League Rules
2025 CSOA League Rules
Public Middle Schools/Private High Schools and Private Middle School Soccer
Public Middle Schools (NFHS rules are always used for public school games)
**Arlington Middle School Program: There are six schools, Gunston, Hamm, Jefferson, Kenmore, Swanson and Williamsburg. Games are 25-minute halves, no OT. Start time is 3:30pm. Intentional heading is not allowed. Restart is an IDFK for the other team. Genders play sequential and alternate each year--2022 will play Girls season first. These games are all done using the one-man system. Please refer to school website to confirm game times.
**Prince William Middle School Program: There are 19 schools. Boys play in the fall, girls in the spring. Games are 30-minute halves with 2x5 full time OT periods if tied after regulation. Mercy rule applied if 10 goal lead after 3/4 of the game is played. Start time is 5:15pm, but is flexible because of bus travel issues in PW County. These games are all done using the one-man system. Here is the new grouping of schools:
East: Fred Lynn, Graham Park, Potomac, Potomac Shores, Rippon, Woodbridge
Central: Beville, Benton, Hampton, Lake Ridge, Manassas Park, Parkside, Saunders
West: Bull Run, Gainesville, Marsteller, Grace Metz, Reagan, Unity Braxton, Nokesville
Private Schools: Schools play either NFHS or FIFA (with modifications) rules. Always confirm with coaches before starting as to the rules of the competition. VISAA is the umbrella organization for most private schools in Virginia. VISAA, state-wide, is structured for girls competition in the spring and boys in the fall. Also, Girl’s competitions in the spring at St. John Paul, Trinity Christian, Highland, Wakefield, Oakcrest and Seton leads to potential seeding for end-of-season tournaments.
***FIFA modifications:
Substitutions: goals, goal kicks, possession throw-in's + piggybacks if checked in
Yellow card--player does not have to leave the field
Thrown-in--if the ball never enters the field of play, a re-throw is taken (does not lose possession)
Clock does not stop--running clock with added time for serious injuries/prolonged stoppages.
Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC):
Bishop Ireton
Bishop O'Connell
Paul VI
The WCAC uses NFHS rules, no overtime. Varsity plays 40 min halves, JV plays 35 min halves. Bishop Ireton (Alexandria) and Bishop O’Connell (Arlington) play at 4 and 5:30--Varsity first. Paul VI (Loudoun) plays at 5:45 and 7:30, JV first. Paul VI is the only school that plays evening games because they have a lighted field. All other schools in all leagues play afternoon games. Note: Bishop Ireton is playing most of their home game at Witter park.
WCAC Sports Link: http://www.wcacsports.com/landing/index (provides WCAC standings)
Updated 2025-10-28:
WCAC Soccer Tournament Policy - Overtime and Game Interruption
Overtime Policy through Semifinals:
A) If a game is tied at the end of regulation there will be two sudden victory (Golden Goal) five-minute overtimes.
1. If one team scores in the first overtime, the game is terminated with that team a winner.
2. After the first overtime, teams will change goals and play additional five-minute overtime. Again, one goal
determines the winner.
B) If a tie still exists the game will be determined by penalty shots according to NFHS Rules:
1. The head referee shall choose the goal at which all of the kicks from the penalty line shall be taken.
2. Each coach will select any five players, including the goalkeeper, on or off the field (except those who may
have been disqualified), to take the kicks.
3. The team winning a coin toss shall have the choice of kicking first or second.
4. Teams will alternate kickers. There is no follow-up on the kick.
5. The defending team may change the goalkeeper prior to each penalty kick.
6. Following five kicks for each team, the team scoring on the greatest number of these kicks shall be declared
the winner.
C) If the score remains tied after each team has had five kicks:
1. Each coach will select five different players than the first five who already have kicked to take the kicks in a
sudden victory situation, wherein if one team scores and the other team does not score, the game is ended
without more kicks being taken.
2. If the score remains tied, continue the sudden victory kicks with the coach selecting any five players to take
the next set of alternating kicks, if a tie still remains, repeat step 2.
Overtime Policy for Championship:
A) If a game is tied at the end of regulation there will be two sudden victory (Golden Goal) 10-minute
overtimes.
1. If one team scores in the first overtime, the game is terminated with that team a winner.
2. After the first overtime, teams will change goals and play additional 10-minute overtime. Again, one goal
determines the winner.
B) If a tie still exists the game will be determined by penalty shots according to NFHS Rules (see above B).
Interrupted Tournament Game Policy:
In the event a tournament game must be suspended by the head referee because of conditions which make it
impossible to continue play, the chairman shall;
1. Declare it an official game if one complete half or more of the game has been played and one team is ahead;
2. After completion of the first half if the score is tied, resume the game from the point of interruption and play
out the remainder of the game, when possible.
