4SRYSA Force Rec – Fall 2024 Game Rules

2017 and older Divisions

Game Length: 2 - 24 minute halves. 5 minute half time.

Game Format: 8 v 8 or 7 v 7 including goalies (if coaches can’t agree which format to play, the referee will flip a coin to determine the format. The away team chooses heads or tails for the coin toss). Only goalies may use their hands while the ball is in play.

Coaches are not allowed on the field to coach and direct players. Coaching must be conducted at their respective

sidelines.

Home Team Advantages: Home team chooses which sideline the teams and families take. The Home team also chooses the game ball.

Offsides: An offensive player is offside if they are nearer to their opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second to last opponent (the last opponent is usually the goalkeeper). This rule is enforced at the offensive halfway line.

Headers: Deliberate heading is NOT allowed in games.

If a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.

Slide tackling is not allowed.

Unlike a direct free kick, a goal may not be scored from directly from an indirect kick; the ball must first come into contact with another player (from either team). If the ball goes into the goal without touching another player, a goal kick is awarded.

Yellow Cards: When the referee shows you a yellow card, it indicates that they have issued you a warning about your actions and need to take more care going forward. The yellow card serves as an effective communication method between yourself and all those that are watching that you have been penalized for your offenses. Players may get a yellow card for the following:

Reckless Tackles: A player who commits reckless tackle infractions if they use excessive force or lack of control over their body, can receive a yellow card for violent conduct.

Dissent: If a player argues with the referee’s signals or shows dissent towards the officials, they can receive a yellow card.

Time-wasting: If a player intentionally wastes time during a game, such as delaying the restart of field of play or taking too long for a throw-in, the referee can caution them with a yellow card.

Persistent Fouling: A player who repeatedly commits foul play throughout the game can be cautioned with a yellow card. This includes small, tactical fouls to stop the opposition from scoring or progressing up the field.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Doing behaviors that show poor sportsmanship, like removing a shirt during celebrations, or conducting a handball in soccer without a reason, can result in a yellow card.

Blue Card: If a player receives two yellow cards in the same game, a blue card will be issued and the player will serve a 10-minute suspension and is eligible to return to the field of play once the 10 minutes have been served. The penalized team will also play down a player for that 10-minute duration.

Red Card: Red cards will be issued to a player (or coach/parent) for starting an altercation (throwing fists, kicking, choking, biting other players/refs/coaches). They will be immediately removed from the field of play and suspended for the following game. If a second red card is issued in the same season, the player (or coach/parent) will be kicked out of the league indefinitely. Red cards can also be issued to players/coaches/parents using vulgar and obscene language. They will be immediately removed from the field of play and suspended for the following game. Depending on the severity of the situation, one red card could result in being suspended from the league indefinitely.

Goal Kicks: When a team is awarded a goal kick, the defending team must retreat past the build out line. Once the ball is put into play, the defending team may pressure the ball. The attacking team may choose to restart play before the defending team retreats to the build out line; when this occurs, the defending team may pressure the ball.

Goal Keeper Possession with Hands: The same process that occurs with goal kicks (defending team retreats past the build out line) must also occur when the goalkeeper has possession of the ball in their hands. Once this occurs, the goalkeeper may distribute the ball by roll, throw, or kick. The defending team may pressure the ball once it’s put back into play.

Kickoffs: The ball must be stationary and on the Center Mark before being kicked. A goal may be scored “directly” against the opponents from the KO. The term “directly” means it does not have to be touched a second time (by any player) before going into the goal for the goal to be awarded.

4 Goal Differential Rule: Whenever there is a goal differential of 4 or more, the team leading can drop a player and play and player down (7v6 or 8v7). The leading team can play back to full strength once the differential has been reduced to 3.

Goal Cap: All players are allowed to score a maximum of 4 goals in a game. Loss of possession and a goal kick will be awarded for any goal(s) beyond the player limit.

No Coaching from Behind the Net: No parents, assistant coaches, or head coaches are allowed to coach goalies from behind the net.

Out of Bounds: Standard rules – throw in from sides, goal kicks and corner kicks.

