Note: The Soccer Tournament Director reserves the right to modify the rules at his discretion in order to facilitate the flow of the tournament/league. The Director will have the final judgment on any suspensions, rule discrepancies, or controversial issues that may arise during or after play.

Tournament Divisions:
(minimum age 18)

Men’s: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7
Women’s: D1, D2
Co-ed: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5

Number of Players/Rosters

Number of players on a roster: 12 max
6 players on the field – 5 field players plus a goalkeeper.
Coed divisions require 2 girls on the field at all times (if only 1 is available, the team must play a player down). If no girls are available within 15 minutes of kickoff for a league game, the result is a forfeit (for 1-day tournaments, a forfeit occurs at 9 minutes if no girls are available).

When we say “on the field,” we are not referring to specific positions for coed. A coed team must simply have at least 2 females on the field of the 6 players, and this can include the goalkeeper.

Games cannot be played with fewer than 4 players.
A team roster and waiver must be completed and turned in prior to the tournament/league.
Only those on the original roster are eligible to play in the tournament/league, and only players that have played in a at least 1 regular season game can participate in playoffs.
Players cannot play on multiple teams in the same division. A forfeit will be required of a team using a player who is not on the original roster.

If your team is short players for a regular season game, any borrowed players MUST be approved by the opposing team – if they agree, the game is played and the result is official.

If you suspect the other team is using players not on the roster, you must ask the ref within the first 10 minutes. The tournament director will make a decision on eligibility. Any player not on the roster will be removed from the game, any goals scored in the first 10 mins by the team in violation will be disqualified, and your team will be awarded 1 goal. This rule does NOT apply after 10 minutes (for a regular season game). However, using players not on your roster for a playoff game is grounds for automatic forfeit.

The Game

Field size is approximately 150 ft. x 100 ft.
Goals are 6 ft. x 12 ft.
Penalty area is 24 ft. x 18 ft.
A size 5 ball will be used during all matches to be provided by the teams.

Bringing game ball rule (Does not apply to tournaments but we still ask teams to bring balls in order to play as we do not provide)

If a team does not provide a ball, the opposing team will be awarded a goal (Not for tournaments). This is only applicable in the first 5 minutes of the game. If you suspect the other team doesn’t have a ball, you must ask the ref within the first 5 minutes. The ref will ask the other team to present a ball. If they are unable to do so, your team is awarded a goal. This rule does not apply after 5 minutes in to the game nor at tournaments.

Games will be 45-50 minutes in duration and the clock will run continuously.
The game will be played in two divided halves with a 1 minute halftime break.
The offside rule does not apply in the 6v6 format.
In case of a tie after regulation time during group play, the game will finish as a tie game.
Each team should bring two sets of matching jerseys (light and dark). The home team (1st team listed) is required to change uniforms if jerseys between opposing teams conflict.
All players must wear shirts (no shirts vs. skins).
No slide tackling is allowed in any division (except reasonable play by a goal keeper inside their own box, as determined by the referee).

Substitutions

Teams may sub on the fly at any time during the game.
The player coming off the field of play must be within 2 yards of the touchline near their teams bench before the new player comes onto the field of play.
All players should make an attempt to sub near their teams bench unless approved by the referee.
If subbing on the fly becomes an issue during any game, the referee can impose a rule that he/she must approve all subs.

Player’s Equipment

While not mandatory, shin guards are 100% encouraged to keep players safe. Players not wearing shin guards are playing at their own risk and Small Goal Soccer is not responsible for any injuries sustained during play.

Forfeits

If a team is running late, the opposing team will be awarded a goal 5 minutes after the scheduled start time, and a second goal 10 minutes after the start time.
A forfeit will be awarded if an opposing team is not ready to play within 15 minutes of a scheduled start time.

For 1-day tournaments, a goal is awarded at 3 minutes, a 2nd goal at 6 minutes, and a forfeit occurs at 9 minutes.

The clock starts at the scheduled kickoff time and time will not be made up if a team shows up late.
A forfeit will go down as a 3-0 win for the team that is there and ready to play.
If both teams do not show, or are not ready to play – neither team will be awarded points.

Referees

At minimum, one referee will be assigned to each match.

Start of Play

Opposing players must be at least 4 yards away prior to kick offs.
Restarts do not have to go forward after goals or to start periods. No drop balls in penalty area.

