Soccer Rules

All players must be registered on their teams’ roster before participating in their first game. Any team or player determined by the event director to have falsified registration will be dismissed from the game. All players must carry proof of student enrollment status, ie, student ID, driver’s license, or CalCentral.

NOTE: No males will be allowed to participate in any female divisions, except the co-ed division. Females CAN play in male divisions. The co-ed division must have at least one female on the field at all times.

SIX is the maximum number of players on a team; three field players at one time. All rosters are frozen at check-in. Teams playing more than 6 players during the course of an event will be disqualified.  Players may only play on one team per division. There are no goalkeepers in 3v3 soccer.

Substitutions may occur at any dead-ball situation, but players must be called onto the field by the Game Manager and enter and exit at the half-field mark only.  Players must already be at the half-field mark when a dead-ball situation first occurs to be called on.

Teams are responsible for providing game balls. Preferred Ball Size = #5. IM Sports does not provide game balls. Each team member should bring two different colored shirts to every game – one light (white or yellow) and one dark (blue or black). Only turf shoes, running shoes, court shoes, and other flats are acceptable. Plastic soccer and football cleats are not allowed. Bare feet are prohibited.

An auto-loss is awarded if the opposing team is not ready to play at game time. A forfeit is awarded if a team fails to produce the minimum number of players 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. A forfeit shall be scored as 5-0. If the team arrives with the minimum number of players necessary to play, within fifteen minutes of the scheduled game time, or if they notify the IM Sports Office at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled game time, informing the Office of an inability to field a team for their game, an auto-loss shall be awarded. Without exception, any team that forfeits during the regular season will be ineligible for the playoffs. Any team that forfeits during the first week of the regular season may be removed from the league and forfeit their team entry fee.

The game shall consist of two 10-minute halves separated by a two-minute halftime, OR the game ends when a team reaches a 10-goal lead. Each half ends when time has expired (a shot that has not crossed the goal line before time expires will not count). Pool games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie. Playoff games cannot end tied.

Width: 25-30 yards, Length: 35- 40 yards 

The goal box, ten feet wide by eight feet deep, is directly in front of the goal. No player may touch the ball within the goal box; any player may move through the goal box. Any part of the ball or player’s body on the line is considered in the goal box; the player is an extension of the box. An INFRACTION occurs if a defender touches the ball in the goal box; a penalty kick is awarded to the offensive team. If an offensive player touches the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. If the ball comes to a complete stop in the goal box, regardless of which team touched it last, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.

TEAMS WILL HAVE A 3-MINUTE “GOLDEN GOAL” OVERTIME PERIOD. If the score is still tied, the winner is decided by a shootout with the 3 players on the field at the end of the golden goal period.  Kicks in the shootout should be taken from the kick-off spot at the half-line. (At the Championship, the “Golden Goal” overtime period will be 10 minutes)

A goal may be scored from a touch on the offensive half of the playing field.

NOTE: Due to the parking lot and active traffic below the field, teams are prohibited from scoring outside the half. If a team attempts to score outside the half, it will be an immediate turnover.

Scoring: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. A forfeit is scored as 5-0

In pool play, ties between two or more teams will be broken by: 1) head-to-head results between tied teams (2 teams only); 2) goal difference in pool play; 3) fewest goals against in pool play; 4) goals scored. If teams are still tied after all tiebreakers, the system will automatically break the tie by system-generated coin flip.

NO OFFSIDES IN 3V3 SOCCER

NO SLIDE TACKLING IN 3V3 SOCCER. When a player slide tackles in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.

When a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.

In all dead-ball situations, defending players must stand five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player’s goal area is closer than five yards, the ball is placed five yards from the goal area in line with the place of the penalty.

The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead of being thrown in.

All dead-ball kicks (kick-ins, free kicks, kick-offs) are indirect except for corner and penalty kicks.

May be taken from any point on the end line, and not in the goal box area.

May be taken in any direction.

Shall be awarded if, in the Game Manager’s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by the infraction. It is a direct kick taken from 5 yards on the offensive side of the midfield line with all other players behind the midfield line. If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick. Penalty kicks are not live balls.

After the game finishes, if the difference in score is greater than five (5), the score will be adjusted to a five (5) point difference.

