SOCCER RULES
Eligibility
1.If a player is currently on the current academic year women's soccer roster they are not eligible to play. No more than one (1) ex-varsity player may be on the field at one time. If a participant has played varsity soccer within the past five (5) years of the current season they are considered one (1). If a participant played varsity soccer more than five (5) years prior to the current season they are considered half a player (0.5).
2. No more than two (2) club soccer players can be on the roster at one time. Club players must wear a different color jersey than there team and the opponents.
NOTE: It is the team’s responsibility to bring eligibility issues to the attention of intramural staff.
Team Composition
1. Each team consists of seven (7) players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A team must have five (5) players to begin a game.
Equipment
1. It is suggested that team members wear similar colored jerseys and bring another colored jersey (i.e. one dark-colored and one light-colored jersey). The goalkeeper must wear a different color jersey than either team on the field. Pennies will be available at the game site for teams without like-colored shirts.
2. Teams must provide their own soccer balls for warm up and game. The captains for each team will agree on a game ball to use.
3. Shin guards are not required but are permitted.
4. Jewelry: No jewelry or any other item deemed dangerous by the Intramural Staff may be worn such as bracelets, earrings, necklaces, ect. Any player wearing exposed permanent jewelry (i.e. body piercings) will not be permitted to play.
5. Shoes: Regulation rubber-soled cleats, plastic cleats, detachable rubber cleats that screw into the shoe, and tennis shoes are the only permissible footwear. Sandals, street shoes, hiking boots, combat boots, or metal spikes are not allowed. No player will be allowed to participate in bare feet. No steel cleats or shoes with detachable steel cleats that screw onto the shoes may be worn.
6. Headwear: Players may wear a knit or stocking cap (no caps with bills) and/or soft, pliable, nonabrasive gloves. Bandanas and other head gear which are tied with a knot are not permitted.
7. Players may wear soft, pliable pads or braces on the leg, knee, and/or ankle. Braces may not have any exposed metal and/or screws. Braces made of any rigid material (including plastic) must be covered with a padded sleeve or at least one-half inch padding for safety reasons. Under no circumstances will a player wearing a cast or splint be permitted to play. Elbow pads are not permitted.
Timing
1. A game will be divided into two (2) periods of twenty (20) minutes each. Time runs continuously unless there is an injury or unexpected interruptions. At the conclusion of each half, the teams reverse ends. There are no time outs. Time shall be extended to allow a penalty kick to be taken. Game time will be kept on the field by a referee or scorekeeper.
2. Regular season games that are tied at the end of regulation time will remain tied. No overtime is played during the regular season. Playoff games that are tied at the end of regulation time will proceed into a 5 minute overtime period after, if needed, a shootout to determine a winner.
Start of Game
1. A captains meeting will take place before the game. A method of deciding choice will be determined by the umpire/supervisor of the game (i.e. coin toss, odd or even, rock/paper/scissors, ect.). This will determine which team has the choice of goal to defend or kicking off first. The loser of the toss will have the remaining option.
Game Play
1. Kickoff Procedure
A. A coin toss before the beginning of the game will determine which team kicks off and which has the choice of ends. The team not receiving the ball first will have possession to begin the second half.
B. On the referee's signal, the game shall start or resume following a goal with a kick from the center of the field.
C. All players shall be within his/her half of the field. Opponents of the kicking team must be outside of the 8-yard center circle until the ball is kicked. A teammate of the kicker may be anywhere within his/her half of the field.
D. The ball must be kicked forward, one revolution, for the ball to be in play. If the ball is not passed forward across the midfield line, the same team will rekick.
E. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until another player (of either team) has touched the ball. The penalty for this violation is an indirect free kick.
2. Out of Bounds, Offsides, Restarts
A. A goal is scored when the ball wholly crosses the goal line, between the goal posts and under the cross bar.
B. After the ball has wholly crossed the sidelines, either on the ground or in the air, the team that did not touch the ball last shall be awarded the throw-in.
a. The thrower must face the field of play and have both feet touching the ground out of bounds or on the touch line when the throw is made.
b. The thrower must use both hands equally and shall deliver the ball from behind and over the head.
c. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. An improper throw will result in the award of the throw to the other team.
C. A goal kick is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and was last touched by an offensive player. The ball is then placed anywhere within the goal area (box).
a. The ball is not in play until it has gone outside the penalty area. In this instance, the ball must be rekicked by the kicking team.
b. The player taking the goal kick cannot retouch the ball until another player has touched it.
