Youth Soccer Rules | The 422 Sportsplex

Sportsplex Youth Soccer Rules
INDOOR SOCCER RULES
*Revised September 2015*

Note: The Rules below are either substituted for, or supplemental to, FIFA soccer rules. Any situations not covered below fall under the jurisdiction of FIFA.

Game Days: Saturdays and Sundays – game times may vary week by week.

Game Length: Two 20 minute periods with a two minute half-time.

Warm-Up Area: 422 Sportsplex does not guarantee any areas for teams to warm-up prior to their games. Teams will have approximately two minutes to warm-up prior to the start of the game. There is no guarantee that these two minutes will be available.

Levels of Competition: The facility will offer the following divisional structure for youth team.
Youth leagues will have A & B divisions based on the amount of teams per division.

The 422 Sportsplex reserves the right to make the necessary changes within league divisions to ensure an equal level of ability and competition.
The following guidelines represent the parameters for Youth Competition. The age group you play in is determined by the oldest player on your team. Whatever age group your team played during the fall constitutes the age group you will play in the winter. The cutoff date is August 1st, 12am. Any player caught playing in a younger age group will forfeit all the teams’ games in that age group. 422 Sportsplex management reserves the right to check player identifications (outdoor registration cards or birth certificates) at any time. Players may only be on one roster in a given division and league. Players may participate in more than one division and league. A lower division team may not field any players from an upper division. 422 Sportsplex reserves the right to determine if a player is considered too advanced for a given division and remove the individual from the team roster. This is done in the spirit of maintaining parity in a given division.

Roster Size: The maximum roster size will be 18 players. Teams U09/U10: 7v7, U11/U12: 6v6, U13/U14: 6v6, JV/U16: 6v6, Varsity/U18: 6v6. There will be no guest players allowed. If a team has an injury or other “circumstances” whereby they lose a rostered player, that team may request that a new player be added to the roster. If a commissioner has not permitted this addition, that player will be considered “illegal” and the game forfeited.

All youth teams must have an adult representative on their bench during all games. This adult must be at least 18 years of age or older. Any team violating this rule will automatically forfeit their game and be subject to banishment from the facility. No more than 20 people may be in the players’ box at any given time (18 players, a coach, and an assistant coach).

Awards: Each first place team will receive only the amount of trophies as the players listed on the team’s roster.

Kick-Off: The home team (the first team on the schedule) will defend the goal closest to the entry doors and will kick off the first half. Teams do not need to switch halves at halftime. A kick off can go backwards. A goal can be scored directly on a kick off.

Substitutions: Substitutions are free and unlimited as long as they do not interfere with the flow of the game. Furthermore, each and every substitution must wait until the player they are substituting for is off the field before they can enter. Teams that violate this rule will be given a warning by the referee for having too many players on the field. If a team has been warned but continues to ignore this rule then the referee will award a direct kick to the opposing team from the midfield line. The referee has the right to award a yellow card to the coach if teams continue to ignore this rule.
Teams may substitute for the goal keeper during play. The referee should be notified of a change in goalkeeper. Play will stop for goalkeeper substitution at the referee’s discretion. Penalty for failure to notify the referee of keeper substitution will result in a free kick for the opposing team at the spot of the ball when play was stopped.

Out of Bounds: Throw-ins enforced when the ball crosses out of bounds over the sidelines.
Throwing the ball straight into the goal is not a goal. A goal kick (or corner kick) is awarded as appropriate.
Balls leaving the field of play over the endline result in a goal kick or corner kick. If a light is hit over the endline the ball will be considered as being out of play and a goal kick or corner kick will be awarded as appropriate.

Free Kicks: On all free kicks, the defensive team must remain ten feet from the ball until the ball is kicked. After the ball has been placed, the defensive team must retreat (within three seconds) ten feet from the ball. Repeated failure to do so is encroachment and the referee may award that player(s) a yellow card. No whistle is needed for a free kick unless the attacking team requires the referee to enforce the distance of the defending players. Failure to take such kick within five seconds of the whistle being blown results in a turnover of possession where the opposing team will take the free kick from the same spot.
All free kicks are direct.

Slide Tackling: Sliding and slide tackling are not allowed.

Center Line Rule: The center line rule is in effect for goal kicks and whenever the keeper is in possession of the ball with his/her hands. Prior to crossing the center line, the distributed ball must leave the penalty box and first touch the turf, a teammate, or an opposing player. If the ball crosses the center line without touching one of the above, a violation results in a direct free kick from the center line for the opposing team. If the keeper dribbles the ball outside of the box, the center line rule no longer applies.

Yellow and Red Cards: Please refer to the above general rules for yellow and red card violations.
Any player that receives a yellow card will be sent off for a two minute penalty. The team of that carded player shall play a person down for the duration of those two minutes. The referee shall keep track of the two minute penalty and inform the penalized team when the penalty is completed, at which time the team shall play at full strength.
Any player that receives a red card shall be sent completely off the playing area and shall not return. The team of the offending player shall play the rest of the game with a player down.
All cards given by referees are final, and are not subject to protest.

