Indoor Soccer Rules
STAR HILL FAMILY ATHLETIC CENTER INDOOR SOCCER
LAWS OF THE GAME
I. THE FIELD OF PLAY
OVERALL ATTRIBUTES:
Two fields are 180 feet in length and 90 feet in width
The third field is 192 feet in length by 90 feet in width
Combined all three fields cover 202 feet X 290 feet
MARKINGS:
Halfway Line and Center Spot - A half way line is marked across the field of play. A center spot is marked in the middle of this line and a circle with a 15-foot radius is marked around it. All players must remain behind the circle on all kick offs.
One Third Field Lines - A line marking is placed across the field 30 feet into each half of the field of play measured from the half-way line to indicate three line violations.
Penalty Area - At each end of the field of play, two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line on the outside of each goal. A line drawn parallel with the goal line joins these lines. The area enclosed by these lines and the goal line, plus the area inside the goal is the Penalty Area.
Penalty Kick Mark - The Penalty Kick Mark is at the top of the penalty area (27 feet from the mid-point of the goal line)
II. THE BALL
U12 and younger - Size 4 Ball
All other divisions - Size 5 Ball
The match ball should be inflated to full pressure of approximately 9.75 lbs
III. NUMBER OF PLAYERS
U-12 and under will have 7 players on the field; one goalkeeper and six field players with no less than 5 players on the field to start the game.
U-13 to Adults will have 6 players, one goalkeeper and five field players, with no less than 3 players on the field to start the game. Coed Adult will have 7 players, 3 men and 3 women, and a goalie which can be either a man or woman. The maximum amount of men on the field at any one time is 4.
SUBSTITUTIONS -
Teams are allowed UNLIMITED substitutions during the game, "ON THE FLY" substitutions are allowed.
Goalkeeper Substitution - Any teammate may change places with the goalkeeper at any time, provided that the goalkeeper wears a jersey that does not conflict with either the referee or other players and provided the referee is notified before the substitution is made.
IV. PLAYERS EQUIPMENT
Players wear their team's uniform, consisting of the same colors with unique numbers 6 inches or larger on the back, shin guards covered by socks and indoor footwear. Molded outdoor cleats ARE allowed. Jewelry and other accessories are prohibited. The goalkeeper shall wear colors that distinguish him/her from field players and referee. Shirts, shorts, shoes, and shin guards must be worn at all times. Dangerous Equipment - Players shall not be permitted to wear anything deemed dangerous by the referee. Any cast worn must be properly padded to the satisfaction of the referee. Players will not be allowed to participate until their equipment meets with the approval of the referee.
V. REFEREES
Referee Authority - The decisions of the Referee regarding facts connected with play and interpretations of the rules are final.
The referee has the following responsibilities:
a. Enforce the rules
b. Advantage: Refrain from penalizing in cases where they are satisfied that, by so doing, they would give an advantage to the offending team.
c. The referee has the discretionary power to suspend the game for any serious infringement of the rules, interference by spectators or other cause, should suspension be deemed necessary. In the event of the suspension being attributed to one specific team, that team shall forfeit the game. If the point total attributed to the non-offending team at the time of that suspension exceeds the forfeit point total (8-0), then the score shall be allowed to stand. If both teams are deemed by the referee to be at fault to a serious degree, a double forfeit will be the result, and neither team will receive any points.
d. Illegal Entry: Allow no person other than the players to enter the field of play without permission.
e. Injury Stoppage: Stop the game if, in the opinion of the referee, a player has been injured; have the player removed as soon as possible from the field of play, without risking further trauma as a result of removal; and immediately resume the game. The time clock will not be stopped unless, at the discretion of the referee, medical personnel must remove the injured player from the field. Ball possession shall go to the team in possession at the time of the stoppage. If there was no clear possession, the game will resume with a drop ball.
f. Player discipline: Caution any player guilty of misconduct or unsportsmanlike behavior with a yellow card and if the player persists, suspend him or her with a red card.
g. Non-player discipline: Penalize or eject any coach or non-playing team personnel. All penalties or ejections of non-playing personnel will result in a free kick to the opposing team.
h. Oversee the goal totals
i. Overall Playing Surface and Field Conditions - The referee has the authority to stop play if he feels that any aspect of the physical facilities could endanger the players. Play may be resumed once such a problem has been remedied.