3. If less than one complete half has been played, resume the game from the point of interruption, when possible.
4. The championship game must be played in its entirety. The game may be resumed on another date, time, or
venue in order to complete the contest. This decision will be made after consultation with the commissioner
and schools involved.
Additional Logistical Information
• Higher seed is home team.
• Home team decides game time (through semifinals).
• Home team wears dark jersey and socks. Visitor wears white jersey and socks.
• Home team provides game balls.
• Home team provides officials (officials will be provided by the WCAC for the
championship).
• VERY IMPORTANT: Semifinal winners… Send you up to date rosters (including all
players, managers, coaches to Nick Holler: (nholler@paulvi.net) right after your win.
Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAC): (BOYS)
Flint Hill
The Potomac School
This is a boys’ conference. CSOA provides officials for just two schools, Flint Hill and The Potomac School. The MAC also uses FIFA rules with modifications with two 10-minute OT, if needed, golden goal. Both Flint Hill and Potomac have robust middle school programs with multiple teams. (See ISL below for Middle School info)
Interstate Athletic Conference (IAC): (BOYS)
Episcopal
St Stephen/St Agnes School
This is a boy's conference. CSOA povides referees for two schools--Episcopal and SSSAS. They use FIFA laws with modifications. Varsity plays 40 min halves with 2x5 min "Golden Goal" OT--at least 60 min played for games to be considered official; MS plays 30 min halves.
Independent Soccer League (ISL): (GIRLS)
Episcopal--A Madeira--A
Flint Hill--A St Stephens/St Agnes School--AA
The Potomac School--AA
This is a girls’ conference. CSOA provides officials for Episcopal, Flint Hill, Madeira, Potomac and SSSA. The ISL uses modified FIFA rules with two 5-minute OT, if needed, not sudden victory.
Flint Hill, Potomac, and SSSA have middle school programs. Game time for middle school games, girls and boys, is 3:15pm. There is no OT in any of these middle school games .All three schools, as well as Episcopal, decide field usage schedules each week. So the field assigned to your game in Arbiter may not be the right field. The assigner will make changes in Arbiter when it makes sense to do so or will use the Arbiter home page to list venue changes.
Greater Peidmonte Athletic Conference (GPAC): High School
Wakefield School (The Plains)
We provide referees for two schools in this conference, Highland School (Warrenton) and The Wakefield School (The Plains). The GPAC plays modified FIFA with no OT during the season. Both schools have a Varsity and Middle School programs--boys in the fall and girls in the spring. Varsity games will be 40 min halves. Middle School games will be as follows: The "A" group plays 30 min halves, "B" group plays 25 min halves ("A" and "B" will be listed in the Notes section of your game assignment).
Piedmont Athletic Conference (PAC): Middle School
Highland School Wakefield School
The Hill School Loudoun Country Day School
We provide 2 officials for these games (when possible). They play Modified FIFA with no OT. They generally have an "A" team and a "B" team. "A" plays 30 min halves, "B" plays 25 min halves. Mercy rule: if there is a 4 goal differential at halftime, then the second half is shortened to 20 min (for both "A" and "B" games).
Virginia Christian Athletic Conference (VCAC):
Trinity Christian School Oakcrest (girls only) Immanuel Christian School
St John Paul the Great Seton School
CSOA provides officials for five schools: Seton Manassas (plays at Valley View), Trinity Christian (on Braddock Road just west of GMU), John Paul the Great (Dumfries, fields at the school but sometimes uses Ali Kreiger park right in front of the school), Immanuel Christian School (palys at Wakefield Park), and Oakcrest (girls only). The VCAC plays modified FIFA with no OT during the season. Varsity games are 40 min halves, JV 35 min halves. All schools also have middle school teams. Middle school plays 30 min halves (no mercy rule for MS). Game times vary from 3:30 at Valley View to 4:15 at Trinity.
NVIAC (Northern Virginia Independent Athletic Conference):
Christ Chapel Academy Covenant Christian Academy
Cornerstone Christian Academy Fairfax Homeschool Athletic Association
Evergreen Christian School Virginia Academy
Dominion Christian School (MS only)
The NVIAC plays NFHS rules, with no OT. CSOA contracted schools are Christ Chapel Academy (plays at Howison), Covenent Christian (plays at Fauquier Sportsplex), Dominion Christian School (Reston/Arrowbrook), Fairfax Christian (Chantilly/), Fairfax Home School (Chantilly--Arrowhead/SouthRun), Evergreen Christian (Leesburg/school), Ad Fontes (Centreville/EC Lawrence), and Virginia Academy (Ashburn). Game times vary depending on the park/site. Middle school plays 30 min halves, Varsity plays 40 min halves, no OT. At least 40 min must be played to be considered an official game.
