated, and such violations could lead to a maximum penalty of expulsion for the league. A report could also be sent to IYSA.

 

3. No player shall receive any compensation for services rendered to a team or receive any promises of compensation.

 

4. There will be no drinking of alcoholic beverages, smoking or vaping in the player/coach area.

 

Registration 

 

1. All registration shall be in accordance with current US Soccer, USYS and IYSA member youth rules unless otherwise specified by the SLYSA IL Board of Directors.

 

2. All players, coaches, and managers must have a USYS Soccer member youth pass card to participate in SLYSA IL. Digital cards may be accepted on game day.

 

3. Player registration and necessary paperwork as required by the SLYSA IL league must be completed prior to the start of the first league match. Failure to do so will be an automatic forfeit of the matches until registration has been completed, except when delay is caused by SLYSA IL.

 

4. Eligibility of players shall be in accordance with the current US Soccer, USYS and IYSA unless otherwise specified and approved by the SLYSA IL Board of Directors.

 

5. Age limit definition shall be in accordance with current US Soccer/USYS  regulations except as modified by the SLYSA IL Central Division Board of Directors.

 

6. Proof-of-birth shall be in accordance with the current USYS youth member regulations as directed by the SLYSA IL Board of Directors.

 

7. All coaches and managers signing the official team roster must be registered with US Soccer/USYS/ IYSA affiliates.

 

8. It is the sole responsibility of the coaches to advise each league in which they participate of any schedule changes to prevent match conflicts. SLYSA IL will not be responsible for advising any other league of the schedule or changes to the schedule. SLYSA IL will not bear the sole responsibility of rescheduling games for other leagues’ conflicts with scheduled SLYSA IL games. It will be up to the teams to review the reschedule policy.

 

TEAMS AND DIVISIONS 

 

1. Decisions concerning a team’s admittance into the league shall be at the sole discretion of the SLYSA IL Board of Directors.

 

2. Teams will be accepted into the league and may be classified into divisions based on the prior season’s record, if any, at the discretion of the SLYSA IL Bracketing Committee.

 

3. Ownership of a team:

 

• a. A club team belongs to the club administrator on file with the SLYSA IL office and an independent team belongs to the coach/manager listed on the team application. This person has the right to assign all rights of “ownership” to another person, subject to SLYSA IL approval.
• b. Teams forfeiting three (3) or more games, regardless of the reason, may not be accepted back into the league the following season. They will also bear the responsibility for all fees with respect to each forfeited game which include field costs and full referee payments.
• c. Any team dropping out of the league will not be reimbursed for games missed may not be allowed back the following season.
• d. Any coach/manager associated with the team can be suspended for up to one year from playing in the SLYSA IL league for a breach of rule 3b.

 

4. Rankings and Bracketing:

 

• a. The Objective: The primary objective of ranking and bracketing is to place teams in brackets such that the resulting bracket becomes the most competitive bracket possible for all teams in all brackets.
• b. Each year, the SLYSA IL Competition Commissioner will select 4 individuals (subject to approval by the SLYSA IL Board of Directors) to establish the bracketing committee. While the bracketing committee will use every effort to adhere to the ranking and bracketing criteria, the bracketing committee shall have final authority to place teams in brackets/divisions.
• c. The Process:
  • i. After applications is received, the SLYSA IL administration will create an initial set of rankings based on the criteria defined in the ranking and bracketing criteria section.
  • ii. The SLYSA IL administration will provide this information to the bracketing committee for their review and modification.
  • iii. The resulting rankings will be published for all teams and clubs to review.
  • iv. Club teams will send requests/error notifications to the single delegate selected by/for their club. The SLYSA IL administration will direct calls/emails from club teams to the appropriate club contact. The bracketing committee will accept requests from club teams only through the designated club delegate.
  • v. Independent teams will send requests/error notifications to SLYSA IL administration.
  • vi. All club bracketing representatives will send their ranking change requests to SLYSA IL.
  • vii. The bracketing committee will review all requests and make final changes to the rankings and the brackets will be published.
  • viii. The bracketing committee will break down the rankings into divisions to establish the most competitive brackets. Any additional changes will be subject to approval by the bracketing committee.
  • ix. The SLYSA IL administration will initiate scheduling. Once an age group/division is scheduled, there will be no bracket changes.

