Guelph Soccer 5 vs. 5 Indoor Rules

Spirit of the Game: Perpetual Motion 5 vs. 5 Indoor Soccer Leagues rely upon a spirit of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from the soccer field. Actions such as taunting opposing players, dangerous aggression, belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions, or other "win-at-all costs" behaviour are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players.

1.      Equipment/Score Sheets:

 

                                i.           Team captains are responsible for keeping track of time, setting the field up and tearing it down. Equipment will be provided.

                              ii.            Each team should bring both light and dark-coloured shirts to each and every game, as well as a water bottle.

                            iii.            It is recommended that players wear shin guards.

                            iv.            Absolutely no food, soft drinks, gatorade, gum, etc. allowed. Water is the only drink permitted in the facilities.

                              v.            Only the regulation ball provided by the league may be used for the games.

                            vi.            Players are allowed to wear cleats in Marden Field House, U of G Field House, and the Guelph Soccer Dome, but they must be clean of any dirt.  Running shoes and indoor field shoes are also permitted, but no outdoor shoes (i.e. can not wear shoes in from outside) are allowed.  Please do not walk on the turf with street shoes. Metal spikes (baseball cleats) are not allowed. 

                          vii.            Braces (i.e. knee braces) are allowed provided they are adequately covered and padded so as to eliminate the possibility of it causing injury to the other players on the field.

                        viii.            Please do not wear jewellery or sunglasses.

                              x.            Each player must sign a waiver before the first game. If you add a player to your team throughout the year, the player must sign a waiver before they play, even if it is only for one game.

                            xi.            It is the responsibility of both team captains to submit the score of the game and spirit score online by 5:00pm the following day.

 

2.      Game Time/Default:

 

                                i.           Please arrive 15 minutes early to warm up and start your games on time.

                              ii.            If there is a major snow storm, please check the website by 3pm on the day of the game to see if the game is cancelled.

                            iii.            Captains do a rock, paper, scissor game to decide who picks the end and who has the ball first.

                            iv.            Games are 55 minutes including a 2 minute half time. Halftime will be taken after a goal or goal kick after 30 minutes have elapsed. Teams will change ends after half and alternate kick offs.  Each team will play one game per night.  All games must end at 55 minutes past the hour, with no exceptions.

                              v.            A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad 10 minutes after the official start time.

                            vi.            Teams are comprised of 4 players and a goalie, with a minimum of 2 men and 2 women on the playing field at all times, not including the goalie.

                          vii.            A team can play with a minimum of 4 people, as long as two (2) of the players are women and two (2) of the players are men. 

                        viii.            The opposing team captain may waive the minimum player requirement AND have the results of the match COUNT towards the standings. Agreeing that the results of the match COUNT must be made clear prior to the start of play by the team captains. Agreeing to play does not infer that the match counts unless this is explicitly decided by the opposing team captain.

                            ix.            If teams have the same number of points at the end of the season, the tiebreaker is as follows:

                  a) highest spirit score average

b) head to head.  If the two teams tied played each other, the winner of the game places higher

c) point differentials, counting only games against common opponents

d) points scored, counting games against all common opponents

e) points against, counting games against all common opponents

f) flip a coin

                              x.            Teams are not allowed to bring a substitute on to their team during the regular season unless they have fewer than 4 males or 4 females present from their roster.  If partway through the game one of their players on their roster shows up, the sub is then replaced if the team has more than 4 males and 4 females.  Teams are allowed to change their roster up until the playoffs.  Rosters must be updated on the registration program for substitutes not already on another team’s roster (before they play).  Players can only be on one team’s roster.  Each player must play at least half of the regular season games in order to be eligible to play in the playoffs, unless it is cleared with the league convener.  No substitute players are allowed to play during the playoffs.

 

3.      Start of Play:

 

                                i.           The kickoff starts with all players on their own side of the field. The ball is stationary at the center point of the field and the opponents of the team taking the kickoff should be at least 7 paces away from the ball until it is put into play.

                              ii.            The ball is put into play when it is kicked forward and moves wholly into the opposing team’s end. The initial kicker cannot touch it again until another player has contacted it.  If the initial kicker touches the ball before it has been touched by another player, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

                            iii.            You cannot score a goal directly from the kick off.

 

4.      Scoring:

 

                                i.            The ball has to completely cross the goal line between the goalposts and under the crossbar to count as a goal. In the event that we are using pylons as nets, the ball must pass through the pylons at a height lower than the (full standing) top of the head of the goalie.  The pylons should be 5 paces apart (approximately 16 feet).  If the ball goes in the goal but on the shot it hits the pylon and knocks it over, the goal does not count.  However, if the goalie knocks the pylon over (in cases when it is questionable whether the ball crossed the line inside the pylon), the goal counts.  The goalie knocking the pylon over at another time does not result in a goal being awarded to the opposing team.

                              ii.            Games in the regular season can end in a tie. In the playoffs, if a game is tied at the end of regulation time, a "shoot-out" will take place. The four players on the field when the whistle blows will each take a shot from the yellow dot. If the score is still tied after 4 shots each, then the teams will redo the shots in any order until the tie is broken (i.e. if one team scores and the opposing doesn't, the game is over).  The goalie for the shootout must be the goalie that finished the game. The goalkeeper must stand with both feet on his/her own goal line between the goalposts, without moving off the goal line (they may move sideways on the goal line) until the ball has been kicked forward.

 

5.      Substitutions:

 

                                i.            Substitutions for any player but the goalie can happen at any time but the player must be on the sideline before the new player enters the field.  Players must tag their teammate on the sideline beside the player’s bench before entering the field (no running up and down the sideline to sub in is permitted).  If a team has more than a maximum number of players on the field, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the location of the ball on the field.  Goalies can only substitute on a stoppage of play.  A stoppage of play is considered as a throw-in (kick-in), corner kick, goal or goal kick.

