Soccer Rules

  1. OBJECT OF THE GAME The objective of soccer is to score goals by advancing the ball down field into the opposing team’s goal. You simply want to score more goals than your opponent. Traditionally goals are scored when a team moves the ball down field through passing and shooting of the ball.
  2. DURATION OF THE GAME 2 halves of 18 minutes each, with a half-time interval of 5 minutes. There is no stoppage of play for substitutions during the game.
  3. THE FIELD of play shall be rectangular with dimensions of 55 meters in length by 45.7 meters in width, i.e. one half of a normal soccer field. The size of the goal areas shall be 14.63 meters in radius from the goal line. The penalty mark is 11 meters from the halfway point between the goal posts.The height and width for the goals shall be 2.14 meters and 3.66 meters.
  4. THE TEAM The number of players shall be 5 players including the goalkeeper on the field.
    • Only five (5) players allowed on the field at any one time.
    • There must be a minimum of two (2) Males, and Females on the field always.
    • This league requires your team to have a minimum of four (4) players, including one Male or Female to start the game
    • Please consider our Default, Forfeit, and Substitute Policy
  5. SUBSTITUTIONS Unlimited substitution of players is permitted.  Substitutions may be made ‘on the fly’ without a stoppage in play, except for the goal-keeper.  Substitutions of the goal-keeper MUST be made at a stoppage of play at the indication of the Event Host.
  6. THE START OF PLAY A game is started by a kick-off in a forward direction from the Goal Keeper. The team winning the toss of a coin shall have the option of choosing ends or taking the kick-off. All players must be in their own half before the kick-off can be taken.  As all free kicks in our league are indirect (see below), the kick-off is also an INDIRECT KICK, meaning you cannot score directly off a kick-off without the ball first touching another player. 
  7. STARTING AFTER HALF TIME Following half-time, the game is restarted the Goal Keeper of the team that DID NOT start with the ball in the first half with teams changing ends and the kick-off being taken by the side that did not start the game.
  8. METHOD OF SCORING A goal is scored when the ball has wholly crossed the goal line between the goal posts and the cross bar. After a goal is scored, the game is restarted with a rollout from the goal-keeper of the team that was just scored upon.  A goal cannot be scored directly from the kick-off. Goals cannot be scored from within a players own half.
  9. FOULS AND MISCONDUCT: A player may not intentionally kick, trip, jump at, strike, hold, and push, charge from behind or violently charge an opponent. Players should not swear, gesture, or argue with the Event Host or any player. Fouls can be awarded against the player for this behaviour.
  10. FREE KICKS – ALL FREE KICKS ARE INDIRECT For the purposes of our recreational league, all free kicks are indirect.  An ‘indirect’ free kick is one where a goal cannot be scored unless another player other than the kicker has touched it.  Players from the opposing team should be at least 4 meters from the ball when a free kick is taken.  The free kick is to be taken from the spot where the free kick was awarded.  Free kicks may be awarded for behaviour including, but not limited to the following:
    • Dangerous manner of play 
    • NO SLIDE TACKLING Slide tackles will result in an indirect free kick for the team.
    • Impeding the progress of an opposition player 
    • Prevents the goal keeper from releasing the ball
    • Causes unnecessary delays in play
    • 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 or holding an opponent
    • Making contact with an opponent before the ball whilst making a tackle to gain possession of the ball
    • Handling the ball
    • If any of these offenses occur within the goal area, the free kick shall be taken from the penalty line and all players other than the goal keeper must stand outside the goal area whilst the kick is taken.
  11. NO OVER HEAD HEIGHT (ES Marks Only) The ball must not intentionally be kicked above shoulder height. This is to aid pass play, keeps ball in play longer giving players more active game time, involves more players in the game, and limits the danger of “balls in face”.
  12. BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY In caged soccer, everything is in-bounds, unless the ball physically moves outside the cage (e.g. it is kicked over the top net).  In the unlikely event that the ball does exit the cage, the ball will be given to the team’s goalie, who did not last touch the ball, UNLESS the last touch is from a saved shot, then the Goal Keeper who saved the ball will restart the game.
  13. OFF SIDE RULE The off-side rule is NOT to be used. However deliberately placing a player or players in an off-side position is contrary to the spirit of the game and is discouraged.
  14. THE GOAL KEEPER Only the goalkeeper may touch the ball with their arms or hands, and only within the goal area.
  15. “GOAL KICKS” (GOAL ROLLS) “Goal kicks” will be in the form of rollout from the goal-keeper.  This goal rollout may be taken from anywhere in the goal area.  Goal rolls are awarded when the whole of the ball has crossed the goal line and last touched by one of the attacking team.  Opponents must be clear of the goal area.  Goal rolls must be a roll (i.e. not an overhand throw, bounces before half way line) and must be on the ground. 
  16. BACK PASSES In the event of a back pass to the goal keeper, the goal keeper MUST NOT pick up the ball (i.e. it can only be played by the feet)
  17. CORNER KICKS There are no corner kicks in caged soccer, as everything is inbounds.
  18. WINNING TEAM The winner is the team with the greater number of goals at the end of the game. A draw will be awarded if both teams have an equal amount of goals. The winning team receives 3 points, 1 point each for drawn game and no points for a loss. Your Fun Points will affect your position on the standings. If two teams are matched on competition points, the team with the higher fun points rating will be favoured up the ladder.
  19. FAIRPLAY SYSTEM Each league night you will have an Event Host onsite, but these guys are not official referees. Urban Rec is a recreational league which practices a fair-play and fun-first policy, meaning you should be making your own calls on the game. The Event Host will be there to make the calls not made by individuals, keep time, and help guide the games within the game play rules. The Urban Rec Event Host has the final say on any issue that cannot be self-resolved.
  20. SPORTSMANSHIP All Urban Rec participants have read and agreed to the Urban Rec Code of Conduct. We also exercise a strict Disciplinary Policy. If you are seen to be rude in any way or not playing within the respect of the rules and Code of Conduct, you will be asked by the Urban Rec Staff to sub out of the game. If after returning to the game your attitude does not improve you will be asked to leave the venue, and an assessment will be made if you can play again. We do not tolerate idiots. Play fair.