Soccer Rules - Spring 2008

• Registration begins on February 18th.  Entry deadline is March 7th.  Registration is on a first come first served basis, space is limited so register early.

• To register a team, please come to the Campus Recreation Administrative Suite in the Campus Recreation Center. 

• You must fill out the registration form and pay the $90 entry fee.

• Space is limited so register early.

• League play begins April 20th

  • Sundays - Fraternity

  • Mondays - Coed

  • Tuesdays - Men’s Independent

  • Wednesday - Sorority, Women 

  • Thursday - Men’s Independent, Coed

• Entry spots are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

  • Sunday league play is from 6pm - Midnight

  • Monday - Thursday from 7:00 - 12:00 pm

• ALL games will be played in Gettler Stadium.

• Teams may have up to 20 people on there roster.
• All players your roster must be a CAMPUS RECREATION CENTER MEMBERS.
  • Full time students are automatically members of the Campus Recreation Center. 
  • Part time, co-op, branch students and faculty/staff must purchase a membership at the Campus Recreation Center to be eligible for intramural play. For membership information please visit the Campus Recreation Center Member Services Desk or online. 
• A player who plays on your team in the regular season is eligible for playoffs you cannot add players to your roster during playoffs. A player may only play on one men’s or women’s team and one coed team.

• April 9th or 10th at 5pm in the CRC Classrooms. 
• You must have a representative at one of these meetings. 
• NOTE: Any team that does not have a representative at one of these meetings will not qualify for playoffs.  
• All play is governed by National High School Federation rules except where Campus Recreation Intramural Sports has made adaptations.

1. Player Eligibility
   1. Participants may not play on more than 1 team. 
      1. Exception: A person may play for a men’s or women’s team and a coed team.
      2. Penalty for playing on two teams: participant receives red card and is suspended for two games.
      3. Captain receives red card if uncooperative.
      4. Multiple infractions will result in stiffer penalties.
   2. Regular season - A team will default all games in which an ineligible player participated/checked-in.
   3. Playoffs - A team will forfeit the game in which the ineligible player was detected. No prior playoff games will be affected.
   4. Players MUST bring and check in using their own UC ID card. 
      1. A player using someone else’s or a fake ID receives a red card and is suspended for a minimum of two games.
      2. Captain receives red card if uncooperative. Multiple infractions will result in stiffer penalties.
      3. The ID used is confiscated and turned over to Public Safety and the Judicial Affairs Officer is notified.
2. Players - A team will play with a maximum of 7 players (minimum of 5) on the field, one of which must be a goalkeeper. Coed teams must have at least 3 women on the field at all times, except in the case of playing with 5 when only 2 females are required.
3. Game Equipment 
   1. Each player, except the goalie, is required to wear a numbered jersey or T-shirt which is not duplicated on her/his team, during the entire game. 
      1. Teams are encouraged to provide their own jerseys or shirts.  Numbers on the back of the shirt must be at least 5" in height and 3" in height on the front of the jersey. 
      2. Players must be in athletic attire. 
      3. Street clothes may not be worn.
   2. If both teams wear similar color shirts, the visiting team (listed on the left-hand side of the score sheet) must wear the UC-issued jerseys.  
   3. All players must wear proper athletic footwear. Rubber molded cleats are the only cleats permitted. The decision of the on-duty supervisor is final.
   4. Goalkeepers must wear colors which distinguish him/her from the other players and referee. 
   5. NO JEWELERY is allowed. No dangerous apparel or equipment is allowed (i.e., casts, knee braces with exposed metal, hats, bandanas, or jewelry.)
4. Field Markings - The perimeter outline of the soccer field is marked with orange cones.  
5. Substitutions - A player must check in at the halfway line before the substitution is made.  Substitutions will only be made:
   1. After a goal has been scored.
   2. On an injury timeout.
   3. When the ball is out of play and has crossed the goal or touch line.
   4. Other players may change place with the goalkeeper, provided the referee is informed before the change is made and only if this is done during stoppage in the game. 
   5. Teams not in possession of the ball may substitute during a throw-in or corner kick if the team in possession of the ball is also substituting.
6. Protests:
   1. Judgment calls cannot be protested. A Team Captain may protest a referee’s rule interpretation. 
   2. The protesting team captain will petition the referees to suspend play and request that the Intramural Supervisor make a ruling.  .
   3. A protest must be made at the time of the alleged infraction and prior to continuation of play or it will be disallowed.
   4. All ruling are in effect from the point of discovery.
   5. Player eligibility may be protested by putting down a $5 bond and a written protest of the player or players in question. The Campus Recreation Center will research the matter and make a ruling. If the protest is upheld then the game would a forfeit and the bond money returned. However, if the research ends inconclusive or denied, then the bond is kept by Campus Recreation Center.
7. Forfeit/Default
   1. Forfeit time is 10 minutes after the scheduled game time, not 10 minutes after the previous game has completed. All teams should be ready to play by this time.
      1. For 1-5minutes late the other team gets 2 goals and the ball.
      2. For 6-9 minutes late the other team gets 4 goals and the ball.
      3. 10 minutes is a forfeit
      4. To qualify for playoffs after a forfeit you must pay the reinstatement fee by Wednesday, May 14, 2008
      5. A team that forfeits twice will not qualify for playoffs. 
   2. Default: A team unable to play or reschedule its game is allowed one default during the quarter. 
      1. To default, the Captain of the defaulting team must either come to the Campus Recreation Administrative Office or give written notice to the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled game or send notice via email to intramural@uc.edu. 
      2. The Captain must bring her/his UC photo ID when defaulting. 
      3. A team may not default by phone. 
      4. If this procedure is followed, the team will receive a loss but will not forfeit or be disqualified from the playoffs. 
      5. Less than a 48 hour notice will result in a forfeit. 
   3. Reinstatement Fee is due by NOON on Wednesday, May 14 2008 at the Campus Recreation Center Administrative Suite.

