Policies & Information

 

League Framework       

Soccer Alaska, Inc. provides adult soccer leagues in the Anchorage area year-round. The year is divided into four seasons:

Specific dates for each year, as well as registration deadlines, are available on our calendar.

Multiple levels are offered for Coed, Men’s, and Women’s teams in each season. The offerings may vary based on the nature of the season and forecasted number of teams. Indoor games are currently held at the Alaska Dome as well as the AT&T Sports Pavilion. Outdoor games are held at a variety of venues throughout the Anchorage bowl and Eagle River.

Team Registration

Soccer Alaska exclusively registers teams. All players must connect with a team before registering. The “Looking for a team” section of our website (under “Player’s Corner”) provides an avenue for players to advertise themselves to teams.

Payment of Fees

A comprehensive team fee is required in order to register a team. This fee covers a certain number of games as well the administrative services of the league. Specifics are published about six weeks before the beginning of the season in the Registration section of the website. The team fee must be paid in full by the registration deadline, usually 3 weeks prior to the start of the season. Payments via VISA or MasterCard are accepted online. Checks may be dropped off in our box near the entrance of the AT&T Pavilion.  Please do not make payments with cash. Soccer Alaska is not responsible for missing cash payments.

Schedule Requests

We understand that many soccer players lead busy lives and are happy to accept schedule requests. However, the submission of a request does not mean it will be honored completely. For a season-length request (i.e. no games on Tuesdays), it is our goal to limit conflicts with the request to 20% of games (usually 1-2 games). For complicated and very particular requests, please contact the league before registering the team. All schedule requests are due the day of the team registration deadline.

Division Reassignments

After the close of registration, Soccer Alaska may make adjustments to a team’s division assignment based on past standings history, number of teams entered, or other factors. This reassignment often happens on short notice, but the team manager will always be notified via email and given 24 hours to respond to the notification. A valid reason to avoid the move would be a drastic change in the make-up of the team, or something similar.

Team Withdrawal

Any team may withdraw from the league and receive a full refund by providing notice before the close of registration. After registration closes, withdrawal may still be an option but only if the schedule has not been completed. Once the schedule is complete, no refunds will be issued and the team may not back out of the slot.

Player Registration

Each player must be registered with Soccer Alaska prior to participating in any games. Registration and payment is required on an annual basis on the “soccer year” of September through August. A player is not considered registered for a given year until the fee is paid and a photo is submitted and approved.

Online Registration

Registration is always available online, and only takes a few minutes. Please be sure to follow the steps listed on the first page to make sure your registration is processed correctly.

In-Person Registration

We no longer offer in-person registration.

Payment of AASA Fee

The $30 AASA fee coves dues and provides supplementary insurance. This fee is not retained by Soccer Alaska. Therefore it is non-refundable once purchased.

Photo Submissions

Player photos (“headshots”) may be submitted online once logged in to an account. For those who may have technical difficulties, photos may also be emailed to photos@socceralaska.com. Guidelines for photos are listed on the upload page, and they should be .jpg files with a “passport-style” photo. Sunglasses and other headwear that obstructs the face are not allowed. Once a photo is uploaded, it must be approved by Soccer Alaska staff (we will also resize and crop the pictures if necessary). This process takes 1-3 days, and a registration is not complete until the photo has been approved.

Rosters

Each team must print a photo roster from the Soccer Alaska website and present it to the referee at each game. Rosters are time stamped and only valid for two days. Rosters printed on Fridays are valid through Sunday. If a team does not submit a roster to the referee the game will be played, but will be ruled a forfeit if the offending team wins (or loses by fewer than 3 goals).

Roster Creation

The roster creation tool on the website allows team managers to build their rosters from the database of all registered players. The system also informs managers of a player’s status (payment and picture).

How-to Guide

Enter each player’s first name and last name in the roster. (Do not enter middle initials). Click submit to have the system look for these players. If the name was exactly correct, the player will be added to your roster instantly. If the system did not find an exact match, a “look-up” link will be displayed. Click this link and then search to bring up players with similar names. Select a player to add them to your roster. More tips for using this system are available under “data entry hints” available on the roster edit page.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot find a player who claims to have registered, double-check the spelling of their name. If you still cannot locate the player in the system, email accounts@socceralaska.com. If a player’s status is incorrect (i.e. payment not showing up) also send us an email. Make sure to include the player's name and team name. If possible, forward the player's email receipt.

Rostering Rules

Rostering rules are set for each division every season. They are available on the season info page. The roster system automatically flags violations. Team managers are responsible for adjusting their rosters to avoid these flags. Exceptions to the rules are considered on a case-by-case basis and should be emailed to Nick. (An example is Women's C players on Coed D teams)

Schedule Policies

Scheduling Philosophy

Soccer Alaska uses an automated scheduling program which works to balance each teams access to different timeslots and venues. The system is not perfect, but does a fairly good job. Specific schedule requests are accepted, but must be received by the registration deadline. Please note, these are only requests and are not guaranteed. Requests for specific venues (i.e. turf fields) are not taken into consideration.

