League Rules
FIELD
60 X 45 yards with penalty area, goals (6’-6” x 18’ ) Ball: size 5
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Men’s and Women's games are played with five field players and a goalie. Coed teams must have 2 female players on the field. The minimum number of players on the field to play a game is four. Only the players that are on your roster are eligible to play. Players are not eligible to compete on more than one team in the same division. Teams caught with an ineligible player will be required to Forfeit that match.
SUBSTITUTION
Teams have unlimited subs: 1) either team's goal kick 2) after a goal is scored 3) during injury time out 4) possession kick-ins except when one team sub's then the other team can sub 5) before start of new period 6) after a yellow card has been issued. Yellow carded players must be substituted for except for keepers. No subs will be permitted on the fly or indirect/direct kicks. Referee must approve all subs.
PLAYERS EQUIPMENT/UNIFORM
SHINGUARDS ARE MANDATORY and must be completely covered by socks. All players that are on the field must wear shinguards. Home teams are required to change uniforms if primary colors conflict. No shirts vs. skins.
THE GAME
2 x 25 minute halves per game with a 3 minute halftime. In case of a tie after regulation time, the game will finish as a tie game except for playoffs.
PLAYOFFS
Sudden Death/Golden Goal will be used to determine a winner in the event a playoff game ends in a tie. The overtime will be restarted like the beginning of the game. If there is no winner after 5 minutes, then each team will remove one player from the field, switch sides and continue on. After 5 more minutes with no winner a second player will be removed and so on until a winner is declared.
START OF PLAY
Opposing players must be at least 5 yards away prior to all restarts. Restarts do not have to go forward after goals & to start periods. No drop balls in penalty area.
FOULS & FREE KICK
All free kicks will be indirect except for penalty kicks, kickoff and corner kicks. Opposing players must remain at least 5 yards from the ball. Once the referee signals for play to continue, the kicker has 5 seconds to play the ball. Indirect free kick must be taken outside of the goal area. Slide tackling is not permitted. Offsides does not apply.
GOALKEEPERS
1) A goalkeeper having control of the ball in his/her hands and having released it from his/her hands to be played either by himself/herself or a teammate shall not handle the ball again until it has been touched by an opponent or a stoppage of play occurs. 2) Goalkeepers may not handle the ball intentionally foot passed to them by a teammate. Punishment: an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the top of the penalty box. 3) Once the goalkeeper has handled the ball they have 5 seconds to put the ball back in play. Failure to do so will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team at the top of the penalty box. 4) Goalkeepers may not use their hands when receiving a kick in for their teammate.
PENALTY KICKS
1) A penalty kick shall be taken at the top of the penalty box. All players except the kicker must stand outside the top of the penalty area and 5 yards away from the ball. Players are not permitted on either side of the penalty area. 2) On indirect kicks players must remain 5 yards from the ball. Yellow cards will be awarded to players who slow down the flow of the game by not providing the mandatory 5 yards. No subs during a penalty kick.
KICK INS
When the ball goes out of play, play will restart with a kick in and not a throw in. The 5 second rule also apply for kick ins. The opposing team will regain possession after a 5 second infraction.
GOAL KICKS
Goal kicks are taken from anywhere inside the penalty area. Once the ball is retrieved, the player has 5 seconds to play the ball. Punishment: an indirect kick will be awarded, to the opposing team, at top of the penalty area. Goal kicks do not have to exit penalty area to be considered in play.
CORNER KICKS
Opposing players must be at least 5 yards away and the 5 second rule applies.
MISCONDUCT
Players ejected from a match (Red Card) will be suspended for at least the following match. A player that accumulates 2 yellow cards in one match will be ejected from the match and will also be subject to suspension for the following match. Offensive language is a yellow card offense. Ejections for fighting or any other actions deemed violent will result in additional suspensions or removal from the league. The final decisions will be made by Savannah Soccer management. A player ejected may be replaced with another player after 5 minutes.
REFEREES
One referee will be assigned to each match.
INCLEMENT WEATHER Check the Savannah Soccer website to find out if games are to be played as scheduled.