The soccer6 league Laws of the Game

LAW I:  THE FIELD

Dimensions:  50 yds long x 30 yds wide

LAW II:  THE BALL

• Size 5 soccer balls will be used for all games.

 LAW III:  NUMBER OF PLAYERS

• All Men's Leagues: Six players, including one goalkeeper.
• Women's Leagues: Six players, including one goalkeeper.
• Co-ed Leagues: Six players (4 men maximum, 2 women minimum), including one goalkeeper.
• Rosters are frozen at the conclusion of the regular season (must be registered by week 8). No new players may be added to a roster for the playoffs.

APPLIES TO ALL...

A minimum of FOUR players are needed to start and continue a game.  Unlimited substitutions are allowed as stated below.  Any player may change positions with the goalkeeper, provided that the referee is informed before the change is made and provided that the change is made during a stoppage of play.  Substitute players are to remain in the player area, one sideline and near the center.   All players MUST be a registered player in the soccer6 league and have clicked the waiver/release of liability form.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

• Free substitutions are allowed, as long as it is done in a way that does not give an advantage to the team who is subbing (i.e. a player goes off near his/her goal while a sub goes on at half field for a break away.  Referees will use discretion to make this call.

LAW IV:  PLAYER EQUIPMENT

• All participants must be registered through the soccer6 website.
• Players must dress in matching jerseys.
• Shin guards are mandatory and must be totally covered by socks.
• Only soccer shoes or turf shoes designed for soccer are allowed.  No studded or screw-in shoes allowed.
  • Turfs are highly recommended for the field at MCS.
• Smart watches may be worn only if covered with a wristband.
• Goalkeepers must wear colors which distinguish them from all other players and referees.

LAW V:  REFEREES

• At least one official will be present during play.
• They shall keep the official record of the game.

LAW VI:  DURATION OF THE GAME

• The clock will start at the time the game is scheduled.
• Two equal halves of 25 minutes.
• A halftime interval of two minutes.
• The Clock will only be stopped for serious injuries.
• Playoffs;  Overtime will be a 5 minute 'golden goal' period.  If still tied, teams will compete in a “breakaway shoot out”.  See LAW XV below.

LAW VII:  START OF PLAY

• Kick-off will be given to the home team.  Visitors will have the 2nd half kick-off.
• A kick-off will start the game and restart the game after a goal is scored.
• Teams will change direction at halftime.
• A goal can be scored directly from kick-off.
• Kick-off may be played in any direction and is a direct kick.

LAW VIII:  FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

MAJOR OFFENSES: Free-kick awarded and card.

• Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
• Tripping or attempting to throw an opponent.
• Jumping at an opponent.
• Charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner.
• Charging an opponent from behind.
• Striking or attempting to strike an opponent.
• Spitting at or on an opponent.
• Holding an opponent.
• Pushing an opponent.
• Intentionally handling the ball. ( except goalkeepers in their own penalty box.)
• Charging (checking) an opponent.

• FIGHTING
  • There is an absolute NO TOLERANCE policy for fighting.  If you throw a punch (assault), you will be immediately ejected from the game and asked to leave the premises.  Any player ejected for fighting will be suspended from the league indefinitely.  Police may be called if the situation calls for it.

MINOR OFFENSES: Free-kick awarded.

• Sliding, slide tackling. Gk’s may slide in their box however it still must be legal.
  • Sliding is not allowed in any context (even when alone on the field).  It is the ref's discretion to determine if a slide takes place.  Even when a player slips, it may cause a slide which can affect a play (for better or for worse) and should be called.  Typically, if a player leaves their feet or goes to their knee, our refs should make the call.  An intentional slide to save a goal will be an automatic red card.
• Obstructing an opponent.
• Charging the goalkeeper, except when he/she is holding the ball, is obstructing an opponent, has passed outside his/her goal area.
• Illegal substitutions
• Delaying game:  When playing as goalkeeper, indulging in tactics such as failing to play the ball outside the penalty box within five seconds.

MISCONDUCT: Cautioning and time penalties.

• Blue card - 2 minutes (team plays down a player).  If the team with the infraction is scored on within this two minute time frame, they may immediately return to full strength (all 6 players on the field).
• Yellow card - 5 minutes (team plays down a player for the duration of the 5 minutes, regardless of a goal  or halftime).  The 5 minutes should continue into the second half or over time if it happens within that time frame.

Red Card - Player is ejected (team plays down a player for remainder of game) and must leave the field area.  Player must miss the following game and meet with the league Director before being reinstated.  We reserve the right to remove any player from the league who can not adhere to our rules and Code of Conduct.

A player shall be cautioned if he/she:

• Persistently infringes the laws and house rules (i.e. swearing, sliding etc.).
• Shows, by word or action, dissent at any referee decision.
• Is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct.

