We have written this rulebook to provide a basis for good competition and a safe, enjoyable experience for all players. We appreciate your input; if you have comments, additions or corrections, please tell or e-mail the facility email. The following explanations of some common terms are general, not technical; they are intended to be helpful to players and coaches. After you finish reading, have a great game!

• A Bench Penalty is a time penalty given to a team where no specific player is recorded as serving the penalty. A team member, coach, or spectator may cause a bench penalty and the team must play short 1 player for each penalty.

• Boarding is pushing, charging, or crowding an opponent into the perimeter wall. What might be a legal play in the middle of the field may be boarding if it runs an opponent into the wall

• “Careless “means that the player has shown a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or that he acted without precaution.

• Charging is a challenge for space using physical contact within playing distance of the ball without using arms or elbows. It is an offense to charge an opponent in a “careless” or “reckless” manner or using “excessive force”.

• Dangerous Play is any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player himself).

• Delay of Game is called when any player, coach, or spectator is deliberately trying to slow down the progress of the game including, but not limited to, the following: 1) A player, coach or spectator holding onto the ball, or keeping the ball away from the opposing team or referee, so as to delay a restart. 2) A player or coach causing the ball to be moved farther from the place of the restart after the whistle has blown for said restart. 3) A player, coach or spectator distracting the referee and/or assistant referee verbally or non-verbally from restarting the game. 4) Any player not giving the required distance as signaled by the referee. 5) Any player, coach or spectator that does not leave the field of play, and/or facility, in a timely fashion may be subject to an additional time penalty. 6) If a player deliberately takes his/her time to get back on their side of mid field after a goal is scored. Play can begin as long as the slow player doesn’t interfere with the restart.

• Double Touch is the violation that occurs when a player taking a kickoff or restart plays the ball a second time before it is touched by another player, (teammate or opponent). You cannot double touch the ball on a kickoff or restart (including goalkeeper throw in) even if it hits the wall or referee before it comes back to you.

• “Excessive force” means that the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring himself or his opponent. • Goalkeeper on the Ground: the goalkeeper is the only player allowed to play the ball while on the ground as long as, in doing so, he is not creating a dangerous play and remains within the arc.

• Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with his hand or arm (except for the goalkeeper within his own arc). The referee must take the following into consideration: 1) The movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand), (hands or arms in natural playing position). 2) The distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball) 3) The position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an infringement. 4) Touching the ball with an object held in the hand (clothing, shin guard etc.) counts as an infringement 5) Hitting the ball with a thrown object (boot, shin guard etc.) counts as an infringement.

• Holding an opponent includes the act of preventing him from moving past or around using the hand, the arms or the body.

• Impeding the progress of an opponent, commonly called Obstruction, means moving into the path of the opponent to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction by an opponent when the ball is not within playing distance of either player. All players have the right to their position on the field of play, being in the way of an opponent is not the same as moving into the way of an opponent. Shielding the ball is permitted. A player who places himself between an opponent and the ball for tactical reasons has not committed an offence as long as the ball is kept within playing distance and the player does not hold off the opponent with his arms or body. If the ball is within playing distance, the player may be fairly charged by an opponent. It is important to remember to play the ball and not the opponent.

• Off sides is crossing the mid line early after whistle is blown and before ball is played on a kickoff or shootout. Players may not cross the line on a kickoff until the ball has been played, or on a shootout, until the referee’s whistle.

• “Reckless” means that the player has acted with complete disregard to the danger to, or the consequences for, his opponent.

• A Slide is any deliberate movement of leaving one or both feet while going down to the carpet in an attempt to play the ball.

• Unsporting behavior - There are different circumstances when a player must receive at least a blue card for unsporting behavior, these include but are not limited to, e.g. if a player: 1) Commits a foul in a “careless” manner 2) Commits a foul for the tactical purpose of interfering with or breaking up a promising attack 3) Holds an opponent for the tactical purpose of pulling the opponent away from the ball or preventing the opponent from getting the ball 4) Handles the ball to prevent an opponent gaining possession or developing an attack (other than the goalkeeper within his own arc) 5) Handles the ball in an attempt to score a goal (irrespective 6) of whether or not the attempt is successful) 7) Attempts to deceive the referee by feigning injury or pretending to have been fouled (simulation) 8) Fails to respect the encroachment rule 9) Acts in a manner which shows a lack of respect for the game 10) Verbally distracts an opponent during play or at a restart 11) Illegal entry or re-entry of a player onto the field 12) Audible obscene language 13) On restart, deliberately kicking the ball into a defender to draw an encroachment penalty on the defender 14) Inappropriate celebration after a goal is scored 15) Spitting anywhere in the facility other than in a trash can 16) Chewing gum while playing, on the field, or in the bench area

• Violent Conduct is physical force that injures, attempts to injure, or abuses any individual or arena property. Violent Conduct is also any verbally or physically threatening demeanor towards any individual. PLAYERS

• All participants must sign a waiver of liability form. If a participant is under the age of eighteen, a parent or legal guardian must sign the waiver.

• A team using a player who did not complete a waiver prior to playing will forfeit that game. If a player puts inaccurate information on his waiver or uses another player’s card to play, his team may forfeit that game, and the player may be suspended for one year. All fees paid by a suspended player are non-refundable.

• A player must be at least 16 years old to play or enter the bench area.

• Persons with physical or mental impairments of a serious nature that may put them or others at risk will be restricted from play and bench area.

TEAM REGISTRATION

• Players may be added to the roster throughout the session.

• No one may play on two teams in the same session in the same division.

• No one may switch teams after having played for one team in the same session and division.

• Every team must pay a non-refundable deposit before the deadline established by the facility in order to be registered and put on the game schedule. If a team’s registration fees are not paid before the first game of the tournament the team may be prohibited from playing or dropped from the tournament, without a refund.

• If a team decides to drop out of a tournament, they may be replaced and no refund given.

DISCIPLINE

• If a player, coach, or spectator is issued a red card, he is ejected for the remainder of that game and the length of the suspension will be determined by the facility manager.

• Any player, coach, or spectator who touches, bumps, physically contacts or verbally abuses a game official or facility staff shall be guilty of violent conduct and ejected from all Soccer House facilities for not less than one year and up to permanently.

• Any player, coach, or spectator who receives a red card suspension cannot return to Soccer House facility for any reason until the full time of the suspension is served.

• If the referee terminates a game, the outcome of the game and any disciplinary action will be decided by the facility manager.

• If any player, coach, or spectator involved with a particular team gives the referee cause to terminate a game, the victory will be awarded to the opposing team.

• Blue Card 2 min out without a player replacement.

• Yellow Card is warning, 2 yellows equal 1 red card. Player misses rest of game and team is down a player for 4 minutes.

• Red card – Player is out, no replacement for the rest of the game and misses next game.

ALCOHOL POLICY

• No outside alcoholic beverages are allowed on the premises. Anyone suspected of consuming alcohol or illegal substance before, during, or after the game will be removed from the playing field and/or bench area and, depending on conduct, the premises.