THE OFFICIAL SPORTSLINK RULES OF INDOOR SOCCER

Rule 1 – The Players
Games are played with seven players with no fewer than five, including a goalkeeper. In coed, the ratio is two females to five males. A coed team may play with more than two females but never more than five males and seven players total.
– Age specific leagues: Players are allowed to play if they turn that age with in 365 days of the league start date.

Substitutions: Each team may substitute players freely: off the field of play or within the Touch Line in the area of their Team Bench.

Rule 2 – The Players’ Equipment
Players wear the same colors, shin guards, and indoor footwear. Jewelry and other accessories are prohibited. The goalkeeper wears jersey colors distinguished from all other field players and the Referees.
– SHIN GUARDS ARE NOT MANDATORY.  

Rule 3 – The Referee
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play and interpretations of the rules are final.

Rule 4 – The Duration of the Game
Regulation games consist of two 22 minute halves with a brief half time. The clock runs continuously except in the case of an unusual delay, determined by the referee.

In regular season, a game may end in a tie. In a playoff game, if the score is tied at the end of regulation:
(a) Overtime Period: a 5-minute “golden goal” (first to score)
(b) If still tied, winner will be determined by 2 breakaway penalty shots.
(c) If still tied, teams will alternate breakaway penalty shots until one team wins.
In coed, genders are alternated on penalty shots with teams shooting with the same gender on each shot.

Rule 5 – The Start and Restart of Play
A kickoff from the center starts play at the beginning of each half and after every goal. A player who starts play may not play the ball until it touches another player.

Restarts take place by either by a kickoff, free kick, goalkeeper distribution, or dropped ball. Other than for kickoffs or as provided below, restarts occur within three feet (3′) from the spot of the ball at the moment of stoppage.
A team receives a free kick after stoppages. The ball must be stationary before played. All opposing players are at least 15 feet from the spot of the free kick (or, if within 15 feet of the opponent’s goal, along the goal line). The spot of the free kick is that provided above, except:
(a) Within own penalty arch: from any spot therein.
(b) Within opponent’s penalty arch: at the top of the arch.
(c) Delayed penalty: (i) according to the ensuing stoppage, as normally administered,
or (ii) in case the defending team obtains possession of the ball during play, at the spot of the original offense.
(d) Kick-In: from the point on the touch line nearest where the ball crossed over the wall or touched the ceiling. If neither team has clear possession of the ball at a stoppage, the referee restarts play with a dropped ball. A dropped ball caused while the ball is inside a penalty arch takes place at the top of the arch.
Play restarts with a goalkeeper distribution anywhere within the penalty arch after an attacking player has last touched the ball before crossing an end perimeter wall.

Rule 6 – The Ball In And Out Of Play
A ceiling violation occurs when the ball contacts any part of the building above the field of play. Ball is restarted directly below where the ball hit the ceiling

Rule 7 – The Method of Scoring
A team scores a goal when the whole of the ball legally passes over the goal line. A goal may be scored directly from a kickoff or restart.

Rule 8 – Fouls and Other Violations
A Foul occurs if a player (and a free kick results):
(a) Holds an opponent;
(b) Handles the ball (except by the goalkeeper within his penalty arch);
(c) Plays in a dangerous manner (e.g., commits boarding or a slide tackle);
(d) Impedes the progress of an opponent (“Obstruction”), or
(e) Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands; and when a player commits the following in a manner that the referee considers careless, serious, reckless, or involving excessive force:
(f) Kicks an opponent;
(g) Trips an opponent;
(h) Jumps at an opponent;
(i) Charges an opponent;
(j) Strikes or elbows an opponent; or
(k) Pushes an opponent.

Unsporting Behavior: A free kick results for the following offenses:
(a) Leverage: Using the body of a teammate or any part of the field to gain an advantage;
(b) Encroachment: Entering the protected area of an opposing player taking a free
kick (after initial warning);
(c) Dissent: (i) Referee abuse; (ii) Breach of penalty area decorum; (iii) Entering the referee crease without permission;
(d) Other: Behavior which, in the Referee’s discretion, does not warrant another category of penalty (e.g., taunting, foul language.)

Goalkeeper Violations: The opposing team receives a free kick for the following violations by a goalkeeper:
(a) Pass Back: Handling the ball, having been passed deliberately and directly to him by a teammate; except that he may handle a ball which a teammate passes to him by the head, chest, or knee.
(b) 5-Seconds: Controlling the ball with his/her hands inside of his penalty
arch for over five (5) seconds.

Team Violations: The referee issues a team penalty for the following violations by a team or unidentified person:
(a) Leaving team bench: Players leave a team bench to join a fracas or confrontation with the opposition or a game official;
(b) Bench Dissent: After an initial “Warning,” one or more unidentifiable players verbally abuse the Referee.
(c) Other: Unsporting Behavior, which, in the referee’s discretion, does not warrant another category of penalty (e.g., too many players on the field.)

Advantage Rule: The referee allows play to continue, notwithstanding the commission of an offense, when the team against which it has been committed will benefit from an existing offensive advantage.