A player shall be ejected if he/she:

• Is guilty of violent conduct or serious foul play.
• Uses foul or abusive language.
• Persists in misconduct after being cautioned.
• Receives a third 2 or 5 minute time penalty for a major or minor offense.

*If a player receives 3 or more cards (blue, yellow or red) over the course of a single season, they will have to sit out a game and meet with the league Director about rejoining the league.

GOALKEEPER RESTRICTIONS:

Once a goalkeeper has gained control of the ball with his hands he/she must release the ball within five seconds.  After releasing the keeper may not play the ball again with their hands until it has been touched by an opponent or goes out of play.  At no time may a goalkeeper handle a ball that is intentionally played to them by the foot of a teammate.  A goalkeeper is not permitted to slide outside of the penalty area.  Punishment for any of the above will be the awarding of a free-kick from the center of the top of the penalty area.  Once a goalkeeper has gained control of the ball with his hands, the ball must make contact with the ground or any player prior to crossing the midfield line.

Note :  There will be NO time penalty award for any of the Goalkeeper Restrictions.  A time penalty assessed against a goalkeeper may be served by another member of the team that is already on the field.  In cases of ejection the goalkeeper must leave the premises.

DELAY OF GAME:

If a player intentionally delays the game, the referee may award a time penalty.  If a player, in the opinion of the referee, feigns an injury the referee may award a 2-minute time penalty for delay of game.

TIME PENALTIES:

A time penaltuy can be awarded for:

• Breach of our rules as stated above. ( i.e . sliding, swearing etc.).
• Illegal substitution and illegally entering the field of play.
• A player re-entering the game without making equipment adjustments.
• Any of the eleven major offenses.
• Whenever a player is cautioned.
• Delay of game.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Encroachment of free-kicks.
• Double minor offenses.

RELEASE OF PLAYERS FROM THE PENALTY BOX (team sideline):

• At the expiration of their full time.  Penalty time will carry over to the next time period of play (i.e. the second half or overtime periods.).
• After a goal is scored against their team if they are shorthanded.  However, only one player can come out per goal.
• When three players from the same team are given time penalties; four players must remain on the field.  Time for the third player begins when the first player's penalty expires.

BENCH PENALTY:

• Unsportsmanlike conduct from a team area will result in a verbal warning against the team.  Should the conduct persist a bench penalty will be issued against the offending team.  The team manager/coach must then remove one of the field players to serve a time penalty.

LAW IX:  FREE KICKS

The following applies to all restarts:

• The ball is in play when it is touched by a player.
• Opposing players shall be 5 yards from the ball.
• The player taking the kick cannot play the ball again until someone else touches the ball.
• If an opponent refuses to move back 5 yards on the referee's request they may be given a time penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• If a player taking a kick delays for longer than 5 seconds, after being instructed to kick by the referee, the ball will be awarded to the other team.

LAW X:  PENALTY KICKS

A penalty shot is taken at the penalty spot (10 yds).  The Ball is in play when the kicker touches it.  All players on the field must stand outside of the goal area and behind the penalty spot until the ball is touched.

LAW XI:  KICK-INS (instead of throw-ins)

Kick-ins must be taken on the sideline at the point nearest where the ball left the field of play.  All kick-ins are indirect.

LAW XII:  GOAL KICKS

When the whole of the ball passes over the end line, it shall be kicked into play by the goalkeeper or another team member.  The ball may be placed anywhere inside the goalkeeper area (half circle).  The ball must be completely stopped before kicking it into play.  Goal kicks are a direct kick.

LAW XIII:  CORNER KICK

When the whole of the ball passes over the end line and having last been played by the defending team a direct corner kick shall be awarded to the attacking team.  The whole ball must be placed on the corner mark.  Corner kicks are a direct kick.

LAW XIV:  UNIFORMS

Players on each team must have like-colored jerseys.  Different colored shorts and socks are okay.

LAW XV:  PLAYOFFS & TIE BREAKER

• Playoffs;  Overtime will be a 5 minute 'golden goal' period.  If still tied, teams will compete in a “breakaway shoot out”.
  • Break Away Shootout
    • Best of 3, followed by sudden death.
    • Starting from the halfline, offensive players have 6 seconds to dribble & shoot.
    • The goalkeeper must start with at least one foot on the goal line. Once the player starts dribbling towards him, the keeper can move out as he wishes.  The goalkeeper may only slide while in the goalbox.
    • If the goalkeeper fouls a player, then it’s up to the referee for giving a blue, yellow or even a red card. In the event a player is fouled, the player would be given a redo.
    • If the starting keeper is given a red card at any point during the shootout, a new goalkeeper has to be chosen from that team’s lineup when the penalty shootout began.
    • No cards given in the penalty shootout carry over to the next game. These cards are isolated to the specific penalty shootout.

• Tie Breaker: (In the case two or more teams are tied at the end of the regular season).
  • 1.  Goal Differential
  • 2.  Goals For