Policies

Massachusetts Futsal Association

Initialyouth/adultschedules

Please see our policies by scrolling down.
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• discipline
• forfeits & no shows
  
• games without a referee
• guests & borrowed players
  
• inclusion
• lost and found
• parking & facilities
• protests
• refunds
• rosters & age groups
• scheduling & rescheduling
• weather
• weekend contact

I. discipline

A player or coach shown three single yellow cards during a session will serve a one-game suspension in the first match immediately following the third yellow card. The player's yellow card count resets upon his return. For those on multiple teams/rosters, the accumulation applies to all rosters meaning the player or coach is suspended for an entire date of play. 

A player or coach shown two red cards during a session is suspended for the remainder of the season, including friendlies, playoffs and tournaments. The matter shall be referred to the state referee committee for additional adjudication. 

A player or coach shown a red card for violent conduct is suspended for three matches.

A player or coach shown a red card for violent conduct (or observed to commit violent conduct by a league official at any time in any facility) is suspended for three matches. The matter shall be referred to the state referee committee for additional adjudication.  

A red card suspension or dismissal pertains to all teams/rosters. A suspended player or coach may not enter a league facility on the suspended date.

II. forfeits & no-shows

If your team is unable to field a team it must notify both jason@futsalma.com and admin@futsalma.com no later than 12 pm on the preceding Thursday. This result will be recorded as a forfeit (7-0 loss and 0 league points).

If your team is unable to field a team and does not notify by 12 pm on the Thursday immediately prior to the match, the result will be recorded as a no show (0-7 loss and -2 league points).

A team that commits a no show shall be required to pay a $75 penalty via Venmo (@FutsalMA) before it can participate in any future matches. 

III. games without a referee

Although the community of certified futsal referees continues to grow, due to injury, aging and attrition and other reasons the number of certified US Soccer futsal referees remains small.

In the event that we know in advance that there will not likely be a referee available we will notify both coaches by email. The coaches must agree on a stand-in referee. The home coach is always responsible for reporting the score to both admin@futsalma.com and jessica@futsalma.com, as well as providing the name, email and phone number of the person who served as referee (or if a minor, that person's guardian).

At the younger ages and lower levels -- where physicality and fouls may be very minimal -- the coaches can agree to both referee while coaching. 

IV. guests & borrowed players

Only players on a team roster are eligible to play. No guest players are allowed. 

Players may not be on more than one roster in the same division. If found to be on more than one team, the player will be removed from both teams by the league registrar.

Players may be dual rostered in different divisions. 

Sibling teams may swing/borrow up to three players per game, provided the number of active players does not exceed 14. The sibling players must be on another roster within the same club, which must be shown to the referee at check in and upon request. Referees may -- and should -- deny the sibling rostered player if a roster is not provided. Borrowing players during playoff rounds is not permitted.

Violation of any of the above regulations will result in forfeiture of applicable games.

Teams are prohibited from using players rostered to Premier division rosters in Serie or Ligue divisions. Abuse of this may result in players, coaches and/or teams being sanctioned at the discretion of the league disciplinary board.

If a team is playing a friendly match it may -- with the consent of the opposing coach -- add any age-eligible player from any league roster (potentially outside of same club), keeping in mind the level of play expected in the division.
 

V. inclusion policy 

The U.S. Youth Futsal Inclusion Policy is as follows: 

(A) Membership of U.S. Youth Futsal is open to all futsal and soccer organizations and all futsal and soccer players, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators and officials without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or national origin. 

(B) For the purposes of registration on gender-based teams, a player may register with the gender team with which the player identifies, and confirmation sufficient for guaranteeing access shall be satisfied by documentation or evidence that shows the stated gender is sincerely held, and part of a person’s core identity. Documentation satisfying the herein stated standard includes, but is not limited to, government-issued documentation or documentation prepared by a health care provider, counselor, or other qualified professional not related to the player. 

(C) U.S. Youth Futsal recognizes 2 team gender classifications:

     (1) Teams with females only are considered girls teams.

     (2) All other teams are considered boys teams.

VI. lost and found

Massachusetts Futsal and facilities are not responsible for lost items. Lost and found receptacles may be available. Persons should not contact schools to seek assistance in finding lost items. Please visit the facility on the next futsal-related date to check. 
 