The referee is also responsible for the following:
a. Indicating illegal substitutions
b. Operating the score board
c. Signaling a 3 line violation
d. Controlling benches
e. Submitting the game record to Star Hill management
f. Ensuring the official time is correct and that full time is allowed
g. Enforcing the laws of the game. Violations will be signaled by the whistle, which stops play. Any game played at Star Hill, whether it is a make-up game or forfeit, the referees will have the same authority as in a regular game and all penalties such as red cards will be enforced and carried over to your next game, even if it is in the next session.
VI. DURATION OF GAME:
All games will play two 26-minute halves with a halftime. The referee may shorten the halftime interval depending on time. The clock will run at all times except in the case of an unusual delay, determined by the referee. If the clock is inoperable, the referee will keep time on a watch.
THERE WILL BE NO OVERTIME IN REGULAR SEASON GAMES!
VII. START OF PLAY:
Games will start promptly at the scheduled game time, per Star Hill clock. In order to keep games on time, teams must warm up off the field. Kicking the ball outside of the playing field is prohibited. When the previous game ends, teams will be allowed a reasonable amount of time (two minutes) to get all equipment into the bench area and take the field. Forfeit time is five minutes past the hour. The kick off shall be taken by the visiting team (2nd team listed). Teams change ends at the start of each new period or half. Every player shall be in his own half of the field and every player of the team opposing that of the kicker shall remain not less than ten (10) feet from the ball until it is kicked off.
The ball is in play when it is touched and moves forward. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player. If the ball does not move forward, the kick off shall be retaken, except in the case of the kicker playing the ball again before another player has touched it. For this offense, a player of the opposing team at the point shall take a free kick where the offending player touched the ball a second time. A goal can be scored directly from a kick-off. ALL KICKS ARE DIRECT. After a goal has been scored, the game shall be restarted in the above manner by the team conceding the goal.
RESTARTS FOR UNUSUAL CAUSES - For restarts in unusual circumstances (i.e. after injury), the game resumes with a kick, from the location of the ball when play is stopped. The team that had clear possession prior to the stoppage takes this kick. If there is no clear possession, then the game will be restarted with a drop ball at the point where the ball was when the game was stopped. If the game was stopped inside the penalty area, all restarts, whether by kick or drop ball, will be from the top of the restraining arc. DROP BALL - The ball shall be deemed in play when the referee drops the ball and it has touched the floor. A player shall not play the ball until it has touched the floor.
FIVE SECOND PLAY REQUIREMENT -Failure by a team to put the ball into play within five seconds, as signaled by the referee, shall result in a possession turnover to the opponent unless the referee grants them a substitution.
VIII. BALL IN PLAY/OUT OF PLAY
The ball is in play at all times unless indicated by the referee including:
a. If it rebounds from a goal-post, cross bar into the field
b. If it rebounds off the referee when he is in the field of play
c. In the event of a supposed infringement of the laws until a decision is given.
The ball is out of play:
a. When it makes contact with any part of the building superstructure above the field of play or goes over the netting. A free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the center of their attacking one third field line.
b. When the game has been stopped by the referee for a player intentionally hitting the ball hard enough to hit the superstructure, ceiling, or lighting will be cause for a red card issued by the referee and deemed as intent to destroy property of Star Hill Family Athletic Center. The player will also be banned from Star Hill. A direct kick is awarded to the opposing team from where the kick was struck.
IX. METHOD OF SCORING:
LEGAL GOAL - A goal is scored when the whole ball has passed over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the crossbar, provided it has not been thrown, carried or otherwise propelled by hand or arm, by a player of the attacking side, except in the case of a goalkeeper who was within his own penalty area when he legally propelled the ball. One point for each goal scored.
SCORING - The team scoring the greater number of goals will be declared the winner. Games can end in a tie (including championships).
