RIVERVIEW ROWDIES FUN FOOTBALL CLUB

Rules of Play

FIELD OF PLAY:

DURATION OF GAMES: Games are 60 minutes in length consisting of a 5-minute warm up period, then two 25-minute halves with a 5-minute break between halves. The teams switch ends at half-time. If either or both teams are late, the game will be shortened to allow the following game to end at the scheduled time.

PLAYERS: Each team will have 6 players on the field, including a goal keeper and 5 out players. Each team must have 2 female out players on the field at all times. Any configuration of players (forwards and defense) is allowed.

In the event of insufficient turnout for a game, including a minimum of 1 female and 2 male spares, teams are to follow the steps in the procedure below:

1) Balance the number of players, including the number of female players between the teams;

2) Reduce the number of players on the field to as few as 5 (including a goal keeper),and/or;

3) Reduce the number of female players to 1 on the field for each team.

START OF PLAY: The team whose captain is the first to show up shall kick-off. At a kick‑off, all players shall be in their own half of the playing area. All players opposing the team taking the kick‑off shall be not less than 15 feet from the ball until it is kicked. The ball is in play when it is kicked in any direction from the centre mark. For any infringement of this rule the kick‑off shall be re‑taken.

Should the player who took the kick off play or touch the ball a second time before it has been played or touched by another player a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.

After a goal has been scored, the game shall be restarted by a kick‑off to be taken by a player of the team against which the goal was scored.

After the end of each half of play the teams shall change sides and the kick‑off shall be taken by player of the team opposing that, which started the previous half.

For any stoppage not mentioned in these rules, the referee shall restart the game with a dropped ball. The ball shall be dropped closest to the place where the ball was when play was stopped. If the ball was within the penalty area the ball shall be dropped at the free kick spot. The ball shall be dropped again if the ball is touched by a player before it touches the ground or the ball leaves the field of play after it has touched the ground, without a player touching it.

A goal MAY BE SCORED directly from a kick‑off.

PLAYER SUBSTITUTIONS: Player substitutions do not require a stoppage in play – they may be at any time and any quantity as long as the minimum number of female players on the field is maintained. Substitutions are made for injured or ejected players. The substitute player may enter the field of play and become the active player when the retiring player is within 10 yards of their team bench. Should the retiring player touch the ball after the substituting player has entered the field a direct kick from the spot of the touch is awarded to the opposing team.

OFFSIDES: There are no offsides – players may be behind the opposing team’s defense at any time.

HAND BALL OFFENCES: A player’s hand is defined as the hand and arm up to the shoulder but not including the top of the shoulder.

A hand ball offense (hand to ball) occurs when a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand or moves their body so as to cause the ball to strike the hand – with the exception of when a player uses their hands to protect themselves from being hit with the ball, i.e. covering their face, chest, groin, etc., with no intent to deflect the ball in a specific direction.

It is not a hand ball where the ball strikes the hand accidentally (ball to hand) – play continues on in this case – with the exception of if the ball goes into the opposing goal without being touched by another player, in which case it is a no goal and the opposing team fields the ball with a goal kick.

THE BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY: The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air.

THE THROW IN: A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. The goalkeeper may not use their hands to play a ball thrown in to them by a player from their team.

A throw-in is awarded:

- when the whole of the ball passes over the touch line, either on the ground or in the air

- from the point where it crossed the touch line

- to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball

In the event that the throw-in is not done according to the following procedure, a throw-in from the same spot is awarded to the opposing team:

At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:

1. faces the field of play

2. has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line

3. uses both hands

4. delivers the ball from behind and over his head

5. the thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player

6. an opponent cannot unfairly distract or impede the thrower

CORNER KICKS: When the whole of the ball has crossed the end boards, excluding that portion between the goal‑posts and under the cross‑bar, having last been played or touched by a member of the defending team, a corner‑kick shall be awarded to the attacking team. The corner‑kick shall be taken from the corner‑mark nearest to where the ball went out of play.

At the taking of a corner‑kick the ball shall be stationary and all opponents shall be not less than fifteen (15) feet from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. For any infringements of this Rule the kick shall be retaken.

If the player taking the corner‑kick plays or touches the ball a second time (except with their hands) before it has been played or touched by another player, a Free‑Kick shall be awarded to the opposing team from where the infringement occurred subject to the overriding condition of law 1) a of Rule 13.

A goal MAY be scored directly from a corner‑kick, but only against the opposing team.

GOAL KICKS: When the whole of the ball has crossed the end boards excluding that portion between the goal‑posts and under the cross‑bar, having last been played or touched by a member of the attacking team, a goal‑kick shall be awarded to the defending team.

