The name of this organization shall be the Columbus Premier Soccer League, Inc.

The purpose of the league shall be to promote, foster, and perpetuate the game of soccer on the senior level, and to provide amateur competition for its members in accordance with which standards of sportsmanship and fair play.

The league shall maintain a headquarters in its territory. The territory of the league shall be Central Ohio, including without limitation the City of Columbus and surrounding cities.

The league shall endeavor to maintain affiliation with the United States Soccer Federation and shall promote the affiliation of its member teams with the USSF.

Every senior men's soccer team or club located within the territory of the league that complies with the league's By-Laws regarding membership shall be eligible for membership.

1. All legislative powers of the league shall be vested in the General Assembly of the league. The General Assembly shall consist of the Executive Committee of the league and the Representatives of the league's constituent teams. Each member team shall send one duly chosen Representative to each and every General Assembly meeting.

2. Each member of the General Assembly shall have the power to propose legislation for the league and to nominate candidates for league offices. Each member of the General Assembly shall have one vote to cast for or against any proposed legislation, including elections, except the league President who, in the case o£ a tie vote, shall have the power to vote a second time to break the tie. A member of the Executive Committee may also serve as a team's Representative, but he shall have only one vote despite his dual role.

3. Each team's Representative shall be a member in good standing of the league according to the By-Laws of the league.

4. The General Assembly shall meet at least twice in every year, before the start of the fall season and before the start of the spring season, and at the direction of the league President whenever he shall call a meeting.

5. The General Assembly shall have the power to amend the Constitution of the league by a 3/4 vote of the entire General Assembly.

6. The General Assembly shall have the power to make and/or amend By-Laws and Playing Rules for the league by a 2/3 vote, provided a quorum is present.

7. A Quorum shall consist of at least 1/2 of the members of the General Assembly.

8. The General Assembly shall have the power to remove any Executive Committee Officer and/or Trustee by a 3/4 vote of the entire General Assembly.

9. The General Assembly shall have the power to conduct general league business by a majority vote, a quorum need not be present.

10. Meetings of the General Assembly and Trustees shall be conducted by the league President in accordance with generally accepted rules of order, e.g., Robert's Rules of Order.

1. The executive power of the league shall be vested in the members of an Executive Committee which shall include the President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and Registrar. If the duties of the Treasurer are carried out by one of the other members of the Executive Committee, there need not be a separate office of Treasurer.

2. Each member of the Executive Committee shall have one vote in the league's General Assembly, except the President who, in the case of a tie vote, may vote for a second time to break the tie. A member of the Executive Committee may serve as a team's Representative to the General Assembly in addition to fulfilling his duties as an executive officer of the league, but he shall have only one vote in the league's General Assembly.

3. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by the General Assembly in accordance with the By-Laws of the league. Members of the Executive Committee shall hold office for a two-year term and until their successors are elected. Members of the Executive Committee may also serve as Trustees of the corporation in accordance with Article III of the Code of Regulations. Members of the Executive Committee may serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms in any one office or combination of offices. However, no member of the executive committee shall hold two or more executive offices simultaneously, except as per Section 1 of this Article.

4. Members of the Executive Committee must be members in good standing of the league in accordance with the By-Laws of the league.

1. The supreme judicial power of the league shall be vested in the General Assembly. The General Assembly shall make judicial decisions only upon appeal from a decision by the Executive Committee which shall be the arbiter of first resort.

2. The Executive Committee shall have the power to render judicial decisions by a majority vote. In the event of a tie vote, the President may vote again to break the tie. The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint from among its members or from the membership or member teams a judicial officer or committee to make preliminary judicial decisions which can be appealed to the Executive Committee.

3. The right to appeal a judicial decision of the Executive Committee to the General Assembly shall exist only for offenses carrying a penalty of 10 matches suspension or more.

4. There shall be no right of appeal on offenses carrying a penalty of less than 10 matches; however, a "Petition For Rehearing" by the Executive Committee may be submitted to the league President in accordance with Section 5 of this Article. Said petition must state the grounds for a rehearing and the remedy sought. The Executive Committee shall have the absolute power to grant or deny petitions for rehearing with or without explanation. Failure of the Executive Committee to explicitly grant a petition for rehearing within 5 days of its receipt constitutes a denial of the petition. The Executive Committee may submit petitions for rehearing to the General Assembly should it deem such necessary or proper.

