LEAGUE RULES & REGULATIONS

  • League format will follow STANDARD FIFA RULES.
  • Each team will play 8 games guaranteed (regardless of the number of teams).
  • The top 4 teams will advance to the semifinals and be played as follow:
    • 1st vs. 4th
    • 2nd vs. 3rd
  • If teams finish with the same number of points the tie-breaker rules are as follow:
    • Goal differential
    • Number of goals scored
    • Head to Head
  • If tie still remains, League organizers will decide on other methods of tie breaking.
  • There is no overtime, injury or stoppage time.
  • Teams on the field must consist of four outfield players and one goalkeeper.
  • The goalkeeper must wear a different color jersey than the outfield players.
  • There is no offside.
  • Games are 45 minutes; consisting of two 22 minutes halves with a 1 minute rest between halves.
  • Ball Size: Futsal Ball (Nike X)
  • If a team forfeit’s the game, the opposing team will receive a winning score of 3-0.
  • The referee is the maximum authority in the league. His decision cannot be revoked or changed and all his decisions are final.  League organizers will not be involved in any game time decisions.
  • The referee must be respected at all times. ABSOLUTELY NO SWEARING, PROFANITY OR INSULTS OF ANY KIND WILL BE ALLOWED TOWARDS THE REF. WE WILL ENFORCE THIS!
  • The winning team will advance to the next round. Losing team will be eliminated.
  • If a game ends in a tie, the winner will be decided through penalty kicks (“PK’s”). Only the four outfield players and goalkeeper that were on the field at the end of the game will be allowed to take the PK’s. Each team will take 4 penalty kicks. If the game remains tied after the 4 initial penalty kicks, the order resets and each team will take one additional penalty kick until the winner emerges.
  • Must wear a different color shirt. He may wear long pants and/or other padding as deemed safe.
  • May kick the ball directly over the halfway line and may score directly with his feet during the run of play.
  • May not punt or drop-kick the ball.
  • May not be in possession of the ball with his hands for more than 6 seconds.
  • May throw the ball directly across the halfway line. A goal resulting from a throw by the goalkeeper is valid.
  • May NOT pick up the ball when it’s passed back from a player.  If he does, this will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team to be taken on the spot where the goalie picked up the ball.
  • Prior to the start of the season, each team must submit a roster with a minimum of 5 players and a maximum of 12 players.
  • All players must accept the liability waiver before they can play.
  • A maximum of 2 guest players are allowed per game during regular season.
  • Guest player: A player who was not enrolled in the initial roster provided to the league organizers. 
  • A Roster player must participate in at least 25% of the regular season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.
  • No guest players will be allowed during the playoff games. The league organizers will enforce this!
  • All outfield player substitutions can be made without permission of the referee.
  • A goalkeeper substitution requires permission from the referee and the game will be stopped.
  • A substitute may not enter the match until the player leaving the match is at the sideline. At no point of the game, a team must have more than 5 players on the field; including the goalkeeper.
  • There is no limited number of substitutions.
  • Kick-off: Kick-off is defined as the first touch of the ball when the first or second half of the game starts, or every time a team scores a goal. All kick-off are indirect. The ball must be played forward first.
  • Kick-in: Kick-in is defined as touching the ball after it goes out of bounds.  To resume the game, the ball must be placed behind the line and the kick must be taken within 6 seconds after the ball goes out of bounds.  All kick-ins are indirect. No goals can be scored through a kick-in.
  • Corner Kicks: are direct. The ball must be placed directly on the corner spot and the kick must be taken within 6 seconds after the ball goes out of bounds.
  • Free Kicks: may be indirect or direct. The ball must be stopped completely before the kick is taken.
  • Penalty Kicks: are taken from the penalty spot and must be shot at goal by a clearly identified kicker. All other players must stand behind the midfield line unless specified differently by the referee.
  • Distance: For all of the above, opponents may not be closer than 3 steps from the ball and may not begin the play until the kick-off, kick-in, corner kick, free kick or penalty kick is taken.
  • Indirect Free Kicks: When a player plays in a dangerous manner, obstructs an opponent without possession of the ball, prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball with his hands or commits any other offence, the referee may stop the play as deemed necessary. The referee will resume the play as considered appropriate.
  • Direct Free Kicks: When a player kicks or attempts to kick, jumps at, charges at, strikes or attempts to strike, pushes, holds or spits at an opponent or handles the ball deliberately.
  • Sliding: Sliding is allowed as long as it doesn’t result in a foul.
  • Yellow card / CautionThis is a warning or caution given to the offending player due to that player’s foul or misconduct. The player receiving the yellow card must step out of the field for two minutes.
  • Red Card / EjectionThis is an ejection. The offendingplayer is ejected of the field for the rest of the match due to that player’s foul or misconduct. The team will play with a man down the remainder of the game. That player will be allowed to play the following week.
  • Advantage rule:  If the referee shouts, “play on”, then the play may continue without stopping the game.