Laws of the Game

• Law I Field of Play
• Law II The Ball
• Law III Number of Players
• Law lV Player Equipment
• Law V Referees
• Law Vl Other Game Officials
• Law Vll Duration of Game
• Law Vlll Start of Play
• Law lX Play of Ball
• Law X Method of Scoring
• Law Xl Three Line Violation
• Law Xll Fouls and Misconduct
• Law Xlll Free Kicks
• Law XlV Penalty Kicks (Shoot Out)
• Law XV Kick-ins
• Law XVl Goal Kicks
• Law XVll Corner Kicks

Addendums

• WOMEN'S, COED (except Premier) & YOUTH (Including U18 League)
• COED SOCCER (ADDENDUM RULES)
• 3 v 3 SOCCER

LAW I: THE FIELDS OF PLAY

1. Dimensions: Field #1 - Length 162 feet, Width 80 feet; Field #2 - Length 120 feet, Width 75 feet.

LAW II: THE BALL

1. Size 5 soccer balls will be used for all adult games as well as Under 14 through Under 18 boys and girls.
2. Size 4 balls will be used for all youth games Under 12.

LAW III: NUMBER OF PLAYERS

1. Play on Field #1, Seven players, one of whom shall be a goalkeeper. Play on Field #2, Six players, one of whom shall be a goalkeeper. Exception: Youth under 8 - may choose to play 6v6 or 7v7. If 6v6 is selected then the other team must comply to ensure fairness. (See Variations below).
2. Minimum of FOUR players needed to start and continue a game.
3. Unlimited substitutions allowed as listed under Substitutions below.
4. Any player may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that the referee is informed before the change is made, and provided also that the change is made during a stoppage of the game.
5. Substitute players are to remain in the player boxes. Only players and two coaches are permitted in the box._ _A team having a nonparticipating person in the box will be awarded a two minute penalty
6. Substitutions During play:
• Player must be within the touchline at his team box door or off the field before a substitute player can come on.
• When play has ceased:
• After a goal is scored.
• After a time penalty is awarded.
• On an injury time out.
• When the ball leaves the field of play.

Variations_ are made for the following:

1. Field #1, Coed will have (3) men, (3) women, plus a goalkeeper.
2. Field # 2, Coed will have at least (1) women, (2) men plus a goalkeeper

LAW IV: PLAYER EQUIPMENT

1. Must have current membership card.
2. Players must dress in matching uniform jerseys with permanent numbers for proper identification.
3. Shin guards are mandatory and must be totally covered by stockings/socks.
4. Only Flat soled shoes designed for indoor artificial surfaces must be used (no studded/screw-in shoes). Turf shoes are permitted only on surfaces such as Field Turf ®.
5. Goalkeepers must wear colors which distinguish them from all other players and referees. Long pants are permitted only on goalkeepers. Field players are not permitted to wear long pants.

LAW V: REFEREES

1. At least one official will be present during play.
2. When two, or more than two, officials are present, the two field officials shall have equal authority and responsibility.
3. They shall keep a record of the game.
4. Reports on EJECTION must be filed before leaving the facility.

LAW VI: OTHER GAME OFFICIALS

1. The second or third official shall be a timekeeper/scoreboard operator.

LAW VII: DURATION OF GAME

1. A game shall be played in two equal halves of 24 minutes each (See Youth Variations).
2. A half time interval shall be 2 minutes. (See Youth Variations).
3. The clock shall only be stopped for serious injuries.

Youth Variations shall be made as follows for U16 and under: A game shall be played in two equal halves of 20 minutes each. (1) minute half time.

LAW VIII: START OF PLAY

1. Kick-off will be given to the home team. Visitors will have kick off at the start of the second half.
2. A kick off will start the game and restart the game after a goal has been scored.
3. Teams will change direction at half time and alternate kick off.
4. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kickoff.
5. A goal cannot be scored directly from a goal kick.

