WSC INDOOR SOCCER RULES The Welland Soccer Club, as a sanctioned Club under the Ontario Soccer Association will follow the OSA Indoor rules unless otherwise specified below. http://www.ontariosoccer.net/referee-rules RULE 1: GAME DURATION Games will be one 50 minute period. Clock may be stopped at any time at the discretion of the Referee due to serious injury or any other reasonable circumstance. If a team cannot field the minimum number of players within 15 minutes of kick off time, they will forfeit the game 2-0. If the Referee abandons the game, the WSC will determine the outcome of the game. Off-side: Not applicable* RULE 2: NUMBER OF PLAYERS Team will field 7 players ( 6 + GK) for Mens, Womens and Coed. Coed- will field 4 males, 2 females and GK of any gender. Minimum of 2 female field players or game is forfeited, excluding the GK. Team may field more female players if they are short males. Minimum number of players is 4 or game is forfeited. All players must be registered and signed a waiver 48 hours before they play. This ensures that insurance coverage is in effect. Only registered players are allowed on the bench, as well as a maximum of 2 coaches. All spectators must be on the opposite side of the field and not behind the nets. Each Team Rep will sign the game sheet to verify their players on their roster. Any illegal players who participate in the game and are not on the roster will result in a game forfeit. 1
RULE 3 : SUBSTITUTIONS Unlimited Substitutions are permitted on the fly and during any stoppage; however, all substitutions must be made within team s technical area. Technical area is the area in front of the team bench. Any illegal substitutions, including too many players on the field, will be penalized by a yellow card (2 minute) penalty. RULE 4: PLAYER S EQUIPMENT Players shall not wear anything which endangers themselves or other players Jewellery is not permitted and cannot be taped. Jewellery includes earrings, bobby pins, metal hair clips, or anything that may cause injury to players. *Medical ID bracelets and necklaces are permitted*provided that they are fastened securely so as not to bring danger to any other player. Basic compulsory equipment shall consist of shorts, socks, shin guards, appropriate footwear, and a numbered shirt. Goalkeepers must wear colors which are distinguishable from all outfield players and the referee. Shin guards must be completely covered by the socks, made of rubber, plastic or a similar suitable material, and provide a reasonable degree of protection. Screw-in studs are not permitted. Casts are not allowed, even if bubble wrapped. Any hard knee brace must be covered by a soft padded sleeve. A player who is asked to leave the field of play because of defective or dangerous equipment may not re-enter the field of play until the referee is satisfied that the equipment is safe. Pinnies- if team colors clash, wearing of pinnies will be decided by a coin toss by the Referee. 2
RULE 5: THE REFEREE The Authority of the Referee Each match is controlled by a CSW accredited Referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game. The decision of the Referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, is final. Powers and Duties The Referee : Enforces the Laws of the Small Sided Game Ensures that the player s equipment meets the requirements of Rule 4 Stops, suspends or abandons the match, at his/her discretion, for any infringements of the Laws. Stops, suspends or abandons the match because of outside interference of any kind Stops the match if a player is injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play. Takes action again team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may at his/her discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds. Ensures that no unauthorized persons enter the field of play Report in writing to the appropriate authority, any misconduct by players, parents, spectators or other persons, which takes place on the field of play or its vicinity at any time during the game Report in writing all Game Official Assaults to the district association in which he/she resides Stop the game immediately if a player appears to be injured, bleeding or concussed Indicates the restart of the match after it has been stopped. Decides if the field of play and all applicable equipment is suitable RULE 6: START AND RESTART OF PLAY At the beginning of the game, the team which possesses Home status on the schedule shall report to their end of the field and is given ball for kickoff. The Away team shall report to their given area of the field. The ball will be in play when it is kicked and clearly moves (either forward or into own half of field). 3
Should the player taking 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, which is to be taken by a player of the team against which the goal was scored A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-off RULE 7: BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY The ball is OUT of play: When the whole of the ball has crossed the goal line, or touch-line, whether on the ground or in the air When the play has been stopped by the referee When the ball makes contact with any part of the ceiling netting above the playing area. For contact within the penalty area, an indirect free-kick shall be awarded to the opposing team, below the point at which the contact was made. For contact within the goal area, an indirect free-kick shall be awarded to the opposing team on the penalty mark The ball is IN play: At all other times including when it rebounds into play from a goal-post, a cross-bar, or a corner flag post, or referee and remains in the field of play RULE 8: METHOD OF SCORING A goal is scored when the whole of the ball has crossed over the goal-line, between the goal-posts and under the cross-bar, provided it has not been thrown, carried or intentionally propelled by hand or arm, by a player of the attacking team, except by a goalkeeper from within his own penaltyarea The referee shall be the sole judge as to whether a goal has been scored. During the course of play, should any outside agent prevent the ball from passing into the goal or assist the ball into the goal, play shall be stopped. The referee shall restart the game by dropping the ball 4
