LINCOLNSHIRE SPORTS ASSOCIATION RECREATIONAL SOCCER PROGRAM RULES Fall 2015 RULE I SOCCER PROGRAM ORGANIZATION

LINCOLNSHIRE SPORTS ASSOCIATION RECREATIONAL SOCCER PROGRAM RULES Fall 2015 RULE I SOCCER PROGRAM ORGANIZATION 1.1 The Lincolnshire Sports Association Soccer Program ( Program ) Directors have overall responsibility for all aspects of the operation of the Soccer Program in accordance with these Rules and subject to policies and decisions of the Board of Directors of the Lincolnshire Sports Association. Others appointed by the Board of Directors may assist the Soccer Program Directors. 1.2 The Soccer Program is divided into the following leagues: Boys Pre-K Boys Kindergarten Boys Grade 1 Boys Grades 2-3 Boys Grades 4-5 Girls Pre-K Girls Kindergarten Girls Grade 1 Girls Grades 2-3 Girls Grades 4-5 Coed Grades 6-8 The Soccer Program Director and the League Commissioner s have the authority to combine leagues where necessary to ensure that a viable fall soccer season will occur. 1.3 Each league is managed by a League Commissioner who is appointed by the Soccer Program Director and oversees a specific age group/gender. The duties and responsibilities of the League Commissioners are described in the rules below. 1.4 The number of teams in each league will be determined by the league s Commissioner and the Soccer Program Director based on the number of players in the league. 1.5 Each team will have a Coach and one or more Assistant Coaches. Coaches may assign other duties to parents of players to ensure the proper functioning of the team/season. The league s Commissioner, with approval of the Soccer Director, will select all Coaches and Assistants. 1.6 Referees for regular season and playoff games will be assigned by the Head of Referees. Each team will supply one sideline judge for each game. The Referee will ask for the sideline judges prior to the start of each game to give them instructions and flags. 1.7 League Commissioners are responsible for overseeing the operation of the leagues and games for their specific group. League Commissioners should endeavor to attend a number of games as possible in order to evaluate their respective programs. A League Commissioner should advise the Soccer Program Directors if he or she would be out of town for a period of time. 1

League Commissioners responsibilities include the following: 1. Identify and appoint head and assistant coaches. 2. Collect IYSA Volunteer Disclosure forms from all coaches. 3. Supervise team selection and insure balance of players and abilities. 4. Distribute practice times and game schedules. 5. Distribute equipment, Code of Conduct, and rules to the Head Coaches. 6. Maintain current Team Rosters. 7. Seek Soccer Program Director s approval for any deviation from existing rules. 8. Maintain win/loss/tie records with game scores for leagues 4-5 and 6-8. 9. Distribute picture/trophy/pin information to the Head Coaches. 10. Distribute and collect player evaluation information to/from Head Coaches. 11. Collect equipment at the end of the season. 1.8 Game and practice schedules for each league will be assigned by the Soccer Program Directors after approval by the Village of Lincolnshire parks representative. RULE 2 RULES OF CONDUCT 2.1 The objectives of the Soccer Program are to introduce and improve soccer skills, teach team play and good sportsmanship, and provide players with an enjoyable experience. Competition between teams is for the purpose of permitting players to use and improve skills under game conditions and teaching players how to conduct themselves under competitive conditions. Heightened competitiveness and winning are NOT ends in and of themselves in this Program. The Program is organized and conducted for the benefit of the players and not for the Coaches, Assistant Coaches, or parents. The following Rules of Conduct are designed to foster these goals and adherence to the Rules and to general principles of good sportsmanship is of paramount importance. Serious violations may result in disqualification of players, Coaches, Assistant Coaches, parents and spectators from participation in the Program. 2.2 Abusive or other inappropriate language by players, parents, Coaches or Assistant Coaches in dealing with players, other Coaches, officials, and parents is prohibited. Board Members, Soccer Directors and Referees have the authority to remove any person who violates this rule. 2.3 Players should not brag, boast, or jeer on or off the playing field and should not criticize other players on their own team or another team. Coaches and Assistant Coaches are responsible for discouraging such conduct. All unsportsmanlike conduct by Coaches, Assistant Coaches, players and spectators is prohibited. Unacceptable behavior, as determined by the Referee, may result in the issuance of a yellow card (warning) or a red card (immediate ejection). Coaches and Assistant Coaches are responsible for making sure their players and spectators exhibit good sportsmanship. 2.4 Coaches are not permitted on the field other than to attend to an injured player and only after being given permission by the referee to do so. 2.5 Referees have authority over a field the entire time they are present; not just during the actual game. Their calls/decisions are unchallengeable. Criticism of officials and questioning of their calls, whether said directly to the Referee or expressed to others, is prohibited. Any behavior that violates this rule may result in the Referee issuing a yellow card (warning) or a red card (immediate ejection) as well as the possibility of more severe sanctions from the League Commissioner and/or Soccer Directors. 2

