Rules

Wearhouse Soccer League Rules

Rules Of The Game

The following is a comprehensive list of rules and regulations relating to 5-a-side soccer at Wearhouse.

Rosters

Must be submitted before the start of the season.

Players not listed on the roster from league start date, without a waiver on file, and not deemed active players within regular season, will not be permitted to appear in high stakes, playoff or Final matches.

Players can only play for one team in each league night. Playing on different nights is permitted.

Team Structure

There will be a maximum of 5 players per team on the field at any one time.

Each team may field 4 outfield players and 1 goalkeeper on the field at any one time Substitutions.

Substitutions are unlimited during the game and may be made ‘on the fly’.

Outgoing substitutes must leave the field of play before the replacement enters the playing area. The oncoming players are active immediately and can receive the ball.

Substitutes must stand outside the pitch perimeter and spectators must not enter the field of play under any circumstance.

A substitution of the goalkeeper must be authorized by the referee.

Game Structure

The match will consist of two equal halves (2×20). The first half will begin with one team taking a center; the second half will begin with the other team taking a center.

After a goal has been scored the game will be re-started by the team who conceded the goal taking a center.

Half-time will be a straight change around (as time permits, referees may grant a 2-3 min break).

If stoppage time is deemed appropriate by the referee, a maximum of 1-minute (cumulative) will be added.

Referees will each hold game time individually. It is the referee’s discretion to implement stoppage time.

Lateness to a scheduled match will result in a penalty against the offending team:

5-minute lateness will result in a 1-goal deficit 10-minute lateness will result in a 2-goal deficit.
15-minute lateness will result in a forfeited match.

Field Restrictions

There are two marked goal/penalty areas on the pitch.

All players are allowed to enter and score inside the goal area. The GK is not allowed to use his hands outside of the goal area.

Pass back – passing back to the keeper is permitted, however they cannot pick up the ball GK can throw over the halfway line (no drop kicks).

General Play

There are no offsides.
A goal may be scored from any point within the field of play.
Goals cannot be scored directly from a sideline kick-in or directly from the kick–off.

Re-Starting The Game:

The goalkeeper must return the ball into play by throwing or kicking it out of his/her area The goalkeeper has a maximum of 5-seconds to return the ball into play.
Goalkeeper cannot pick up or touch a back pass with his/her hands.
If the ball goes out of play over the end line / board.
If the defending goalkeeper deflects the ball, a goal kick will be awarded.
Otherwise, a goal kick or a corner kick will be awarded, depending on which team had the final touch.
Corner kick will be played by the attacking team from the center line.
If the ball goes out of play over the side-board (& hits the net) a kick-in will be awarded depending on which team had the final touch.
The kick-in will be played from the spot where the ball went out of play

Free Kicks And Penalties

Opposition players must be at least seven feet (2 steps) from where any free kick is taken Fouls – Direct free kick.
Ball hits the netting (top or side) – In-direct free kick.
All other free kicks – In-direct Penalty Kicks Procedure.
A penalty kick will be placed seven feet from the top of the goal area directly in the center of the goal.
The goalkeeper must begin by standing on the goal line and may move only laterally before the kick is taken.
There is no run-up to the ball. The kicker’s plant foot must be placed before the kick and remain stationary.
The rest of the players must be outside the boundaries of the penalty box and behind the ball until the kick is taken.

Player Safety And Fouls

Infringement of these rules will result in a Direct Free Kick:

A foul occurs if a player (in addition to the previously mentioned situations): Holds an opponent.
Plays in a dangerous manner.
Impedes the progress of an opponent (“Obstruction”).
Prevents the Goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his/her hands.

And a foul occurs when a player commits the following in a manner that the Referee considers careless, serious, reckless, or involving excessive force:

Kicks an opponent Trips an opponent.
Jumps at an opponent Charges an opponent Strikes or elbows an opponent Pushes an opponent Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
Leverage: Using the body of a teammate or any part of the field to gain an advantage Encroachment: Entering the protected area of an opposing player taking a Free Kick (after initial Warning).
Dissent: Referee Abuse.
Other: Behavior which, in the Referee’s opinion, does not warrant another category of penalty(e.g., taunting, foul language)

Boarding

Unnecessary roughness on the boards will not be tolerated.

‘Boarding’ is not permitted, including the corners (‘Boarding’ is defined by double-teaming a player against the boards). Additionally, players may not grab onto the boards with both hands. Any player that uses the corner for time wasting will lose possession of the ball – a free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

No slide tackles.

Verbal Warnings will be continuously given by the referee:

“Boards”: for someone to step away from the boards.
“Corner”: for someone to give space or to get away from the corner.
“Space”: to prevent Encroachment.
“Time”: to prevent time wasting, quick restarts of play should always take precedence Wearing any form of jewelry (including watches) is not permitted during play Wearing any form of jewelry (including watches) is not permitted during play.

Wearhouse strongly recommends that all players wear shin guards, but this is only compulsory in regards to youth participants.

All coaches and players must read and sign Wearhouse’s liability waiver prior to playing

Disciplinary

The purpose of the rules of Wearhouse Soccer is to provide a guideline to describe the way the game is played.

No one may intentionally violate the rules.

Yellow Cards

A player who receives a YellowCard must leave the field of play for 2-minutes If a Yellow Card is issued it will result in a 2-minute man-down penalty Cautionable Offenses: theReferee issues a Yellow Card for reckless fouls and for unsportsmanlike behavior by any non-player personnel

Provoking Altercation: Making physical contact with an opponent(e.g., pushing or poking),short of fighting, or throwing the ball in an unsportsmanlike fashion

Red Cards

A player who receives a Red Card must leave the field of play immediately and must stay out for the remainder of the game.

A Red Card results in a 5-minute man down penalty. Red Card suspensions will be issued per Sofive’s policies and at the discretion of Management.

Ejection able Offenses: A player receives a Red Card for fouls, which the Referee considers violent or committed with excessive force, and for:

Repeated Warnings Violent Conduct.
Elbowing: Intentionally Elbowing an opponent.
Vicious Tackling: A tackle from the side or from behind directly into one or both legs of an opponent, seriously endangering him/her.

Fighting

Leaving Team Bench or PenaltyArea to engage in a confrontation with the opposition or a Game Official

Extreme Unsportsmanlike Behavior: Committing particularly despicable behavior, including:

Spitting at an opponent or any other person.
Persistent use of extremely abusive language or behavior toward a Game Official.
Bodily contact with a Game Official in Dissent.

Suspension

A player who is sent off may receive a suspension for future games

A player who receives a red card for violent conduct will be reported to Sofive management with the possibility of the offense escalating to a longer ban.

Regardless of issued cards, in the case of serious foul play or foul/abusive language, the suspension could be extended, should Sofive deem necessary.

Teams that continue to have poor player discipline may be removed from the competition No reimbursement will be provided to a suspended / banned player or team.

Disputes

The Referee’s decision on all on-field matters is final and discussion will not be entertained either on or off the field. Further, there is not an appeals or protest process.

Dissent and bad mouthing will not be allowed.

The Referee’s jurisdiction on disciplinary matters will apply until players have entered the changing rooms.

Players/Coaches repeatedly disputing decisions may be subject to further disciplinary action.