League Rules

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. Youth League shall play 7 v 7 (6 field players plus a goal keeper)

2. Men’s and Adult coed shall play 6 v 6 (5 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/turf shoes 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 24-minute halves separated by two minute half time.

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.

Sports World Futsal Rules

44 mins. 22 min halves

General Rules

Teams are comprised of four outfield players and one goalkeeper.
There are no throw-ins in futsal. A kick-in will be used to restart play.
There is no offsides in futsal.
Teams are entitled to a one minute timeout in each half. Timeouts are allowed when the team is in possession and ball is out of play.
There are no goal kicks in futsal. Goalkeepers restart play by distributing ball with their hands.
Substitutions may occur any time during the run of play. Substitutions must be made through the technical area in front of the team's bench, not at half court.
Direct free-kick fouls are accumulated in each half. If one team accumulates 6 or more direct free-kick fouls in one half, the opposing team will be awarded a direct free-kick.

Substitutions

All substitutions are on the fly, this includes goalkeeping substitutions. Referees will not stop play for goalkeeping substitutions. A substitute may not enter the pitch until the player leaving the pitch leaves through the substitution zone in front of his teams’ bench. Any substitute who enters the pitch before the player being replaced has completely left the field of play may be shown a yellow card. All substitutions must take place through the substitution zone in front of his teams’ bench -- not at the half-way line.

Teams will switch benches (and ends) at halftime, ensuring that all substitutions take place in the defensive half. Covid protocols may change this general rule.

Restarts

Kick-offs: A goal may be scored directly against the opponent from the kick-off. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.

Kick-ins: are indirect. The ball must be placed on the line and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. A kick-in that goes directly in the opposing goal is a goal clearance for the opposing team. A kick-in that goes directly in the defensive goal is a corner kick of the opposing team. If the kick-in does not enter the pitch or if the kick is not taken within 4 seconds, the ball is turned over to the opponent.

Goal Clearances: are awarded when the ball exits the court beyond the end-line. The ball is thrown or released from any point within the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the defending team. The ball must be released within 4 seconds (either at referee signal or as goalkeeper is ready). Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

Corner Kicks: are direct. The ball must be placed in the corner arc area and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. If the kick is not taken within 4 seconds the restart becomes a goal clearance for the opposing team.

Free Kicks: may be indirect or direct. The ball must be stationary before the kick may be taken.

Penalty Kicks: are taken from the penalty spot and must be taken by a clearly identified kicker. Defenders may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and even or behind the ball when the kick is taken.

Fouls and Misconduct

Indirect Free Kicks: When a player plays in a dangerous manner, impedes an opponent, prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball with her hands, goalkeeper takes more than 4 seconds to release the ball when in possession in his own half, plays the ball again within his own half after releasing the ball and the ball doesn’t touch an opponent or has gone out of play, or commits any offense for which play is stopped to caution or eject a player, an indirect free kick is awarded.

Direct Free Kicks: When a player kicks an opponent, tackles an opponent, trips an opponent, jumps at an opponent, charges an opponent, strikes an opponent, pushes an opponent, holds an opponent, spits at an opponent or handles the ball deliberately, a direct free kick is awarded.

Yellow Card / Caution: The offending player is shown a yellow card. If a player is shown two yellow cards in a match, he is shown a red card.

Red Card / Send-off: The offending team plays with one less player for two full game minutes or unless scored upon before the two-minute penalty expires. The offending player serves a minimum one-match suspension.

Accumulated Fouls: All direct free kick fouls are recorded on the scoresheet and on the scoreboard. If one team accumulates 6 or more direct free kick fouls in one half, the opposing team will take a direct free kick without a wall. If the foul occurs farther from the attacking goal than the second penalty spot, the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall is taken from the second penalty spot. If the foul occurs nearer to the attacking goal than the second penalty spot (but outside the penalty area, of course), the attacking team may choose whether to take the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall from the second penalty spot or from the spot of the foul. All Direct Free Kicks Without a Wall must be kicked with the intention of scoring a goal by a clearly identified kicker. The defending team may not make a wall and may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and even or behind the ball when the kick is taken. The goalkeeper may be off the goal-line but may not be nearer than 16 feet from the ball. Accumulated fouls are reset to zero at the beginning of the second half and carry over into extra-time if being played.

Penalty Spot: 5 meters (~16 feet) from goal-line and the center of the goal and placed at the top of the penalty area line.

Second Penalty Spot: 10 meters (~32 feet) from goal-line and the center of the goal.

Advantage: Advantage is applied in Futsal. Direct free kick foul will count as accumulated fouls if advantage is applied even if play is not stopped by the referees. If the referee gestures with both arms, the foul was a direct free kick foul and will be counted accordingly. If the gesture is with one arm, the free kick would have been indirect and will not count as an accumulated foul.

The Goalkeeper

Must wear a different color shirt.
He/She may wear long pants and/or other padding as deemed safe by the match referee.
May receive a kick-in directly.
May kick the ball directly over the half-way line.
May score directly with his/her feet during the run of play.
May not possess the ball for more than four seconds in his/her own half.
May throw the ball directly across the half-way line.
May not score a goal by using the hands (cannot throw or hit the ball directly into the goal)
Cannot touch the ball again in any way within his own half after releasing the ball into play unless an opponent has touched it or it has gone out of play..