The Plex Indoor Soccer Rules

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Duration of Games

U16/U19/Adult – Two (2) halves of twenty-five (25) minutes. (Two-minute halftime interval).

*U16/U18 must have an adult over 21 on the bench at all times or game will not begin.

U12/U14 – Two (2) halves of twenty-four (24) minutes. (Two-minute halftime interval).
U8/U10- Four (4) quarters of ten (10) minutes. (30-second quarter intervals).

*One timeout is allowed per team per game. (30 seconds in length).

*Time will count down after each period & will continue running even if team(s) are not ready.

Forfeit:

· A team has 5:00 minutes into a running clock to field a team before the game is an official forfeit.

* 25 minute halve forfeit is official 19:59 on the clock.

· U14 & older must have 3 field players & 1 GK. U12 & Under must have 4 field players & 1 GK

*Note - If a team shows up after the allotted time, the opposing team may agree to play the game as an official game at the start of play. Time will not start over.

Number of Players

U14/U16/U19/Adult – Maximum 6 players & Minimum 4 players, including the goalkeeper.
U8/U10/U12/W4F – Maximum 7 players and Minimum 5 players, including the goalkeeper.

*Note – U8 one coach per team may be on the field to assist the players, but may not touch ball. Coach must be near the sideline, not in the middle of the field. Screaming at the players, while on the field will not be tolerated.

*U8/U10/U12 – If one team is leading by 5 goals, the opposing team may add one player (which shall be 8 players, including the goalkeeper).

· Substitutions may be made at any time on an unlimited basis, provided the player substituted for is within the touchline at his/her bench area, or off the field at bench area before the substitution is made.

Any teammate may change place with the goalkeeper at any time as per regular substitutions, provided that the goalkeeper wears a jersey, which distinguishes himself/herself from other players.
Free Kicks, Goal Kicks, Corner Kicks, and Kick Ins shall not be delayed for substitution purposes.
If a team has more than the number of players allowed on the field at one time, a two-minute penalty may be assessed if referee feels it affected play, restart will go against offending team.

Rostered Players

· A player must be rostered and age appropriate to be eligible to play for any team at The Plex. Players in their respective league must be that age or younger on the first day of play. Birth certificates may be required upon request.

· Any player on the field MUST be on that team’s roster.

· A player is not considered rostered until he/she has filled out and signed the roster wavier form (or a parent/guardian, if under 18 years old.)

· A player may not be rostered for more than one team in any division.

*Note - A player may play in two different divisions in a certain age group. (i.e. U16 Boys A & U16 Boys B)

*If a team has an unrostered player, the team will automatically forfeit that game and two previous wins.

· Any player who plays for a team that they are not rostered for will be suspended for a minimum of 2 weeks.

· The Plex reserves the right to move players and/or teams between divisions at any time in the best interest of the league.

Free Kicks

Every free kick is a direct kick.
The opposing team of a direct kick must be at least 10 feet away from the ball.
The ball is out of play if it hits the netting. Result: free kick will be awarded to the opposing team inside the dotted lines and the wall where the ball hit the netting. Exception the following ruling.
If the ball was kicked from the defensive penalty area (box) by the defending team and hits any part of the netting or ceiling the ball will be restated at the top of the arch of the penalty area (box). Exception – if ball is deflected off defender and hits netting or ball bounces from turf and hits netting.
The ball is out of play if it hits the ceiling. Result: free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the center of the nearest line (red or halfway) to where the ball was last played.
Failure by a team to put the ball into play within five seconds after the referee has signaled shall result in a possession turnover to the opponent.
Any player, including GK may not kick the ball in the air over 3 lines (two red lines and halfway line) toward his opponent’s goal line, without it touching another player, the perimeter wall, or referee.
The referee shall award a free kick to the opposing team at the center of the first red line that the ball crossed.
*Exception: A goalkeeper, while standing in his/her team’s penalty area, may legally throw the ball over the three lines.
Any indirect infraction (i.e. pass back, dangerous play, obstruction, or high kick) inside the penalty area against the defensive team will result in a direct kick at the top of the penalty box arc for the attacking team.
Any other infraction inside the penalty area against the defensive team will result in penalty kick.

Player Equipment

All players must wear shinguards during play.
All players must have a visible number on their shirt or jersey.
Players shall not be permitted to wear jewelry or hats at any time during the playing of a game, unless the referee approves of it (i.e. taped earrings, wedding ring).
The goalkeeper shall wear colors, which distinguish him/her from field players.
The visiting team shall change color or wear pennies in the event of a color conflict.
Any cast worn must be properly padded to the satisfaction of the referee.
The GK is the only player allowed to wear pants. Players must wear shorts.

