Adult Soccer League Rules

ADULT SOCCER LEAGUE RULES

DIVISIONS

Open Competitive – for highly skilled, competitive teams/individuals, best suited for teams/players who have played soccer at an organized level for many years and are interested in a more intense game. (18 and older, any gender)

Open Intermediate – best suited for players with some experience in organized soccer or not interested in a highly intense game (18 and older, any gender)

COED Competitive and Intermediate – for players who want to play in a coed setting, and the same differentiation as between Open Competitive and Open Intermediate (18 and older, minimum of two female players on the field at all times)

Competitive Balance

Teams are strongly urged to enter into the proper level of competition.

RULES:

Ball:

Size 5

Number of Players:

5v5, one of whom is the goalkeeper.
The minimum number of players to start a match is 3 (one needs to be GK)

Roster size: Max 12 players – Players must be on the team’s roster to play. Rosters will be checked before each game. Players cannot be on two rosters in the same league. Players may guest play on another team with consent from the opposing team, except in playoff games when no guest players are allowed.

COED Leagues: 2 female players on the pitch at all times. Otherwise, play one down.

Rosters are frozen after week 4

Players Equipment:

Players on the same team must wear the same color jersey (no numbered jerseys required), and goalkeepers must wear a different color jersey from their teammates and the opposing team. All teams need an alternative color in case of conflict. Home team changes in case of conflict. Cleats are allowed. Shin guards are mandatory for youth soccer games but are recommended but not mandatory for adults.

Game Ball:

Each team needs to bring a game ball.

Note: a team that kicks a ball over the netting and into the street is responsible for recovering the ball.

Referees:

Duties: Enforce the laws, apply the advantage rule, keep game time, and score. Ensure that substitutions are carried out correctly. Record all incidents before, during, and after the game. Stop the game when deemed necessary, caution or expel players guilty of misconduct, violent conduct, or other un sportsmanship behavior, allow no others to enter the pitch, stop the game from having injured players removed, signal for the game to be restarted after every stoppage, ensure that the ball meets with the stipulated requirements.

The referees’ decisions regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.

The referees may not change a restart decision on realizing it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official if play has restarted or the referees have signaled the end of the first or second period.

One Referee per game.

Referees are required to:

Check rosters before each game. Players not on a roster cannot play until registered and signed a waiver with the league coordinator on sight.
Sign and complete a game report indicating the final score and report any game incidents involving player, coach, and spectator misconduct (red and yellow cards).
An Incident Report must be written if a player is injured.

Referee Fees: Teams pay referees $15 each before the start of the game in cash, with CashApp or Venmo. Games can’t start until referee fees are paid.

Game Duration:

46 minutes, two 23-minute halves, and 3 minutes of halftime.

The Start and Re-Start of Play

A kick-off starts both periods of a match and after a goal has been scored. Free kicks (direct or indirect), penalty kicks, kick-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks are other restarts.

Kick-Off Procedure: The home team kicks off at the start of the game, and the visiting team kicks off at the start of the second half.; opposing team keeps a 5-meter distance ball must be stationary on the center mark. The referee indicates that the kick-off must be taken by signaling with his/her whistle. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. If the player taking the kick-off touches the ball again before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded. Ensuing kickoffs are taken after goals are scored and at the start of the second half.

A goal may be scored directly against the opponents from the kick-off; if the ball directly enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.

In the event of any other kick-off procedure offense, the kick-off is retaken.

Ball out of Play

Ball out of play: When it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline on the floor or in the air; when a referee; has stopped the game

Lines: Touchlines and goal lines are considered inside the playing area.

The ball is also out of play when it touches a match official and remains on the pitch; in this case, play is restarted with a dropped ball.

Method of Scoring

When the whole of the ball has passed over the goal line, between the goal posts, and under the crossbar, provided that no offense has been committed by the team scoring the goal.

If an attacking team player moves or overturns the goal, the referees shall disallow the goal. If it was deliberate, the player must be cautioned.

A goal kick shall be awarded if the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opponent’s goal.

Suppose the referee signals a goal before the ball has passed wholly over the goal line (between the goalposts, as stipulated in Law 1) and immediately realizes his/her error. In that case, play is restarted with a dropped ball at the edge of the penalty area.

