INDOOR SOCCER

Sessions:

• All sessions will consist of seven scheduled games.
• Playoff eligibility will be determined by final league standings, with 50% (or more) of the teams in each division participating.

League Fees:

• must be paid in full prior to the first scheduled game.
• The Referee assigned will need to see your payment receipt prior to starting the game.

Players:

• All players from Under 8 through Under 19 must be registered through a State Youth Soccer Association.
• Forms are available in the office.

Rosters:

• 6 v 6 leagues 20 players maximum
• 5 v 5 leagues 12 players maximum
• All teams must submit a roster before the start of each session.
• All team rosters will be considered frozen after the second game of the session.
• All players must have the same colored shirts with different numbers.
• Player numbers will be included on the final roster for identification.
• An MYSA Indoor Player Pass Card is required for all youth teams.
• Positive ID is required for all teams and adult 30+ teams.
• Teams found using unrostered players during a scheduled league game will forfeit the game in question.
• Players who fail to properly identify themselves, either for roster checks or red card offenses may be suspended from all league play.
• In all youth leagues, no dual rostering within the same age group is allowed.
• In adult leagues, more than two players may be rostered from a higher division.

League Games:

• will consist of two 25 minute halves with a 2 minute break at half time.

Schedules:

• A tentative time schedule will be available one week prior to the start of the season.
• The Coach will receive a phone call one week before the first game.
• Once playing times have been established, games will not be rescheduled.
• Your team is expected to show up regardless of weather conditions.
• Any "no shows" will be fined $25; if it is not paid by the next scheduled game, said team will forfeit the rest of the season.

Forfeitures:

• A game will result in a forfeit when a team is not ready to play after 5 minutes have passed the scheduled starting time.
• The final score will be reported as a 0-5 loss.
• With the consent of a Sports Center Staff member, players may use the field either for a scrimmage or for practice for the remaining time allotted.

League Standings:

• will be posted in the main lobby.
• A team will earn points in the following manner:
  1. WIN = 2 points
  2. DRAW = 1 point
  3. LOSS = 0 points.
• All final scores will be recorded but a team will only receive credit for a five goal differential.
  • This prevents stronger teams from running up the score.
  • Out of respect for all players and teams, the Sports Center requests that referees only post a five goal differential on the scoreboard.
  • The true score will be kept for records.

Tie Breakers:

• In the event of a tie in the final standings at the end of a session, the following procedure will be used, in this order, until the tie has been broken:
  1. Head to head record.
  2. Total goal differential (maximum of 5 goals per game).
  3. Least number of goals allowed.
  4. Most goals scored.
  5. Coin toss.

Supervision:

• In all youth games, it is mandatory that an adult be on the bench to help maintain control of the players.
• The referee in charge will choose to abandon any youth game that does not have an adult present.
• It is also suggested that the "Coach" be at least 4 years older that the age group they are coaching.

Playoff Games:

• (for adults and Under 19) will consist of two 25 minute halves and games (for youth divisions Under 16) will consist of two 15 minute halves.
• If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, a 5 minute sudden death period will be played.
• If neither team scores during the sudden death period, penalty kicks will be taken.
  • The referee shall decide which goal is to be used, and shall use a coin toss to determine which team shall take the first kick.
  • Only players who were on the field or in the penalty box at the end of the sudden death overtime period may participate.
  • Each coach or captain shall choose the order in which his/her team will shoot.
  • Shooters 1,2 and 3 from each team will alternate the taking of penalty kicks.
  • If the score is still tied, shooter 4 from each team will each take a penalty kick.
  • If still tied, shooter 5, shooter 6, 1,2,etc. until the tie is broken.

Ball Size:

• #4 for Under 12 age groups and younger
• #5 for Under 14 age groups and older.

Number of Players:

• Each team shall consist of 5 players and a goalkeeper.
• To start or continue a game, a minimum of 3 field players and a goalkeeper must be present and not in the penalty box.

