club sport 7V7 SOCCER RULES  Revised 03/06

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.

The following list of rules have been compiled together by the league and summarize all  7v7 soccer leagues.

1. FIELD OF PLAY will be approximately 70 by 35 yards. Goals measure 6.5' high by 12' wide.

2. THE BALL will be regulation #5, properly inflated, without loose flaps/panels. The league does NOT provide balls.

3. COED TEAMS will be made up of a recommended minimum of 12 players, 7 players on the field. COED ratio 4 men and 3 women on the field with at least one female on the field at all times and no more than 4 men. A minimum of 4 players from the team's roster must be present or the team will forfeit the game.

4. MEN'S TEAMS will be made up of a recommended minimum of 10 with play being 7 on 7. A minimum of 4 players from the team's roster must be present or the team will forfeit the game.

5. WOMEN'S TEAMS will be made up of a recommended minimum of 10 with play being 7 on 7. A minimum of 4 players from the team's roster must be present or the team will forfeit the game.

6. SUBSTITUTIONS are allowed at any time, just make sure the player leaving the field exits at the same time and same location as the player entering the field.

7. PICKUP PLAYERS. Pickup players are NOT allowed in the tournament. Any regular season pickup players must be signed on a TBCS roster for a team that plays on the same night. Pickups must be brought to the attention of the referee BEFORE the game. Teams may pickup up to one player at no penalty in order to field a minimum team number. Any pickups in addition to this or any over the minimum team number  will result in a 1 goal penalty per player. 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, the free pickup player must be removed or the goal penalty taken.

8. 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 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.

9. REFEREES enforce the laws and maintain safety. They will have the last word. Excessive arguing will result in a yellow card.

10. DURATION of the game is two 25 minute halves separated by a 5 minute half time. Regular season games may end in a tie. 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.

11. TOURNAMENT games may have two 5 minute sudden death overtime periods followed by penalty kicks. 5 penalty kicks at the end of the game must be taken by players on the fields. For COED, kicks must be taken by 3 men and 2 women, in any order. Any players may take the kicks, whether on the field at the end of the overtime or not. All shootout kicks are worth one point. If after 5 kicks the score is still tied, kicks will be made with remaining players with no player kicking twice until everyone has gone. Coed extra kicks will be taken alternating men and women until one team wins. 

12. OUT OF PLAY is when the ball wholly crosses the boundary or when the play is stopped by the referee.

13. GOAL is scored when the ball is legally propelled out of play within the goal, and the ball completely crosses the goal line. COED LEAGUE: Male goals are worth 1 point, female goals are worth 2 points. A female goal is where the initial shot or deflection by a female causes the ball to cross the goal plane. Ruling a female goal is at the discretion of the referee. MEN'S AND WOMEN'S LEAGUES: All goals are worth 1 point.

14. OFFSIDES there are none.

15. FOULS AND MISCONDUCT! Club Sport issues yellow cards only a warning and "cooling" off for players who are either dangerous or dissenting. If a yellow card is issued the player is sent off and can not return for 2 minutes and your team plays a man down, no matter if a goal is scored during the 2 minutes. If the referee deems a players repeated misconduct to warrant a red card, it will be issued. If a red card is issued the team has to play a man down for the remainder of the game and the player may have to sit at least one additional game, pending review by the league. Any player or fan is encouraged to rout for their own team but routing against teams or use of disparaging language is discouraged and could result in penalties of players or dismissals of fans. Any fans of teams may be asked to leave by Club Sport staff. Refusal to leave could result in forfeiture of games.

16. SLIDE TACKLING. No sliding tackles in COED. If a slide is near a player, intentional or not, a foul will be called and a yellow card may be issued. Coed goalies must lead with the hands or body when going for the ball near another player.  In Men's & Women's leagues tackles must be for the ball and in front. If the referee calls you for this you may receive a 2 minute yellow card. 

17. FREE KICKS will be indirect, except penalty kicks. The defending team must give 6 yards.

18. KICKBACKS to the goalie are not allowed if intentional. This will result in a free kick. Header back to the goalie are allowed.

19. PENALTY KICKS will be awarded at the referee's discretion on whether the foul stopped a goal or a scoring chance. The goal box has no bearing on whether the foul warrants a penalty kick. Anyone can take the penalty kick and a female penalty kick goal is worth 2 points. The goalie in goal at the time of the foul must face the kick.

20. NO THROW INS, re-start with a kick in from the field of play within 1 yard of the point where the ball left the field. All kick ins are indirect.

21. GOAL KICKS are taken from within the goal box and must leave the goal box before being touched by another player. The opposing players do not have to give any room off the ball as long as they are outside of the box. Goal kicks or throws do NOT have to touch the field of play or a player, before crossing the midfield.

22. NO PUNTING Keepers must throw the ball or play it to the ground. Drop punts are not allowed.

23. CORNERS no change. You cannot move the corner cone to take a corner kick. Corners are indirect.

24. ADDING TO YOUR TEAM 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 or pay the team price. If you wish to have more you may, you just need to advise the TBCS office prior to league payment to reserve spots.

25. ADDING TO THE ROSTER If you need to add players to your roster during the season you may do so at a prorated rate, contact the TBCS office for details. 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. 

26. ELIGIBLE PLAYERS 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 may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by TBCS staff.

27. 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. Also they must notify the TBCS office of the change.

28. TOURNAMENT is single elimination with seeding based on regular season standings. All teams make the tournament. If a team plays 8 games, their 8th game will not count toward the standings. The maximum goal differential for a single game will be capped at +5, forfeits will be recorded at 5-0. Tournament seedings are based on the following criteria: 1) most total points (with 3 for win and 1 for tie), 2) highest goal differential, 3) fewest goals allowed, 4) most goals scored, 5) head-to-head play (if any), 6) best record vs. common opponents, 7) coin toss.