Offside

There is no offside

Fouls & Misconduct

Direct and indirect free and penalty kicks can only be awarded for offenses committed when the ball is in play.

The direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses against an opponent in a manner considered by the referees to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force:

charges
jumps at
kicks or attempts to kick
pushes
strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt)
tackles or challenges
trips or attempts to trip

“Careless” is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or acts without precaution. No disciplinary sanction is needed.
“Reckless” is when a player disregards the danger to, or consequences for, an opponent and must be cautioned with a yellow card.
“Using excessive force” is when a player exceeds the necessary use of force and endangers the safety of an opponent and must be sent off.

A direct free kick is also awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses:

a handball (except the goalkeeper within his/her penalty area)
holding an opponent
impeding an opponent with contact
Biting or spitting at someone
Throwing/kicking an object at the ball, an opponent, or a match official, or making contact with the ball with a held object.
tackles or challenges
trips or attempts to trip
Slide tackling

NOTE ON SLIDE TACKLING: Sliding to block a shot or a pass is permitted as long as the referee doesn’t interpret it as dangerous to who is shooting or passing the ball.

Indirect free kick awarded when any of the following offenses is committed (kick taken from the edge of the penalty area when infringement takes place in the penalty area):

Dangerous play (e.g., attempting to kick a ball held by the goalkeeper). A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible, provided it is not dangerous to an opponent.
Obstruction – impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being made (moving into the opponent’s path to obstruct, block, slow down, or force a change of direction when the ball is not within playing distance)
Charging the goalkeeper in the penalty area (i.e., goalkeeper charge)
The goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a back pass
The goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a kick in from a teammate on a goal kick; the goalkeeper touches the ball again before it touches another player.
Illegal substitution (kick taken from spots where illegal substitution occurred)
The player taking a direct or indirect free kick, a kick in, or a corner kick plays the ball a second time before another player plays the ball.
If, when a free kick is taken, an attacking team player is less than 1m from a” wall” formed by two or more defending team players, an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team.
Distance infringement on restarts.

Disciplinary Action: Players shall be cautioned (i.e., shown a yellow card) when:

He/she commits serious foul play or continuously commits fouls. (this yellow card is punishable with a direct free kick taken from the point of infringement)

The following three yellow card offenses are punishable by an indirect free kick taken from the point of infringement (or from the 6meter line when the infringement occurs in the penalty area).

he/she persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
he/she shows dissent with any decision of the referee
he/she is guilty of un sportsmanship conduct

In the case of a yellow card for unsportsmanlike behavior, no indirect kick is awarded after a goal is scored.

Players shall be sent off (i.e., shown the red card) for:

(a) violent foul play
(b) violent conduct
(c) foul or abusive language
(d) the second instance of caution-able offense (i.e., second yellow card)
(e) intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity (e.g., through a “professional foul”)
(f) intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity in the penalty area by handling the ball

Rules of Expulsion: The player sent off (shown a red card) is out for the rest of the game and is not even permitted to sit on the reserves’ bench. The player sent off may be allowed to stay on facility grounds by the league coordinator if he/she deems the player ejected won’t provoke a fight.

The team of the player sent off can substitute for that player after 5 minutes of playing time.
The substitute cannot come on until the ball is out of play and the referee consents.

A player who receives a straight red card automatically sits out his team’s next scheduled game.
A player receiving a red card for two yellow cards will not have to sit out a game.

Any player who is physically aggressive towards a referee (i.e., pushes, shoves, punches, kicks) will be suspended from the league indefinitely pending a hearing with the League Office and may be fined $100.

If a Final is suspended due to a brawl, the game will be considered canceled; therefore, there will be no winner.

Note: All Leagues, no matter how competitive, are for FUN – Players will receive yellow or red cards for reckless, aggressive, and violent play and or for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Free Kicks

Types: Direct free kicks and indirect free kicks

Wall: At least 5 meters away until the ball is in play
Ball in Play: when it is kicked and moves.
Restriction: The kicker cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it.

An indirect free kick must be retaken if the referee fails to signal that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly into the goal.

A goal is awarded if a free kick is kicked directly into the opponent’s goal.
If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponent’s goal, a goal kick is awarded to the opponent (unless the referees’ indirect free-kick signal was not made, and the kick must be retaken).
A corner kick is awarded to the opponents if a direct or indirect free kick is kicked directly into the kicker’s own goal.