Substitutions: Any number of substitutions are allowed throughout the game. Substitutions can only occur during stoppage of play. Coaches must notify and get permission from the referee before substituting

Scoring, Points, Standings: Scoring, points, and standings will be kept in the 2016 Division and older. Points will be awarded for wins, ties, losses.

Points:

Win = 3 points

Tie = 1 point

Loss = 0 points

Standings tie-breakers (when teams have the same number of points at the end of week 9) are as follows:

1. Total Wins

2. Head-to-Head Record

3. Goals Allowed

4. Coin Flip

The referees’ decisions are final. No challenges to calls are to be made during the game.

Playing Time: All players are required to play a minimum of 24 minutes (50 percent of game regulation). Please ensure all players receive ample playing time.

Score Reporting: The winning team will report (email) the outcome score to their respective Director. In the event a tie occurs, the home team will report the score. Please have scores reported to the Directors no later than Monday. Unreported scores will be assumed a 0-0 tie.

Ball Size for games: 2013-2017 - Size 4; 2010-2012 - Size 5

Team Uniforms and Equipment: All players must wear team shirts, shin guards and cleats or turf shoes during play. Shin guards must be worn under the socks. No portion of the shin guard should show. Cleats should be soccer or turf cleats. For safety reasons, baseball cleats are not allowed.

2018 and younger Divisions

Game Length: 2 - 24 minute halves. 5 minute half time.

Game Format: 5 v 5 with mini goals. No goalies. No player may use their hands while the ball is in play. A single coach from each team is allowed to be on the field to help direct and coach players.

Home Team Advantages: Home team chooses which sideline the teams and families take. The Home team also chooses the game ball.

Goal Arch: The purpose of the goal arch is to prevent injuries by reducing the risk of players running into the goal. And to prevent
players from playing “goalie” and blocking the goal. Players are not allowed to stand inside the arch to defend the goal or
wait for the ball. A player may enter the arch in an attempt to kick the ball in the goal, or kick the ball out of the goal area.

Build Out Line: Must be roughly half the distance between the end line and the half line and used for goal kicks. All offensive players may be in the offensive half but behind the build out line for goal kicks until the ball is in play.

Offsides: No offsides called.

Headers: Deliberate heading is NOT allowed.

If a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense (an indirect free kick means that a goal can’t be scored unless another player touches the ball after the kick is taken. So, the player taking the indirect kick can’t shoot directly for a goal).

Out of Bounds: All kick-ins from the sides, goal kicks anywhere on the goal line, corner kicks at the corner, and kick-offs are indirect free kicks. Goal kicks may not cross the midfield line in the air. Reattempt goal kick.

Goal Scoring: Goals must be scored from the offensive half of the field. Goals shot from the defensive half are not allowed. The restart is a goal kick by the defensive team. A goal may not be scored off of a kick in after the ball was out of bounds. This should
be treated like an indirect kick meaning someone other than the person kicking the ball in, must make contact with the ball
before it goes in the goal in order for it to count.

Five Yard Rule: In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player’s goal area is closer than five yards, the ball shall be placed five yards from the goal area in line with the place of the penalty.

Penalty and Foul Kicks: 2018 and younger – there are no penalty kicks. All foul kicks are indirect (must touch another player) except for corner kicks. Penalty kicks will be taken from the midfield line.

Rec Rule: Whenever there is a goal differential of 4 or more, the team leading can drop to 4 players and play and player down (4v5). The leading team can play back to full strength once the differential has been reduced to 3.

Goal Cap: All players are allowed to score a maximum of 4 goals in a game. Loss of possession and a goal kick will be awarded for
any goal(s) beyond the player limit.

Scoring, Points: Scores, points, and standings are not kept in 2018 and younger games.

Substitutions: Any number of substitutions are allowed throughout the game. Substitutions should only occur during stop of play.

Ball Size for games: Size 3.

Team Uniforms and Equipment: All players must wear team shirts, shin guards and cleats or turf shoes during play. Shin guards must be worn under the socks. Cleats should be soccer or turf cleats. For safety reasons, no baseball cleats are allowed or any cleats with front toe cleats are not allowed.