Soccer Rules of the Game

NO GUM or FOOD allowed on the field. Alcohol is prohibited on or around the field.

Team Roster

· Each team can carry on its roster no more than 14 players. Hild Sports suggests having at least 10 players to ensure you can field a team every week

· All players must be registered on the team roster to be eligible to play in a match. Teams are required to have a minimum of 6 players on their roster before the team’s first game. Each roster must include the player’s name.

· Players, referee(s), Hild Sports staff are allowed on the field. Spectators must watch from outside the fenced in area. Anyone inside other than those allowed will be asked to leave. Games will stop, while the clock runs, until the violator leaves.

· There will be a pre-game check-in for all players. Players may be asked at any time to display their ID to verify the player being on the approved roster. For regular season (non-playoff) matches, each team may use up to four (4) guest players (an individual not listed on the official team roster) in a match.

o   If there are any guest players playing for the team, the Captain/Manager will ensure the players are added to the roster when it is presented to the referee or staff AND that each guest player will provide proper government photo identification (drivers license, passport, green card, etc) to show the referee. The referee or staff will ensure that all guest players are approved.

Equipment

· If there is a conflict in shirt color, the home team will change shirt colors. 

· Molded cleats or turf shoes are allowed. Shin guards are optional, but are strongly encouraged. No metal or screw in cleats.

Jewelry

· In accordance with FIFA and USSF, players are NOT permitted to wear jewelry during a match. Medical bracelets or necklaces may be worn, provided they are taped to the player’s body and do not represent a threat to the player. Fitbits and other personal tracking devices are considered jewelry and may not be worn during a match.

· Referees will NOT conduct an equipment check of players before the match begins. Players are expected to remove all jewelry before kickoff. If, during the course of the match, a referee sees a player wearing jewelry, the referee will ask the individual to leave the field to remove the jewelry. In such an instance, the player cannot return to the field until the referee approves; the team can substitute for the person to allow for the jewelry to be removed.

· Hild Sports recognizes that in an adult league, some players may wear jewelry that cannot be immediately removed (for example, small piercings in a single nostril that require specialized tools to assist in the removal). In such an instance, the referee will ask the player to remove the offending jewelry, but if the player says they cannot, then the player will affirm to the referee that they accept all legal responsibility for any injury to themselves or any other player resulting from the offending jewelry and that they release the referee specifically, and the League generally, of any and all legal responsibility and/or liability should an injury occur.

o   Further Clarification: In general, Hild Sports prohibits the wearing of jewelry of any kind. The above exception only applies to jewelry which is considered “permanent” in nature and does NOT apply to rings, earrings (including studs), bracelets, necklaces, watches, personal tracking devices, nose rings, or any other jewelry that is temporary in nature and can be removed before the game begins.

Substitutions

· Either team may substitute at any time. A substitute who enters the field of play before the player coming off the field can be cautioned by the referee for illegally entering the field of play. The substituting player must wait for the player on the field to first exit the field before entering.

· Players arriving after the match has started will NOT be allowed to substitute into the match until the referee or staff has had an opportunity to check their identification against the roster.

· Players being substituted MUST leave the field at the closest point to the boundary (goal line or touch line).  Substitutes must still enter at midfield.  Failure to quickly exit the field could be a cautionable offense for delaying the restart of play.  Referees may designate another exit point for safety or security reasons.

Guest Players

o   Guest players (players not on the teams roster) are NOT allowed. If a team plays with a guest player, then it would result in the teams forfeit of that match.

Match Length

· The Match will play be 50 minutes per game (25 minute halves) with a 5 minute half time;

· The referee will start the clock at the scheduled match time. If teams are not prepared and cannot field a team at the scheduled kick off time, the clock will still start on time and the game will play with shortened halves so that it can be completed in its allotted time.

o   If a team cannot field the proper number of players by 5 minutes past the scheduled kick off, they will forfeit the match and it will not be rescheduled.

· If another League claims to have the field, please send a n email to [email protected] immediately and League Administrators will resolve the issue.

· A game’s result will be final, as long as one full half of the match is played. If a game is suspended during halftime due to adverse weather, loss of lights, or other field reason, the game will be considered complete and the score at that point in the match will be recorded as final.

Playoff Overtime Rules

· Guest players are NOT allowed to play in a playoff match.

· If a playoff game ends in a tie, the match will be decided by Kicks from the Mark (penalty kicks). ONLY players on the field at the end of regulation time in the match may participate in the shootout.

o   If one team is playing with fewer players than a full team (ie, 4 or 5 players), then the opposing team will reduce the number of kickers on their side by the same number (reduce to equate).