Game Managers and Site Supervisors have the right to dismiss a player OR bench personnel from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants sending off. IM Sports will not tolerate fighting of any kind. Involvement in a fight includes an automatic, minimum, 365-day suspension. Involvement includes but is not limited to: instigation, retaliation, physical or mental intimidation, and being an accessory to a fight. Participants who are not currently in the game can not enter the floor to break up a fight. Participants who leave the bench area during a fight will be ejected from that contest and can face a suspension of up to five years.

(Teams still play with 3 on the field)

Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to act in the spirit of good sportsmanship at all times. Abuse of the Game Managers will not be tolerated. Any instance of such conduct will disqualify the responsible team from the event.

Eleven players are allowed on the field at any given time. A minimum of seven players is required to start and finish a legal game. All participants must sign their team’s Waiver of Liability before participating in their first game.

An auto-loss is awarded if the opposing team is not ready to play at game time. A forfeit is awarded if a team fails to produce the minimum number of players 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. If the team arrives with the minimum number of players necessary to play, within fifteen minutes of the scheduled game time or if they notified the IM Sports Office at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled game time, informing the Office of an inability to field a team for their game, an auto-loss shall be awarded. Without exception, any team that forfeits during the regular season will be ineligible for playoffs. Any team that forfeits during the first week of the regular season may be removed from the league and forfeit their team entry fee.

• A participant shall not wear anything that is deemed by the Game Manager to be dangerous to another player. All forms of jewelry are prohibited – whether or not it may be removed or not.
• See the main IM Sports rules page for footwear guidelines. Bare feet are prohibited. The Game Manager has the ultimate decision as to whether or not a particular shoe may be used.
• Although not required, the use of shin guards is strongly recommended.
• Dark and light shirts shall be determined by the league schedule. The first team listed should be prepared to wear dark colors.

Underhill Field: Only turf shoes, running shoes, court shoes and other flats are acceptable. Plastic soccer and football cleats are not allowed.

The game shall consist of two equal halves of 20 minutes. The interval at halftime shall not exceed five minutes.

Teams must bring their own ball. IM Sports does not provide game balls.

The offside law is in effect. Please be advised of the ruling that requires that the player who is in an offside position has to participate in the play in order for an offside violation to be called. Merely being in an offside position is not a violation.

There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick, throw-in or drop ball. For further clarification on the offside law refer to Law 11 of the FIFA Laws of the Game at Fifa.com.

Cautions will accumulate throughout the summer season. A third (3rd) caution will result in that player being ineligible for his or her next game.

A player who is sent off for serious foul play, violent conduct or for receiving a second caution during the same game must sit out a minimum one-game suspension. Suspensions may exceed one game depending on the severity of the incident.

Slide tackling is prohibited. When a player slides tackles in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.

Either team may substitute any number of players during goal kicks, after a goal, and during halftime. Teams may also substitute any number of players when awarded a throw-in. Teams may not substitute players when the opponent is awarded a throw-in, unless the opponent chooses to substitute as well. A team may also substitute for an injured player once the Game Manager has stopped play for the injury. If a substitution is made in this situation, the opponent may also substitute a like number of players.

Substitutes must notify the nearest Game Manager of their intention to substitute before the ball is out of play. All substitutes must be beckoned onto the field of play by the Game Manager before stepping onto the field. If a goalkeeper change is made, the Game Manager must be notified. Making any substitutions without notifying the Game Manager will result in a caution for the player(s) who came onto the field.

During the regular season, there is no overtime. The overtime procedure for all playoff games will be announced prior to the start of playoffs.

After the game finishes, if the difference in score is greater than five (5), the score will be adjusted to a five (5) point difference. 

Teams will receive three points for a win, one point for a tie, and no points for a loss. In the event two or more teams end the season tied in points, head-to-head competition will break the tie. If teams are still tied, goal differential, then goals in favor, and finally a coin toss will break the tie.

CoRec teams must always have an equal or greater number of women in the field than men. The goalkeeper does not count as a field player, and can be either gender. 

Fighting of any kind will not be tolerated by IM Sports. Involvement in a fight includes an automatic, minimum, 365-day suspension. Involvement includes but is not limited to: instigation, retaliation, physical or mental intimidation and being an accessory to a fight. Participants who are not currently in the game can not enter the floor to break up a fight. Participants who leave the bench area during a fight will be ejected from that contest and can face a suspension of up to five years.

A match is played by two teams, each consisting of no more than six players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. CoRec matches consist of no more than seven players. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than four players. Not including the goalkeeper, CoRec teams must always have an equal or greater number of women on the field than men.