FORFEITS - A team not having the minimum number of players required at the start of the game will forfeit the match 8-0. If a team forfeits after a game has started, the opponent will be awarded a 8-0 victory. These goal differentials will show in the standings.
LEAGUE STANDINGS POINT SYSTEM
Win = 3 points
Tie = 1 point
Loss = 0 points
TIE BREAKER ORDER - Any league divisions ending in a tie at the end of the league season shall be governed by the following tie breaking system order:
1. Total Team Points
2. Head to Head Record
3. *Goal Differential (No more than an 8 goal differential for any one game)
4. Most Goals Scored
5. Least Goals Against
*GOAL DIFFERENTIAL - The largest goal differential allowed at Star Hill is 8 goals. Any amount over 8 goals will be recorded as an 8 goal differential.
TIE BREAKER PROCEDURE - A game that ends in a tie, where a winner must be declared shall have the winner decided as follows. Each team will choose any 5 players on the roster to participate in the shoot-out. The home team will go first. Each team will take five kicks alternating each time. If one team has scored more goals than the other could even if it were to complete its five kicks the shoot-out is finished. If the score is tied after 5 kicks the teams shall continue (using different players until everyone on the team has taken a turn) with the kicks until one team has scored a goal more than its opponent within its turn. The referee will place the ball goal side on the center circle. The shooter will have 5 seconds to get off a shot on goal from the time he/she touches the ball after the referees whistle. (U-12 and below 6 seconds.) The shoot-out attempt is over after the shooter has made his attempt or 5 seconds has elapsed (U-12 and below 6 seconds), whichever comes first. The shooter is not allowed to play rebounds. The goalkeeper must start with one foot on the goal line. Any foul by the keeper results in a penalty kick without the keeper in goal. This includes fouls outside the penalty area.
PROTEST - The only protest that Star Hill Family Athletic Center will accept is a protest concerning player eligibility. No protests will be accepted concerning official's calls. During the playoffs, a team must protest a game before it starts.
X. DELAY OF GAME
THREE LINE PASS VIOLATION (ONLY APPLIES TO THE GOALKEEPER) - A goalkeeper who is guilty of a three-line violation when he or she passes the ball across three lines (both one third lines and center line) in the air, toward the opponents goal-line, without touching or having been played by another player. The whole ball must have crossed both one third lines. If the ball is placed on one third line and kicked from there and then crosses over the other one third line, there is no violation. If a three-line pass is declared, the referee shall award a direct free kick, which shall be taken by a player of the opposing team, from the center point of the first one third line the ball crossed. Any team playing with one less player than the opposing team shall be exempt from the three-line rule.
OVER AND BACK (PASS/PLAY INTO DEFENSIVE ZONE) - If a defender passes the ball back to his own goalkeeper and the goalkeeper handles the ball, the referee shall stop play and award a direct free kick from the center of the restraining arc. However, the goalkeeper may play the ball in any other manner so long as he does not handle the ball. When referring to handling the ball, it means with the hands. He may however play the ball with his head or feet.
FIVE SECOND RULE - Failure by a team to put the ball into play within five seconds, as signaled by the referee, shall result in a possession turnover to the opponent. When playing as goal keeper: Failure to distribute the ball having held it in his hands over five seconds, which, in the opinion of the referee, is designed merely to hold up the game shall be penalized by the award of a direct free kick to be taken by the opposing team from the top of the restraining arc.
XI. FOULS
A player who commits any of the following offenses while the ball is in play shall be penalized by the referee awarding a direct free kick to the opposing team, to be taken at the point of the infraction, unless the offense is committed by a player in his opponents goal area, in such case the free kick shall be taken from a point anywhere within that half of the goal area in which the offense occurred. ALL FREE KICKS ARE DIRECT
a. Kicks, or attempts to kick, an opponent
b. Trips an opponent (Throwing or attempting to throw an opponent by use of the legs or by stooping in front of or behind him/her)
f. Assaulting, threatening, and spitting elbows, attempts to strike or elbow, or spits at an opponent. A penalty must be assessed for any of these offenses.
