League Info
A fun and safe opportunity for recreational adult soccer in Marin
MCSL provides a fun and safe opportunity for recreational adult soccer in Marin. Participation is open to women at least 18 years old and to men at least 30 years old.
The MCSL 11v11 games are on Saturdays, with Spring and Fall season "round-robin" schedules. Games are played at various turf fields throughout Marin. There are currently ten teams in the league.
Where We Play
Our Divisions
Three ways to play across the year
Spring & Fall · Saturdays
11v11 League
Full-sided, round-robin schedules on turf fields across Marin. We encourage friendly competition — no standings are kept and there are no trophies for winning. Good Sportsmanship Awards go to three teams each season. The primary motivation for our players is the camaraderie of the beautiful game.
Summer & Winter · Pickup
8v8 Pickup
Small-sided, pickup-style games using pop-up goals — no refs and no goalies — where teams are formed at the field. The 8v8 sessions are open to any player who meets the age requirements above.
Nearly Year-Round · Sundays
Legends Division
A small-sided format similar to the 8v8s but with slightly larger goals, running nearly year-round on Sundays. Open to women at least 40 years old and men at least 50 years old — and playing in Legends never stops you from joining the regular seasons too.
We Play a Little Differently
MCSL uses the FIFA Laws of the Game, but with a few important modifications that keep our league safe, welcoming, and coed. Every player should know these — especially the physicality rule.
No slide tackles or hard challenges. This is our most important safety rule. Go for the ball and leave the player on their feet — be especially mindful when you're bigger than your opponent.
Substitutions and minimum numbers of men and women on the field follow league-specific rules.
No dogs at the fields — one of our good-relations rules with the venues we use.
Sportsmanship
First and foremost an adult recreational coed league, with an emphasis on sportsmanship over competitiveness.
To promote this culture, the league adopted these rules when it was established:
- ✓Individual match scores are not kept or tracked.
- ✓Official competitive standings are not kept or tracked.
- ✓The only award given at the end of the year is to the team that best exemplified good sportsmanship and fair play during the season.
Winning the sportsmanship trophy is more important than scoring goals or winning games.
The MCSL Commandments
1.Be nice and civil to the opposing team
We're all out here to have fun. If someone falls, help them up. Compliment a good goal, even one scored against you. Shake hands or introduce yourself before a game. Never get into a verbal or physical dispute with an opposing player — soccer raises adrenaline, and occasionally someone loses their cool. Do not retaliate. If you have an issue with an opposing player, walk away and take it to your team captain, who will pass it to the opposing team manager and/or the league's disciplinary committee. Anyone who receives multiple complaints may be asked to leave the league.
2.Play good soccer — clean, and fun
Remember that you don't win our trophy by winning games. You win by having fun and making sure your opponent is having fun too. Be mindful of the size of the player you're up against. If you're bigger, be cautious: go for the ball and leave the player on their feet.
3.Don't argue with the referee
Team captains are the only players allowed to talk to the ref. Everyone else has exactly two league-approved responses to a referee's decision:
4.Involve every player — pass to the women
We are a coed league, and our success depends on it. Pass to the women whenever they're open, and include them in the game regardless of talent level. We have an amazing group of talented, devoted women in this league, and we've lost great players over the years simply because some men chose to play around them instead of with them. Don't let that happen — involve everyone, to a fault.
Disciplinary Actions — Incident Report
The League Rule Book specifies that Team Reps and referees must report all serious incidents within 24 hours of the match. This includes any injury that prevents a player from continuing, regardless of whether a foul was called or a card issued.
Open the Incident Report FormOur goal is not only to record incidents but to prevent them whenever possible. Every Team Rep is a League Ambassador, responsible for the safety and enjoyment of all players. If you see a player talking back to the referee, using excessive physicality, or displaying poor sportsmanship, please:
- ▸Remove the player from the field and have a conversation with them.
- ▸Coordinate with the referee and opposing Team Rep to de-escalate. You are authorized to stop the game if needed to restore order.
The file below explains the process that governs the activities of the Disciplinary Committee.
Disciplinary Committee Operating Guide (PDF)