GCL Uniform Policies

To ensure player safety and avoid any issues on the field, we want to clarify that the final decision regarding a player’s equipment rests with the referee. The league fully supports the referee’s judgment when it comes to the removal of potentially dangerous items such as jewelry, hard clips, and rigid hair accessories.
 

Medical braces, casts, and non-removable items—such as permanent hair beads, permanent bracelets, or long, sharp fingernails—may pose safety risks to both the player and others. Upon inspection, referees may require these items to be sufficiently taped, padded, or secured. Specifically:
 

  • Casts, medical braces, and medical, religious or permanent bracelets must be properly padded or taped.
  • Long permanently beaded hair should be tied or wrapped up.
  • Long, sharp fingernails may need to be taped or covered.
  • Face masks and head wraps must be tight to the skin and not protruding

 
 

Additionally, all headbands must be made of cloth and cannot have ties extending past the top of the neck. Earrings and other piercings must be removed—taping them is not permitted under any circumstances.
 

Player safety is the aim of these rules and policies. In all cases, the referee's determination of safety (or non-safe/dangerous)  is the final decision point.

 

League Uniform Policies 

Uniforms

  • All players on each team must wear matching uniforms; that is, jerseys, shorts, and socks must be the same color as the other members of their team.
  • Each player’s jersey must have a permanently affixed number on the back (including alternate jerseys) which shall be the same number as on the team roster, except the goalie, whose jersey shall be distinct from both teams and the referee. A number is not required on the goalkeeper’s jersey.
  • Home team (first team listed on the schedule) shall wear white or light, or must change jerseys if the referee deems there to be a color conflict.
  • The white or light uniform shall include white or light socks.
  • Visiting teams shall not wear white jerseys or socks unless the home team agrees to wear a color other than white.
  • The referee must be notified if the home team is not in white or light.
  • All teams are required to have alternate (not white) jerseys with the proper numbers for each player.
  • Player’s long leg or sleeve undergarments should match the respective main color of the shorts or jersey. If a matching color is not attainable, the color should follow the light or dark for home or away respectively if at all possible.. All players on the team wearing undergarments must have the same color.
  • All players are required to wear shin guards that must be covered by the player’s socks.
  • All alleged uniform violations must be reported to the referee during the match so that the issue may be dealt with in a timely manner. The only exception would be for a roster violation - in this case you must contact a league official.

Sanctions

  • Uniform Color – Any player without the proper uniform as described above, shall not be allowed to participate in the match until the improper uniform is corrected.
  • Jewelry – please see above policy on Jewelry. 
  • Player Safety – All issues of player safety are the discretion of the center referee. This includes casts or any other supportive gear. Any player deemed to have unsafe equipment or gear shall not be allowed to participate in the match until the issue is resolved to the satisfaction of the center referee.
  • Identity/Identification – Any player that does not have the proper identification, player card with photograph, or number matching the identity on the roster, shall be deemed ineligible for the match unless approved by a league official. Should such a player take part in the match, the team shall forfeit said match and additional sanctions per the rules may be levied.