5-on-5 Indoor Soccer With Goalie Rules – DC

SUMMARY

• 5 players on the court maximum – 3 men (maximum) and 2 women (no maximum number of women) including the goalie
• 3 players, including 1 woman required to start a game (this includes the goalie)
• Indoor gym with goalie and 6’ x 8’ goals
• Goals can be scored from anywhere in the gym
• Two 23-minute running halves with 3 minute half time
• No off sides
• Slide tackles are illegal
• All free kicks are direct and must wait for a refs whistle or gesture
• Head referee provided for each game
• Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in that player/team being suspended/removed from participating in all ZogSports leagues for one year
• Game time is forfeit time

FORFEITS/GAME TIME
Please don’t forfeit. Your teammates and opponents count on you to have a full team and competitive game. Each team must have at least 3 (three) players including 1 (one) woman to start a game. Game time is forfeit time. Due to the extremely tight schedule, we strongly suggest arriving at the gym 10-15 minutes before game time for stretching, changing, etc. since the games must start on time to complete the game.

CLOCK/TIME

• Two 23-minute running halves
• 3 minute half time
• Clock stops only for official’s time-outs (injuries and called time-outs). Delay tactics will enable the referee (at their discretion) to stop the clock.

TEAM SIZE/CO-ED RULES

• 5 players (at least 2 women) at any one time.
• A team may use up to 5 women if they choose, but maximum 3 men
• Teams may play with no less than 3 players (at least 1 woman)
• If a team has less than 3 players a forfeit will be awarded, this includes the goalie
• Teams must start at game time if the minimum number of players are present
• Rosters are not limited in size, but no additional players may be added to the roster after the 2nd week, and there is a $35 fee for each additional roster spot. If you are short-handed during the season you may pick up another ZogSports player(s) not on your roster for the game. See below “Picking Up Players” for details. Waivers must be signed by all players and handed in before the start of the first game.
• PLAYERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY GAME WITHOUT SIGNING THE WAIVER

PICKING UP PLAYERS

• Since occasionally, teams may be short players and ZogSports wants everyone to be able play every game possible, we permit teams to pick up non-roster, ZogSports players for your game. Before you get too excited, there are penalties and limitations.
• Picking up non-roster player (must be a ZogSports participant) – Penalty is 1 goal per player
• Team is never allowed to pick up more than three players
• Team has less than 3 players or 0 women – the game is an automatic forfeit
• Team has 3 players – can pick up 2 players max
• Team has 4 players – can only pick up 1 player (i.e., a team can never pick up extra players to have a sub during the game)
• Roster player arrives after the game has started – non-roster player must be replaced by the roster player and the non-roster player may not re-enter the game.
• DURING THE PLAYOFFS, ONLY PLAYERS ON YOUR ROSTER ARE ALLOWED TO PLAY
• Protests in regards to non-roster players must be made to referee or field manager before the game begins. If a player arrives late a challenge must be made to that player before they start playing. Teams can only challenge specific players.

UNIFORMS/FOOTWEAR

• Team Shirts provided by ZogSports
• If players don’t have a jersey with them, ZogSports suggests wearing similar colors to rest of team
• We strongly recommend purchasing indoor soccer shoes (e.g., Adidas Sambas or their equivalent). Cross trainers and other sneakers without a flat bottom are discouraged but allowed.
• SHIN GUARDS ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

GAME CANCELLATION

Games may be cancelled due to dangerous weather conditions, facility constraints or other unforeseeable reasons. ZogSports will not cancel games unless absolutely necessary so you should always assume games are on unless you receive an email or a phone call. If the games are cancelled, ZogSports will post the information on:

Weather Alert Hotline at (332) 213-9023 (https://play.zogsports.com/weather-alert-hotline)

Due to the limited gym space in DC, ZogSports will always try to complete all games even if it means shortening games. If a game reaches half time, it will be counted as official. If a game doesn’t reach half, we will try to reschedule the game from scratch. If teams leave the premises and the game continues, a forfeit will be awarded.

INDOOR SOCCER RULES

Referees will have a copy of the rules at the gym. If you have any questions regarding a call that was made (which is rule-based), please ask the referee to refer to the rules if there is disagreement. We also recommend that each team bring their own copy of the rules just in case. Only captains can discuss a rule with the referee and no judgment calls will be discussed. Players will be ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.