D. A corner kick is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and was last touched by a defensive player. The ball must be placed on the ground on the quarter circle near the corner post.
a. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick. The opposing team must be ten yards away at the time the ball is kicked.
b. The kicker cannot retouch the ball until it is touched by another player (either team).
c. Corner posts (flags or cones) cannot be removed to take a corner kick.
E. Any ball striking a referee, goal post, or corner post and remaining on the field is in play. After the ball has wholly crossed the sideline or goal line, or whenever the game has been stopped by the referee, the ball is out of play.
F. There is NO offsides in intramural recreational soccer.
G. When restarting the game after a temporary suspension of play (i.e. injury), except on a free kick or throw-in, the team that was clearly in possession of the ball at the time of the suspension shall be awarded an indirect free kick from the spot the ball was at the time of the suspension.
a. If neither team was in clear possession of the ball, the referee shall drop the ball at the place where it was when play was suspended, and the ball is in play when it touches the ground. If play was stopped with the ball in the goal area, the ball is dropped at the nearest point outside the goal area.
3. Throw-in
A. A throw-in shall be awarded when the opposing team last touches or plays the ball before the entire ball passes
beyond the touchline either in the air or on the ground.
B. The ball shall be thrown in any direction from the point where it crossed the touchline by a player who is facing the
field of play and has both feet on the ground on or behind the touchline. The thrower shall use both hands with equal
force and shall deliver the ball from behind and over the head in one continuous movement.
C. On a throw-in, the ball is playable by either team when it has left the hands of the thrower and any part of it breaks
the plane of the touchline.
4. Goalkeeping
A. The goalkeeper has possession (control) of the ball when he or she is touching the ball.
B. From the moment the keeper takes control of the ball with his/her hands within his own penalty area, he/she is to be penalized if he/she takes more than six seconds without releasing the ball into play.
C. A keeper may not, after releasing the ball into play, touch the ball again with his hands before it has been touched by another player of the same team outside the penalty area or by an opposing player either inside or outside the penalty area. If the goalkeeper plays the ball to a teammate and the teammate passes the ball back to the goalkeeper, he/she may not use his/her hands to play the pass. Penalty for violation of this rule is an indirect free kick.
D. The goalkeeper shall not touch the ball with his/her hands via a throw-in from his/her own team or a deliberate kick by a teammate. Penalty is an indirect free kick.
5. Slide Tackling
A. There is NO SLIDE TACKLING. This rule applies to all players including the goalkeeper.
6. Scoring
A. A goal is scored when the entire ball passes beyond the goal line, provided that it has not been carried, thrown, or propelled by the arm.
B. A goal may be scored during play directly from a:
a. Kixckoff
b. Direct Free Kick
c. Goal Kick
d. Penalty Kick
e. Corner Kick
f. Drop Ball
g. Goalkeeper’s throw, punt, or drop-kick
C. A goal MAY NOT be scored during play directly from a:
a. Indirect free kick
b. Throw-in
c. Free kick into a team’s own goal
7. Fouls and Misconduct
A. There will be no offside penalty.
B. A player shall be penalized if he/she:
a. Handles the ball with his/her hands or arms. This does not apply to the goalkeeper within his/her own penalty
area, provided he/she releases the ball within the prescribed six seconds.
b. Trips an opponent, including throwing or attempting to throw an opponent by the use of the legs.
c. Pushes or holds an opponent with the hand or with any part of the arm or body.
d. Plays dangerously (kicks, strikes, attempts to kick or strike, jumps at an opponent, charges in a violent or dangerous manner, kicks dangerously high in front of opponent).
e. Illegally obstructs an opponent by interfering with an opponent’s movement without the ball.
C. A penalty shall also be assessed should two or more defensive players simultaneously make contact with the player who has control of the ball.
D. A player or coach will be cautioned (yellow card) for the following:
a. Entering the field of play without the permission of an official.
b. Persistent infringement of any of the rules of the game.
c. Verbal objection or action indicating dissent toward the official.
d. Unsportsmanlike conduct, which will be at the discretion of the official.
e. Slide tackling an opponent.
E. A player or coach will be ejected (red card) for the following:
a. Exhibiting violent conduct or committing serious foul play and including, but not limited to, deliberately handling a ball to prevent it from going into the goal or committing a foul against an opponent who is moving toward his/her goal with an obvious opportunity to score.
b. Use of vulgar, profane, foul or abusive language.
c. Fighting.
