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Rules

Equipment
The Ball:

Ages U6-U8 will use a size 3 ball. Ages U-9 through U-12 will use a size 4. Ages U-13 and up will use a size 5. All soccer balls will be supplied by Soccer Centre.

Player Equipment:

The equipment of a player is a team uniform, shin guards, and indoor footwear. Numbers are required on the back of all players' shirts. No duplicate numbers are permitted. A player's footwear may be cleats or turfs. Also, footwear must have non-marking soles. The goalkeeper shall wear colors that distinguish him from field players and the referee. Players shall not be permitted to wear necklaces, chains, earrings, or bracelets. Rings shall be removed. Any cast worn must be properly padded to satisfaction of the referee. Player will not be allowed to participate until their equipment meets the approval of the referee. A two-minute time penalty shall be assessed to the offender who enters the game having failed to carry out the equipment adjustment. Teams are required to have matching jerseys or tshirts. The team listed first on the schedule, the home team, must change if there is a color conflict.

Number of Players
Maumee Bay Turf Center Field

U9-U12 there must be a minimum of 4 players on the field and a maximum of 6 plus a goalie.

U13 and up – there must be a minimum of 4 players on the field at any given time and a maximum of 5 players plus a goalie.

Mens 40 Leagues must be a minimum of 4 players on the field and a maximum of 6 plus a goalie.

Car Stereo One Field

Ages 5-8-will play 5 plus a goalie

Ages 9-10 will play 4 plus a goalie

Ages 11 and up will play 3 plus a goalie

Rostering

Teams must submit official team roster to the office before the first game of the session. Player(s) may not be removed from the roster. A player may be added to the roster only by approval of the building administrator and done 48 hrs. prior to the game. Roster size is limited to 18 players per team. Players may play for two teams in each division. However, if a player plays on two teams, he/she must indicate which is his/her primary team for the game in which the two teams play each other. After a teams 4th game no players may be added.

All players must be registered and waiver signed before stepping on the field. Liability for this will rest with team representative.

A player used as a substitute can be added to a roster, but it must be done 48 hours prior to the game. After a teams fourth game, no players can be added to the roster. If a team has a player that is not on the roster, the team will have to forfeit the game regardless of the actual outcome.

All teams must have a rostered coach at each game. Three coaches may be rostered for each team. Coaches must be 21 years or older. A roster check may be done before each game in order to verify presence of coach and registered players.

Substitutions

During the game, substitutions can be made at any time on an unlimited basis provided the player substituted for is within one yard of the bench and does not interfere with the play at the time the replacing player enters the field of play. Immediately after a goal, substitutions may come directly onto the field.

Any teammate may change places with the goalkeeper at anytime as per regular substitution procedure provided that the goalkeeper wears a jersey that does not conflict with either the referee or the other players.

In any instance of a time penalty, the team will play short either two minutes or five minutes (yellow or red card).

Goalkeeper Restrictions

The goalkeeper may not handle a ball that was intentionally passed back from a teammate. The restart penalty must be taken from the top of the arc. This is not a penalty kick.

Five Second Distribution: A goalkeeper in possession of the ball within the penalty area must put ball on floor within five seconds of having received the ball.

A three line violation will be declared when any player causes the ball to be kicked or thrown from the white line dividing the kicking team's defensive zone from the middle third of the field, and the ball crosses the second white line without touching the ground, a wall, referee or a player. The ball will be placed at the restart line located in the team's half that committed the foul.

A goalkeeper who receives the ball with his feet outside the penalty area can not bring the ball back into his penalty area and handle it unless it has been touched by another player.

Goalkeeper may not handle the ball outside of penalty area. If the ball is completely out of the penalty area, a free kick will be given.

The goalkeeper shall have clear possession of the ball when it is held in both hands or pinned against the floor with both hands.

Authority of Referee

The referee(s) power of penalising extends to offenses committed when play has been temporarily suspened or when the ball is out of play. Referee(s) decisions on point of fact connected with play is final. The referee has the following responsibilities:

  1. Enforce the rules.
  2. Discretionary power to suspend the game for any serious infringement of the rules by anyone (i.e. coach, player, spectator...).
  3. Illegal entry onto playing field by anyone.
  4. Injury stoppage of play (not time).
  5. Non-player discipline. All penalties or ejections of non-playing personnel (this includes spectators and parents) will result in a five-minute penalty to the offending team.
  6. Record score and turn in game card to administrator of the facility.
  7. Referee can not stop time for any reason.
  8. Check Rosters
Duration of Game

As a result of customers opinions, we have decided to change the length of the game to 45 minutes, continuous clock. There will we 5 minutes to warm up prior to the start of the game. There are no time outs or stoppage time.

