RULES

All players competing in the Regional Academy League need to be registered through their State Association (in some cases through their local league) and please find below Match Requirements for the 2024-2025 season.  

Game Ball:
U13-U19: Size 5 Ball (provided by home team)

Game Length:
U13-U14: 2 - 35 minute halves
U15-U16: 2- 40 minute halves
U17-U19: 2- 45 minute halves
  • Halftime is ten minutes for all age groups
  • There shall be no overtime periods in regular season competition 

Uniforms:
  • The team listed as home in Gotsport will wear light color uniforms
  • The team listed as away in Gotsport will wear dark color uniforms
  • If there is a conflict, the home team needs to change 

Substitutions with the consent of the Referee at any stoppage in play:
  • Procedure: When any player is to be replaced by a substitute, the following conditions need to be observed:
    • The referee shall be informed of the proposed substitutions before it is made
    • The substitute shall not enter the field of play until the player he/she is replacing has left, and then only after having received a signal from the referee.
    • Enter the field during a stoppage in the game and at the halfway line.
  • Change with the Goalkeeper: Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper provided that the referee is informed before the change is made, and that the change is made during a stoppage in the game.
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Team Check-In and Post Game Responsibilities (U13-U19):
  • Check teams in (players and coaches) using a team's photo match card
  • Only players listed on photo match card with picture are eligible to participate in that match | Players can not be written in. 
  • Following the game, need to complete and fill out the standard match card (will receive one from each team, please use the newest printed version) and return to Home Team Coach/Manger/Admin (see example at bottom of the page).
    • Items to be completed by the referee:
      • Final Score
      • Yellow and Red cards with correct codes
      • Signature from Center Referee authorizing all information contained in match card is accurate 
  • Home Team's Responsibility Post-Game
    • ​Ensure the referee completes the match card (see above) with all information
    • Upload match card, inputting score, yellow/red cards into Gotsport
      • ​Match # and Pin # found on match card
      • QR Code to go directly to that page in Gotsport also located on the Match Card
      • Scoring input page if viewing from a desktop
      • This must be completed within 72 hours of the final whistle 
Playing Up:
  • Field players are eligible to play in an older age group while being rostered in their younger birth year age group, so long as they meet competition standards and play only 90 minutes per day across a maximum of 2 matches.
  • A goalkeeper is allowed to play in more than one game per day and exceed the 90 minute rule applied to field players.

Discipline

Red Cards:
  • A red card will follow a player and staff member across all age groups.  A player/coach must sit out all remaining games in the same day's fixture where red card was received, and must sit out the next game day fixture.  Once a player/coach sits out the subsequent game day fixture, they will be able eligible to compete. 
Yellow Cards:
  • In the event a player or staff member receives 2 yellow cards in the same match resulting in a red card, the player/staff member must follow the same rules established for a red card. 
Fixture:
  • When two clubs play against each other across multiple age groups over one weekend, then all
    matches between the two clubs are considered part of the fixture.

Weather Postponements Prior to Kickoff
All postponements and cancellations due to inclement weather are the responsibility of the HOME club. These decisions must be communicated to the RAL via this form after consultation between the host club and visiting club. If the decision is made to cancel a game, the host club will call the visiting team’s coaching staff immediately, and then update this form with all pertinent information field closures
  • ​Completing this form will also notify the referees.

Standings | Tiebreakers
  • Regular season standings are based on PPG
  • Win = 3 Points; Tie = 1 Point; Loss = 3 Points
  • If two or more clubs finish the the RAL regular season with an equal number of PPG the following procedure (in order of priority) will be used to break the tie and determine the final standings:
    • ​Head-to-Head (only applicable if two teams involved)
    • # of Wins per match
    • Goal differential per match
    • Goals against per match
    • Goals for per match
    • Coin Toss
  • **In the event of a 3 team tie, once one team is eliminated by the process above, the tie breaker moves back to tiebreaker point number 1 and moves through till a winner is determined.