Rules & Procedures
Rules
Start of Play
- Choice of ends will be decided at the start of the game.
- Each game will consist of 2, 25-minute halves. Halftime is 5 minutes.
- Change of ends shall start at the beginning of the second half.
Ball In & Out of Play
The ball is out of play when it has completely crossed the plane of the side line or end line.
- A player may be out of bounds and legally play a ball which is on the line or at the field of play.
- When the ball crosses a touch line (sideline) it is put back into play by a kick in. When the ball crosses the end line it is put back into play by 1 of 2 ways:
- A corner kick, if last touched by a defensive player
- A goal kick, if last touched by an offensive player
- Drop ball after temporary suspension of play, either for injury or official's time, the ball shall be placed in play by a drop ball, if neither team is in clear possession. Drop balls must touch the ground before being played. If either player touches the ball before it hits the ground, the drop ball shall be repeated.
- Equipment
- Fouls & Misconduct
- Goalies
- Injuries
- Methods of Scoring
- Offsides & Substitutions
- Penal Times
- Penalty Kicks
- Playoffs
- Red Card
- Roster Requirements
- Slide Tackles
- Verbal Abuse
Equipment
Molded cleats, turf shoes and flats (including black-soled) are acceptable footwear. Metal stud cleats are prohibited.
Shin guards are mandatory. If you are not wearing your shin guards, you may not play.
Fouls & Misconduct
Indirect Kicks
One from which a goal cannot be scored unless the ball has been played or touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through a goal.
- Dangerous play
- Charging fairly: With the shoulder when the ball is not within playing distance of the players concerned and they are definitely not trying to play it
- Obstruction: - deliberate act of a player, not in possession of the ball or not attempting to play the ball, of running between an opponent and the ball, or using the body as an obstacle to prevent opponent from gaining possession of the ball.
- Charging of the goalkeeper: The goalkeeper in possession of the ball shall not be interfered with.
- Fouls committed by the goalkeeper:
- The goalkeeper shall not deliberately play the ball and then touch it again with his/her hands before it has been played or touched by another player of the same team outside the penalty area or by a player of the opposing team either inside or outside the penalty area\
- When a player deliberately kicks the ball to his/her own goalkeeper, the goalkeeper is not permitted to touch it with his/her own hands
Direct Kicks
Direct free kicks may be called for the following fouls or forms of misconduct:
- Charging
- Kicking
- Hand ball
- Holding
- Pushing
- Slide tackles are illegal
- Striking and hitting
- Tripping
Goalies
Once the goalkeeper has possession of the soccer ball in his or her hands, he/she may throw or punt the soccer ball passed the halfway line of the field on the fly.
Injuries
Any player who is bleeding must leave the field. Time will not be stopped for injuries.
Method of Scoring
A goal is scored when the entire ball has passed completely over the plane of the goal line.
Goal may be scored during play directly from a:
- Corner kick
- Direct free kick
- Drop ball
- Goalkeepers throw, punt, or drop kick
- Penalty kick
A goal may not be scored during play directly from a:
- Free kick into a team's own goal
- Goal kick
- Indirect free kick
- Kicking
- Kickoff
Substitutions
There is no limit to on the fly substitutions with the referee’s permission.
Offsides
There is no offsides in 7 versus 7 soccer.
Penal Times
- All cautionable offenses (Yellow Card) will be a 10-minute penalty for the player. Team will not play down a player.
- All Sending-Off offenses (Red Card) will be punished by ejection for the rest of the game, and the team will play short by 1 player for the rest of the game.
- If a player receives 2 cautions in 1 game, he/she will sit out the rest of the game and his team will play short by 1 player for the rest of the game.
Penalty Kicks
All direct kick fouls occurring in the defensive penalty area and made by the defensive team become penalty kicks.
Playoffs
Teams that make the playoffs are required to have a player play in a minimum of 4 games to be eligible to play in the playoffs. Teams can add players to their roster weekly until halfway through the season and then the roster becomes frozen and no more roster additions are allowed.
Red Card
Players who receive red cards will be punished accordingly to the degree of the foul with game suspensions. Let's keep it safe and fun for everyone.
Roster Requirements
Teams will play 7 versus 7. A minimum of 4 players is required to avoid a forfeit. Each team is required to have 2 female players on the field.
You are allowed to borrow 1 female player from another team if you are short a female player. If you have no female players at the start of the game you are allowed to borrow 1 from another team, but then you play down a player. If you have only 1 on the original roster playing, then you are allowed to borrow 1 female player resulting in having the minimum required 2 females in which both play the whole game.
Slide Tackles
Referee will decide whether or not the slide tackle was indeed meant in an aggressive behavior. If the referee feels it was, then that player will remain on the sideline for that entire half resulting in that team playing down until the start of the new half. This rule is meant to be harsh and strictly enforced in order to keep players safe and enjoying the game of soccer.
Verbal Abuse
Verbal abuse such as taunting of players, referees, and/or spectators by players, substitutes, coaches or spectators are cause for immediate expulsion and suspension.