Flagrant Fouls: A shootout is awarded for the following fouls committed by a defender in his or her defensive half of the field:
(a) A foul within the penalty arch or goal for which he receives a time penalty;
(b) Any foul from behind against an attacking player, having control of the ball and a clear path to goal. Red card is issued for a last man back tackle to defender.

Blue Card Offenses: Unless otherwise provided below, the referee issues a blue card for serious fouls and unsporting behavior and for:
(a) Deliberate handball or handball by a goalkeeper;
(b) Goalkeeper endangerment;
(c) Boarding, and sliding ;
(d) Any foul by the goalkeeper during a shootout.

Cautionable Offenses: The referee issues a yellow card for reckless fouls and for:
(a) Second blue card;
(b) Unsporting Behavior by any non-player personnel;
(c) Provoking altercation: Making physical contact with an opponent (e.g., pushing or poking), short of fighting, or using the ball in so doing.

Ejectionable Offenses: A person receives a red card for fouls, which the referee considers violent or committed with excessive force, and for:
(a) Third time penalty;
(b) Elbowing: Intentionally elbowing an opponent above the shoulder;
(c) Vicious tackling: A tackle from the side or from behind directly into one or both legs of an opponent, seriously endangering him;
(d) Fighting;
(e) Leaving team bench or penalty area to engage in a fracas or confrontation with the opposition or an official;
(f) Extreme unsporting behavior: Committing particularly despicable behavior,
(i) Spitting at an opponent or any other person;
(ii) Persistent use of abusive language or behavior toward a game official;
(iii) Bodily contact with a game official in dissent.

Rule 9 – Time Penalties
The following penalties apply to offenses for which a card is issued (subject to further action by the official):
(a) Blue Card: 2-minute SOFT time penalty in the penalty area;
(b) Yellow Card (for a player’s second Blue Card): 2-minute HARD time penalty for the
blue card; Is not allowed to re-enter the field until full penalty time has been served at the officials ok.
(c) “Administrative” Red Card (for a player’s third blue card): 5-minute HARD time
penalty and ejection
(d) “Straight” Red Card (for a player’s third blue card): 5-minute HARD time penalty and ejection.

Players are designated by their teams to serve time penalties of their team, their goalkeeper, non-player personnel, and of teammates who receive red cards. Otherwise, the person who commits a carded offense serves the penalty. Players serving time penalties serve their penalties, seated until their expiration, and the referee permits their release.

Short-Handed Play: For each time penalty being served, the team plays with one fewer field player until its expiration; provided that, a team may not have fewer than the minimum five required, regardless of the number serving time penalties. Should a player receive a time penalty, while two or more teammates are already in the penalty area, his or her team continues to play with the minimum while he or she joins his teammates in the area.

Exceptions: Under the following circumstances, time penalties either expire prior to their completed countdown, or have the beginning of their countdowns delayed:
(a) Powerplay Goal: If a team is scored upon having fewer players on the field of play, due to one or more players serving time penalties, a player from the team is released from the penalty area into the field of play (only for blue card penalties), only the player whose time penalty or penalties are recorded earlier is affected.
(c) Simultaneous Ejections: When two simultaneous red cards carrying the same
time penalties are assessed to opposing players, their time penalties are not served.
(d) Maximum time penalty: No player may receive more than 5 minutes for penalties arising at the same time., irrespective of the number or nature of accumulated offenses or the fact that one or more teammates may be designated to serve such time.
(e) End of Game: All Time Penalties carry over between periods and expire at the end of the game.

Delayed Penalty: In instances where the referee would issue a blue card, but for the
advantage rule, the referee acknowledges the offense by holding the card above his head until the earlier to occur of the following:
(a) Opponent’s Possession: The team of the offending player gains control of the ball;
(b) Stoppage: The referee stops play for any reason.
Once play is stopped, the offense is recorded and assessed, as customary. In the event of a powerplay goal, the blue card time penalty is not served and the provisions above regarding early release from the penalty area remain applicable.

Rule 10 – Shootouts and Penalty Kicks
Shootout:
(a) Any player on the field may take the shootout;
(b) All players serving time penalties are seated in their appropriate penalty area.
All players of the attacking team stand on or behind the halfway line and outside of the center circle. Players of the defending team stand behind the halfway line and inside of the center circle;
(c) The ball is placed at the top of the penalty arch or 10 yard line nearest the attacking goal;
(d) The goalkeeper has at least one foot on his goal line and may not move off of it until after the referee whistles the shootout to begin;
(e) Once the referee whistles the shootout to begin, the ball is “in play” and the player taking the shootout plays the ball.

Rule 11 – Tiebreakers (used in playoffs only)

Tiebreaker: A tiebreaker proceeds by shootouts, except that:
(a) The referee designates the goal at which both teams shoot and the team which shoots first (coin flip);
(b) All players, other than the player taking the shot and the defending goalkeeper, remain within their team bench areas or past half field.
(c) Both teams have two shots, with players from each team kicking alternately;
(d) If, after both teams have taken two shots, neither has an advantage, they continue, alternating one player at a time, until both teams have taken an equal number of shots and one team has scored when the other has not;
(e) In a coed game, teams must shoot with the same gender as the opposing team, alternating genders on each shot..
(f) The player has 5 seconds to score after the Referee’s whistle.