Hot Shots Rules

Revised 01.14.08 LMW 

GENERAL

• Bootlegger Soccer Club will not be held responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.

• Smoking is prohibited inside the facility.

• No beverages, gum, or food are allowed on the play field.

• No alcohol is allowed in team areas or boxes. Players or patrons who appear intoxicated will not be allowed on the play field or in team areas, and may be required to leave the facility.

• No spitting (except in designated receptacles) or swearing is allowed.

• No disrespectful, confrontative or abusive behavior toward referees is allowed at any time.

• Soccer ball play is restricted to the play field.

• Coaches and team representatives are responsible for conveying these rules to their players and fans, and for monitoring their behavior on the play field and in team areas.

• Fighting or instigating a fight will not be tolerated. Patrons found guilty of fighting may be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to immediate ejection, suspension for a period of time and/or a monetary fine.

• Team and individual fees must be paid prior to the start of the first game.

• Bootlegger Soccer Club will not be held responsible for any injuries that may occur to players or participants in games or other activities. Play at your own risk!

• Players with open wounds or visible blood will not be allowed to participate until the wound is covered and the blood flow is stopped.

• Please show courtesy to others by keeping the facility clean, and by tending to your children while visiting Bootlegger Soccer Club is NOT responsible for any unsupervised children.

• Any player or patron who acts in disregard of these rules, who engages in disruptive behavior, or who engages in physically or verbally abusive behavior toward Bootlegger Soccer Club staff or toward any other players, officials or patrons may be escorted from the facility and instructed not to return.

ROSTER

• Younger players, under age 18, must be listed on the team roster AND must have an individual registration form completed and signed by their parent or legal guardian. Players may not participate until this form has been completed.

• Teams are encouraged to limit thier roster to 10 players, but may carry 12 without special permission.  Teams desiring to carry more than 12 players must receive permission from the NCSC Director of Coaching.

• No players may be added to the team roster after the fourth game.

• Only properly registered players may participate. The use of non-registered players is prohibited.

• A player may play for only one team in the same league, but may be registered on more than one team in different leagues.

• Only registered players and up to two coaches or team reps are allowed in the team boxes. Youth and High School teams must have a responsible adult in their box to monitor their conduct during games.

• A player's eligibility to play in a given age division will be determined by whether his/her date of birth satisfies the age requirements set by the State Soccer Association (CSYSA) for outdoor league play. Players or teams may NOT play down in a younger age division. Players or teams may only play up in an older age division when approved by Bootlegger Soccer Club.

• Bootlegger Soccer Club may assign or reassign teams to higher or lower divisions in order to maintain a competitive balance in leagues.

EQUIPMENT

• Players must wear their team jersey, shin guards (completely covered by socks), and tennis or flat soled indoor soccer shoes. Goalkeepers must wear a jersey color that distinguishes them from the other players and the referees.

• Players may NOT wear cleats, jewelry (including pierced or starter earrings), except for medic alert tags (if taped to the body and covered) any metallic, hard or sharp items; and may NOT wear any other items deemed unsafe or improper by the referee. Splints, casts or knee braces (plastic or metal) must be padded and completely covered with a soft material to be allowed.

GAME RULES

• These rules are adopted from the FIFA Laws of Soccer, as modified for indoor soccer, and apply to all Youth leagues.

• Game Length: Games will consist of two 25-minute periods. Warm-ups and half times will be allowed or adjusted as time permits. Games are scheduled to start hourly and to end within the hour. No tiebreakers or overtime is played except in playoff/championship games. Teams should leave the play field and the team boxes promptly after their game has ended. Game time is start time.

• Time Clock: Games are played with a continuous running clock. The referee may stop the clock for injuries or for unsafe or unusual conditions. The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

• Number of players: Each team consists of 6 players on the field, including the goalkeeper.

• Minimum Players: Teams must have a minimum of 4 players to start or to continue a game. If a team is unable to field at least 4 players, the game will be a forfeit and will be recorded as a 0-4 (forfeit) loss to that team. If both teams are unable to field at least 4 players, the game will be a forfeit and will be recorded as a 0-0 (forfeit) to both teams. A forfeit game is not played and will not be rescheduled.

• Courtesy Rule: Any team that is down by 4 goals or more in a game may play with 1 additional player. That team will return to its original number of players when a 3-goal differential is achieved.

