OUTDOOR SOCCER RULES
THE GAME, FIELD, PLAYERS, AND EQUIPMENT
I. General Information
1. The Players All Intramural Soccer games within Greek, Residence Hall, and Open divisions will consist of seven (7) players including the goalie. A minimum of five (5) players must be present to start.
2. Co-Rec - Teams shall consist of eight (8) players, four (4) men and four (4) women,
including the goalie. A minimum of six (6) players is required to start a game. Co- Rec games may never start with less than two (2) females. The number of males may not be greater than the number of females by more than two and there is a maximum of four males on the field at a time..
II. Rosters and IDs
a. Rosters will be final by 12 pm on the last day of the regular season..
b. All students, faculty, and staff may participate provided eligibility requirements are met as outlined in the Intramural Sports Handbook. All participants must present their U of A ID.
c. Each team must have a minimum of 4 players checked in with the supervisor at scheduled game time to avoid a forfeit fine.
III. Headwear - Players may wear a one-piece elastic headband made of a soft pliable material. They may also wear knit stocking caps in cold weather. Rubber or elastic cloth bands may be used to control hair. Any other types of headwear will not be permitted. The following are examples of types of headwear that will not be allowed: baseball caps, bandannas (including "Do-rags") or helmets.
IV. Captains
A team captain shall be designated for each team. The team captain or a single representative must be chosen to speak for the team on the playing field at all times.
VI. Goalkeeper- One player from each team shall be designated as the goalkeeper.
1. The goalie shall be allowed to use his/her hands within the box to trap, catch, or
hold the ball. The goalie is the only player permitted to take such actions.
2. The goalie is allowed to take four (4) steps or take five (5) seconds while holding the ball.
3. Substitutions may be made for the goalie; however the substitute must also have a distinctively colored shirt. Game officials must be notified of the substitution of a goalie prior to the substitution. A goalie substitution may occur at anytime regular substitutions are allowable.
VII. Substitutions-
1. Either team may substitute:
a. Between periods
b. On a goal kick
c. When a goal has been scored
d. When play is stopped for any reason (Note: if play is stopped for an injury, the injured player must be replaced)
e. When a player is cautioned
f. When a player is disqualified (the disqualified player shall not be replaced)
Exception: During a penalty kick situation
1) The only substitution permitted is for a player that has been injured or cautioned.
2) A substitute entering at this time shall not take the penalty.
2. Only the team gaining possession may substitute during a throw-in.
3. There are no limits to the number of substitutions on:
a. Throw-ins
b. Goal kicks
SCORING AND TIME-OUTS
I. The Game - A game will consist of two (2) twenty (20) minute halves. Halftime shall last five (5) minutes. The clock shall not stop except for charged time-outs.
II. Time-outs Each team is allowed two (2) time-outs per game, each lasting for one (1) minute.
1. Time-outs may only be requested while the ball is not in play.
2. An official may grant a time-out after any player on the field requests one.
3. Time-outs for injuries, disqualifications, and other non-team requested, shall be charged to the official.
4. The clock will only stop for any charged time-outs.
III. Scoring A goal shall be awarded to a team when the ball legally crosses the plane of the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar. In the event that a team scores a goal on their own goal box the opponents will be awarded a goal. IN CO-REC GAMES ONLY GOALS SCORED BY FEMAILES WILL COUNT AS TWO (2) POINTS INSTEAD OF ONE (1).
IV. Tie-Score If at the end of regulation the score is tied, then a shoot-out will be used to determine a winner. The following are shoot-out procedures:
1. The shoot-out shall start with a coin toss to decide which team shall shoot on goal
first.
2. Three (3) players per team will be allowed one shot each for the overtime period(s).
If after 3 shots the score is still tied, each team will be allowed one more shot. This
process will be repeated until a winner is determined. The shooting order will remain
the same throughout the shoot-out.
3. The goalie may not be substituted for during the shoot-out.
4. The goalie is not permitted to move until the ball is kicked.
5. All shots will be taken from the twelve (12) yard penalty line.
V. Mercy Rule If a team is trailing by 7 or more points at any point within 5 minutes left in the game, the mercy rule will be in effect and the game shall end. In CO-REC a team must be down by 10 or more within the last 5 minutes of the game for the mercy rule to apply.
RULES OF PLAY
I. Starting the game A coin toss shall be used to determine which team shall kick-off or defend. The winner of the toss has the choice of deciding who shall kick-off or which goal his/her team shall defend. At the start of the second half, the team that did not kick-off shall kick and teams shall switch goals.
II. Kick-off The ball must be kicked into the opponents half of the field and travel at least one (1) yard to be in play. The ball must be touched by another player before the kicker plays the ball again.
III. Throw-in When the ball crosses completely over the sideline, a throw-in is awarded to the team that did not touch the ball last before it went out. The throw-in must be made with a two (2) handed, overhead throw, and both feet must be on contact with the ground. The throw in should be made from where the ball went out of bounds.
IV. Slide Tackling There is NO SLIDE TACKLING!!! Slide tackling will result in an automatic yellow card.
PENALTIES
I. Offsides No offsides penalties will be called.
II. Direct Kick A direct free kick or a penalty kick is awarded if any of the following occurs inside the penalty area:
1. Charging an opponent.
2. Holding an opponent.
3. Striking or attempting to strike an opponent.
4. Pushing an opponent.
5. Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent.
6. Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
7. Jumping at or on an opponent.
8. Touching the ball with your hands.
9. Slide Tackling
III. Indirect Kick An indirect free kick shall be awarded:
1. Goalkeeper taking more than four (4) steps or 5 seconds while holding the ball.
2. Playing in a manner considered by the official to be dangerous.
3. Behaving in a manner considered by the official to be dangerous.
4. Intentionally obstructing an opponent.
5. If the ball is played back to the goalie by a teammate and the goalie uses his/her hands to control the ball.
IV. Sportsmanship Penalties At any point in a game the game will be ended due to unsportsmanlike conduct if a team receives any of the following:
1. Two Red cards
2. One Red card and Two Yellow cards
3. Three Yellow cards.
V. Inclement Weather In case of inclement weather games will be rescheduled. In order to verify games are cancelled call the Intramural REC CHECK line at (479) 575-4950. NOTE: If Intramural games are cancelled due to inclement weather, then all participants are not authorized to be at the Intramural fields. Participants or teams that violate this rule are subject to suspension from
TERMINOLOGY
Goal Kick A kick given after an attacker has kicked the ball over the goal line, but outside the goal.
Corner Kick A kick made by an attacking team from within the quadrant marked by a corner flag after a defender last touched the ball before it went over the goal line.
Penalty Kick A kick is awarded for fouls committed by the defending team within their penalty area. The kick is taken from twelve (12) yards out. Only the kicker and the goalie are allowed in the penalty area at the time of the kick. The goalie must have both feet on the goal line and may not move until the ball has been kicked. Penalty shots may be attempted by any member of the offended team provided that member is the same gender as the player fouled
Direct Free Kick Awarded for major fouls (see list above, Penalties II.) A goal can be scored by a direct kick.
Indirect Free Kick Awarded for major fouls (see list above, Penalties III.) A goal cannot be scored on an indirect free kick. The ball must be touched by another player, from either team, after the free kick before it may be counted as a goal.
