SoccerZone

Rules and Policies

Click to Download Printer-Friendly Rules and Policies

General Facility Policies

SoccerZone strives to offer great indoor soccer facilities with a pleasant environment to play and watch. Help us maintain a safe and comfortable environment for all by observing the following facility rules:

1. No smoking, chewing tobacco or alcoholic beverages allowed in the facility
2. No running or use of balls in the facility (except on the fields).  No climbing in the facility.
3. Parents please monitor your children at all times.
4. Please use the trash containers provided.
5. Exhibit good sportsmanship at all times.
6. No food in the bench areas.
7. All youth teams must have and adult (18 years or older) serving as coach.
8. Only the scheduled players, coaches, (up to 3) and referees are allowed on the field or in the team bench areas. All youth teams must have a non-playing adult serving as coach.
9. No outside food or drinks  allowed inside SoccerZone

Inclement Weather

During exceptionally poor weather, scheduled games may be postponed for play at a later date. This will only occur when travel conditions are extremely poor and SoccerZone will begin to contact team organizers as soon as any schedule change has occurred. Additionally, notice will be communicated to area radio stations, the facility answering machine, etc. During poor weather, use your own discretion on attendance and plan on leaving early so as to allow a few extra minutes travel time.

General Indoor Rules

1.    Games are made up of 2-25 minute halves; with a 1-minute halftime for U9 age group and     above. U8 games are 4 12-minute quarters with a 1-minute intermission

2.    If the ball hits side netting, it is out of play. The restart is a direct free kick for the opposing team between the hash line and the wall below where the ball hit the net.

3.   If the ball hits the ceiling net, a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the center of the nearest white line, not including the mid field line,  below the violation.

4.   A 3-line violation occurs when the ball travels forward over three lines (the midfield and 2 white lines) without touching the floor, wall, player or referee. Restart: direct free kick for the opposing team from the center of the first white line crossed by the ball. Goalkeepers may throw (not kick) the ball three lines.

5.   A 2 minute time penalty will be assessed to a team for committing 6 fouls in a half. Every three fouls, in a half, after the first 6 will also result in a time penalty. Any player on the field can serve the penalty.

6.   No slide tackling/sliding in the vicinity of another player.

7.   No offside rule is in effect.

8.  Indoor soccer shoes, flat soled shoes and turf shoes only. NO CLEATS.

9.  Shin guards are strongly recommended

10.   Either team may make on-the-fly substitutions at his/her bench area before another payer may enter the field.

11.  In Adult Coed leagues, goals scored by a women count two, except “own goals”; and a maximum of four men are allowed on the field at any one time.

12.   All free kicks are direct.

Number of Players

Number of players at the U8 age group is 7+ a GK; U9/U10 and older age group is 5+ a GK. A minimum of 11 and a maximum of 18 players are recommended on a roster. All players must have a registration form submitted to SZ and only officially rostered players may play. A completed roster and all waivers must be in by the first game or it will be forfeited. Roster changes may be made during the season. Individual players can only play on one team in each division and must meet the appropriate age requirements. High school age players are prohibited from playing in adult coed leagues and high school girls are prohibited from playing in the adult women’s leagues (unless noted). High school aged males will be allowed to play in Men’s leagues at discretion of management. Girls are allowed to play in boy’s leagues up to U14.

The maximum number of players on the field are as follows: U8 – 6 field players + a goalie, U9/U10 – 5 + a goalie, U11 and up – 5+ a goalie. In coed leagues (high school and adult), teams must have one female player on the field at that start of the game and may have at most four males on the field during the course of play. No team will be allowed an extra player to participate regardless of the score line.

Player’s equipment

Players shall wear nothing that the Referee deems dangerous. The referee has the authority to remove a player from a game for unsafe equipment. Teams must wear like- colored jersey/shirts. Pullover vests are provided for games where teams wear the same color.  Inappropriate jerseys/shirts include but are not limited to: Sports bras, tank tops, and cut off shirts. Also, pennies shall not be worn without a jersey/shirt underneath. Shin guards are not required but are strongly recommended. If shin guards are worn they must be fully covered by a player’s socks. Players cannot wear jewelry and should not chew gum candy or tobacco when participating. Braces, casts, etc. must be properly padded and must be approved by management. Players are not allowed to participate with open wounds or blood visible on body or uniform. A player with blood on their uniform must leave the game but may re-enter if the uniform part is changed or the blood is removed sufficiently as determined by the referee.