Ceiling Rule: If the ball hits the ceiling above the playing field, a direct free kick is given to the opposing team from the nearest spot directly under where the ball hit the ceiling.

Penalty Kicks: Penalty Kicks shall be taken on the line at the top of the penalty box. The keeper must stand on the goal line until the kick is taken. When the whistle is blown, the kicker has 5 seconds to make his/her direct kick. If a player does not kick the ball within 5 seconds then the penalty kick will be taken away and the defensive team will awarded a goal kick.

Goalkeepers: After gaining possession of a ball, the goalkeeper must release it within five seconds. See above Center Line Rule for goalkeepers.
The goalkeeper may not pick up a ball that has been intentionally passed to him/her by a teammate from that teammate’s foot.
The goalkeeper is not allowed to punt or drop-kick the ball. Penalty is a direct free kick to the opposing team at the midfield line.
If there is obstruction or inadvertent charging committed against the goalkeeper, the referee will award a free kick for the defending team. Violent or serious foul play against the goalkeeper may result in a yellow or red card.

Standings: Teams will receive 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. League champion will be determined by the team with the most points. Any tie breakers shall be determined in the following order:

The winner of any head to head league play
Least Goals Allowed
Most Goals scored
If teams are still tied after the above tie-breakers have been calculated, the Sportsplex will award co-champions.

INTRAMURAL COED
The intramural coed division game play rules are the same as the travel youth soccer rules with these minor additions:

There must be at least two females on an intramural coed team roster.
Teams are required to have one female player on the field at all times.
Players MAY NOT double-roster between our travel youth soccer division and our intramural coed division. Players caught playing in both divisions will not be allowed to play in the intramural coed division for the remainder of the session.
Teams must indicate whether their team is an “A” or “B” division team, as there is a chance we will split the league into two divisions depending on the number of teams registered.

General Sportsplex League Rules

Individuals utilizing this facility do so at their own risk. The property owner(s), league operators, officers and owners and staff of 422 Sportsplex assume no liability for any injuries or accidents, which may occur. Please refer to your Liability and Injury Waiver Release Forms.
Conduct within the facility and on the field should be conducted in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
No food, drinks, chewing tobacco, chewing gum, metal cleats permitted on playing surface.
No sunflower seeds or similar type products are permitted in the facility No outside food or drink of any kind will be permitted in the facility. Any outside food or drink will be confiscated.
No spitting is allowed within the facility or on the turf fields.
No glass containers on the field or in the player boxes
Games that are cancelled due to poor weather conditions or conditions not under the control of the 422 Sportsplex are generally not rescheduled or guaranteed to be played.
422 Sportsplex reserves the right to refuse play or service to anyone.
Any fighting will result in permanent banishment from facility

Sign Up Guidelines and Fees:

A representative from each team is required to turn in full rosters, waivers, full payment, and proof of age for each player.
- Proof of age includes: birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, and outdoor league sanctioned player cards.
If full payment for a team is not received by the second week of games, teams will be subject to a $50.00 late fee added to their invoice.

Numbered Jerseys:
All players are required to have a permanent number on their shirt, at least 4″ long. The reason for these strict rules is to keep track of red and yellow cards.

Player Rosters:
Full team rosters must be turned in by the second week of games. Added players will be permitted prior to the third game. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of all games played with illegal player(s). Players may only be added after the 3rd game if a player is injured and removed from the roster for the remainder of the session. Proof of injury must be provided. Any player on a roster that is found to be illegal will forfeit all the games for the team during that season. Teams must show proof of age for all players on the roster. Proof of age includes: drivers licenses; birth certificates; outdoor league player cards or Sportsplex IDs. Coaches or team managers may provide copies of these via email, or hand in copies at the front desk

Equipment:
Rubber molded cleats, turf shoes, and tennis shoes are allowed.
Teams must be dressed with visible and permanent numbers (no taped on numbers). No player will be allowed to participate without a numbered shirt that matches the number on the roster on file. Visible numbers are at least four inches tall and placed somewhere the referee can see. Taped numbers are not permitted. All players must wear shin guards.

Official Games:
A game is considered “official” after one completed half of play. If there is an injury or other unforeseen circumstance, the current score will stand as official once a half has been played.

Forfeits & Make-Up Games:
There will be no rescheduling of games. Teams will be allowed to request one date as a bye in their schedule two weeks prior to the start of the session. If your team has an outdoor Icebreaker tournament at the end of Winter Session #2, they must notify the Sportsplex prior to starting the season. All notifications for byes must come in writing to the Sportsplex via email. If you call and leave a message, management does not consider this an official request. If your request does not appear listed on our published list, it will not be honored. Teams will not be allowed to request two byes in one season. Finally, some byes are not possible to honor. Teams must understand that requests for byes are not guaranteed. Our schedulers will do everything they can to honor requests but if they are unable, games will not be rescheduled. Any team requesting a bye or forfeit must do the following:

E-mail the 422 Sportsplex using the specific Forfeit/Bye request email listed on the Soccer page of our Website. The e-mail must include the day of the requested bye, the team requesting the bye, and the team manager’s name and phone number.

