FIFA rules shall apply except where such rules conflict with these rules and, in these instances, these guidelines are adopted.

15–20 yards wide by 20–25 yards long. Goals shall be approximately 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide. The half line will be marked with a unique color cone (usually blue).

Both teams will occupy one side of the field and parents will occupy the opposite side of the field.

U7–U8: Size 3 soccer ball

U9–U12: Size 4 soccer ball

U13+: Size 5 soccer ball

Each team will play with no more than 4 players on a single field at a time. Roster maximum is 8 players.

A team must have a minimum of 3 players to start and continue a game. There are no goalkeepers. This simply means no player may use their hands. Any player may position themselves anywhere on the field except as noted in other laws.

Each player will be required to wear shin guards and appropriate footwear (soccer cleats, turf shoes, or tennis shoes). The referee will inspect shin guards and footwear for possible hazards and may order the equipment changed before the player will be allowed to enter the field. Players will not be allowed to wear jewelry, including watches, bracelets, necklaces, earrings or other types of body piercing jewelry. No player wearing a cast, hard or soft, will be allowed to play.

Uniforms consist of the provided jersey, with navy or black socks. Home teams will wear their jerseys and away teams will add a colored pinnie on top of their jersey. "Sliding pants" may be worn provided that they match the color of the uniform shorts. No caps or headwear allowed, with exceptions granted at the discretion of the referee (religious exemptions allowed).

A Referee will be provided for each match.

There are no assistant referees provided for Winter Indoor League matches.

The match will consist of two (2) 20 minute halves with a 5 minute halftime. The referee may adjust the length of the halves or the half-time to accommodate injuries, or other stoppages.

A kick-off is a way of starting play at the start of each half and restarting play after a goal has been scored. Play begins when the ball is kicked and has moved. A player taking the initial kick may not play the ball again unless it has been touched by a team mate or an opponent. If the kicker touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the point where the ball was touched the second time. Kick-off's will be considered as an indirect kick so no goal can be scored from the kick-off unless it touches another player before going into the goal (in this case a goal kick would be awarded to the opposing team).

A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage, specifically for an injury. The referee awards the ball to the team who possessed the ball at the time of the stoppage. The ball must touch the ground before it is kicked, or the referee will repeat the drop.

The ball is out of play when it has completely crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air. The ball is also out of play when play has been stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times, including when it rebounds from a goal post, crossbar, corner flag, or referee.

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line (or the face of the goal if no line is present), between the goal posts and under the crossbar, provided that there has been no infringement of the other rules. Officially, there is no score kept, however, referees will keep track of the scoring for review by league officials in the interest of fairness. No official standings are kept.

There is no offside called in this format of play.

Penal Fouls include kicking or attempting to kick an opponent, tripping or attempting to trip an opponent, jumping at an opponent, charging an opponent, striking or attempting to strike an opponent, pushing an opponent, tackling an opponent to gain possession of the ball and making contact with the opponent before touching the ball, holding an opponent, spitting at an opponent, handling a ball deliberately.

Technical Fouls include playing in a dangerous manner, wasting time, impeding the progress of an opponent (obstruction), commits any other offense, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution of dismiss a player.

All fouls are punished by awarding an indirect free kick to the opponent of the team committing the foul. A team cannot score directly by kicking an indirect free kick into the goal. One player other than the kicker, must touch the ball for the goal to count. All opposing players must be at least 5 yards away from the kicker when the free kick is taken. There are no penalty kicks in this age group.

Yellow Card Offenses: 2 minute penalty box

Any player assessed a yellow card during a match will be required to sit out of the match for 2 minutes of game time. The penalized team must play with one less player during this 2 minute penalty period. The penalized player must sit on the team sideline, apart from the team, near the half line. After 2 minutes, at the next stoppage, the referee will signal to the player that they may return to the match.

In accordance with FIFA rules, a player may be shown a yellow card, and the opponent awarded a free kick for any of the following offenses:

• unsporting behavior

• dissent by work or action

• persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game

• delays in the restart of play

• failure to respect the proper distance when play is restarted with a kick

• entering or reentering the field of play without the referee’s permission

Red Card Offenses: Player send-off

Also, a player may be shown the red card and sent off the field, and the opponent awarded a free kick for any of the following offenses:

• serious foul play

• violent conduct

• spitting at an opponent

• denying the opposing team a goal by deliberately handling the ball

• using offensive, insulting or abusive language

• second caution in the same match

Similarly, if a coach or assistant coach commits any of the preceding offenses, they may be shown the yellow card or red card as appropriate. All red card offenses will be reported to the Club in a referee supplemental report for appropriate action in accordance with the Code of Conduct policies.

As mentioned previously, all free kicks are indirect. The ball must be stationary (not moving) when the kick is taken, and the kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player. Opposing players must maintain a distance of at least 5 yards from the kicker. The referee will signal that the kick is indirect by raising his arm above his head, and maintaining this position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and has moved.

There are no Penalty Kicks in this age group.

A throw-in is a method of restarting play. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. A throw-in is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the touch line, either on the ground or in the air, from the point where it crossed the touch line, and is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball.

The player taking the throw-in shall face the field of play, keep part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside of the touch line, use both hands, and bring the ball from behind and over his or her head. The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. The ball is immediately in play when it enters the field of play.

U7–U10: If the player making the throw infringes on any of the above rules governing throw-ins, he or she is allowed one more attempt to throw the ball in correctly. If a second attempt is still infringing on the rules, then the opposing team is awarded the throw-in.

U11–U18: If the player making the throw infringes on any of the above rules governing throw-ins, then the opposing team is awarded the throw-in.

A goal kick is a method of restarting play. A goal cannot be scored directly from taking a goal kick. Since the goal kick will be played as an indirect kick, it must touch another player before a goal can be scored. A goal kick is awarded when the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

2nd Touch Rule

The ball is placed anywhere along the goal line. Opponents must retreat to their own half of the field, and cannot cross the half line until:

1. The player has kicked the ball (1st touch) AND another player has received the ball (2nd touch)

2. Or the ball crosses the half line

If the kicker touches the ball a second time before another player touches it, then the goal kick is be retaken.

A corner kick is a method of restarting play. A goal may not be scored directly from a corner kick since it is classified as an indirect kick. A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

The ball is placed at the corner closest to where the ball crossed the goal line, within 1 yard of the corner cone. Opponents must remain at least 5 yards from the ball until it is in play. The ball is kicked by a member of the attacking team. The ball is in play when it is kicked and has moved. A kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

U5–U8: Slide Tackling IS NOT allowed in these age groups. Any player attempting a slide tackle will called for a foul, and may receive a yellow or red card for repeated or reckless slide tackles.

U9–U18: Slide Tackling is allowed in these age groups, permitting it is a legal challenge.

Substitutions are unlimited and must be made from the midfield line with prior permission of the referee. They can be made at the following stoppage in play:

• On a throw-in (by the team in possession)

• On a goal kick (by either team)

• After any goal (by either team)

• After stoppage of play for an injury (either team)

• After a caution (the player receiving the caution)

Permission of the referee is not required:

• The resumption of play after the half time break

The goal is to keep matches competitive and ensure all players can learn and succeed. After a team goes ahead by 4 goals or more, the trailing team may add one additional player to the field. If the trailing team does not have an extra player to add to the field, they may request the winning team remove one player. This change remains until the goal differential returns to 3 or fewer goals.