We follow the USSF / US Youth Soccer Laws of the Game unless herein specified otherwise.

 It needs to be said UPFRONT.  Harford Sports/Referees, will NOT tolerate any physical violence at all. If a player touches another player, it will result in an immediate ejection from the building and the league.  Foul language and unsportsmanlike activity will result in suspensions and possible ejection. Fighting is an immediate ejection, suspension, and possible permanent removal.

Referees must enforce the above.  This is from Danny Taylor, the owner.

GENERAL RULES:  Please RECORD the score properly!!

1.) Have Fun.

2.) ALL players who are present, must be properly dressed in their uniform, and healthy enough to play. Cleats are allowed.  Metal cleats are not allowed.

3.) The call of the official on the field is final and not subject to appeal.

RULES

· For ALL Age Groups: 50-minute sessions.

· For games – 2 – 20-minute halves with 2-minute halftime and 5 minutes to clear the field

· Game clock is controlled by the referee.

All Age Groups

* running clock. You can stop the clock for what may be a prolonged injury on the field.

* no time outs.  EXCEPTION:  U8 and U10 age groups can have a 60 second time out.  One per half/team if requested.

* substitutions at any time (on the fly) (field player must come to sideline at player box before sub may enter the playing field.

* no offsides violations

* NO slide tackles – Players in this league for All age groups are not allowed to leave their feet for any reason to play the ball.  The only EXCEPTION is the Goal Keeper, who can slide to make a save with their hands. They CANNOT slide to clear the ball from the goal area with their feet

 Results in an indirect kick for 7-8 Age Groups.  Results in a direct kick for the 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, U16, U18 and Adult Co-Ed age groups.  A Yellow Card, is automatically placed on a player who attempts a “Slide Tackle.”  Any slide tackle from behind, is an automatic Red Card.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  Red carded player must leave the game, and not return.  Player may sit on the bench.  Team plays short for 5 minutes. Non releasable, even if other team scores a goal.  Red carded player sits next game.  Report red card to your assigner.  Name of player, number, team playing for, and why the Red Card was given.

Mercy Rule IMPORTANT!! 

The following only applies to the U8, U10 and the U13 Age Groups.

If a team goes up by 4 goals, the losing team will add an additional player to the field.  If this team goes down by 7 goals, this team can add a second player to the field.  Added players are removed from the field, if this team reduces the goal difference by 6 and 3 goals.

SHOES AND CLEATS

ALL SHOES ARE PERMITTED ON OUR PLAYING FIELD EXCEPT METAL BASEBALL CLEATS. ALL SOCCER SHOES, TURF SHOES, SOCCER CLEATS ARE PERMITTED.

Heading the Ball

As a result of the U.S. Soccer recommendations, 7-8 and 9-10 Age Groups will NOT head the ball in practice nor in a game. For these Age Groups, heading the ball in a game will result in an indirect kick at the spot of the foul.  For the 11-12 and 13-14 and 15-17 age groups, coaches will limit heading during practice, but it will be allowed during the game for these age groups. The 15-17 age groups can practice heading, as well as utilize it during a game.

7-8, 9/10 Age Groups:  Only One Referee For This Age Group.  If teams in this age group want a time out, let them have it.  One per half per team if requested.  Roughly 1 minute TO.

* 7 players a side (6 field & 1 keeper) 7 field players and 1 keeper if both coaches agree )

* One field coach per team (1 coach is allowed on field but must remain out of players’ way) This is for U8 age groups.  9/10, usually no coach on the field, unless both teams agree to have a coach on the field.

New Rule:  All kicks are now Direct.  7/8 Age Groups: All kicks are STILL Indirect.

* Fouls are to be called: pushing – tripping – holding – high kicking – handling, ect.,.

* Any foul inside the goal box results in a Direct or Indirect Kick, 7/8 Age Group.  Spot determined by referee.

* Players may not kick the ball while on the ground, if in the immediate vicinity of an opponent. 

U /9/8/10 Age Groups:  One Referee for These Age Groups.  11/12, 13-14 / 15-17 Age Groups.  Two Referees Are Used.

* 9-10 is seven players a side (6 field &1 keeper)

 11-12, 13-14, U16 U18 Boys, 7 players a side (6 field & 1 keeper)  The U18 Boys can play 5 field players and a goal keeper if they want to.

* No field coaches

* Fouls are to be called with the following results:

Tripping – direct kick

Pushing – direct kick

Holding – direct kick

Handling – direct kick

High kicking/Dangerous Play – Direct Kick, Indirect kick for U8 age groups.

 * Fouls in the goal box result in a penalty kick

 – ball is placed on the penalty mark.  Determined by referee.

 – all players (except the kicker and the goalkeeper) must remain outside the goal box and behind the kicker until the ball is struck

Scheduled Time

The games start on the scheduled time.  If a game is delayed and doesn’t start on time, the game ends when the next game is scheduled, REGARDLESS of the time remaining on the game clock. Referees can modify or shorten the halves to compensate for a delayed game start time.

Coaches on the field:

In the U-8, age groups in which a coach is allowed on the field, the coach is not allowed in the goalie box while the ball is in play on that side of the field.  Coaches should make every effort to not impede play. Coaches may or may not elect to be on the field of play.  The same applies for the U10 age groups if both coaches agree to have a coach on the field, otherwise, no coach on the field of play.  Again, this is optional for U10 age group.