LAW IX: PLAY OF BALL

1. The ball is out of play when it wholly crosses the perimeter wall, makes contact with safety netting or:
2. When the ball makes contact with the building superstructure or lighting. For violation an indirect free 'kick-in' will be awarded to the opposing team from the touchline at a point closest to where the ball made contact with the safety netting or the building superstructure or lighting.

LAW X: METHOD OF SCORING

1. A goal is scored when the whole ball has passed over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided it has not been thrown, carried, or intentionally propelled by hand or arm by a player of the attacking side, except in the case of a goalkeeper who is in his own penalty area.
2. The team scoring the greater number of goals during the game shall be the winner.

LAW XI: THREE-LINE VIOLATION

1. When the ball crosses both yellow lines in the air towards an opponent's goal, without being touched by another player or touching the perimeter wall. Ball must start from on or behind the yellow (third) line to have a three-line violation.
2. Penalized by awarding an indirect free kick to the opponents at the center of the first yellow line.
3. Teams playing two (2) players short will not be penalized. A goalkeeper may never propel the ball over the three lines in the air.

LAW XII: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Hand signals as adapted from US Indoor Rules will be used to indicate certain fouls.

1. Major Offenses (Direct Free Kick Awarded)
• 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 or spitting at or on an opponent
• - Holding an opponent
• - Pushing an opponent
• - Intentionally handling the ball (except goalkeeper within their own penalty area)
• - Charging (Checking) an opponent into the perimeter wall
2. Minor Offenses (Indirect Free Kick Awarded)
• - Playing in a dangerous or reckless manner
• - Fair charging an opponent when the ball is not in playing distance
• - Obstructing an opponent
• - Charging the goalkeeper, except when he/she:
• ... is holding the ball
• ... is obstructing an opponent
• ... has passed outside his/her penalty area
• - Slide tackling (knee touching the turf) - Note exceptions for goalkeeper.
• - Illegal substitution
• - Delaying game; When playing as goalkeeper, indulging in tactics such as failing to play ball outside penalty box within five seconds
3. Misconduct (Card is issued)
• - A player shall be cautioned (Yellow Card) if he/she:
• ... persistently infringes the laws
• ... shows by word or action dissent at any referee decision
• ... is guilty of unsporting behavior
• ... receives a second 2-minute time penalty for a major or minor offense
• - A player shall be ejected (Red Card) if he/she:
•   ... is guilty of violent conduct or serious foul

LAW XIII: FREE KICKS

The following apply to all restarts:
• - Ball is in play when it moves from foot contact from the initial player
• - Opposing players shall be (10) feet from the ball
• - Player taking a kick cannot play it again until someone else touches the ball
• - If an opponent refuses to move back (10) feet on referee's request, he may be given a time penalty for unsporting behavior

The following applies to direct and indirect free kicks:
• - If a player taking the kick delays the taking for longer than five (5) seconds after having been signaled to do so by the referee, he may be awarded a time penalty for delay of game (wasting time).

LAW XIV: PENALTY KICKS (SHOOT OUT)

• 1. Time shall be extended at the end of each period to allow the taking of a penalty kick.
• 2. The ball shall be placed at a spot on the third line of the offending team. Players from either team shall not be permitted to be closer than midfield, with exception of the keeper and shooter. Upon a signal from the referee, the player taking a penalty kick (shoot out) may advance on the offending teams. Once the signal has been given play is now live and other players may advance on the ball.

LAW XV: KICK-INS

• 1. This is an indirect free kick, a goal shall not be scored directly from a kick-in.
• 2. Kick-ins must be taken from behind or on the perimeter (touchline) line at a point nearest where the ball left the field of play. The ball is considered to be out of play when it makes contact with the protective netting.

LAW XVI: GOAL KICKS

• 1. When the whole of the ball passes over the end perimeter wall between the corner red markers, having last been played by one of the attacking team, it shall be kicked into play from within the goal area, by a member of the defending team.
• 2. A goal shall not be scored direct from such a kick.

