SOCAL: This is the main SOCAL site where you can find information on player/coach discipline (Cautions and Send Offs), team standings, field locations, et cetera.

SOCAL League Handbook

Game Day Instructions

Head Injury Protocol and Safety 

Organizational Information

SOCAL is a youth competitive soccer organization.

Guided by their Founding Philosophy and Core Values, SOCAL’s purpose is to set the highest standards for soccer Clubs to develop players to their fullest potential – physically, emotionally, and ethically.

SOCAL has member clubs throughout Southern California from Ventura County down to San Diego County and all counties in between. Their member clubs offer a variety of different programs to their members.

Their Competitive programming has multiple levels which are “flight” based starting with Flight 4 and working up to Flight 1.

Flight 4 is the level between Recreational and Competitive. This flight only plays a fall season (with an optional separate spring season). They play 12 games and do not have to play SOCAL State Cup. There is a year-end Tournament of Champions for this level combined with Recreational teams. This event will be held December 4-5, 2021. These are games that are scheduled within the teams own community (similar to recreational scheduling) but with a little more of a competitive flare to the games.

Flight 3 is the lower level of Competitive. These games are geographically scheduled within your city/county. These teams play a 16-game season from the weekend after Labor Day until just before Thanksgiving and then they return to finish their season in Jan/Feb or March/April (depending on the age group and the high school schedule for the older players). SOCAL State Cup is optional for these teams.

Flight 2 is a more competitive level of play. These games are scheduled geographically and they play a 16-game season, just like Flight 3. These teams participate in the SOCAL State Cup. The college age players have the option to participate in our College Showcases too.

Flight 1 is the top level of competition. Within Flight 1 there are multiple options:

  • Europa: These are flight 1 teams that want to play within their geographic area. They have minimal travel but they participate in SOCAL State Cup and can play in the College Showcase events.
  • Champions: This division has promotion/relegation with the Discovery NPL. They play home/away and can play outside of their geographic area since they are vying for promotion into Discovery NPL. Teams participate in SOCAL State Cup and the College Showcase events.
  • Discovery NPL: These teams will play their games on a Home and Away basis in 2022-2023. They all participate in SOCAL State Cup and they have one College Showcase included in their season with an optional second showcase.

US Club Player Credentials

  • All players participating in SOCAL games MUST have US Club SOCCER PLAYER CARDS indicating the player participates in the SOCAL League. ECNL/ECRL player cards are no longer valid in the SOCAL League.
  • If a team forgets their US Club Player passes for a SOCAL game the game can begin and can continue play if the player pass cards are at the game by half-time. If the player cards are not there by half-time then the game shall be abandoned. GotSport Digital, or photos of cards will be accepted. All managers and coaches are able to access Virtual ID’s in GotSport.

Uniforms

  • Uniforms may be similar in color among teams. Jerseys must have a number on the back.
  • The home team wears light/white jerseys.
  • The away team wears dark jerseys.
  • Each goalkeeper must wear colors that distinguish them from the other players, the Referee, and the assistant Referees.
  • Away team changes in case of a color conflict.

Spectator/Team Seating

  • Home Team has a choice of sideline they sit on. 
  • ALL SPECTATORS FROM A TEAM will now sit on the same side of the field as their team.
  • Spectators will no longer sit on opposite sides of the field from their team for League play.
  • Coaches are responsible for the spectators on their team.
  • Spectators may not sit behind goals or next to the corner flags.
  • Spectators must sit on the sideline with their team OPPOSITE the sideline the Assistant Referee is running. Spectators may NOT sit behind Assistant Referees.
  • Spectators are not to commingle with spectators from the opposing team.

Game Ball

  • The home team is the team listed first on the official schedule. The home team provides 3 game balls.

Personnel on the Bench

  • All players and staff on the team bench MUST have a current US Club Soccer player pass card. 

Match Officials

  • Referee Fees must be paid before each game. Please do not agree to Venmo, Zelle, Bitcoin, etc. Cash on the field. Each team pays ½ of the total fees due.

Field Rules

  • No animals of any kind are allowed on the sideline at any SOCAL game. Check the venue you are playing at to confirm if pets are allowed at the venue. Regardless, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE ON THE SIDELINES or BEHIND THE GOALS or in close proximity to the field of play to protect the players’ and spectators’ safety.
  • No artificial noise makers such as drums, air horns, drones etc. are allowed.
  • No Alcohol.
  • No Illegal Drugs.
  • No Weapons of any type.

Before the Game

  • All players must be in uniform 15 minutes prior to kick off.
  • Submit virtual ID’s, photos of passcards or physical player passcards to the referee.
  • Home teams kick off in the first half of the game.
  • Away teams choose which half of the field they start the game on.

