U7 to U8 Games: Three 15 minute thirds (3mins breaks)
U9 to High School: Two 25 minute halves (5min halftime)
Adult Games: Two 25 minute halves (2min halftime)

All refs MUST keep the schedule on time. Clock only stops for serious injuries. Clock stoppage is at the referees discretion.

Adult teams are not required to switch sides at half-time.  Youth teams should always switch sides to stay consistent with outdoor league rules. 

U7 to U8 Games: 5v5 (includes GK)
U9 to High School: 7v7 (includes GK)
Adult & Co-Ed*: 7v7 indoors and 9v9 outdoors (includes GK)

*2 females must be on the field at all times for adult co-ed

Teams must have 5 players indoors/7 players outdoors available to play the game. If a team does not have the minimum eligible players, they can borrow from another team but the result will be a 6-0 forfeit in favor of their opponents.

Coach age- All youth games (Including high school) must have someone over the age of 21 on the sidelines at all times coaching the game, if not the game will be abandoned and forfeit.

There are no restrictions on the number of subs a team can make. All subs will be "on the fly", this means teams can rotate their players as the game is live. Incoming players must wait on the sideline until they can touch the exiting player.

Cleats, turfs, or flats can be worn.

Shin guards are required for all divisions. 

All items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands, watches etc.) are forbidden and must be removed. Using tape to cover jewelry is not permitted.

Allowed at U12 and older according to USSF rules.

Youth: All free kicks will follow normal free kick rules; indirect or direct.

The goalkeeper may distribute the ball by:

Roll, throw, or put the ball on the ground and pass it. Ball cannot be bouncing when kicked.

Throw-ins will be used to return the ball to play after ball has left field by crossing the touchline.

Adult: All free kicks will be indirect (IFK),except for a penalty kick. The wall must be 5 yards from the site of infraction.

The goalkeeper may distribute the ball by:

Drop-kick, roll, throw, or put the ball on the ground and pass it. Ball cannot be bouncing when kicked.

Kick-ins will be used to return the ball to play after ball has left field by crossing the touchline.

All levels: No punting is allowed. Violations result in an indirect free kick awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the infraction. Drop kicks are not allowed in youth leagues.

Any ball that hits the ceiling, Track or any other building component will result in an indirect free kick from the spot where the ball hit the ceiling with the exception of a shot that was going to be a goal kick or corner.  That instance will still result in a GK or CK.

Slide tackles are NOT permitted and will result in a free kick (indirect free kick).  Sliding away from opponents is acceptable (e.g, saving a ball from going out of bounds with no defensive pressure on you). In addition, any sliding violation that occurs in the penalty box by the defending team will result in a penalty kick. Goalkeepers may slide inside the penalty area but may not slide outside the penalty area. 

Spitting on the field will result in a yellow card.

There is no offsides.

Players

Zero tolerance policy for yelling or arguing with the referee

Yellow cards result in a 2-minute ban and the player cannot be replaced.

Red Cards result in a player being removed without the option to be replaced.  Red Cards will be reviewed and additional sanctions/suspensions may be applied.

Coaches

Referees are encouraged to use yellow and red cards to address coaches behavior in the game.

If a coach is given a straight Red card or two yellow cards resulting in a red card, the coach must leave the facility and not return for the rest of that day. A spectator may take over coaching the remainder of the game, if there is no coach available the game is abandoned resulting in a forfeit for the team that received the red card. Please note that any Coach that receives a red card will not be allowed to coach or attend anymore games for the rest of that day and will also receive a minimum one week ban from attending any games at the facility.

Referees can detail any issues from the game in their report. Sanctions can be handed out to coaches after reports are reviewed at the discretion of the league admin.

Spectators

It is the coaches responsibility to address the spectators if they are dissenting too much. If the Spectator sideline is shouting too much referees will go over to the coaches and tell them to go over and warn the spectators. If after the warning the shouting does not stop then the spectators must be told to leave. Referee’s will go over to the coaches and explain which spectator or spectators need to leave, the coach should then address the spectators and tell them to leave. If they do not leave the game will be abandoned.

All U7 to U8 games will be recorded as 0-0 - we do not consider this a competitive age group (just for fun!). Referees are responsible for recording (and uploading) the score reports into the US Officials schedule.

No team is to win by more than a 6 goal differential, this includes the score being displayed on the score board and reporting.

Forfeiture Rule: Forfeits will count as 6-0

If a game is tied at end of regulation time. Game goes directly to PKS - PK spot is the top of the goal box (middle of goal). Only Players on the field at the end of the game may be eligible to take PK's.  Normal FIFA PK Shootout Rules apply.

If a penalty kick is awarded and time expires before it can be taken, the kick will still be allowed. However, the ball becomes dead immediately after the kick, and no rebounds or follow-up plays are permitted. This includes any instance where the ball rebounds off the post or crossbar, returns to the field of play, contacts the goalkeeper, and then enters the goal — such goals will not be counted.

Standings will be determined by points:

• 3 points for a win
• 1 point for a tie
• 0 points for a loss.

If teams are tied in points, the tiebreak will be determined by:

1. Goal differential
2. Wins,
3. Goals for

All league fees are due in full by week 3 of the session. If balance is not paid in full by week 3, all player balances are transferred to coaches/captain's account and the card on file will be charged for the remaining balance. Failure to pay balance by end of week 3 could result in forfeiture of future games.

All teams are required to have a complete roster by the 1st game.

Roster Protest Procedure:

• If a coach has a concern about an opposing team's roster, they are to request a roster check with the referee.
• Referee will talk to opposing coach about roster concern and allow the opportunity for coach to explain.
• Coach 1 has the opportunity to accept the explanation and play the game
  as is, or continue with the roster protest. If the game is played as is, the game is not eligible for any protest after the fact.
• If original coach is not happy with explanation or has further concern, the
  referee will request a roster from front desk and check against players on field at the next stoppage of play (half time, or end of game).
• If a coach is found to be having players that are not on the roster playing, they are subject to a forfeit.
• Coaches are allowed to pick up players for the purpose of fielding a team last minute. The opposing coach can either approve the replacement players or be given a forfeit. The game will be played either way.

Instructions on how to roster teams will be sent to coaches and made available on the website

All games will go on as scheduled unless Roots Athletic Center closes the facility due to safety concerns. ALL facility closures will be posted on our website and Facebook page. Teams that do not show up to scheduled games are subject to a forfeit.

U12 and under: Size 4

U13 and up: Size 5