SOCCER RULES

GENERAL

• Team rosters can consist of approximately 8-11 players and is based on seasonal participation per age bracket. 
• Games will consist of 6v6, including goalies. This can be altered depending on the number of players available per team. 
• There is no slide tackling allowed.
• Player rosters will be checked throughout the season, if needed.
• Roster additions/changes/switches will not be made after week 2. Any revisions to a roster can only be made/approved by a N Zone Sports Manager, Director, or Owner. 
• Any player who does not actively participate in regular season games or practices, may NOT participate in playoff/championship games. Participants must participate in at least 4 regular season games in order to be eligible to participate in Finals. 
• N Zone Sports reserves the right to ask player’s parents/guardians to produce valid proof of age in the form of a birth certificate or other forms of legal identification.
• Florida State High School Athletic Association rules shall serve as a base to govern play with the following modifications listed in these rules.  More information can be found at the FSHSAA web site: http://www.fhsaa.org.

THE FIELD OF PLAY 

• The field of play shall be rectangular; the length in all cases shall exceed the width. 
• Smaller fields should fit within existing full-size fields (ages 5-7). 
• The field of play is bounded by touch lines (sidelines) and goal lines (end lines).  These boundaries should be marked.
•  

ATTIRE

• Cleats are required, non-metal. Metal, spiked cleats are not allowed.  Inspections will be made, if needed.
• N Zone Sports will supply each player with an Official Game Jersey. Parents supply athletic shorts, shin guards and footwear. Shin guards are mandatory for all age groups. 

GAME DURATION & OVER TIME

• Ages 5 & Older:
• Games will be played in 2 x 20-minute halves. 
• 5-minute halftime
• No overtime in regular season
• Playoff overtime will be a shootout. Each team will take 5 shots. The team with the most goals wins. If a tie still exists, one additional kick will be given to each team until a winner is decided. All players must receive a kick before the original selection of 5 players may kick again.

GAME OFFICIALS

• 1 Game Official will be provided for each game. 
• Game Officials should avoid interfering with the course of play but are considered part of the field.
• Game Officials will briefly explain all rule infractions to the offending player.  More coaching of rules should be provided at the younger ages.

COACHES/SIDELINES

• Only 1 coach is permitted on the field for all age brackets. Once a play begins, the coach must step back and not interfere. Coaches will be asked by Game Official to step-off of the field if there is any indication of interference.
  • One (1) warning for interference will be given. The 2nd offense will result in 10-yard penalty/free-kick for the opposing team. 
  • Coaches must stand back and allow corner kicks & throw-ins without interference. A warning will be given, but in the event it is a continuous occurrence, a coach can and will be ejected for the remainder of the game. 
• Only 2 coaches are allowed on the sidelines per team, per game. 
• There will be 1 sideline designated for Coaches and Players of the scheduled games only. Other coaches, other team players, siblings, parents, etc. are NOT allowed on this sideline. No exceptions. 
• For hot weather or rainy days, 1 tent per team is allowed on the Coach & Player sideline only.

PROCEDURES

• The winner of a coin toss at the beginning of the match will elect either to kick or to select which goal to defend during the first half.  Teams will switch sides of the field at half time.
• Play is restarted at the beginning of each half -- and following a goal -- by means of a kickoff taken at midfield. All players must be on their own half of the field. All kick offs and free-kicks shall be indirect kicks, meaning that a goal cannot be scored unless the ball is touched by another player of either team before it goes in the goal. If the ball enters the non-kicking team's goal before being touched by another player, a goal kick is awarded to the non-kicking team.
• If an infringement occurs during a kickoff, retake the kick and coach the players on the correct procedure.
• The Game Official shall award ball possession and a free kick to restart play after a temporary stoppage for any reason not otherwise mentioned in these rules.
• Teams may substitute players on any stoppage of play with the Game Official’s approval and each player shall play approximately 50% of the total playing time. All substitutes must be made verbally from the coach to the referee.

