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OUTDOOR LEAGUE RULES | INDOOR LEAGUE RULES

Outdoor League Rules

The rules of this league series shall be in accordance with FIFA except as modified and approved herein by MSSL

LAWS OF THE GAME

All games shall be in accordance with the FIFA “laws of the game”, except as modified below.

Competition sanctioned by this association shall abide by the “laws of the game”, along with any modifications or regulations of MSSL.

LAW 1: Field of Play

Field shall be at 60 yards long by 40 yards wide.

LAW 2: Number of Players

All teams will play 6 per side.
1. CO-ED ONLY: A minimum of 2 females must be on the field at all times.
2. CO-ED ONLY: A team can play with only 1 female, but in this case they are only allowed to play a maximum of 4 males (this rule does not apply to the playoffs).
Teams must have a minimum of five players on the field to start a game. A 5-minute grace period will be in effect for the first game of the day only.
Substitutions shall be unlimited. Substitutions may be made at any time during the game as long as the player leaving and entering the field does so at midfield and/or without gaining an unfair advantage.
The substitute shall not enter the field of play until the player he is replacing has left.

LAW 3: Players’ Equipment

Player equipment must conform to MSSL rules.

Footwear: regulation soccer cleats with rubber-soles (not football cleats), plastic cleats, and detachable rubber cleats that screw into the shoe, and tennis shoes are the only permissible footwear. All else must be approved by MSSL.
Teams will wear uniforms of matching color.
Jewelry: No jewelry (earrings, watches, necklaces, etc.) or any other item deemed dangerous by the official may be worn. Any player wearing exposed permanent jewelry (i.e. body piercing) will not be permitted to play.
If eyeglasses are worn, they must be unbreakable. Each player is responsible for the safety of his/her own eyeglasses.
Headwear: Players may wear a knit or stocking cap (no caps with bills except for the goalkeeper) during play.

LAW 4: The Duration of the Match

Games will be played with two 25-minute halves, and a three-minute half time.
There will be no Overtime periods in regular season matches.
Playoff matches will have one 6 minute overtime period, “Golden Goal” format. If there is no score after overtime, Penalty Kicks will follow FIFA Rules, but only 3 players per team.
1. CO-ED ONLY: Co-Ed games ending in PK’s will have 3 shooters with a minimum of 1 female shooter.

LAW 5: Offside

The offside rule will NOT be in effect

LAW 6: No Slide Tackling

There is NO SLIDE TACKLING. This rule applies to all players including the goalkeeper.
A slide tackle will result in an automatic yellow card.
A slide tackle occurs when a player leaves his/her feet and leads with his/her feet to play the ball while the ball is in the proximity of another player.
A slide tackle does not require that any contact occur between players.
Sliding to keep a ball from going out of bounds, or to stop a ball that does not endanger another player is not a foul.
It will be up to the referee’s discretion as to whether or not a player’s participation from the ground is dangerous.
A goalkeeper may leave his/her feet to play the ball inside the penalty box.
A goalkeeper leaving his/her feet within 6 feet of another player must do so with their legs in a safe position (not pointed at an opposing player) and may not at any time attempt to kick at the ball with their feet while on the ground. Doing so will be deemed a slide tackle.
If a goal keeper leaves the goal box to foul a player on a break-away to stop a goal scoring opportunity, the goal keeper may be sent off. In addition, the referee may award a penalty kick according to his/her discretion.

LAW 7: Free Kicks

All fouls outside of the penalty area will be awarded a free kick.
All free kicks are indirect with the exception of corner kicks.
Indirect Kicks: The ball must touch an OFFENSIVE player before a goal can be scored.
You cannot deflect the ball off of a defensive player to score on an indirect free kick.
The defensive players can be no closer than 4 yards to the ball.

LAW 8: Kick-Ins

All balls that go out of bounds on the sidelines will be put back into play via a kick-in. This is treated like an indirect free kick (defenders must give 4 yards).
Goalkeepers are not allowed to punt the ball, but they are allowed to kick or throw the ball as far as they please considering the ball is either on the ground or in their hands.

LAW 9: Goal Kick

Ball may be kicked from on or anywhere within the goal box (6 yard box). A goal may not be scored directly from a goal kick.

