GENERAL RULES 

A game can end in a tie during the regular season.  Honestly, it does happen....  

LEAGUE FORMAT

The format of the league will vary depending on the number of teams involved and the skill levels of the teams.  In general, the format will be a league split into one or more divisions with playoffs for the final 1 or 2 weeks of the season.

There will be 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. 

Teams tied on points at the end of the league portion will be ranked by the following: 

1. "Head to Head" encounters; 2. Goal Difference (+/-); 3. Goals Scored, and; 4. Goals Against. 

EQUIPMENT/SET-UP/TEAM COLOURS

Teams are comprised of 7 players (including goalie).

We recommend that all players wear suitable footwear such as indoor turf trainers or cleats (metal cleats are not allowed). Shin guards are not mandatory but are strongly recommended.

We allow the standard medical knee/leg braces, as long as they are in good condition and do not have any protruding or sharp edges.  If a referee believes they could cut an opposing players, then the brace must be padded or covered before play. 

All watches (including fitbit/apple watch) must be covered or removed before the game (a sweatband works!).  Only prescription sunglasses are allowed on the field, sunglasses (non-prescription) must be removed (even during those sunny July afternoon days).  Goalkeeper may wear hats but the brims must be collapsible or soft-style brim/bill (ie. camping/running style hat).

Team captains are responsible for making sure that all players on their team wear matching colours.  Team colours are chosen at the beginning of the season and are always visible in the league table and fixture list.  In the event of a colour clash, the Home team (the team listed first on the fixture schedule) will get preference and the Away team must bring an alternative colour.  The game official may request that players not wearing the correct colours must leave the field of play and change if they deem it to be interfering with the game. 

For future reference,

a) black and white are not the same colour and grey is neither black nor white.

b) purple is not blue, nor is it pink or black. And, it definitely is not red. 

c) Players must be wearing a shirt. 

Teams must bring at least one suitable game ball to the game for the match. The match official will make sure that the ball is the proper weight and size.  At most venues more than one ball keeps the game in motion. 

In our gender specific leagues (men's and women's leagues), men are unable to play in our women's leagues & women are unable to play in our men's leagues. 

TEAM REQUIREMENTS

If teams are unable to field five (5) players, the team will forfeit the match.

KICK OFF TIMES  / DEFAULT

Players should arrive sufficiently early so that games will start on time.  Games will start and end at the designated time and WILL NOT overrun because teams were late arriving.  A halftime break of 4-5 minutes for the 90 minute games and 2-3 minutes for the 60 minute games will occur and teams, at the referee's discretion, will switch ends after the half.  Teams may waive the half time interval if they wish but both captains and the referee must agree. 

Games will begin 5 minutes after the officially scheduled kick off time (6:30pm game = 6:35pm kick off). This allows both teams to get setup at their bench, a brief warmup, and allows the referee to convene with the captains, etc.  

A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad by 15 minutes past the official start time or if they are unable to meet the requirements to field a team.  Captains may agree to waive the rules regarding minimum players but this should be decided before the game starts.

FULL TIME WHISTLE / THE END OF THE GAME

Games will normally end on the hour or half hour with the next game commencing a few minutes after.  Referees may, at their discretion, let the game continue past the normal end time if there is currently a play in motion, so please (as with all rules) wait for the full time whistle. 

SUBSTITUTIONS

Player substitutions can be made at anytime (i.e. changing on the fly is allowed). However, please ensure that the player coming off has completely entered the team area before the new player joins the action and the change does not disrupt the flow of the game. Goalies cannot change on the fly - please wait for a stoppage in play before substituting goalies (the referee will disallow goalkeeper substitutions if they feel this tactic is being used to delay the match).  Unlike in Europe, having a cigarette on the sidelines is not considered "substituting".

HANDBALLS

A handball will occur for contact anywhere below the shoulder if the referee deems it a deliberate movement or if a significant advantage was gained by using it.  The referee will allow the game to play if he deems it to be incidental, unintentional or of significant advantage to the team in possession of the ball, so always play to the whistle.

Men are allowed to protect their family jewels. 

FREE KICKS

Free kicks are both direct and indirect in our women's leagues. Please refer to the Laws of the Game for more information on what Free Kicks are awarded as either direct or indirect.