NOTE: A CoRec team which fields enough players (regardless of gender) to start a game but not enough female players will be issued an auto-loss as opposed to a forfeit.

Each team is allowed a maximum of twelve players on their Team Roster.

A player must not use equipment or clothing that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewelry). The only cleated shoes allowed are those with one piece molded rubber soles. All cleats must be at least half an inch across at the bottom, and no shoes with hard toes may be worn. The Game Managers have the ultimate decision as to whether or not a particular shoe may be used and whether or not any equipment is considered dangerous. No cleats may be worn on any grass-playing surface.

An auto-loss is awarded if the opposing team is not ready to play at game time. A forfeit is awarded if a team fails to produce the minimum number of players 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. If the team arrives with the minimum number of players necessary to play, within fifteen minutes of the scheduled game time or if they notified the IM Sports Office at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled game time, informing the Office of an inability to field a team for their game, an auto-loss shall be awarded. Without exception, any team that forfeits during the regular season will be ineligible for playoffs. Any team that forfeits during the first week of the regular season may be removed from the league and forfeit their team entry fee.

Each team member should bring two different colored shirts to every game – one light (white or yellow) and one dark (blue or black). Each team should bring a different colored shirt for their goalkeeper (red or green).

The game shall consist of two halves of twenty minutes each. The interval at half time shall not exceed five minutes. Time outs are only called in case of injury to players or temporary loss of the ball. The Game Managers shall have discretion in adding any extra time to each period and may decrease the duration of each half in extenuating circumstances.

A match is considered complete if at least one complete half has been played.

Teams must provide their own ball.

At the beginning of the game the ball must be kicked forward and the kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has touched another player. At the kickoff, the opposing team must remain 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked and moves.

If the game is temporarily suspended for any reason, the Game Manager will restart the game by dropping the ball at the point closest to where play was suspended or the closest point outside the penalty area if the ball was in the penalty area at the time of the stoppage. No player may play the ball until the ball has touched the ground.

The ball is out of play when:

• It has completely crossed the goal line or touchline, whether on the ground or in the air;
• The Game Manager has stopped the game.

The ball is in play at all other times, including:

• If it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar or corner flag post into the field of play;
• If it rebounds off the Game Manager while he is in the field of play;
• Until a decision is rendered in the event of a supposed infringement.

A goal is scored when the whole ball has passed over the goal line, between the goalposts, and under the crossbar, provided it has not been thrown or carried by a player of the attacking side. A game shall be decided by whichever team has the greater number of goals at the end of the game.

The removal of a jersey after a goal has been scored is unnecessary and players must avoid excessive displays of celebration. The removal of a jersey is a mandatory caution.

There is no offside in Speed Soccer.

The goalkeeper is considered to be guilty of time-wasting if he holds the ball in his hands or arms for more than 5-6 seconds. The goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball by touching it with any part of his hands or arms. Possession of the ball includes the goalkeeper deliberately parrying the ball but does not include the circumstance where, in the opinion of the Game Manager, the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper (e.g. after he has made a save).

Any delivery (kick, throw, punch, etc) of a ball in play by the goalkeeper from inside the penalty area must be touched by a player or touch the ground on the goalkeeper’s half of the field. An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the point where the ball crossed the mid-field line. EXCEPTION: Goal kicks may travel past midfield in the air without being played on the defensive side of the field.

Free Kicks are either direct or indirect. For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player. If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponent’s goal, a goal is awarded; if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team. The Game Manager indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm above his head. On an indirect free kick, a goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal.

When a free-kick is being taken, either direct or indirect, no player of the opposing side may be within 10 yards of the ball until it is kicked, unless he/she is standing on his/her own goal line, between the goal posts. In the case of a free kick being awarded to the defending side in the penalty area, the ball must be kicked out of the area before it can be touched for a second time.

Slide tackling is prohibited. When a player slides tackles in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.

When a kick-in is being taken, no player of the opposing side may be within 5 yards of the ball until it is kicked. A kick-in is classified as an indirect free kick and must touch another player before a goal may be scored.

• Goalkeeper sets the ball up within the 6-yard box around the goal.
• The ball must be stopped.
• Once the ball is kicked it is in play, the goalkeeper cannot touch the ball with their hands or before another player touches the ball after the kick.

Fouls and misconduct are penalized as follows:

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the Game Manager to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

• Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent;
• Trips or attempts to trip an opponent;
• Jumps at an opponent;
• Charges an opponent;
• Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent;
• Pushes an opponent.

