Official Rules For 5-A-Side Soccer
1. TEAMS RULES
** Team fee/individual fee must be paid in full before participation in the 1st game.**
Teams will receive 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw and zero for a loss. League standings will be decided by points earned, followed by goal difference, followed by goals scored, followed by the aggregate result between the two teams in question, followed by a play-off.
Teams that cancel at any point before their scheduled match will result in forfeit and be charged a fee of $30 that must be paid before their next game. If both teams come to an agreement to reschedule and it is approved by staff, then they will be able to reschedule for a later time.
Teams may only register a maximum of 15 players (unless another figure is arranged by league organizers) and no player can be registered to more than one team in the same league division.
If an injury occurs to a registered player, the team may replace the player once there is proof of injury for a fee of $10/game left in the season plus the elevate card. The minimum that must be payed is $40. Note that the player that is injured will forfeit their spot for the rest of the season. A replacement player or any player on the roster must play in 2 season games in order to play in the playoffs
If at any point a team permanently falls under 6 players after the 3rd game, they may choose to add an additional player for the full registration price. Note: they must play at least 2 season games to play in the playoffs.
Any team playing an unregistered or suspended player will have to forfeit that game and recieve a 6-0 loss and the captain will receive a red card (1 suspended game). Players playing while suspended will have a further three match ban added to the end of their current suspension.
All teams must be at the center and ready to begin the match at the appointed kick-off time. If a team is more than 3 minutes late their opponents take a 1-0 lead. After 6 mins, this goes up an additional 2 goals to a 3-0 lead. After 10 mins, the game is abandoned, and the team takes a 6-0 or a score based on the average of goals scored at the end of the season. Whichever is greater. Example: team 1 scores 100 goals and plays 7 games. The team will be awarded a 14-0 win (100/7) for every forfeit.
All Players must present an Elevate player Card (Turn in to referee or the scorekeeper) before playing a game. A player with no Elevate card will not play or participate in a match. Also, a player that fails to turn in their card before playing will receive a yellow and can not participate until the card is addressed. They would need to purchase another card before playing for $10 or pay for a player pass for $5. *If a team decides to utilize a player that is not on the roster, the captain will receive a red and the team will forfeit that game.
Only players will be allowed in the areas designated for the Home and Away bench. Once your game is over you must leave the area so the next team can occupy it for their game.
A team has till the 3rd game to fill their 10 player roster if they paid a team fee. If teams registered via individual fees, they must complete their roster at or before the 3rd game.
Any players drinking alcoholic beverages at The Elevate Facility (including the parking lot) or found to be intoxicated, will be suspended for the remainder of the season
2. GAME RULES
Each team may have four outfield players and a goalkeeper on the field at any time.
Open Substitution (the player that is entering the field may not touch the ball until the substituted player has left the field). The player that touches the ball or engages in play will receive a yellow and will have to be subbed out.
The match will consist of two equal minute halves – half lengths will be 20 minutes long with a 2 minute intermission.
Each half will begin with one team kicking off at midfield. After a goal has been scored the game will be re-started at midfield again. The ball must go backwards off a kickoff. Game can resume as soon as the ball is placed on the center dot. You do not have to wait for the referee whistle. If a team fails to kick the ball backwards the other team will gain possession of the kickoff.
For ages 8 and under the ball is in play as long as it remains inside the field of play. Balls may be played at any height and can be played on rebounds off boards, cage, and side netting. For ages 9 and above the ball will stay in play as long as it does not touch the netting. Players are considered elegible in an age group as long as their birthdate is during the season.
No slide tackles or sliding are allowed (if your knee or hand touches the floor it is considered a slide). Infringement of this rule will lead to a direct free kick being awarded against the offending player’s team (tackles do not go towards your foul count). The goalie may not slide outside the box, even if the slide starts inside his area. This is still a violation of this rule and a free kick will be awarded.