If a ball hits the top or sides of the dome, an indirect kick is awarded to the opposite team. The ball should be placed at the spot on the field that is closest to where the ball made contact with the dome. i.e. directly underneath the point at which the ball hit the ceiling.

PENALTIES

Penalties will be awarded for "direct" infringements (handballs, fouls) within the goalkeeper's areas. Penalties will normally be taken from the penalty spot (it's all beginning to make sense now), but in some venues this may be too close to the goalkeeper so the referee will use their superior powers of judgement to decide on a suitable place.  The penalty distance in 7-a-side footy is 8 yards.  Players that miss penalties should be immediately patted on the back and have the words "hard luck son it happens to the best of us" whispered in their ears with a modicum of condescension in the tone. 

"Indirect" infringements occurring within the goalkeeper's area will result in an indirect free kick; no closer than 5 yards from the nearest part of the goal line. 

KICK-INS / CORNERS / GOAL KICKS / KICK-OFFS

There will be NO throw-ins, instead a kick in from the side will be taken where the ball went out of play. Quite frankly, we tried the throw-in once, never again, I kept getting out jumped by 18 year olds and people kept banging heads.

Kick-ins from the side that fail to come into play will be ruled as a foul kick-in with possession turned over to the opposing team. 

A goal may be be scored directly from a corner kick but NOT from a kick-in from the side.

A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick.

A goal may be scored direclt from a kick-off.

Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves. The ball is no longer required to leave the penalty in order to be "live" and in play. Referees will be using the next few weeks (and months) to help educate players on the development of this rule. [Updated August 2020] 

GOALKEEPERS

They are the bigger guys with gloves, sometimes they have a screw loose.

1. Goalies can use their hands ONLY when they are inside the lined goalie crease.
2. When inside the goal crease, a goalie CANNOT pick up a ball with his/her hands if the ball has been played back on purpose to the goalie by a player on his/her team. This includes all forms of passing and kick-ins. The only exception is if the player directs the ball back to the goalie with their head or chest - in this case the goalie CAN pick the ball up with his/her hands. A violation of this rule results in an indirect free kick for the other team at the spot where the goalie inappropriately used their hands.
3. A goalie can "roam" as far from their goal as they want, but once outside their lined crease, the goalie CANNOT use their hands at any time.
4. A goalie is considered a player when outside his box.  Ie. Sliding/'Going To Ground' is permitted to reach a cross or to keep a ball in play but this must NEVER be done in close proximity to other players (common sense should prevail in these situations).  The rule of thumb - slides are only permitted when players are 5 yards (or more) away from the slide. 

FOULS, INFRINGEMENTS AND ADVANTAGE

As with handballs, the referee will use their judgement to keep the game flowing where possible. If a foul occurs and they deem the advantage to be with the opposing team, play may continue, so always play to the whistle. 

If the ball strikes the referee, corner flag or goal post and remains in play, the game will continue uninterrupted as they are considered part of the field of play. When in doubt, play to the referee's whistle. 

**We understand that the 'Ball Touching Match Official' rule was amended in 2019/2020. With the use of small-sided pitches we will continue to "play-on" when the ball strikes the referee (provided he/she is okay) as it happens all too often.**

SLIDE TACKLING

Even if contact is made with the ball first, slide tackling is not allowed under any circumstances. As well, no players (with the exception of the goalie) can slide to block a shot or pass at any time.  Sliding is permitted to reach a cross or to keep a ball in play but this must NEVER be done in close proximity to other players (common sense should prevail in these situations).  The rule of thumb - slides are only permitted when players are 5 yards (or more) away from the slide. 

SCORING

To score a goal, the ENTIRE ball must pass over the goal line.  The referee will have the final say on any disputes.

FORFEITS

If a game needs to be recorded as a forfeit (such as not being able to make the game, etc.), then a 3-0 score will be awarded to the other team.

OFF-SIDES

There are NO off-sides. However, a strategy of consistently "cherry-picking (US/Canada)" or "nappy lining (UK/Newcastle)" is considered to be jolly bad form.

DISCIPLINE: YELLOW & RED CARDS

Players who have been issued a red card/dismissed will be subject to the following penalties. The league reviews each incident individually and reserves the right to reduce or apply additional penalties in the event of situations involving unconventional and extraordinary circumstances.  All red cards carry a minimum of at least one game suspension. If you receive a red card, you will not be eligible to participate in the next scheduled fixture for that team. The league will notify team captains if suspensions are more or less than one game.  The rules governing which cards are issued under which circumstances are listed (but not limited to) those below.