Forfeits:
Team managers must call the 422 Sportsplex to inform them of the forfeit. The Sportsplex will then notify the other team. If a team shows up to play and the opposing team does not show up, then the team present will win by forfeit. In the case of a forfeited game, players from the teams are normally allowed to use the field, to practice, scrimmage, etc. However, 422 Sportsplex reserves the right to use the field, at that time, for other activities at the discretion of management.
Failure to do so will result in the game being forfeited. After the first forfeit, the team that forfeited will receive a warning. After the second forfeit there will be a $50 fine. If a team forfeits three times in one season, they’ll be pulled from the league, with all money paid being lost, and the team will have to pay in full at the time of registration for all future leagues.

A forfeit will be incurred if a team has failed to field the minimum number of players (4 player minimum) within ten minutes from the start of the game clock. A game clock will not stop once it has started, and it will not be reset if a team shows up late. Any team no show will result in a 3-0 victory for opposing team and no rescheduled game will be given.

There will be no rescheduling of games due to weather related events like snow. The facility may, at its own choosing, try and reschedule those games. In the event of weather related cancellations, all games that were missed shall not count toward the standings and they will be considered “non-games”.

Sportsmanship:
Individuals are expected to play under control and within the rules of the game, and to the best of their ability will avoid causing injury to themselves and other persons using the facility.

Referees:
Referees appointed to officiate each game have complete authority on the field of play, and their decisions on points of fact connected with the game are final. Officiating will be monitored and assessed periodically, and management will always try to provide quality officiating at the facility. Constructive comments regarding officiating are welcome and encouraged. Please submit any such comments in writing via e-mail. Complaints regarding officials should be submitted in writing (via e-mail), contain points of fact (ref’s name, if known, date, time, and field number), and have your name and the name of your team at the top. Teams may not discuss the officiating immediately following their game. The Youth Program Director will take seriously all complaints written 24 hours after a game. The Youth Program Director will not take seriously complaints directed at him immediately following a game, verbal or written. The Youth Program Director will not overturn any calls made by the referee during the course of a game. If a team suspects an illegal player or other illegal activity associated with other team, they should inform the Youth Program Director immediately. If this activity is discovered after the game is completed, the team should file a formal protest to the Youth Program Director. Please read our rules below to understand how to file a formal protest. Do not discuss officiating or the officials with the facility staff during or immediately after your game.

Red Card Policy:

422 Sportsplex has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY toward fighting. Anyone fighting will be ejected and they will be banned from the facility permanently. This means that the player cannot participate at or be on the property of the Sportsplex ever again.
A player or coach that is red carded during or after a game by a referee will automatically be suspended for a whole week through the next day of the session in which the player was red carded. For example, if a player is red carded on a Saturday, he or she will not be eligible to play until the Sunday of the following week. In addition, the player will be banned from playing on any other team until the suspension has been served. If a player is ejected in the last game of a session (he/she) will be prohibited from playing in the first game after he/she registers for another session.
A player or coach red carded for the offense of “violent conduct” (including, but not limited to: spitting, threatening, continued rough play, etc.) will be suspended as outlined above and, in addition, will be suspended for one additional game and subject to further disciplinary action as decided by the facility management.
A player or coach red carded for “assaulting an official” will automatically be suspended from any further activities at the 422 Sportsplex.
Any player or coach who accumulates three cautions (yellow cards) during one session will be suspended as outlined above.
Should a coach of a team be unable to control a player’s actions after a red card is issued, the coach will also be suspended as outlined above.
A player jumping from the player box onto the field to break up or participate in a fight will automatically be ejected from the game and will be subject to the same penalties as outlined above.
A $100 bond will be required from any team involved in an altercation where more than one player is involved in a fight. Should a bond be placed against a team, the bond must be paid prior to the team’s next game, or that game will be forfeited. The terms of the bond will be given in writing to the team. Should the team fail to adhere to the terms, the bond will be forfeited to the arena and the team’s participation will be terminated. If the team adheres to the terms of the bond, then the team will receive the $100 bond at the end of the session.
It is the responsibility of each player and the player’s team representative to be aware of the total status of their player’s infractions. Failure to comply may result in further disciplinary measures which may include suspension of the coach/rep. and forfeiture of games in which that player participated.
If a player receives a second red card in the same season, that player will be suspended for three (3) games.

Protests:
Intention to file a protest must be noted in writing immediately following the game. A formal written protest must be submitted to the 422 Sportsplex, at info@the422sportsplex.com within 48 hours after the end of a game. A league committee will review and have the final authority on all protests. ALL DECISIONS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE ARE FINAL. Only violations of the laws of the game, rules or guidelines of the facility as published are matters for protest. Any protests regarding fielding of illegal players must be brought to the attention of the game officials prior to the start of the second half. Referee complaints must be submitted via e-mail.

Contact Information
Please contact the 422 Sportsplex at info@the422sportsplex.com or 610-323-9600