5. Parties to judicial actions shall be given written or telephone notice of a decision adverse to them and shall have 5 days thereafter to file a petition for appeal or rehearing with the league President. Failure to file a written petition within 5 days of notice of a decision shall bar any appeal or rehearing. Notice of judicial decisions shall be adequate if published in a league newsletter or statistical report, regardless of whether a party penalized actually sees the publication. The date of notice or petitioning for purposes of this Section shall be the date of postmarking.

1. The power to administer the everyday affairs of the league shall be vested in the Executive Committee.

2. The administration of the internal affairs of each member team or club shall be vested in each member team's or club's Manager.

3. Each team shall choose a Representative to the General Assembly, and said Representative shall serve the interests of his constituents in league affairs; as well as the general interests of the League. A team Representative should be involved and knowledgeable of the internal affairs of the team he is representing. A team Representative need not be its Manager.

1. President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the General Assembly and/or Trustees; serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee; appoint committees; appoint non-executive officers; enforce the Constitution, By-Laws, and Playing Rules, and any other rules of the league; call meetings of the General Assembly and/or Trustees and of committees; supervise and administrate the affairs of the league; carry out directives of the Trustees; sign all contracts or documents necessary for the general administration of the league or authorized by the General Assembly and/or Trustees; sign checks; authorize routine purchases; serve at his discretion as an ex-officio member of any committees; serve as the representative of the league to any associations or organizations, unless otherwise provided; retain custody of the corporate records; provide for the good and welfare of the league.

2. Vice Presidents. The 1st Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in the President's absence or incapacity, and shall succeed to the office of President for the remainder of any term in which the President cannot fulfill his duties. Such succession shall not bar him from subsequent election to a full term in any office. He shall serve on the Executive Committee. He shall perform any administrative duties assigned to him by the President, Trustees, and/or General Assembly.

3. The other Vice-Presidents shall be designated by number, e.g., 2nd Vice-President; shall serve on the Executive Committee; and shall perform any administrative duties assigned by the President, Trustees, and/or General Assembly.

4. Secretary. The Secretary shall make and keep written records of the league membership, all meetings of the General Assembly and/or Trustees, and any other meetings as directed by the President. He shall make and keep any changes to the league Constitution, By-Laws, and Playing Rules as authorized by the General Assembly and directed by the President. He shall be in charge of league communications, including without limitation, newsletters, statistical reports, judicial notices, game reports, and media relations. He shall sign any contracts or documents as authorized by the General Assembly or directed by the President and maintain League records, including without limitation, game reports, league standings, and records of disciplinary actions. He shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and perform any administrative duties as assigned by the President, Trustees and/or General Assembly.

5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep books and records of league finances, including without limitation, member dues, bank accounts, bank records, donations, advertisements, and sponsorship; collect all dues, registration fees, or other monies owed to the league; prepare and sign any necessary local, state, or federal tax returns; maintain such bank accounts as authorized and directed by the President, Trustees and/or General Assembly, either in the name of the league, or as joint and survivorship accounts with the President; sign any contracts, documents, or checks as authorized and directed by the President, Trustees and/or General Assembly; make such routine purchases as authorized by the President, Trustees and/or General Assembly; prepare and present financial reports to the President, Trustees and/or General Assembly upon request; serve as a member of the Executive Committee; and perform any administrative duties as assigned by the President, Trustees and/or General Assembly.

6. Registrar. The Registrar shall be a member of the Executive Committee and shall collect and maintain all team rosters and registration forms, as well as being responsible for the proper registration of all players on those rosters. It will also be the responsibility of the Registrar to collect team and player registration fees and turn those fees over to the League Treasurer, and perform any administrative duties as assigned by the President, Trustees and/or General Assembly.

7. Team Representative. The Team Representative shall represent his team or club at all General Assembly meetings; communicate the proceedings and results of all General Assembly meetings to his team or club Manager and members; have the power to propose legislation for the league; have the power and duty to vote on any matters brought before the General Assembly for vote. The Team Representative may also be the Team Manager.

