IUSC / FIELD RULES

Unless otherwise noted, the rules will follow FIFA Laws of the Game. Please note that there are differences between these rules and the generic rules posted at the Field. Captains, players, and referees should strive to keep the games light and fun through good sportsmanship, fair play and respect for the Laws of the Game - remember this is a recreational league.

FIELD OF PLAY

Defined by the side walls and the field markings.
A retaining line one yard inside the side walls defines a "no check zone".

THE BALL

Standard size 5 ball

NUMBER OF PLAYERS / SUBSTITUTIONS

Maximum on field: 7 (six plus a goalkeeper)
Minimum to start: 4 roster players
Teams have until 5 minutes past game time to produce the minimum to start. After that they forfeit the match.
Substitutions may be made at any time when the ball is in or out of play (on the fly). Player exchange must be made in the "no check zone" near their team bench and may not, in the referee's discretion, disrupt play. Any infringement will result in a direct free kick ("DFK"). Repeated infringement, at the referee's discretion, will result in a caution ( yellow card) to the infringing player(s) and / or team captain.
Co-Ed League Requirements:

Teams can have a maximum of 4 men on the field at a time.
Teams must have at least 1 women on the field at all times.
Captains may waive these requirements. The above notwithstanding, the league expresses a preference that the requirements not be waived in order to help maintain the integrity of the Co-ed league. Teams can play a friendly if the requirements are not satisfied.

ROSTERS

Captains are responsible for providing the referee with a roster sheet prior to the match. The roster sheet shall show (i) all players on the team roster, (ii) all roster players playing in the match, (iii) any rouge player playing in the match.
"Rouge player(s)" are defined as any player(s) not on a scheduled team's roster, regardless of whether the rouge player is on another IUSC roster.
Any team with four, five or six roster players at a given match may use a maximum of two rouge players for that match. Any team with seven or more roster players at a given match may use one rouge player for that match. Opposing captains shall have the right to waive the above rouge player restrictions or, if the minimum player requirement is not otherwise met, accept a forfeit and play a friendly.

EQUIPMENT

Shin guards are mandatory.
Only turf shoes or indoor shoes may be worn (i.e. not cleats).

DURATION OF THE MATCH

Two 25 minute halves with a two minute halftime
The scoreboard clock is official and shall be stopped, at the referee's discretion, only for serious injury.

START AND RESTART OF PLAY

Home team defends the west goal and occupies the west team box. Visiting team takes the kick-off to start the match.
In the second half the teams change ends on the field and the home teams takes the kick-off.
Kick-off procedure (DFK) - the defending players shall be at least 5 yards from the ball until it is in play; the ball need not be played forward.

THE BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

The ball is out of play when:

it wholly crosses the goal line (a goal)

it touches the containment netting (kick-in, goal kick, corner kick- see Laws 9-11 below)

it enters the players box area (kick-in)

it touches any overhead obstruction (kick-in from the nearest sideline)

play has been stopped by the referee

The ball is in play at all other times.

KICK-INS

A kick-in shall be awarded when the ball touches the containment netting above the side lines of the field, enters the team box area, or touches an overhead obstruction. Kick-ins are indirect free kicks ("IFK"). The ball shall be placed on or outside the retaining line at the spot closest to where it went out of play. The kick-in must occur within 5 seconds of spotting the ball (IFK).

GOAL KICK

A goal kick is awarded when the ball touches the containment netting above the goal lines of the field, after last being touched by the offensive team. Goal kicks may be taken from anywhere inside the goal area and are not in play until the ball leaves the area. All opponents must be at least 5 yards away from where the goal kick is taken. Goal kicks must touch a wall, player, or the turf before they cross the halfway line. Infringement: IFK taken from anywhere on the halfway line. The Goal kick must occur within 5 seconds of spotting the ball (IFK).

CORNER KICK

A Corner kick is awarded when the ball touches the containment netting above the goal lines of the field after last being touched by the defensive team. Corner kicks shall be taken from the nearest corner mark, and must occur within 5 seconds of spotting the ball (IFK).

OFFSIDE

There is no offside rule.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

Slide tackles are prohibited except by the goalkeeper in his/her own goal area. (DFK)

Body contact such as pushing or shoulder checks are prohibited in the "no check zone".

Players shall not shield the ball with hand(s) up against the boards. (IFK, Dropped Ball, referee's discretion)

A player may be cautioned or dismissed, at the referee's discretion, for dangerous or deliberate checks into the boards.

A player who is cautioned (yellow card) must go off the field for three minutes and a substitute may enter the game.

Any player that is sent off (red card) shall immediately leave the field area and shall not be allowed to play in the following league match. A player that is sent off may not be replaced and their team shall play short for the remainder of the match.

Cautions (yellow cards) shall be cumulative. On the third caution during any five game span, the player shall not be allowed to play in the following league match.

If a player is cautioned twice in a single game, the player shall be sent off. As relates to suspensions, this situation will be treated as one red card and no yellow cards.

If a rouge player is to be suspended according to the above procedure, the suspension shall be served during the next match played by the team whose roster the rouge player is on. In the event that a suspended rouge player is not on any roster, (s)he will be banned from playing league matches for the remainder of the season.

If after serving a one game suspension, any player either receives three cautions in a five game span or is sent off his or her actions will be reviewed by the IUSC Rules, Conduct and Review Committee ("RCRC"). The RCRC has the discretion to impose any sanction, including removal from all league play (without refund).

FREE KICKS

All opponents must be at least 5 yards away from the ball.

Any free kick awarded to the attacking team in the goal area shall be taken from the edge of the goal area. (DFK - i.e. a penalty kick - from the penalty mark, IFK from the point closest to where the foul occurred)

All free kicks shall be taken within 5 seconds of spotting the ball. Infringement: IFK.

PENALTY KICKS

The players other than the kicker are located behind the ball and at least 5 yards away from the ball.

The penalty mark shall be at the midpoint of the top of the goal box.

GOALKEEPER RELEASE

When a goalkeeper legally handles the ball, (s)he may release it only by a throw. The throw must touch a wall, player, or the turf before it crosses the halfway line. Infringement: IFK taken from anywhere on the halfway line. All keeper throws shall be taken within 5 seconds of controlling the ball. Infringement: IFK. When the goalkeeper releases the ball he may not play it again until it has been played by a teammate outside the goal area or by an opponent anywhere on the field.

PLEASE NOTE AND RESPECT THE FOLLOWING FIELD HOUSE RULES

All alcohol and tobacco products are strictly forbidden at The Field.

Glass containers of any kind should not be brought into The Field.

No food or drink of any kind should be brought onto the playing surface or the team box area with the exception of water in plastic containers.

Players and Captains are responsible to see that all personal property and water bottles are removed from their team box area following their match.

Game footwear should be carried in and should not be worn to The Field.

COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Only captains are permitted to complain.

All complaints about refereeing should be made to the IUSC Referee Coordinator Jano Parra, ap64@cornell.edu. Jano will then address the problem with the RCRC. All decisions of the Coordinator and RCRC are final.

All other complaints should be made to the RCRC Liaison Adam Schaye, ars@twmlaw.com. The RCRC Liaison will address the complaint with the RCRC. All decisions of the RCRC are final.