Fouls & Free Kicks

All fouls/infractions apply except for offside. The offside rule does not apply.
All free kicks are indirect free kicks, with 3 exceptions (corner kicks, kickoffs, and penalty kicks are all direct).
Opposing players must remain at least 4 yards from the ball.
Once the referee signals for play to continue, the kicker has 5 seconds to play the ball.
Slide tackling is not permitted in any division (except reasonable play by a goal keeper inside their own box, as determined by the referee).
A penalty kick shall be awarded when a hand ball in the penalty box occurs, or if a player is fouled in the box during an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

Goalkeepers

A goalkeeper, having control of the ball in hands, and having released it from his/her hands to be played, either by himself/herself or a team-mate, shall not handle the ball again until it has been touched by an opponent, or a stoppage of play occurs.
Keepers may not use their hands when a ball is passed back to them by a teammate, unless it is played back to them via head, chest, or thigh.
Once the keeper has handled the ball they have five (5) seconds to put the ball back in play.
An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the top of the penalty box if either of these rules are violated.
Keepers may not play throw-ins/kick-ins with their hands.
A goal kick may not cross the half line in the air without first touching the ground or a player. For violations of this rule, the ball is awarded to the opposition on the half line.

Penalty Kicks

A penalty kick shall be taken 3 steps from the top of the penalty box.
All players except the kicker and the opposing goalkeeper must stand outside the top of the penalty area, 15 feet away from the kicker. Players are not permitted on either side of the area.
On free kicks, opposing players must remain 4 yards from ball.
Yellow cards will be awarded to players who slow down the flow of the game by not providing the mandatory 4 yards.

Kick Ins

The five (5) second rule also applies for kick-ins.
There are no throw-ins; the ball is kicked into play.
The opposing team will regain possession after a five (5) second infraction.
Keepers may not use their hands when receiving a throw-in/kick-in.
Goal kicks are taken anywhere inside the penalty area.
Once the ball is retrieved and set, the player has 5 seconds to play the ball.
An indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the top of the penalty area if the referee feels there is an unacceptable attempt to delay the game.
Goal kicks need not exit penalty area to be considered in play.

Corner Kicks

Goals can be scored directly on corner kicks.
Opposing players must be at least 4 yards away.
5 second rule applies on corner kicks.

Misconduct

Players ejected from a match for a red card for violent conduct will be suspended for at least the following match and their team will play short the remainder of the game.
Ejections for violent actions including, but not limited to fighting may result in suspension for any further play. This will be decided upon by the Tournament Directors.
Any player that receives a yellow card will be given a 4 minute sin bin. Their team will play short for 4 minutes or until a goal is conceded, whichever comes first. If a goal is conceded within the 4 minutes, the team can bring on an additional player, but the player who received the yellow card still must sit out the mandatory 4 minutes. For 1-day tournaments, the yellow card sin bin is reduced to 2 minutes.

Two yellows and the team will play short for the remainder of the game, same for a straight red.

Offensive language is considered to warrant a caution card, any language directed towards officials, opponents, or spectators will result in ejection from the game.

Small Goal Soccer does not tolerate violent conduct, verbal abuse, threatening behavior, or racist/hateful language. Any instances of the above can result in temporary or permanent suspension from the league/tournament.

Final decisions regarding length of suspension will be made by tournament director.

Team Requirements

All teams are required to show up 10 minutes prior to their start time.
A team can start a game with a minimum of 4 players. For coed, at least 1 girl must be on the field to start play. If only 1 girl is present, the team will play down a player until a 2nd girl arrives.
Teams are required to bring a game-playable ball to their game. See the “The Game” section at left for regulations regarding a ball.
Teams will play 6-7 league games and then playoffs if the team qualifies for the playoff spots.
Any teams playing with red carded players or players not on their original rosters will be subject to a forfeit, in that game.

Playoffs

For any playoff game (quarter-final, semi-final, or championship) that ends in a tie, the game will go straight to penalties where 3 kicks will be taken by each team. If tied after 3, then sudden death will take place.
In the coed division, the penalty kicks must be taken alternately by gender (male/female/male or vice versa). All team members on the roster must kick (unless injured – ref determines) before a player takes a second shot, except coed where all females rotate and males rotate accordingly.

Inclement Weather

Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear on the field of play, ready to play as scheduled.
Failure to show will result in the forfeit of the match.
Only referees and/or Tournament Director can cancel or postpone a match.
Should a match’s progress be terminated due to weather conditions after one half has been completed the match will be considered official and the score at the time will stand.
In the event of bad weather, game schedules and various rules may need to be altered. Be sure to check with the Tournament Director to see if your team is impacted.

Scoring

WIN = 3 points
TIE = 1 point
LOSS = 0 points
FORFEIT = 3-0 win (worth 3 points)

Tiebreakers

Goal differential (goals for – goals against = GD)
Head to head
Most wins
Least # of goals allowed
Most goals scored
A five minute sudden death mini game with OT procedures (to advance in the playoffs) or a coin toss to determine seeding in playoffs. If a group has three teams in it, group matches will determine the winner (not the cross-over match). Cross-over matches will count in the determination of wildcard teams only.