Sportsmanship & Player Protection

• Sportsmanship: please show the utmost sportsmanship. Act like your spouse, kids and mother are watching you (they probably are)
• Women will be protected by referees (i.e. 50/50 ball between male and female is not 50/50 - male must soften his challenge)
• No hard strikes of the ball by a male player should be taken when a female field player is directly in front.  This will be considered dangerous play.
• Do not charge the goalkeeper!
• No more than two goals by any individual player will be counted per game.  A third goal will be premitted if scored by a header from a ball last played by another player or off the post or crossbar.  A ball played into the goal (from a direct shot or deflection by a defender) by a player who has already reached theis scoring limit will result in a goal-kick.  
• Fun - Fair - Friendship.
• No slide-tackling.
• To prevent blow-outs, managers may agree to fair play rules such as extra field players allowed if goal differential is three or more, etc. and/or should encourage play such as two-touch limits, etc.
• Referees may require players to exit the field of play for a 5-minute cooling off period should it be necessary. 
• Referees are encouraged to issue cautions and send-offs for rules and league style-of-play infractions, and/or document concerns and issues about specific players on game reports.

Format of Play

• 11v11 or 8v8 including GKs depending on the season.
• Maximum of 9 men on the field (meaning 2 women) for 11v11. Alterations to keep teams balanced (e.g. allowing a 10th man if no women present) or to account for overall number of players (e.g. moving to 10v10)  must be agreed upon by team managers prior to the game. 
• Games will be two 45-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime break. Lights go out and we must all have exited the parking lot at 10:30pm.  When either team has no subs or referees/teams deem it helpful for player safety a 1-3 minute water break will occur half way through each half. 
• Free and unlimited substitutions when ball is out of play at Referee's discretion. All players must play at least half of each game.

Equipment/Fields

• Ball size: 5 (each team must supply one game ball).
• 11v11 matches will be played using the white lines and permanent goals. 
• 8v8 matches using the black U-12 lines and the moveable U-12 goals.
• All players must be wearing shin guards of appropriate size with socks fully covering them.  While molded soccer cleats or turf shoes are strongly recommended, tennis/running shoes are allowed.  However, baseball/football/softball cleats and soccer shoes with removeable cleats are prohibited.
• No pets, weapons, alcohol, tobacco, other controlled substances, noise makers, etc. will be allowed at the field.
• Teams shall wear shirts/jerseys of the same color, each with a unique number on the back. 

Rules

• DO NOT HARASS the referees.
• Cautions (yellow card): A player receiving a caution must exit the game for 5 minutes with a substitution allowed.
• Send-offs (red card): A player sent-off must leave the field immediately and is ineligible to return to the league until after a review by the discipline committee.  
• Infractions described above (hard play/strike against women and/or slide-tackling) are considered "dangerous play" and will be awarded an indirect free kick.
• Slide-tackling is considered dangerous play.  

• In 8v8 matches

  • Goalkeepers may not punt or drop kick the ball.  After holding the ball, the GK may only kick the ball when it is in contact with the ground.  Any kick of a ball that is bouncing or off the ground will be considered a drop-kick.

  • On all goal-kicks the ball shall be placed on the end-line anywhere within the goal box.

  • A player may be deemed offside directly from a goal-kick.

  • The ball will be placed half-way between the U-12 penalty spot and the edge of the U-12 penalty area for all Penalty Kicks.   

• FIFA laws of the game apply unless noted.

Rosters/Lineup

• Only registered players may play in any match.  
• Players must present a current league-issued Player ID card to the referee prior to each match (or when entering the field of play if late) in order to play.  No ID Card = No Play - No Exceptions!
• Guest players (who have their ID card) are allowed, but limited to giving a team up to two substitutes.
• The use of unregistered players of guest players beyond the limit could result in disciplinary action including possible suspensions.

Discipline

• If needed, a Discipline committee shall consist of 2-3 members as appointed by the League Director.
• The Discipline Committee shall have discretion to review any and all cautions and send-offs issued, on-the field/sideline incidents, any behavior detrimental to the league and/or anything referred by the Competition Council or League Directors.
• A send-off (red card) or second caution (yellow-card) during the same season automatically results in suspension for the remainder of the season or until a discipline committee adjusts the suspension.