Referees:

• The Sports Center will assign at least one referee for each game who will be responsible for the control of the game and operation of the clock and scoreboard.
• The referee may delegate the scoreboard/clock function, but the official time will be kept "on the field."
• Please use Referee Critique Sheets to voice any disagreements.

Player's Equipment:

• A player must not wear anything which is, in the opinion of the referee, dangerous to another player.
• Each player of a given team is required to be uniformly dressed, with different numbered shirts.
• The goalkeeper must wear colors that distinguish him/her from the other players on the field.
• All players are required to wear flats or other shoes designed for artificial turf.
• No hats or bandannas are to be worn.
• All teams have been informed that shinguards are required.
• Any player entering the field of play during a game without proper shinguards shell be warned, then assessed a 2 minute penalty, then a full 5 minute major penalty.

Games must start on time, so please arrive 30 minutes prior to scheduled kick off time.

Start of Play:

• The referee must blow the whistle to start play from the center spot (kick-off).
• The ball must be played in any direction on a kick-off, and is considered in play after it has completed one full circumference of the ball.
• The kick-off is the only indirect kick.
• As with all free kicks, the ball must be played within 5 seconds or loss of possession will result.

Offside:

• The offside rule does not apply.

The Clock Will Not Stop for any reason; games must run on time. There will be no injury time. However, since safety is our first concern, play will be suspended for the treatment of any injury. If an injury occurs within the last three minutes of a game whose score is within one goal, the referee may stop the clock. Time may be deducted from the next game to compensate for time lost.

Substitutions:

• May be made at the teams own risk, and may occur on an unlimited basis.
• These substitutions are made "on the fly" provided that the player leaving the field arrives at the bench before a replacement enters the field of play.
• A team having too many players on the field while the ball is in play will incur a 2 minute penalty.
• If the goalkeeper is replaced by another keeper, the change may be made on the fly but the referee must be properly informed.

Ball In and Out of Play:

• The ball is considered out of play when it touches any of the netting, leaves the field of play, or lands directly on top of the dasher.
• A restart of play will be either a goal kick, corner kick, or a direct kick along the striped line.
• A signal by whistle is not required, unless so instructed by the referee.
• The ball must be stationary and either on the white line, on the corner spot, or within the goal area as directed by the referee.
• The defending team shall stand at least 5 yards away from the ball on all free kicks.
• The ball must be played within 5 seconds once in position, or a loss of possession will result.
• If a team is rewarded a restart but decides to mass substitute and abandons the ball while it is out of play, the 5 second rule will take effect at the time of the substitution.
• Any intentional delay of the game will result in a warning by the referee.
  • Further such occurrences will result in a 2 minute penalty.
• If the ball touches the roof or ceiling, the ball will be put in play directly under the spot it touched.

Three Line Violation:

• When the ball passes over the three mid-field lines in the air without touching a player of either team, play will be restarted with a direct kick from the middle of the first orange line passed.
  • Exception #1 - if a team is playing with two players in the penalty box, the three line rule will not apply to the penalized team for the duration of that situation.
  • Exception #2 - In adult leagues, the three line violation applies only to the keeper when he/she distributes the ball by hand or by drop kick after having made a save, or to any player who takes a free kick from within the penalty area.

Pass-back Rule IS in Effect:

• This is a change from past sessions, to comply more closely to FIFA Laws of the Game.
• If a player intentionally passes the ball back to his/her own goalkeeper or plays the ball with his/her feet then leaves it in the penalty area, the goalkeeper is not allowed to play the ball with his/her hands.
• The ball may be played back off a teammates head or body.
• "Trick plays" such as flipping the ball with one's feet so that it can be headed to one's own keeper is not allowed.
• Any violations of this rule will result in a direct free kick for the opposing team from the top edge of the penalty area.
• If the keeper dribbles the ball into his/her own penalty area, he/she may not play the ball with his/her hands.
  • This is a pass back violation, not a penalty kick situation.

Slide Tackling:

• No sliding of any kind is allowed.

