Rules Across All Leagues

🤝 Sportsmanship & Conduct

Good sportsmanship is a must in this league. You will be kicked out without a refund if you do not abide by the following rules. If you feel like you're getting worked up, remove yourself from the field.

🚫 Unsportsmanlike Behavior

- Aggressive Push with Intent to Fight: Suspension from the game and possibly the season. League suspension is decided by the league.

- Hitting/Aggressive Contact with Another Player: Suspension from the league with no refund. Duration of suspension is decided by the league.

General Conduct Rules

No coach/manager, player, or spectator shall:

- Threaten, shove, or strike an official, player, coach/manager, or spectator.

- Make objectionable demonstrations or verbal dissent at an official’s decision.

- Refuse to abide by an official’s decision.

- Physically or verbally attack any player, official, coach/manager, or spectator.

Officials have the authority to give warnings, suspend, or eject players, substitutes, and spectators if necessary.

🤝 🤝 Core Values Matter

We play with a focus on Fun, Community, Sportsmanship, and Safety. These values keep the game positive for everyone—on and off the field.

🗣️ Respect Goes Both Ways

We expect respectful communication between players, referees, and opponents. This is an adult league, and while competition can get intense, let’s keep things cool. Disrespectful behavior can lead to disciplinary action, so play hard—but with class.

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🚫 Slide Tackling Rules

- NO SLIDE TACKLING allowed.

- Slide blocking (no players nearby) is permitted. If the ref feels that you were at all putting another player at risk, you will receive a yellow card.

- Penalty: Yellow card if a player is nearby.

- Applies to all players, including the goalkeeper.

🧤 Goalkeeper Slide Rule

- GKs may slide hands-first to secure the ball but must not be reckless.

- Reckless sliding = Penalty awarded.

📋 Definitions & Clarifications

- Slide Tackle: When a player leaves their feet and leads with them to play the ball near another player.

- Contact Not Required: A foul can be called even without contact.

- Allowed Slides: To save a ball from going out of bounds if no danger to others.

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🚭 Alcohol & Tobacco Policy

Not allowed at any playing field at any time. Teams are responsible for their spectators.

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🚩 Violations, Cards, and Sin-Bins

🟨 Yellow Card:

- Player is removed until the next substitution (at least 2 minutes).

- Two yellow cards in one game = ejection from the current and next game. Team plays a player down.

🔵 Blue Card (Sin-Bin):

- Sent to the sin-bin (5–10 minutes, no sub allowed).

- Reasons: Dissent, smack talk, persistent complaining.

- Continued arguing = Red card and suspension from future games.

- Sin-bin area: Your team’s bench.

🟥 Red Card:

- Ejected from the current and next game.

- Team plays a player down for the remainder of the game.

- Must leave the field and technical area immediately.

Red Card Offenses Include (some but not all):

- Denying a goal by handball (except GK in the box).

- Serious foul play, violent conduct, biting, spitting.

- Offensive/abusive language or gestures.

- Receiving two yellow cards in one match.

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✅ Check-In Procedure

- Arrive Early & Be Ready. Please aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before your game starts. This gives your team time to warm up, check in with the refs, and get organized.

- Both teams must check in with the referee before the game.

- Late arrivals must check in with a game official.

- Violations (entering without check-in): Player will be removed, shown a yellow card, and must check in before re-entering.

🚨 Handling Late Arrivals

We’re rolling out a new process for late players:

- Captains: Please inform the ref at check-in if you expect any late arrivals. Their names will be noted.

- Late Players: When you are subbing in, let the ref know your name before you sub in. When it's the next water beak or half time, they'll properly check you in the app.

- Roster Checks: If a player isn’t listed and plays, the team will face penalties (see above). Make sure your roster is up-to-date to avoid issues.

❌ Forfeits

- Results in a 4-0 loss.

- Games may still be played as a scrimmage if both teams agree (referees will officiate).

- Players from scheduled teams may participate, but they must be registered and checked in.

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📊 League Standings & Schedules

- Standings: Updated regularly on the website.

- Schedules: Posted online. Check frequently for updates or field changes.

- Game Times: Not guaranteed; based on field availability.

