TBCS Soccer Rules

NEW FOR MARCH 2010: Any red cards result in the player not returning for the remainder of the game. After a red card the offending team must play down a player of the same sex for 5 minutes, regardless of any goals being scored. After the 5 minute penalty, the team can return to full strength but the red carded player cannot return.

In all leagues we want to stress the importance of safety and fair play. It is far more important that play be safe than the team wins. We will instruct referees to make a call that enforces safety even if it costs a goal or penalizes the offended team by stopping play. Advantage should be used judiciously by the referee for the more experienced players. Red cards for fouls/abusive language (even aimed at own team members), taunting, and serious foul play will be used. Red card offenses will be filed in writing and enforced by a disqualification for one or more subsequent game.

PLAYER RULES, PICKUPS, ELIGIBILITY, AND TEAM SIZE

Each team shall field no more than 5 players (and no more than 3 guys for coed) at any one time. Rules allow a team to play with 3 people (minimum 1 female). Goalkeepers ARE used. Rules allow a team to play with 3 people (minimum 1 female for coed). Anything less is up to the opposing captain and/or staff member as to what will be allowable. There is no maximum limit to the amount of females which can be on the field.
Teams may pickup up to one player at no penalty in order to field a minimum team number. Any pickups in addition to this will result in a 1 goal penalty per player if brought to the officials attention BEFORE the game, HOWEVER AT NO TIME CAN A TEAM PICKUP PLAYERS OF A CERTAIN SEX TO ALLOW FOR SUBS IN THAT SEX. If a team has the correct number of players to play in either sex, no pickups are allowed. If an existing pickup player is found to be used DURING the game, a 2 goal penalty will be assessed. If more players from your team show up to allow subs in that sex, the pickup player must be removed.
All players must be signed in on a Club Sport team for that particular day/night on a waiver form. Failure to do so could result in a forfeit. A forfeit win is counted as 5-0.
All players, including added players, must sign the roster waiver BEFORE the final game of the season in order to be eligible to play in the tournament. If a player is not signed in on the roster by then, they are not eligible for the tournament. Playing with ineligible players in the tournament may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by TBCS staff. Pickup players are NOT allowed in the tournament.

SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitutions may occur at ANY TIME (on the fly)… They must be made near mid field and cannot result in an advantageous play on the ball.

PLAYERS EQUIPMENT
Equipment shall consist of league issued Club Sport shirts. Any deviation from the league supplied shirts must be made in a manner that all shirts remain similar, be the color assigned to the team, and distinctly different than those of other teams. All players MUST wear commercially purchased shin guards. No sharp or metal/metal tipped cleats are allowed. No braces with exposed metal is allowed. Any knee or other braces that may be an issue can be banned per the coordinator's judgment. No jewelry will be allowed (wedding bands and stud earrings are ok). Unpadded hard casts are not allowed. Soft casts can not be heavier than the normal arm.

THE GAME
2 x 25 min. halves with a 5 min. halftime. OFFSIDES DOES NOT APPLY! If for any reason the game should be cancelled with more than half of the game played, the game and the score is considered final. If half or less of the game is played, the entire game will replayed from the beginning.

Regular season games ending in a tie score will be recorded as tie games. During playoffs, a game tied after regulation will go into overtime. Overtime will consist of (2) 5-minute sudden death periods. If neither team scores after the overtime periods, teams will go into a shootout.

PLAYOFF SHOOTOUT SPECIFICS:

1. Each team selects 5 players (3 males, 2 females for coed)- players don’t have to have been playing at the end of regulation. A coin toss will decide which team shoots first. The referee will decide which goal to shoot at. Shots will be placed and not dribbled.

2. Teams will alternate taking direct penalty shots from the top of the penalty area. (No guy/ girl shooting order is necessary)

3. The 2nd round is SUDDEN DEATH i.e. 1^st player from Team A scores & 1st player from Team B misses - Team A wins.

START OF PLAY
Opposing players must be at least 5 yards away prior to kick offs. Restarts do not have to go forward after goals & to start periods. No drop balls in penalty area.