GENERAL RULES:
1. Varsity and Middle School soccer is governed by National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules except as modified within this Section.
2. 40-minute halves for regular-season varsity games. 30-minute halves for middle school.
3. 35-minute halves for varsity tournament games. 30-minute halves for middle school.
4. No overtime in regular-season games.
5. Two 5- minute overtimes, then penalty kicks for tournament games (See details below).
6. A red card issued against a player only applies within the conference. Explanation: If a player receives a red card while playing a conference game, that player must sit out that game and at least the next conference game (even if the next game is a Tournament game). If a player receives a red card while playing in a non-conference game, that player is not prohibited from playing the next game if it is a conference game.
7. All players receiving a Red or Yellow card will be reported to the President. This can be reported as the scores are reported, with a CC to the President.
SOCCER OVERTIME RULES – FOR TOURNAMENTS ONLY:
1. If overtime is required, teams receive a 5-minute break between the end of the game and the first of two 5-minute overtime periods. These two overtime periods are played without a break in between. Both periods are played regardless of the outcome of the first period of overtime. (This allows both teams a chance to defend each goal once.)
In Paragraphs 2 - 5 NOTE THE DEVIATIONS to NFHS rules:
2. Should penalty kicks be required, only the 11 players on the field at the end of the 2nd overtime period may be used as kickers. At the end of the 2nd overtime period, all players that were playing at the end of the game will go directly to the center circle. Players on the bench (substitutes) remain on the sidelines. Each team designates its first five kickers and the order in which they will kick. Teams will alternate kicks and all 5 kickers from each team will kick unless one team has an insurmountable lead at any point (i.e., after 3 kicks one team is ahead 3-0, there is no possible way for the opponent to tie) in which case they will be declared the winner of that match.
3. If after the first five kicks the teams are still tied, teams select their next 5 kickers from the 6 who have not yet kicked, and the order in which they will kick. Kicks will proceed in a manner similar to the first five kicks except that these will now be 'sudden death'; if one team kicks and scores and the other team misses, the team which scored will be declared the winner of that match.
4. Should the kicks continue after the second round of five, teams select their next five kickers, with the 11th player kicking first and the next four chosen in any order from the original ten kickers.
5. If at the end of the second overtime period, one of the teams has fewer than 11 players on the field (because of a red card or an injury with no substitute available), the other team must reduce its number of kickers to match (i.e., Team A has 11 players at the end of the match and Team B has nine, both teams will use nine kickers).
Virginia Catholic Athletic Conference--MS:
Holy Family Catholic School Aquinas
This is a collection of small private catholic middle schools. NFHS rules are in effect for this conference. CSOA provides officials for Aquinas (plays at Veteran’s Park), Holy Family Catholic School (plays at Chinn), Linton Hall (Linton Hall Road), St Francis (Hellwig) and St. William of York (Stafford). Conference plays boys in fall, girls in spring. Start time is typically 4pm with one referee.
Old Dominion Association of Church Schools:
Fairfax Baptist Temple Academy Heritage Christian School
ODACS plays under NFHS rules, Varsity 40 min halves with no OT in the regular season, JV 35 min halves no OT. Temple Baptist does not have a home field this season, so will be playing all games away. They will be moving to their new campus in Ashburn in the Fall 2023. HCS and FBTA each play at their school field.
Independent Schools:
King Abdullah Academy (Chantilly): Plays modified FIFA with no OT. Varsity 40 min, MS 30 min halves. King Abdullah also has a middle school program, boys play in the fall, girls in the spring.
Holy Family Academy (HFA): HFA is located in PW County and plays all its games, high school (40 min halves, 2 refs generally), JV(35 min halves, 2 refs) and middle school(30 min halves, 1 ref), at Helwig. Start time is 3:30, modified FIFA. Field allocations vary, so look around and make sure you have the right team/level at hand.
The Langley School (McLean): Middle School
Plays both boys and girls in the fall. Game times are typically 3:30 or 3:45. Usual schedule is two games, could be both boys, both girls, or a combination. Langley fields 7/8 grade teams (30 min halves) and 5/6 grade teams (25 min halves), no OT.
BASIS School:
BASIS will play under NFHS rules. They will be sponsoring Varsity, JV, Middle School, and Co-Ed JV and MS teams. Varsity will play 40 min halves, JV will play 30 min halves. This is our first season providing coverage for BASIS. They play against many of the small private DC schools.
St. John the Beloved Academy: Middle School
30 min halves,