START OF PLAY

• The referee will have the two captains shoot odds/evens or rock/paper/scissors. The winning captain will have the option of choosing sides or taking the kick-off
• A game is started by a kick-off from the center mark
• The kick does not have to go forward
• The opposition must be 3 yards from the ball when the kick-off begins
• In the second half, teams change directions and possession.

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Unlimited substitutions of players are permitted
• Teams may substitute on the fly (no need to wait for a stoppage in the game)
• All players not in the game must stand in designated “bench” area (designated by the referee)

OFFSIDE

• There is no offside rule

GOAL BOX

• Goalies can only use their hands within the designated goal box which will be taped on the floor
• The goal box will be approximately 2 yards from the goal line and 1 yard wider than the goal posts

FOULS AND MISCONDUCTS

The following are fouls and can result in cards depending on the level of aggressiveness or danger of the foul committed:

*Corner Kick – ball should be placed even with the goal line (as if it were extended across the gym)

**Penalty Kick – ball should be placed 7 yards from the front of the goal.

***Goal Kick – ball should be placed at the top of the goal box on the tape

Intentional kick, trip, jump at, strike, hold, push, charge from behind or violent charge

Checking(intentional shoulder contact on the court or near the wall) and excessive use of hands against the walls

Swearing, gesturing, or arguing with the referee or any player

Handball:

– A direct kick foul if a player deliberately handles the ball (meaning to touch it with any part of the arm up to & including the shoulder)

– Hand ball foul should not be called if:

• ­Player is instinctively trying to protect him/herself from injury
• ­Player did not deliberately touch the ball but the ball hit the player’s arm and the player did not move the arm toward the ball (however, if the player’s arms were in an unnatural position such as above his/her shoulders or sticking out to the sides, then player should be called for a handball)

Slide tackling

• Slide tackles will result in a direct kick and/or yellow card
• Multiple violations can result in the player being ejected from the game

Dangerous play

• Kicking while player is on the ground or above the waste when an opposing player is within a few feet

FREE KICKS / CARDS

FREE KICKS

All Free Kicks are Direct Kicks

• A goal can be scored without another player touching the ball
•  All the opposing players must be at least 3 yards (or ½ the distance to the goal if foul occurs in close proximity to the goal) from the ball when the free kick is taken
• Free kick is taken from the spot where the foul occurred
• Kicking team must wait for the referee to signal that the ball is back in play

CARDS/MAJOR INFRACTIONS

If any of the above infractions are deemed excessive a card will be issued:

Yellow Card

• If a player receives a yellow card (warning) for any reason, s/he will be required to sit out of the game for four minutes, and the team will not be able to substitute a player for the yellow card recipient. The referee will let the player/team know when the four minute “penalty” has expired.
• If a player receives two yellow cards in one game, they will be ejected and their team will need to play one player short for the remainder of the game. If the team was already playing short, they still have to remove a player from the court. (e.g. If a team is playing with 4 players and 1 of them receives a red card, the team will now be required to play with 3 players the remainder of the game.)
• Yellow cards will carry over within the same day. If in a 2nd or 3rd game of a day a player receives a 2nd yellow card, they will be removed for the rest of the day but the team will not have to play down a player

Red Card

• Fighting, swearing, gesturing at or excessive arguing with the referee
• Two yellow card violations
• Multiple instances of excessively dangerous play as deemed by the referee
• If a player receives a red card for any reason, s/he will be ejected and their team will need to play one player short for the remainder of the game. If the team was already playing short, they still have to remove a player from the court. (e.g. If a team is playing with 4 players and 1 of them receives a red card, the team will now be required to play with 3 players the remainder of the game.) The player may also be ejected from his/her next scheduled game

IN / OUT OF PLAY

• The ball is out of play and a direct kick from the nearest spot on the court is awarded when:
• It is not safely playable (behind the goal or near an obstruction in the gym)
• It hits the end wall above the bottom of the backboard (about 8-10 feet high)
• This will vary by gym and will be called by the ref.
•  It hits the ceiling. Play will stop and a kick is given from the spot below where the ball hit the ceiling.
• If the ball is “tied-up” by two players, the team with possession last is awarded the kick-in