FORFEITURE RULE

• A forfeit can only be officially called once it is approved by a N Zone Sports Manager, Director, or Owner. 
• Teams have 10 minutes from the start of a scheduled game to field the minimum number of players or they must accept a forfeit. Only the Game Official can “start the clock”. 
• Teams must always field a minimum of 5 players with a goalie. Games will be played and are official if a team can field at least 3 players with a goalie.  Games will be called 10 minutes after the scheduled start time if a team does not have at least 3 players with a goalie and a 1-0 score will be recorded.
• Coaches or Game Officials cannot forfeit a game on their own terms, for any reason. If all players are present, the game must be played. Non-compliance of this rule by any coach or official may result in immediate termination of position at N Zone Sports Pinellas, whether paid staff or volunteer. 

BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY 

• The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line (end line) or touch line (sideline) on the ground or in the air; or when play has been stopped by the Game Official. The ball is in play at all other times, including when it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar, corner flag post, coach or Game Official and remains in the field of play.

OFFSIDES 

• There are no Offsides Calls
• Cherry-Picking will be called if players continuously remain within 15ft of the last defender for more than 2 minutes. This will result in a throw in against the team who committed the penalty on the sideline closest to where the player called for cherry picking stood. 

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

• For ages 5 – 7, an indirect free kick is awarded for fouls inside the box (i.e. if a ball is touched inside the arc by a defending player other than the goalie).
• The following are infractions and result in a free kick for the opposing team.
  • Grabbing and holding another player's shirt.
  • Intentional tripping, pushing, or shoving.
  • Any handball.  ("handball" occurs when a player intentionally makes contact with the ball using any part of the hand or arm from the top of the shoulder to the tips of the fingers).  Unintentional contact with the hand or arm (i.e., "ball to hand") is not a foul.
  • Any tackling.
• A field player can not intentionally pass the ball back to the goalie for the goalie to pickup with his hands. This is an infringement that will result in a penalty
• All rule infractions should be explained to the offending player.
• Fouls and misconducts shall be awarded a free kick. 
• Side tackling in all age brackets is cause for one warning. However, if a player is hurt due to a side tackle, it is cause for immediate ejection for the remainder of the game. Side tackling = Foul Play.

SPORTSMANSHIP

• N Zone Sports Soccer Program requires coaches to provide all participants an opportunity to develop their skills, regardless of ability. Coaches are required to actively include every member of his/her team that is eligible to play.  This requirement applies to every player listed on a team roster and in playoff games. The exception to this is if a player is sick, injured, or does not want to play. If a player does not want to play, let that player’s parent know as soon as possible
• At the Game Official’s discretion, egregious plays/penalties/fouls out of anger or frustration (i.e. hard hits but not playing the ball) will result in warning and being subbed-out and given time to ‘cool down’ (time to be determined by Game Official). In the event of a repeat, the player will be ejected from the game. 
• N Zone Youth Sports exists to provide a positive environment for the enjoyment of all present.  All players, coaches, parents, and spectators are always expected to show good sportsmanship, and respect others on and off the field. The league, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to eject, suspend or dismiss anyone from the property for inappropriate behavior detrimental to the integrity and operations of the league.

• FOUL PLAY AND UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT FROM PLAYERS, COACHES, AND/OR SPECTATORS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.ONE WARNING WILL BE ISSUED. IF CONDUCT CONTINUES THE PLAYER/COACH/SPECTATOR WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME OR PROPERTY AND FACE POSSIBLE DISCIPLINE FROM THE LEAGUE UP TO AND INCLUDING REMOVAL FROM THE LEAGUE.

FREE-KICKS 

• All fouls, handballs, or infringements within the box will be awarded as penalty kicks. The penalty spot is 12 yards from the goal
• All free kicks shall be indirect kicks, meaning that a goal cannot be scored unless the ball is touched by another player of either team before it goes into the goal. 
• If the ball enters the non-kicking team's goal before being touched by another player, a goal kick is awarded to the non-kicking team. 
• If the ball enters the kicking team's goal before it is touched by another player, a corner kick is awarded to the non-kicking team.
• Free kicks are awarded to the non-offending team at the spot of an infraction
  • If the defending team commits an infraction inside their own goal area, the free kick is taken from the nearest point parallel to the goal line and outside the goal area. If the attacking team commits an infraction inside the goal area of the defending team, the free kick is taken from any point within the goal area.
• The non-kicking team must yield no less than 5 yards from the kicker.
• The ball is in play when it is touched by the attacking team.

