RULES and other GUIDELINES

Rule 1 - The Field Of Play
Field measures 80' wide x 180' long.  Markings on the field include:
·         Penalty Areas, with Penalty Mark at top center
·         Center Circle
·         Halfway Line, with Center Mark at center
·         “Red Lines” (which are not actually red), with Restart Mark at center.  Red Lines are located halfway between the Halfway Line and each Goal Line.
 
Rule 2 - The Ball
The ball is size 3 or 4 for U12 and below and size 5 for all others.
 
Rule 3 - The Players
3.1 - Number of players
a)       Team roster is limited to 14 players.
b)       6 players per team, one of whom is a goalkeeper, with no less than 4 players per team on the field at all times.
c)       Coed teams must have a minimum of 2 female players on the field (female goalkeeper counts).  If a coed team has only 1 female player present at game start time, the game will begin but that team will play shorthanded (maximum of 5 players on the field) until a second female player is available.
d)       During an Overtime Period, neither team shall play with more than 4 players on the field, one of whom is a goalkeeper.  For coed, each team must have a minimum of 1 female player on the field (female goalkeeper counts).
e)       If a team does not have the minimum number of players (4 total and, for coed, including at least 1 female player) at game start time, the game clock will start and 1 goal will be awarded to the opposing team for each minute that passes until A) the team has enough players to play; or B) five goals are scored in this manner, at which point the game will be considered a forfeit.
 
3.2 - Substitutions
Substitute players are to remain in their team bench area.  Teams may substitute players freely during play (“on the fly”) provided that:
a)       Substituting players must enter/exit the field of play within 3 yards of the Halfway Line by "tagging" in and out.
b)       The player substituted for does not, in the determination of the Referee, interfere with play at the time the replacing player enters the field of play.
 
3.3 - Goalkeeper substitution
Goalkeeper substitution is only permitted during a stoppage (i.e., NOT :on the fly”), and only provided that:
a)       The Referee is notified before the substitution is made.
b)       The new goalkeeper is properly and legally equipped.
 
Rule 4 - The Players' Equipment
a)       Each team’s players must wear matching-color jerseys.  Teams are responsible for having alternate color jerseys in the event that both teams show up wearing the same color and one has to change.
b)       The goalkeeper wears jersey colors distinguished from all other field players and from the Referees.
c)       All players must wear shin guards, which must be completely covered by socks.
d)       Indoor footwear (turf shoes or flat-soled shoes) is recommended, but molded plastic or rubber cleats designed for use on synthetic turf are permitted.  Absolutely NO metal cleats or screw-in studs are allowed.
e)       Players shall not be permitted to wear anything deemed dangerous by the Referee.
 
Rule 5 - The Referee
The decisions of the Referee regarding facts connected with play and interpretations of the Rules are FINAL.
 
Rule 6 - The Duration of the Game
a)       A regulation game consists of two 25-minute Halves, with a 2-minute (or shorter, at Referee’s discretion) halftime interval.
b)       Time will be extended for the taking of a Penalty Kick.
c)       Except in the case of an unusual delay, determined by the Referee, the Game Clock counts down continuously through each Half or Overtime Period.
d)       Regular-season games may end in a tie (i.e., no overtime/tiebreaker).
e)       If a game where a winner must be determined (e.g., playoff, tournament), is tied at the end of regulation, a 5-minute "Golden Goal" Overtime Period is played.  If still tied, a Tiebreaker takes place, as described in Rule 12.
 
Rule 7 - The Start and Restart of Play
7.1  - Game Start Time
Games will start promptly at the scheduled game time.  When the previous game ends, teams will be allowed a reasonable amount of time to get all equipment into the bench area and take the field.  We ask that players whose game has just ended not linger in the bench area to make way for players playing in the next game. Forfeit time is five minutes past scheduled game start time.

7.2 - Kickoffs
A Kickoff  from the Center Mark starts play at the beginning of each Half and after every goal.  Standard FIFA rules apply regarding Kickoffs, with the exception that the ball does not have to move forward.   Teams will change direction at half time and alternate kick off.

7.3 - Free Kicks
A team is awarded a Free Kick after an infraction of the rules by the opposing team.  ALL FREE KICKS ARE DIRECT.

Before a player takes any Free Kick, the ball must be stationary.  All opposing players must be a minimum of 5 yards from the spot of the Free Kick (or, if within 5 yards of the opponent's Goal, along the Goal Line).  The player taking a Free Kick cannot play it again until someone else first touches the ball.

The Free Kick is taken from the spot on the field where the infraction occurred, with the following exceptions:
a)       Within Own Penalty Area: from any spot therein
b)       Within Opponent's Penalty Area: from the Penalty Mark
c)       Delayed Penalty: A) as normally administered according to the ensuing stoppage; or B) in case the offending team obtains possession of the ball during play, at the spot of the original offense
d)       Three-Line Violation: from the offending team's Restart Mark
e)       Superstructure Violation: from the Restart Mark nearer to where the ball was last played

For restarts in unusual circumstances (e.g., after injury), play is restarted with a Free Kick from the location of the ball when play was stopped.  The team that had clear possession of the ball at the stoppage takes this kick.

