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 & staff 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.

🚫 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 administrator.

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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

RULES SPECIFIC TO THIS 5V5 FUTSAL LEAGUE

No referees!

This is a social league. Come to have fun and play the game you love. Games will be self regulated with an on site ambassador to keep things running smoothly. You don't use refs in pickup, this is the same concept!

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE RULES!

Anyone playing too aggressively can be asked to remove themselves from the game and if it happens again, they will be removed from the league. No questions asked.

On-site Ambassador

- Our league ambassador will set up the field before play. And start the clocks.

-The ambassador is not a referee but a neutral support of both teams.

-The ambassador may stop a game before the full time has expired due to overly aggressive play, persistent unsportsmanlike conduct, or a general violation of the rules of the game.

-At the end of the game, the captains of each team will input their score in the Open Sports App.

-The coordinator will clarify rules if needed and scores at the end of the game, Theyll clean up equipment, start/stop games, and inform players of league news.

📌 Game Format

- Each match is played with 5️⃣ players per team, including one goalkeeper. There must be 2 females on the court to play a full team.

- Games consist of two 20-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime break. ⏳

- A coin toss 🪙 determines which team kicks off to start the match.

- No overtime in pool play—if a game ends in a tie, it remains a draw.

- There will be a 10-minute grace period to field a team before it is considered a forfeit. You can still play a for-fun game.

⚽ Ball Specifications

Matches are played with a Size 4 futsal ball , designed for low bounce and optimal control on indoor surfaces.

🔄 Substitutions

- Teams may make unlimited substitutions using the "flying substitution" method 🚀 (players can enter and exit freely without stopping play).

- The outgoing player must fully leave the playing area before the substitute steps on.

👟 Footwear Requirements

- Players must wear indoor, non-marking futsal or court shoes specifically designed for hard surfaces. 🏀

- Cleats and turf shoes are strictly prohibited ❌ to protect the playing surface and reduce injury risk.

- Shoes should provide good grip, support, and cushioning for quick movements on a gym floor.

👫 Coed Rules

- At least two female players must be on the court at all times.

- Maximum of three male players on the court at any given time.

🚨 Fouls & Accumulated Infractions

-The offending player should call their own fouls, however any players involved with the infraction can also make a call.

-When a foul is called, play must stop as there is no "advantage" in this league.

-Players not on the field at the time of any incident and not involved in the play cannot make a call at any time.

-All fouls result in an indirect free kick which means they must be contacted by a player (offense or defense) before entering the net.

-Fouls in the goalie box will not result in penalty kicks. All fouls result in indirect free kicks where the foul is committed.

🦵 Free Kicks & Restarts

- Defenders must remain approximately 6 feet away from the ball on all free kicks and restarts.

- Players have 6 seconds to take a kick in, free kick or any restart. Failure to do so results in a turnover.

🚫 Offside Rule

There is no offside rule in futsal. Players are free to move anywhere on the court.

🎯 Penalty Kicks (For playoffs & finals only)

- A penalty kick is taken from the penalty mark unless the foul occurs closer to goal, in which case it may be taken from that spot.

- All other players must remain outside the penalty area and at least 5 meters away from the ball until the shot is taken.

🧤 Goalkeeper Restrictions

- Goalkeepers cannot score by throwing the ball directly into the opponent’s goal. ❌

- After releasing the ball, goalkeepers cannot touch it again until another player has made contact (double-touch rule).

- Goalkeepers may not punt or drop-kick the ball—all distributions must be thrown, rolled, or played with the feet. 🖐️

- Throws cannot cross midfield—if the ball crosses the halfway line without touching another player, possession is awarded to the opposing team with a kick-in from midfield.

🏆 Playoff Tiebreaker Rules

If a playoff game ends in a tie, the following tiebreaker system will be used:

1️⃣ Penalty Shootout (3 PKs per team)

– Each team selects 3 players to take a penalty kick.

- In coed divisions, at least 1 kick must be taken by a female player.

2️⃣ Sudden Death PKs – If still tied, teams take alternating penalty kicks until one team scores and the other misses. 🚀🔥