Reschedule Requests

Once game schedules are released, reschedule requests are not generally granted. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but must be submitted at least two weeks prior to game day. Indoor games are particularly difficult to reschedule due to turf availability issues.

Weather-related cancellations - Indoor

Indoor games will only be cancelled if a venue closes due to inclement weather. Each participant is responsible for determining if s/he can safely make it to the venue based on vehicle and road conditions.

Weather-related cancellations - Outdoor

Outdoor games will be cancelled if the Municipality of Anchorage Air Quality Office determines that it is unsafe for all persons to participate in physical activity outdoors (usually caused by forest fires). In the event an evening’s games are cancelled, an announcement will be made online at our website and via Twitter by 3pm. If possible, an email will also be sent.

Game Day Policies

Adult on the bench

All Soccer Alaska teams with a minor playing (under 18) must have an adult present, either playing on the field or on the bench. Without an adult, the game will be considered a forfeit. This individual is responsible for the minors and must identify himself/herself to the referee prior to the game. Teams will be suspended if they violate this rule on multiple occasions.

Alcoholic beverages

Soccer Alaska’s field permits do not allow for the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Anchorage Police can, and have, cited adult players for public consumption in the past. |

Spectators

Teams are responsible for the conduct of their spectators. Spectators are NOT ALLOWED to be on the turf at either indoor venue. The referee has the authority to ask unruly spectators to leave the area. If spectators refuse, the referee may abandon the game.

Team No-show

In the event a team no-shows, the referees must wait 20 minutes past the scheduled start time before declaring the game a forfeit (10 minutes for indoor). These games will not be rescheduled.

Venue Rules

#1 - Teams are not allowed to enter the playing area (inside the fence at AT&T, ANYWHERE on the turf at the Dome) until the scheduled game start time.

#2 - Water is the only beverage allowed on any turf fields. No other beverages or food are allowed.

#3 - All children must be supervised at the venue. It is not acceptable to let small children run around during games! Venue staff may require participants who cannot control their children to leave the venue.

Referees and venue staff will report infractions to these rules to Soccer Alaska, who will penalize teams and may restrict further participation in the league.

Pre-game Procedure

Roster submission & challenges

Photo rosters must be given to the referee prior to the scheduled start time of the game. Any challenges over eligible players must be resolved before the game begins. Team managers have access to all rosters on the website, and may view their opponents rosters in advance if they wish.  Roster challenges may also be made at halftime for late-arriving players. No challenges may be made post-game. Rosters identify suspended players who are marked as ineligible.

Color conflicts

The primary color of each team may be viewed on their photo roster (accessible by any manager on the website). In the event of a conflict, the home team shall change to an alternate color.

Number of Players Required to Start

Indoor: 5 players

Outdoor: 7 players

In-game Procedure

Length of halves and halftime
Outdoor games may be shortened upon agreement by both teams who must notify the referee prior to the start of the game. The clock for indoor games must start no later than five minutes after the scheduled start time.

Indoor	25-minute halves	2-minute halftime
Outdoor	45-minute halves	5-minute halftime

Number of Players

Outdoor	All Divisions	11 v 11 (Coed: max of 5 males on the field)
Indoor	Men's & Women's B	6 v 6
Indoor	Women's C & Coed	7 v 7 (Coed: max of 4 males on the field)

Coed: Sliding

Sliding is not permitted within playing distance of another player. This will be penalized with an indirect free kick unless the act would have warranted a DFK under FIFA Laws of the Game. Goalkeepers are allowed to slide within the penalty area.

Post-game Procedure

Departure from field & cleanup

Teams are responsible for ensuring their bench area is clear of all trash and debris. Many of our fields are near “bear country” and it is imperative that no trash is left out.

Score verification

Teams should verify the final score of the game with the referee prior to leaving, and check to ensure the proper score is posted on the website. Scores will be posted weekly.

Misconduct

Cautions (yellow cards)

Soccer Alaska does not currently track cautions.

Ejections (red cards)

Every red card is a serious offence and Soccer Alaska deals with each incident on an individual basis.

Automatic suspension

An ejected player is automatically suspended from all Soccer Alaska games for 2 days (48 hours) following the issuance of the card. Additionally, the player must sit-out the next scheduled game for that team.

Supplemental discipline

Soccer Alaska reserves the right to suspend a player for additional games based on the nature of the infraction, or past history of the offender. Additionally, players may be suspended without being shown a red card.

Referees

Game Authority

The referee has complete authority over the game. Referees decisions are final.

Score reporting

Each referee is required to submit a game report, which is considered the official report. Team managers should check the website on a regular basis to make sure scores were recorded correctly.

No-shows

Games are not normally rescheduled due to a referee no-show. This is due to the high rate of forfeits in rescheduled games and as well as the field cost (primarily indoor). The teams should either agree to each nominate a player to serve as officials (for half, or two for the whole game) or recruit a bystander. In either case, Soccer Alaska will pay these stand-in referees for their time. Team managers should notify Soccer Alaska within 24 hours of a referee no-show.