LAW XVII: CORNER KICKS

• 1. When the whole of the ball passes over the end perimeter wall between the corner red markers, having last been played by one of the defending team, a direct corner kick shall be awarded to the attacking team, the whole ball must be placed on the corner mark, at the nearest corner spot.

HANDICAP LAW (ADDENDUM RULES)

WOMEN'S, COED (except Premier) & YOUTH (Including U18 League)

• A team leading by five (5) or more goals will not be permitted to have more than two attackers in the attacking third of the field. The attacking third of the field will be defined as the area between the last yellow line and the goal. Violation of this law will result in an indirect free kick awarded to the defending team. The kick will be taken from the center of the closest yellow line. Premier divisions will be exempt of this law.


• For Youth any additional scores will not be posted on the scoreboard, but will be kept on the official's records. Therefore, the scoreboard differential will not exceed five (5) goals.

COED SOCCER (ADDENDUM RULES)

Coed Soccer: Referees will strictly enforce the following special rules:
• Coed teams are comprised of three (3) women, three (3) men plus a goalie of either gender. Exception: If women are serving a two (2) minute penalty or if a team has only two (2) or one (1) women present the team will play short-handed. Any number of women may play as long as one (1) man is fielded. A team may never play more than three (3) men not counting the goalie.
• In the event that only one (1) woman is fielded and issued a blue or yellow card, a man must serve her penalty. If a red card is issued to the woman, the game shall be terminated and subject to forfeiture.
• If the referee feels a shoulder charge (applied by a male to a female) is too rough, an indirect free kick will be awarded. Any charges around the boards will result in a direct free kick.
• MACHO RULE - If the referee feels that a man attempts through action, to threaten or intimidate a woman, the Macho Rule will be called and an indirect free kick will be awarded.

3 v 3 SOCCER

The laws of Arena League shall generally apply except where noted below. Attacking players may not enter the opponents arc to score.

LAW I: THE FIELDS OF PLAY
• Dimensions: Field #3 - Length 65 feet, Width 30 feet
• Markings: The penalty area will be marked in front of each goal with a radius of (5) feet from the center line of the goal. Corner kick spot shall be marked. A kick off mark and center mark shall be made at the center of the field. A penalty mark will be the field center mark.
LAW III: NUMBER OF PLAYERS
• Each match shall be played by two teams, each consisting of three or four players. No players will be permitted to be a goal keeper or to handle the ball. Youth leagues may have four players. A minimum of two players on a side must play. If less than two players are on a team, the game shall be terminated.
LAW XI: THREE-LINE VIOLATION
• No Violations.
LAW XII: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
• All offenses shall result in a direct free kick at place of infraction and be awarded to the opposing team.
• A foul shall be awarded to the defensive team should any offensive player enter the radius arc to play the ball. A direct free kick shall be awarded to the defending team at the radius arc. A defensive player shall be allowed to enter the radius arc for purposes of clearing a 'dead ball'. A defensive player will not be allowed to 'camp out' inside his own radius arc for purposes of blocking a ball from entering the goal.
• No play is permitted within the arc in front of each goal.
• Only defending teams may enter the arc area to retrieve the ball.
• 1. Defending players standing or playing within arc shall constitute a foul and an direct kick shall be awarded to the attacking team at the center spot on the field. If a defending player is standing within the arc and a goal is scored by an attacking player the goal shall be allowed with no further sanction against the defending team.
• 2. An attacking player guilty of the same infringement shall be guilty of a foul and the defending team shall awarded a direct free kick from the top of the defending arc.

LAW XV: KICK-INS
• Balls out of play shall be placed within two feet from the wall at the place where the ball has left the field of play.

LAW XIV: PENALTY KICKS
• Penalty kicks shall be taken from the center spot. All players must stand in line with or behind the ball and at least five feet from the center spot.

LAW XVI: GOAL KICKS
• When the attacking team plays the ball over the goal line within the radius arc, the ball shall be placed on the arc of the defending team.

LAW XVII: CORNER KICKS
• When the defending team is guilty of playing the ball over the radius arc, the attacking team shall receive a free kick from the corner mark.