Indoor Soccer Rule Book
Small-Sided Play

September 15, 2002

General

Successful Goals:
- Any contact between the ball and the interior of the metal goal will be awarded a point. The attaching frame around the face of the goal is in play and not a goal if struck.
All players from the offensive team must be across the mid-field line for a goal to be awarded.

Goaltending/Defensive Illegal Touch:
Definition: Any defensive player makes contact with the ball while in the goal arc.
This infraction will result in an open goal direct kick from mid-field unless the referee rules that the goal would have been scored had the violation not occurred in which case a goal is awarded.

Offensive Illegal Touch:
Definition: Any offensive player makes contact with the ball while in the goal arc.
This infraction will result in the defensive team being awarded a direct kick from the defensive restart spot closest to the infraction. If a goal is scored as a result of this infraction, the goal will not be counted and the restart will be from a defensive restart spot closest to the goal.

Kickoffs:
The visiting team will start each game by kicking-off from the mid-field spot. All defenders must be across mid-field when initial contact is made with the ball. All restarts after goals are scored are made in the same manner. Once a restart is put in play the defensive team may cross mid-field.

Other restarts:
If the ball should stop in the arc, play will be restarted by the defending team from a defensive restart spot closest to the goal. The opposing team will have to defend from across the mid-field line until the ball is put in play.

Ball "Out of Play" Restarts:
All restarts are direct kicks from the appropriate defensive restart spot (always across mid-field from the attacking end - not necessarily nearest to where the infraction occurred).

Open Goal Penalty Kick:
Deliberate handball, goaltending violations, and violent play will result in an open goal direct kick from the mid-field spot.

Procedure: Both teams must be in the attacking team’s defensive half (the end opposite the direction the ball will be played). The ball is placed on the mid-field spot. On the referee’s whistle, the penalty taker strikes the ball with a single kick toward the goal. On contact with the ball all players can enter the attacking half. The ball can not be played again until it impacts the wall system and subsequently clears the goal arc. If the ball does not reach the wall system as a result of the penalty kick, the defensive team as per an “Out of Play Restart”. Two- touch does not apply in “open goal penalty kicks” except that the penalty shot taker can not touch the ball again once the ball is put in play until the ball impacts the wall and clears the arc. If a goal is not scored off the initial try the ball is in play.

There will be absolutely no boarding in small-sided soccer. This will be considered one form of violent play and an open goal direct kick from the mid-field spot will be awarded plus a 1 minute time penalty against the guilty player. Boarding does not count as a foul.

Team Fouls/Accumulation:
After a team has received 3 "team fouls", each subsequent team foul will result in an open goal direct kick from the mid-field spot. This is repeated for each foul after the third. Yellow and red card suspensions or blue card 1 minute penalties DO NOT COUNT AS FOULS.

Time Penalties:
Only violent plays and sliding will earn a personal 1 minute "Blue Card" penalty. In all "Card" situations (yellow, red and blue) subs are allowed immediately with the guilty player serving the penalty. If no subs are available to prevent only 1 player being available to continue play, the game is an immediate forfeit. A player serving a time penalty can not return until the time penalty expires no matter how many goals are scored during the penalty period. Each player receiving a Blue Card will serve their allotted penalty even if the enforcement results in a forfeit situation (only 1 player being eligible to take the field).

Slide tackling or sliding:
Players must stand upright and "on their feet" at all times.

Sliding to stop or intercept a ball:
Sliding to challenge an opponent or shoot is NOT allowed and will be penalized with a 1 minute Blue Card suspension. Goals scored as a result of offensive sliding will not count. Goals scored off of defensive deflections where defensive sliding occurred will be counted. In both cases of goal scoring as a result of sliding a 1 minute penalty will be accessed. Sliding is not counted as a foul.

Out of bounds:
A ball kicked into the net or above the "out line" will result in a direct kick from the nearest defensive restart spot. The "out line" itself is in play. A ball kicked into the ceiling netting will be kicked from the mid-field spot by the appropriate team.

Tie-breaker for playoff games only:
A shootout will start at the mid-field spot and progress through the 4 defensive restart spots starting with the 2 closest to mid-field. Field players (2 or 3 in number) will alternate shots until one team scores and one misses. A single shot from each spot will be taken changing the kicker at each spot. If, in the case of 3 v 3 game, a team is playing a player short at the end of regulation (except for a "Blue Card" which ceases at the end of regulation), every third shoot-out shot is an automatic miss. This occurs if a team either started and played with 2 players (3 v 3) or, due to disqualification (Red or Yellow Cards), only 2 players remain eligible.

Referee:
The referee will make calls from the sideline box area. They will also be responsible for counting fouls, keeping time and keeping score.
Keep in mind that small sided soccer is supposed to be a game of control.
Keeping the ball down off the nets and keeping possession is the name of the game. These will be very high scoring games.