1. Duration - The length of the game is two-18 minute halves. Period intervals will be 1 minutes.
   1. A running clock will be used for the entire game except it will stop for injuries (at referee’s discretion) and time-outs during the last one minute of the second half.
   2. During the regular season, there are no overtime periods if the score is tied at the end of regulation.
   3. During playoffs, time will be extended to permit a penalty kick at or after the expiration of a normal period.
   4. Each team will receive two thirty-second time-out per game.
2. Ball in Play - A goal can be scored direct from a kick-off.
   1. Start of game –
      1. The referee shall hold a pre-match coin toss. 
      2. During the coin toss the winner will determine which side of the field they wish to defend or if they want to kickoff at the start of the game. 
      3. Each player shall be in his/her own half of the court and every member of the opposing team shall remain behind their own violation line until the ball is kicked off; the ball shall not be deemed in play until it has traveled half  the distance of its own circumference. 
      4. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.
   2. After a goal - The game shall be restarted in like manner by a player of the team scored upon.
   3. Restarting play after the end of each period - Teams shall change ends and the kick-off taken by a player of the opposite team to the player who kicked off the previous period.
   4. Other temporary suspensions of play - The referee shall drop the ball at the spot when play was suspended, and it shall be restarted with an indirect free kick by the team in possession of the ball prior to the suspension.                 
3. Ball Out of Play - The ball is out of play if:
   1. It has wholly crossed the perimeter line.
   2. The game has been stopped by the referee.
4. Ball In Play - The ball is in play at all other times, from the start of the game to the finish, including:
   1. Rebounds off the referee when he/she is in the field of play.
   2. In the event of a supposed infringement of the rules.
5. Scoring - A goal is scored when the entire ball has passed over the goal line, provided it has not been thrown, carried, intentionally propelled by the hand or arm by a player of the attacking side, except in the case of the goalkeeper provided she/he is within his/her own penalty box.
6. Major Fouls and Misconduct - A penalty of a direct free kick to be taken by the opposing team from the place where the offense occurred, unless the offense is committed by a player in his/her opponents' goal area, in which s/he is awarded a penalty kick where  the referee places the ball. Major offenses include:
   1. Kicking
   2. Striking
   3. Dissent
   4. Tripping
   5. Holding
   6. Handling the ball
   7. Jumping at an opponent
   8. Pushing
   9. Charging from behind - ejection
   10. Charging violently - ejection
7. Minor Fouls and Misconduct - A player committing a minor offense shall be penalized by the award of an indirect free-kick to be taken by the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred. Minor offenses include:
   1. Dangerous play
   2. Obstruction
   3. Delay of game
8. Penalty Kicks - Should a player of the defending team intentionally commit one of the above ten penal offenses within his/her own penalty area; she/he shall be penalized by a penalty kick. If any of the offenses are deemed by the referee to be of a serious nature, she/he shall be assessed a red card and be ejected from the game and cannot be replaced.
9. Free Kicks
   1. When a player is taking a direct or an indirect free kick inside his/her own penalty area, all of the opposing players shall remain outside the area, and shall be at least ten yards from the ball while the kick is being taken.
   2. The ball shall be in play immediately after it has traveled half of its own circumference and is beyond the penalty area. 
   3. The goalkeeper shall not receive the ball into his/her hands until it has first passed outside his/her own penalty area.
   4. If the ball is not kicked directly into play beyond the penalty area, the kick shall be retaken. 
   5. When a player is taking a direct or an indirect free kick outside his/her own penalty area, all of the opposing players shall be at least 10 yards from the ball, until it is in play, unless they are standing on their own goal line, from the ball, between the orange cones. 
   6. The ball shall be in play when it has traveled half the distance of its own circumference. 
   7. If a player of the opposing side encroaches into the penalty area, or is within 10 yards of the ball, before a free kick is taken, the referee shall delay the taking of the kick until compliance with the rule. If, on the request of the referee, the player does not comply she/he shall be cautioned.
10. Restrictions for Goalkeeper
    1. A goalkeeper may bounce the ball for up to six seconds before releasing the ball. Penalty is Delay of Game, indirect free kick.
    2. A goalkeeper must distribute the ball within six seconds after gaining control of it. Penalty is Delay of Game, indirect free kick.
    3. A goalkeeper may not set the ball down and then pick it up again using his/her hands.
    4. The ball may not be passed to the keeper's hands from the neutral zone by a member of his/her own team. This includes a  series of passes among teammates back to the keeper's hands. If this rule is violated, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the offended team at the point of the infraction..
    5. A goalkeeper may not bring either knee above the waist in an offensive manner to protect himself/herself as it could bring harm to the other players. Penalty depends on the severity, could result in and ejection. 
11. Delay of game penalty - If any player, in the referee's opinion, intentionally puts the ball out of play to delay the game, play shall be stopped and an indirect kick awarded to the opposing team. Goalkeepers will not be considered to be in violation of this rule when they deflect the ball by hand over the perimeter line for a corner kick, provided such play is made from within the goal area.
12. Slide Tackling - is not permitted. Penalty is a direct kick from the point of the infraction and a yellow or red card will be given to the offender depending on the severity of the slide tackle. If a second infraction occurs the offender will automatically be given a red card and ejected from the game.             
13. Off sides - there is no offsides in intramural soccer.                   
14. Advantage – This is a discretionary judgment which allows an official to permit play to continue rather than stopping play to administer the foul. This concept is based on the premise that the foul did not put the offended team at a disadvantage, or the foul, if called, may take away a favorable opportunity for the offended team. The foul may be subsequently called if the advantage does not materialize.

