Rules and Regulations 2022/2023 Season
RULE 1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY
1. Boards or walls immediately surrounding the playing area shall not be less than 1.2 meters (4 feet) in height and shall be regarded as part of the playing area.
2. The playing area shall be marked with clearly visible lines, which measure from 5cm to 12cm in width. All lines shall be of the same width. The lines are part of the area, which they encompass.
3. The goals shall be placed on the centre of each goal line. The width of the goals shall be measured from the inside of each goal post. The height shall be measured from the floor to the underside of the cross bar. The thickness of the goal posts and the crossbars shall be the same.
4. The goal size shall be: Width: 3.5 meters (11.6 feet)
Height: 2 meters (6.5 feet)
5. Nets shall be attached to the goal posts, cross bar and the floor behind the goals, and placed so as to allow the goal keeper ample space.
RULE TWO: THE BALL
1. The ball shall be spherical and shall be an approved outdoor ball. The outer casing shall be constructed of material, which is not dangerous to players.
2. The ball shall be inflated to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer. This is usually from 50 to 70 kPa. The ball shall be a size 5. A size 4 ball is recommended for players under 12 years of age.
3. Should the ball become defective, the game shall be stopped. The referee dropping the ball in accordance with Section 6 of Rule 8 shall restart play.
4. If the ball becomes defective during a stoppage of the game, the restart shall be in accordance with the reason for the stoppage.
RULE THREE: NUMBER OF PLAYERS
1. The game shall be played by two teams, each consisting of no more than six players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper. A game shall not commence or continue if either team has less than four players. Divisions playing age 10 and under may use 7 players one of who must be a goalkeeper.
2. Teams may dress a maximum of 16 players. All players who are dressed to play shall be under the jurisdiction of the referee.
3. All Players must be registered 24 hours before they play as per OSA rules.
4. Unlimited substitution shall be allowed at anytime during the game. Player(s) must leave the playing surface before a substitute may enter. Taking of a free kick shall not be delayed to allow a substitution to take place.
4a. The substitution of the Goal Keeper can take place anytime during the game provided the Goal Keeper leaves the field of play first and the SUBSTITUTED GOAL KEEPER MUST BE WEARING A JERSEY WITH DIFFERENT COLOUR THAN ANY OTHER PLAYER ON THE FIELD.
5. Should a player enter or re-enter the playing area for a reason other than permitted in these rules, that player shall be cautioned. If play is stopped to administer the caution, a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team, to be taken in accordance with Rule 13.
6. A player, who is sent off the playing area or from its vicinity in accordance with Rule 12, may not re-enter the game. The player may be subject to time penalty regulations, and/or be replaced by a player whose name appears on the team sheet.
RULE 4: PLAYER’S EQUIPMENT
1. Players may not wear anything that endangers themselves or others.
2. Equipment shall consist of a numbered shirt, shorts, socks; shin guards and footwear appropriate for indoor use. The number on the back of the shirt shall measure not less than 20cm in height. Players from the same team shall not have the same number. Goalkeepers shall wear colours, which are distinguishable from all other players. Team colours shall not conflict with those of the official uniform for referees (black with white trim).
3. Shin guards, which must be covered entirely by the socks, shall be made of a suitable material (rubber, plastic, polyurethane, or similar substance) and shall afford a reasonable degree of protected.
4. A player who is sent off by the referee because of defective, dangerous or missing equipment may not re-enter the game until the referee is satisfied that her/his equipment complies with section 1 of this rule.
5. Players shall be allowed to wear spandex type pants. The pants, however, must be the same colour as the predominant colour of the shorts and they must not extend down beyond the top of the knee.
6. Home team must change if both teams clash. Bibs are available for rent from the Centre. The cost is $20.00 plus a set of car keys, which will be handed back when the bibs are returned.
No metal braces allowed. All other types of braces must have metal parts padded and covered.
RULE 5: THE REFEREE
1. The referee shall be appointed to officiate in each game. Her/His authority shall commence as soon as s/he enters the playing area and shall extend to offenses committed when the game is in progress or when the game is stopped. Her/His decision on points of fact connected with play shall be final.
The Referee shall:
a) Enforce the Rules of the Game, and the Regulations of the Competition
b) Refrain from penalizing in cases where the offending team may gain an advantage;
c) Keep a record of the game;
d) Have discretionary power to stop, suspend or terminate the game for any infringement of the rules, infringement by spectators, or any other cause;
e) Caution any player or team official guilty of misconduct or unsporting behavior and if the offender persists, suspend him/her from further participation in the game;
f) Send from the playing area and its vicinity any player or team official who, in her/his opinion, is guilty of violent conduct or serious foul play, or the use of foul or abusive language;
g) Report in writing to the appropriate authority, any misconduct by players, team officials, spectators or other persons which takes place on the playing area or it’s vicinity, any time prior to, during, or after the game. Reports shall be made according to the Regulations of the Competition;
h) Control who may enter or leave the playing area;
i) Stop the game if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured;
j) Signal the start of the game and the re-start after a stoppage;
k) Decide if the ball, the playing area, and other equipment are suitable.
