Soccer

Indoor Soccer Rules

Start of Game

  • Game will commence with a coin toss or team captains trying to select a number from 1 to 10 that the umpire has secretly chosen.
  • The team that wins the toss will kick off first and the other team will wear coloured bibs if necessary.
  • Two whistles indicate time about to start.
  • Time will start.
  • One whistle will indicate start of game.

Kick Off

  • Ball must be passed backwards.
  • Opposition players must be on their defensive third line and may not move forward until the ball is kicked.
  • Attacking players must be behind the half line.
  • If the ball is passed forwards the first time it will be replayed. If it happens twice in a row kick off will go to the other team.

Captains

  • Each team should have a nominated captain.
  • The captain may politely question an umpire’s decision on behalf of a player.

Players

  • Each team may have up to 5 players on the pitch at one time.
  • Each player may politely question an umpire’s decision that directly affects them.

Goalies

  • May handle and run with the ball anywhere in their defensive Dee.
  • If the goalie is not in control of the ball in their defensive Dee they may do what ever it takes to protect their goal – ie, rules such as the head height rule do not apply if the goalie is not in control of the ball.
  • If the goalies whole foot steps outside the defensive Dee while they are holding the ball a penalty will be awarded.
  • Ball must be thrown in below head height.
  • Once the ball touches the ground or another player it is in play.
  • Goalies may change only by informing the umpire of the change and by ensuring the goalie is wearing the correct colour shirt and that the change does not affect play. The change can only occur when the umpire acknowledges the change.
  • If a goalie is changed without informing the umpire the original goalie must stay goalie for the rest of the half and may have a hand ball decision called against them.
  • At all times any benefit of the doubt decision will go with the goalie.
  • At any time the umpire may call “goalies ball”. This means the goalie will then have control of the ball.
  • The umpire will call this when:
    • The ball hits the side or goes behind the goal. The goalie has obtained control of the ball.
    • The attacking teams commits an infringement in their attacking third.

Umpires

  • The umpires decision is final.
  • If the ball hits the umpire it will be drop balled.

Half time

  • Is when the clock counts down from 16 to 0 minutes.
  • Half time lasts 2 minutes.

Full time

  • Is when the clock for the second half counts down from 16 to 0 minutes.

Head High Rule

  • If the ball is kicked from below the knee and goes above the average head height of the fields players, it will result in a free kick to the other side.
  • If the ball is deflected off the nets, the body or the oppositions lower leg (the latter only if the foot is in contact with the ground) before going above head height it will be called play on.

Penalties

  • A penalty will be awarded if a free kick is awarded against a team in their defensive third.
  • If the infringement is not deliberate and occurs towards the outer edges of the third the umpire has the discretion to use a drop ball instead of awarding a penalty.
  • The penalty will be kicked from the centre of the third line and only the goalie may be in the defensive third.
  • Once the ball has been kicked all players may enter for the rebound shot. The goalie may come two marks forward of the goal.

Tackling

  • All tackles where only ball contact occurs between the two players is legal.
  • If when tackling two players contact each other and this causes the player who was in control of the ball to be disadvantaged a free kick will be awarded to that player.
  • If no player was clearly in control of the ball, the action was non deliberate and the efforts of both players was 50/50 a drop ball will be called.
  • Slide tackles are legal unless the player sliding contacts another player in which case a free kick will be awarded.
  • Non deliberate infringements caused by a player when near the side nets of their defensive third may be drop balled at the discretion of the umpire otherwise a penalty will be called.
  • Any pushing, elbows, hip and shoulders, tripping, kicking in danger or any other inappropriate method of tacking used will cause a free kick to be awarded.

Yellow card

  • Is a warning card of which only one will be issued to each player.
  • It will be issues for unsportsmanlike conduct, questioning an umpires decision inappropriately, abusing an umpire or damaging Striker equipment.

Red card

  • Is a send off card which will be issued to a player for a second yellow card offence or for any action the umpire deems appropriate.
  • The player is sent off for five minutes and may not be replaced by the team until the five minute period is up.

Black card

  • Is a send off card where the player is sent off for the entire match and may not be replaced until the next game.
  • It will be issued for continuous yellow card offences, gross unsportsmanlike conduct on court and any other action deemed appropriate by the umpire.

Handball

  • A free kick or penalty will be awarded if the ball is handled by any player except the goalie in their defensive third. The ball must strike the hand or forearm below the elbow to be considered a hand ball.

Umpires discretion

  • At anytime if the course of events means that the umpire cannot make a definite decision they have the option of calling goalies ball or drop ball as appropriate.

Drop ball

  • The ball must be kicked safely and remain below head height.
  • A penalty cannot be awarded off a drop ball.

Substitutions

  • Can occur at any time but must not affect play.

Free kick

  • Will be awarded when any infringements occur in the middle third.
  • A player can play the ball to themselves and there is no “advantage” rule.

Goal

  • A goal is awarded when the whole ball passes the front bar of the goal. All goals must be scored before the final siren.

Drawn game

  • If at the end of time the game is drawn a penalty shoot out will be used to determine the winner. Each team picks one striker and one goalie. Each striker will have up to five shots at goal alternating between strikers. The first team to be one point ahead after each team has had an even number of shots at goal will be the winner. If after a maximum of 5 shots no clear winner has been found the process will be repeated with a new striker and goalie until a winner is found.

End of game

  • Occurs when time clock sounds.