RULE 9 : FREE-KICK All free kicks will be classified as indirect, except when a penalty kick is awarded When an indirect free kick is awarded, the defending team must keep a distance of 6 yards (5.5M) from the spot where the ball is placed Any slide tackles will be punishable by an indirect free-kick where the offence occurred (exception; keepers in their own penalty area) A slide tackle is defined as a player leaving his feet to challenge for the ball, including sliding into the GK to attempt to score. Players can slide for the ball if no other player is within playing distance. RULE 10: PENALTY-KICK A penalty-kick shall be taken from the penalty-mark. All players, with the exception of the defending goalkeeper and the player taking the kick, shall be outside the penalty-area but within the field of play, not less than 8 yards (7.31M) from the ball until it has been kicked The goalkeeper shall remain on his own goal-line facing the kicker, and between the goal-posts, until the ball has been kicked The player taking the penalty-kick must kick the ball forward. The ball shall be in play when the ball is kicked and moves forward. The player shall not play or touch the ball a second time until it has been played or touched by another player If necessary, the time shall be extended to allow a penalty-kick to be taken. For any infringement of this rule: By a member of the defending team, the kick shall be retaken if a goal has not been scored By a member of the attacking team, if a goal is scored it shall be disallowed and a free-kick awarded to the defending team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred By a member of both teams, the kick shall be retaken whether a goal has been scored or not If, after the kick has been taken, the ball or the goalkeeper is interfered with by an outside agent, the kick shall be retaken 5
RULE 11: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT In cases of Game Official Assault the O.S.A. Discipline Hearing Panel shall be appointed by the District Association with which the accused is registered or with which the club of the accused is affiliated. The District Association's Discipline Hearing Panel shall act as the O.S.A.'s Discipline Hearing Panel in the hearing of such cases. A player, who, in the opinion of the referee, intentionally commits any of the following offences, shall be penalized by the awarding of an indirect free-kick to the opposing team: 1. Kicks of attempts to kick an opponent 2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent 3. Jumps at an opponent 4. Charges an opponent 5. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent 6. Holds an opponent 7. Pushes an opponent 8. Handles the ball deliberately, (except a goalkeeper from within his own penalty area) 9. Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball 10. Spits an opponent *Should a player commit one of the above offences within his own penalty-area, a penalty-kick shall be awarded* Penalties assessed will be as followed: Yellow Card Used to communicate that a player, substitute or substituted player has been cautioned. 2 minute penalty (player must serve full 2 minutes) Cautionable Offences A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following eight offences: - Unsporting behavior - Dissent by word or action - Persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game - Delaying the restart of play 6
- Failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in - Entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee's permission - Deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee's permission - Spitting on facility playing surface A substitute or substituted player is cautioned if he commits any of the following three offences: - Unsporting behavior - Dissent by word or action - Delaying the restart of play Red Card Used to communicate that a player, substitute or substituted player has been sent off. 5 minute penalty (player is ejected from the game and an active teammate must serve full 5 minutes) Sending-Off Offences A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the following seven offences: - serious foul play - violent conduct - spitting at an opponent or person(s) - denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area) - denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick - using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures - receiving a second caution in the same match A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area. Note: Only a player, substitute or substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card. Note: An active teammate may serve a yellow card penalty for the goalkeeper 7
Note: Referees will be instructed to call delayed penalties as follows (when a foul or misconduct is committed which warrants a penalty, and an advantage takes place; the player will be penalized accordingly once the advantage has ended RULE 12: THROW-IN When the whole of the ball has crossed the touch-line, either on the ground or in the air, the ball shall be thrown-in from the point where it left the field of play, by a member of the team opposing that of the player who last played or touched it The player taking the throw-in shall face the field of play and throw the ball from on or behind the touch line The thrower must use both hands and deliver the ball from behind and over their head If the player taking the throw-in touches 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 At the taking of a throw-in all opponents must be at least 2 yards (1.8M) from the ball A goal may not be scored directly from a throw-in. RULE 13: GOAL-KICK When the whole of the ball has crossed the goal-line, either on the ground or in the air, excluding that portion between the goal-posts, having last been played or touched by a member of the attacking team, a goal-kick shall be awarded to the defending team. At the taking of a goal-kick, all opponents shall be outside the penalty-area until it has been kicked into play. The ball shall be in play when it has traveled directly beyond the penalty-area If the player taking the goal-kick plays or touches 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 A goal may not be scored directly from a goal-kick 8
RULE 14: CORNER-KICK When the whole of the ball has crossed the goal-line, either on the ground or in the air, excluding that portion between the goal-posts, 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 within the corner-arc nearest to where the ball crossed the goal-line. All opponents shall be not less than 6 yards (5.5M) from the ball until it has been kicked. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves If the player taking the corner-kick plays or touches the ball a second time before it has been played or touched by another player, free-kick shall be awarded to the opposing team A goal may not be scored directly from a corner kick 9