L) ALONG WITH HIS/HER ASSISTANT, THE REFEREE SHALL CHECK THE PLAYERS CARD ENSURING THE THEY ARE PROPERLY REGISTERED, STAMPED AND BE UNDER NO SUSPENSION
RULE SIX: ASSISTANT REFEREE
1. The Assistant Referee shall:
a) Check ALL player cards with the Referee, as well as retain player books of all who have received an ejection, and hand the book and the game sheet to the referee who will write his/her report and place those reports in the designated box in the referee’s dressing room and deliver the game sheets into the office immediately following the game.
b) Be appointed to assist and be under the jurisdiction of the Referee;
c) Start and stop the time clock when signaled to do so by the Referee;
d) Keep the score and record the name and number of those who score;
e) Record the name and number of any player or the name of any team official who is cautioned or sent from the playing area or it’s vicinity;
f) Control time penalties;
g) Report any apparent misconduct to the Referee;
h) Not enter the playing area.
RULE SEVEN: DURATION OF THE GAME
1. The duration of the game shall be 50 minutes, which shall be divided into two equal halves of 25 minutes each.
2. a) The grace period shall not exceed 10 minutes
b) The game will then be two 20-minute halves
3. The half-time interval shall not exceed 3 minutes
4. At the end of each half the teams shall change ends.
5. The Referee may, at her/his discretion, signal for a stoppage of the time clock. Time shall be extended at the end of the first half and at full time to allow the taking of a penalty kick to be concluded in all games where a decision is required.
6. In all games in which a winner must be declared, if at the end of regular time, the game is still tied, kicks shall be taken from the penalty mark to determine the winner. Only the players on the field at the end of overtime shall be eligible to take part in the taking of the kicks. The following conditions shall apply;
a) The Referee shall choose the goal at which all of the kicks shall be taken. All players except the goalkeeper and the player taking the kick shall remain at the centerline;
b) The Referee shall toss a coin, and the team winning the toss shall take the first kick;
c) Both teams shall take 5 kicks;
d) The kicks shall be alternately
e) If after both teams have taken 5 kicks, and they are still tied, the taking of kicks shall continue by the balance of both teams until such time as both teams have taken an equal number of kicks and one team has scored one goal more than the other;
f) A different player shall take each kick. Not until all have taken a kick may a player take a second kick;
g) A goalkeeper, who is injured during the taking of the kicks and is unable to continue, may be replaced.
RULE EIGHT: START OF PLAY
1. At the beginning of the game, the home team shall kick-off with the away team having the choice of ends.
2. At the kick-off all players shall be in there half of the playing area. All players opposing the team taking the kick-off shall not be less than 3 meters from the ball until it is kicked off. The Referee giving a signal shall start the game.
3. Should the player who took the kick off play or touch the ball a second time before it is played or touched by another player, a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team, to be taken in accordance with Rule 13.
4. After a goal has been scored, the game shall be restarted by a kick off, to be taken by a player of the team against which the goal was scored.
5. After the end of the half, both teams shall change ends and a player of the team opposing that, which started the game, shall take the kick off.
6. For any stoppage not mentioned in these rules, the Referee shall restart the game with a dropped ball. The ball shall be dropped closest to the place where the ball was when the play was stopped. The ball shall be in play as soon as it touches the floor.
7. A goal may not be scored directly from a kick off.
RULE NINE: BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
The ball is out of play when:
a) It has wholly crossed a perimeter wall or hits the netting immediately surrounding the playing area
b) It has made contact with any part of the ceiling or fixtures above the playing area. In this instance, the game shall be restarted with a free kick against the offending team closest to where the ball made contact
c) The Referee has stopped the game.
The ball is in play at all other times, including when:
a) It rebounds into play from a goal post, cross bar, board, or wall (the Plexiglas shall be deemed to be part of the wall)
b) It rebounds from the Referee when s/he is within the playing area.
RULE TEN: METHOD OF SCORING
1. A goal is scored when the whole of the ball has crossed over the goal line between the goal posts and the cross bar, provided it has not been thrown, carried or intentionally propelled by hand or arm, by a player of the attacking team.
2. The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether a goal has been scored
3. During the course of the game, should an outside agent assist the ball into the goal or prevent the ball from entering the goal, play shall be stopped. The referee shall restart the game by dropping the ball.