Where two or more defending team players form a wall, all attacking team players must remain 1 meter from the wall until the ball is in play. Failure to do so is an indirect free kick awarded to the defending team.

Feinting to take a free kick is permitted.

While correctly taking a free kick, a player deliberately kicks the ball at an opponent to play the ball again but not carelessly or recklessly or using excessive force. In that case, the referee will allow play to continue.

Penalty Kicks

A penalty kick is awarded if a player commits a direct-free-kick offense inside his/her penalty area.

It must be taken from the penalty mark or 10 meters from the goal line.
The player taking the penalty kick must be identified.
The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts, without touching the goalposts, crossbar, or goal net, until the ball has been kicked.
The referee must signal for the kick to be taken.
The kicker is to aim at the goal with the intention of scoring.
When the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching or in line with the goal line.
All players must be out of the penalty area, and the opposing team’s players must also be at least 5 m from the penalty spot.
The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until another player has touched it.

Kick Offs

Taken at the beginning of each half and after a score. The referee must signal with a whistle for the start. CAN SCORE DIRECTLY FROM A KICK-OFF

Goal Kicks

A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line on the floor or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored.

The goalkeeper can place the ball anywhere inside the penalty area
The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.
The ball must be played to a teammate.
The ball can be played inside the penalty area.
If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper who took the goal kick touches the ball again before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded.
Opponents must be outside the penalty area and 5 meters from where the ball is placed until the ball is in play.
If, when a goal kick is taken, any opponents are inside the penalty area because they did not have time to leave, the referees may allow play to continue. If an opponent who is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken, or who enters the penalty area or infringes upon the 5-meter distance before the ball is in play, touches or challenges for the ball before it is in play, the goal kick is retaken.

Kick ins

A kick-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline on the floor or in the air.
To be taken in place of the throw-in.
The ball must be stationary on the touchline at the point where it left the pitch.
The ball must be on or behind the touchline.

Failure to observe any of the above causes the kick-in to be retaken by the opposing team.

The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.

If the kick-in is taken and then, after it has been in play, the ball goes off the pitch over the same touchline where it was taken without touching any other player, it is retaken by the opposing team from the exact location where the original kick-in was taken.
Suppose a player, while correctly taking a kick-in, deliberately kicks the ball at an opponent to play the ball again but not carelessly or recklessly or using excessive force. In that case, the referees allow play to continue.
The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player; infringement of this rule entails an indirect free kick to the opposing from the point of infringement.
Players on the opposing team must be at least 5 meters away from the point of the kick-in.
An opponent who unfairly distracts or impedes the kicker (including moving closer than 5m to the place from where the kick-in is to be taken) is cautioned for unsporting behavior, and if the kick-in has been taken, an indirect free kick is awarded.
Cannot score directly from a kick in.
A goal kick is awarded if the ball enters the opponent’s goal directly.
If the ball enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded.

Corner Kicks

A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line on the floor or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored.

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team; if the ball directly enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.

The ball is placed in the corner. If the ball is misplaced, the corner kick is taken over.
The ball must be stationary, taken by a player on the attacking team.
When kicked and moved, the ball is in play; it does not need to leave the corner area.
The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player; infringement of this rule entails an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
Players on the opposing team must be at least 5 meters away from the point of the corner kick.
Suppose a player, while correctly taking a corner kick, deliberately kicks the ball at an opponent to play the ball again but not carelessly or recklessly or using excessive force. In that case, the referees allow play to continue.

Substitutions

Substitution Limit: None

Substitution Method: “Flying substitution” (all players enter and
leave as they, please. The player entering cannot do so until the player coming off is off the field or tagged.

Substitution Zone: The player coming out must also do so from his/her bench side unless authorized by the referee to do so from a different place.

Goalkeeper substitution: This must be done with permission from the referee, who will stop the game to ensure the substitution is done.

Distance on Restarts

Five meters on all kick-offs, kick-ins, corner kicks, goal kicks, and free kicks. Infringement is penalized with an indirect free kick from the spot of the infringement.

Point System

3 points for a win

1 point for a tie

0 points for a loss

Playoffs

Seeding – determined standings after round-robin round. If there is a tie in points between two or more teams, the order is determined by goal differential.

