2024 RULES OF PLAY
PLEASE NOTE: Management reserves the right to change/adjust the rules and policies at any time.
Games will start promptly. If a team is not ready to play within 10 minutes of start time, the team will forfeit (forfeiture results in a 3-0 victory for opponent).
A game shall be played in 2 equal halves of 25 minutes
The halftime interval should be 2 minutes
The clock shall only be stopped for serious injuries. Otherwise, the half is over when 25 minutes have elapsed, regardless of whether the ball is in/out of play or one team is in the midst of an attack.
Six players on the field, plus one goalkeeper (total of seven players per team).
There must be at least 2 female players and 2 male players on the field at all times
All players must be at least 16 years of age or older.
A team must play short if there are not at least 2 female players or 2 male players on the field.
No slide tackling. Sliding is acceptable as long as no opponent is near the ball.
No offsides
Ties will be left as ties in the regular season.
Standings are based on the following…
3 Pts for win
1 Pt for tie
0 Pt for loss
Tie breaker will be head-to-head aggregate score; followed by fewest goals against, followed by largest goal differential (goals for - goals against); followed by rock, paper, scissors.
End of season rankings may be based on winning percentage with ties being broken by goal differential. (Winning percentage example: A team's record is 7-2-1 (W-D-L). A tie is calculated as one win and one loss. So 7-2-1 becomes 9 wins and 3 losses: 9/12 = 75%.)
Free Kicks:
Outdoor FIFA rules apply for fouls. All kicks are direct unless it is the result of a foul requiring an indirect free kick restart ie., goal keeper handling from a passback, or a dangerous play.
Opposing players should be 5 yards away from ball
Penalty Kicks should be from the top of Penalty area
Substitutions: Free, unlimited substitutions during play. Except in case of injury, players must be in the immediate vicinity of their bench area before a substitute may enter the field. Violations may be punishable by a free kick awarded to the non-offending team. Repeated or blatant violations may be punishable by a yellow card.
Out of Bounds:
The ball is out of bounds when the WHOLE ball crosses the whole of the line
Goal kicks and corner kicks will be used when the ball crosses the end line, and indirect kick-ins will be used for sideline restarts. Goal kicks shall be taken from halfway between the end line and the top of the penalty area.
Ball hits the ceiling (indoor)
If the ball hits the ceiling anywhere outside the penalty area it will be a kick-in restart.
If the ball hits the ceiling anywhere in the penalty box the referee will spot the ball at the nearest location outside of the penalty box.
Example. The ball hits the ceiling towards the endline of the penalty box, the ball will be placed at the edge of the penalty box parallel to the sideline.
Example: The ball hits the ceiling closer to the top of the penalty box, the ball will be placed at the edge of the penalty area perpendicular to the sideline.
Goalkeepers:
Outdoor FIFA rules apply when passing back to the goalkeeper. However, violations are punished by a free kick at the edge of the penalty area, rather than an indirect kick from where the goalkeeper handled the ball.
Goalkeeper may slide tackle only if the ball is inside the penalty box
Goalkeeper may use any method of distribution he/she wishes
Goalkeeper has 6 seconds to release the ball.
If GK is in violation, the ball will be placed at the top of the penalty box for an indirect kick to the opposing team.
Yellow Card:
A cautioned player shall be substituted for immediately and may come back into the game after two minutes.
Red Card:
A disqualified/ejected player cannot be replaced (no substitution) and team must play short for the remainder of the game.
Any player who receives a red card must immediately leave the field and may be asked to leave the facility. The player must sit out for the next game. If a player receives two red cards at any time during the season, the player will not be allowed to play for the rest of the season.
Card Accumulation over the course of one season will lead to a deduction of points from team standings:
1. Accumulation of 4 yellow cards by the same team in the same season will result in a 3 point deduction from that team’s total points in the standings. After a point deduction, the count will reset and begin again.
2. Each red card will result in a 5 point deduction from that team’s total points in the standings.
Final Standings:
At the end of the regular season a champion will be crowned within each division based on total points accumulated throughout the entire regular season (does not include mid-season tournament).
Mid-Season Benefit Brackets charity tournament:
As a mid-season break the league will host a single-day charity tournament that will focus on fun and will have no impact on season standings. We will host a divisional single-elimination bracket-style tournament to benefit local charities in Week 7, Week 8, or Week 9.
Benefit Bracket rules:
Each game will be 25-minutes in duration
Ties will be broken by penalty kicks.
