RULE #1: SPORTS WORLD RULES
1. SPORTS WORLD will provide one referee per game.
2. Coaches will be held responsible for their teams conduct.
3. Coaches are responsible for informing their teams of the rules and assuring all team members have correct league schedules.
4. Only coaches/managers/players are allowed in the team boxes.
5. In the event of game cancellations due to bad weather, please contact the facility 2 hours before your games scheduled start time. SPORTS WORLD reserves the right to cancel games and reschedule them to the availability of the facility.
6. Management reserves the right to alter leagues schedules to best accommodate all.
7. All management decisions are final.
8. League fees are due before your first game!
9. Referees decisions and judgment calls are not protestable.
10. Teams that are tied at the end of league play will follow this procedure for breaking ties.
- Head to Head result
- Goals Against
- Goal differential
Leagues for players:
1. U8 shall play 6 v 6 (5 field players plus a goal keeper played on small field)
2. U10 through U14 shall play 7 v 7 (6 field players plus a goal keeper)
3. U16 and High School league, shall play 6 v 6 (5 field players plus a goal keeper)
4. Men’s and Adult coed shall play 7 v 7 (6 field players plus a goal keeper)
RULE #2: TEAM STRUCTURE & PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
1. Teams may carry a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 15 players on their roster.
2. Team roster/waiver forms must be presented prior to the first game before a team can take the field.
3. All players must adhere to age eligibility requirements of the designated league or tournament play in which they are registered.
4. Players in all divisions, youth and adult, may be required to present proof of age prior to the start of any game.
5. All players entering the playing area must first sign a roster/waiver form. If player is not of legal age a parent must sign for them. Any player not on the team’s roster will be deemed an illegal player.
6. Players who do not adhere to the age eligibility requirements will be deemed illegal players. Teams knowingly rostering illegal players may be subject to forfeiture of games and players expelled from league.
7. Players may not be on 2 rosters within the same division.
8. A minimum of 4 players must be on the field at all times. A team cannot start a game with less than 4 players. Any team that cannot field four players for any reason, or has one ejection, will have a terminated match.
9. The team manager/coach will be held responsible for their teams conduct.
10. Players and coaches only are allowed in the team box area.
RULE #3: PLAYER EQUIPMENT
1. Teams are required to wear matching colored shirts and numbers are recommended but are not required.
2. Goalkeepers are required to wear different colored uniforms from both teams.
3. Home team is responsible for changing shirts should a color conflict occur.
4. No METAL SPIKE cleats allowed. Flat soled tennis shoes/cleats or indoor soccer shoes are acceptable.
5. All players must wear shin guards at all times for their own protection.
6. All divisions U12 and under use size 4 ball. All other divisions us a size 5 ball.
RULE #4: DURATION OF GAME
1. Divisions shall play 2 equal 25-minute halves.
2. The time clock will run continuously unless the referee stops play, a serious injury occurs, or unforeseen difficulties.
3. No time outs will be allowed throughout the entire game.
4. Minimal time between games and at half time will be allowed.
5. Due to tight scheduling, NO grace or warm-up period will be given unless time allows
RULE #5: PLAYER SUBSTITUTIONS
1. Substitutions can be made “on the fly” (while play is in progress), providing the player leaving the field is within 3 feet of the team box.
2. During a stoppage of play (i.e. Goal, goal kick) a substitution can be made.
3. Goalkeeper substitutions must be made at a stoppage of play (referee must know).
4. The referee is not required to hold up play for substitutions.
RULE #6: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Fouls and misconduct will be governed mostly by the laws of the game as set forth by FIFA.
General rules pertaining to fouls and misconduct:
1. Absolutely no violence will be tolerated for any reason.
2. No slide tackling is permitted.
3. No spitting on the turf, walls, or team boxes. a yellow card will be given to player for infraction.
4. No profanity, obscene gestures, or taunting will be tolerated.
5. Management reserves the right to refuse any player, coach, or spectator from participating at any time.
6. Referee’s decisions and/or decisions of SPORTS WORLD management are final.
RULE #7: GAME PROCEDURES & RESTARTS
1. All kickoffs to start a game and half plus all kickoffs after a goal has been scored are considered indirect kicks. All restarts following a foul or by the ball striking the net and creating a stoppage of play, shall be by way of indirect free kick.
2. All restarts must be taken within 5 seconds. It will be the referee’s discretion when the count begins, due to intentional delay tactics.
3. Defensive players must allow a minimum of 10 feet to the offensive player in a prompt, timely fashion. Intentional delay tactics or persistent infringement may result in a yellow card.
4. Balls striking the ceiling shall be placed directly under the point where the ball made contact (referee judgment call). Should this occur within the penalty area, the ball will be brought out to the GK Box
5. Players must bring the ball to a complete stop when stopping for a restart. They may also restart play without a referee’s whistle.
6. Rules for Goalkeepers:
- They shall have 5 seconds to distribute the ball once gaining possession.
It will be the referee’s discretion when the count begins, due to intentional delay tactics. This does include playing the ball with their feet. If the keeper fails to do so, a direct free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team outside the penalty area. A goalkeeper is subject to intentional delay any time they have possession of the ball.
- Is not allowed to use their hands on a ball played back to them from their own teammates.
RULE #8: PROTEST PROCEDURES & FORFEITED GAMES
1. Any coach believing the opposing team is using an illegal player, and wishes to protest, must announce to the referee while the game is still being played, of their intentions. The coach must identify the player in question. The referee will then notify the opposing coach/manager that a protest has been filed. Next he will ask the player his/her name, number and date of birth and record it on the game report. The protesting coach should then have a team representative notify the on- duty facility manager.
2. Referees decisions, and judgment calls are not protestable.
3. Games shall be deemed as forfeits for the following:
- Any team receiving 2 red cards during a match: regardless of the score
- A team cannot field 4 players at any time before or during the game.
- Any players leave the team area to join in an altercation of any type.
- Any team found guilty of using illegal players, through the proper protest procedures.
- Any management decision deemed necessary not covered within the rules.
4. A forfeit will result in a 3-0 score to the winner. In the event of a double forfeit, 0-0 loss will be scored to both teams.
5. All decisions of management are final.
6. All teams which receive a forfeit win will use the field until 5 minutes before the next scheduled game.