Sport specific legislation men’s soccer (Updated August 2012) section title

A. Date and Site

1. 
   The committee will meet annually in the winter or spring during each academic year. The meeting will be in person or via conference call at a date and site determined by the conference office.
   

2. 
   All head coaches (or designee) are required to attend or participate in (via conference call) the annual coaches’ meeting.
   

1. 
   Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) will result in the loss of the ability to vote on any issue discussed during the meeting.
   

2. 
   Failure to be in attendance or participate (via conference call) for two (2) consecutive meetings will result in a financial penalty.
   

3. 
   Additional meetings and/or conference calls may be arranged, as needed.
   

B.  Quorum

1. 
   All Conference regular season games will be played according to the most current NCAA Soccer Rules and Regulations publication.
   

2. 
   Conference members are prohibited from providing any form of a scouting report (e.g. written/verbal/game film) on another Conference member to any non-conference coach.
   

3. 
   Any head coach whose team receives a red card in three consecutive games or five red cards in one season shall be suspended one game. The suspension will occur at the next regular-season game, including the conference tournament. [March 2002]
   

4. 
   The home team shall wear light colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear dark colored uniforms.
   

5. 
   The field of play must conform to the dimensions and markings outlined in the most current NCAA Rules and Regulations publication.
   

6. 
   It is recommended that the team benches be on the opposite side of the spectator seating.
   

7. 
   A Conference game that is halted due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances may continue if conditions permit within a maximum time of one hour. If the game is unable to continue and within the allotted time of one hour, the game shall be considered “no contest” if it has not progressed to 70 minutes. A “no contest” shall be rescheduled and played from the beginning with a 0-0 score; however, all cautions or ejections will stand.
   

8. 
   If the score is tied at the end of regulation play (90 minutes), two (2) 10-minute, sudden-victory overtime periods shall be played. If the score remains tied at the end of the second sudden-victory overtime period, the game will remain a tie.
   

B. Regular Season Conference Schedule

1. 
   The Conference office will develop the regular season schedule.
   

2. 
   All Conference games will be scheduled as a doubleheader with the women’s teams playing the same day at the same location. [April 2011] A minimum of 2 ½ hours must be scheduled between the start of the doubleheader (e.g. 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.) and the teams playing the second game must be allowed a minimum of 20 minutes of warm-up time on the actual game field. [April 2012]
   

3. 
   Each institution shall play all other Conference members at least once during the regular season.
   

4. 
   If two teams are scheduled to play more than once, the first scheduled game shall be designated as the Conference game.
   

5. 
   All Conference games must be completed by the Saturday preceding the Conference tournament.
   

C. Rescheduling Policy

1. 
   A Conference game that is cancelled due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the participating institutions must be rescheduled at the first available date, as determined by mutual consent of the institutions involved. If the involved institutions are unable to agree on a rescheduled date, then the Conference office shall select the date. [July 1999]
   

2. 
   A game that is cancelled after the visiting team has arrived on site (due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the participating institutions) must be rescheduled at the first available date. [July 2005]
   

3. 
   The rescheduling of a Conference game shall take precedence over a non-conference match.
   

4. 
   The Directors of Athletics may mutually consent to change the site of a Conference game due to unplayable conditions at the scheduled home site.
   

a. The originally scheduled home team is responsible for notifying the visiting team and the officials regarding the change.

2. 
   The originally scheduled home team will continue to be the designated home team for purposes of scoring and uniform color. The host institution may use its regular bench.
   

2. 
   The site change will not affect the following year’s schedule.
   

D. Game Balls and Ball Persons

1. 
   The home team shall supply no fewer than three game balls, all of which must meet the dimensions, style, shape and material according to the most current NCAA Soccer Rules and Regulations publication.
   

2. 
   The home team shall provide a minimum of four (4) ball persons, preferably at least 10 years of age, at all games. Failure to abide by this policy will result in a reprimand from the Commissioner. [March 2005]
   

E. Officials

1. 
   All officials for Conference regular season and tournament games will be assigned by the SAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials.
   

2. All Conference games shall use a three-person officiating system. If a scheduled official is not at the site, a two-person system shall be used until the third official arrives.

F. Protests

1. 
   Officials’ judgment decisions are final and not subject to protest. Protests may only be made on rules interpretations. At the time of the protest, the official scorer is notified and the game shall continue. A protest of a decision made by an official must be submitted in writing to the SAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 48 hours following the completion of the contest. The written protest must include the signature of the head coach and athletic director (or designee). A copy of the protest will also be sent to the Conference office.
   

2. 
   Upon receipt of the protest, the Commissioner shall decide if the protest is legitimate (after proper investigation and counsel). If so, and the outcome of the game was affected, the game shall be replayed from the point of the protest.
   

