2010

Rule Book

GOAL DIFFERENTIAL RULE REMINDER

While the league makes every effort to structure teams on a balanced basis, there will be games where one team has the opportunity to outscore the opponent by a large goal differential. OMM is a recreational soccer program that promotes sportsmanship and will not tolerate embarrassing displays of one-sided scores. Therefore, all games are subject to our Goal Differential Rule.

The Rule :If a team defeats another team by six (6) or more goals, the winning team will forfeit the win and the game will be recorded in the standings as a No Contest – meaning the winning team does not record a win and the losing team does not receive a loss.

OMM reserves the right to apply penalties to a coach for disregarding or repeatedly violating this rule which may include, but not be limited to, suspension from the next match or removal from their position for the balance of the season.

If a coach feels that his or her team is in danger of winning by 6 or more goals he can try many different things. He can move players around, play a man down, or try other strategies, many of which are outlined in the coaches rule book. Good

sportsmanship should always be followed- it is never acceptable to have a coach call out “Don’t score!” to his players, or to have a team score on themselves to bring the opposing team to a 6 goal differential situation. If either of these situations occurs, the referee should make the referee coordinator on duty aware of the situation as soon as possible.

Please remember, the goal differential rule applies to the score of the game at the conclusion of the match – not during the course of the match or the score at halftime. The game is never stopped during the course of the match and the final score is the only score that matters.

RULES OF COMPETITION

The Rules Committee has the right to amend any rule during the course of the season, as well as make a decision on any situation not specifically covered by the written rules.

The following rules of competition shall govern all playing divisions except in cases where specific modifications have been made.

* The results of all games are final. There are no protests.

1.0Scheduled / Rescheduled Games

1.1All games shall be played in accordance with the published schedule. Exchanges of opponents will not be permitted. Games will not be rescheduled for any reason.

1.2League officials are authorized to postpone any game, prior to its commencement, due to inclement weather or field conditions.

1.3The referee can abandon a game at any time due to climate or field conditions, or for any other reason set forth in the rules.

1.4If a game is abandoned by a league official or referee before the first half has been completed, the game shall be rescheduled in its entirety. If the first half has been completed, the game will be considered an official game and the results will stand.

1.5A fifteen (15) minute grace period, from the scheduled start time of the game, will be allowed for the appearance of the assigned referees. In the event that neither referee appears, the coaches must contact the on-field Referee Coordinator. Games played under these circumstances will be valid.

2.0Game Ball

2.1.Tykes (U5) and Novice (U6) Divisions = # 3 size ball, Junior (U7 & U8) and Youth (U9 & U10) Divisions = # 4 size ball.Intermediate (U11 & U12) and Senior (U13 & U14)Divisions= #5 size ball

2.2Both teams must have a ball available for game use. The home team shall supply the game ball.

3.0 PLAYERS

3.1A team shall have a maximum of eighteen (18) players

3.2The following number of players will take the field for each division:

Division / Number of Players on the Field(includes Goalie)
Intermediate and Seniors / 11
Youth / 9
Junior / 8
Novice / 8
Tykes / 6

3.4A team which appears at the scheduled start of the game with less than the required minimum number of players will be given a grace period of fifteen (15) minutes to field the necessary number of players. Thereafter, if the team is unable to field the required number of players, the game will be declared a forfeit. (This grace period only applies towards the fielding the minimum number of players and not towards fielding the maximum number of players.) A scrimmage game may be played if all parties are in accord.

3.5If, during the course of the game, a team falls below the required minimum number of available players needed to start the game, said game will be forfeited (see summary of OMM LAWS of the GAME chart at the end of the rule book.

3.6All players must play at least half of every game, though not necessarily continuously, with the following exceptions:

A:injury

B:severe disciplinary problems

C:consistent, unexcused absences from practice (school practices are considered excused absences)

D:unexcused lateness to a game; here the player will be deemed to have played in the part of the game he/she missed

3.7Any coach who intends to keep a player out of a game or have them play less than half a game, must consult with their division coordinator prior to the game.

3.8Failure to comply with rules 3.6 or 3.7 may result in the forfeiture of the game in which the infraction occurred.

