Soccer League Rules
We Are A Fun and Friendly League
The goal and purpose of the Macon Adult Recreation Club is to provide fun and friendly competition in adult recreational sports. Each player should treat their fellow athletes, referees, spectators, and other staff with respect and courtesy at all times. Any profane or malicious comments directed at any of the aforementioned people will not be tolerated. Follow our general code of conduct because a failure to do so will result in an ejection from the game, suspension or even a permanent ban from the club.
Important Things To Know
If you are new to soccer, here are few important things to know about our co-ed soccer leagues. Scroll below to see a full list of league rules and regulations.
- If not listed below, the scenario follows FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game.
- 5 vs. 5 players on the field with one minimum female at all times.
- There are no goalkeepers in this league.
- Games are comprised of two 25 minute halves with a 10 minute halftime break.
- Goals cannot be scored from a kickoff, kick-in or a goal kick and goals must be scored from the offensive half of the field. Goals can be scored through a corner kick, however.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors will determine home and away during regular season.
Equipment
- Players must wear a jersey or shirt of the same color. Pinnies can be provided if necessary.
- It is recommended that players wear shin-guards.
- Please do not wear jewelry to avoid injury.
- A player shall not wear anything that may be dangerous to other players or themselves.
- No player shall be allowed to play in any game with an injury or a known medical condition, which can be communal or aggravated by playing.
Game Play
FORFEITS:
- If a team does not present an eligible roster before the 15 minute grace period, the game will be considered a forfeit.
- An eligible roster must have 3 players from their team. Of those 3 players, one player must be a female.
- Forfeits get recorded as a 5-0 win/loss.
FIELD OF PLAY:
- Nets will be placed center, at both ends of the field. Sidelines are the cones .
- If ball goes out of play a kick in will be taken from the spot the ball crossed the line.
- The maximum length is 40 yards, and the maximum width is 25 yards.
START OF GAME:
- Please arrive 15 minutes early. Games are to start and finish as per the posted schedule.
- 15 minute grace periods for shorthanded teams.
- Rock/Paper/Scissors will be played between the two captains to determine whether to kick/defer or to choose a side.
START OF PLAY: (Kickoff)
- A kickoff is used to start or restart play: At the start of a match; after halftime; and after a goal has been scored.
- The kickoff starts with all players on their own side of the field. The ball is stationary at the center point of the field and the opponents of the team taking the kickoff should be at least 5 paces away from the ball – until it is put into play.
- The ball is put into play when it is kicked forward or backwards. The initial kicker cannot touch it again until another player has contacted it. If the initial kicker touches the ball before it has touched by another player, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team (indirect free kick means you cannot score from the kick unless it touches another player first).
- A goal cannot be scored directly from the kickoff.
GAME TIME:
- Games are comprised of two 25 minute halves with a 10 minute halftime break. Any agreement to alter the duration of play must be made before the start of the game.
- Teams can call one (1) minute time-out per game if needed except during the last 5 minutes of play. Your team MUST be in possession of the ball to call a time-out.
- Tie games are possible but not favored.
SWITCHING SIDES:
- Teams will switch sides after the completion of the half.
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Substitution on any player can happen at any time but the player must be on the sideline before the new player enters the field. From that moment, the substitute becomes a player and the player that has been replaced becomes a substituted player. The substituted player may not take further part in the match.
- The player substituting must cross the out of bounds line within 10 feet from where the player came off and the change cannot disrupt the flow of the game.
- If the substitution disrupts the play, an indirect free kick will result for the opposing team. If a team has more than a maximum number of players on the field an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team on the location of the ball on the field.
- The number of substitutions that may be made during a match is unlimited.
Roster Requirements
TEAM PLAYERS:
- Each team will have an official contact person (captain), who is the spokesperson for the team.
- There is no maximum amount of players allowed on a roster.
- Teams are comprised of 5 players and no goalie.
- A minimum of one (1) female must be always on the field at any time.
- Teams can play with the minimum of 3 players from their roster, but one of the players must be female.
- Females can compensate for males, but not vice versa. An all female team is allowed.
GUEST PLAYERS:
- No more than 2 guest players are allowed to play in a game. Guest players do not have to be okayed by opposing team.
- No guest players are permitted if the opposing team is short-handed as well until teams are at equal strength.
Offense & Scoring
SCORING:
- The ball must completely cross the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar to count as a goal.
- Goals can only be scored in the opposing teams half. If you score from your own half, it will be an indirect free kick for the other team at the spot of the original shot.
