Rules of Indoor Soccer 2014-15 Summary of Rule Changes A Guide for Players and Team Officials 1
September 16 th, 2014. To all participants of Alberta Indoor Soccer (boarded), Effective at the start of regular season play for the 2014-2015 season, there will be some significant changes to the Rules of Indoor Soccer. These changes have been developed from proposals put forward by district associations who participate in Alberta Indoor Soccer (boarded), and have been presented and discussed at the Spring 2014 Planning meeting, Referee Development Committee meetings (June, July 2014), and several meetings within the Alberta Soccer office. In the months of September and October, all referees are being trained in the new rules at either the annual refreshers for existing indoor referees, or the conversion courses for referees who are new to the indoor game. We have published this guide, to be distributed to all participants for the 2014-2015 season, to ensure that the changes have been communicated and explained in a consistent manner. Please take the time to review the guide, as well as the 2014-2015 Rules of Indoor Soccer, so that when the changes are applied by referees at the start of your regular season, there are no surprises about the calls that are being made. We do appreciate any questions, feedback, or suggestions for future changes, so please feel free to use the contact information below. Yours in Soccer, David O Neill Alberta Soccer Referee Development Officer 780-378-8110 refs@albertasoccer.com
Summary of Changes to the 2014-2015 Rules of Indoor Soccer Page 2 Previous wording - none. Changes to the rules are indicated with a vertical line in the left margin. Reason makes them easier to identify, and matches the FIFA Law Book. Page 2 Previous wording - none. Any incidents or situations not covered expressly by the Rules of Indoor Soccer, will default to the current FIFA Laws of the Game, wherever possible. Reason allows the Interpretation and Guidelines section of the FIFA Law book to apply, wherever possible, without having to incorporate into the Rules of Indoor Soccer. Rule 3 Number of Players - Page 8 none. A player is also considered to have left the field if he has been given permission to do so by the referee, through an outside gate, for any reason. Reason allows teams to make a legal substitution if a player has been given permission to leave. e.g. leaving the game for work, washroom, retrieve a lost ball etc. Rule 3 Number of Players - Page 9 Infringements and Sanctions the team is penalized by a 2-minute minor-misconduct for too many players New wording the team is penalized by a 2-minute technical offence penalty for too many players Reason Align wording with new offences 3
Rule 5 The Referee - Page 13 takes disciplinary action against players guilty of minor misconduct, cautionable and sending-off offences. New wording takes disciplinary action against players guilty of technical offences, cautionable and sending-off offences Reason Align wording with new offences Rule 5 The Referee - Page 14 takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner by penalizing the team with a 2-minute minor misconduct to the bench, and additionally, at his discretion, by expelling them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds New wording takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner, and may, at his discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds Reason No more bench penalty. Use the ask, tell, remove steps, and penalize the coach and not the team. Rule 8 The Start and Restart of Play - Page 19 In the event of taking more than five (5) seconds, the kicker is penalized by a 2- minute minor misconduct penalty for delaying the restart. However, that team remains entitled to the restart. New wording In the event of taking more than five (5) seconds, the kicker is penalized by a 2- minute technical offence penalty for delaying the restart. However, that team remains entitled to the restart. Reason Align wording with new offences 4
Rule 12 Fouls and Misconduct - Page 25 The blue card is used to communicate that a player or substitute has received a 2-minute minor misconduct time penalty. The yellow card is used to communicate that a player or substitute has received a double minor misconduct time penalty. The penalty: comprises two separate minor misconduct time penalties may be served by a teammate of a player receiving a second caution in the same match New wording The blue card is used to communicate that a player or substitute has received a 2-minute technical offence time penalty. The yellow card is used to communicate that a player or substitute has received a 2-minute cautionable time penalty. The penalty may be served by a teammate of a player receiving a second caution in the same match Reason Align wording with new offences Rule 12 Fouls and Misconduct - Page 26 Technical Offence Penalties delaying the restart of play New wording delaying the restart of play, with a time count violation Reason There are now two different levels of seriousness for delaying the restart of play. This one is considered a Technical Offence. 5
Rule 12 Fouls and Misconduct - Page 26 Technical Offence Penalties spits on the field of play This has been removed and moved to Cautionable Offences Rule 12 Fouls and Misconduct - Page 26 Technical Offence Penalties any action, which in the opinion of the referee, warrants greater punishment than a free kick or penalty kick This has been removed! This means that there are no more blue cards for Fouls Blue cards are now reserved for Technical Offence Penalties Fouls that require cards will be penalized only with Yellow (caution) and Red (send off) cards. (See chart on page 8) Rule 12 Fouls and Misconduct - Page 26 Cautionable Offences spits on the field of play This has now become a cautionable offence Reason to further discourage spitting on the field of play delaying the restart of play, except for a time count violation This is a new cautionable offence. Reason to properly sanction instances of delaying the restart that are more serious than Technical Offences 6