7.4 - Drop Ball
If neither team has clear possession of the ball at a stoppage, the Referee restarts play with a Drop Ball. A Drop Ball caused while the ball is inside a Penalty Area takes place at the Penalty Mark.
 
7.5 - Five Second Rule
Failure by a player to put the ball into play within 5 seconds, as signaled by the Referee, shall result in a possession turnover to the opponent. When playing as goalkeeper, failure to distribute the ball having held it in his or her hands for over five seconds, which, in the opinion of the Referee, is designed to delay the game shall be penalized by awarding a Free Kick (not a Penalty Kick) to the opposing team from the Penalty Mark.
 
Rule 8 - The Ball In And Out Of Play
a)       A Throw-In, Corner Kick, or Goal Kick (all per standard FIFA rules) will be awarded when the entire ball crosses the Touch Line or Goal Line.
b)       Three-Line Violation occurs when a player (goalkeepers included) propels the ball in the air across the two “Red Lines” and the Halfway Line toward the opponent's Goal without touching another player or a Referee on the field of play.  The whole of the ball must have crossed both “Red Lines.”  (i.e., if the ball is placed on one red line and kicked from there and then crosses over the other red line, there is no violation.)
c)       A Superstructure Violation occurs when the ball contacts any part of the building above the field of play.
 
Intentionally kicking the ball hard enough and with the intent to hit the superstructure, ceiling, signage or lighting will be cause for a red card issued by the referee and deemed as an intent to destroy property of One-Touch Soccer.  A five (5) minute penalty will be assessed to the offending team and a direct kick awarded to the opposing team.  Additional sanctions (such as the offending player facing a suspension or ban from One-Touch Soccer) may also be considered.
 
Rule 9 - The Method of Scoring
9.1 - Goals
A team scores a goal when the whole of the ball legally passes over the Goal Line between the goalposts and under the crossbar. A goal may be scored directly from a Kickoff, Free Kick, or any Restart except a Throw-In.
a)       In coed leagues, a goal scored by a female player will count as 2 goals.  This includes Free Kicks, Penalty Kicks, and Shootouts.
b)       Own-goals will count as 1 goal, regardless of whether it was scored by a male or female player.
 
9.2 - Forfeits
 A forfeit goes into the books as a 5-0 final score.  A team will forfeit a game for the following reasons:
a)       Not having the minimum number of players required by the end of the 5-minute grace period after game start time.
b)       Dropping below the minimum number of players required at any point during the game.  This includes players lost due to injury as well as players serving Time Penalties or sent off with a Red Card, as explained in Rule 11.  In this type of forfeit, the official game result will still be scored 5-0, regardless of who is winning and what the actual score is at the point in the game when the forfeit is invoked.
 
Rule 10 - Fouls and Other Violations
10.1 - Standard Fouls
Standard FIFA-rules Fouls that result in a Free Kick for the opposing team include:
a)       Holding, handling, playing in a dangerous manner, impeding (obstruction)
b)       Kicking, tripping, jumping, charging, striking, or pushing in a manner the Referee deems careless, serious, reckless, or involving excessive force
c)       Violations committed by a Goalkeeper:
                                 i.            Illegal Handling: A goalkeeper who receives or carries the ball outside of the Penalty Area by foot shall not handle the ball inside the Penalty Area prior to the ball being touched by another player.
                                 ii.            Standard FIFA rules apply regarding when a goalkeeper may handle a ball played back from a teammate.
d)       Unsporting Behavior, including:
                                 i.            Leverage: Using the body of a teammate or any part of the field to gain an advantage
                                ii.            Encroachment: Entering the 5-yard protected area of an opposing player taking a Free Kick
                               iii.            Preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his or her hands
                               iv.            Dissent
 
10.2 - Slide Tackling
Slide tackling is NOT PERMITTED and will result in a Free Kick being awarded to the opposing team.  A slide tackle in the Penalty Area will result in a Penalty Kick being awarded to the opposing team.  Additional penalties (e.g., Yellow Card or Red Card) may also be enforced at the Referee’s discretion.  Referees will use discretion for normal goalkeeper play within the Penalty Area, as it relates to slide tackling.
 
10.3 - Flagrant Fouls
a)       A Penalty Kick is awarded for a Foul committed within the Penalty Area for which the offending player receives a Time Penalty.
b)       A Shootout is awarded as the penalty for Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (standard FIFA-rules apply for criteria to determine DOGSO).
 