4.0SUBSTITUTIONS

4.1After obtaining permission from the referee, either team may substitute when play is stopped under the following conditions:

A:on a goal kick

B:after a goal

C:for an injury (attended player must sit out for one play)

D:during the taking of a penalty kick - the only substitution allowed is for an injured player or the cautioned or expelled player. The substitute cannot take the penalty kick - only players on the field at the time of the penalty can take the kick.

4.2After obtaining permission from the referee, the team in possession of the ball may substitute on a corner kick or throw-in.

5.0UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

5.1All players in are required to wear their uniform shirt, black shorts and black socks. Street apparel shall not be worn by the players.

5.2All players are required to wear shin guards beneath their socks.

5.3The goalkeeper must wear a jersey that is a different color from that of either team. The goalkeeper may wear gloves.

5.4In cool weather sweatpants and sweatshirts may be worn beneath the team uniform. Hooded sweatshirts must be tucked beneath the uniform shirt.

5.5The following are permitted and may be worn during a game :

A: orthopedic cast – provided the player has a note on hand from hand from their physician stating it is safe for them to play and the cast is covered with bubble wrap and is inspected and approved prior to the game by the Referee Field Coordinator (not the field referee).

B: safety glasses or goggles, prescription transition lenses with safety glasses or goggles.

D:soft bill baseball cap or visor (goalkeeper only).

5.6The following are prohibited and may never be worn:

A:metal cleats of any kind

B:sharp or badly worn cleats

C:jewelry, such as rings, watches, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins (this applies to those items made of rope as well)

D:metal or plastic hair clips or hair beads

E:no braces with exposed metal or hard plastic

F:helmets, baseball caps or visors (with the exception of item D above)

G:non-prescription glasses or sunglasses.

All permitted devices worn for medical purposes must be approved by the league prior to the game.

6.0DURATION OF THE GAME

6.1All games, except for Tykes, will consist of four (4) quarters of equal length with one (1) minute intervals after the first and third quarters and a five (5) minute interval after the second quarter.

6.2The duration of the games is a follows:

Tykes fifteen (15) minute halves

Noviceten (10) minute quarters

Junior /Youthfifteen (15) minute quarters

Intermediateeighteen (18) minute quarters

Senior/ Masterstwenty (20) minute quarters

6.3All games will be played with “running time”. The clock will only be stopped at the end of each quarter. It will not be stopped at any other time except for a serious injury to one of the players and the referee calls a time out. The referee is the official timekeeper of every game.

7.0START OF THE GAME

7.1A coin toss determines the direction of play and possession of theball.

7.2The visiting team “calls” the toss. The winner of the toss shall have the choice of either possession of the ball or direction of play.

7.3Ball possession and direction of play shall be reversed at the start of the third quarter.

7.4A kickoff is used at the start of the game and after a goal is scored. At the moment of kickoff all players must be within their half of the field.

7.5The ball is kicked from the center of the field and is in play once the ball has traveled its own circumference forward. The kicker cannot play the ball again until it has been touched by another player. No opposing player may be in the circle until the ball is in play.

8.0BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

8.1The ball is out of play when it wholly crosses the goal line or touch line, whether on the ground or in the air, or when the referee has stopped play.

8.2The ball is in play at all other times including:

A:when it rebounds off a cross-bar or goal post

B:when it touches an official on the field

C:when the ball travels its circumference after a kickoff

D:when a drop ball touches the ground

E:when a throw-in breaks the plane of a touch line (a player may be out of bounds and legally play a ball on the field

8.3A drop ball occurs when:

A:opponents simultaneously cause a ball to go out of bounds

B:the ball becomes deflated

C:following the temporary suspension of play for an injury or unusual situation and neither team has clear possession of the ball

D:opponents commit simultaneous fouls of the same degree

8.4The spot of a drop ball is:

A:where the ball becomes dead, unless in the penalty area - then the drop ball occurs at the spot nearest that point outside the penalty area

B: five yards inside of the boundary line, unless in the penalty area

8.5The drop ball is held between two opponents and cannot be played until it touches the ground. Should the ball be played before it touches the ground the referee shall drop the ball again. If the same player continues to play the ball before it hit’s the ground, he/she will be replaced by another player. Other players may be positioned anywhere, provided they do not interfere with the play.

9.0SCORING

9.1A goal is scored when the ball wholly passes over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the crossbar. One point is awarded for each goal.