RULE 3 RULES OF PLAY 3.1 The rules contained in the current edition of the FIFA Soccer Rule Book shall apply, except as otherwise provided in these Rules. The following are highlights of the rules of the game of soccer, with certain modifications for this Program, and will cover most (but not all) situations, which arise in the Program. 3.2 Both teams shall occupy the same side of the field and the parents/spectators of both teams shall occupy the other side of the field. Teams should separate themselves at the half way line and position themselves at least 3 feet from the sideline. 3.3 The minimum and maximum number of players on the field, including the goalie, is shown in Attachment 1. Any team short-handed players should not expect the opposing team to play shorthanded, thus preventing the opposing team's members from playing. However, the number of players on the field may be modified with the approval of both coaches and the referee. Modification can either be in the form of reducing the number of players per side or loaning players between teams. 3.4 Only Soccer Program Directors, the Village of Lincolnshire parks representative, or League Commissioners have the authority to cancel a game prior to the start of play. Referees will stop the game in the event of lightning or other hazardous conditions. In general, every effort will be made to play a game unless field conditions or weather present a hazard to the players. 3.5 All games will start on time, regardless of the number of players available from either team. Forfeitures will result if a team fails to field the minimum players (Attachment 1 outlines the specific number for each league) to start a game within 5 minutes of the starting time. Coaches are encouraged to ask players to report for games a minimum of 15 minutes prior to the start of the game. A coach may draft a player(s) from a lower league to reach the minimum number on the field. Called up players may not miss their own league game in order to play in an upper league game. Extra players, above the minimum, may not be drafted; the team will play without substitutes. If a team member does arrive during the game, the drafted player must sit out for the rest of the game. Any team shorthanded should not expect the opposing team to play shorthanded, thus preventing the opposing team s members from playing. 3.6 Tennis shoes and rubber or plastic cleated shoes are approved footwear. No metal (screw-in) cleats or baseball (toe cleats) are allowed. Goalies must wear jerseys that are different colors from the predominant colors of the two teams playing. All players must wear shin guards. No jewelry (earrings, rings, or bracelets) is allowed. A strap must secure eyeglasses. Protective eyewear is encouraged. Players are not permitted to participate in games or practices without shin guards, eyeglass restraints and proper footwear. 3.7 See Attachment I for game/quarter durations. REFEREES WILL START THE GAME CLOCK ON TIME. Coaches, please be prepared to start each quarter on time. Playing time for a quarter, and thus the game, will be shortened if a team is not prepared. The clock will not be stopped during the quarters unless a player is injured and play must be halted. No substitutions are allowed during quarters except in the case of an injured player. 3.8 EVERY PLAYER MUST SIT OUT ONE QUARTER BEFORE ANY PLAYER SITS OUT A SECOND QUARTER. Each player must play at least two full quarters during a game except in the case of injury. Players must be given equal playing time over the course of the season. Coaches are to give players experience at both offensive and defensive positions. Our goal is to develop soccer skills for the next level of play. 3.9 The Referee will hold a coin toss before the game. The visiting team calls it and the winner chooses which side it will defend first. The other team will kick off first. The same team will kick off the first two quarters and defend the same goal. At the half, the teams will change ends, and the team that received the kick off in the first half will kick off the third and fourth quarters. A goal can be scored from a kick off. On the kick off, the ball must be kicked forward, no player may precede the ball downfield, and opposing players must stand outside of the circle on their half of the field. 3