Start of Play

The home team shall kick off from the center spot; all players must be in their own half, opponents must be outside the center circle; the ball may travel in any direction. The kicker may not play the ball again until it has been touched by another player (Restart: direct free kick by opposing team). After a goal, the scored against team will kick off. After any temporary suspension not covered in these rules, the ball is dropped where it was when play was suspended. If that was in the penalty area, the ball must be dropped at the top of the penalty arc.

Ball in and out of Play

The ball is out of play when the game is stopped by the referee, it crosses the perimeter wall or it hits the net above the playing surface. If it hits the top net (ceiling net), play is restarted at the nearest white dot from where the ball hit the ceiling. When the ball completely crosses the perimeter wall, play is restarted at that spot with a direct free kick 3 feet from the wall on or near the hash marks. Teams have 10 seconds from when the ball is spotted to restart play. Failure to do so will result in a loss of possession.

Method of scoring

A goal is scored when the entire ball is legally propelled over the goal line (the entire ball must cross the line) between the posts and under the crossbar. In high school coed and adult coed leagues, goals scored by women count double (excluding own goals). For a goal to count double, the last touch by the scoring team must be by a female player whose shot was on goal.

Goal kick

When an attacker kicks the ball over the perimeter end wall or into the vertical net above it and within the corner marked areas, the defending team receives a direct free kick from the goal area. Opponents must leave the penalty area and be at least 10 feet from the ball.

Corner kick

When a defender kicks the ball over the defending end wall, the attacking team receives a direct free kick from the corner at the nearest corner spot. Defenders must be at least 10 feet from the ball.

Kick in

When the ball is kicked over the perimeter side wall into the net above it, the opponents take a direct free kick from the perimeter line where the ball left the field. All opponents must be 10 fee from the ball.

Three-Line Violation

If the ball is passed in a forward direction over three lines (two white lines and the halfway line) without touching the floor, the perimeter wall, a player or referee within the three lines, a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team. It is taken from the center of the white line crossed by the ball. Exceptions: A team playing two players short may pass the ball over three lines without violation; goalkeepers may throw the ball over three lines without violation.

Substitutions

On-the-fly substitutions may be made by either team at any time. The substituted player must be within the touchline at his/her bench area before another player may enter the field. If the ball is out of play, the restart will not be delayed by the referee to complete on-the-fly substitutions. The ball can be restarted at any time during these substitutions by the team in possession. Any infringement will result in a 2-minute bench penalty (blue card) with no shootout. Guaranteed subs (U10 and below) are allowed at any stoppage of play or goalkeeper possession.

The Ball

The ball must be safe, spherical and be an official ball provided by SoccerZone of size #3 (U8 and younger), #4 (U12 and younger) or #5 (U13 and over) depending on the league. Only the referee may change it during a game. Warm-up balls are provided by SoccerZone.

The Goalkeeper

Possession of the ball is when the ball is stopped with any part of the body except the feet. For example, if the GK has control of the ball with as little as one finger, that is considered possession. Goalkeeper has five seconds to release the ball from his/her hands.

Referees

The referees’ authority begins when they enter the field and ends when they leave the facility. The referees’ power to penalize extends to offenses committed when the ball is out of play, when play has been suspended, and after the match.  The referee has discretionary power to suspend or terminate a game by reason of injuries, behavior of players, interference by spectators or other reasons he/she deems necessary. The referee keeps time, records goals, time penalties and cards. The referee may choose not to call a foul if there is an “advantage” to the fouled team. Referee decisions are final.

Fouls and Offenses

Indoor soccer requires a careful treatment of misbehavior:

-free kicks for simple fouls

-time penalties (blue card) for serious fouls (physical or tactical)

-cautions (yellow card) for serious fouls or offenses

-ejections (red card) for severe or persistent misconduct

A. Ten fouls:

A player who commits any of the following offenses:

1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent, or
2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent, or
3. Jumps at an opponent
4. Charges an opponent from behind
5. Charges an opponent  violently or dangerously, or
6. Strikes, tries to strike, or spits at an opponent, or
7. Holds an opponent, or
8. Pushes and opponent, or
9. Deliberately handles the ball (except goalie in his penalty area and female players crossing arms in front of chest to protect themselves), or

10.   Boards an opponent into the perimeter wall, in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or involving disproportionate force, or if committed intentionally, results in a direct free kick or penalty kick.