Penalty Kicks: The first round of PKs will see 3 players shoot per team. The first 3 PK-takers for each team must include at least 1 man and at least 1 woman. If still tied after 3 PKs per team, one penalty kick per team per round will be taken until the tie is broken. Only after all present players for one team have each taken a penalty kick, can teams recycle through penalty kick takers.
New additions from IFAB
Law 13 and 16 – Free Kicks and Goal Kicks
-The ball is in play once it is kicked and does not have to leave the penalty area.
-Opponents must remain outside the penalty area and at least 10 yards away, however if the kicking team takes a free kick while the opponent is in the penalty area, the kicking team is accepting the risk that the opponent may gain possession of the ball once it has been kicked. However if the opponent challenges for the ball before it is in play a goal kick is retaken.
Wall Clarification
When setting up a wall, if the defending team has 3 or more players in their wall, an attacking player must be at least 1 yard away from the wall.
Drop ball clarification
No longer will 2 players compete for a dropped ball.
-If play is stopped in the penalty area, it will be dropped only to the goal keeper.
-A dropped ball will be dropped to the team who last touched the ball unless the above has occurred and the opponent must remain 4.5 yards away.
-If the ball touches the referee and goes into the goal, team possession changes or a promising attack starts, a dropped ball is awarded.
Handball Clarification
The following ‘handball’ situations, even if accidental, will be a direct free kick
the ball goes into the goal off an attacking player’s hand/arm
a player gains control/possession after the ball has touched their hand/arm and scores, or creates a goal-scoring opportunity
the ball touches a player’s hand/arm which has made their body unnaturally bigger
the ball touches a player’s hand/arm when it is above their shoulder (unless the player has deliberately played the ball which then touches their hand/arm)
The following will not usually be a free kick, unless they are one of the above situations:
The ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from:
their own head/body/foot
the head/body/foot of another player who is close/near
The ball touches a player’s hand/arm which is close to their body and has not made their body unnaturally bigger
If a player is falling and the ball touches their hand/arm which is between their body and the ground to support the body (not extended to make the body bigger)
If the goalkeeper attempts to ‘clear’ (release into play) a throw-in or deliberate pass from a team-mate but the ‘clearance’ fails, the goalkeeper can handle the ball
Verbal offenses
All verbal offenses are penalized with a free kick
First Aid: The facility has limited first aid supplies. It shall be the responsibility of each team to maintain their own first aid kit for treatment of their players.
Administration:
All rules of the Tree Farm Facility apply: www.treefarmsports.org for outdoor soccer and all rules of The Shelburne Field House will apply for indoor games
No one may play without signing a waiver. It is the responsibility of the team captain to make sure that all players and any subs sign a waiver before playing.
A team will forfeit if it is not paid in full by the first scheduled game.
Captains will be the front-person for all communication
Please consult the Versus Sports, LLC website if weather is questionable.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Tree Farm facility grounds
Concussion Policy: If a player is in a collision and exhibits any of the following symptoms the referee will remove them from the game:
- Vomiting
- Slurring their words
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Amnesia surrounding the collision
If the player is in a collision and does not display any of the above listed symptoms they will be asked if they are feeling any of the following symptoms. If not they will be cleared for play. If they are feeling any of the below symptoms they will be removed from playing until they have written clearance from a physician. It is the Team Captain's responsibility to enforce this policy.
- Dizzy
- Nauseous
- Confusion
- Ringing in the ears
Sportsmanship/Conduct:
Versus Sports, LLC strives to give players the opportunity to play soccer in an environment that is comfortable, safe, fun, and free from unsportsmanlike behavior. Swearing at officials, players, or staff will not be tolerated, as it takes away from the experience of others. Players must conduct themselves in the spirit of good sportsmanship at all times. Dismissal for bad sportsmanship is at the sole discretion of the officials and staff and will not result in a refund. Any behavior that is, in the opinion of referees and/or management, offensive, violent, threatening, dangerous, or negatively affecting the experience of other players, will result in the loss of playing privileges. Players are expected to play under control and within the rules of the game and must avoid behavior that puts the safety of others at risk. The team captain or team representative is responsible for the conduct of all players on their team. Any and all complaints must be made in writing and submitted no sooner than 12 hours after the game in question.
Zero Tolerance Policy: Any Player fighting within the field complex will be subject to banishment from the league indefinitely.
Social Sports, LLC reserves the right to deny access to any player that management feels is a nuisance or a danger to other players, staff, officials, or spectators.
Player Equipment:
Players shall wear matching team shirts
Goalies must wear colors that distinguish them from all other players
Shin guards and cleats are recommended (no studded or screw in cleats allowed)