During playoff games, a tied game in regulation is decided by penalty kicks. Only players on the pitch at the game’s end can take a penalty kick. The goalkeeper can change for penalty kicks, but it must be for one of the other players on the pitch at the end of regulation. Each team will take five penalty kicks. If the penalty kick score is tied at the end of five kicks, the teams will continue to take alternating penalty kicks until there is a winner.

All players on the field (including the keeper must kick before any player may kick a second time. Note: all players on the field at the end of the game MUST remain on the field, while all other players remain off the field. If a team plays one down due to a red card, a substitute player must be added to complete five to take a penalty kick. If there is no substitute, then only four take the penalty kicks.

Team Captains will submit the order in which their players will take the penalty kicks.

Team Rosters and Waivers

(complete based on league apps registration process)

Player Eligibility

To be an eligible player for the playoffs, he/she must be on the team roster.

A formal protest may be filed before a game if an opposing player’s eligibility is questioned. The player in question will be required to provide his/her player information (name, address, phone #) in writing to the referee or a City Futsal staff member before the start of the game. This qualifies as an official protest. The game will then be played as scheduled. Teams will be notified of all rulings on the eligibility discrepancy. Decisions will not be made on-site. If the protest is proven legitimate, it will result in the forfeiture of the game in question.

The above procedure will also apply to any other logged protests. All rulings by City Futsal staff are considered final.

Sportsmanship

The objective of the leagues is to have fun. Although the games may become intense, you can still be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. Any behavior deemed unacceptable by the referee or staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.

Cancellations/Rainouts

Leagues may be canceled due to weather conditions. Thunderstorms with lightning 9 miles or less or torrential rain cause game suspension or cancellation. We will not cancel games until necessary, and decisions are made an hour before game time. Canceled games may have to be made up on days other than those when games are typically played. In extreme circumstances, City Futsal reserves the right to run a shortened season without a refund.

Any match called before being an official/completed game will be replayed in its entirety.

A match is considered official/completed if a half has been played.

City Futsal reserves the right to schedule makeup games or playoff games on days other than your regularly scheduled games.

Schedules

Teams with a scheduling request may submit their request before the season’s schedules are published by emailing their request to info@cityfutsal.com under the header: ADULT LEAGUE SCHEDULE REQUEST. Schedule requests will be honored as long as there aren’t conflicting requests that would prevent us from doing so.

Reschedules

Teams may request that a scheduled game be rescheduled. A request to reschedule a game must be made up to 72 hours before game time by emailing info@cityfutsal.com under the header: ADULT LEAGUE RESCHEDULE REQUEST. If the game is effectively rescheduled, a RESCHEDULE FEE of $30 will be assessed and payable by Venmo to @cityfutsal.com (Esteban Mariel – 1052). Rescheduled games may or may not be rescheduled on the same day of the week as regular season games are played. If scheduled on the same day of the week, expect to play a doubleheader; if the game cannot be rescheduled on the same day of the week, it will be rescheduled on a different day of the week, including Saturday and or Sunday. Rescheduled games are possible only if there is a time and day when both teams involved can play.

Forfeits

Teams not able to play a scheduled game will forfeit the game. Teams that forfeit a scheduled game will pay a forfeit fee. Forfeit fees are $45. Forfeit fees are payable by Venmo to @cityfutsal (Esteban Mariel – 1952) within 24 hours of the forfeited game.

No Shows

If a team doesn’t show up to a scheduled game or communicates, they won’t show up within 90 minutes of a scheduled game and are considered forfeits. No Shows are assessed a $60 NO-SHOW FEE. Payable by Venmo to @cityfutsal (Esteban Mariel – 1952).

COMMENTS & COMPLAINTS

Must be done in writing by email to

Federico Mariel – federico@cityfutsal.com

WEATHER POLICY

Your safety and enjoyment are our utmost priorities. We understand that weather can be unpredictable and want to ensure everyone is informed and prepared. Here is our policy for game days:

Temperature and Lightning: We will cancel or postpone games if:
- The temperature falls to 29°F or below.
- Lightning is present in the vicinity.
Proactive Communication: In case of cancellation or postponement, we will inform all teams in advance. This communication will be relayed through your team manager or coach.
Game Status: If you have not received any updates from us, please assume that the game is going ahead as planned. We encourage you to prepare for the game while watching the weather.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Working together can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Adult Soccer League Rules