 

d. Relegation and Bracketing Criteria:

 

• i. The number of teams in brackets/divisions will be primarily based on the previous season for the age group.
• ii. Team history will be based on the team application. (i.e. it is important to use the same GotSport account each year because it contains the team history as well as team name/color/matrix year (i.e. 00/01)).
• iii. Team placement will be largely determined by its performance in the previous season played.
• iv. All requests by teams which are eligible to be moved up a division but request to stay in the same division or be moved down will be honored.
• v. Teams that win the Premier Division will be given the option to move up an age group. If they choose to move up, they will be placed in the Premier Division.
• vi. Teams which have a win/loss record of .250 or less will be relegated to the lower division at the discretion of the bracketing committee.
• vii. Teams with a win/loss record of .750 or greater or win their division will be eligible for promotion, if space allows, at the discretion of the bracketing committee.
• viii. New teams with no record will be placed in the lowest division. The bracketing committee reserves the right to make an exception to this rule.
• ix. Teams that have not played in the SLYSA IL league but have history against teams which do play in SLYSA IL may be placed in divisions based upon previous performance at the discretion of the bracketing committee.
• x. Girls may play in boys’ divisions, but boys may not play in girls’ divisions.
• xi. Teams that played up in previous seasons but choose to return to their own age group should expect to be returned to the same division they were in before they chose to play up.
• xii. For divisions which have no history, teams will be randomly bracketed in multiple divisions except that effort will be made to place multiple teams from the same club in different divisions. The top teams from each of the divisions will be placed accordingly the following season, etc.
• xiii. Teams which do not play both spring and fall, but do play every spring or every fall, will be placed back in the same division. (I.e. a team which played in division 2 in the fall, but did not play in the spring, will be placed in division 2 when they return the following fall season). Teams sitting two or more seasons will NOT be eligible for the same bracketing upon return as when leaving the league. The bracketing committee will make decisions on these teams returning based upon past history, the same as new teams joining the league.

 

SLYSA IL LEAGUE STANDINGS 

 

• 1. Standings will be determined by awarding three (3) points for each win, one (1) point for each tie and zero (0) points for a loss.
• 2. If the teams have played an uneven number of games in an unfinished season, a win loss percentage will be determined based on the number of games played (not the number of games scheduled) and manually adjusted via GotSport to show correct standings.
• Ex: Team A (scheduled for 10 games) played only 9 games with a 3(W)-0(T)-6(L) record totaling 9 points – to find the winning percentage, divide the number of points earned by the max points for games played (27 points for this example) equaling a 0.333 winning percentage. The percentage shall be rounded to the nearest thousandths (3 decimal places).
• Ex: Team B (scheduled for 10 games) played 10 games with a 2(W)-2(T)-6(L) record totally 8 points – to find the winning percentage, divide the number of points earned by the max points for games played (30 points for this example) equaling a 0.267 winning percentage. The percentage shall be rounded to the nearest thousandths (3 decimal places).
• 3. League Tie Breakers:
• Head-to-Head
• Goal Differential
• Most wins
• Note: If three or more teams are tied, head-to-head is eliminated.

 

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

 

1. Home teams must wear white or light-colored jerseys. If a conflict occurs while the home team has the designated color, the visitors must change.

 

2. Each team manager must complete and give to the referee the line-up card indicating the jersey number, name, and player ID number of each player participating in the game.

 

Note: All guest players must be added to the match card and have a player pass. The following information MUST be written on the game card: Player’s full name, ID #, jersey #, and division of primary team. (i.e.: Joe Smith, SM01012001, #15, D2)

 

3. The player pass of each player, manager, and coach participating and a copy of the roster must be in the possession of the coach or manager at each league game. A team must produce the player cards and/or roster. Digital cards may be approved by a SLYSA IL representative.