• The Start and Restart of Play: All free kicks and restarts are DIRECT, including kickoff. Once the ball is placed, the kicker has 5 SECONDS to play the ball. The kicker may not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player. Unless otherwise indicated, the opposing team must be at least 10 FEET away from the ball until the kick is taken.

• Kickoff: A kickoff starts play at the beginning of each period. The Home Team takes the kickoff at the start of the 1st period and the Guest Team takes the kickoff at the start of the 2nd period. After a goal has been scored, a kickoff by the team giving up the goal will restart play.

The player taking the kickoff may play the ball in ANY direction. All players must be on their half of the field, and the opposing team must be on or outside the center circle until the kick is taken.

• Goal kick: When the ball has been played into the netting, across the endline by the attacking team, a goal kick by the defending team will restart play. The ball may be placed anywhere inside the goal area, and must leave the goal area before it is in play. The opposing team must be outside of the goal area until the kick is taken.  A ball that contacts the glass surface above the goal is still considered in play until it touches the netting.

• Corner Kick: When the ball has been played into the netting, across the endline by the defending team, a corner kick by the attacking team will restart play. A corner kick may be taken from either corner spot.  A ball that contacts the glass surface above the goal is still considered in play until it touches the netting.

• Free Kick: When the ball has been played off the field into the team boxes or the scorekeeper's booth, a free kick by the team that did not last touch the ball will restart play. The ball is placed within a yard of the wall at the point where the ball left the field for the taking of the kick.

• Drop Ball: When the ball goes out of play and the referee cannot determine who last touched the ball, or if the referee suspends play for injury or other reasons, a drop ball will restart play. After the referee drops the ball, the ball must touch the ground before the opposing players may play it.

• Ball In and Out of Play: The ball is out of play after a goal has been scored, when the ball has been played into any netting, signage, obstruction, when it has been played off the field, when a foul has been called, or when play is stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times.

• Substitutions: Substitutions may occur at any time (play need not be stopped). The referee must be notified of a goalkeeper substitution. A substitute may not enter the field or participate in the play until the player being replaced has left the field.

• Fouls and Misconduct: If a player commits any foul, a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team. The ball is placed where the foul occurred, unless a player inside his/her own goal area commits the foul. The defending team must be 10 feet away or on their goal line until the kick is taken, for all free kicks except penalty kicks.

• Penal Fouls: A penalty kick is awarded if a player deliberately commits any of the following fouls inside his/her goal area: Handling the ball; Kicking, Tripping, Jumping at, Charging, Striking, Pushing, Holding, Boarding, or Spitting at an Opponent.

• Penalty Kick: The ball is placed on the penalty spot. All players, except the player taking the kick and the defending goalkeeper, must be on or behind the halfway line until the ball is played. At the referee's signal, the player taking the kick may touch, dribble or shoot the ball at any time or manner. The goalkeeper may leave the goal line to stop the shot or make the save as soon as the ball is touched.

• Other Fouls: A free kick from the top of the arc is awarded for other fouls committed inside a player's own goal area, including Slides/Slide Tackles, Dangerous play, Obstruction, Encroachment, Unsporting Conduct, Delay of Game, Double touch violations, Improper Substitutions, Too many Players, Goalkeeper infractions, etc. The defending team may form a wall.  There will be no slide tackling.  Hard challenges within 1 yard of the boards will be deemed "boarding" and a foul will be assessed.

• Goalkeeper Rules: A goalkeeper must be inside his/her goal area to legally touch the ball with his/her hands. A goalkeeper may NOT handle the ball after it has been deliberately kicked or passed back to him/her by a teammate. After gaining possession of the ball with his/her hands, a goalkeeper has 5 seconds to release or distribute the ball. Once released, a goalkeeper may NOT touch the ball again with his/her hands again until it has been touched or played by another player.

• Misconduct: The referee may also impose additional sanctions for fouls or misconduct.

• Blue Card (2-Minute Penalty):

A player will, at a minimum, receive a 2 minute penalty for: Slide tackling, Boarding (Checking opponent into the Boards), Spitting (on floor or carpet), Swearing (non- directional), as well as for any play foul or conduct deemed excessive or improper by the referee. That player must enter the penalty box and must be identified to the scorekeeper for penalty time to run. That player's team must play short for two minutes or until a goal is scored by the opposing team, whichever occurs first. *

• *Simultaneous Penalties: If two or more players from opposing teams receive blue cards for simultaneous offenses, then all offending players must serve the full 2-minute penalty time.