8. Team Manager. The Team Manager shall be responsible for his team or club acting in accordance with the Constitution, By-Laws, and Playing Rules of the league; administer the internal affairs of his team, including the collection and timely payment of dues and fees and the timely registration of member players; prepare and timely submit any and all team rosters, match reports, statistical reports, or other documents required or requested by the league or its officers; maintain a felicitous relation between his team members and match officials; carry out any directives of the President, Trustees and/or General Assembly.

1. The members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by the General Assembly at the annual fall meeting every second year such that said members shall serve two year terms or until their successors are duly elected. Members of the Executive Committee are to be voted for separately by either secret ballot or a "show of hands" vote . A nominee for executive office must receive a majority of all votes cast to be elected, and there must be a quorum present.

2. When the General Assembly elects new executive officers, the new executive officers shall take office upon the adjournment of the meeting at which they are elected.

3. Candidates for Executive Offices must be nominated by members of the General Assembly, and the nominations must be seconded. Nominees must be members of teams which are members of the league and nominees must be members in good standing; however, nominees need not be members of the General Assembly. Additionally, nominees do not need to be either a Team Manager or Team Representative; however, it is preferred.

4. A special election may be called by the league President to fill any vacancy in any executive office. (Cf. Code of Regulations, Article IV, Section 3).

1. Teams eligible for membership under the Constitution of the league shall only be admitted to the league upon receiving a majority affirmative vote of the Executive Committee.

2. In order to gain admittance as a member of the league, a team or club must demonstrate the intent and apparent ability to comply with the Constitution, By-Laws, and Playing Rules of the league.

3. Admittance of a team to league membership is contingent upon payment of any and all dues and registration fees specified herein or by legislation or administrative ruling.

4. All teams desiring admission to membership may be required to purchase a copy of the league Constitution, By-Laws, and Playing Rules at a price to be set by the Executive Committee.

1. Only amateur players shall be eligible to participate in the league competitions. An amateur player is one who is not registered as a professional player by the USSF, who does not receive a salary or wages to play soccer, and who is not under contract to receive a salary or wages from a soccer organization to play soccer.

2. A player must be at least 18 years of age to be registered as a member of a team or club participating in league or to compete in league competitions.

3. Players suspended for any reason by the league shall not be allowed to participate in league competitions.

4. A member in good standing of a team in the league is one who is a duly registered player, a Team Manager, or a Team Representative who is not under a suspension of 10 matches or more.

1. At the discretion of the Executive Committee, member teams shall be required to register players in accordance with USSF rules and procedures.

2. Notwithstanding any USSF registration, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, each member team shall register all its players and its Manager by submitting a roster to the league Registrar prior to the start of any season which roster includes the following:

3. Team rosters may contain an unlimited number of players, and said rosters must be submitted to the league Registrar before the first match of each season. However, players may be added to each team's roster during the course of each season.

Ineligibility

4. A player who is not duly registered is not eligible to participate in league competitions, and any team using any unregistered player or player registered to another team shall forfeit any and all matches in which the offending player appears by a score of 1-0.

Player Transfers

5. A player may transfer from one league team to another during a season if the following conditions are met:

5.1. A player may transfer from one league team to another between seasons by being registered to the new team and included on its roster for a new season and by meeting condition 5(b).

5.2. Any and all transfer disputes shall be settled by majority vote of the Executive Committee and such settlement shall not be appealable.

Eligibility Challenges

6. Prior to the completion of a match, any Team Manager who suspects that a player on an opposing team is unregistered or registered to another team may challenge the suspect player by requesting the referee to require the suspect player to produce a USSF pass, or, if appropriate, other picture identification that proves the suspect player is duly registered to the team for which he plays. If a suspect player can not prove he is properly registered to participate to the team for which he has appeared, that team may be subject to forfeiture of the match(es) in which the ineligible player has appeared. Additionally, the ineligible player may be subject to a suspension equivalent to the number of matches in which he ineligibly appeared.

1. The league through its judicial power shall adjudicate all violations of the league Constitution, By-Laws, and Playing Rules committed by any officer, Team Manager, Team Representative, referee, player, or spectator at any time.

