One of the adminstrative responsiblities of CSAN is to ensure that all leagues and clubs adhere to the Rules and Regulations set forth in the CSAN Constitution, Bylaws and Rules and Regulations. The protection of Leagues, clubs and Referees mandates the adherence to the rules.
As a consequence, CSAN has established procedures for either hosting a tournament by a league or club or for participation in a tournament by a club. The protection afforded by the United States Amateur Soccer Association in the form of medical and liability insurance becomes null and void if a tournament is hosted by a league or club without proper authorization of the State Association. The insurance also becomes null and void if the league or club participates in a tournament without prior State authorization.
HOSTING A TOURNAMENT
The following paragraphs will explain the procedures to be followed when a member of CSA-N wishes to host a tournament. A member of CSA-N is defined as any Club, Team or League affiliated with CSA-N. According to CSA-N, any Club or Team wishing to host a tournament must:
- Write a letter of application to their respective league asking for permission to host the tournament.
- The letter of application should indicate the following:
- Date or dates of the tournament
- Number of clubs participating in the tournament.
- If possible, submit the names of clubs/teams participating in the tournament and the names of their respective leagues and State Associations.
- If the tournament is an invitational tournament, outline the criteria used for inviting a particular team.
- Site of the tournament
- Name of sponsor or sponsors, if any.
- Names, addresses and phone numbers of persons responsible for hosting the tournament. Tournament Director, etc.
- Include the rules of play for the tournament.
The league will forward said letter of application, with their approval or disapproval, to the CSA-N office. CSA-N will then approve or disapprove the application. It is highly unusual for a tournament application to be approved if the league disapproves it. Similarly, if a league approves the tournament application, in all probability it will be approved by CSA-N unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Leagues wishing to host a tournament which involve teams from other affiliated leagues must:
- Write a letter of application to CSAN asking for permission to host the tournament.
- The letter of application should indicate the following:
- Date or dates of the tournament
- Number of clubs participating in the tournament.
- If possible, submit the names of clubs/teams participating in the tournament and the names of their respective leagues and State Associations.
- If the tournament is an invitational tournament, outline the criteria used for inviting a particular team.
- Site of the tournament
- Name of sponsor or sponsors or sponsors, if any
- Names, addresses and phone numbers of persons responsible for hosting the tournament. Tournament Director, etc.
- Include the rules of play for the tournament.
The letter should be addressed to the CSA-N Executive Board. The Executive Board will approve or disapprove the application.
Any Club, Team or League hosting the tournament has the following responsibilities:
- Ensure that all teams participating in the tournament are affiliated with USSF.
- Ensure that they have adequate fields for the tournament
- Ensure that they are not encroaching on the fields being used by other clubs,teams or leagues
- Ensure that all participating players are properly registered with their respective National State Association.
- Ensure that the Referees assigned to officiate the tournament matches are USSF Referees.
- Ensure that they have an adequate number of referees
As a matter of courtesy, the Club, Team or League hosting the tournament should advise other leagues in the area of their intent to host a tournament.
PARTICIPATING IN A TOURNAMENT
Most leagues have their own internal rules which their teams must follow when participating in tournaments. Should a league not have a rule regarding participation in a tournament by one of their clubs,the State rules shall apply. Also if a particular league has such rules and a particular item is not covered, State rules shall also apply. The following is the procedure which must be followed:
1. The team must ask permission, in writing, from its respective league to participate in said tournament.
2. The letter asking for permission to participate in a tournament must be submitted to the league at least 21 days prior to the date of the tournament.
3. The team must provide the dates of the tournament and the name of the league and team hosting the tournament.
4. The league forwards the request to CSAN, indicating whether it approves or disapproves the request
5. The league must submit the letter to CSAN at least 14 days prior to the date of the tournament. If a request is disapproved by the league, a statement as to the reason for disapproval must be included.
4. CSAN will notify the league of its action.
NOTE TO CLUBS AND TEAMS:
It is very important to understand that it is against FIFA, USSF, and CSA-N policy for a USSF affiliated team to participate in tournaments which have not been sanctioned. Unsanctioned tournaments usually involve unaffiliated teams. Playing in such tournaments invalidates both the medical insurance and the liability insurance. Furthermore, the USSF affiliated teams participating in such tournaments are subject to disciplinary action.
NOTE TO REFEREES:
Referees are advised that officiating unsanctioned can bring some dire consequences. To start, the insurance provided by USSF is invalidated. In case of abuse or assault on a referee there is no protection from FIFA, USSF,or CSA-N . The referee may be disciplined if an assignment to an affiliated match has been refused in order to officiate an unaffiliated match.
Click here for a list of tournaments. Page
Return to Home Page