Substitutions

Unlimited substitutions are allowed in all age groups, Flights 1, 2, 3 and 4 as follows (not including Discovery NPL):

  • Unlimited substitutions by either team are allowed on any stoppage of play with the permission of the Referee. Referees will be instructed not to allow substitutions that are deemed “excessive” or of a “time-wasting” nature.
  • Substitutes must wait at the halfway line (off of the Field of play) until the Field Player has left the Field of Play and/or the Referee has indicated the substitute may enter the Field of Play.
  • For Discovery NPL Games:
    1. Substitutions may be made during 3 “moments” per half. Half-time does not count as a moment. 
    2. Re-entry is allowed per half at the moments used by the coach. Subbing on the moment of an opposition, still counts towards a team’s 3 moments.
    3. In accordance with the new USSF Head Injury guidelines, a substitution for a suspected head injury will not count against re-entry rules.

Team Check-In

For the 2025 league season SOCAL wants to further streamline the check in process across all regions of the league. It is vital that all referees follow the same on-field process for all games during the league season.

Below you will see a sample match report for the league season.

As many of you will have seen previously, this is an example of a SOCAL League (GotSport) Match report. The home team should have 3 of these to give to you at the start of the game to check in the teams. One copy is for the home team, one for the away team and one for the referee at the end of the game.  The visiting team may also offer match reports which could contain more up-to-date information for their team. Check the “Printed At” information in the top right hand corner of the form.

As you can see with a closer view of the top section the date, the venue and field along with kick off time are listed. This age group and division are also listed. The home team is always on the left hand side and the away team is on the right hand side of the match report.

Below that you will see a coach and manager listed. They should be checked in using their coach or manager card or virtual ID that can be viewed on a phone. Place a check mark next to their name if they are present. If they are not present, please line them out. Any other coach that would like to be present for the game should be written on the report and their card checked.

IF A STAFF MEMBER CAN NOT PRESENT A US CLUB STAFF PASS THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE ON THE BENCH DURING THE GAME.

Follow the same process for the players. Between the name and DOB columns you will see space for a check mark.  You will check this box next to each player if they are present and you have viewed their player card or virtual ID. If they are not present, then please line them out. A player can be handwritten on the report if they have a physical or digital card. You may also see a player appear with a yellow/orange highlight. This just means that they are club passed and are fine to play. Every single player on the field must have a jersey number listed on the report. If you are handed a report without jersey numbers, please ask the coach or manager to write them in.

If a player or coach is suspended then they will appear on the report with a line through their name. This means they are ineligible to play in the game. 

Above you will see the lower portion of the report. Please write in your name so that it is legible (PRINT) along with your USSF ID. 

Post Game Report

After the game officials should report the score and any disciplinary items on the match report. Clearly write the score on the below section of the report:

Then write the correct send-off offense code (listed on the bottom of the report) here next to the correct player. It is vital that the correct code is written here as this is code that the team will report in the system and will determine the suspension length. 

After the score and disciplinary information has been entered, please have a team representative from both teams sign the report. Please make sure all 3 copies are completed in the same way. Often at times a team may submit something questioning when the actual referee copy is different. If a team refuses to sign a report, don’t worry. Just note their refusal to complete.

A copy can then be handed to home and away teams and one kept for the officials. 

Supplemental Reporting for Red Cards and Game Incidents

This year SOCAL will be implementing a new supplemental reporting system for red cards and game incidents. However, we will continue with the same procedures and protocol as before and consistent with all other leagues. Respond accordingly if questioned by any team representatives.

The Referee must notify the Assignor and Member-at-Large by text immediately after the game, complete the two-page USSF Referee Report the same day, but no later than noon of the following day, and submit it via email to assignor@sbsra.org and member.at.large@sbsra.org.

If a spectator is sent off during your game, do your best to get their name by asking the coach or manager. If the coach says their name is “Bugs Bunny’ then report that name and SOCAL will work the rest out later. If you are not able to get the name of a spectator, don’t worry. Just report that the coach/manager would not disclose and SOCAL will get the name from the club. DO NOT TERMINATE THE MATCH!

Post-Game Procedures

  • Both teams and referee sign all 3 copies of the Game Match Reports. Each team keeps a copy. Referee should keep a copy/take a picture of a completed Match Report.
  • If there is only one paper copy, the referee keeps it and team representatives may take a picture of the report.
  • Both teams should collect their player and coach cards from the referee.
  • Best practice is to ask the team manager/coach, BEFORE THE MATCH, to please come over to collect the cards and sign the match reports a few minutes after the final whistle, allowing the referee time to complete the paperwork.