Rules

CRAAL INDOOR SOCCER RULES – 2022-2023 Winter League at FC United

All games will be played in accordance with the current edition of the USSF Laws of the Game with the following modifications, additions, and points of emphasis provided for the CRAAL indoor league and facility:  

 

 

Purpose: This league is co-ed RECREATIONAL adult soccer, adhering to the six philosophies of AYSO, with an emphasis on player safety.  If there are any safety concerns please report them to the referee/referee administrator or the league coordinator.

Philosophy: “Create a soccer playing environment for adults that incorporates the AYSO principles.”

Vision: “Enrich the quality of life in our communities through adult soccer programs conducted in a safe, fair, and fun environment.”

Mission: “To benefit and support AYSO by developing youth and community through soccer programs for adults, educating and training adults in both soccer and youth development so they may become youth coaches, referees and volunteers, and providing support to local youth soccer programs.”

TEAM ORGANISATION

Players must be 18 years old to play.  Each team will have a team captain who will serve as a point of contact between the team and the league officials.

 

League Divisions Structure

 

  1. The league will consist of two divisions, division A and division B (both are part of the recreational league)
  2. The league will promote and relegate teams based on their league position at the end of the season.
  1. Last place in division A will be relegated to division B
  2. First place in division B will be promoted to division A
  1. In case the teams in questions are tied on points, goal differential will be the determining factor.
  1. If goal differential is the same, head to head results will be utilised to determine the relegation or promotion

 

 

ROLE OF PLAYER-REFEREES AND GENEROUS INTENT

  1. Games are self-refereed.  Conduct and infractions are enforced by players and rely on good sportsmanship and the generous intent of all players.  
  2. Necessary calls–fouls, out of bounds, etc.–should be handled quickly and fairly.  Players involved in the play should resolve necessary calls.  
  3. If needed, players in the vicinity can weigh in to help determine a call.  
  4. If needed, captains of each team will weigh in to make final arbitration–all of which relies on good sportsmanship, acceptance that not all calls will be perfect, and that adults can self-referee to create a fair, competitive, and safe environment for all participants.
  5. Play-offs games will either be monitored by board members or referees will present. TBD
  6. Intentional dangerous tackles of any sort will result in ejection from the game. Captains should discuss the incident and come to a consensus.  
  1. If the above occurs player(s) will be handed a one match suspension
  1. Out of conduct behaviour in a strong manner can result in similar punishment as an intentional tackle. Team captains must also come to a consensus.

 

MATCH AND FIELD DETAILS

  • Game length will be two 25 minutes halves with a 5-minute half time.  No added time or stoppage time allowed, and games that start late will be stopped when the next game is scheduled to begin.   
  • Matches will be co-ed 9 v 9.  
  • It is highly encouraged for each team to roster at least one female player.  
  • First team listed in the schedule pairing (“home” team) will provide the game ball. 
  • Second team listed in the schedule pairing (“away” team) will get the ball first for kick off while the first team listed in the pairing chooses which side of the field it will defend first.  At halftime, the teams will switch sides and first team listed in the pairing will kick off.
  • Games may be relocated or cancelled due to field availability and inclement weather.
  • If play-offs are present, Matches will go straight to penalty shootout. No extra time.
  • A message will go out from the ref admin/or board member asking for game scores. Every captain must report the score of their games. Ref admin will communicate with Captain if there is discrepancy.

 

 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

1. Seven players may play on the field for a team at any one time.  One player on each team must be designated the goalkeeper.

2. FORFEIT – In the event a team cannot field 5 original team members to begin a game, within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time, that team shall forfeit. Game may be continued using subs, or late arrivals, however the team will have forfeited the game and the score shall be entered as 3-0 for the winning team.

 

SUBSTITUTIONS

1. Substitutes during a match are unrestricted.

2. All substitutions are to be made “on the fly”.  Teams gaining an unfair advantage due to a subbed player not exiting the playing field in time can be called a foul if deemed necessary and will result in a direct free kick for the opposing team.  

3. A player with a bleeding injury must be substituted immediately.  That player may not re-enter until the bleeding has stopped and the injury is bandaged.  A player may not play with blood on the uniform.  

 

PLAYER EQUIPMENT (Mandatory equipment)  

1. Shin Guards (covered by socks completely)

2. League issued jersey – With the exception of the goalkeeper, while in position, anyone on the field without a league issued jersey will be asked to leave the field.  Exceptions will be made only if the player has not yet received a league issued jersey.

