Union County Co-Ed Soccer

This group is an organized pick-up for any adult (18+ years old or unless pre-approved by organizers) at any skill level as long as they have the interest, accountability, dedication, and most importantly passion to play the game. We have weekly meetup events in person, playing all year round, with about 120+ games annually, predominantly in Springfield and Elizabeth, but also sometimes Rahway, Summit, and Cranford.

Membership, Communication & Fees

***App Notifications & Privacy: ***Members must set app notifications to alert them to organizer messages. Privacy settings must be configured to allow direct messages from Meetup Organizers.
Waiver Requirement: All members must sign the general waiver of liability and group rules via the Google Form before playing.

Payment Model:** Strict "pay-in-advance" structure via Venmo (@Union-WestchesterCtyCoEdSoccer) or Cash.

• Players are only moved to a "Going" spot once payment is confirmed or arranged in the match day chat for the respective game they want to attend.

• Transaction Fees: The payee is responsible for covering any transaction fees associated with Venmo on top of the base fee owed.

• Non-Transferable: Paid fees cannot be transferred to another fee. Any excess payments may be retained by the group as administrative processing fees.

• RSVP Restriction: You cannot pay for games in advance if you are not currently on the RSVP list for that match day.

The Trial Game: First match is free for new members or new guests, provided it is a "Normal" game (lacking the "Permitted" or "Permitted W/Lights" header). If a player incurs an attendance penalty during their free trial, the free game is forfeited, and they must pay standard fees to play again.

Fee Structures:

• Annual: $150 (valid only until December 31st of the current calendar year, not a rolling 12 months from the payment date).

• Per Diem: $3 for Normal games, $10 for Permitted games, and $15 for Permitted W/Lights (night games under stadium lights).

Cash RSVP Exception: Members relying on cash payments are granted a one-time courtesy to hold an RSVP spot without advance payment. If they drop late, they lose this privilege and must pay in advance for all future games.

Attendance, Late Drops & The Strike System

Game Minimums: A minimum of 12 players is required to hold a match day.

Guest Policy (+1s): Limited to Normal games only; exceptions require direct clearance from the admin (Drew).
The host member must immediately post the guest's legal first and last name in the match chat, ensure they signed the e-waiver, and confirm cash/Venmo payment via the match day chat by 21:00 the night before the match or the spot is forfeited.
Hosts are held financially and behaviorally responsible for their guests. Members may not use a "+1" slot to RSVP for other current or past group members.

Late Drops (After RSVP Closes): If you are on the "Going" list and must drop after the deadline, you are obligated to message the match day organizer and Drew with a general reason. Consideration will be given to waive the penalty; otherwise, an automatic penalty is applied until resolved, alongside a $3 administrative fee.

No-Shows: Results in an automatic $5 penalty fee added to your next game

Spot Posting*:* You must post your open spot to the match day chat; you cannot hand-assign it to a specific person. If there is a waitlist and you fail to post, you receive 1.5 strikes. If there is no waitlist and you fail to post, you receive 1 strike.

Punctuality: You must arrive and personally check in with an organizer by the "Team Selection" time listed in the header. Arriving late results in a 1/2 strike and an automatic 10-minute stint in goal (assuming the match roster is not completely full).

The "Vulture / Walk-on" Rule: Members who are not RSVP'd but show up ready to play at the field can claim an open spot once RSVPs close. Open spots are claimed first-come, first-served by replying directly to the late-dropper's post in the comment section. Under-suspension players cannot claim spots.

Match Day Roster Overflow: Matches will not exceed 12 v 12 (24 players total on the field). If excess players are present once a roster is full, organizers will decide whether to send players home (subject to applicable penalties) or implement custom substitution structures (intervals, voluntary rotations, or team balancing adjustments). Players may wait on the sideline to see if a spot opens due to field departures.

Strike Penalties:

3 Strikes: Results in a 1-week suspension. Multiple instances of 3 strikes stack, increasing the suspension by one additional week per instance.
Reset/Expiration: Strikes reset completely on January 1st or expire naturally 6 months after the date they were received.
Buyout: You can pay $15 per strike to remove it, provided it is paid within 12 hours of receipt.