  III. Conduct and Sportsmanship

1. Sportsmanship Ratings
   1. In order for a team to qualify for post-season playoffs, it must have a “B” average sportsmanship rating during the regular season. 
   2. Sportsmanship ratings will be based on the following criteria (listed below). 
   3. Rough play, improper behavior, and abusive language will not be tolerated. 
   4. Penalties for rough play are sport specific and will be enforced in addition to un-sportsmanship penalties. 
   5. Team Captains are responsible for their player's and spectator's actions prior to, during and following the game. 
   6. A Yellow/Red card system will be used to control conduct. 
   7. A Yellow card equals 1 point while a Red card equals 2 points. 
   8. Yellow or Red cards may be issued at any time.
   9. Identification of players or spectators is considered the responsibility of the Captain. 
   10. Failure to reveal a person's identity will result in a Red card for the Captain. 
   11. Team Captains who cannot or will not control their sidelines and/or spectators will be issued a RED card and ejected.
2. Individual Player Sportsmanship Ratings
   1. A player who has accumulated 2 points under the Yellow/Red card system will be declared ineligible to participate in her/his team's next scheduled contest. 
   2. Any player earning a total of 3 points will be suspended for the next 4 games, which may carry-over into the next quarter.   Please see the Intramural Sports handbook for the sportsmanship criteria.
3. A team which receives a "D" rating will be suspended from competition until its Captain meets with the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports.
4. The Campus Recreation Office reserves the right to enforce additional penalties against players and teams receiving Yellow/Red cards.
   1. Two red cards in a game by the same team causes the game to be forfeited.

  IV. Playoffs

1. All teams will qualify for the playoffs unless they have been disqualified (see below). 
2. Teams will be “seeded” in playoff brackets nearest to their final place in the standings (e.g., first place team plays the last place team and so forth). 
3. When possible, cross-matching leagues will be done. 
4. Every attempt will be made to play playoff games on the regular day of play, however, because of weather conditions and a limited playing season, playoff games may be scheduled for days other than that of the regular season.
5. Only one of the below listed criteria must be met for disqualification. Team disqualification from the playoffs includes:
   1. No representative at the pre-season Captain’s meeting.
   2. One forfeited game during the season without paying the reinstatement fee or two forfeits.
   3. Team sportsmanship average rating for the season.
6. Special Contest Situations
   1. When a contest is not rescheduled due to a rainout, power failure, etc., neither team will receive a sportsmanship rating. Similarly, a team winning a contest by forfeit receives no sportsmanship rating.
   2. If a game is rained out one time it will NOT be rescheduled. If games get rained out back to back weeks every effort will be made to reschedule one of the weeks of play. 
7. Sportsmanship Ratings and Playoff Competition
   1. A team must achieve at least a "B" average rating for all regular season games to be eligible for the playoffs.
   2. If a team receives a "C" rating during playoffs the Captain must meet with the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports. The Assistant Director of intramurals will determine whether the team will be allowed to continue to participate. This decision is not appeal able. If a team is permitted to continue it must receive a minimum of an "A" rating for the remaining playoff games.
   3. A team that receives a "D" rating during playoffs will be immediately eliminated from post-season competition. The game in which the poor rating was earned will be automatically awarded to the opposing team. The team which was disqualified may be subject to further disciplinary action.
   4. Any player receiving a Red card will be immediately ejected from the game in which it was awarded and disqualified from all subsequent playoff games.