F. An ejected player cannot be replaced by a substitute and that team must play short-handed.
8. Free Kicks
A. An indirect free kick is a free kick from which a goal may not be scored unless the ball is touched by another player from either team.
B. A direct free kick is a free kick from which a goal may be scored against the offending team.
C. The free kick may be taken by any player of the offended team on the field of play at the time of the offense.
D. When a direct or indirect free kick is awarded, all opposing players must be at least ten yards away from the spot where the free kick is to be taken, unless they are standing on their goal line between the goal posts.
E. When a player is taking a free kick from within his defensive penalty area, the ball must be kicked beyond the penalty area and all opponents must be outside the penalty area.
F. The ball must be stationary when a free kick is taken. The kicker shall not play the ball again until it has been touched by another player (either team). The ball may be kicked in any direction.
9. Penalty Kicks
A. A penalty kick is awarded after a serious or intentional rule infraction takes place in the penalty area by the defensive team. A penalty kick can be awarded regardless of the position of the ball, if the infraction by the defending team is committed in the penalty area. It is not awarded for infractions that call for an indirect free kick.
B. The penalty kick shall be taken from anywhere on the penalty mark, twelve yards from the goal line.
C. The penalty kick may be taken by any player of the offended team on the field of play at the time of the offense.
(Co-Rec) The person taking the penalty kick must be of the same gender as the person who was fouled originally.
D. All players except the goalie must stay outside the penalty area and at least 10 yards from the penalty mark
E. The goalkeeper must stand on the goal line and may not move forward until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper may move laterally.
F. The kicker must wait for the official to start the play. The kicker must kick the ball forward. If the ball is not put into play properly, the kick will be retaken. Any action to deceive the goalkeeper by the kicker is illegal.
G. Following the kick, the ball shall be deemed in play if it remains on the field of play; however, the kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player (either team).
H. For any infringement by the defending team, the kick shall be retaken if a goal has not resulted. For any infringement by the attacking team other than by the kicker, the kick shall be retaken if a goal has resulted.
10. Overtime and Shootout
A. Overtime will consist of one five (5)-minute “golden goal” period. The first team to score a goal will win the game. The choice of ends and the kickoff will be decided by a coin toss.
B. If the game remains tied at the end of the overtime period, the game will proceed into a five (5)-person shootout.
C. A coin toss will occur to determine which team shall kick first in the shootout. The winner of the coin toss shall have the option of shooting first or last.
D. Each team captain shall designate five (5) players to shoot for his/her team. The designated players must have been on the field of play (in the game) at the end of the overtime period. The goalkeeper may be one of the shooters.
E. Goalkeeper changes may occur only at the beginning of the shootout and as long as the new goalkeeper was a player on the field at the end of the overtime period.
F. Each team has a total of five (5) shots. Teams will alternate after each shot. Each shot shall follow the procedure for a penalty kick as outlined above.
G. If the score is tied after five (5) shots the shootout will resume with any remaining players yet to shoot from each team. Once all players have shot once the order beings from the top and keep shooting until a winner is determined.
Mercy Rule
1. If a team is up by five (5) or more goals at two (2) minutes left in the second half the game will be over.
Substitutions
1. Unlimited substitutions are permitted. The referee must be notified before a substitution can occur. Players entering and leaving the field must do so at the halfway line.
2. Substitutions may occur on a goal kick, after a goal, at half time, after an injury, after a caution, and during your own corner kick and throw-in. Any player ejected from the game may not be replaced.
CoRec Modifications
1. Each Co-Rec team will consist of eight (8) players (4 men and 4 women). At no time may the difference between males and females on a team be greater than one. Each team must have a minimum of six (6) players in order to begin a game.
2. Substitutions must be male for male and female for female (Exception: goalkeeper). A team that begins a game with fewer than seven (7) players may add players to bring the team to its full complement, as is permitted by substitution rules.
3. Position requirements are as follows:
The difference between male and female players who are playing in the field (excluding the goalkeeper) may not exceed one (1). When participating with an odd number of players (ex: 7 players), the gender that has the greater
number of players must play the goalkeeper position.
4. If a female scores a goal the goal is worth 2 points.
Division Modifications
1. CoRec B league may not have more than two (2) A league players on the field at one time during play. Girls count as half a player.