In severe cases these fouls may also incur time penalties of 2 minutes (blue card) and shootouts, 4 minutes (yellow card) and 6 minutes (red card); boarding always results in a time penalty and shootout. Striking, trying to strike or spitting at an opponent always results in a red card ejection. Slide tackling/sliding in the vicinity of another player and using both hands against the boards to provide leverage (not just balance) against an opponent is not allowed and is considered at least a dangerous play. The referee may choose not to call a foul if there is a goal-scoring opportunity for the fouled team. This will be termed “advantage”.

B.         Less serious fouls:

1.   Dangerous play,

2.   Charging fairly (shoulder to shoulder) but off the ball,

3.   Impeding the progress of an opponent when not playing the ball (obstruction)

4.  Goalie violations:

-A goalie may not catch the ball, put it on the ground and pick it up again  without the ball touching another player outside the penalty area

-A goalie may not hold the ball for more than 5 seconds

5.  Less serious fouls are penalized by a direct free kick from the spot of the foul. If the foul occurred in the penalty box, the direct free kick is taken from the top of the arc

C.         Cautionable (yellow card) Offenses (D.U.P.S):

1.   Dissent or “trash talking,” by word or action

2. Unsporting behavior,

3.   Persistent infringement of the laws.

4.   Spitting on field or in bench area.

These are penalized with a caution (yellow card) and 4-minute penalty; play is restarted with a direct free kick, unless the foul requires a shootout or penalty kick. If a goal is scored during a yellow card penalty, the penalized team may bring a bench player onto the field so that the teams are at even strength, but the penalized player must serve the entire 4 minutes.

D.         Ejectionable (red card) Offenses (S.V.A.P.A)

1.  Serious foul play against an opponent,

2. Violent conduct, directed towards an opponent, teammate, referee or any other     person,

3.  Abusive or foul language,

4.  Persistent misconduct (3 blue, 2 yellow, or 1 yellow and 2 blue cards),

5.  Any violent tackle from behind.

These fouls result in ejection of the player (red card) and a 6-minute time penalty against his/her team The game is restarted with a direct free kick, unless the foul requires a penalty kick or shootout. Any player leaving the bench to join or create a confrontation with an opponent or referee will be red carded. Red-carded players sit out the rest of the game they are playing and at least the next regular league game in the same division in which the red card occurred. Fighting, violent conduct and multiple red cards throughout the year will not be tolerated and can result in an indefinite suspension at the discretion of SoccerZone management (length of suspension is also at the discretion of SoccerZone management).

Free kick

All free kicks are direct. A free kick may directly result in a goal. Free kicks are taken from where the foul occurred, except:

-The attacking team kicks from the top of the restraining arc if awarded one of these 5 less serious fouls inside the penalty box:

1. Dangerous play

2. Charging fairly (shoulder to shoulder) but off the ball

3. Impeding the progress of an opponent when not playing the ball (obstruction)

4. Goalie violation – delaying the game: handling the ball more than 5 seconds

-The defending team may take a goal kick from anywhere in the goal area.

The ball must be stationary when kicked. Opponents must be at least 10 feet away unless it is a quick kick. The ball is in play when it has been touched; when taken from penalty area, the ball must also completely leave the penalty area to be in play. If the ball is touched before it is in play, the kick must be retaken. The player taking the free kick may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. (Restart: direct free kick to the opposing team)

Penalty kick

If a player commits a foul in his/her own penalty area, except for 1 of the 5 less serious fouls, they receive a 2-minute penalty. Play is restarted with a penalty kick (a direct free kick from the penalty spot) taken by a member on the field of the fouled team. If a goal is scored, the penalized player may return to the field. At the taking of a penalty kick, all players, except the kicker and the goalkeeper, must be outside the penalty area and the restraining arc behind the ball. The goalie must stand on the goal line, and the kicker must wait for the referees’ signal. If necessary, time must be extended in either half to complete the penalty kick.

