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Bridgewater Sports Complex Indoor Soccer Rules

Players
The maximum number of players on the field will be five (5) plus a goalkeeper. A minimum of three (3) players and a goalkeeper are required on the field. (Adult Coed Leagues must have a minimum of two female players on the field or in the penalty box, one of which can be the goalkeeper. An Adult Coed League team unable to field the two female players may play short by the number of female players they are missing.) Not having the minimum number of players to start the game, five minutes after the designated starting time; or if during the match the number of players falls below the minimum will result in a 0-5 forfeit.

Substitutions
Substitutions are "on the fly," at any time. When the ball is in play, players coming off the field must be within one (1) yard of the bench before the player coming on enters the field. (All players entering or leaving the field must go through the team bench door.) Violation of this rule results in a two-minute penalty.

Players Equipment
All players must wear same color shirts with different numbers on the back, shorts, socks, shin guards and flat-soled shoes. No casts, jewelry, hats or bandannas are to be worn. Any equipment that is deemed dangerous by the referee shall not be allowed. (Any player with visible blood must leave the field and have the injury treated before returning to the field. )

Referees
The authority of the referee starts upon entering the soccer arena. Decisions by the referee shall be final, unless in direct violation of the laws of the game. The referee will keep the actual score, but only a five-goal differential will be displayed on the scoreboard.

Duration of the Game
League games shall consist of two, twenty-five minute halves and a two-minute half time. (The length of playoff games shall be posted.) Aside from major causes, the clock will run continuously Ball: Under 12 and below will use a Size 4 ball. Older age groups will use a Size 5 ball.

Start of Play
The referee must blow his (her) whistle before a kick-off of the ball from the center spot. The ball may travel in any direction on restarts, after goals and at the start of the game. All opposing players MUST be five (5) yards away from the ball and the ball must be kicked within five (5) seconds on all restarts, after goals and at the start of the game. Not taking the kick within five (5) seconds results in a loss of possession.

Ball In and Out of Play
The ball is out of play when it hits netting or passes beyond the boards. The restart is a kick of the ball by the opposing team at the location on the floor nearest to where the ball left the field, placed within one (1) yard of the boards. Balls hitting overhanging netting or the ceiling will be placed beneath the place they hit, for the restart by the opposing team. Balls passing beyond the boards or hitting the ceiling between the comer spots will be restarted by either a goalkick or a comer kick. All these restarts are Direct Free Kicks.

Goalkeeper Restrictions
FIFA goalkeeper ball handling restrictions apply. Once goalkeepers make a save to their hands, they can take an unlimited number of steps; but they must release the ball from their hands within five (5) seconds. Goalkeepers may initiate a slide within their penalty area to make a save as long as the referee doesn't consider the action dangerous. Any goalkeeper violations will result in a Direct Free Kick for the opposing team from the penalty spot.

Offsides
The offside rule is not in effect.

Three Line Rule
A player may not legally advance the ball, backward or forward, in the air across the three lines without it touching some part of the floor or another player. The restart is a Direct Free Kick for the opposing team from any spot on the first line that the ball crossed.

Time Penalties
Three (3) cards signifying time penalties are used. (Any time penalties issued to a coach or team manager will be served by one of their players.)

Blue Card
The offending player serves two (2) minutes in the penalty box (the area between the team benches.) If the opposing team scores during that penalty, the remaining time is erased. (Matching two-minute penalties by opposing players must be served in their entirety, regardless of scoring.)

Two-minute penalties may be issued for the following reasons:

Intentional boarding (May be punished more severely by referee.) Delay of game
Encroachment
Spitting on the field
Dissention towards the referee
Persistent fouling by a player or team
Too many players on the field
No identified goalkeeper
Jumping over the boards to enter or leave the team bench

If two (2) different players from the same team are serving two-minute penalties and the opposing team scores a goal, then the penalty with the least amount of time remaining is erased. If a third person is issued a time penalty while two other teammates are in the penalty box, this penalty does not start until a teammate has left the penalty box. This offending player must remain in the penalty box while waiting for the penalty to begin. At no time will a team have fewer than three (3) players and a goalkeeper on the field.

Yellow Card
The offending player serves five minutes in the penalty box. The penalty must be served in full, regardless of scoring.

Five-minute penalties may be issued for the following reasons:

Unsporting conduct
Committing a foul of a serious nature Incidental foul language

Red Card
The offending player is ejected from the game and must leave the playing arena. A teammate must serve a five-minute penalty for the offending player. Any Coach or Team Manager that is ejected (receives a Red Card) during a match will result in the immediate forfeiture of the game for their team.

Red Cards may be issued for the following reasons:

Serious foul play
Violent Conduct
Foul or abusive language
Intentional foul to stop a clear scoring opportunity Intentional Handling to stop a goal from scoring

All players, coaches or managers receiving a Red Card will be suspended from their next match. The office staff will determine if any further suspensions are necessary.

Free Kicks
ALL FREE KICKS ARE DIRECT. The ball must be stopped, not rolling, before the kick is taken. All opposing players must be five (5) yards away from the ball. The kick must be taken within five (5) seconds of placing the ball. Except for kick-offs and penalty kicks, a whistle is not necessary unless so indicated by the referee. Any Free Kick awarded in the penalty area for the attacking team that would be an Indirect Free kick outdoors will be taken as a direct free kick from the penalty mark.

Free Kicks
The following actions or restarts are Direct Free Kicks:

Goalkicks
Corner Kicks
Sliding Tackles
Ball leaving the field or hitting the ceiling or net
Three Line Violations
Goalkeeper Violations
Dangerous Play
Obstruction
A player touching a free kick a second time Kick-off
Penalty Kick
Any foul that results in a Direct Free Kick outdoors Failure to put the ball into play within 5 seconds

Penalty Kick
When a foul that results in a Direct Free Kick outdoors occurs in the penalty area, a penalty kick is taken. The ball is kicked from the penalty mark after a whistle from the referee, and the ball must travel forward. All players except the kicker and the goalkeeper must be behind the first white line before the Penalty Kick is taken.

All cases not covered by the above are governed by FIFA Laws of the Game.

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or Call (508) 697-8318