g. Holding an opponent
h. Pushing an opponent
i. Handling the ball, (i.e. carries, stripes or propels the ball with his arm or hand).
j. Dangerous play - Playing in a manner considered by the referee to be dangerous, i.e. attempting to kick the ball while held by the goalkeeper
l. Obstructing - When not playing the ball, intentionally impeding an opponent, i.e. running between the opponent and the ball, or interposing the body so as to form an obstacle to an opponent
n. Slide tackling!
o. Players instigating others through physical and non-physical means will be assessed a foul and a free kick given to the opposing team from the spot of the foul
p. Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (This does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area).
GOALKEEPING RESTRICTIONS - The following infractions shall cause the referee to stop play and award a direct free kick to the opposing team at the top of the restraining arc:
a. The handling (other than kicking) of an intentional over and back pass from a teammate
b. Three line pass violation. If a three-line pass is declared, the referee shall award a direct free kick, which shall be taken by a player of the opposing team, from the center point of the first one third line the ball crossed.
c. Five-second distribution: A goalkeeper, in possession of the ball within the penalty area, must distribute the ball outside of the penalty area or to another player within five seconds of having received the ball within the penalty area. Possession shall be defined as control with hand or foot
d. Illegal procedure - Handling: A goalkeeper who receives or carries the ball outside of the penalty area by foot, shall not handle the ball inside the penalty area prior to the ball being touched by another player or prior to a stoppage in play. Additionally, the following situations specifically concerning goalkeepers shall apply:
e. Handball outside penalty area: Intentional handball violations committed by the goalkeeper outside the penalty area shall be interpreted to be "severe in nature" and a penalty may be assessed against the goalkeeper who, in the opinion of the referee, intentionally handles the ball to break up a play or save a shot at goal outside of the penalty area. Situations whereby the goalkeeper first handles the ball within the penalty area but his momentum carries him or her outside the penalty area while handling the ball shall not be deemed "severe in nature", and no penalty shall be assessed.
f. Once the goalkeeper releases the ball with his hands, he is not permitted to handle the ball again until a member of the opposing team plays the ball unless a stoppage of play occurs. A player may pass the ball back to the goalkeeper within their own defensive zone, however the goalkeeper may not play the ball with his/her hands twice within the defensive zone unless a player from the opposing team has made contact with the ball. The foul will be assessed from the white dot at the top of the arc
g. Goalkeeper striking: If, during play, the goalkeeper either intentionally strikes an opponent by throwing the ball violently at him or pushes him with the ball while holding it, the referee shall assess a penalty. A penalty kick will be awarded if the offense was initiated in the penalty area.
GOALKEEPER PRIVILEGES -a. If a player intentionally impedes the opposing goalkeeper in an attempt to prevent him putting the ball into play, the referee shall award a free kick.
b. Endangering the goalkeeper: A player who intentionally commits a foul against the goalkeeper which, in the opinion of the referee, falls short of serious foul play (ejection) but, nevertheless, endangers the goalkeeper beyond what is considered to be a normal hazard of play shall be assessed a penalty.
c. The goalkeeper shall have clear possession of the ball when he has it held in both hands or pinned against the floor, post or crossbar with one or both hands.
YELLOW CARD - Example: dissent, persistent and or violent fouling, un-sportsmanlike conduct, intentionally kicking the ball so that it makes contact with any part of the building above the field of play or goes over the netting.TWO YELLOW CARDS IN SAME GAME - EJECTION FROM GAME AND SUSPENSION FROM NEXT GAME
RED CARD - (referees discretion) plus ejection and at least a one game suspension is mandatory. Suspension does not include the game from which you were suspended. It is the next game or games. A player or coach receiving a red card may be asked to leave the facility (referee's discretion). If the player refuses to leave, or delays leaving, the game may be declared a forfeit with the team whose player refused to leave forfeiting the game.
FIRST RED CARD - EJECTION FROM GAME AND SUSPENSION FROM NEXT GAME
SECOND RED CARD - EJECTION FOR BALANCE OF THE SESSION OR IF FINAL GAME OF SESSION, EJECTION FROM FIRST TWO GAMES OF NEXT SESSION.