· If the score remains tied after the first 5 kickers from each team have taken their shot, the remaining players from each team will have an opportunity to shoot in any order desired, alternating between teams, in sudden death to determine a winner.

· No player may take a second shot until ALL players on their team participating in the Kicks from the Mark, have taken their first shot.

· The referee will determine which goal will be used for the Kicks from the Mark. He will then conduct a coin toss to determine which team kicks first. The Away team will make the call. Whichever team wins the toss can choose to kick first or kick second.

Slide Tackling

As a matter of safety, and for the protection of all players, slide tackling is prohibited in all matches. Players are permitted to slide to play a ball provided they are NOT in proximity to any other player, including a teammate. A goalie may slide when making a save, but cannot slide to simply tackle aggressively taking out an opponent (this judgement is at the discretion of the referee).

· Hild Sports wants to eliminate slide tackling.  ALL slide tackles MUST be punished with a Caution.

· The re-start for a slide tackle is an indirect free kick for the opposing team.

· If in the referee’s opinion a slide tackle is violent with intent to injure a player deliberately, the player will be ejected (Red Card).

Enforcement of 10 Yards for Free Kick Explanation / Clarification

· After a foul is committed, the team committing the foul MUST immediately retreat 10 yards and not attempt to prevent or delay the team that was fouled from restarting play.

· The team taking the kick DOES NOT have to ask the opponents to retreat 10 yards on a restart, the opponent is required by the laws of the game to retreat automatically.

· If the opponent(s) who committed a foul fail to retreat the 10 yards automatically, and thus delay or prevent the restart of the play, the Laws of the Game REQUIRE the referee to caution the player(s) delaying the restart.

Foul Language / Dissent

· The League has instructed the referees to eliminate foul, abusive, or degrading language, especially when directed at another player, a teammate, the referee crew or a spectator. Foul and abusive language includes, but is not limited to, profanity, racial/gender/religious/ethnic slurs or degrading comments, and harassing or demeaning words, phrases, or gestures. It also includes taunting.

o   Such foul, abusive, or degrading language will be treated equally regardless of the language in which it is spoken.

· When it is directed at another player, a teammate, the referee, or a spectator, referees will automatically issue a Caution, Yellow Card or Red Card ejection to the player – referees’ discretion. If ejected, the ejected player must immediately leave the field complex. In addition to sitting out the remainder of the match the player was ejected from, the player will be required to sit out one additional matches. Additional match suspensions may be added for such things as continuing to use foul and abusive language, failing to leave the field complex immediately, and other actions which bring the game into disrespect.

· When a player uses a non-racist expletive in frustration (missed shot, errant pass, etc) that is muttered under the player’s breath and not directed at anyone, the referee is NOT required to card the player and are advised to have a quiet word with the player to remind him/her to watch his/her language.

o   Referees have been instructed to take the context of the game into account when determining whether the use of foul, abusive, degrading language in frustration should be result in a Caution or an Ejection.

o   Rule of thumb—if the foul language can be heard by spectators on the
sideline, and young children are present, it MUST result in a Yellow Card. Likewise, if a player repeatedly continues to use foul, abusive, or degrading language in frustration, even after receiving one or more verbal reminders from the referee to curb their language, it MUST result in a Yellow card.

Cautions / Ejections / Red Card Fines

The Key Code for all Cards received is as follows:

Caution (Yellow Card)

1.     Unsporting Behavior (USB)

2.     Dissent

3.     Slide Tackle

4.     Persistent Infringement

5.     Interfering with the goalkeeper

6.     Fail to Respect the Required Distance (10 yard rule)

7.     Enter/Leave the field of play without the referee's permission

8.     Attempt to deceive the referee (faking an injury, taking a dive)

Ejection (Red Card) - 1 Game Sit out

1.     Double Yellow = red (1 Game Sit out)

2.     Persistent Dissent

3.     Foul and Abusive Language

4.     Serious Foul Play

5.     Denying a goal scoring opportunity

Violent Red Card Ejection – May not return rest of the season and cannot be replaced

1.     Violent Conduct

2.     Spitting at, Hitting, Striking

3.     Fighting

4.     Aggressive behavior or dissent towards a referee

Please Note:

· If a player receives two cautions in one match, he/she will receive a Red Card and MUST sit out the remainder of the match. The player MUST also sit out the team’s next scheduled match.

· If a player is ejected from a match (Red Card), he/she must sit out the remainder of the match AND the team’s next 1 scheduled matches.

