Twin Ponds Family Recreation Centers

Indoor Soccer Rules and Regulations Winter 2010-2011

**All FIFA Soccer Rules will be enforced. The following rules apply directly to Twin Ponds**

1. Number players/Length of Game

2. Team Forms

3. Equipment

4. Start of Game

5. Offside

6. Substitutions

7. Out of Bounds (kick-in)

8. Goal Kick

9. Corner Kick

10. Direct Kick

11. Indirect Kick

12. Penalty Kick

13. Goal keeper

14. Players

15. Coaching

16. Cautions

17. Ejections

18. Spitting on Turf

19. Goal Margins

20. Championship Game /OT Procedure

21. Regular Season Tiebreakers.

22. Protests

23. Forfeits

24. Inclement Weather, Closing info.

1. Number of players/Length of game: The boarded field will play with 4 field players plus a goalkeeper (5 vs 5).The Mega Field will play 5 field players plus a goalkeeper (6 vs. 6). All teams will play 8 guaranteed games with the possibility of one playoff game. Length of the games will be 43 minutes on a running clock. There will be no halftime period.

2. Team Forms: A $100 deposit is due to Twin Ponds before the start of the first game, and the remaining balance will be due before the start of the second game. All teams have until the start of their 3^rd game to make changes to their roster before the roster is locked.

3. Equipment: All team members must wear the same colored shirt with a number on the back. This must occur prior to the third game of the session. Their number must match the number on the team roster form. Players may not switch shirts nor wear a different number than that on the team roster form. Violators will not be permitted to play. All players must wear shin guards. Home Team is responsible for providing game balls. All players must wear molded rubber soled cleats or indoor shoes. Players with casts or braces will be permitted to play based on the referee’s discretion. No metal cleats of any sort. No jewelry is permitted.

4. Start of Game: Kickoffs can be played forward or back. You cannot score directly from the kickoff.

5. THERE WILL BE NO OFFSIDES.

6. Substitutions: Substitutions will be made on the fly. Players must enter and leave the field within five (5) yards of mid Field, as determined by the referee. Exception to this rule is the goalkeeper. The referee must be informed of a goal keeper change. It must be done at a stoppage. Violations of this rule will result in a yellow caution for illegal substitution and 1 minute penalty. Exception to rule is if a team starts a game short the player must report in with the ref to join the game.

7. OUT OF BOUNDS: (Kick-in) “Kick-ins” must be taken on the white touch line. The ball must not be moving. The referee will determine where the ball went out of play. Violations of the kick in not taken on the white line or the ball moving will result in a change of possession. All kick-ins are indirect

Defenders must be 4 yards away from the ball on ALL free kicks. If a defending player is within this distance and interferes with the ball being put into play, he/she may be cautioned for delay of game or encroachment. In the spirit of fair play a kick in must be taken within 5 seconds. Any delay of game longer than this may result in a change of possession and/or such occurrence may result in a yellow card.

8. Goal Kicks: When the attacking team kicks the ball out of play over the end line, the defending team will be awarded a goal kick. The goal kick is taken from the penalty area. No player may touch the ball on a goal kick until the ball clears the penalty area. Goals cannot be scored directly from a goal kick.

9. Corner Kicks: When the defending team kicks the ball out of play over the end line, the attacking team will get a corner kick. The corner kicks should be taken at the point where the end line and sideline meet. A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick. Defenders must stand 4 yards away from ball on corner kicks.

10. Direct Free Kicks: The following infractions will be awarded a direct free kick (at the discretion of the referee):

**Slide tackle, Trip, Kick, Jump at, Charge unfairly, Strike, Push, Tackle, Hold, Spit at opponent or referee (or attempt any of the preceding) and Handling the ball deliberately (except goalkeepers within the penalty area). All kicks will be taken at the spot of the infraction with opponents being at least 4 yards away (except for a penalty kick which will be 3 feet from the top of the penalty area)

Other direct kicks include Penalty kicks and Corner kicks.

** There is no slide tackling to tackle the ball away from an opponent. However, sliding to save the ball from going out of bounds or to win the ball in the open field will be up to the discretion of the referee.

11. Indirect Free Kicks: The following infractions will be awarded an indirect free kick (at the discretion of the referee):

Goal keeper Back Pass Violation, Goal keeper punting or drop kicking the ball, Hitting the ceiling/netting, Double touch (ball), Plays in a dangerous manner, Kick in, Substitution violation. All indirect free kicks will be taken from the spot of the infraction with opponents being 4 yards away (except for the following):
For indirect kicks that occur in or above the penalty area, the kick shall be taken 3 feet from the top of the penalty area.