Yellow Card (Cautionable Offences) - The referee issues a yellow card for reckless fouls and for the following offences:

(a) Deliberate Handball or Handball by a Goalkeeper (unless denying a clear goal scoring opportunity); (b) Endangerment; (c) Unsporting Behaviour; (d) Dissent; (e) verbal abuse directed toward the referee or coordinator; (f) Provoking Altercation: Making physical contact with an opponent (e.g., pushing or poking), short of fighting, or using the ball in so doing.

Red Card (Ejection-able Offences) - A person receives a red card for fouls and offences described directly above, which the referee considers violent or use of excessive force, and for:

(a) 2nd Yellow Card; (b) Elbowing: Intentionally elbowing an opponent; (c) Vicious Slide Tackling: A tackle from the side or from behind directly into one or both legs of an opponent, seriously endangering him; (d) Fighting; (e) Leaving Team Bench or Penalty Area to engage in a fracas or confrontation with the opposition or a Game Official; (f) Extreme Unsporting Behaviour: Committing particularly despicable behaviour, including: (g) Spitting at an opponent or any other person; (h) Use of extremely abusive language or behaviour toward a Game Official; (i) Aggressive physical contact with a Game Official in dissent; (j) Deliberate handball or foul that denies a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Time Penalties - The following time penalties apply to offences for which a card is issued (subject to further action by the Administrative Authority).  During the time penalized teams must play short.

(a) Yellow Card: 2 minutes for a Yellow Card;

(b) Red Card: The player will be dismissed/ejected and not allowed to return to the game. The team must play short for the remainder of the game with the offending player being ejected:  any player receiving a Red Card will take no further part in the game and will, depending on the circumstances, be banned from a number of subsequent games or dismissed from the league entirely. 

Time penalties are assessed from the time that play restarts after the offence occurs. All time penalties are absolute and will run for the full duration of the penalty regardless of how many goals are scored in that period.

Ineligible Players - All participating players must be on the roster prior to kick-off. Teams that are found using ineligible players (not on roster/suspended) are subject to the following discipline:

• Suspension served by the Team's captain. 
• Team-wide suspensions. 

DISCIPLINE: SUSPENSIONS AND PENALTIES

Players who have been issued a red card/dismissed will be subject to the following penalties. The league reviews each incident individually and reserves the right to reduce or apply additional penalties in the event of situations involving unconventional and extraordinary circumstances.

Receiving a second yellow card in the same match: 1 Game Suspension 

Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity: 1 Game Suspension

Abusive language or gestures directed towards a league official; Dissent: 1 - 3 Game Suspension

Unsporting Conduct: 1 - 3 Game Suspension  

Serious Foul Play: 1 - 5 Game Suspension

Violent Conduct (Fighting, Spitting, Threatening, Extreme Verbal Abuse against an opposing player): Permanent Suspension; Player will be removed from the league and banned for a minimum period of one year.

Violent Conduct against a league official (Aggressive Physical Contact, Spitting, Threatening, Extreme Verbal Abuse against a league official): Permanent Expulsion; player will be removed from the league and banned for life.

Team Misconduct: Any violent acts or other behaviour that is detrimental to the reputation of the league committed by teams, large groups of players or supporter(s) will result in blanket suspension and or expulsions. The league reserves the right to retain team fees in instances deemed appropriate.

Receiving a second red card in a single league season that has not been issued for a serious offence: Additional 1 Game Suspension applied to the initial suspension. 

Receiving a third red in a single season: The league will review the player's disciplinary history as well as the circumstances before issuing a suspension.

PLAYOFF GAMES

If a playoff game ends in a tie:

1. The game goes immediately to penalty kicks. No extra time or golden goal will be played.
2. The referee will decide which net is used for the penalty kicks.
3. Which team shoots first is decided by the referee. 
4. Each team will take three penalty kicks.
5. The goalkeeper who was in goal when the final whistle went must remain in goals for the penalties (a serious injury is the only exception).
6. If the game is still tied after three penalties each, the teams will continue to take sudden death penalties until one team scores and the other misses, Both teams must take an equal number of penalties.