Teams must sit in designated boxes - Home or Away. The team listed first, which is home team on the schedule will have kick off. The team listed second shall have choices of ends. A goal may be scored directly from kick off.

The ball may be played in any direction on a kick off. The player kicking off may not touch the ball again until another player from either team has touched the ball.

After a goal has been scored, the game shall be restarted by a kick off by the team conceding the goal.

Coed 5/6 on the small field shall play 4 – 10 minute quarters with 2 minute breaks.

For restart in unusual circumstances, the game resumes with a kick from the location of the ball when play was stopped. The kick is taken by the team with possession at the time of stoppage. If no teams’ possession is clear, the game will be started by a drop ball at the point where the ball was when the game stopped. If the game is stopped inside the penalty box, the ball will be restarted from the top of the restraining arc.

Failure by a team to put the ball into play within five seconds as signalled by the referee, shall result in a possession turnover to the opponent.

Overtime

No overtime is played for Men's 40+ divisions. Result will be entered as a tie.

If a game ends in tie, a sudden death overtime will occur. The teams will play with two field players and a goalie for three minutes, substitutions may be made at any time. If no goal is scored the game will end in a tie.

Penalties will carry over into the overtime. If this occurs the penalised team will play with two field players, while the other team will play with three field players. When the penalty end both teams will play with three field players until a dead ball occurs, teams will then play two v. two.

Ball in and Out of Play

The ball is in play at all times unless indicated by the referee. The ball is out of play:

  1. When the ball makes contact with the net above the glass or boards.
  2. Quick Start Rule for adult leagues only – restarts for goal kicks do not require goalkeeper to set the ball down.
  3. When the game has been stopped by the referee.
  4. When a ball is kicked or headed by a player and the ball hits the ceiling or any other fixture attached to the ceiling.
Scoring

For goals scored inside the defending team's third of the field (inside or touching white line) the team will receive one point.

For goals scored outside the defending third of the field (outside of the white line) the team will receive two points. The shot on goal must be unassisted if a goal is scored from a kick-off, at thestart of a game or after a goal is scored, it will count as a two point goal.

If a player shoots the ball outside the two point line and it deflects off of any player on the opposing team including the goalkeeper, it is a two point goal. In the same instance, if the ball deflects off of any player on the same team as the player who shot the ball, it is a one point goal.

When the wining team has a five goal advantage, the opposing team may add a player to the field.

Fouls

A player who commits any of the following offenses while the ball is in play shall be penalized by the referee rewarding a free direct kick to the opposing team at the point of the foul unless the foul occurs in the penalty box, then the ball will be placed on the top of the penalty arc.

  1. Kicks an opponent
  2. Trips an opponent
  3. Charges an opponent from behind d) Strikes, elbows, or spits at an opponent. A time penalty will be assessed for any of these offenses. Spitting at an opponent calls for immediate ejection
  4. Holds an opponent
  5. Handle the ball (carries, strikes, or propels the ball with arms or hands).
  6. Too many players on the field
  7. Dangerous play
  8. Obstruction
  9. Slide tackling
  10. Holding the boards
  11. Spitting on the field (ejection)
  12. Climbing on or over the boards (ejection)
  13. Swearing (ejection)
  14. Intentional boarding (ejection)
  15. Unsportsmanlike conduct (referees discretion)
Time Penalties

All yellow card issuances will be punished by a two or five minute time penalty. All red card issuances will be punished by an ejection of the specific player at fault and a five minute time penalty. Time penalties may be assessed against players for committing any of the offenses listed in the penalty definition. These penalties shall be administered by showing of a YELLOW OR RED CARD BY THE REFEREE.

Time penalties will also be assessed to both players and bench personnel, whether or not they are on the field of play. The time penalties will be assessed on the specific offending player or the team in general if the offense was committed by the coach, other bench personnel, or an identified individual on the team. A field player must serve all time penalties.

Any player who is playing and is not in proper uniform will receive a yellow card. If the coach should come onto the field without permission from the referee, a two minute penalty will be assessed to a player on the same team .

Duration of Time Penalties

Time penalties shall be subject to the following concerning duration and expiration of time. A player whose time penalty has expired must immediately leave the penalty box by using door to field only, subject to other restrictions in this section.