Team Formation & Field Rotation

***Match Structures: ***Typically 24 players (12 v 12) playing two 45-minute halves, or three 30-minute thirds if high temperatures warrant it.
Captains: Organizers select two captains per match. Captains dictate formations, draft teams, and advise organizers on field matters.

Goalie Rotation: Every player is expected to play every position, including goalie.  Captains reserve the right to assign players to goal for up to 10 minutes (unless alternative arrangements are agreed upon). Refusal to play goalie results in immediate match ejection and a red card.  If an injury or physical limitation prevents this, you must message Drew a day in advance for approval. Informing organizers on the day of the match results in a warning; if the injury severely disrupts team balance, the player will be suspended from playing until organizers clear them.
Keeper changes can only occur when the switching team has possession of the ball and calls for a change.

• Mandatory Equipment: Goalies must wear gloves featuring finger protection—this safety rule is entirely non-negotiable.

Team Balancing: Organizers reserve the right to dynamically adjust teams at any point to ensure balanced gameplay.

Gameplay House Rules

***Standard Rules: ***Matches follow standard FIFA regulations with strict house exceptions:
No Sliding: Sliding near any player or engaging in ground play is strictly prohibited and results in an automatic Yellow Card. Goalkeepers are the only players permitted to slide, provided they do so with extreme care (and can still be carded if a foul occurs).

***Card Penalty System: ***Organizers/coordinators issue verbal warnings, yellows, and reds to curb unsportsmanlike conduct.

• Yellow Card: Automatic 10-minute sit-out period (halftime does not count toward these 10 minutes). Yellows remain on a player's record for 2 weeks. Accumulating 2 yellows in a single game, or in back-to-back matches, triggers an automatic Red Card.

• Red Card: Immediate ejection for the remainder of the match and a minimum 1-week suspension. Accumulating more than 1 red card within a calendar year results in harsher, indiscriminate suspension lengths.

Game Calls: Offsides can be called by the designated last man (chosen by captains), the keeper, or organizers. Fouls and handballs (regardless of intent/situation) must be called by the affected player or organizers, which immediately stops play. Players who abuse foul/offside calls when no infraction occurred will be warned and will lose their judging privileges.

• Refereed Matches*:* If a referee is present, they or their designee make all calls. All disputes must be handled exclusively by the captains, organizers, and the referee.

Organizers' Authority: The organizers' rulings on anything gameplay-related are final while the match is active.

Ball Chaser Rule: If you kick the ball out of bounds, you are obligated to retrieve it. If you kick a ball and lose it entirely, you are financially responsible for the cost of a replacement ball.

Player Conduct & General Policies

Zero Tolerance Behavior: Players must respect one another and the organizers. Fighting results in an immediate, permanent ban from the group. Toxic behavior—including over-coaching, verbal harassment, foul language, excessive force when challenging for the ball, or racism—results in a warning, followed by immediate ejection if it continues.

Match Completion: Players are expected to stay for the entire duration of the game. Voluntarily leaving before the allocated end time (barring emergencies or sudden injury) results in a penalty based on the nature of the departure. Leaving players must notify the match day organizer.

Stepping Off the Field: If you need to briefly step off the field (for a break, phone call, or bathroom), you must remain off the field until the ball goes completely out of play to avoid creating an unfair numerical advantage.

Injuries: Players attempting to play through pre-existing injuries, or attending when they cannot complete a full match, will be barred from playing until fully recovered. This is an organizer directive to prevent worsening injuries and safeguard RSVP-based team balancing.

Administrative Rights: Organizers and coordinators reserve the right to remove players from matches or ban them from the group for any disciplinary, social, or administrative reason. This explicitly includes poaching players for other soccer groups without organizer approval.

Inclement Weather: Organizers are responsible for officially calling games on or off. The group attempts to provide a cancellation notice 3 to 12 hours before kickoff. Players are responsible for checking the event page and dropping their RSVP if they have personal weather concerns.

Inactive players or those that do not meet minimal attendance requirements will be removed from the group.

Any other questions, please feel free to ask the leadership team or any other coordinator about anything that may concern you