OVERVIEW

6 PLAYERS (4 guys and 2 girls) 

FOUR 8-MINUTE QUARTERS

3-MINUTE BREAK BETWEEN QUARTERS

RUNNING CLOCK

FEMALE SCORE = 2

MALE SCORE = 1

TIES DURING REGULAR SEASON STAY AS A TIE

PLAYOFF TIES DECIDED BY OVERTIME

CO-ED RULES AND TEAM SIZE

Each team shall field no more than 6 players (4 guys/2 girls) at any one time.  Teams that play with less than 2 females will play short. No more than 4 guys on the field at any time. There is no limit for females.  You can have up to 6 females and no guys if you want.  SM rules allow a team to play with a minimum of 4 people (1 has to be female).  Teams may pick up subs during the regular season to prevent forfeits. However, teams CANNOT pick up more than 50% of their team UNLESS, approved by the opposing captain. If so, the game counts as is. Anything different/less is up to the opposing captain and/or staff member or referee as to what will be allowable. 

 

TIME

Play will be divided into (4) 8-minute quarters separated by 3-minute breaks. There will be a running clock maintained by a referee who will advise both teams when there is one minute remaining in each quarter. The clock will stop during injury time-outs. Each team will have 2 time-outs per game. Any delay tactics, (kicking the ball far out of bounds) will allow the referee (at his/her discretion) to stop the clock. 

 

THE GAMES/SCORING

Kick-off – the ball will be placed in the center of the field, and teams line up along their goal line. When the whistle blows, teams may run to the ball for possession. This will occur every time a goal is scored.

Ball in Bubble – If the ball lands in a bubble, play will stop and the ball retrieved. The referee will then conduct a “drop ball” with one member from each team.

Drop Ball – 1 player from each team will stand 5 yards away from the ball, as the ball hits the ground each player may charge towards the ball to retrieve it.

Regular season games ending in a tie score will be recorded as tie games. 5-minute overtime will be used in the playoffs. If a tie remains after overtime, 1 vs. 1 golden goal, 1st goal wins.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions may be made throughout the game

FOOTWEAR

No studded footwear is permitted. Players must wear appropriate closed-toe footwear. No shin-guards will be allowed.

NO GOALKEEPERS

Teams will not be allowed to have a goalkeeper.

 

THE GOAL BOX

A goal box will be marked off in front of each goal.  It will extend 4 paces/yards out and 2 paces/yard to each side of the goal posts. All players (offensive and defensive) must remain outside this area unless the ball is inside the goal box. If the defense is clearly in the goal box area before any shot on goal takes place, and then legally (without the use of the hands) deflects a shot, it will result in the following: A penalty shot on an open goal 15 paces/yards out.  If a player enters the goal box unintentionally without (in the eyes of the ref) interfering with the course of play, this will not result in a penalty shot. Repeated occurrences will result in a 15-yard penalty shot. This is up to the ref’s discretion.   

 

OFFSIDES

There is no offside.

 

OUT OF BOUNDS

Anytime the ball goes over either sideline, out of bounds, a kick-in will ensue.

 

Anytime the ball crosses an end line, a corner kick or goal kick will ensue.

 

          a.  Last touched by a defender- a corner kick. Ball is placed on nearest corner and kicked in by offensive team. Goals may be scored on corner kicks.  All players must be outside the goal box until the ball enters the goal box and the defense must be at least 4 paces from the corner.

 

          b.  Last touched by attacker. A goal kick by the defense.

 

 

LEAGUE POLICIES

 

GAMES:

During the regular season games are to be played within time allotted (warm up time is included)

 

REFS:

SPORTSMONKEY will provide a paid referee(s) for each soccer match.  Referee(s) will have final say in any judgment call or issue regarding rules. Refs have the power to remove any player(s) from a game and/or the league, if deemed necessary. Any rules clarification must be brought to the attention of SM staff member prior to the continuance of the game.