3.10 If a member of a team kicks or otherwise causes the ball to completely cross the touchline (sideline), the Referee shall award a throw-in to the opposing team at the approximate spot where the ball went out-of-bounds. The throw-in must be made with both hands on the ball, and the ball must be thrown from a position directly over the head. Both feet must remain in contact with the ground and be behind the touchline. Failure to comply shall result in the referee awarding a throw-in to the opposing team at the same spot. Pre K, Kindergarten, Boys 1, Girls 1 Boys 2-3, Girls 2-3 Boys 4-5, Girls 4-5, Coed 6-8 Rule does not apply; coach will instruct players on the correct play. A warning with instruction (and a rethrow) is given by the referee for games 1-3. Compliance will be enforced from 4 th game on. Compliance from 1st game. 3.11 If the ball goes completely over the end line (outside of the goal posts) and was last touched by a player on the attacking team, the defending team is awarded a Goal Kick. For a goal kick, the ball is placed anywhere on the line of the smaller painted box (goal box) that is parallel to the end line. If the ball completely crosses the end line (outside of the goal posts) and was last touched by a member of the defending team, a Corner Kick is awarded to the attacking team. On a corner kick, the ball is placed in the corner kick area on the side that is closest to the point where the ball crossed the end line. 3.12 The goalie is the only player allowed to touch the ball with his or her hands or arms. The goalie is allowed, after he or she has possession of the ball, to hold it for a maximum of six seconds. The goalie must then throw, kick, or roll the ball into play. At no time, may the goalie use hands or arms outside the lined penalty area (the larger of the two painted boxes). However, he or she can kick the ball when outside the penalty area. In the event that the goalie touches the ball with hands or arms outside the penalty area, a direct free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team at the approximate point of the infraction. Illegal handling of the ball by the goalkeeper in the penalty area shall be enforced at the Boys 2-3, Boys 4-5, Girls 2-3, Girls 4-5 and Coed 6-8 leagues. No player is allowed to touch the goalie at anytime. If a member of the opposing team touches the goalie, a direct free kick shall be awarded. 3.13 No player may play goalie for more than two quarters during a game. 3.14 A GOAL is scored if the entire ball passes across the goal line (the end line between the goal posts), whether in the possession of the goalie or not. A goal will not be scored in the micro (Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1 st grade) leagues if the defender kicks the ball into his or her own goal. A goal will be scored if the ball is deflected off a defender. 3.15 Any of the following fouls will result in a direct free kick: a. Intentionally handling the ball with arms or hands (with the exception of the goalie as outlined above); b. Intentionally kicking, striking, or tripping an opponent, or attempting to do so; c. Holding, pushing, charging, jumping at or spitting at an opponent; d. While tackling for the ball, making contact with the opponent before contacting the ball; e. Charging the goalie. A direct free kick is taken from the place of the infraction. All opposing players must be 8 yards away in the Boys 2-3 and Girls 2-3 leagues or 10 yards away in the Boys 4-5, Girls 4-5 and Coed 6-8 leagues. A goal can be scored from a direct free kick. 3.16 An indirect free kick is awarded from the place of the infraction for the following: a. Offside; 4

b. Obstruction; c. Dangerous play; d. Interference with goalie; e. The goalie does not release the ball from his or her hands within 6 seconds; f. The goalie handles the ball a second time before it is touched by another player; g. The goalie handles a ball that has been passed back or thrown in by a teammate. During an indirect free kick, all opposing players must be 8 yards away in the Boys 2-3 and Girls 2-3 leagues or 10 yards away in the Boys 4-5, Girls 4-5 and Coed 6-8 leagues (or on the end line, if the stated distance would put a player outside the field of play). A goal cannot be scored from an indirect free kick; another player from either team must touch the ball first. 3.17 A Penalty Kick is awarded when a foul described in Rule 3.15 occurs in the penalty area (large painted box). This applies to Boys 2-3, Boys 4-5, Girls 2-3, Girls 4-5, and Coed 6-8. Penalty kicks should be the result of obvious fouls that alter the course of the game. Only the kicker and the goalie are involved in the play. Kicks are taken from the spot that is midpoint between the goalposts and half way between the penalty box and goal box lines. 3.18 Offside is only called in the Boys 4-5, Girls 4-5, and Coed 6-8, Leagues. Offside will not be called in Pre-K, Kindergarten, Boys 1 and Boys 2-3, Girls 1, and Girls 2-3 leagues. However, intentionally stationing an offensive player in an offside position is not permitted in any league. Referees may instruct coaches not to position players in an obvious offside position in any league. In addition, coaches in the younger leagues should teach their players proper positions (i.e. as if offside was being called). Offside occurs when a player is in the attacking half of the field, is ahead of the ball and there are fewer than two opposing players (including the goalie) between that player and the goal. A player cannot be offsides if he or she has control of the ball either by dribbling or shooting. The referee shall award an indirect free kick to the opposing team at the point where the offside player was located when offside occurred. Offside cannot occur when: a. A receiving player is in his own half; b. The ball was last touched by an opposing player; or c. The ball is received directly from a goal kick, corner kick, throw-in, or drop ball. 3.19 A Drop Ball shall be called when the ball is simultaneously kicked out-of-bounds by opposing players, two players fall on the ball, the game is stopped due to injury, or a stalemated ball occurs in the Pre-K, Kindergarten, Girls 1, Girls 2-3, Boys 1 and Boys 2-3 leagues. 3.20 No one is permitted to stand in the area behind the goals during a game. In addition, Coaches may only coach from the half of the field occupied by their bench, between the midfield line and the top of the penalty box. At no time may a Coach instruct from the half of the field occupied by the opposing team s bench. 3.21 Size of balls: Pre-K, Kindergarten, Girls 1, Boys 1 #3 Girls 2-5, Boys 2-5 #4 Coed 6-8 #5 3.22 During the regular season, points will be awarded as follows: Win Tie 3 points 1 point 5