🌧️ Rain-Out / Cancellation Procedure

- Check Open Sports Announcements for updates and social media.

- If no announcement is posted, report to the field.

- Referees will stay until the last game is played to full time or terminated.

- Rescheduling: Unlikely due to year-round scheduling but will do what we can.

⏱️ Scorekeeping & Timekeeping

- Performed on the field by the referee.

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Determination of Season Standings & Winnings

- No overtime in regular season games—matches may end in a tie.

- League standings are based on game points:

3 points for a win

1 point for a tie

0 points for a loss

- Goal difference per match is capped at 4 goals. Example: If a team wins 6-0, their goal differential for standings is +4, and the losing team’s differential is -4.

🏆 Prizes for the Champions!

- A team trophy to celebrate your victory.

- $10 credit per player added to your account for an upcoming season or event.

- Champions shirts ONLY if sponsored.

League Specific Rules

👥 Number of Players

- All teams will play 4 per side (no goalies).

CO-ED ONLY: A minimum of 1 females must be on the field at all times.

- Teams must have a minimum of three players on the field to start a game.

- ⏱️ Grace Period: 5-minute grace period applies to the first game of the day only.

- ⚠️ Forfeit: If at least 1 female is not present, the game is a forfeit.

🔄 Substitutions

- Unlimited Substitutions allowed.

- Must be made at the midfield line with referee acknowledgment.

- The player entering and exiting must do so at midfield without gaining an unfair advantage.

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👟 Players’ Equipment

- Must conform to Striker’s rules.

- Shin Guards: REQUIRED. No exceptions.

Footwear:

- Allowed: Soccer cleats with rubber soles, plastic cleats, detachable rubber cleats, tennis shoes.

- Not allowed: Football cleats, metal soccer cleats.

- Uniforms: Teams must wear matching colors.

- Prohibited Items: Hats with bills, bulky jewelry.

- Eyewear: Must be unbreakable. Players are responsible for their own safety.

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⏳ Match Duration & Game Format

- Regular Season: Two 15-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime.

- No overtime periods in regular season matches.

🎯 Mercy Rule

If one team goes up by 5 goals the losing team may add a player (if they have the numbers to do so) or the winning team must remove (1) player until the goal differential is 2. This will be decided by the losing team. The removed or added player can be male or female but if it is a coed team, one girl must remain on the field.

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🎯 Free Kicks

- All fouls outside of the goal box will be awarded a free kick.

- A penalty within the goal box results in a penalty kick from the halfway line. This is a direct shot with everyone behind the halfway line. The ball is live upon the first touch.

- All free kicks are indirect with the exception of corner kicks.

- Indirect Kicks: The ball must touch any player before a goal can be scored.

- The defensive players can be no closer than 2 yards to the ball.

Kick-Ins

- All balls that go out of bounds on the sidelines will be put back into play via a kick-in. This is treated like an indirect free kick (defenders must give 2 yards).

Goal Kick

- Ball may be kicked from on or anywhere within the goal box or back line. A goal may not be scored directly from a goal kick.

Corner Kick

- Awarded to the attacking team when the entire ball passes over the goal line, excluding the area between the goal posts and under the crossbar, either in the air or on the ground, having last been touched or played by the defending team.

- The only free kick that is considered direct.

- Players of the defending team shall be at least 2 yards from the ball until it has been kicked.

- The ball shall be kicked from the ground within proximity to the corner, at the corner nearest where the ball left the field of play.

- After the corner kick, the ball must be played by another player, before the one who executed the kick plays the ball again.

📏 Offside Rule

- The offside rule will NOT be in effect.

The Box Rule

- No one can touch the ball inside the box (both defense and offense) if the ball is at all touching the box (this includes the line) then it will result in a PK from the halfway line. All players must be behind the halfway line when the ball is kicked. If the defensive team touches the ball inside the box with purposeful intent to block a goal, that will result in a yellow card.

- If offense touches the ball in the box, it will result in a goal kick.

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🏆 Playoffs

- 5 minute over time x2. Golden goal format

- If tied after overtime, the game goes to penalty kicks (PK's).

- Co-Ed PK Rule: 3 shooters, with at least 1 female shooters.

- Still tied? Golden Goal PK.