 

FORFEITS:

If your team forfeits a game during the season, the following rules apply:

                                    First Offense: Loss of game in standings and warning issued.

                                    Second Offense: Loss of game and staff reserves the right to remove team from playoffs.

                                    Third Offense: Removal from the league.

If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to call our office so as to help us schedule your opponent a game.

Teams have until ten minutes past the designated start time to field a full squad (minimum number of players required according to the rules).

The staff and the opposing team’s captain must approve anything other than that.

 

STANDINGS:

The updated standings will be posted weekly, displaying each teams rank within its skill level.  Rank is based on winning percentage.

 

PLAYOFFS:

All eligible teams make the playoffs (teams that have not abused any policies are eligible).

In certain situations teams at or near the bottom of the standings may not advance to the playoffs.  Check with the SM league coordinator to see if this applies to your league.

Playoffs are single elimination.

SM reserves the right to schedule playoff games on days other than your regularly scheduled league night.

Seeding: Teams are seeded according to winning percentage and strength of a schedule.

Teams may be dropped from their regular season level based on the above criteria. Teams may be moved to a higher division during the playoffs if permission is granted. Skill levels may be divided into separate divisions based upon size of level.

For ties in playoffs refer to soccer rules.

                       

Teams may play more than one game per day. If a team does not have a full squad minimum number of players required according to the rules) by ten minutes past the designated start time, they will forfeit the game (per staff & opposing team captain). Teams winning by forfeit will still be required to ref. 

 

Any questions regarding rules, policies, or eligibility must be addressed before the start of the game.

 

WAIVERS:

In order to participate in the league, each participant must sign the team waiver. Waivers are provided and must be completed and handed in no later than the first night of play.  Players not present the first week of play will still be required to sign a waiver with our staff before participating.

 

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:

A formal protest may be filed before a game if an opposing player’s eligibility is in question.  The player in question will be required to provide his/her player information (name, address, phone #, signature) in writing to a SM staff member prior to the start of the game.  This qualifies as an official protest.  The game will then be played in its entirety as scheduled.  Teams will be notified of all rulings on the identified eligibility discrepancy by the following business day – decisions will not be made on site.  If the protest is proven to be legitimate, it will result in the forfeiture of the game in question.  Games subsequent to the protested game may be rescheduled. 

The above procedure will also apply for any other “logged” protests.  All rulings by SM staff are considered final.

 

SPORTSMANSHIP:

The idea of SM is to have fun.  We hope that all participants keep that in mind when becoming involved.  Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship.  With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.

                       

STAFF:          

To coordinate and run the league, our refs and/or staff will be available at all times to help the league run as smoothly as possible. If you have questions regarding schedules, policies, rule interpretations, directions to the bar, etc. please ask.

 

LEAGUE CANCELLATION/RAINOUT:

Leagues may be cancelled due to existing weather conditions, dangerous or unplayable field conditions, facility constraints, etc.  SM staff makes every effort to play all scheduled games, thus we will not cancel games until absolutely necessary.  Therefore, if you are calling concerning a decision on a cancellation, remember we will not have an answer until close to the start of the league.  If the league is cancelled, SM staff will change the voicemail immediately.  SM will then call all of the captains.  If a league is cancelled on site, SM staff will attempt to contact those teams still scheduled to play the remainder of the league day/night.  Depending on the time of cancellation, some teams will have to be notified on site.  If we do cancel, follow next week’s schedule (ex. If April 13 is cancelled teams should follow the April 20 schedule for their next game).  The games that are cancelled will be made up at the end of the season if time allows.  In extreme circumstances, SM reserves the right to run a shortened season without a refund of schedule matches on days other than our regularly scheduled league day/night.

 

PRIZES:

The top teams in each division will receive a prize of great emotional, spiritual, and most importantly, social value.

 

These policies are designed to make the league run as smoothly and safely as possible, and provide continuity for its participants.  Each player in the league is responsible for this information: please advise your team of these rules and thanks for playing.