Loss 0 points 3.23 Playoffs will be generally be played in the Boys 4-5, Girls 4-5, and Coed 6-8 leagues only but will be determined by the Commissioner and Coaches. All rules of play as stated in preceding sections of Rule 3 apply to playoff games, except as noted below in section 4.0. 3.24 Standings, Trophies and Pins: Pre-K, Kindergarten Boys 1-3, Girls 1-3 Boys 4-5, Girls 4-5, Coed 6-8 No standings or scores reported. No standings. Awards to the First Place playoff winner. Awards to the First Place playoff winner. SPECIAL RULES FOR PLAYOFF GAMES Rule 3.23. 4.1 Team standings will be based on total points at the end of the season as awarded under 4.2 In the event of a tie in the standing between two or more teams at the end of the regular season, the following criteria will be used for breaking the tie, in the order of priority listed: a. Head to head win/loss results among tied teams. b. Highest goal differential (goals scored less goals allowed) among tied teams in head to head games. c. Most goals for (goals scored) versus the other team(s) in the tie. d. Fewest goals against (goals let in) versus the other team(s) in the tie. e. Total number of wins during regular season (against all teams in league). f. Criteria (b), (c), and (d) above, in that order, applied with respect to all games against all teams during regular season. g. Coin flip by League Commissioner. 4.3 The procedure for breaking ties in play-off games will be as follows: a. A five-minute overtime period will be played, which will not be sudden death. Each team will field the same number of players defined in Attachment I; however, each team will play without a goalie. No player will be allowed to use their hands in any portion of the field during the playoff period. The team with the most goals at the end of this period will be the winner. If the score is tied at the end of the first overtime period, there will be a second overtime period. This second overtime will again be played without any goalies; however, it will be sudden death. The team that scores the first goal in the sudden death period will be the winner. If a penalty occurs in the box during either of the two overtime periods, the team that was fouled will be awarded a penalty shot and the team that committed the foul will not place a goalie in the net. b. If the score is tied at the end of the second overtime period, there will be a shoot-out conducted as follows: COED 6-8 6

i. Teams alternate taking shots. ii. Five different players on each team will shoot against a goalie from the opposing team. iii. The ball will be placed at the penalty shot marker. The goalie must begin with both feet on the goal line and may not move off the line until the ball is kicked. The kicker may kick the ball only one time; rebounded shots are not permitted. iv. A team may change goalies as many times as desired during the shootout. A player who is a kicker may also play goalie. v. The team with the most goals at the end of the first shootout will be the winner. If the score is tied at the end of the first shootout, then a second shootout will be conducted with a second set of 5 players from each team Players from the first shootout may not be used in the second shootout. If the score is still tied, then each team will alternate shooters with the remaining players on each team until a team scores and the other team does not. In the event that all of the players on a team have been shooters, then the team will start its rotation of shooters over with the entire team roster. Any player can be the goalie throughout any or all portions of the shootout. BOYS 4-5, GIRLS 4-5 i. Teams alternate taking shots ii. Each player from each team will shoot from the penalty shot marker. iii. Each team shall have a minimum of two goalies that shall take an equal number of shots from the opposing team. The team with the most shootout goals after all players have shot will be the winner. If the score is tied at the end of the first shootout, then the shootout will be repeated until a winner is determined. If teams have an uneven number of players, one or two players may need to shoot twice. The player(s) taking second shots shall be randomly chosen by the referee. 4.4 The following rules shall also apply: a. Two-minute rest periods will be given between the end of regulation play and overtime periods as well as between an overtime and a shootout. b. Kick off and choice of goal to defend for the first overtime period will be determined by a coin toss at the beginning of the overtime period. If a second overtime is required, the teams will change ends and who kicks off. c. Any player may play any position during either or both of the two overtime periods and shootouts, regardless of the length of time he or she played at the same or another position during regular play. There is no requirement that a player be used in the overtime periods or shootouts. However, as stated in paragraph (b)(iv) and (vi) above, five different kickers must be used in the shoot-out. d. A coin toss will also be used to determine which team shoots first for any shootouts. The referee will designate which goal is to be used for the shootout. Both teams will kick at the same goal. Revised 6/2/14 7

Attachment I Division No. on Field * Minimum to Play Game Length Pre-Kindergarten 3 v 3 3 v 3 4 x 8 minute qtrs. Kindergarten 3 v 3 3 v 3 4 x 8 minute qtrs. 1 st Grade 6 v 6 (7 v 7) 5 v 5 4 x 9 minute qtrs. 2 nd / 3 rd Grade 7 v 7 (8 v 8) 5 v 5 4 x 10 minute qtrs. 4 th / 5 th Grade 8 v 8 (9 v 9) 6 v 6 4 x 12 minute qtrs. 6 th 8 th Grade 10 v 10 (11 v. 11) 8 v 8 4 x 15 minute qtrs. No. on field noted in brackets is an acceptable alternative and is subject to the discretion of the Commissioner and Coaches. 8