G. Publicity

8. 
   Regular Season Champion
   

1. 
   During the regular season, teams will be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie and zero (0) points for a loss. The regular season champion will be the team with the highest point total based on games against conference opponents at the conclusion of the regular season and shall be declared the Conference champion. [March 2007]
   

2. Any tie for the regular season champion will not be broken. In the case of a tie, co-champions shall be named.

A.  Date and Site

1. 
   The Conference tournament site shall be determined by an approved rotation schedule. In the event the tournament is conducted at a neutral site, the designated host institution will be responsible for providing assistance with athletic trainers, sports information personnel and any other pertinent personnel deemed necessary by the Conference office. [March 2003]
   

2012 Newberry Oct. 30, Nov. 2 and 4

2013 Lenoir-Rhyne Nov. 5, 8 and 10

2014 Anderson TBD

2015 Wingate TBD

2016 Carson-Newman TBD

2017 Tusculum TBD

2018 Mars Hill TBD

2. 
   The tournament shall be conducted on a Tuesday (Quarterfinals), Friday (Semifinals) and Sunday (Final). [Amended August 2012]
   

3. 
   The tournament shall be scheduled for the week prior to the start of the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship. Actual dates shall be set at least one year in advance.
   

B. Format

1. 
   The top eight teams at the end of the regular season shall qualify for the Conference tournament and will be seeded according to the final regular season order of finish. Should two or more teams tie for eighth place, the Conference tie-breaking procedures described in Section 8-C will be used.
   

2. 
   The tournament will be conducted using an eight-team single-elimination format. The quarterfinal games will be played at the home site of the higher seed and the semifinal and final games will be played at one site, which will be a neutral site or based on the rotation schedule described on Section 8-A.
   

Tuesday Quarterfinals #8 at #1

#7 at #2

#6 at #3

Winner of #2 vs. #7 vs. Winner of #3 vs. #6

3. 
   The host institution in conjunction with the Conference office will determine the game times for the quarterfinal round. Game times for the semifinal and final rounds will be determined by the Conference office and will be published in the tournament handbook.
   

4. 
   The practice and warm-up schedule will be determined by the host institution and/or tournament director.
   

5. 
   For all tournament games, the higher seed be designated as the home team and will wear light-colored uniforms.
   

6. 
   For the quarterfinal games, the home (higher seeded) team will occupy its usual bench. For the semifinals and finals, the higher seeded team shall occupy the bench to the left of the scorer’s table when facing the field.
   

7. 
   For all tournament games, if the score is tied at the end of regulation play (90 minutes), two (2) 10-minute, sudden-victory overtime periods shall be played. If the score remains tied at the end of the second sudden-victory overtime period, the game shall be recorded as a tie and the tiebreaker procedure of taking kicks from the penalty-kick line or spot, as set forth in the most current NCAA Soccer Rules and Regulations publication, shall be used to determine advancement.
   

C. Seeding and Tie-Breaker Formula

The seeding for the tournament shall be based on the results of the regular season conference games (point total). If a tie(s) exist in the final regular season standings, the following criteria will used to determine the tournament seeds: [April 2010]

1. 
   Head-to-head record among the tied teams.
   
2. 
   If a tie still exists, a comparison of each team’s record against all remaining seeds in the tournament. The comparison of records will begin with the highest seed possible and continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary.
   
3. 
   If a tie still exists, a comparison of goal differential in Conference games among the tied teams.
   
4. 
   If a tie still exists, a comparison of goals against in Conference games among the tied teams.
   
5. 
   If a tie still exists, a comparison of goals scored in Conference games among the tied teams.
   
6. 
   If a tie still exists, the Commissioner shall conduct a coin flip.
   

In the event of multiple ties (more than two teams tying at a position) a comparison of the tied teams’ records shall be evaluated to determine if a team(s) has an advantage in wins. If that process does not resolve the tie or reduce the multiple tie to less teams [when one team is removed from a multiple tie, the remaining ties are broken by reverting back to the first step until the tie is reduced to two teams. At that point, the seeding for the remaining teams is resolved by following the tie-breaking procedures described above], then a comparison of each team’s record against the tournament’s number one seed (or highest possible seed) shall be evaluated. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, then a comparison of each team’s record against the next highest seed shall be evaluated. This process will continue all the way through the lowest seed, if necessary. If the tie cannot be broken by that method, it shall be broken by a coin flip conducted by the Commissioner.

1. 
   On the Thursday prior to the semifinal and final rounds, the Conference office will conduct a mandatory pre-tournament conference call with the following participants: all involved head coaches, applicable Directors of Athletics or designee, the host sports information personnel, the host athletic training personnel, the host facilities staff, and a Conference representative(s). The purpose of the conference call will be to review the administrative details and game operations for the tournament.
   