  1. Powerplay goals: If a team is reduced to a lesser number of players on the field than its opponent due to time penalties, and such team is scored upon by its opponents, than the player may return, subject to the following condition: In the case where there is a goal scored during a delayed yellow card, the player remains in the penalty box. In cases where simultaneous time penalties were awarded and a team is later assessed another time penalty resulting in a powerplay, and a powerplay goal is scored, the player who was assessed the time penalty that created the powerplay will be released
  2. Equal number of penalties: No player shall be released.
  3. Penalty kick exclusion: If the goal is made the player which caused the foul can be released.
  4. There must always be a minimum number of players on the field required. If an individual player is penalized and that team would not have the minimum number of players, that team may replace that player on the field. That individual player will serve his time penalty. Once another player serving a time penalty has elapsed, that player may enter the field on a substitution basis.
  5. A player shall not leave the penalty box unless released for the following reasons:

    -The expiration of the time penalty or after a goal provided that his release does not place too many players on the field.
    -During half-time, in which case he must return to the penalty box before play is restarted.
Ejection

A player or non player shall be ejected for incidents of:

  • Violent conduct or serious foul play
  • Foul or abusive language or action

An ejected coach may not, from the time of his ejection until the conclusion of the game, have any communication with the team's players in the arena. The game will be forfeited unless there is another rostered coach present.

In a situation where the referee would want to penalize a player for an infraction by issuing a time penalty, where advantage rule applies, the referee shall acknowledge the foul by raising one arm straight up in the air maintaining that signal until such a time as:

  • The offending team gains control of the ball
  • The referee stops play by any other stoppage (ie. another foul, or ball goes out of play
  • Goal (The offending player's penalty shall be recorded for accumulation purposes. No time penalty shall be served if a goal is scored by the offending team

If a red card is issued, that player is suspended for the next two games with any team he/she is rostered on.

Free Kicks

When play has been stopped for an infraction, play shall be started with a free kick taken by a player from the opposing team. During the taking of the free kick, all of the opposing players must stand at least ten feet from the ball until it is in play. The ball must be stationary when a free kick is taken and the kicker has five seconds to play the ball. Failure to put the ball in play will result in the ball being turned over to the opposing team.

Free Kick In Attacking Penalty Area: Any free kick awarded to the attacking team for a foul which occurred in the opponents' penalty area, shall be taken at the top of the penalty area arc, unless a penalty kick has been awarded.

Free Kicks Originating In The Penalty Area: When a player is taking a free kick in his own team's penalty area, all opposing players shall remain outside the penalty area until the all has cleared the penalty area, and shall be at least 10 feet from the ball while the kick is being taken.

Violation/Kicker If the kicker, after taking the free kick, plays the ball a second time before it has been touched by another player, a free kick shall be taken by a player on the opposing team at the point where the second touch took place.

If kicker delays the kick longer than five seconds after the referee's signal, his team shall lose possession of the restart.

Rescheduling

If a team wants to reschedule a game, the coach or manager has to first contact the office and find out dates and times that the field is available. Then, the coach/manager has to contact the opposing coach/manager to see if they will reschedule. After a new date and time has been agreed upon, BOTH coaches must contact the office to okay the game change. No games will be changed until both coaches have contacted the office.

Co-Ed Rules

Coed will play with a total of 6 players on the field. There will be at least 2 females (may include the goalie) on the field at all times - regardless of penalties.

If a female scores a goal in a Coed game, it will count for two goals. If a female takes a shot and it deflects off a male teammate, it will only count as one goal. The final touch must come from a female for it to count as two goals. Deflections off opposing defenders or the goalkeeper will still count as two goals. If a female shoots and scores from behind the 2-point line, it will still only count for two goals

The overtime period is 3 minutes in length. There needs to be 3 players (including the goalie) on the field and one of them needs to be female. The over time will be started with a ball drop at midfield. The first team to score wins. If the score is tied at the end of the overtime period then the game will be called and it will end in a tie.

Number of Players (Small Field)

There are a few rules on the small field that differ from the rules on the big field. The differences are found below. All rules not mentioned below are the same as the rules on the big field.

Number of Players: Ages 5-8:
Number of Players - 5 field + 1 Goalie Team Size - 7 minimum/12 maximum

Ages 9-10:
Number of Players - 4 field + 1 Goalie Team Size - 7 minimum/12 maximum

Ages 11 and Up:
Number of Players - 3 field + 1 Goalie Team Size - 6 minimum/12 maximum

Adults:
Number of Players - 3 field + 1 Goalie Team Size - 6 minimum/12 maximum

Ball:
Ages 5-6 – size 3 ball Ages 7-12–size 4 ball and Ages 13 and up size 5 ball

Free Kicks:
All kicks will be indirect kicks, including kick offs, goal kicks, corners, free kicks, and balls put back into play