3. Players are not allowed to chew gum, chew tobacco, or eat candy during play.

4. Players are not allowed to play with jewellery of any type; including fitness monitors.

 

DURATION OF GAME

1. Games will be played 50 consecutive minutes (or less to ensure the game ends 5 minutes before the top of the hour) as long as both teams have at least one sub. If either team has no subs, then the teams can choose to, upon mutual agreement, play two equal 24-minute periods, with a 2 minute halftime break.

2. In the event of serious injuries, play may be stopped at the players’ discretion, but the clock will run continuously.

3. Games will start at the time scheduled.

 

START OF PLAY

1. The “Home” team (white jersey, listed first in matchup) shall kick off to start the game.  The “Guest” team (black) shall kick off to start the second half.

2. Opponents are to be in their own half of the field and at least 3 yards from the ball for the taking of the kick-off.  

3. The clock begins to run when the game is scheduled to start, so the home team can take the kickoff right when that time has arrived. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves in any direction.  The kicker shall not touch the ball a second time until it is touched by another player.

4. After injury or play stoppage, the ball possession is given to the keeper for a goal kick for the team who had possession when play was interrupted

 

BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

1. The ball is considered out of play when the entire ball crosses the plain of the vertical support beams on the sides of the field or beyond the plain of the goal at each endline.

2. Play is restarted with a direct free kick.  The ball must be placed within one yard from the dasher board closest to the point where it went out of play.  

3. When the ball hits any part of the ceiling or building structure it is out of play. The ball will be placed on the field at a spot directly below where the ball hit the ceiling and a direct free kick will be given to the team who did not touch it last.  

4. Goal kicks may be taken anywhere from inside the goal area.  

 

FREE KICKS / KICK-INS

1. All free kicks are direct free kicks.  

2. On a free kick, the ball must be put into play within 5 seconds.  Failure to do so will result in a direct free kick for the opposing team from the same location.  

3. A player must stand 3 yards from all free kicks and shall not encroach (step forward) until the ball has been played.  

 

OFFSIDE

1. Offside is not called.  

 

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

1. All fouls are punishable by a player calling a direct free kick against the offending team to be taken at the spot of the infraction unless specified differently below.  

2. Goalkeepers must release the ball from their hands within five seconds.  Failure to do so will result in the opposing team receiving a direct free kick from the top of the penalty area.

3. Goalkeepers are allowed to throw or roll the ball after a legally controlled stop.  They are not permitted to punt or drop-kick the ball.  

4. A goalkeeper is allowed to bring the ball into the penalty area with their own feet and then pick it up, as long as it was not a pass back.

5. A goalkeeper is not allowed to receive the ball directly into his or her hands having received it from a kick-off, free kick, kick-in, or back pass with the foot, from their own teammate.  (Penalty: the ball is placed at the top of the 12 yard mark and the opposing team gets a direct free kick.)  

6. A goalkeeper, having had control of the ball in his own hands, and having released it from his hands to be played either by himself or a teammate, shall not handle the ball again until it has been touched or played by an opponent.  (Penalty: the ball is placed at the top of the penalty area and the opposing team gets a direct free kick.) 

7. A hand ball occurs when a player (not the goal keeper) touches the ball with any part of their arm below the shoulder.  This should only be called if the hands are outside of the core of the body.  A player who has their hands or arms held to their sides or close to their chest should not be called for a handball if the ball makes contact with their arms or hands when in this region of the body.

     8. Slide tackling is not allowed.  It is permissible for a player to slide, but a slide near a player that aims     to gain or maintain possession of the ball is a “slide tackle” and is not allowed.

 

PENALTY KICKS

1. All fouls in the penalty area will be treated as direct free kick at the 12-yard mark. This is to stay consistent with outdoor rules changes we made. 

 

FLAGRANT CONDUCT

 

1. The following offences can result in the offending player being ejected: fighting, attempting to injure, abusive foul language or gesture.  

2. Intentional dangerous play is serious misconduct, and players or captains from either team are asked to fairly assess this situation on behalf of team safety and interest in continuing a fair and safe game.

3. A player should be asked to leave the facility if they cannot conduct themselves.

4. Players being asked to leave the field or facility should be reported to the Referee Administrator, refadmin@craalsoccer.org, or another board member.

5. The CRAAL board can choose to assess a penalty that extends beyond the game where the infraction occurred if the infraction is severe or if the infraction is a pattern of dangerous behaviour.