Out of Bounds

When the ball goes out of bounds, the ball is placed approximately 2 feet from the wall where it went out of bounds. The exception being when the ball goes out of bounds above the goal. In that case, the goalie (if the ball was NOT last touched by the goalie’s teammate before it went out of bounds) is given possession of the ball. Goal kick, restart.  If the ball was touched by the goalie or one of his/her teammates before it went out of bounds, the ball is placed in the corner of the field, like a corner kick.

If the ball hits the netting directly above the field, the ball is placed in play on the field directly beneath where it struck the netting.

Jewelry

Jewelry or hard hair control devices will not be allowed. This includes but is not limited to necklaces, earrings, newly pierced earrings, rings, bracelets & watches.  Individuals will not be allowed to tape over any jewelry item.  EXCEPTION: MEDICAL ALERT chains or bracelets, which must be taped down.  If a player does not remove the jewelry they cannot play.  EXCEPTION: U 8/9 10 age groups : Earrings are allowed. Studded earrings only.  They don’t have to be covered.  House rule. We WILL allow earrings taped down if the Earring Waiver is signed. The waiver is located on the website under Info / Waivers

Non-team Substitutions

If a team A is down players at the start of a game and the coach for Team A wants to use a player from another Indoor soccer team, the coach must get the permission of the opposing coach. If that coach says No, it’s no. All substitutions must follow the gender/age/travel limitations governing team selection. Someone not registered with the Indoor Soccer program may NEVER play as a substitute (or otherwise). GUEST PLAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

Hands on boards

Players are allowed to put their hands on the boards when a ball is near the wall. What players are not allowed to do near the boards is prevent a player from attempting to play the ball by blocking out this player with their hands, etc.

Carding of players:  

All Red Cards Must Be Reported To The Assigner, Jay Grabowski.  Fill out an incident report on BBOWS.org and email the report to the assigner, immediately after the game in which a Red Card was placed.

For indoor soccer, the referees will use yellow and red cards for fouls that warrant such action.

Boarding will result in an automatic yellow card. For yellow cards, the player will have to sit out for a period of two minutes.  If, in the opinion of the referee/referees, the boarding incident was considered violent or intentional, a Red Card may be placed on the player in violation of boarding.  Two yellow cards to the same player results in a red card, the player then sits the rest of the game and the following game.   Any player who receives red card must sit out the remainder of the game and the following game.

Teams play short for a period of two minutes for a Yellow Card.  If the opposing team scores a goal, penalty releases.  Red Card:  Team plays short for a period of 5 minutes, non releasable.  After 5 minutes have expired, the team may add a player back onto the field.  Different player then the one who received a Red Card.

Kick-off

A kick-off is considered a Direct kick.  Indirect kick for U8 Age groups.

 Cancellation of Games:

If any games are canceled for any reason, referees will be notified prior to showing up to Harford Sports Arena, by the assigner through the arbiter, and if possible, by a phone call.

Injuries

If a player sustains a significant injury, please notify Danny Taylor, the owner of Harford Sports, and Jay Grabowski, the league assigner. Referees and Staff at front desk will be able to get in touch with them.

Player Area

The player bench area is only for players and coaches. Spectators must be in the stands.

Game Balls:

7-8 #4 ball

9-10 #4 ball

11-12 #5 ball

13-14 #5 ball

15-17 #5 ball

FREE KICKS

Types of Free Kick

Free kicks are Direct for all age groups except U8:  Indirect Kicks for this age group.

The Direct Free Kick

Ball Enters the Goal

• if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded

• if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team

The Indirect Free Kick

Signal

The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm above his

head. He maintains his arm in that position until the kick has been

taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.

Ball Enters the Goal: U8 Age Group

A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal:

• if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded

• if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team

Procedure

For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary. 

when the kick is taken, and the kicker must not touch the ball again

until the ball has touched another player.

 If you have any questions regarding the above rules, please get in touch with the assigner, Jay Grabowski. jaygrabowski1@aol.com

For the 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 age groups: Goalies cannot throw the ball past the Center Line without the ball first striking their own side of the field, the wall on their own side of the field, or a player on their own side of the field.

Goalies can punt the ball, but again the ball cannot pass the Center Line without it first striking the goalie’s side of the field, the walls on the goalie’s side of the field, or a player on their own side of the field.

Goalies or a field player of the team taking the goal kick,  cannot kick the ball in the air past the Center Line without it first striking their own side of the field or the walls on their own side of the field, or a player on their own side of the field.

A violation of the above results in an indirect kick from where the ball crossed the center line.

A goalie who is OUTSIDE the goal box CAN kick the ball past the Center Line without the

above restrictions.

A live ball in the goalie box can be kicked over the center/halfway line without penalty

**For the 13-14 and 15-17 age groups**: Goalies can throw the ball past the Center Line but not past the 3rd line on the field without it first striking the field, the wall, or a player before the 3rd line.

Goalies can punt the ball, but again the ball cannot pass the 3rd line without it first striking the field, the wall, or a player before the 3rd line.

Goalies or a field player of the team taking the goal kick,  cannot kick the ball in the air past the 3rd line without it first striking the field, the wall, or a player before the 3rd line.

A violation of the above results in an indirect kick from where the ball crossed the 3rd line.

A goalie who is OUTSIDE the goal box CAN kick the ball past the 3rd line.

A live ball in the goalie box can be kicked over the half way line or the third line on the field. without penalty.

 If you have any questions regarding the above rules, please get in touch with the assigner, Jay Grabowski. jaygrabowski1@aol.com