SPRING LAKE SPORTS LEAGUE
SOCCER PROGRAM RULES
Fall 2008
RULE I
SOCCER PROGRAM ORGANIZATION
1.1
The Spring Lake Sports League 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 Spring Lake Sports League. 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 Kindergarten
Boys Grade 1
Boys Grades 2-3
Boys Grades 4-5
Girls Kindergarten
Girls Grade 1
Girls Grades 2-3
Girls Grades 4-5
Coed Grades 6-8
1.3 Each league is managed by a League Commissioner
who is appointed by the Soccer Program Director. 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, one or more Assistant
Coaches, and a Team Parent. 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, Patti Darmali.
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 given them instructions and flags.
1.7
League Commissioners are responsible for overseeing
the operation of the leagues and games. League
Commissioners should endeavor to attend as many 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.
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.
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 maximum number of players on the field,
including the goalie, is shown on Attachment I.
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
short-handed 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.
3.10
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.
Kindergarten, Boys 1, Girls
1 Rule does not apply; coach
will instruct players
on correct play.
Boys 2-3, Girls 2-3
A warning with instruction (and a rethrow) is given by
the referee for games 1-3. Compliance will be enforced from
4th game on.
Boys 4-5, Girls 4-5, Coed
6-8 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, an indirect
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 (kindergarten and 1st 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;
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 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 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 ball
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 3 points
Tie 1 point
Loss 0 points
3.23 Playoffs will be played in the Boys 4-5, Girls 4-5,
and Coed 6-8 leagues only. 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:
Kindergarten
No standings or scores reported. Trophies marked “Winner”
will be awarded to each participant.
Boys 1-3, Girls 1-3 No standings. Trophies
awarded to all participants as “Winner’
Boys 4-5, Girls 4-5,
First Place trophies awarded to overall season winner.
Coed
6-8 Playoff trophies awarded to 1st
and 2nd place.
SPECIAL
RULES FOR PLAYOFF GAMES
4.1
Team standings will be based on total points at the
end of the season as awarded under
Rule 3.23.
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 Schedule 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
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 – 7/28/08
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