NO SLIDING IN COED, WOMEN'S OR MENS. NOTE: The playing surface does not forgive slides very much! A slide is defined as going down to the ground to get the ball - it does not have to be a slide tackle and the ball does not have to be in possession of an opposing player, within another player's playable area intentionally or not. Sliding to save a ball that is about to go out of bounds or shoot is allowed, but only when another player is not (in the eyes of the referee) in “harm's way” of the slide. If a slide is near a player, intentional or not, a foul will be called. Coed goalies must lead with the hands or body when going for the ball near another player. If the referee calls you for a slide "tackle" may receive a 2 minute yellow card.

FOULS & FREE KICKS
All direct and indirect fouls apply. Opposing players must remain at least 5 yards from the ball.

GOALKEEPERS (standard FIFA rules apply regarding handling of ball by keepers)
1) A goal keeper, having control of the ball in hands, and having released it from his/her hands to be played, either by himself/herself or a teammate, shall not handle the ball again until it has been touched by an opponent, or a stoppage of play occurs. 2) KEEPERS MAY NOT HANDLE THE BALL PASSED TO THEM BY A TEAMMATE, Except: anything above the waist (headers, chest pass, etc.) . Punishment: an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the top of the penalty box. 3) Once the keeper has possession of the ball they have six seconds to put the ball back in play. Failure to do so will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team at the top of the penalty box. 4) For goal kicks or goalie distributions, keepers may not throw the ball or kick the ball in the air over midfield. It must hit the ground or another player before midfield. Any violation results in a free kick from the center spot. 5) Keepers may not play kick ins from their own team with their hands.

PENALTY KICKS
1) A penalty kick shall be taken at 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.

2) On indirect kicks players must remain 5 yards from ball. Yellow cards will be awarded to players who slow down the flow of the game by not providing the mandatory 5 yards. ( no subs during any penalty kicks ).

KICK INS
Kick-in are used for all out of bounds out the sidelines. Keepers cannot receive kick-ins from their own team with their hands.

GOAL KICKS
Goal kicks are taken 1 yard off the end line, anywhere inside the penalty area ( One step off goal line ) Goal kicks cannot travel in the air over midfield. It must hit the ground or another player before midfield. Any violation results in a free kick from the center spot.

CORNER KICKS
Goals can be scored directly on corner kicks. Opposing players must be at least 5 yards away.

MISCONDUCT
Yellow carded players must sit for 2 minutes with a sub. If the keeper is yellow carded he must come off and be replaced, with a field player of the same sex sitting for the 2 mintues. Multiple yellow can result in an ejection. Any ejections could face one or more game suspensions pending league review. Any red cards result in the player not returning for the remainder of the game. After a red card the offending team must play down a player of the same sex for 5 minutes, regardless of any goals being scored. After the 5 minute penalty, the team can return to full strength but the red carded player cannot return.

TEAM & ROSTER REQUIREMENTS
If you have NOT paid the team price, Club Sport has the right to add to your team until you reach the advertised minimum number of players. If you wish to have less you may buy extra roster spots at the membership rate. If you wish to have more you may, you just need to advise the TBCS office prior to league payment to reserve spots. If your team is making a team payment, after the first week members may only add to the team for no charge by contacting the Club Sport office prior to game day. Any additions made at the field to rosters with team payments will be $10 a player, regardless of membership status.

REFEREES
Referees enforce the rules and maintain safety. They will have the last word. Excessive arguing will result in a yellow card being issued.

REFUNDS
TBCS is not responsible for any refunds at any time during the season. If a party cannot continue the season, is the responsibility of that party to replace themselves on the roster if they so choose. They must also notify the TBCS office of the change.

PLAYOFFS:
All teams make a single elimination tournament with seeding based on regular season standings. If a team plays 8 games, their 8th game will not count toward the standings. Tournament seeding is based on the following criteria: 1) most total points (with 3 for win and 1 for tie), 2) highest goal differential (The maximum goal differential for a single game will be capped at +5) 3) fewest goals allowed, 4) most goals scored, 5) head-to-head play (if any), 6) coin toss.