EJECTIONS - A player or non-player shall be ejected for incidents of
a. Violent conduct or serious foul play
b. Foul or abusive language or action
c. Accumulation of two yellow card penalties
d. Disrespect for referee or staff of Star Hill Family Athletic Center.
EJECTED COACH RESTRICTIONS - An ejected coach may not, from the time of his ejection until the conclusion of the game, have any communication with his team's players in the arena.
XII. FREE KICKS
ALL procedures on free kicks, including corner kicks, goal kicks, penalty kicks, and restarts are direct kicks
Penalty kicks and corner kicks require a whistle from the referee
XV. TEAM ROSTERS/ELIGIBILITY/SCORESHEETS
ROSTER CONSIDERATIONS - A maximum of fifteen players (15), youth teams and adult teams, may be placed on a team roster for one team in the same age group/league. Players must be able to provide proof of age when requested by Star Hill management. The following will be accepted as proof of age:
a. Birth certificate or copy
b. Driver's license
c. Resident alien (green) card
d. Passport,
e. Star Hill management reserves the right to check rosters before, during, and after the game. Any player found to be ineligible will be banned from the league the remainder of the season. The coach for this team is also subject to punishment if said player on their team is ineligible.
ALL ROSTERS ARE FINAL AFTER THE 3RD GAME
A team can request a roster check on the opposing team after the 3rd game of the season. This request must be made before the game starts.
ALL PLAYERS MUST BE ON THE ROSTER WITH A SIGNED WAIVER.
ALL PLAYERS (OR PARENT IF PLAYER IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18) MUST SIGN THE TEAM ROSTER/WAIVER FORM PRIOR TO THE FIRST GAME.
TEAM MANAGER:
Every youth team is required to have an adult (minimum age 21 years old) on the bench to supervise the team. Failure to have this individual will result in a forfeit of the game. Only players and 2 coaches are permitted in the player's boxes.
INJURIES, DAMAGE, THEFT OR LOSS - The game of soccer involves physical contact. The facility, sponsors or any authorized representative, agent or employee of these shall not be responsible for any expense incurred by any team if the event is canceled in whole or in part or for any liability in connection with the event for personal injury or property loss in connection with traveling to, participating in, or traveling home from the event. Each team, player, coach or fan shall participate at his or her own risk.
INCLEMENT WEATHER - All teams are encouraged to do everything within their power to attend games. In the event of bad weather resulting in a team's inability to compete, a forfeit will result unless the facility has canceled the game.
NO SHOW & SPIRIT OF THE GAME POLICY - If a team fails to show for a scheduled game, the use of the field by the opposing team is at the discretion of the facility management. Teams are requested to appreciate that forfeiture is not in the "spirit" of the competition and detracts from the enjoyment of the event by participants. Where a coach has stated his intent to throw a game or states his intent to encourage his players to perform at sub par levels, or where one of the players or parents from that team admits Star Hill management that this occurred; the management has the right to disqualify the team concerned from further participation.
SPECIAL RULES
NO TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED TO START THEIR FIRST GAME WITH A TEAM FEE BALANCE.
NO PLAYER CAN BE ON MORE THAN 1 TEAM IN THE SAME LEAGUE, SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY STAR HILL MANAGEMENT.
MEN'S 30 & OVER & MEN'S 40 & OVER- The Goalie may be under the age of 30 but must be 25 years or older.
CO-ED RULES
Challenge Rule - Applies to all Coed divisions. When a woman has possession of the ball, no man
shall approach her within six feet, with the intent to take the ball away. Intimidation (no contact) by a
man, within six feet will also be considered a challenge and is illegal. Play will be restarted with a
direct free-kick. Male goalkeepers are exempt from the challenge rule within their own penalty box.
Divisions - When 3(three) or more divisions are being used, no player can play in all divisions. Any player playing in the top (Premier) division can not play in the lowest division.
GOALKEEPER - The goalkeeper may be male or female.
