Indoor Soccer

 MAJOR RULE CHANGES

1. Three forfeitures by any one team will result in disqualification from the league and league playoffs, thus meaning it is wise to notify us of any times you definitely cannot make before the season begins.  If unable to make a scheduled game time, a team may avoid adding a forfeit to their total by notifying the student intramural director at least five (5) hours before the game is scheduled to begin.  This will result in only a loss, rather than a forfeit.  Notification can be done on AIM @ BUIntramurals.

2. Each individual player may only be on one team in each sport.  Any player wishing to play for a second team must notify the opposing team of their desire to, for one game, play for a different team so that they have a roster.  Only if that team approves may the player play for the second team.   If caught playing for a second team without notification, player's team faces potential forfeiture of the game.

These 2006-2007 Rules to be used as a guide, official 2007-2008 rules to come at a later date. 

- Rules and Regulations -

NCAA soccer rules will govern play EXCEPT where modified by these IM Soccer Rules and the IM General Rules.

THE GAME will consist of two 20-minute halves with a running clock. Each team will have 1 timeout per half. Fields are about half regulation size.

TEAMS - 6 players constitute a team. Teams will be permitted to play with one less. No game will continue with less than 5 players.

GOALKEEPER - will be designated and will wear an off-color shirt to indicate his/her position. This player only will be permitted to use hands to play the ball within the penalty area. Once the ball is handled, the keeper may take no more than 3 steps before putting the ball in play. The no-pass back rule (re: handling) is in effect. Opponents are prohibited from charging into the goalkeeper when he/she has possession of the ball.

SUBSTITUTES - must report to the official and may enter the game only when the ball is dead. At the official's discretion, substitutions may be waived off or delayed. Players may not switch positions with the goalkeeper while the ball is in play.

There will be NO OFFSIDES.

There are NO THROW-INS. After a sidelines out-of-bounds, the ball will be put in play by a kick from the touch line. This is an indirect kick and should not be confused with a corner kick which is direct. Defensive players must be 5 yards from the ball on an out-of-bounds kick.

SCORING - The team with the most goals will be declared the winner. If, at the end of regulation, the score is tied, the game will move into a 5 minute sudden death period. This is where the first team to score a goal wins.

In the regular season there is only one, five minute overtime. In the playoffs there are two periods before shootouts.

If still tied, a mid-field shootout commences.

Mid-field shootout format: the offensive player starts at the mid-field circle with ball
possession. The goalkeeper's initial position is in the penalty area. At the whistle the
offensive player will have 15 seconds to score a goal; both players may move freely at the whistle.

Normal soccer rules apply, and: any infraction by the goalkeeper results in an automatic goal any infraction by the field player nullifies chance ball becomes dead after: 15 seconds, infraction, or out-of-bounds.

-The mid-field shootout will be administered as follows:

-A coin toss will determine the first team to "kick."

-Each team will take a series of three offensive chances (taken alternately).

-The team scoring the greater number of goals shall be declared the winner.

-Each "kick" will be taken by a different player.

-If the number of kicks goes beyond the initial three, the same kicking order shall be
repeated until a team has 1 more goal in the same number of kicks.

-Only players who have played in the game shall be eligible to take kicks in the tiebreaker.

-The goalkeeper is eligible to take kicks.

-Whoever is designated as goalkeeper must remain in goal until the tie is broken.

ELIGIBILITY:

-A person may play for 1 team only.

-Varsity Soccer players are ineligible for Intramural Soccer.

FREE KICK: may be offered to the offended team, and could be either direct or indirect.For all free kicks, the defensive players must be at least 5 yards from the ball.

Direct Kick - A goal may be scored directly by the kicker. Situations which warrant a direct kick are: tripping, charging, handling the ball, pushing, jumping in, etc.

Indirect Kick - The kicker may not score directly, that is, the ball must touch another person before going into the goal. An indirect kick shall be awarded on all sidelines out-of-bounds, unsportsmanlike conduct, dangerous play, delaying play, etc.

PENALTY KICK - is taken when a direct free kick is awarded the offensive team within the defensive team's penalty area. The kick shall be made from the 7-yard stripe in front of the goal. The goalkeeper only shall be permitted to defend; all others must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper may not move his/her feet until the ball is struck.

CORNER KICK - shall be awarded when a defensive player causes the ball to go out-of-bounds across his/her own goal line. The opposing team puts the ball in play by a kick from the corner nearest the point where the ball went out-of-bounds. A corner kick is direct.

GOAL KICK - shall be awarded when an offensive player causes the ball to go out-of-bounds across his/her opponent's goal line. The defense is awarded an indirect kick at the intersection of the endline and penalty circle. The ball cannot touch anyone until it clears the penalty area.

DISCIPLINE - the referee has discretionary power to caution any player of misconduct or unsportmanlike behavior (persistent infringement of any of the rules of the game), and/or to eject them from the game.

When cautioning a player, the referee will display a yellow card and indicate the player concerned (depending upon offense, a cooling off period may be required).

The second caution displayed to an offending player shall be the equivalent of a red card.

In the case of a red card, the player is disqualified from the game (and depending upon circumstance, may be required to sit out the next game).

Red cards may also be issued without a prior caution.

After the issuance of any card, teams are required to comply and provide the necessary information to the referee and supervisor.

NOTE: Questions that arise on the field of play concerning rules and interpretations, officiating procedures, etc., will be decided immediately by the official. All decisions of the official will be final.