Official Rules of Play (7v7)

All games will be played at Clearwater Elementary School or Riverwood Park on Saturday mornings or Sunday afternoons.

General Rules:

Number of Players:  The game will be played with 7 players of each team on the field.  The maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed 12. A minimum of 5 players are needed, per team, to start a game. If a game is started with 5 players and a team loses a player, the game will be terminated. The coach should make every effort so that every player SHALL play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.

Equipment:  Footwear must conform to FIFA Laws; plastic cleats with no toe cleat. Shin guards are required. The goalkeepers must wear a jersey or pinnie differentiating them from the field players.

Referee:  The league will provide one referee. We often use young referees in order to give them a chance to learn at our recreational level. Please be respectful to the referee. Coaches are to remain on the sidelines at all times unless called onto the field in the case of an injury.

Substitutions:  Unlimited substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee, on any dead ball. Substitutions will be made by having the player(s) wait at the center line until the referee blows the whistle and admits them to the game.

Spectators:  Spectators are asked to occupy the side of the field opposite the coach and players.

Playing the Game:

Kickoff:  A kickoff is taken from the center circle at the beginning of the game, beginning of the second half and after each goal.  The first kick must touch an offensive player before the defense may touch the ball.

Ball in and out of play:  The ball must completely cross the line to be out of play.

Throw-In:  After the ball has completely crossed the side boundary lines ("touchlines"), a throw-in is awarded against the team that last touched the ball.  The throw-in is taken from where the ball left the field and must be thrown with two hands from behind and over the head, while both feet are on the ground and on or behind the touchline.  Referees may allow players to retake throw-ins.

Offside:  There are no offsides but teams are encouraged not to poach.  Referees should address the matter with the coach if they see this happen persistently.

Goalkeeper Distribution:  The goalkeeper may not punt the ball past the halfway line.  Restart back to goalkeepers hands. Coaches should remind of the rule and encourage passing the ball out of the back to teammates.  

Goal Kick:  The goal kick is taken by the defending team each time the ball crosses the goal line and was last touched by an attacking player.  The ball may be placed anywhere in the goal area. Opposing teams should retreat behind the half until the ball is in play.

Corner Kick:  The corner kick is taken by the attacking team each time the ball is kicked by the defense over its own goal line.  The ball is placed within the three-foot arc in the corner of the field (nearest to where the ball went out of play) and kicked into play by the attacking team.

Free Kicks:  All opponents must stand at least 8 yards from the ball until it is put into play.

Penalty Kick:  The penalty kick is awarded when a defending player commits one of the 10 major major fouls within their own penalty area while the ball is still in play.  The penalty kick is taken by a player from the offended team from a spot 12 yards from the goal.  All players must remain outside the penalty area, 10 yards from the ball, and behind the penalty-kick mark until the kick is taken, except for the kicker and the goalkeeper.  The goalkeeper's feet must remain stationary on the goal line until the ball is kicked.  At the referee's signal, the kicker attempts to kick the ball into the opponent's goal and the goalkeeper tries to stop the ball from scoring.

Misconduct:  There are two kinds of misconduct: (1) actions resulting in a caution (yellow card) from the referee; (2) actions resulting in a player being sent off or ejected from the field (red card).  A referee may also warn a player to improve his or her conduct (or unsportsmanlike behavior) before a caution is issued.  Glendale is a recreational league.  Unsportsmanlike behavior by a player or spectator will not be tolerated.