 

6.      Off-Sides:

 

                                i.           There are no off-sides in 5 vs 5 Soccer.

 

7.      Misconducts/Fouls

 

                                i.            All players are expected to call their own fouls. If there are any concerns over un-sportsmanlike behaviour, all attempts should first be made by the captains to deal with it at that time. If there is a dispute and an agreement cannot be reached, don't waste time arguing the play - a throw-in (kick-in) from the sideline will be awarded to the team last having possession of the ball.

                              ii.            If a player breaks a rule or commits a foul, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from the location of the foul. All free kicks are indirect. The player taking the free kick may not touch it again until another player has touched it. Opposing players must be 7 paces away from all free kicks. For an indirect free kick, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and all opposing players must be at least 7 paces away from the kicker (except when the ball is being kicked from a point closer than 7 paces from the goal. In this case the defending player may stand on their goal line.) The kicker must not touch the ball again until another player has touched it. A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick.

       An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offenses:

                                            i.            Plays in a dangerous manner (i.e. charging, checking or pushing an opponent)

                                          ii.            Impedes the progress of an opponent (i.e. tripping, kicking or holding an opponent)

                                        iii.            Slide tackling

                                        iv.            High kicking (dangerous kick)

                                          v.            Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball

                                        vi.            Handball: A handball infraction occurs when the ball hits a player's arm from the ELBOW down (as opposed to the shoulder). A handball does not need to be called if the ball goes to an opponent or an opponent is the next player to touch the ball, but does need to be called if it goes off to yourself or a teammate. Exceptions: Players may use their arms to block the ball from hitting their groin area and women can also use their arms to block the ball from hitting their chest. This rule will reduce the number of stoppages in play. Please don't abuse this rule.

                   Or if the goalkeeper (insider his/her own goal box):

                                            i.            Takes more than 5 seconds while controlling the ball with his/her hands before releasing it. Failure to do so will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team

                                          ii.            Touches the ball again with his/her hands after it has been released and has not touched any other player

 

8.      Slide Tackles:

 

                                            i.            Slide tackling is not allowed under any circumstances even if contact is made with the ball first. As well, no players (with the exception of the goalie) can slide to block a shot or pass at any time. 

 

9.      Throw Ins/Kick Ins:

 

                                            i.          Instead of a throw-in, a kick-in is awarded when the whole ball passes over the sideline, either on the ground or in the air, and is taken from the point where it crossed the sideline by the opponents of the player who last touched the ball before it crossed the sideline. The player taking the kick-in must bring the ball to a complete stop before kicking the ball.  The kicker must not touch the ball a second time before it has been touched by another player, otherwise an indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team. The defending team must stand at least ten feet way from the ball until it goes into play. The kick in must be a pass and not a shot on net. A teammate must touch the ball before a goal can be scored. A kick-in may be kicked back to the goalkeeper, but the goalkeeper is NOT allowed to pick up the ball.

 

10.   Goal Kicks:

 

                                            i.          A goal kick is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line (end line) if the ball was last touched by the team attacking the goal (offense). The goal kick can be taken by any defending team member on the side of the goal where the ball went out of bounds 5 paces from the goal line.  All players (except the goalkeeper) must be outside the goal box.  The person kicking the ball can not touch the ball a second time before it has touched another player outside the goal box, otherwise an indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the place where the infraction happened.

 

11.   Corner Kicks:

 

                                            i.          A corner kick is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line and was last touched by the team defending the goal (defense).  The corner kick is taken from the corner on the side that the ball went out of bounds.  The ball is in play the moment it has been kicked.  If the person taking the corner kick touches the ball a second time before another player touches it, an indirect kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.  A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick.

 

12.   Goalkeeper:

 

                                            i.         Goalkeepers can touch the ball with their hands only in the yellow goal box area only.  Goalkeepers are not allowed to pick up the ball with their hands when a teammate intentionally passes the ball to them .  If this happens, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the edge of the goal box.  If a goalkeeper picks up the ball outside the goal box, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the place of infraction. Goalkeeper has 5 seconds to release the ball from their hands after they have caught the ball.  The goalkeeper must not touch the ball again after their initial release of the ball before another player has touched the ball, otherwise an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

 

13.   Playoff Eligibility:

 

                                            i.          Each player must play at least half of the regular season games in order to be able to play in the playoffs, unless it is cleared with the league convener. This prohibits teams from adding "ringers" to their teams for the playoffs.

 

14.   Discrepancies:

 

                                            i.            All games are self-officiated (no referees), so teams are required to call their OWN violations, and are expected to be honest and keep a high level of sportsmanship and safety at all times.  If you feel your opponent is not being accountable, your team captain may politely intervene to discuss rules called or uncalled.  We rely on your spirit of sportsmanship and honesty to keep the matches fun and enjoyable for all. If there is a dispute and an agreement cannot be reached, don't waste time arguing the play - a kick-in from the sideline will be awarded to the team last having possession of the ball.

 

15.   Abuse/Alcohol: 

 

                                            i.            Any abuse, whether it be physical, sexual or mental is not acceptable in any manner.  If this kind of abuse is reported, the player or team will receive a verbal warning.  If a second incident occurs, the player or team will be asked to leave the league or tournament without refund.  Teams are responsible for other teammates’ actions; as a teammate, please encourage good sportsmanship at all times.  Perpetual Motion Sports & Entertainment Inc. reserves the right to eject a player or team without a warning and without a refund.  Guelph 5 vs. 5 Soccer is a co-ed league for everyone to have a great night out. Let’s keep it that way. Alcohol is not permitted at any game or event, and offenders will be asked to leave the league without refund. Playing while intoxicated is prohibited.