• Keepers are not allowed to bounce the ball after a save is made. An infraction of this rule will result in a direct free kick for the opposing team from the top edge of the penalty area.
• If a keeper is assessed either a 2 minute or a 5 minute penalty, it may be served by another field player.
• After a save, the keeper may take as many step as he/she likes before releasing the ball, but must do so within 5 seconds.
• After a save, the keeper may only throw or drop kick the ball. He/she is not permitted to punt the ball.
• If a keeper saves the ball with their feet, or catches it and puts it to their feet, the 5 second rule does not apply.
• Keepers may NOT slide under any circumstances. (this is a change from prior years)
• Remember, keepers may play the ball with their hands when the ball is within the penalty area. If the ball is on the line, it is considered within the area.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

All FIFA rules apply with the exception of the following:

• ALL FOULS WILL RESULT IN A DIRECT FREE KICK AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING:
  • If a foul occurs within the penalty area which, under FIFA rules, would have resulted in an indirect kick, no penalty kick will be awarded. Examples:
  • dangerous play, obstruction, interference, pass-back violation, etc.
  • A direct free kick will be taken from the top edge of the penalty area.
  • Slide tackling is not permitted. Slide tackling from behind will result in at least a 2 minute penalty.
  • Sliding will not be tolerated!
  • Charging a player along the boards is either a 2 minute penalty, a 5 minute penalty, or a RED CARD, depending on the severity and/or frequency of the foul.
  • Delay of game, i.e. not starting within 5 seconds.
  • Two hands on the boards, seeking an advantage.

Two Minute Penalty: a player shall be issued a two minute penalty for the following offenses:

• unsportsmanlike conduct
• persistent fouling
• too many players on the field
• dissension towards the referee
• repeated intentional hand ball
• No/improper shinguards
• any infraction resulting in a penalty kick
• The penalty must be served in the penalty box.
• The player may re-enter the field upon completion of the two minutes, or after the opposing team has scored a goal, whichever happens first.

Yellow Card - Five Minute Major:

• A player shall be issued a yellow card for the following offenses:
  • No/improper shinguards (second offense)
  • persistent fouling after having received a 2 minute penalty.
  • committing a foul of a very serious nature.
  • showing strong dissension towards the referee.
• The player shall serve five minutes in the penalty box, and shall not return to the field of play until the penalty time has expired, regardless of how many goals are scored by the opposing team.

Red Card - Five Minute Major:

• A player shall be issued a Red Card for the following offenses:
  • Violent conduct or serious foul play.
  • Use of foul and abusive language.
  • Persistent misconduct after having received a 5 minute major..
  • Breakaway fouls (intentional fouling on clear scoring chance).
  • intentional use of hands as last defender.
• Any player shown a red card must leave the building immediately and his/her team must designate a player to serve a full 5 minute major penalty.
• Red carded players will automatically be suspended for the next scheduled league game.
• Additional suspension may be suggested by the referee, to be decided by the Sports Center Staff.
• Players in more than one league must serve their suspended game in the league in which the penalty was assessed.
• At the end of the five minute penalty, a substitute player may return to the field in place of the red carded player.
• Exception: intentional use of hands as last defender is for duration of current game only, not a one game suspension.

Referee Critique Sheets:

• The Sports Center is committed to provide referees that will consistently enforce the rules of the game, ensure the safety of the players, promote the enjoyment of the game and continually strive to improve their referee skills.
• We have critique sheets available for coaches to voice any disagreements, complaints, suggestions, or questions regarding the interpretation of the rules of the game.
• POSITIVE COMMENTS ARE ALSO WELCOMED! All critique sheets will be reviewed by appropriate staff members.
  These sheets will be used in the following manner:
  1. To help less experienced referees to recognize weaknesses in their officiating. Critique sheets will be reviewed with each referee as considered necessary by the staff.
  2. To help schedule referees in levels of competition that match their current skill level.
  3. To help identify inconsistent interpretation of the rules.
• REMEMBER: Some of the Referees are new and gaining experience. This is a youth game, not the World Cup. Coaches should remind their parents of this and encourage them to cheer for their team, and respect the referee who knows the actual interpretation of the rules and has made the effort to fill this important job!

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