2. 
   The Conference office will set the time of the call, create an agenda and provide the necessary conference call information to each participating institution. The Commissioner shall inform the Director of Athletics in writing when required institutional representatives do not participate on the conference call.
   

E. Officials

1. 
   The SAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials shall assign three (3) officials and one (1) alternate official to all tournament games.
   

2. The Conference office will be responsible for paying the tournament officials.

B.  Freshman of the Year

1. 
   The Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Year shall be selected by a vote of the men’s soccer coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those student-athletes participating in their first year of intercollegiate competition are eligible for the award. [March 2005] Coaches may not vote for their own player(s).
   

2. 
   The winner will be awarded a plaque.
   

D.  Coach of the Year

1. 
   The Conference champion will be awarded a trophy. In addition, each member of the regular season champion team will be awarded a personalized certificate.
   

2. 
   The Conference champion will earn 10 points toward the Echols Athletic Excellence Award. The second place team will earn nine points, third place eight points and so on.
   

F.   All-Conference Teams

2. 
   Each team shall be comprised of four (4) forwards, four (4) midfielders, four (4) defenders and one (1) goalkeeper. Winners will be selected by position. A student-athlete may be nominated for only one position.
   

3. 
   Nomination forms and ballots will be sent to each head coach by the Conference office along with deadlines for them to be returned. Final ballots will be tallied by the Conference office.
   

4. 
   The current chair of the Men’s Soccer Coaches Committee will coordinate a conference call with all the head coaches to discuss the nominees for All-Conference. The conference call will be conducted prior to the deadline for ballots to be returned the Conference office. [April 2012]
   

5. 
   In the event of ties, the number of individuals at each position on the First and Second Team may be adjusted.
   

6. 
   Coaches may not vote for their own student-athlete(s) and must vote for every position.
   

6. First Team winners will be awarded a plaque. Second Team winners will be awarded a framed certificate.

1. 
   An eleven (11) person All-Tournament Team, regardless of position, shall be selected at the conclusion of the tournament.
   

1. 
   The head coach of the tournament championship team will submit four selections.
   
2. 
   The head coach of the tournament runner-up team will submit three selections.
   
3. 
   The head coaches of the two teams eliminated in the semifinals will submit two selections each.
   

2. Members of the All-Tournament Team will be awarded a personalized certificate.

J. Tournament Most Valuable Player

L. SAC Athlete of the Year Award

1. 
   The men’s soccer Player of the Year shall be considered a nominee for the SAC Male Athlete of the Year Award. [Revised 1999]
   
2. 
   The Athletic Directors Council will select one male and one female student-athlete as the Athlete of the Year. Members of the Athletic Directors Council may vote for their own student-athlete.
   

3. 
   The winners will be awarded a plaque.
   

M.  SAC Scholar-Athlete Award

b. Be of sophomore status, at a minimum

c. Excel in academics, athletics and community/leadership activities.
3. Each sport in which the Conference awards a team champions will have one winner. The sport-specific winners shall be selected by the Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee at the end of each sport season. (June 2009)

4. 
   The winners will be awarded a plaque.
   

N. SAC Presidents Award

2. 
   Institutions may nominate one male and one female sport specific Scholar-Athlete award winner for the Presidents’ Award. The nominees must be of junior status, at a minimum and it is expected that the nominees will represent a superior level of academic, athletic, and community/leadership qualities.
   

3. 
   The Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee shall select one male and one female winner at the end of the academic year.
   

4. 
   The winners will be awarded a personalized plaque.
   

O.  SAC Senior Participation Award

P. SAC Player of the Week

1. 
   Each week of the regular season, the Conference office shall select a Player-of-the-Week. The winners will be chosen from the nominees received from the member institutions. [October 2009]
   

2. 
   Nominations are due by Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and the winners are selected by 12:00 noon the same day.
   

3. 
   Player-of-the-Week winners will be announced as part of the weekly sport report and will be awarded a personalized certificate. [Revised 2004]
   

Q. Statistical Champions

1. 
   The men’s soccer Statistical Champions will be the leaders in each of the following statistical categories at the conclusion of the regular season. An individual student-athlete must appear in at least 75% of the team’s games played and goalkeepers must play at least 50% of the team’s total minutes.
   

2. 
   Each winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.
   

17. 
    
    
18. 
    R. Fair-Play Award
    
19. 
    
    

1. 
   The Fair-Play Award is based on the number of yellow and red cards each team receives during the Conference regular season. A team that receives no yellow or red cards in a Conference game is awarded 20 points. For each yellow card a team receives, two (2) points are deducted and for each red card a team receives, four (4) points are deducted. At the conclusion of the regular season, the total number of points is divided by the number of Conference games played and the team with the highest average is awarded the Fair-Play Award. The Conference office will be responsible for tabulating the results for this award. [March 2004, Revised March 2005]
   

2. 
   The team winner will be awarded a personalized certificate.