The goal kick shall be taken from any point within the goal area.

At the taking of a goal kick, the ball shall be stationary and all opponents shall be outside the penalty‑area and not less than fifteen (15) feet from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty‑area. For any infringement of this Rule the goal kick shall be retaken.

If the player taking the goal kick plays or touches the ball a second time (except with their hands) after the ball is in play and before it has been played or touched by another player, a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team, subject to the rules of Fouls and Misconduct.

A goal MAY NOT be scored directly from a goal kick.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT: The fouls and misconducts listed below are punishable by the awarding of a free kick to the opposing team. All free kicks are direct free kicks, meaning the player taking the free kick may score from the kick without the ball having to touch another player. A free kick is taken from the spot of the infraction unless a player commits an infraction inside their own penalty area. Opposing players must maintain a minimum 15’ distance from the spot of the kick.

1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent.

2. Trips an opponent.

3. Jumps at an opponent.

4. Any form of deliberate charging (shoulder to shoulder or otherwise) whether or not there was intent to play the ball.

5. Slide tackling

6. Strikes, or attempts to strike, an opponent.

7. Holds an opponent with his/her hands or any part of his/her arm.

8. Pushes an opponent with his/her hands or any part of his/her arm.

9. A hand ball offense.

10. Playing in a manner considered by league officials to be dangerous.

11. Intentionally obstructing an opponent when not within playing distance of the ball.

12. A goaltender who fails to put the ball into play after possessing it with his/her hands for at more than six (6) seconds.

13. Having too many players on the field at the same time.

14. Unsportsmanlike conduct (this includes shouting at an opposing player to insult him or distract his/her attention).

15. A double possession by the goaltender. If the goaltender were to drop the ball into play and then use his/her hands to secure it again.

16. The goaltender using their hands to play the ball after an intentional pass to him/her by a teammate from below the passer's knee.

17. The goaltender playing the ball in the offensive half of the field (free kick from the free kick spot)

18. Charging the opposing goaltender (free kick from the free kick spot)

19. Obstructing the opposing goaltender

Where a player or team commits an infraction within their penalty area either a penalty kick from the penalty spot or a free kick from the free kick spot is awarded to the opposing team:

· A penalty kick taken from the penalty spot is awarded against a player who commits any of the red offenses within their penalty area. The opposing goaltender must stand on the goal line until the ball is kicked. All other players must be out of play by standing behind the player taking the kick. Play is dead immediately following the kick (no rebounds). In the event of no goal, play resumes with a goal kick. In the event of a goal, play resumes with the team scored on kicking off at center field.

· A free kick taken from the free kick spot is awarded against a player or team that commits any of the blue offenses within their penalty area. As with free kicks taken for fouls outside the penalty area, play is live after the ball is kicked.

Fouls or misconducts may also be subject to ejection from the game and or suspension or expulsion from league play.

GOALTENDER RULES: The goaltender may not be charged or obstructed. The goaltender's box is one and the same as the penalty area. Green lines mark the penalty area approximately 25 feet from the goal.

The penalty charging the goaltender is a free kick from the free kick spot awarded to the offended team and a caution to the offending player. The penalty for obstructing the goalie is a free kick at the spot of the foul awarded to the offended team and a caution to the offending player. If a collision occurs that is violent in nature, the player will be ejected from the game.

The goaltender may not play the ball with their hands outside of the goalie box – this is a handball offense. The goaltender may foot the ball from outside the box into the box and then play it with their hands.

The goaltender may only play the ball in the defensive half of the field. The goaltender playing the ball in the offensive half of the field is a foul, resulting in a free kick by the opposing team from the free kick spot.

The goaltender may not score a goal directly on the opposing team with a goal kick. However, it is a goal if the ball touches another player, deliberately or accidentally, from either team, including the opposing goaltender, and then goes in the net. Otherwise, the goaltender may score on a kick from anywhere within the defensive zone.

PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT:

· Only soccer shoes with molded plastic cleats, turf nubs, or indoor soles may be worn. Metal cleats of any kind may not be worn.

· All players must wear shin pads.

· Players are permitted to wear tracksuit type pants. Caps are not allowed.

· Goaltenders must wear a different coloured jersey than colour of either of the team jerseys.

· A player must not use equipment or wear anything, which is dangerous to themselves or other players, including any kind of jewelry (taping of jewelry is not permitted). All knee and leg braces must be completely covered by a protective sleeve (e.g. Neoprene, or similar material. League officials shall decide on all matters of safety.

· Players must supply their own water bottles.

· The league provides player jerseys (including goaltender jerseys) and goaltender gloves.