12. Penalty Kick: A penalty kick will be awarded when the defending team commits a direct free kick violation inside their penalty area. Penalty kicks will be taken 3 feet from the top of the penalty area. All players must be behind the ball.

13. Goal keepers: Goal keepers are not allowed to punt or drop kick the ball. Goal keepers are permitted to use their hands to retrieve the ball. They are not allowed to handle the ball received directly kicked from a teammate or after they have relinquished possession unless it has touched an opponent. Goal keepers are permitted to slide within the confines of the penalty area to retrieve the ball. However, once he/she is outside the penalty area, the field player rules apply for sliding **( see #10 above ).

14. Players: Players may play on more than one team as long as they are rostered on a team that is registered in the same division. In the case of those individuals receiving any send off or caution (red card and/or yellow card), that card goes with the individual and that team for the session

15. Coaching: Coaches must coach from the "Technical Area". Only two coaches are permitted on the turf! Coaching from the sideline is permitted provided instruction is given and not derogatory. No coach, player, or spectator may make derogatory comments or gestures to referees, other coaches, other players, or spectators. No coach, player, or spectator will use profanity or behave destructively. Coaches have total responsibility for the conduct of their players and spectators at all times. At the discretion of the official or Twin Ponds Management, spectators, coaches and/or players will be ejected from the facility for any disruptive behavior. Only coaches and players are permitted on the turf surface during and after any competition. Violators will be asked to move to the bleacher area.

16. Cautions: A player receiving a yellow card must sit for one minute. That player will be permitted to return to play as soon as that time has passed. His/her team must play down one player for the whole amount of time. Any player or coach issued 3 yellow cards (caution) on one team will be given a one game suspension. Any player or coach issued 5 yellow cards in one session will sit out the remaining scheduled games in that session.

17. Ejection: A red card will be issued for: Violent Conduct, Serious Foul Play, Insulting / abusive language, Second Caution, Spitting and Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

A red-carded player or coach must leave the playing area immediately. His/her team will play one player down for 5 minutes. Any red-carded player or coach must sit out the remainder of the game in which the red card was issued and will not be permitted in the playing area for the NEXT scheduled game. Any player or coach who receives 2 red cards in the session will not be permitted in the playing area for the remainder of their teams scheduled games in that session. Depending on the severity of the ejection, at the discretion of the referee and or of Twin Ponds management, any unruly player or coach may be ejected from the playing area and sanctioned to more extreme penalties. At the discretion of the official or Twin Ponds management, spectators, coaches and/or players can be ejected from the facility for any disruptive behavior. Anyone who commits assault on any other person on facility property will be expelled from the league permanently.

18. *No Spitting on the Turf* *NO GUM ON TURF*
any person spitting on the turf may be sent off.

19. Goal Margin of Victory: Only a 10-goal margin will be posted and recorded towards a team victory or loss. Any margin over 10 goals will have goals subtracted from the winning team’s total until a 10-goal margin is established.

20. Championship Games: OT Procedure: If a championship game ends in a tie, a 5 min sudden victory over time period will occur. If the game still remains tied, each team will get 3 penalty kicks taken by players on the field at the end of the overtime. If the game still remains a tie, sudden death penalty kicks will go into effect (one for one). Only the Championship game will use the tiebreaker procedure to determine a winner.

21. Regular Season Standings, Tiebreakers: If two teams are tied with the same amount of points at the end of the regular season, the following will be used (in order) to break the tie:
1) Goal Differential
2) Goals For
3) Goals Against

22. NO PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED. The League Director or designee will settle disputes and their decision is final.

23. Forfeits: A team must forfeit if they cannot provide enough players to field a team. For games on Fields # 4 – 3 plus a goalkeeper, 4 total. Mega Field – 4 field players plus a goalkeeper, 5 total. That team must forfeit before the start of the game and will be responsible for the referee fees for both teams. The teams will be permitted to play recreationally after the referee fees have been paid. At this point, any player that the team picks up (that is not rostered on another team) must sign a waiver form supplied by Twin Ponds management before the start of the game. No Exceptions!

24. Inclement Weather Cancellation Clause: Twin Ponds West will remain open during Inclement Weather as long as the Capital City Mall is open. Information regarding closings can be found on our website www.twinponds.com and by calling 795.7663 and listening to recording.