· If a player is ejected for fighting or striking another player, he/she will not be allowed to return for the remaining scheduled matches.

o   NOTE: All incidents of fighting will be reviewed by Hild Sports staff.

An ejected player must leave the field of play and subsequently the entire field complex immediately. If the ejected player refuses to leave immediately, continues to disrupt or prevent the resumption of the match, or by deed or word continues to bring the match into disrepute, the League will require the player to sit out additional matches beyond the mandatory one game suspension.

If a red carded player attends or participates in a match while under the red card suspension, they will face a further suspension of up to 2 seasons, and the team they played with will be forced to forfeit.

Referees are required to report a red card to determine if a player is scheduled to sit out an upcoming match. When the referee or staff conducts the formal roster check-in, he/she will ensure that any player serving a sit out does not play in the match. If a player fails to sit out any of the games he/she is required to sit out, the League will require the player to sit out 2 additional games beyond the required sit out.

Should a player persistently received Cautions during multiple matches, League Administrators will determine whether the player must sit out additional matches.

Dissent

Hild Sports understands that during the passion of any given match, a player or coach might object to a call (or non-call) by a referee. Such dissent is permissible provided it does not involve foul, abusive, or degrading language or become repetitive or persistent.

However, we expect all players and team personnel, including the team’s spectators, to respect the integrity and knowledge of the assigned officials. Hild Sports respects the referees decisions, and will NOT tolerate abusive or persistent dissent of a referee's call(s).

A player WILL be cautioned when the player shows visibly disrespectful behavior toward any official, responds aggressively towards decisions, confronts an official face to face, and/or runs towards an official to contest a decision.

The referee will address dissent that is not abusive as follows:

1.     ASK: When responding to an individual who is dissenting, the referee will acknowledge that he has heard the individual’s concern, and may take the opportunity to explain the call or non-call that led to the dissent (if the context and tone/tenor of the game permits him/her do to so). At which time, if the individual persists in their dissent, he will ASK them to cease their dissent and proceed with the match. (This is the equivalent of their verbal warning).

2.     TELL: When the dissenting individual ignores the referee’s request to cease with their dissent, and continues to argue with calls or make disparaging comments about the officiating, the referee will then TELL the individual to CEASE with their comments. If the referee must resort to the TELL phase, he/she will issue a Caution (yellow card) for dissent.

3.     DISMISS: If, after being TOLD to cease in their dissent, the individual continues to dissent, or becomes more aggressive, disparaging, or continues to bring the game into disrepute, the referee will eject the player for Persistent Dissent.

The Ask, Tell, Dismiss process is designed to keep players and bench personnel in the match and gives them an opportunity to curb their objectionable behavior and play the game for the beauty of the game. At ANY time, however, if an individual strongly dissents a referee’s call, it can result in an immediate caution. Moreover, if the individual uses foul, abusive, or degrading language or threatens an official in a dissent, it MUST result in an Ejection (Red Card).

Offside

There will be no offsides rule for the 6 vs 6 matches.

Goal Kicks

Goal kicks, will be taken from the end line. Both goal kicks and thow ins from the goalie may not cross midfield without touching the ground first. The result of a goal kick or throw in will result in a turn over to the other team at midfield on whichever side which the ball over (referee will determine).

Concussion Protocol

Player safety is paramount. Hild Sports will use the following protocol for players who appear to have been involved in an incident in which a concussion might occur:

· A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that interferes with normal brain function. A player does not have to have suffered a direct blow to the head or lose consciousness (be “knocked out”) to have suffered a concussion.

· Common Signs/Symptoms of Concussion include (not an exhaustive list):

o   Appears dazed or confused;

o   Is confused about assignment or position;

o   Forgets an instruction;

o   Is unsure of game, score, or opponent;

o   Moves clumsily or has balance problems;

o   Answers questions slowly;

o   Headaches or “pressure” in the head;

o   Sensitivity to light, noise;

· No player should return to a match on the same day as suffering a concussion;

· If a referee suspects a player may be suffering effects from a concussion, the player will be immediately replaced (they can be substituted for) and cannot re-enter the match for at least three (3) minutes. During this time, a trained medical personnel (if present), or the player’s teammates (if no trained medical personnel are present) will work with the player to determine if signs of the concussion are present.

· If after the three (3) minute (or longer) rest period, the player feels prepared to play, they will check in with the closest member of the referee crew. If the referee concurs, the player will be allowed back into the game. If the referee believes the player still exhibits signs of a concussion, the player will not be allowed to re-enter the match.