2. The league through its judicial power shall settle any and all controversies, including without limitation, match protests, between one or more member teams by a majority vote of the Executive Committee and such settlement shall be appealable by the filing of a Petition For Appeal with the President. (Cf. Constitution, Article VIII, Section 5).

3. The league through its judicial power may impose suspensions on member teams for the following reasons and periods of time:

4. The league through its judicial power may impose suspensions upon persons registered to or affiliated with member teams or clubs for any of the following reasons and periods of time, whether infractions occur during a match, meeting, or any other time:

5. The Executive Committee will be the final arbiter on any issues related to team and/or player discipline. A disciplinary decision by the Executive Committee is appealable in accordance with Article VIII of the Constitution.

6. A second red card ejection during any one season may subject the offending player to double the usual penalty for the offense committed. Three red card ejections within any one season may subject the offending player to a suspension of 10 matches.

7. The Executive Committee shall have the power to authorize match officials to enforce the rules and regulations of the league, and it may provide for evaluation of match officials.

8. The league through its officers and agents shall have the power to eject any player, manager, official, or spectator from the site of league functions and to suspend any player, manager, or official for violations of Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5 or 6 hereof.

9. Evidence considered in making decisions relative to this Article shall come primarily from the reports of match officials; however, relevant and unbiased testimony of witnesses with personal knowledge may also be considered. Additionally, the Executive Committee shall attempt to elicit information from the Managers of the teams involved in order to evaluate the incident before rendering its final disciplinary decision.

1. The league shall be a non-profit organization.

2. The Treasurer of the league, in accordance with his duties, shall collect and maintain such funds and accounts as authorized by the General Assembly and/or Trustees.

3. The Executive Committee shall determine and communicate to member teams before the start of each new season of play the amounts of team dues and team and player registration fees.

4. League players and team managers shall receive no compensation that would remove them from amateur status.

5. Member teams shall not be prohibited or discouraged from obtaining sponsors to pay all or part of dues, fees, or expenses.

6. Team dues and player registration fees, including fees for insurance, are paid as a condition precedent to membership in the league and are not refundable without a resolution of the Trustees.

1. The Executive Committee shall arrange the league's match schedule for each season as it deems appropriate to offer good competition to member teams. This may include the use of a divisional system of scheduling.

2. The Executive Committee shall arrange the league schedules as it deems appropriate to make good and beneficial use of available playing fields and to promote the growth of soccer.

3. The league standings shall be computed as follows:

4. The league champion or division champions shall be the team(s) with the highest point total(s) at the end of a season. In the event of a tie in first place points totals, there shall be a playoff in accordance with the league Playing Rules to determine the first place finisher(s). In the event of ties in point totals for any other positions in the league or division standings, the ties shall be broken in favor of:

5. The league shall offer competition during two seasons per calendar year, a fall season and a spring season.

1. General Assembly meetings shall be attended by executive officers, trustees, Team Representatives, other elected or appointed officials, including a referee association representative. Meetings shall be open to any member of any team or club that is a member of the league and to any person invited to attend or allowed to attend.

2. General Assembly meetings shall be presided over the President in accordance with generally accepted rules of order, e.g., Robert's Rules of Order.

3. General Assembly meetings shall be conducted in the following form:

The general playing rules of the Columbus Premier Soccer League shall be in accordance with Federation Internationale De Football Association (FIFA) rules as amended herein.

1. The Manager of each member team shall submit a team roster, in accordance with By-Laws, Article VI, to the league Registrar before each new season starts.

2. The Manager of each team participating in league competitions shall submit to the referee before each match a match report on a form designated by the league (teams may submit their own match report form provided it conforms with the League's form) which shall contain the following elements:

No more than 18 players per team may appear in any one match. No names may be added to the match report after half time of any match. The match report must be signed by the team Manager or Representative.

3. Any Team Manager who suspects that a player on an opposing team is unregistered or registered to another team or under suspension or not on the match report as of the start of the second half may challenge the suspect player to produce a USSF pass, or, if appropriate, other identification that proves the suspect player is duly registered to the team for which he plays and eligible to play. If a suspect player can produce no such identification, he will be considered potentially ineligible. A team that uses a player who is unregistered or registered to another team or under suspension or not on the match report may forfeit, by the score of 1-0, any and all matches in which such player(s) appear. Additionally, said player(s) may be subject to match suspensions equal to the number of matches in which he ineligibly appeared.