Goalkeeper Rules

The GK has 5 seconds either by hands or foot to put the ball in play outside his/her own penalty box.
The GK may possess the ball with his/her hands from his/her own teammate only if the teammate passes the ball back with his/her head or chest.

*Note - Foot to head/chest is not permissible.

The GK may not dribble the ball into the penalty box and pick it up with his/her hands.
The GK may possess the ball with feet only, if teammate passes the ball with feet to him/her.

· The GK must serve any “timed” penalty assessed to him/her, unless the penalty is a minor offense. (Only at the referee’s discretion) If not served by goalie the penalty minutes count for the goalie not player serving the time.

U-8 will have unlimited pass back. (U10 no longer has unlimited pass backs)
“Goal Kick/Goal Throw-in”: After an attacking player has last touched the ball over the top of the goal wall. Play restarts by throwing, rolling punting or drop kicking the ball into play outside of the penalty box within 5 seconds of having possession of the ball.
Goal Save by the GK: Same as “goal kick/throw-in” except that the GK may roll the ball to his own feet outside of the penalty area.
The GK may not put the ball on the floor inside the penalty box. (A direct kick from the top of the arc for opposing team will result).
Only the GK may throw the ball over three lines without an infraction of the three-line rule.
Gk may score on the opposing goal by throwing the ball.

General Rules

NO FIGHTING- players will receive an automatic league suspension. Fighting is defined as:

Throwing a punch with fists, towards anyone on or off the playing surface.

Deliberately inflicting or attempting to inflict physical harm to anyone on or off the playing surface. Physical altercation between anyone on or off the court with intent to injure.

Slide Tackling: Slide tackling from behind or with intent to injure is not allowed. A direct free kick will be awarded at the referee’s discretion. A two-minute or worse penalty will be assessed for flagrant slide tackles.
Sliding is allowed only if there is not another player within two feet of the player sliding.
A player shall not touch the ball twice in a row off of a restart.

*A player takes a direct kick, the ball hits off of the wall, that player may not touch the ball again until another player touches the ball.

No Spitting. A minimum two-minute penalty will be assessed for spitting anywhere other than in the provided garbage cans with liners. (1st offense - two minute penalty. 2nd offense ejected from building.)
No Gum. Players who are chewing gum will be asked to dispose of their gum in the proper garbage can.
No Foul/Abusive Language. A minimum two-minute penalty will result to any player who uses foul, abusive or discriminating language (Language Blue Card Players have to sit for the full two minutes but team plays full).
A minimum two- minute penalty shall be given to any player who is not playing within the spirit and/or rules of the game of soccer.
A player, who accumulates 6:00 minutes or more time penalties (i.e. three (3) blue cards) during the course of a game, shall immediately be ejected from game & the player will receive a minimum of one game suspension from their next game.
Blue Card = Two-minute penalty for Individual and Team (Team doesn’t play short handed for Language blue card). Unless a goal is scored by the opposing team, the offending player may return to the field).
Yellow Card = Mandatory 5 minute penalty for individual (Team plays short-handed for 2 minutes unless a goal is scored by the opposing team, the offending player may not return to the field for 5 minutes).
Red Card = Player Ejected – Mandatory 5 minute penalty for team (Team plays short-handed for 5minutes even if a goal or more is scored).

*Two players from opposite teams who receive a card at the same time must serve the entire penalty. If a goal is scored, neither team may add a player to the field.

*Ejected player must serve at least one game suspension, possibly more, for that team.

*The ejected player may not play on his/her or any other team until that suspension is served.

*Ejected player may not sit on any team’s bench until suspension is served.

*Ejected player may be suspended or permanently banned from The Plex, at the discretion of Plex Management.

*Fighting will be reviewed by The Plex Management.

Playoff Seeding and Rules

If standings are tied after all games have been played, positioning is as follows:

1. Winner of Head to Head

2. Least Goals Against

3. Most Goals For

4. Flip of Coin

Tournament Format

No Timeouts - Referee may stop clock at his discretion i.e., injury - cards

Divisions: U8 & U10

Two 10:00 minute halves

Top Seed has Ball 1st period, Lower Seed 2nd period

Divisions: U12 & Up

One 24:00 minute period

Top Seed has Ball 1st period

All overtime period’s start with a Drop ball

If Score remains tied after regulation:

One 2:00 minute sudden victory period with no Goalkeeper and one less field player

If Score remains tied after first overtime:

One 2:00 minute sudden victory period with no Goalkeeper and three less field players

If Score remains tied after second overtime:

One 2:00 minute sudden victory period with no Goalkeeper and four less field players

In a 1v1 overtime, on a dead ball situation, the player who has the kick may use the wall
as an extra player.
PK is awarded in OT, may have GK, but may not use hands.
Penalties carry over into OT
Can substitute in OT (If you dare)