- Goals can be scored from corner kicks.
- Goals cannot be scored from the kick-off, kick-ins or goal kick. All fouls result in an indirect free kick, where a goal cannot be scored.
- No defender can use their arms or hands to prevent a goal from being scored. If it is judged that a handball prevented a goal from being scored, the attacking team is awarded a goal and the scored upon team will kick off to restart the game.
KICK-INS
- A kick-in is awarded when the whole ball passes over the sideline (out of play), either on the ground or in the air and is taken from the point where it crossed the sideline, by the opponents of the player who last touched the ball, before it crossed the sideline.
- The kicker must not touch the ball a second time before it has been touched by another player, or an indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team.
- A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick–in.
GOAL KICKS
- A goal kick is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line (end line) if the ball was last touched by the team attacking the goal.
- The goal kick can be taken by any defending team member on the side of the goal where the ball went out of bounds placed anywhere on the goal area line.
- The person kicking the ball cannot touch the ball a second time before it has touched another player outside the goal box, or an indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the place where the infraction happened.
- A goal cannot be score directly from a goal kick.
CORNER KICKS
- A corner kick is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line if the ball was last touched by the team defending the goal (defense).
- The corner kick is taken from the closest corner to where the ball went out of bounds.
- The ball is in play the moment it has been kicked. If the person taking the corner kick touches the ball a second time before another player touches it, an indirect kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.
- A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick.
Goalkeeper
GOALKEEPER:
- There are no goalkeepers in this league.
- Players may defend the goal, but all players on the field count as outfield players and thus cannot use their hands during the game. Sliding or laying down to cover the goal are also not allowed.
- We use the commonsense rule when it comes to goalies. No player should stand in front of the net for an egregious amount of time.
Fouls & Misconducts
SELF OFFICIATED:
All games are self-officiated (no referees), so teams are required to call their own violations, and are expected to be honest and always keep a high level of sportsmanship and safety. If you feel your opponent is not being accountable, your team captain may politely intervene to discuss rules called or uncalled. We rely on your spirit of sportsmanship and honesty to keep the matches fun and enjoyable for all.
If there are any concerns over unsporting behavior, all attempts should first be made by the captains to deal with it at that time. If there is a dispute and an agreement cannot be reached, don’t waste time arguing the play – a kick-in from the sideline will be awarded to the team last having possession of the ball.
If there is a discrepancy that absolutely cannot be handled by the captains, the final call will be made by the club representitve on-site.
FREE KICKS:
An indirect free kick at the location of the foul is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offenses:
- Plays in a dangerous manner (charging, checking or pushing);
- Impedes the progress of an opponent (trips, kicks, holds, etc.);
- Slide tackling;
- High kicking (dangerous kick);
- Handball: a player carries, strikes or propels the ball with hand or arm; a handball infraction occurs when the ball hits a player’s arm from the ELBOW down (as opposed to the shoulder). Exceptions: Players may use their arms to block the ball from hitting their face and groin area and women can also use their arms to block the ball from hitting their chest.
- Unsporting behavior
The ball must be stationary when the kick is taken, and all opposing players must be at least 5 paces away from the kicker except when the ball is being kicked from a point closer than 5 paces from the goal. In this case, the defending player may stand on their goal line. The kicker must not touch the ball a second time until another player has touched it. A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick.
OFFSIDES:
There are no off-sides in this league.
SLIDE TACKLES:
Slide tackling/blocking is not allowed under any circumstances even if contact is made with the ball first. Players should refrain from attempting to play the ball while lying on the round, as this can endanger themselves and others around them.
Playoffs
- No guest players are allowed for playoffs unless team is shorthanded.
- Teams that are short can only play with a maximum of 4 as to not gain a competitive advantage.
- Teams may not pick up players who are on the roster of another team in the same league.
- An eligible roster player is someone who played and was counted as present on the signed roster sheet at least 3 times during the season to be eligible for playoffs or seek Club Representitive approval.
- Home and Away will be determined by higher seeds. Captains must be at the field 10 minutes prior to game time to go through the process.
- If a game is tied at the end of regulation time, a shootout will take place. The ball will be placed at the center of the field and each team will have 3 different shooters. Each team will shoot for a goal and at the end of 3 shots, whoever has more goals wins the game. If it is still tied, sudden death occurs with each team exchanging shots at goal until one team wins. A player cannot shoot twice for the first 3 shots. After that, anyone can shoot.