1. Referees and linesmen shall be assigned to matches and paid by the league at the direction of the Executive Committee, and said match officials shall comply with any administrative directive of the President or Executive Committee.

2. Referees, linesmen, and other match officials shall be authorized to enforce the rules and regulations of the league under By Laws, Article VII, Section 6, and said officials shall only have the express power to enforce league Playing Rules and By Laws, Article VII, Section 4 which relate to player discipline.

3. Referees shall collect match rosters on a form prescribed by the league from Team Managers of opposing teams before match play begins.

4. Referees shall have the power to stop matches at any time for the following reasons:

If a match is stopped due to weather (a) after the second half has begun, it will not be replayed and the final score shall be the score at the point of stoppage. If a match is stopped due to weather (a) during the first half, it will be the League's responsibility to attempt to reschedule that match. If a match is stopped due to (b)-(e), it shall not be replayed, and the final score shall be the score at the time of stoppage. A right of appeal exists where a team contends a match has been wrongfully stopped hereunder.

5. In the event no referee is present to officiate a scheduled league match, opposing Team Managers should mutually agree upon match officials to be chosen from available team players or league officers not playing in the match.

6. A referee shall submit to the league Secretary a written match report on a form to be designated by the league for any and all matches he officiates. Such match report shall contain the following elements:

1. All teams and team players shall be responsible for maintaining and improving the league and its facilities, including without limitation, the following:

2. Home team obligations shall include without limitation the following:

3. Visiting team obligations shall include without limitation the following:

1. All players in league competitions shall wear matching uniforms which shall consist of shirts with at least 8 inch numbers on the backs, shorts and socks which completely cover the player's shin guards. In cold weather, tights or sweat pants, and sweat shirts under jerseys may also be worn provided they are of the same color as the garment under which they are worn.

2. Goal keepers must wear colors which distinguish them from all other players on the field and from match officials.

3. Each player must have a jersey with a number on the back, and nobody may play without a jersey.

4. No Jewelry of any kind may be worn during competitions.

5. No part of the uniform shall have any dangerous zippers, buckles, studs, buttons, etc. whether metal or otherwise.

6. No player shall wear any pads or equipment determined by the referee to be dangerous.

7. All players, including goal keepers, must wear shin guards at all times when on the playing field.

LAW I (The Field of Play): None.

LAW II (The Ball): Decision 1 -- is amended such that the home team shall supply two game balls that shall remain the property of the home team.

LAW III (Number of Players): Section 1 -- is amended such that a team must have at least seven (7) players to start a match and seven players on the field at all times.

Section 2 and 3 -- are amended such that an unlimited number of substitutes may be used.

LAW IV (Players Equipment): The law is amended so as to be consistent with Article V herein.

LAW V (Referees): The law is amended so as to be consistent with Article III herein.

LAW VI (Linesmen): The law is amended such that the two-man system of officiating may be used where necessary or desired.

LAW VII (Duration of Game): Shall be amended so as to provide for a 10 minute half-time break.

LAW VIII (Start of Play):

Part (a) is amended such that each team must have seven (7) players on the field at all times. If a team does not have enough players, it will be allowed a fifteen (15) minute grace period from the scheduled starting time to produce the minimum number of players. At the expiration of the grace period, the referee shall call both teams onto the field and count the number of players on both teams. If either team has fewer than the minimum number of players, it shall forfeit the match by the score of 1-0. A double forfeit is possible.

Part (d) is added allowing substitutions when:

LAW IX (Ball In And Out Of Play): None.

LAW X (Method Of Scoring): None.

LAW XI (Off-Side): None.

LAW XII (Fouls And Misconduct): The law is amended so as to be consistent with By-Laws, Article VII.

LAW XIII (Free-Kick): None.

LAW XIV (Penalty Kick): None.

LAW XV (Throw-In): None.

LAW XVI (Goal-Kick): None.

LAW XVII (Corner-Kick): None.