Encroachment is penalized as follows:

-by defenders: a scored shot stands, a non-scoring shot is retaken;

-by attackers: a scoring shot is retaken, a non-scoring shot stands;

-by both: the kick is retaken.

Players who encroach may be penalized with a 2-minute penalty (tactical foul). If the goalie moves from his line before the ball is in play, the kick is retaken, if a goal is not scored. The goalie may be cautioned at the discretion of the referee.

Time Penalties

Time penalties are assessed against teams or players for fouls and offenses as described above, and for improper substitutions or for persistent fouling by a team. A time penalty (blue card) will be assessed to a team for committing 6 fouls or offenses in a half (any fouls that incurs a card will not count toward the cumulative totals of fouls). An additional time penalty will be assessed at 9, 12, etc fouls and offenses. Improper substitutions are violations for having more than the allowed number of players on the field, substituting illegally, etc. Both of these violations are blue card (2 minute) bench penalties that can be served by any player from the team. No shootout is awarded for bench penalties. Time penalties against goalkeeper may be served by a teammate unless it is a yellow or red card.

If a goal is scored against a team playing short, the player with the least penalty time remaining may return to the field except in yellow and red card situations. In yellow card situations, if a goal is scored, the penalized team may bring a bench player onto the field so that the teams are at even strength, but the penalized player must serve the 4 minutes. In red card situations, the penalized team plays short the entire 6 minutes. In all situations where teams are at even strength and a goal is scored the opposing team cannot bring a penalized player back on the field. In situations where time penalties occur coincidentally, both teams will play short. Misconduct by non-playing team personnel results in cautions and ejections only, there will be no removal of players from the field (no playing short).

Delayed penalty- In situations where there are three or more players in the penalty box from one team, that team will only play two players short. The third or additional penalized players will be assigned a delayed penalty. Their time penalty will begin immediately after the first penalty expires.

For example, if player A has 1 minute remaining on his penalty, player B has 1½ minutes remaining on his penalty, and player C receives a 2 –minute penalty, player C must go to the penalty box, but his penalty will not begin until player A’s penalty expires.

When there are three or more players from one team in the penalty box, that team will have to use a bench player to meet the requirements of having at least 4 players on the field (3 field players and a goalie). In situations where a bench player is not available the game will be forfeited.

Duration of Game

Games are 50 minutes long; two 25 –minute halves with one-minute halftime for U9/U10 and up. U8 games will have four 12-minute quarters with one-minute intermissions. Each game shall start within 4 minutes of the designated game time. If a team has less than 4 players at 5 minutes after the hour (or no females at the beginning of coed leagues), the game is forfeited, but may be played in two shortened halves as a friendly game. Time is extended only for a penalty-kick or a shootout at the end of each half.

The time clock will continue to run during injuries. If an injury is serious enough to create a significant delay in play, the clock will be stopped and after the injured player is removed, the game will be restarted or suspended as necessary at the discretion of SoccerZone management.

Forfeits and No Shows

If a team fails to show or does not have the required number of players for a match, the game will be a forfeit. Teams are requested to understand that forfeits and no shows are not in the “spirit” of the game and cause teams to lose out on a game. Please have the courtesy to notify SoccerZone well in advance if your team will be unable to field a team as scheduled.

Shootouts

Shootouts are awarded for serious physical fouls outside the penalty area that result in blue, yellow or red card offenses or intentional delay of the game. A player of the fouled team dribbles starting from the center of the opponents’ white line, with all players except the opposing goalie, behind this line; the player has 5 seconds to score (ball entirely over the goal-line). The goalkeeper must start on the goal line but is not restricted in his/her movement. Any foul committed by the goalkeeper during a shootout, whether in or out of the penalty area, results in a penalty-kick plus a blue card at minimum. Goalkeepers may not slide tackle or slide outside of the penalty area. Any player not involved in a shootout must stand behind the white line until the shootout is completed. If a goal is scored, for blue and yellow cards, the accompanying time penalty is erased; if no goal, play re-starts with a free kick from the point of infraction. Red cards result in a six-minute penalty regardless of goals scored against penalized team. A boarding foul always results in a shootout. If necessary, time must be extended in either half to complete a shootout if the game is still in question.