9.2A goal may be scored during play directly from a:

A:direct kick

B:penalty kick

C:corner kick

D:drop ball

E:goal keeper’s punt or throw

9.3A goal may not be scored during play directly from a:

A: kicker on the kickoffD: throw-in

B: indirect kickE: free kick into a team’s own goal

C: goal kick

10.0FREE KICKS

10.1Free kicks are classified as either direct or indirect.

A:a direct free kick is one from which a goal can be scored directly by the kicker without another player first touching the ball

B:an indirect free kick is one from which a goal cannot be scored directly by the kicker - the ball must first touch another player before it enters the goal - this player can be from either team

10.2Free kicks shall be taken from the point of an infraction with the following exceptions:

A:if an indirect free kick is awarded to the attacking team in the opponents goal area the kick must be taken from the goal line at the point nearest to where the infraction occurred

B:if a direct kick is awarded to the attacking team in the opponents goal area the kick becomes a penalty kick and is taken from the penalty line

C:if a coach or player from the sideline enters the field without permission an indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the place where the ball was when play was halted

D:if play was halted for an injury and one team had clear possession of the ball, an indirect kick will be awarded to that team at the place where the ball was when play was halted

E:if play was halted because of misconduct by any individual on the sideline, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the place where the ball was when play was halted

10.3When a player is taking a free kick outside his/her own team’s penalty area, all opposing players must be at least ten (10) yards from the ball in every direction, unless they are standing on their own goal line between the goal posts.

10.4When a player is taking a free kick within his/her own team’s penalty area, all opposing players must be outside the penalty area and at least ten (10) yards from the ball in every direction. All free kicks taken within the penalty area by the defending team must clear the penalty area before the ball can be touched by another player. Free kicks that do not leave the penalty area will be taken again.

10.5When taking a free kick, the ball must be stationary when kicked and is in play once it travels its own circumference. If not done correctly the kick shall be taken again.

10.6Once in play, the ball cannot be kicked a second time by the kicker until it has been touched by another player from either team. A violation of this rule will result in an indirect kick being awarded to the opposing team at the point of the infraction.

11.0OFFSIDE

11.1Offside position = if the player does not have the ball and there are less than two (2) opposing players between them and the opposing team’s goal line. Usually one of these players is the goalie of the opposing team but it does not have to be. It is not an offside offence in itself to be in an offside position.

A player is not in an offside position if the player is:

  • in their own half of the field of play or
  • level or even with the second to last opponent or
  • level or even with the last two opponents or
  • in an offside position during a throw-in, corner kick, goal kick or drop ball.

11.2Offsides occurs when the player is in an offside position when the ball is kicked or played, not when it is received. A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate, the player is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

  • interfering with play or
  • interfering with an opponent or
  • gaining an advantage by being in that position.

11.3The penalty for an offside call is an indirect kick from the spot of the infraction, unless the infraction occurs within the goal area in which case the kick shall be taken from anywhere within the goal area.

12.0FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

12.1A Direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following fouls:

A: attempts to or kicks, strikes or jumps at an opponent

B: trips an opponent

C: when a goalie attempts to or strikes or pushes an opponent

D: when a field player plays the ball with their hands

E: when the goalie plays the ball with their hands outside the penalty box

E:pushes or holds an opponent

F:unfairly charges an opponent (feet of attacker leave the ground)

G:charges the goalie, who has possession of the ball

12.2An Indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team when a player commits any of the following fouls:

A:if the ball is played twice by the kicker following a kickoff, free kick, goal kick (that leaves the penalty area), a corner kick or by the thrower of a throw-in before it has been played by another player

B:offsides

C:fairly charges an opponent when neither is within playing distance of the ball

D:interference - a player without the ball deliberately obstructs an opponent who is attempting to play the ball or interferes with a goalie’s attempt to release the ball into play

E:if a player kicks or attempts to kick the ball while in possession of the goalie

F:dangerous play - such a kicking above the waist or playing the ball from a prone position on the field

G:if a goalie holds onto the ball for more than six (6) seconds before releasing the ball into play

H:if the goalie plays the ball a second time after releasing it into play before it has been played by another player

I:if a player deliberately passes the ball to their goalie and the goalie plays the ball with his/her hands - a goalie may use their feet to play the ball under these circumstances

12.3A yellow card will be issued to players or coaches for an infraction of any of the rules of good sportsmanship, including but not limited to:

A:use of profanity

B:arguing with the referee