LAW 10: Corner Kick

A corner kick shall be awarded to the attacking team when the entire ball passes over the goal line, excluding the area between the goal posts and under the crossbar, either in the air or on the ground, having last been touched or played by the defending team.
A corner kick is the only free kick that is considered direct.
Players of the defending team shall be at least 4 yards from the ball until it has been kicked.
The ball shall be kicked from the ground within the quarter circle, including on the lines, at the corner nearest where the ball left the field of play.
After the corner kick, the ball must be played by another player, before the one who executed the kick plays the ball again.

LAW 11: Penalty Kick

Fouls/Infractions inside the goal box will result in a penalty kick.
Penalty kicks will be taken from 8 yards out from the goal line with one goalie who is allowed to use their hands. The spot for the kick will be indicated on the field.
The Kicker can only take one step, and then must shoot. The kicker is not allowed to take a running start.

LAW 12: Violations and Bookings

If a player receives a yellow card, they will be removed from the playing field for 5 minutes, but may be replaced by another teammate so that the team can continue at full strength.
A player receiving two yellow cards in one game will be ejected from the current game and their next game. The team will have to play down a player in this case for the current game.
A player receiving a red card in a game will be ejected from the current game and their next game, and the team will have to play down a player for 5 minutes. The team of the player sent off can substitute for that player after 5 minutes of playing time or after the opposing team scores —which ever comes first.
Yellow cards will carry over throughout the season. A player receiving 4 total yellow cards in a season will be allowed to continue playing the current game where they received their fourth card but will have to sit the next game. The number of cards carrying over will reset for the playoffs, and then the same rule applies to the playoffs (1 red card equals 2 yellow cards).

DETERMINATION OF SEASON WINNINGS

In regular season play there will be NO overtime games. Standings in the league will be determined by GAME POINTS:

3 points for a win
1 point for a tie
0 points for a loss

TIEBREAKERS

Head to head competition
Goal Differential
Coin Flip

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Indoor League Rules

Equipment

Ball Size: #4 Futsal Ball
Player’s Equipment
1. Same colored shirt required
2. Shin-guards are highly suggested.

Number of Players

Style: 5v5/7v7 (one of whom shall be the goalkeeper)
1. CO-ED ONLY: Minimum 2 females required on the court at all times.
Minimum to start a match: 4 (5v5 style) / 6 (7v7 style)
1. CO-ED ONLY: A team may start a game with 1 female, but must play one man down. The exception to this is in playoffs: minimum two females required in all playoff games.
Substitution Limit: None
Substitution Method: “On The Fly” (all players but the goalkeeper enter and leave as they please as long as this is done at midfield and the player entering does not come on the court before the player leaving exits; goalkeeper substitutions can only be made when the ball is out of play and with a referee’s consent)

Duration of the Game

Time: Two, 25-minute halves
Clock Stoppage: Does not stop.
Mercy Rule (NEW): The game will end if a team is up by 5 goals or more with 2 minutes remaining in the second half.

Start of Play

Coin Toss followed by kickoff; opposing team will wait outside the circle until the ball is touched.

Ball In & Out of Play

The ball is considered out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline or hits the ceiling. If the ball hits the ceiling there will be a kick-in at the place closest to where the ball touched the ceiling.

Indirect Kicks

All kicks will be “Indirect” unless there is a foul in the penalty box which, resulting in a penalty kick.

Fouls & Misconduct

Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent
1. If a goal keeper leaves the goal box to foul a player on a break-away to stop a goal scoring opportunity. The goal keeper may be sent off. In addition, the referee may award a penalty kick according to his/her discretion.
2. Tripping an opponent
3. Jumping at an opponent
4. Charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner
5. Charging an opponent from behind
Striking, attempting to strike, or spitting at an opponent
Holding an opponent
1. Pushing an opponent
2. Charging an opponent with shoulder (i.e., shoulder charge)
3. Sliding at an opponent (i.e., sliding tackle) Slide Tackle = Automatic Yellow Card
  1. Sliding to keep a ball from going out of bounds, or to stop a ball that does not endanger another player is not a foul. It will be up to the referee’s discretion as to whether or not a player’s participation from the ground is dangerous.
Violations
1. Handling the ball (except goalkeeper)
2. Dangerous play (e.g. attempting to kick ball held by goalkeeper)
Obstruction
1. Charging the goalkeeper in the penalty area (i.e., goalkeeper charge)
2. Goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a back pass
3. Goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a kick-in from a teammate
4. Goalkeeper controls the ball with his/her hands for more than 4 seconds
Players shall be cautioned (i.e., shown yellow card) for the following violations. These 4 yellow-card offenses are punishable by an indirect free kick taken from the point of infringement (or from the 6-meter line when the infringement takes place in penalty area).
1. A substituting player enters the pitch from an incorrect position or before the player he is substituting has entirely left the pitch
2. He persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
3. He shows dissent with any decision of the referee
4. He is guilty of ungentlemanly conduct
Players shall be sent off (i.e., shown the red card) for:
1. Serious foul play
2. Violent conduct
3. Foul or abusive language
4. Second instance of cautionable offense (i.e., second yellow card)
5. Intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity (e.g. through a “professional foul”)
6. Intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity in the penalty area by handling the ball