 

4. Games shall start on time. If a game is delayed due to the tardiness of a team, players, coach or manager, a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes of “grace” time shall be awarded. After fifteen (15) minutes, if the team is still not able to start the game, it shall be declared a forfeit. Forfeits shall be recorded with a score of 2-0. In the case of a double forfeit, no scores will be posted but games will count against final standings as a loss.

 

5. Suspension of games due to weather and/or field conditions considered dangerous to the players shall be at the discretion of the referee or site manager. If the first half of the game has been completed, the game is official. If the game is stopped in the first half, it will be restarted from that point of the game.

 

6. If a game does not restart after a delay in the first half and the game is then cancelled, it will then be rescheduled by the league scheduler and played as a full game.

 

7. All coaches and substitutes should remain a minimum of two (2) yards away from the touch line. Spectators should remain a minimum of six (6) yards from the touch line.

 

8. Teams should be situated on the same side of the field and confined to an area equal to the diameter of the center circle. Team fans will be located on the opposite side of the fields as their team, when possible.

 

9. A carded; licensed coach is required on the sideline at all league games for the entire game. If a carded, licensed coach is not present for any portion of the game, the game will be forfeited.

 

10. Teams responsible for a forfeit for not having enough players, no carded, licensed coach, refusing to play, or abandoning a game shall be assessed all applicable fees for both teams.

 

11. Scheduled SLYSA  IL games take precedence over all other commitments except IYSA Cup games.

 

12. Teams requesting special consideration for absence due to out-of-town tournaments must make the request in writing to the SLYSA IL office by the conflict deadline established by the office.

 

13. If a game needs to be moved, refer to the SLYSA IL Game Reschedule Policy. A fee will be assessed for all games moved within two weeks of game date. The opposing team must agree before a game is moved.

 

14. All park rules where games are played shall be respected and obeyed.

 

15. Each coach/manager shall acquaint himself/herself, as well as players, parents, and spectators, with the rules, discipline and appeals policies, constitution, and by-laws of the association. A plea of ignorance is not sufficient grounds for appeal or protest.

 

16. Any matters not provided for in these rules shall be determined by the SLYSA IL Board of Directors. The SLYSA IL  Board of Directors may change these rules at its sole discretion.

 

17. All league fees will be due by the announced due date for all divisions. Teams that have not paid league fees by the published due date will not receive any points for ties or wins until paid. The team will start receiving points again once league fees have been paid. Points may not be awarded back after payment is made at the discretion of the SLYSA IL Board of Directors.

 

18. Refunds for Cancelled Games. All refunds will be issued in the form of a credit to be applied to future league fees. There will be only one exception to this general rule. U18 and U19 teams whose players are graduating to college will receive a check for game cancellations. These checks will be issued to the individual or entity that signed the check paying for their last league fees. Other teams receiving credits for cancelled games must meet two qualifications. These are:

 

• a. A team must qualify as a “returning team” as defined in “Teams & Divisions.”
• b. A team must play two consecutive league sessions or at least one session in the next soccer year.
• c. All Illinois teams need to return ID cards to the IL registrar if not returning the following season within the seasonal year.

 

If either of these conditions is not met, then that team will not be eligible to receive a credit. For example, if a team disbands, no credit will be issued for game cancellations. If a team elects to leave SLYSA IL and play in another league, there will be no credit. Teams that play a fall session and play only tournaments in the spring but return for the following fall session will receive their credit from the previous fall session.

 

19. All clubs will register the following with the league: their club’s name, teams represented by that club, a list of coaches and managers within that club, and the officers of that club authorized to use the club’s name in matters of this league. Any team registering with SLYSA IL using a club name or form of the club’s name but not authorized by the club will be denied use of the name and possibly admission into the league. It is the responsibility of the club to notify the league of any changes in information that may occur during the current season.

 

20. All administrative fees are non-refundable.

 

SLYSA IL abides by FIFA, US Soccer Rules and Guidelines and US Youth Soccer.