MATCH DAY REQUIREMENTS

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PLAYER REGISTRATION
  • The NAL is sanctioned via Mass Youth Soccer, and clubs will register their teams/players with their own State Associations (USYS). All player registration needs to be completed and approved by your state (or in some cases local league) associations
  • If your state doesn't use Gotsport for player registration, in addition to registering your players with your state association, you'll also need to add the players to Gosport (see steps in Match Day Requirements) AND upload certified roster/passes to your team's NAL event.
HOME & AWAY TEAM ROSTERS
UNIFORMS
  • One Game Weekend: Home team wears light color uniforms / Away teams wears dark color uniforms
  • Two Game Weekend: On day #1, the home team wears light colored uniforms and away team wears dark uniforms. On day #2, the home team wears dark uniforms and the way team wears light color uniforms.  

HOME TEAM - POST GAME
  • Ensure that referee completes match card with the following information: players marked off that checked-in, goals (time and uniform #), final score, and any red or yellow cards listed next to player's or staff names (including the reason/code why the card was given.)
    • ​Both coaches need to sign the match card, and the league recommends that the away team takes a picture of the Match Card
  • The home team is responsible for uploading 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 Match Card
    • Scoring Input Page if viewing from a desktop
    • This must be completed in Gotsport within 48 hours of final whistle. 

FACILITIES
Field Standards for Matches:
  • Expectations for NAL clubs to provide appropriate, high quality fields to host NAL matches
  • Minimum Field Sizes:
    • U13 & U14 = Minimum of 64x105
    • U15 & Older = Minimum of 70x110
  • Any fields outside of these standards, must be approved by NAL League Manager before the season

COMPETITION

Match Timeframe:
  • Players can only play in 90 minutes per day across a maximum of 2 matches
  • Players should not appear in more than 2 consecutive match days
Match Ball:
  • Home Club needs to provide three Size 5 match balls must be used for all NAL matches
Hydration:
  • The home club must provide adequate hydration for both teams
Technical Area:
  • The home club must provide adequate seating (benches) for both teams
Athletic Trainer:
  • The requirement for an on-site certified athletic trainer (ATC)  or Qualified Medical Professional (QMP) is determined by each conference.
  • Where a confernece has voted to require an ATC or QMP, all member clubs of that confernece shall ensure an ATC or QMP is present at all home games.
Match Video:
  • Use of the league’s official video exchange system is determined by each conference.
  • ​Where a conference has voted to require video exchange (U15-U19), all member clubs of that conference shall participate in accordance with conference policy.
  • Video must be uploaded by the home club to the League Exchange within 72 hours of the final whistle
Spectators:
  • The home club must ensure there are no spectators/parents in the technical area or that sideline.
  • Each club is responsible for the behavior of its spectators
Match Length:
  • U13 = 2x35 minute halves, 10 minutes HT
  • U14 & U15 = 2x40 minute halves, 15 minutes HT
  • U16, U17, U19 = 2x45 minute halves, 15 minutes HT
Weather:
  • In the event of a thunderstorm, the match will be stopped, and all players, coaches, referees, and spectators should seek shelter​​
  • The referee can resume the match 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or flash of lightning. The 30-minute clock restarts every time lightning flashes or thunder sounds.​
Rescheduling Considerations
  • U13 Matches must reach the 55th minute to be considered a completed match.
  • U14 and U15 Matches must reach the 60th minute of the Match to be considered a completed Match. 
  • U16, U17, and U19 Matches must reach the 75th minute to be considered a completed match 
  • If a Match does not reach the designated threshold, the NAL Manager shall have the authority to review all of the facts (including fault on the part of either team, unavoidable conditions, the expense for both Teams, and requests by a Team to take a particular action in the best interests of the National Academy League, the National Academy League Clubs, and the Club’s teams) in determining whether and when a Match should be rescheduled, who should bear the financial burden as a result of cancellation or rescheduling, whether the Match should be forfeited or canceled permanently.