• Yellow Card (Formal Caution & 2-Minute Penalty):
  A player is formally cautioned and receives a 2-Minute Penalty for: Unsporting Conduct, Dissent by word or action, Persistent Play Fouls, Delay of Game, Encroachment, Improper Substitutions (i.e. Too many players); Entry or Reentry of Field without Referee's Authorization; OR if, in the opinion of the referee, a player commits a blue card offense in a reckless or unduly forceful manner. That player must enter the penalty box and must be identified to the scorekeeper for penalty time to run. That player's team must play short for the entire 2-minute penalty.

• Red Card(Send Off & 5-Minute Team Penalty):
  A player is sent off and his/her team will serve a 5-minute penalty for: Serious foul play, Violent Conduct, Assaulting or attempting to assault an opponent or referee, Spitting at opponent or referee, Using offensive, abusive or insulting language to or toward an opponent or referee; Denying an opponent a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by a deliberate penal foul; OR if a player incurs a 2nd Yellow Card in a game. That player must be identified to the scorekeeper and must promptly leave the field and the team boxes for penalty time to run. That player's team must play short for the entire 5-minute penalty. A red carded player must also promptly leave the facility* and, at a minimum, will be required to sit out at least one additional game. (* A youth may remain in the facility, under supervision, until he/she can be escorted from the facility accompanied by a responsible adult.)

• If misconduct is committed by players, coaches, team representatives or others in the team boxes, the offender may be warned, cautioned or sent off and the offender's team will serve penalty time.

• If, as a result of players serving penalty time, a team is unable to field the minimum number of players, the referee may terminate the match and declare the game a forfeit loss to the offending team.

• Bootlegger Soccer Club reserves the right to impose additional sanctions against players, team representative or teams for violent conduct, serious misconduct, persistent rules violations, or for an accumulation of red or yellow cards during a season.

• Referees: The referee, with the assistance of the scorekeeper, has the authority and responsibility:

• To enforce the rules of the game.

• To maintain control of players' and teams' conduct before, during and after games.

• To ensure that only properly registered players participate and that players' dress and equipment is appropriate and safe.

• To suspend play, stop the clock, or allow play to continue if a player is injured on the field.

• To suspend play for any infringement of the rules or to allow play to continue when it is advantageous to the team against which an offense was committed.

• To take disciplinary action against players or team reps who engage in penalty, cautionable or sending off offenses, and to suspend play or to terminate the match, as needed, to deal with the offenders.

• To restart play after a stoppage.

• To take other appropriate action, as needed, to ensure the safety and well being of the players and participants.

• The referees' decision on factual matters during a game is final. Any questions, complaints or protests relating to a referee's ruling or the results of a game should be submitted, in writing, to Bootlegger Soccer Club management, promptly after the game.

STANDINGS

• A team's place in a league or division will be determined by the number of points earned per game over the season based on the following system: Win 3 points; Tie 1 Point; Loss 0 Points. If two or more teams are tied, then these tie breakers will be used, in descending order, to determine the higher placed team:

1. Highest total points
2. Head to head record
3. Fewest goals allowed
4. Goal differential (Total goals scored less total goals allowed)
5. Most goals scored
6. Shoot out or Coin toss to be determined by Bootlegger Soccer Club management.

• The Evaluation Game will not count towards standings

• If the last game(s) are playoff games, a team's place will determine its seed for playoff game(s). If a championship game is played, the winning team will be the champions of the league or division. If, in a championship game, the score is tied at the end of regulation play:

1. A 5-Minute "Golden Goal" overtime period will be played
2. If the score remains tied after overtime, a shootout will occur. Each team selects 5 shooters and a defending goalkeeper. The shootout will be penalty kicks, except the shooter has 5 Seconds to score. A coin toss will determine which team shoots 1st.
3. After that, teams will alternate turns. If the score is tied after the 5th pair of shooters, the shootout continues with the same shooters in the same order but the "Golden Goal" shall be applied to each pair of shooters until a winner is determined.