Yellow & Red Cards

If a player receives a yellow card, they will be removed from the playing field for 5 minutes, but may be replaced by another teammate so that the team can continue at full strength.
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 team of the player sent off can substitute for that player after 5 minutes of playing time or after the opposing team scores —which ever comes first.
1. The 5-minute punishment shall be checked by the referee/assistant referee.
2. The substitute cannot come on until the ball is out of play and he has a referee’s consent.

Free Kick

Wall: At least 4 yards away until the ball is in play
Ball in Play: After it has traveled the distance of its own circumference
Time Limit: Kick must be taken within 5 seconds
Restriction: Kicker cannot touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player
Indirect Kicks: The ball must touch an OFFENSIVE player before a goal can be scored. You cannot deflect the ball off of a defensive player to score on an indirect free kick.

Penalty Kick

To be taken from the penalty mark on the mid-point of the 6-m-line. The Kicker can only take one step, and then must shoot. The kicker is not allowed to take a running start.
The kicker is to aim at goal, with the intention of scoring.
All players must be out of the penalty area.
The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.
The goalkeeper shall remain in his penalty area at least 5 m away from the ball.
No other player may touch the ball until it has been touched by the pitch, rebounded from the goal post or crossbar, or has left the pitch.
If the infringement took place in penalty area (and does not merit a penalty kick), the indirect free kick is to be taken from the 6-m-line on the spot nearest to where the infringement occurred.

Kick-In

To be taken in place of the throw-in.
The ball is placed on the touch line before kicking.
The kicker’s foot not kicking the ball must be outside or at least on the touchline; if it crosses the touchline all of the way, into the pitch, the kick-in is given to the opposing team.
The kick-in must be taken within 5 seconds; if it is not, the kick-in is given to the opposing team.
The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player; infringement of this rule entail an indirect free kick to the opposing from the point of infringement.
Players on opposing team must be at least 4 yards away from point of kick-in.
Cannot score directly from a kick-in.

Goal Clearance

To be taken in place of goal kick.
From inside the penalty area, the goalkeeper throws the ball into play (goalkeeper cannot throw the ball directly into the opposing goal, the ball must touch someone first).
The ball is not in play until it has passed outside of the penalty area. If the goal clearance is received inside of the penalty area, the goal clearance shall be taken over. Furthermore, if the keeper does the goal clearance incorrectly, the opposing team will be awarded the ball after a second infraction.

Corner Kick

Ball placed on the corner (no corner-kick arc). If ball is misplaced, the corner kick is taken over.
Must be taken within 5 seconds; failure to do so entails an indirect free kick to the opposing team from the corner mark.
The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player; infringement of this rule entail an indirect free kick to the opposing from the point of infringement.
Players on opposing team must be at least 4 yards away from point of the corner kick.
A player can score a goal directly from a corner kick.

Extra Time (for playoffs only)

Extra time will consist of 2-three minute halves of Golden goal format. If no one scores we move on to penalty kicks.

Penalty Kick Shoot-Out

Coin tossed to decide order.
Three kicks to be taken by 3 different players. Captain of each team announces these 3 to the main referee before the kicks are taken.
If two teams are still tied after 3 kicks, the additional kicks will be taken on a sudden-death basis by the rest of the players who have not kicked yet starting with the players who were on the field (including the goalkeeper), then moving on to those who were not on the field when time expired.
Players sent off during the match are not eligible to take these kicks.
Any eligible player may change places with his goalkeeper.
While the penalty shoot-out is in progress, players will remain on the opposite half of the pitch.
CO-ED ONLY: Co-Ed games ending in PK’s will have 5 shooters with a minimum of 2 female shooters.

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