4. The team scoring the greater number of goals shall be the winner. If no goals or an equal number of goals are scored the result of the game shall be a draw.
RULE 11: THREE LINE PASSES
1. Three line passes are not allowed. A free kick is to be taken by the opposing team from where the pass originated.
RULE 12: FOULS & MISCONDUCT
1. An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
a) Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
b) Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
c) Jumps at an opponent
d) Charges an opponent
e) Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
f) Pushes an opponent
2. An In direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offenses:
a) Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball.
b) Holds an opponent
c) Spits at an opponent
d) Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area
3. An In direct kick is taken from where the offence occurred.
PENALTY KICK
A penalty kick is awarded if any of the above ten offences is committed by a player inside her/his own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play.
INDIRECT FREE KICK
1. An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside her/his own penalty area, commits any of the following five offences:
a) Takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his/her hands, before releasing it from their possession
b) Touches the ball again with her/his hands after it has been released from her/his possession and has not touched any other player
c) Touches the ball with his/her hands after s/he has received it directly from a kick-in taken by a team mate
d) Wastes time
2. An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:
a) Plays in a dangerous manner
b) Impedes the progress of an opponent
c) Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from her/his hands
d) Commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player
3. The indirect free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.
DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS: CAUTIONABLE OFFENCES
1. A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if s/he commits any of the following seven offences:
a) Is guilty of unsporting behavior
b) Shows dissent by word or action
c) Persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
d) Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a
Corner kick or free kick
e) Enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee’s permission, other than a substitution
f) Deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee’s permission
SENDING-OFF OFFENCES
1. A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:
a) Is Guilty of a serious foul play
b) Is guilty of violent conduct
c) Spits at an opponent or any other person
d) Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
e) Uses offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
f) Receives a second caution in the same match
2. If in the opinion of the Referee, a player who is moving towards his opponents goal with an obvious opportunity to score a goal is intentionally fouled by an opponent through unlawful means, (i.e. an offence punishable by a free kick, or penalty kick thus denying the attacking player’s team a goal scoring opportunity) the offending player shall be sent off the field of play for serious foul play.
3. If, in the opinion of the Referee, a player other than a goalkeeper, in his own penalty area, denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity by intentionally handling the ball, s/he shall be sent off the field of play for serious foul play.
4. Once a goalkeeper has controlled the ball with his/her hands or arms, s/he cannot touch the ball again with hands or arms, until a member of her/his own team outside of the penalty area has played it, or by a member of the opposing team inside the penalty area. Control of the ball would include the goalkeeper intentionally parrying the ball, but would not include the circumstances where in the opinion of the Referee, the ball rebound accidentally from the goalkeeper, for example making a save. For any infringement of this rule a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred.
TIME PENALTIES
1. In addition to the foregoing, the following system of time penalties shall be implemented:
a) A player committing any of the offenses above, at the discretion of the Referee be assessed a two minute time penalty to be served in a designated penalty box. The team of the offending player shall play one player “short”, until the time penalty has expired, irrespective of whether or not the opposing team scores a goal.
b) A goalkeeper receiving a two-minute time penalty shall not serve his/her own penalty. Another player of the same team on the playing area shall serve the penalty at the time of the penalty.
c) All time penalties must be served in full.
d) A player who is guilty of violent conduct, abusive language, etc., shall be sent off for the duration of the game and her/his team shall play one player “short” for the next five minutes of play, irrespective of whether the opposing team scores a goal. Another member of the offending player’s team shall be sent into the penalty box until the five minutes has expired.
e) Should a team be found to have more than the permitted number of players on the playing area, the offending player(s) shall be dealt with in accordance with disciplinary action. Players returning directly to their team bench after serving a penalty shall not be penalized.
f) Should a team, which has too many players on the playing area, score a goal, the goal shall be disallowed. The game shall be restarted by a goal kick being taken by a player of the opposing team.
g) There will be NO Slide Tackles. Any slide tackle will result in a two-minute time penalty. A slide tackle is defined by the S.I.S.L. as a player leaving their feet while making an attempt to slide into the ball, which is in the possession of an opposing player.
h) There will be NO Boarding. Any person who is in the opinion of the Referee deliberately causing an opponent to fall into or strike the boards, shall receive a FIVE-MINUTE PENALTY, and may be issued a caution. If in the opinion of the Referee, the player responsible for the Boarding, was committing this act with intent to injure, s/he shall be sent from the field of play for VIOLENT CONDUCT and receive a five minute time penalty. The team of the offending player shall place a player in the penalty box and play “short” handed until the five minutes has expired.
i) If any player leaves the bench area to participate in any kind of misconduct s/he may, at the discretion of the Referee, be ejected from the game.
