GAME RULES: REGULAR SEASON & POST SEASON

1. BENCHES
A. Team benches will be located on the opposite side of the field from spectators
B. The home team will have choice of bench position on the player’s side of the field

2. EQUIPMENT
A. The official Ball is a #5 Soccer Ball.
B. Both teams will provide a regulation ball.
C. Shin Guards and socks completely covering the shin guards are mandatory.
D. Team jersey – number assigned specifically to each player for the duration of the season. Jerseys must be identical except for the numbers and not “Homemade”.
E. Soccer cleats with rubber tips are mandatory – Metal tipped cleats, baseball, softball, or football cleats/shoes are not allowed.

3. GAME/TIME
A. Two (2) Thirty minute halves with a running clock stopping only for
a. Injuries
b. Referee’s/GBYSA Official discretion
c. 5 minute half time
B. Games that start late due to the late arrival of a team or referee, may start up to 10 minutes late but will end at the scheduled time. The remaining game time will be divided evenly into halves.

4. GAME PLAY
A. Seven (7) players per team, six (6) field players and a goalkeeper.
B. Under no circumstances will more than four (4) male field players be allowed.
C. A minimum of five (5) players per team are required to begin a Game. At least one
(1) female field player is required to be on the field at all times.
D. A team playing without at least one female player will forfeit the game.
E. Forfeit is required for any team unable to field a team within 10 minutes of game time.
a. Substitutions are made during stoppage of play and/or ball out of bounds.
b. Substitutions are not allowed on the fly and must be done at midfield after a player has left the field.

5. ROSTERS

A. Over 18 Division 1
a. Men must be 18 years of age or older as of the first scheduled game of the season.
b. Women must be at least 18 years of age or older as of the first schedule game of the season.
c. All players must be registered to a single team.
d. A Division 1 player (male or female) may not play for a Division 2 team.

B. Over 40 Division 2
a. Men must be 40 years of age or older as of the first scheduled game of the season.
b. Women must be at least 18 years of age or older as of the first schedule game of the season.
c. All players must be registered to a single team.
d. Male players in this Division are not eligible for play on any other team in any division, without consent from the opposing team.
e. Teams may share female players from other Division 2 teams and may do so without consent from the opposing team manager. Female players must declare a primary team on the roster. During playoffs, if a female player’s teams face each other, she will play for her primary team only. Female players must have been on the roster and/or played at least 3 games during the regular season with that team in order to play with that team during playoffs. Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis.

6. ISSUES / COMPLAINTS

All issues and or complaints must be presented to the League Administrators by
the team manager or assistant only and no sooner than 24 hours after the game in question. Issues will not be heard while a game is in progress.

7. GAME RULES

A. All referees’ decisions are final and cannot be challenged.
B. Slide tackles are not allowed by any player on the field at any time, and will result in a YELLOW or RED CARD at the referees’ discretion.
C. Hostile player contact during or after a play or on the side line will result in a RED CARD, a suspension from the league, and the involvement of law enforcement if necessary.
D. A goal kick or goalkeeper’s punt/throw must bounce or touch another player before crossing midfield. Failure to do so will result in a free kick for the opposing team.
E. All free kicks outside the penalty box are indirect, except Corner Kicks.
F. Opposing players must stand eight (8) yards away from the ball on an indirect kick.
G. Penalty Kicks will be spotted 10 yards from the goal line for both Men & Women.
a. Scoring is same as for regular play
H. Fouls and rules of misconduct will be determined by F.I.F.A rules and the GBYSA Adult League Supplemental rules as well as the Adult League Behavioral Guidelines.

8. CARD RULES

I. Cards issued by the game referee can not be contested and will not be overturned.
J. The team manager may make comments at the end of the game and those comments will be noted on the game report, for use by the ALC in assessing possible suspensions or ejections from the league.
K. Red and Yellow cards will be counted throughout the season and playoffs. Cards will be assigned a point value. Red cards will have a value of two (2) points and a Yellow card will have a point value of one (1). These points will be counted as follows:
a. 2 points or more on an individual player during a league game will constitute an ejection of that player from that game and at least one additional game, starting with the next scheduled game played. Additional game suspension(s) may be imposed, depending on the infraction. The player may not be replaced on the field. 2 points or more accrued during league games will result in a one-game player suspension starting with the next scheduled game.
b. Any player who receives 5 points or more in a season will be ineligible to play the remainder of the current season. The player may not be invited back to the league, depending on the infraction(s). The player will not be allowed to attend any further games for that season. The player may NOT be replaced on the roster.
c. Any team accumulating 10 points or more during one season will not be allowed to finish that season and will be suspended from the following season as well.

L. The GBYSA ALC will review, determine, and have final say in the length and term of all suspensions.

9. GAME CONDUCT

A. Continual and excessive arguing of calls will not be allowed. This behavior will result in a Yellow or Red Card being issued to the individual.
B. Red Card: Players will be ejected from the game and must leave the field playing areas. Suspension from further play will be in accordance with the GBYSA Behavioral Guidelines as determined by the GBYSA ALC
C. Referees have the option to remove unruly spectators from the field of play.

10. SUSPENSIONS

A. If a player is under suspension, they are not eligible to play with any team.

11. SCORING

A. Division 1: All goals – 1 point
B. Division 2: Goals by a male player – 1 point. Goals by a female player – 2 points.
C. All goals that occur by a deflection off a defending player will count according to whomever played the ball.
D. Own goals will always count as 1 point, regardless of whomever played the ball.

12. TIE GAMES

A. Regular season games can end in a tie – no shoot outs
B. Playoff games cannot end in a tie
a. 2 five (5) minute halves.
b. Penalty kicks, 5 per team, then alternating kicks until a winner is determined.

13. STANDINGS

A. In the event two teams have equal records, their placement will be determined by:
a. Goal differential – goals scored minus goals scored against.
b. Most goals scored during the season.