Bicycle kicks, sidekicks, diving headers are not considered sliding. But may be called as a dangerous play if other players are near to the play. If a clear goal is prevented by a defender by sliding or a handball, the ref has the right to declare a goal.
Teammates may return the ball back to the goalkeeper - but the goalkeeper can not pick up the ball with his/her hands, this Infringement will lead to a free kick being awarded against the offending team at the penalty mark. If a goalie decides to take the ball out of his goal box he can no longer bring it back in his box to pick it up with his hands. This also leads to a free kick on the penalty mark. If the goalie receives a ball outside of the box from his teammate he is not allowed to bring it back in the box and pick it up. But if it is not from his teammate he is allowed to bring it inside the box and pick it up. Any infringement of this rule will result in a free kick from the penalty spot.
All Free kicks and out of bounce kicks are direct. Opposition players must be at least 5 steps from where any free kick or out of bounce kick Taken. Players must do their best to give the space, if they impede the game by standing in front of the ball or closing the space during a free kick, there is a potential for a yellow card. The ref can be called to insure the 5 steps, but to resume play the offensive team has to wait for the whistle.
Goalies can score at anytime, this includes Goal kicks/ throw ins (all goal kicks will be throw ins back into play)
Goalies: When the opposing team kicks the ball out of bounce on the goalside the goalie must resume play by throwing the ball back into play within 5 seconds. This includes distributing the ball by hand to his or her player or deciding to throw the ball in the opponents goal. The goalie may not pass to himself to resume play during goal kicks. If the goalie holds the ball past 5 seconds it is a time violation and a free kick will be awarded at the penalty spot.
Goalies: The goalie may place the ball down and play as long as it is a live ball and has not gone out of bounce. Once he or she sets the ball down the goalie cannot pick it up. Violation of this rule will allow the other team to take a FREE KICK from the penalty spot.
A live ball received outside the goalie box may be brought back inside the box and picked up by the goalie
If the goalie receives a live ball inside the goalie box, then proceeds to dribble outside the box, he may not return to the box to pick the ball up. Violation of this rule will allow the other team to take a Free kick from the penalty spot.
Teams may change their goalkeeper “on the fly”, just like a regular substitute. Although the entering goalkeeper must be ready and must not delay the game.
Cleats may ONLY be worn by players under the age of 10 (outdoor field only). NO screw-in studded footwear is permitted to be worn by any player on the fields. Only training shoes, molded studs and turf shoes may be worn (indoor soccer shoes). All Players must wear shin guards. The wearing of any jeweler is not permitted during play. If a player enters the field with Gum, jewelry, no shin guards, or cleats, He or She will receive a yellow and will be asked to sub to address the issue.
In the knockout stages (not league play), if the scores are level, There will be a 5 minute golden goal period before proceeding to penalties/shootouuts ( 3 regular penalties and 2 Texas Style Shootouts) which will decide who progresses through to the next round or decides a winner. If there is still a tie after the shootouts the remainder of the team will contiue the Texas Shootouts till there is a winner and the rotation will continue in the order that the shots are taken. For Coed (there must be at least one girl in the first 5 players.)
Texas shootout Rules: Ball Starts at the Center of the field. The player has 5 seconds to score. Goalies Can only dive/slide inside the box. If a golie slides,dives, or fouls to prevent the goal, a goal is awarded. If a player fouls or slides in order to score the goal, the goal will be forfeited
The Referee shall not add any stoppage time to the end of any period.
Exception: If a penalty kick is awarded near the end of a period when 2 minutes or less is left, the time will be stopped and will resume once the kick is taken. Any other stoppage of the clock (eg. for inclement weather, extended injury, etc.) shall be only at the discretion of Elevate Soccer.
COED- Goals that are scored by girls will count for 2 points . This includes own goals caused by a defensive player (deflections by female defenders do not count as own goals).
