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OCSSC Arena Soccer Rules

Official Rules

1) Uniform/Equipment

    • Uniform consists of same color and shade shirts. Goalkeeper must wear a different color than both teams and the Referees.
    • Home teams, those listed first on the schedule, must change shirt colors if there is a color conflict among the home team and visiting team.
    • No jewelry is to be worn. This includes watches, rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.
    • All players must wear turf shoes, or molded Soccer shoes. NO FOOTBALL, BASEBALL or REPLACEABLE CLEATS ARE ALLOWED.
    • SHIN GUARDS ARE MANDATORY, and must be entirely covered by socks.
    • A size 5 ball will be used in the league.

2) Teams

    • Each team will play 6 players, 5 field players and one goalkeeper.
    • A team must have 4 players, 3 field players and a goalie, to start a game.
    • A minimum of 2 female players must be on the field.  An official game will be played with only 1 female present but a male may NOT be substituted for the missing female. (team will play short players)
    • Rosters will be limited to a minimum of 10 players and a maximum of 14 players. All players must pay individual registration fee, and sign a roster.
    • Only personnel/players listed on the roster shall be allowed in the bench areas.

3) Roster and Eligibility Restrictions  

    • Rosters will be limited to 14 players. The roster must be turned in by the first game, signed by each player participating in the game, and finalized by the third game.

If the opposing team questions a player's eligibility, the player will show his/her ID to the Referee and play will resume. The Referee will forward the player's ID to the coordinator who will verify the number or signature on the team roster. If the player is not on the roster, the team will forfeit the game played.

4) Substitute Player Policy

    • No player shall be permitted to play in an official game unless they have been added to the official master roster.  Any team who uses players not on their team’s official roster will forfeit their game immediately.

5) Coed League Guidelines

    • Philosophy: The coed recreation and novice divisions are a non-competitive alternative for male and female recreational soccer players. It is our main concern to keep the level of intensity low. The rules of all coed divisions are specifically designed to provide extra protection to participants (particularly female) to ensure that the game remains safe.
    • Player Registration: All players must be at least 18 years old.  Players under the age of 18 must be approved to play through Director of Soccer Operations.
    • Dangerous Play: Remember, the rules are specifically designed to protect the participants. Anything considered by the referee to be dangerous, flagrant, or out of control will be called. This includes running at top speed.
      • Hard Kick Rule: If, in the opinion of the Referee, a hard and dangerous kick above the knees is taken and the ball comes within playing distance of a field opponent, a direct free kick will be given from the point where the kick originated. The exception to this rule is that when a player stands in a wall on a free kick, they are offered no protection.
      • High Kick Rule:  Any ball which is in the air above average waist height MUST be played using a legal body part other than the players legs
    • No more then three males or four females can be on the field at one time. To start a game you must have at least four players (Three females one male, three males one female, or two males two females.)
    • Coed Recreational Policy:  Each player (male or female) shall be limited to a maximum of four goals in one game.  Should a player score a fifth goal during the game, the opposing team shall receive a free kick from center field.  Should it be deemed by the referee or scorekeeper that a player purposefully attempts or scores a fifth goal attempting to belittle the opposing team or cause delay of game, that player shall receive an automatic blue card following by a penalty shootout kick for the opposing team.  Should this happen a second time, that player shall receive an automatic red card.

6) Duration of the Game

    • The game will consist of two 22-minute halves. To maintain the game schedule, the game clock will start at 5 minutes after the game time if play has not yet begun and will run down to 15 minutes before the game is a forfeit.
    • Half time is 2 minutes.
    • There shall be no tie-breaker game additions during the regular season.
    • Each team is allowed one 30-second time out per game, which can be called when the ball is out of play, by the team in possession of the ball (i.e. kick-ins, corner kicks). The goalie, while in the arc, is the only player who can request a time-out during live play. The restart for any time-out called by the Goalie will be a keeper throw.
      · Either team may call a time-out after a goal.
    • The clock will run continuously except for the following:
      Injured player(s)
      Official's time out
      Equipment malfunction

6A) Playoffs and Championship Games

      • In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, the following shall determine the tie-breaker:

Semi-Final Games – An immediate 5 player shootout shall commence.  The shootout procedures are as follows:  All players other than the shooter and goalie must be on their respective bench.  The visiting team shall shoot first.  The ball is to be placed on the 1/3 line of the defensive team.  The goalie defending the goal must have his/her foot on the goal line until the referee blows the whistle.  Upon blowing the whistle, the player shall have ONE shot on goal.  There shall be no rebounds allowed.   Each team must use five different shooters.  Should a team not have five shooters, one of the four in presence may shoot again.
Each team shall be given 5 attempts to score a goal.  Whichever teams scores more goals with the allotted slots shall be deemed the winner and progress to the Championship game.
Should both teams be tied in goals scored following the five player shootout, both teams shall immediately move into a sudden death shootout.  Sudden death shootout definition:  Both teams shall identify a player to take one shot on goal following the same procedures as listed above.  Should the player score, the opposing team shall be given one opportunity to tie the game.  Should the game not be tied, the team scoring the winning goal shall move into the final.  The visiting team shall shoot first in the Sudden Death Shootout.
Championship Game – Both teams shall play 5 minutes of sudden death overtime.  Whichever teams scores first shall be deemed the winner.  Should a tie remain after five minutes, both teams shall participate in five player shootout.  (Please see procedures above)

7) Starting the Game (Kick-Off)

The visiting team shall take the kick-off. All defensive players must remain 15 feet from the ball (outside the Circle) and on their side of the field until the ball is kicked. The kick-off may be taken in any direction and must be taken within 5 seconds of the referee's whistle.

8) The Goalie

    • The goalkeeper may touch the ball with his hands only while in his own penalty area. The exception to this is that he cannot use his hands, if foot intentionally plays the ball to him from one of his own teammates.
    • The goalkeeper may punt or drop kick the ball, or put the ball down and use his feet to distribute the ball (except on a goal kick situation). Once he has put the ball on the ground, he may not use his hands again until an opponent touches the ball.
    • The goalkeeper may not play the ball with his feet from outside of the box and intentionally bring the ball into the penalty area to handle the ball.
    • The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to slide, legally, only in the penalty area. If the goalkeeper’s momentum carries him out of the penalty area, the slide is allowed. DISCRETION TO REFEREE
    • The goalkeeper may not be charged. He/she is to be left alone if he is in his own penalty area and in possession of the ball.
    • When the goalkeeper, inside his penalty arc, has possession of the ball by either hand or foot, he shall have 5 seconds to distribute the ball outside the penalty arc. The goalkeeper will have unlimited steps in the arc, within the 5 second time frame.
    • The goalkeeper is not allowed to bounce the ball.
    • Should a goalkeeper receive a penalty blue card, he/she is NOT required to personally serve the two minute penalty.  One player from his/her team currently on the field at the time of infraction must serve the penalty for the goalkeeper.  Should the goalkeeper be involved in a fighting altercation resulting in yellow or red card, he/she must serve the penalty personally.

9) Restarts

    • All restarts are direct kicks, including corner kicks, kickoffs, etc. On any restart, the opposing team will remain 15 feet from the ball until it is put into play. The penalty for encroachment is a blue card (two-minute penalty). Kick-ins, kicks after a foul, etc., do not require the Referee to whistle for restart. Any kick from a dot on the field (i.e., kick-offs, corner kicks, kicks from the top of the penalty area or kicks from the center mark of one of the three lines) requires a whistle from the referee prior to restart.
    • Goal Kick is awarded if the offensive team kicks the ball over the wall at the opponent's defensive goal line. The goalkeeper shall throw the ball back into play.
    • Corner Kick is awarded if the defensive team touches the ball over the wall at their own defensive goal line. The kick shall be taken from the corner kick dot and the player must wait for the referee's whistle.
    • Penalty Shootout is awarded for:
      • Any personal foul by a defender within his own penalty area, Preventing a breakaway in his defensive end of the field, When a team has accumulated six (6) personal fouls (and every fourth foul thereafter).
      • Procedure: The goalkeeper must have one foot on the goal line until whistle is blown. The shootout will start from the center of the first white line. Once the whistle is blown the ball is in play. Except for the kicker, the rest of the players must stand behind the half line until the whistle is blown. The team taking the shootout must be on the outside on the centerline, while the defending team is inside the circle on the centerline.

10) Game time Substitutions

    • Substitutes may enter the game at any time. However, the player coming off the field must touch the sideboard at the team’s bench area door before the substitute enters. Both substituting players should not be on the field at the same time.
    • Guaranteed subs can only be given on: an injury time-out, two-minute or ejection penalties, or after a goal.
    • Players must enter and exit from their own bench side.
    • Any player jumping over the boards will receive a Blue card.

11) LEAGUE STANDINGS

All teams shall be given the opportunity to play the same number of regular season games.  The top four teams in each division shall be eligible for the playoffs.  The teams finishing with highest amount of points shall be eligible.  Points are awarded in the following manner:

    • Points: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss.

If there are point ties among teams in their league's standings, the following criteria will be used to differentiate teams:

    • Win/loss record between disputed teams ONLY when played against each other.
    • Highest Goal differential.  Goal differential is defined as the number of goals scored minus the number of goal allowed.  The team with the highest number shall move ahead in the standings.
    • Coin toss.