Rule 12 Fouls and Misconduct - Page 26 Cautionable Offences assessed a 3rd minor misconduct time penalty in the same match This has been removed, as there are no more blue cards for fouls Rule 12 Fouls and Misconduct - Page 27 Serving Time Penalties Previous wording - it is his second caution in the match in this case the player is sent off and a teammate of the player must serve the double minor misconduct time penalty New wording - it is his second caution in the match in this case the player is sent off and a teammate of the player must serve the cautionable time penalty Reason Align wording with new offences Rule 12 Fouls and Misconduct - Page 31 Delayed Calling of Time Penalties Previous wording - None. New wording - All cautionable offences must be recorded on the game sheet, including when the referee has applied the advantage clause. Reason Basically a reminder to referees, as we transition to the new rules Rule 12 Fouls and Misconduct - Page 31 Summary of Time Penalties and Sanctions Previous wording - None. New wording - To assist with the 2014-15 changes, a summary chart has been printed on following page. Reason For clarity 7
Offence Card + Sanction Time Penalty Relief? Delays the restart of play, by a time count violation. Blue 2:00 Yes Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with any kick. Blue 2:00 Yes Handles the ball deliberately, to prevent an opponent from gaining possession of the ball. Yellow + Caution 2:00 Yes Handles the ball deliberately, in an attempt to score a goal. Yellow + Caution 2:00 Yes Receives a 2 nd caution in the same match. Red + Send Off 2:00 No Rule 12 Changes to cards and sanctions Any Rule 12 Free Kick offence (penal) committed in a manner considered by the referee to be reckless (unsporting behavior) Yellow + Caution 2:00 Yes Holds an opponent, to prevent an opponent from gaining possession of the ball. Yellow + Caution 2:00 Yes Delays the restart of play, not by a time count violation. Yellow + Caution 2:00 Yes Spits on the field of play (player only) Yellow + Caution 2:00 Yes All existing cautionable offences, with the exception of assessed a 3 rd minor misconduct penalty, which has been removed. Yellow + Caution 2:00 Yes All existing sending off offences, with the exception of receives a 2 nd caution in the same match. Red + Send Off 5:00 No
Kicks From the Penalty Mark Kicks from the penalty mark is a method for determining the winning team where competition rules require there to be a winning team after a match has been drawn Standardization of the position of all participants All players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must be positioned as follows: o o o Eligible kickers must remain inside the restart line and between the gates outside the team bench area Non-playing personnel and non-eligible kickers must remain on the team s bench Players serving time penalties must remain in the penalty box The goalkeeper who is the teammate of the kicker must remain on the field of play, beside the goal wall at the corner mark designated by the referee Additional Instructions to Referees Rule 1 The Field of Play The purpose of the referee s crease The referee s crease is designed to allow the referee to carry out his duties without interference by the players or team officials. For any breach of the rules regarding this area, an offending player shall be cautioned for unsporting behavior. Breach of the rule by a team official shall result in an initial verbal warning, and if continued, shall result in the team official being removed from the field. Additional Instructions to Referees Rule 3 The Number of Players Substitution Procedure The substitute entering the field of play cannot enter over the boards. Likewise, a player leaving the field of play cannot leave over the boards. Should either of these occur the offending player must be assessed a 2 minute technical offence penalty. 9
Rule 3 The Number of Players Bench Personnel - Behaviour If, in the referee s opinion, a coach or team official is behaving in an irresponsible manner, the official shall be verbally warned and, at the referee s discretion, the coach or team official may be removed from the field. Any coach or non-playing personnel found spitting on the playing surface shall be removed from the field of play and its surrounds. Additional Instructions to Referees Rule 12 Fouls and misconduct Spitting on the playing surface Any player found spitting on the playing surface must be sanctioned with a 2-minute cautionable time penalty. Reasoning behind Rule 12 changes Sanctions fouls according to the same criteria as the FIFA Laws of the Game. Sanctions the player more than the team. Cards should be used to change the behavior of players, and not to control temperature of the game. Simplifies timekeeping duties of assistant referee, allowing them to focus on assisting the referee. Application of changes There are significant changes, especially in Rule 12, which will require an adjustment period as people become familiar. The new rules, with explanations, have been distributed to all districts and leagues that operate boarded soccer. Referees should be ready to apply the new rules at the beginning of the regular season in all divisions. It is advised for the first few weeks of play, that referees call the captains together briefly, prior to the start of the match, and remind them that there have been rule changes, and the most obvious ones relate to no blue cards for fouls. 10