For coed: A team may play with 3 girls on the field if the other team agrees
The ball must be stopped on set pieces in order to resume play
Substitutions cannot be made during corners or freekicks near the door where the ball is about to be played. Players must wait to sub until the play is away from the door
A player may not play to himself of a wall on a set play (direct kick, penelty, or a kick-in). This includes the goal posts.
5 team physical fouls = a penalty. Fouls roll over till the end of the game even extra time. After a penalty is awarded due to foul count, the foul count will then start over. If a foul is commited in the penalty area and a penalty is awarded, the foul will not go towards the team foul count.
Playoffs will consist of the following: 5-9 teams = 4 playoff spots, 10-12 teams= 6 playoff spots, 13+ teams = 8 playoff spots
3. DISCIPLINARY RULES
1. BLUE CARDS: Players receiving a blue card must sub out for 2 min. If there are no subs, the player must sit out for 2 minutes prior to returning to the game. A blue card is given to players for the following offenses. Failure to present an Elevate ID card, Chewing gum, wearing jewelry, spitting on the field, continuous arguing with referee thus distracting the referee , too many players on the field, retaliation on elevate property (dasher boards, etc.), player not wearing a permanent number on back of shirt/jersey, no shin guards, and improper footwear.
2. YELLOW CARDS with any serious offense: a hard foul, intentional handball, unsporting behavior, instigation or unsportsmanlike behavior, intentional delay of game (not respecting the distance on set plays) will result in a yellow or red card at the referee’s discretion. 2 yellow cards will constitute a red card. Players receiving one yellow card must sit out for 2 min with NO SUB. A player cannot return till the 2 mins are up.
3. RED CARDS: If a player is sent off with a red card, he/she may not return to the game and their substitute can join after 5 min. A red card will be given for any violent conduct, Hard/dangerous foul with intension to hurt player, denying an obvious goal, using offensive insulting language or actions, retaliation after a play has been called.
*note that if at any point the team is permanently left with only 3 players and no substitutes, it will constitute a forfeit. PLEASE ALSO NOTE: A player that is on the bench may still receive a yellow or a red Card and a player from their team must sit out until the time is served.
- Excessive complaining to the referee can result in a yellow or potentially a red card.
- Players sent off with a red card for any reason will be suspended for one match and will miss the team’s next game. Players sent off for any serious foul play, foul or abusive language will be suspended for further games at the discretion of the referee and management. Note: if foul language is used by players/fans: 1st offense: verbal warning, 2nd offense: yellow, 3rd and final offense: red card (fans will be removed from facility)
- If a player is sent off while off the field of play with a red or yellow card (for unacceptable conduct on the sideline), the team must correspondingly reduce the number of players on the field for a penalty of 2 min for a yellow or 5 min for a red.
- If a team is permanently reduced to three players due to suspensions, at that time the game will end and the match will be awarded 6-0 to their opponents. If the score at the time produces a goal difference greater than 6-0 then that score will stand.
- A suspended player cannot be replaced
- A red card that is given due to intentionally trying to harm another player (fight/physical or verbal abuse) will result in a: 3 Game Suspension, Full Season Suspension, or a Ban From The Facility. Depending on the nature of the offence and will be at the discretion of the Elevate Soccer Team. ANY NON-PLAYER that steps on the field to engage in a conflict will be banned from the facility completely.
- If a match is abandoned for any reason the team at fault will receive an average of their goals for. Unless the opposition already has a greater advantage in which case the score will stand. If both teams are judged to be at fault, then both teams will receive forfeits against them with no points awarded
- The decision of the referee in all matters pertaining to the playing rules of an individual game is final. The decision of ELEVATE SOCCER in all matters pertaining to the administration of the league is final.
- ELEVATE SOCCER has the right to overturn any rule if they feel a team is deliberately using an interpretation of the rules to gain an unfair advantage.
- 5 fouls (excluded handballs) against an opponent will result in a penalty ( players not taking the penalty will be behind the half-way line.
- Penalty: Penalties will be a regular penalty with a few steps back.
- There will be a $30 forfeit fee that must be paid before the next scheduled game