The Board of Directors has the absolute discretion to bracket teams applying for admittance into Coast Soccer League in any manner that, in the opinion of the Board, will provide the best competition and meet the objectives of the league.

The Board of Directors will utilize the following guidelines in bracketing teams. These guidelines are advisory only, and the Board of Directors is not required to follow them if, in the opinion of the Board, adherence to the guidelines in a particular case will not provide the best competition or meet the objectives of the league. [These guidelines do not apply to the CSL Premier League. As an "Invitational League", the CSL Premier League sets its own guidelines in order to achieve the most competitive bracketing.]

1. Returning teams will be given priority in admittance into the league. A returning team means a team which played the prior season in Coast Soccer League and has a minimum of seven returning players [Six (6) for U9-U10], a returning coach with an administrator's pass, and is playing or applied to play out of the same club. A returning player means a player who has a valid player pass for that team and played a minimum of FIVE league and/or league cup games with that team during the prior season.

2. Premier teams from other leagues may be given priority in admittance into the league over new teams. A Premier team from another league means a "gold-level" team that played in another competitive league the prior season and which in all respects qualifies as a returning team.

3. New teams will be admitted into the league as space permits; however, CSL reserves the right to deny admittance to New Teams.

4. Returning teams, which finished in 1st will be promoted. 2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams from the prior season, MAY be considered for promotion (e.g., from silver elite to gold). Said teams will only be considered for promotion in the event of a spot being available and only after all 1st place teams have been promoted. A team MAY, at the sole discretion of the CSL Board of Directors, be promoted more than one bracket (e.g., from bronze to gold). Returning teams, which finished in 5th place or below the prior season, WILL be considered for relegation (e.g., gold to silver elite). A team MAY be relegated more than one bracket (e.g., gold to bronze).

5. It is the intent of the Board of Directors to promote all 1st place bracket teams) and to relegate at least two teams out of each bracket from the prior season; however, the Board may, in its discretion, refuse to promote or relegate teams out of a particular bracket if, in the opinion of the Board, such promotion or relegation will not provide the best competition or meet the objectives of the league.

6. A premier team from another league may be bracketed in gold,silver elite or silver if in the opinion of the Board such bracketing will provide the best competition and meet the object of the league.

7. CSL does not allow teams to play up in age. Teams must have age appropriate players registered to the team.

8. If a team applies to 'repeat' an age division, it will be bracketed as a new team since it is new to the age group. Teams in the U18/19 age group can be in the age group for two seasons and then the team number will age out.

9. U18/U19 age groups may be combined if there are not enough teams to form two different age groups.

10. U8 teams will not be accepted. U9 teams MUST register a minimum of FOUR (4) true U9 players to their team.