Team Composition & Gender Requirements

• During matches, a maximum of 8 male players can take the field for each team.

• If 3 female players are not available, the team must play with fewer than 11 total.

Player Eligibility & Registration

Age Requirements

• All female players must be at least 18 years of age prior to registering to play in the RIBS Over-30 Coed League.

• All male players must be at least 30 years old before registering.

Registration & Roster Freeze

• Players may register throughout the season, up to each season’s “roster freeze deadline” date.

• Players registering in mid-season will only be able to participate in those matches after their registration process is complete.

• Once registered, players are permitted to play for any team in the league.

• Team managers can reach out to other registered, RIBS Over-30 Coed League players or managers if they need additional players to field a squad for an upcoming match.

Player Identification & Match Eligibility

• Coaches must provide proof of registration for each player who will participate in each game by showing a referee a printed copy of their RIBS League roster sheet.

• For guest players borrowed from another team, coaches (or the borrowed player) must show their online player card.

• The pdf’s for team rosters and player cards will be provided via a link to a page at RIBSforthekids.org, which will be updated before each game day.

• Any players who are unable to provide this proof of registration will NOT be allowed to participate in that match. NO exceptions.

Player Card Photo Requirements

• All players must provide a digital photograph for their player card.

• All photos must be in color and should clearly show the player from the chest up.

• Photos should be at least 200 pixels high. A good rule of thumb is that the head should be at least the size of a nickel when printed out.

• All photos should be loaded by the player to their account during registration.

Uniform & Equipment Requirements

Shin Guards

• All players are required by USSF to wear shin guards at all times.

• If a player is identified on the field without wearing shinguards, that player must leave the field (without substitution) until proper shinguards are procured.

Team Jerseys

• All teams must have matching jerseys.

• Each player must have his own unique jersey (i.e., two players swapping the same jersey during a match is not allowed).

• Jerseys don’t need to be detailed or professional (short-sleeve T-shirts with numbers are fine), but must be reasonably identical (same color, number style).

• Variations among a team’s jerseys are allowed at the discretion of the referee and the opposing coach.

• The goal is to play soccer, not quibble over jersey design infractions.

Jersey Numbers

• Each jersey must have a UNIQUE NUMBER and can be applied to the back of the jersey however teams would like, as long as all jerseys do it the same way (Sharpee, printed, ironed-on, etc.).

• Variations are allowed at the discretion of the referee and the opposing coach.

• The goalkeeper is the only player who MAY participate in a match without having a number permanently affixed to his jersey.

• If the goalkeeper's jersey is unnumbered, he shall be designated by his regular field-player jersey number on the team roster, along with the abbreviation "GK"...for example, if #21 is playing in goal, he must be designated as "21-GK" on the match report.

• If another player becomes the goalkeeper during the match, the notation of "GK" must be made on the roster next to that player's jersey number.

Alternate Jerseys & Color Conflicts

• If there is a conflict with jersey colors, the HOME TEAM is required to change to an alternate jersey color.

• Each team's alternate jerseys MUST meet the same requirements as their primary jerseys (same style and color, with numbers).

• Both teams should wear the jersey color that they are scheduled to wear, according to the schedule for that match.

• Should the visiting team wear a color other than that for which they are scheduled, they are responsible for any resulting conflict; if the visiting team is unable to change to their scheduled color, they will forfeit the match.

Jersey Recommendation

• Recommendation: Check with the league before purchasing new jerseys to help determine the best color selection in order to avoid conflicts with the jersey colors of other teams, and thus minimize the need for alternate jerseys.

• The league may also be able to help you in the selection of new jerseys.

Minimum Players, Delays & Forfeits

Grace Period

• If a team does not have at least 7 players at the field at the scheduled game time, extra time will be allowed for more players to arrive or for the team to recruit/swap players from other teams.

• The amount of extra time will be determined at the discretion of the referee and the coaches.

• The referee and coaches will also determine how the spent time will be made up during the match. For instance, whether the first half will be shortened by the time spent waiting for players, or whether this time will be taken in equal parts from the first and second half.

• Like the jersey designs, the goal is to play soccer and all parties are expected to remain flexible in this effort.

• The non-negotiable rule is that the match must end at its originally scheduled time.

Forfeits

• If a team cannot field the 7-player minimum at the start of the match, a forfeit will be declared and the forfeiting team will be responsible for the other team’s referee fees.

• To avoid paying both teams’ referee fees, a forfeit must be declared 48+ hours in advance of kick-off.

Game Administration & Field Logistics

Referee Fees

• Each team must pay their referee fees ($100) in cash PRIOR to every match.

Game Ball

• The home team is required to supply the game ball; however, it is recommended that both teams be prepared to supply an extra ball at the request of the referee.

Substitutions

Substitution Policy

• Substitutions are free and unlimited throughout RIBS League matches.

• Players may enter, leave, and re-enter an unlimited number of times.

Substitution Opportunities

Substitutions may be made:

• Prior to a goal kick (by either team)

• Following a goal scored/before kickoff (by either team)

• At the taking of a throw-in (by the team in possession); The opposing team may also substitute on a throw-in ONLY if the team in possession is also substituting

• In case of injury (at discretion of the referee)

Match Format & Laws of the Game

Match Length

• All RIBS League matches are 90 minutes in length, consisting of two 45-minute halves with a 10-minute halftime period.

Governing Rules

• All FIFA Laws Of The Game for the effective year will be followed in GMSA play, unless noted to the contrary elsewhere in these rules.

 Weather & Field Conditions

• Decisions on rainouts will be made as soon as possible, but it may be game time before the decision can be made by referees and league officials.

• For the latest information on MRSC field playability, visit http://www.gomrsc.com or call 901-751-4223.

• A decision is usually made by MRSC before 3:00 p.m. on weekdays, and by 10:00 a.m. on weekends.

• After this time, it will be the decision of the referee crew as to whether or not conditions are suitable for play, should inclement weather occur after the complex decision is made.

• If there is any doubt as to whether or not a game will be played, plan on showing up at the field as scheduled.

Refund Policy

Before a Team’s First Game

• If a player has already registered, but determines that he or she cannot play during the up-coming season (schedule change, injury, etc.) prior to his/her team’s first scheduled match, then that player may request a refund of all fees paid during registration prior to the date of their team's first match.

During a Team’s First Game

• If a player is injured during his or her team's first match, and will be unable to participate further in that season, that player may request that registration fees be "held" for future use.

• This means that fees cannot be refunded, but rather can be applied to a future season in which that player can participate, up to 18 months out from the date of the injury.

• (This is done for insurance purposes related to an injury.)

After a Team’s First Match

• If a player is injured at any point after their team’s first match, or determines that he/she cannot continue to participate for any other reason, that player is no longer eligible for a refund.

• All registration fees (payable for field rental, state registration, etc.) are paid to the respective locations around this time, and are no longer refundable at that point.