VII. parking/facilities

No child should be unattended in any facility. Young spectators must remain with a parent or guardian at all times.

Please do not go, or allow players or spectators to go, into any area of a facility not futsal-related ... eg, stay out of classrooms, unrelated hallways and stairwells, etc. Remain in the gym, lobby or their immediate corridors. There is no ball playing in the hallways of the school facilities.

All trash must be removed by the spectator who brought or created it.


VIII. protests

No protests are allowed. All decisions by referees, league directors and tournament directors are final.
 

IX. refunds

Free Agents: No refunds will be given.

League: Prior to the start of the session, a 66% refund may be given until two weeks prior to the first league date. Once the session has started, no refunds will be granted.

Tournaments: See the event page for specific information.
 

X. rosters & eligibility

Players must be rostered to participate in games. Only players who are on rosters with completed waivers and insurance are eligible to participate. Photos of all players in Premier divisions must be on rosters no later than the third week of league play.

Coaches must provide an electronic or printed copy of the roster at check-in.

All jersey numbers must be accurate on the roster. If not, the team official will be asked to print or hand write the roster prior to kickoff.

Players may be dual rostered in different divisions. Players may not be on more than one roster in the same division.

Rosters may include up to 14 players.

Youth and Premier teams can make roster changes between Tuesday and Thursday after the first three weeks of play and until Jan. 3. Thereafter rosters will remain closed for the duration of the season. Adult teams can make roster changes until the fifth week of the season.

All youth teams must have at least one and no more than three coaches on the team bench during a game. 

U.S. Soccer and U.S. Youth Futsal mandates that all coaches and managers complete SafeSport training and submit to a background check prior to serving as coach or manager of a youth soccer or futsal team. No adult may serve in this capacity without applicable completion of SafeSport and clearance approved by U.S. Soccer and U.S. Youth Futsal. All referees shall have access to a list of all coaches on all rosters. Note that if a coach completes the background check but has not been added to a league roster, the coach will not be eligible to coach.

Referees and site admins have no authority over rosters, player eligibility or coach eligibility. Please do not talk with them as if they can make changes or grant eligibility. A team's coach and manager and the league registrar are the persons who impact these matters. You can reach the league registrar via the Contact page.

Age group graph for 2024-25 Season:

XI. scheduling & rescheduling

We are often able to fulfill one or two minor scheduling requests, but these must be submitted prior to the posting of the schedule, ideally by Nov. 4.  Send an email to jason@futsalma.com with the subject: league schedule request to be considered.

Game days are locked, game times are malleable. 

Once the schedule is posted, games can not be rescheduled. Due to the nature of the facility being booked and paid for, and referees being assigned and paid for, rescheduling is just not possible. Additionally, each game is intricately placed as part of an enormous matrix. A change to a single game would domino effect many other games. However, if the team requesting the reschedule wishes to provide or pay for court time at a suitable facility, and pay the referee costs, with agreement by the opposing team, a reschedule may be possible. 

If a game is posted to the schedule and one team indicates an inability to play as scheduled, a forfeit score will be assessed to that team. However, if the teams can find a suitable opportunity to play the game at the cost of the forfeiting team, the score of the reschedule will be entered.
 

XII. weather

In the event that inclement weather causes cancellation of games, every effort will be made to make up the games. However, there are no guarantees and no refunds will be issued.

Generally speaking, a couple inches of snow is unlikely to cause interruption. More than 4-5 inches and there may be an adjusted schedule (delayed start/early closure). Facility closure decisions are at the discretion of the facility.

There have been at least two recent incidences when a large storm was forecast but little snow accumulated in the Boston area. Do not assume that because a large storm is forecast or because other activities are closed that futsal games are not taking place. Allow extra time. Some players or teams may elect not to attend a game that remains unchanged. 

Announcements will be posted on the MFA and HTG web sites and via social media. Coaches and managers will receive email only in the event of changes to the schedule. All are advised to check the web site up to one hour before departing for games.

Please do not reach out to us, as we are generally dealing with many additional matters when weather becomes a factor. We will update all via social media, web sites and direct email as information changes.

XII. weekend contacts

The best way to reach us on the weekend regarding schedule and facility matters is to email admin@futsalma.com, which is monitored by our lead admin on site at Park School. The best way to reach us on the weekend regarding rosters and player registration is to text Nate.