RULE 13: FREE KICK
1. For any infringement in the Rules of the game when the ball is in play, the Referee may award a free kick to the team opposing that of the offending player. The free kick shall be taken from the place where the offense occurred, unless:
a) If an indirect free kick is awarded to the attacking team within its opponent’s goal area, the free kick shall be taken from the part of the goal area line, which runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the offence was committed.
b) The free kick is awarded to the defending team within its own goal area, in which case the free kick may be taken from any point within that half of the goal area where the offence was committed.
c) The free kick is awarded for an offense-taking place against the boards or a wall, in which case the free kick shall be taken from within the one-meter line, at a point nearest to where the offence occurred.
2. At the taking of a free kick, the ball shall be stationary an all opponents shall be not less than three meters from the ball until it is in play.
3. A player taking a free kick within her/his owns penalty area shall kick the ball into play beyond the penalty area. The ball has to move outside of the penalty area. All opponents shall be outside of the penalty area and at least 3 meters from the ball until it is in play. For any infringement of this rule, the free kick shall be retaken.
4. A player taking a free kick shall not play or touch the ball a second time until it has been played or touched by another player. For any infringement of this rule, a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.
5. A player who does not retire the required distance, or who dances about, or gesticulates in a manner calculated to distract an opponent, or delay the taking of the free kick should be cautioned for unsporting conduct.
6. All free kicks are indirect, except if a member of the defensive team within his/her own penalty area, as mentioned in Rule 12, commits one of the ten penal offenses, than a penalty kick shall be awarded.
RULE 14: PENALTY KICK
1. A penalty kick shall be taken from the penalty mark. All players with the exception of the defending goalkeeper and the player taking the kick shall be outside of the penalty area, and not less than 3 meters from the ball until it is kicked.
2. The goalkeeper shall stand, without moving his/her feet, on her/his own goal line and between the goal posts until the ball is kicked.
3. The player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time before it has played or touched by another player. For any infringement of this rule a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.
4. Time of play shall be extended at the end of the half or the end of the game to allow for the taking of a penalty kick. In the event that time is extended, play, or the kick is ended when:
a) A goal is scored;
b) A goal is scored by the ball going directly into the goal, or when the ball rebounds into the goal directly from the goalkeeper, a goal post or the cross bar.
5. For any infringement of this rule:
a) By a member of the defending team, if a goal is not scored the kick shall be retaken;
b) By a member of the attacking team, if a goal is scored it shall be disallowed and a free kick awarded to the defending team.
c) A member of both teams, retake the kick.
6. If after the kick has been taken, an outside agent interferes with the ball or the goalkeeper, the kick shall be retaken.
RULE 15: KICK-IN
1. When the whole of the ball has crossed a sidewall, or hits a side net, a member of the team opposing that of the player who last played or touched it shall kick in the ball. The kick shall be taken from the floor and within the one-meter line, at the point nearest to the wall where the ball went out of play.
2. At the taking of a kick-in, all opponents shall be not less than 3 meters from the ball until it is in play. For any infringement of this rule the kick-in shall be retaken.
3. If the player taking the kick-in, plays or touches the ball a second time before it has been played or touched by another player, a free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.
4. A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-in.
RULE 16: GOAL KICK
1. When the whole of the ball has crossed a goal line, end board or end wall excluding that portion between the goal posts and under the cross bar, having been last played or touched by a member of the attacking team, a goal kick shall be awarded to the defending team.
2. The goal kick shall be taken from any point within that half of the goal area nearest to where the ball went out of play.
3. At the taking of a goal kick, the ball should be stationary and all opponents shall be outside of the penalty area and at least 3 meters from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it has traveled half the distance of its own circumference and has passed beyond the penalty area. For any infringement of this rule the goal kick shall be retaken.
4. If the player taking the goal kick plays or touches the ball a second time before it has been played or touched by another player, a free kick shall be awarded to the attacking team.
5. A goal may not be scored directly from a goal kick.
RULE 17: CORNER KICK
1. When the whole of the ball has crossed a goal line, end board or end wall, excluding that portion between the goal posts and under the cross bar, having been played or touched last by a defending player, a corner kick shall be awarded to the attacking team.
2. The corner kick shall be taken from the corner mark nearest to the wall where the ball went out of play.
3. At the taking of the corner kick the ball shall be stationary and all opponents shall be not less than 3 meters from the ball until it is in play. For any violation of this rule the kick shall be retaken.
4. If the player taking the corner kick plays or touches the ball a second time before it has been played or touched by another player, a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.
5. A goal may not be scored directly from a corner kick.