PENALTY KICK 

• Penalty kicks will be taken in our games when a foul occurs inside the penalty box.

THROW-IN 

• A throw-in is the method of restarting play and is awarded when the whole of the ball goes out of bounds or crosses the touch line (sideline) in the air or on the ground. 
• Proper technique must be used when throwing the ball in. Back foot must remain on the ground.
• Throw-ins on smaller fields shall be taken from a point on the sideline nearest where the ball went out of bounds, but no closer to the goal.
• The ball is in play immediately as it enters the field of play.
• A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw in. 
• If an infringement occurs on a throw-in, coach the players on the proper technique and retake the throw-in.

HEADERS

• To reduce the occurrence of head injuries/concussions, we will enforce headers, except for players ages 11 and up.
• Players in age groups 10 & Under are not permitted to use their heads to stop redirect a ball.
  • If a player does intentionally use his/her head to contact the ball, the whistle is blown. The player will be warned. If an attempted header occurs again the player will be ejected from the game.

GOAL-KICK

• A goal kick is the method of restarting play and is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, crosses the goal line on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored. Procedure:
  • The ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a member of the defending team.
  • Opposing players must remain outside of the goal area until the ball is kicked.
  • THE BALL IS IN PLAY WHEN IT IS PLAYED OUTSIDE OF THE GOAL AREA.

CORNER-KICK

• A corner kick is the method of restarting play and is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, crosses the goal line on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored. Procedure:
  • The ball is placed within 2 feet of the closest corner cone.
  • The cone cannot be moved for the kick.
  • Opposing players must remain no less than 5 yards away from the ball until it is kicked.
  • The ball is kicked by a member of the attacking team.
  • The ball is in play when it is touched by an attacking player.

PLAYOFF CRITERIA

• Division Playoffs (for each age group). Final playoff standings will be determined by record.  Top 4 Teams in each age bracket advance to the Playoffs. In the event of a tie, it is broken in this order:
  1. Record
  2. Points
  3. Head-to-Head
  4. Highest Point Differential (PF – PA)
  5. Coin Toss
• Playoff games are set up as follows: 1st seed vs. 4th seed. 2nd seed vs. 3rd seed. Winners advance to Championship Games.
• There will be no consolation games.

MERCY RULE

• Mercy Rule does not apply in regular season games (weeks 1-6)
• For both, Playoff & Championship games, a Mercy Rule applies when there is a 4-goal differential. The winning team may not score within the Penalty Box area and all the shots must be taken from outside of the Penalty Box. If the 4-goal differential gap closes, the Mercy Rule no longer applies.  

SAFETY

• Heat exhaustion: IF ANY ATHLETE of ANY AGE shows signs of Heat Exhaustion, they will be removed from play and will NOT return for the remainder of the game. Heat Exhaustion occurs when an athlete has difficulty exercising effectively due to a combination of high temperatures, excessive sweating and inadequate fluid and salt. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle cramps, energy depletion, or central fatigue.  
• Hits to the face or head: IF ANY ATHLETE of ANY AGE shows any of the following symptoms after being hit in the head or face by a ball or other player, they will be removed from play and will NOT return for the remainder of the game: headache or “pressure” in head, nausea, vomiting, balance problems or dizziness, double or blurry vision, bothered by light or noise, feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
• Lightning Rule: In the event of lightning within a 10-mile radius, all games will be stopped immediately, and fields will be cleared of ALL persons. EVERY PLAYER & PARENT must return to their vehicles for at least 10 minutes   Once, lightning is no longer a threat, families can return to the field.  Taking cover under trees, under the building portico, and standing by vehicles is strictly prohibited for safety reasons. 

N ZONE SPORTS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY RULES DURING THE SEASON WHEN, AS NEEDED, AND AS SEEN FIT FOR THE SAFETY AND/OR INTEGRITY OF THE LEAGUE.