(Revised 3/2024)

Note: The WCASA Laws of the Game, Revised March 2024, is a companion document to the WCASA Team Procedures. In addition to WCASA Laws of the Game, the companion document identifies classes of infractions and penalties for the different classes. These two documents together will be used to facilitate and regulate the playing of WCASA league games.

All WCASA league games will be played according to current FIFA laws with the following exceptions or additions.

FIFA LAW 1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY
The first team listed on the schedule is designated as the home team.

FIFA LAW 2 – THE BALL
Home team must provide a size 5 ball in good condition and change uniforms if a color conflict exists.

FIFA LAW 3 – THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Minimum age and sex requirements are as follows:

a) Women's teams: All players must be female and 18 years old or older.

b) Men's teams: All players must be male and 18 years old or older.

c) Age appropriate divisions – player must turn that age by end of calendar year.

For Coed 11 aside there must be a minimum of 7 players to begin the match. A team may have a maximum of 5 men and 5 women on the field of play at one time with a keeper of either gender.

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Game Reports
The Game Report will be completed prior to the game and must include the pre-printed first and last name and date of birth of each player that will participate in the game.

Any players playing on Modified Age Division teams will be designated with an asterisk.

The Game Report and a valid Whatcom or Unlimited player card for each player listed on the game report will be collected by the referee prior to the game.

No game report – team cannot play and the game stands as a 0-1 loss.

Non official (handwritten or modified) game report - game stands as a 0 - 3 loss. 

Late arriving players for whom the above procedure has not been completed may not play in the game until a stoppage of play occurs. At this time the player card will be presented to the referee. At the conclusion of the game, the referee will note on the game report the score, cautions, and ejections. The referee will turn both game reports in to the WCASA box at the end of the game. In case of a Red Card the referee will notify WCASA within 24 hours to determine if any suspension period is warranted for the player and will contact the Team Manager with details. Should a referee find it necessary to eject a player for actions or words  then notification of the facts to the judicial shall be sufficient to cause imposition of penalties in addition to those ordinarily warranted by actions or words.

Substitutions are allowed under the following circumstances:

a) Unlimited substitutions maybe made by either team at half time.
b) Unlimited substitutions as per FIFA Rules, with referee’s permission at any stoppage of play.
c) A player who has been replaced may re-enter the game, with the referee’s permission.
d) The goalkeeper for either team may, with the referee's permission be substituted at any stoppage of play.
e) Cautioned players must leave the field and may be replaced.
f) Injured players may be replaced during stoppage of play. The opposing team may substitute a like number of players at that time.

FIFA LAW 4 – THE PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT
Teams will wear uniforms of matching color. Players in violation of this will be asked to change their jersey.
Players should have an alternate jersey in the event of a color conflict. 
Players may wear soft caps, soft padded helmets, gloves, and leotards so long as they are not confusing with the uniforms of the opposing team, and provided that they are not being used for unfair advantage at the discretion of the referee.
All Jewelry must be removed or completely covered.

No player shall play while wearing a cast or hard splint of any construction. Braces may be worn however the hinge of knee braces must be covered.

All players must wear shin guards completely covered by long socks (cloth type shin guards included).

FIFA LAW 5 – THE REFEREE
The referee's judgment and discretionary rulings on the field of play in all cases will be final and no protest will be allowed.

FIFA LAW 6 – THE ASSISTANT REFEREE
As per FIFA

FIFA LAW 7 – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH
Eleven aside matches shall consist of two 45-minute halves with a 5-minute half time.

All games must be played at the scheduled time and place.

If a game is late in starting, except for a referee delay, each half will be shortened at the discretion of the referee.

A fifteen-minute grace period may be requested. At the end of the grace period if you do not have a legal team (7 players) a forfeit will result.

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The grace period will be considered a late start. The A forfeit game will be scored at 1-0.

Any team leaving the field of play prior to the completion of the match shall forfeit the match.

FIFA LAW 8 – THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY
As per FIFA

FIFA LAW 9 – THE BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
As per FIFA

FIFA LAW 10 – THE METHOD OF SCORING
As per FIFA

FIFA LAW 11 – OFFSIDE
As per FIFA

FIFA LAW 12 – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Slide tackling shall not be allowed in any division and will be considered dangerous play.
All tackles must be made standing up.

***Whereas, in all leagues under the rules of WCASA, any “slide tackle” shall be judged as dangerous play. If any player is judged to have committed an offence by challenging for the ball in a dangerous manner (slide tackle) and DOES NOT otherwise commit a foul against his/her opponent ~ and in doing so denies his/her opponent an obvious goal scoring opportunity, the resulting restart shall be an INDIRECT free kick from the spot of the infraction. In judging an obvious goal scoring opportunity, the referee should refer to FIFA criteria for judging DOGSO (Distance to goal, distance to ball, direction and number of defenders). If, in the process of the tackling his/her opponent in a dangerous manner (slide tackle), the offending player also commits a foul that would normally result in a direct free kick restart, the more serious of the two offences takes precedence and the restart shall be a direct free kick (or penalty kick if the foul occurs within the penalty area).

No player shall make contact with the goalkeeper as he/she attempts to bring the ball under control while in the penalty area (18 yard box)

a) If contact occurs, or is considered unavoidable by the referee play is to be stopped and an indirect kick awarded to the defending team.
b) The referee shall warn the offending player verbally of the no contact rule.
c) If the same player commits a second infringement, they shall be shown a yellow card for unsporting behavior. Any further infringement would result in another yellow card being issued.

In the event of the issuance of an ejection (red card), the offending player shall immediately leave the soccer field facility. In the event a red card is issued in a coed game, the gender ejected must play short.
Any Player receiving a yellow card must be subbed out until the next legal substitution.

FIFA LAW 13 – FREE KICKS
As per FIFA

FIFA LAW 14 – THE PENALTY KICK
As per FIFA

FIFA LAW 15 – THE THROW-IN
As per FIFA

FIFA LAW 16 – THE GOAL KICK
As per FIFA

FIFA LAW 17 – THE CORNER KICK
As per FIFA

SPECIAL SEVEN ASIDE RULES
There must be a minimum of 5 players to begin the match
Unlimited substitutions may be made on the fly at a location close to halfway line.
Referee permission is not required.
The match shall consist of two 40-minute halves with a 5-minute half time.
Drop Kicks / Punt Kicks must be thrown.