SCORING

• The ball must wholly cross the goal line to be considered a goal
• After a goal is scored the ball returns to the center with the team scored upon taking the kick
• A goal can be scored from anywhere in the gym

STANDINGS

Scoring/ Wins, Losses and Ties:

• Win 3 points
• ­Loss: 0 points
• ­Draw: 1 point
• Unannounced Forfeit: -1 points
• Regular season games ending in a tie score will be recorded as a tie. Sudden death will be used in playoffs
• Standings will be updated to the website weekly

TIE BREAKERS FOR PLAYOFFS/SEEDINGS

1. Total number of points

2. Head-to-head competition

3. Record against other teams in or tied for playoffs (winning percentage – i.e., 0-1 is same as 0-2, but 1-3 is better than 0-1)

4. Number of wins

5. Record against next best common opponent

6. If team forfeited, loses tie breaker if other tiebreaker rules don’t resolve seeding

7. Coin toss

PLAYOFF GAMES

Playoff games will follow the same format during regulation as the regular season. If teams are tied at the end of regulation in playoffs sudden death will be used. A sudden death playoff will involve 4 players per side (2 men max and 2 women) from each team for a five-minute overtime. If neither team scores after the sudden death overtime period, teams will go into a shootout.

SHOOTOUT SPECIFICS

• Each team selects 5 players (3 males max, 2 females)
• Players don’t have to have been playing at the end of regulation
• Players can only take a few steps before shooting (no long run ups)
• A coin toss will decide which team shoots first
• Both teams shoot at the same goal.
• Teams will alternate taking direct penalty shots from 7 yards out (no male/female shooting order is necessary)
• If tied after the 1st round, the 2nd round will be SUDDEN DEATH (i.e., 1st player from Team A scores and 1st player from Team B misses – Team A wins)
• Players who shot in the 1st shootout are not eligible to shoot again until all remaining players present have shot
• If and when 1 team begins to utilize players for the second time, the other team may “recycle” players as well. Thus, some players on the team with more people present may or may not shoot.

SPORTSMANSHIP 

ZogSports is a charity-focused, social sports club. Our goal is for you to have fun. We hope that you keep this in mind when participating. Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by the referee or ZogSports staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.

SUSPENSIONS/EJECTIONS  

• Any player(s)/team(s) that are involved in a fight will be suspended from all ZogSports Leagues for life. Any teams will forfeit all remaining games
• Any excessive contact or collision will result in a foul and ejection of player
• Any player abusing the referee will automatically be ejected from the game without a warning
• A player ejected for ANY reason will be suspended for the next game. If that player is caught playing in that game, the team will forfeit
• ZogSports reserves the right to ask any offending player to leave the premises

FORFEIT PENALTIES AND NOTIFICATION

First Offense: Loss of game, -1 points in the standings and warning issued

Second Offense: Loss of game, -1 points in the standings  and removal from the playoffs

Third Offense: Loss of game, -1 points in the standings and possible removal from remainder of schedule

FORFEIT NOTIFICATION

To forfeit, please fill out this form.

Forfeits ruin the experience for everyone. ZogSports exists to give you an opportunity to play and build community and forfeiting is a huge bummer. If your team absolutely needs to forfeit, you must let us know in advance so we can contact your opponent so that they don’t unnecessarily travel to the gym/field.

If you do not inform us of a forfeit your team could face penalties in your league’s standings. Once ZogSports is notified of your forfeit, it is final (you cannot change your mind) and the other team will be notified.

If you do not do this, you will lose a point in the standings for the unannounced forfeit and your team will risk being eliminated from the rest of the schedule.

There is no additional penalty if you show up short-handed (and need to add other ZogSports players to field a full team) and have to forfeit the game, since you did make an effort to get a team to play.

BEER / CLEAN-UP

Beer and other alcohol is not allowed at the gym! Please do your part to keep the gyms clean and use the trash cans provided. This is really important. If we do not clean up, we risk losing our permits.

CODE OF CONDUCT: The Participant’s Code of Conduct applies to all ZogSports participants. You can access the ZogSports Participant’s Code of Conduct HERE.