Q. What is the rationale behind the decision on limiting this to the U9-U15 age groups?
A. With Competitive club soccer starting younger and younger in conjunction with the dramatic increases in bronze level teams at these younger ages, we felt it was very important to start as young as the U9 age group in an effort to provide these recreation players with more of a transition before jumping into all-out competitive play. We feel that we have addressed this transition in our league by adhering to the recreational playing time stipulations (min. 50%), setting constraints on the financial burden incurred by parents/players, limiting distance of travel for regular season games and our commitment to provide a positive environment for all participants involved. We rounded off the age groups with U15 because we felt this provided a reasonable range to get the program started and it directly fell into the purpose for which this recreation based program was established… "to provide our recreation play members with an intermediary playing level opportunity that better prepares players, parents and coaches in the transition from recreational to competitive play".

Q. May a playing circuit be formed for older age groups?
A. The basic Signature League concept and rules are designed for younger age groups. These same rules may very well fit for an older age groups "recreational only" program. The creation of any older age group program is at the discretion of the local circuit director and participating recreation leagues/clubs.

Q. Is the Signature League only open to recreational leagues or newly formed teams in this league?
A. The Signature League circuits are open to both recreational or club teams as long as they abide by all of the stipulations as imposed by the league rules and policies. More specifically - rules regarding the formation of teams, $350 per player cap, and minimum 50% playing time for everyone. All participating groups must have a recreational play program with a minimum base of 300 recreation players and able to form "All-Star" or Signature League teams.

Q. Who selects the coach for a team?
A. Each participating recreation league selects the volunteer/parent coach for teams participating.

Q.  How are team rosters formed?
A. Teams may start with 5 freeze players on their roster. All other players must attend a Player Evaluation on the field. After each player has been given the opportunity to show their skills and be evaluated, the coach or league will select the players to make up the entire roster for the team. (Players are registered as "Signature players" and under Cal South regulations, teams may not have more than 5 freeze players when being formed for each playing season).

Q.  We have a team of 9 returning players and we'd like to participate in the circuit. Can't we just add a few new players to complete our roster?
A. The criteria for new teams and for returning teams are identical. The team may start with 5 freeze players on the roster. All other returning players and any new players seeking a place on the team roster must attend a Player Evaluation on the field.

Q. Who selects the players for the team roster?
A. The selection of players is up to the participating league as to how they would like to handle this situation. In most cases, it would be handled by the team coach/coaches, a small body of league representatives or a combination of both. Once again, this will need to be established by the individual league itself.

Q. Can players be selected for the team if they are from outside the participating league area?
A. Each participating recreational league will have to determine whether players from outside the normal league area can be selected for any team roster.

Q. Is there a limit on the number of teams that a participating league can send for each age bracket?
A. There is no limit to the number of teams that a league can send to the circuit in any age bracket. However, each league should properly evaluate the coaching experience, player experience and overall skill level when determining the number of teams they want to sponsor.

Q. Online team applications are due by July 1st (11:59pm).  Can a team be rejected?
A. A team may be rejected if they submit an incomplete application.  Missing the required application fee, lack the required 2 team administrators (Head Coach and Team Manager), not sufficient number of players on ther team rostern or do not provide a home playing field for the season.

Q. Why allow 2 different size goals for the U-9 and U-10 teams?
A. Many leagues started participating in 8v8 and 7v7 small sided games when the goal size was set at 6'x18' and purchased goals that size. Later, US Youth Soccer established guidelines for a goal size of 7'x21'. Placing a financial burden on league to obtain the 7'x21' goals was deemed too great a burden at this time. So, for the present, both size goals will be allowed for play.

Q. What happens if we lose players after the team roster is formed?
A. The participating league should assist any team in obtaining replacement players if players have been lost after the initial roster has been formed. While teams would like to ensure that players are frozen to a team once they are selected, the reality of it is that players within Cal South can change teams until August 1st. At that time, players selected to a team's roster are basically frozen until the Monday after Thanksgiving. After that time, players could transfer to other teams. Teams can add new players to the fall team roster until the September 30th deadline.

Q. With the mandatory playing time, how do you handle player injuries?
A. Injured players may be substituted for during the game. Injuries should be noted on the official match report. (Injured players may not be subject to the 50% playing rule). Injured players may re-enter the game at the next substitution opportunity if they are deemed able to play again by the coach and referee.