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offenses:

• Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball;
• Holds an opponent;
• Spits at an opponent;
• Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following five offenses:

• It takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession;
• Touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player;
• Touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate;
• Touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate.

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the Game Manager:

• Plays in a dangerous manner;
• Impedes the progress of an opponent;
• Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands;
• Commits any other offense, not previously mentioned in Rule 15, for which play is stopped to;
• Caution or dismiss a player.

A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offenses:

• Is guilty of unsporting behavior;
• Shows dissent by word or action (including gestures);
• Persistently infringes the Laws of The Game;
• Delays the restart of play;
• Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick;
• Enters or re-enters the field of play without the Game Manager's permission;
• Deliberately leaves the field of play without the Game Manager's permission.

A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offenses:

• Is guilty of serious foul play;
• Is guilty of violent conduct;
• Spits at an opponent or any other person;
• Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area);
• Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or penalty kick;
• Uses offensive, or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures;
• Receives a second caution in the same match.

If a player is sent off, another player cannot replace him; his team will have to finish the match with one less player.

All players sent off will be suspended a minimum of one match. The player sent off will be notified of the length of suspension by email within five business days. All send offs involving violent conduct or fighting carry an automatic, minimum 365-day suspension. All suspensions may be appealed. Instructions for filing an appeal will be included in the suspension notice.

When one of the fouls that is normally punished by a direct free-kick is committed in the penalty area, a penalty kick shall be awarded. A penalty kick is taken from the penalty mark, and, when it is taken, all players, with the exception of the player taking the kick and the opposing goaltender, shall be within the field of play but outside the penalty area, and at least 10 yards from the ball. The opposing goaltender must stand on the goal line and may move laterally along the line but may not move toward the ball until it is touched. The player taking the kick must kick the ball forward, and may only kick the ball once. If the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper’s body, the player can kick the ball again. If the ball rebounds from the goal post or crossbar, the player may not touch the ball again until another player does.

There is free substitution in Speed Soccer but a player may only enter the field of play when the player he is replacing is completely off the field. The new player must stand at the half-line outside the field until the other player is completely off the field. Infringements of this requirement are punished with cautions.

During the regular season, there is no overtime or Kicks from the Penalty Mark for games ending in draws. During the playoffs, if the score is tied after regulation, one “golden goal” five-minute overtime will be played. If the game is still tied after five minutes, Kicks from the Penalty Mark shall ensue.

After the game finishes, if the difference in score is greater than five (5), the score will be adjusted to a five (5) point difference.

The Game Manager tosses a coin and the team whose captain wins the toss decides whether to take the first or the second kick. The Game Manager chooses the goal at which the kicks will be taken. All players besides the kicker and the goalkeepers are to remain within the center circle (with the goalkeeper who is the teammate of the kicker standing outside the penalty area on the goal line where it meets the penalty area boundary line.

Both teams take four kicks. The kicks are taken alternately by the teams. If, before both teams have taken four kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could score, even if it were to complete its four kicks, no more kicks are taken. If, after both teams have taken four kicks, both have scored the same number of goals or have not scored any goals, kicks continue to be taken in the same (team) order until one team has scored a goal more than the other from the same number of kicks. Each kick is taken by a different player and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick. Only players who are on the field of play at the end of the match are allowed to take kicks from the penalty mark. An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper at any time when kicks form the penalty mark are taken. A goalkeeper who is injured and is unable to continue as goalkeeper may be replaced by a substitute.

In CoRec games, two of the four kickers must be female; the other two kickers may be either male or female. Kicks do not have to alternate female/male.

When a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponents, they shall reduce their numbers to equate with that of their opponents, and inform the Game Manager of each player excluded. When possible, teams must reduce to equate male for male and female for female.

If a game is to be played under protest, the Captain of the protesting team must inform the Game Manager and Captain of the opposing team of the protest at the time the incident in question occurs and file a written protest in the IM Sports Office by 4:00 p.m. of the next business day.

Fighting of any kind will not be tolerated by IM Sports. Involvement in a fight includes an automatic, minimum, 365-day suspension. Involvement includes but is not limited to: instigation, retaliation, physical or mental intimidation and being an accessory to a fight. Participants who are not currently in the game can not enter the floor to break up a fight. Participants who leave the bench area during a fight will be ejected from that contest and can face a suspension of up to five years.