10.4 - Cards
a)       Blue Card Offenses:
                     i.            serious Fouls
                    ii.            Unsporting Behavior
                   iii.            Deliberate Handball or Handball by a Goalkeeper
                   iv.            Goalkeeper Endangerment
                    v.            Any Foul by the Goalkeeper during a Shootout
b)       Yellow Card (Cautionable) Offenses:
                     i.            second Blue Card
                    ii.            reckless Fouls
                   iii.            Dissent
c)       Red Card (Ejectionable) Offenses:
                     i.            *second Yellow Card (or third Blue Card)
                    ii.            Fouls which the Referee considers violent or committed with excessive force
                   iii.            Fighting
                   iv.            Leaving team bench to engage in a fight or confrontation
                    v.            Extreme Unsporting Behavior, including:
                                           1.       Spitting at an opponent, Referee, or any other person
                                           2.       Persistent use of abusive language or behavior
                                           3.       Bodily contact with a Referee in dissent
 
Rule 11 - Time Penalties and Short-Handed Play
11.1 - Time Penalties
The following penalties apply to offenses for which a Card is issued:
a)       Blue Card                              =              2-minute Time Penalty
b)       Yellow Card                           =              2-minute Time Penalty
c)       *Administrative Red Card     =              2-minute Time Penalty AND ejection
d)       Straight Red Card                  =              5-minute Time Penalty AND ejection
 
The player who commits a carded offense serves the Time Penalty, seated in his or her team bench area, until its expiration and the Referee beckons the player back onto the field.  This includes goalkeepers.  If a substitute in the bench area or non-player personnel commits a carded offense, on-field players are designated by their teams to serve the Time Penalty in order to satisfy the requirement for playing short-handed.
 
11.2 - Short-Handed Play
For each Time Penalty being served by a player, his or her team plays with one fewer field player until its expiration.  NOTE: A team may not have fewer than the minimum required number of players on the field, regardless of the number serving Time Penalties, so if a player receives a Time Penalty while two or more teammates are already on the bench serving other Time Penalties, his or her team continues to play with the minimum while he or she joins teammates on the bench (i.e., the offending player shall be replaced by a substitute to satisfy minimum player requirements).  If the team does not have sufficient player(s) on the bench to make the replacement and satisfy minimum player requirements, the game is immediately ruled a Forfeit.
 
11.3 - Exceptions
Under the following circumstances, Time Penalties either expire prior to their completed countdown, or have the beginning of their countdowns delayed:
a)       Powerplay Goal: If a team is scored upon having fewer players on the field of play, due to one or more players serving Time Penalties, a player from the team is released back into the field of play.  If the team has two players serving Time Penalties, only the player whose Time Penalty was recorded earlier is affected.
b)       Simultaneous Ejections: When two simultaneous Red Cards carrying the same Time Penalties are assessed to opposing players, their Time Penalties are not served.
c)       End of Game: All Time Penalties carry over between periods and expire at the end of the game.
 
11.4 - Delayed Penalty
In instances where the Referee would issue a Blue Card, but applies the Advantage Rule, the Referee shall record and assess the offense when A) the team of the offending player gains control of the ball; or B) the Referee stops play for any other reason, whichever comes first.  In the event a goal is scored as a result of Advantage being applied, the offending player's penalty shall be recorded for accumulation purposes but the Time Penalty is not served.
 
Rule 12 - Shootouts and Penalty Kicks
Any eligible player may take a Shootout or Penalty Kick.  All substitutes and players serving Time Penalties must remain seated in their team bench area.  For Shootouts, all other players must remain behind the Halfway Line.  For Penalty Kicks, all other players must remain behind the nearest “Red Line” to the Penalty Kick.
 
12.1 - Shootout
a)       The ball is placed at the Restart Mark nearer the attacking Goal;
b)       The Goalkeeper has at least one foot on the Goal Line and may not move off of it until after the Referee whistles the Shootout to begin;
c)       Once the Referee whistles the Shootout to begin, the ball is "in play."
 
12.2 - Penalty Kick
a)       The ball is placed at the Penalty Mark;
b)       The Goalkeeper has both feet on the Goal Line until the ball is in play; and
c)       The player who takes the Penalty Kick may not touch the ball again until after it touches another player.
 
12.3 - Tiebreaker
If a game that must have a winner (playoff, tournament, etc.) is still tied following the 5-minute Overtime Period, a Tiebreaker takes place, via Shootouts, with the following special provisions:
a)       The Referee designates the Goal at which both teams shoot and the team which shoots first.
b)       All players, other than the player taking the shot and the defending Goalkeeper, remain within their team bench areas
c)       Each team has 3 shots, with players from each team kicking alternately.
d)       A different player must take each of the 3 shots.  For coed leagues, 1 of the 3 shot takers must be female players.
e)       If, after both teams have taken 3 shots neither has an advantage, the Tiebreaker continues, alternating one player at a time (for coed, 1 out of every 3 players to shoot must be female), until both teams have taken an equal number of shots and one team has scored when the other has not.
f)        The player has 5 seconds to score after the Referee’s whistle.
g)       Any foul by the goalkeeper—inside OR outside the Penalty Area—results in a penalty kick without the goalkeeper in goal.