12) Soccer Ball Retrieval

We need both teams to help retrieve the balls when kicked out of the arena.

 

Fouls:

1) Personal Fouls (These will be counted toward a penalty shoot-out)

    • Pushing with any part of the body.
    • Tripping, this includes hacking.
    • Holding with hands, arms or legs.
    • Hand Ball: Deliberately handling the ball, or gaining advantage/possession by touching or stopping the ball while the body is in unnatural position (i.e. jumping in the air with arms aside).
    • Charging: In a careless manner, or from behind.
    • Dangerous play: Such as high kick, or bicycle kick.
    • Jumping at a player without playing the ball.
    • Impeding & Obstruction

2) Team Fouls

    • 2-minute penalty do not count toward a penalty shootout.
    • Illegal substitution: Too many players on the field or, using the opponent's side to enter/exit the field.
    • Three lines Violation: The ball cannot pass three consecutive field lines without being touched by another player, hitting the wall or the referee. The ball will be put back into play by the opposing team from the center spot of the first line crossed.

3) Penalty Cards

3A) Blue Card:
A blue card indicates a two-minute penalty. The referee has the discretion to give a two-minute penalty for any foul, which he judges to be careless, or excessive. Also the referee can, in order to calm the game down, give a two-minute penalty to any player who consistently infringes on the rules of the game.
The following offenses are automatically given a blue card (two-minute penalty):
  1. Encroachment: Failing to attempt to give the opposing team 15 feet on any restart.
  2. Delay of the game: By not allowing the required/mandatory 15 feet, or preventing the opponent of a quick restart (i.e. kicking the ball away).
  3. Slide Tackles: Intentional slide tackles by players are not allowed.  Slide tackle can be defined any player playing without the intent of staying on both feet toward a player.
    a) Field players guilty of intentional slide tackles will be awarded a two-minute penalty. Sliding can be defined as any player playing without the intent of staying on both feet when finished. This includes diving header, ending up on knee(s) or hand(s), bicycle kicks.
    b) Field players guilty of sliding are considered playing the ball on the ground is awarded with change of possession.
    c) Sliding to prevent goal opportunity is 2-minute penalty. Discretion to the Referee
  4. Boarding.
  5. Elbowing an opponent.
  6. Taunting.
  7. Dissent, either by words or gesture, toward opponent or officials.
  8. Jumping over the board.
  9. Using the opponent's bench door to enter/exit the field.
  10. Deliberately handling the ball.
  11. Preventing/Stopping a breakaway by committing a foul on an opponent.
  12. Any foul or abusive language.

3B) Yellow Card:
Any player who receives a second consecutive blue card on the same play shall be given a yellow card. This yellow card is a four-minute penalty. Any foul, which in the opinion of the referee is of a serious enough nature, may be given a yellow card directly.

3C) Red Card:
A red card is given for all Serious Foul Plays and Violent Conducts. The player is immediately ejected from the game and must leave the premises IMMEDIATELY, and may not play in the next game (this is the minimum suspension). Also, any player receiving a third blue card, or a blue card after having been cautioned (yellow card) will be shown a red card and shall be ejected from the game. The ejected player may be replaced, but his/her substitute must serve a five-minute penalty, in which his/her team must play short for five minutes until opposing team scores a goal. Two-Minute Penalty (also known as Power Play) will be served in its entirety unless the opposing team scores a goal. When such a goal is scored, the penalty expires. The exception to this rule is that if two players from opposite teams receive a Blue Card simultaneously, then both teams will play short for the entire two minutes, regardless of any goals scored by either side.

4) Referee
The Referees are in charge of the game and are final authority in all matters concerning field of play and conduct of coaches, players and spectators. Disrespect toward a Referee, or other officials of the league, may result in expulsion from the field, spectator area and/or the league. The Referee should be able to officiate the games in an atmosphere free of harassment to allow his/her full concentration to be directed toward the game being played.
The Referee Crease (circle at the halfway line) is illegal to enter. The crease is the discussion area for the referees. There is a two-minute penalty if any player enters the crease.

5) SUSPENSION POLICY

    • Any player given a red card and/or game ejection must leave the premises immediately. Should the player refuse to leave the facility USA premises, including the parking lot and surrounding area, they will receive a full season suspension. Additionally, should the ejected player choose not to leave, his/her team will suffer a forfeit.
    • Any team creating a history of problems and/or reputation for unsafe or unsportsmanlike play will be suspended indefinitely from participating facility USA or San Diego Soccer Alliance.

Any player given a red card for foul, abusive language towards any staff member, volunteer, or personnel will be given a full season suspension and may be suspended from participating indefinitely.