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GENERAL RULES
11 PLAYERS ON THE FIELD (7 MALES/4 FEMALES)
TWO 25-MINUTE HALVES
RUNNING CLOCK
TIES DURING REGULAR SEASON STAY AS A TIE
PLAYOFF TIES ARE DECIDED BY SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME OR SHOOTOUT IF NECESSARY
All players are required to wear SoCo Sports jerseys at every game for the entire season, no exceptions
KICKOFF
The beginning of the game will start with the referee using an “odd/even”, or coin flip. The winning team will then have one of two options,
choose to kick-off or choose a goal to defend.
For kickoff, the ball will be placed at midfield. The ball must complete 1 forward rotation before touched by another player.
CO-ED RULES AND TEAM SIZE
Each team shall field 11 players on the field at one time ( no more than 7 men). SoCo rules allow a team to play a legal game shorthanded
maximum limit on the amount of females on the field at one time.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Teams NOT substitute “on the fly”. All substitute players must notify the ref before entering the game. Substitutions may occur during any
stoppage of play, such as:
a) Throw-ins
b) Scoring of goals
c) Goalkicks
There is no limit on the amount of substitutions per team/per game. During the course of the regular season teams are allowed to “pick up”
players that are not on their roster in order to field a full team. In playoffs non-roster players will NOT be allowed to play.
TIME
Play will be divided into (2) 25 minute halves separated by a very brief halftime. There will be a running clock maintained by the referee. The
clock will stop only during time-outs and injury time-outs. Any delay tactics, (kicking the ball far out of bounds) will allow the referee (at his/her
discretion) to stop the clock. The game will be considered official as soon as the second half starts. If the game is called due to bad
weather or darkness (or any other issue), then the game will be considered complete and the score will stand. If the score is tied, then the
game will result in a tie unless its playoffs, then the entire game will be re-played at a later date. If the game is called for any reason
BEFORE the second half begins, then the entire game will be re-played at a later date.
THE GAMES/SCORING
Regular season games ending in a tie score will be recorded as tie games. Sudden death will be used in the playoffs.
DIRECT KICKS
The ball is to be placed at the point of the infraction and to be put in play by any player on the affected team. No opposing player is allowed to
be within 10 paces/yards of ball prior to kick. Goals may be scored on direct kicks. A direct kick is to follow these infractions: (1) Charging (2)
Roughness (3)Handball (4) Dangerous play/kick (5) Slide-tackles. Penalties incurred inside the goal box by the defense will result in a
penalty kick 12 paces/yards in front of the goal. Penalties incurred outside but within close proximity to the goal box will be kicked from the
point of infraction. The defense must stand 10 paces/yards away from the point of infraction (where the ball is placed).
INDIRECT KICKS
Indirect kicks will occur when: 1.) the goalkeeper touches the ball with his/her hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a
teammate 2.) offsides occurs. The indirect kick will be taken by the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred.
OFFSIDES
A player is in an offsides position if he/she is closer to the opponents goal line than the ball, unless:
a) He or she is in his/her own half of the field of play
b) He/she is not nearer to his/her opponents goal line than at least two of his/her opponents
c) He/she is even with the ball or the second defender
There is no Offsides during a goal kick, corner kick, or a throw in
OUT OF BOUNDS
Anytime the ball goes completely over either sideline, out of bounds, a throw- in will ensue. The person throwing in the ball must throw the
ball overhead with both hands and keep both feet remaining on the ground out-of-bounds until the ball is released.
Anytime the ball crosses an endline, a corner kick or goal kick will ensue.
a. Last touched by a defender- a corner kick. Ball is placed on nearest corner and kicked in by offensive team. Goals may be scored on
corner kicks.
b. Last touched by attacker. A goal kick by the defense.
FORFEITS
Teams will have until 10 minutes past the designated start time to field a legal team. Shorthanded teams may play a legal game with a
minimum of 7 players, with at least 2 of them being females. Teams fielding less than 7 players or without at least 2 women will receive a
forfeit. Exception: Teams may play a “legal game” with less than 7 players or less than 2 females with the opposing teams consent. Teams
who agree to play under these conditions will loose the option of receiving a forfeit win. Teams may pick up players during the regular
season in order to field a full team. Substitutes will not be allowed during playoffs.
If your team forfeits a match during the season, the following rules apply:
First Offense: Loss of all three games for the match and warning issued.
Second Offense: Three losses and staff reserves the right to remove team from playoffs.
Third Offense: Removal from the league.
If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, (if and only if you cannot find adequate substitutes to field a legal team), then
we encourage you to call our office so we can inform your opponent.
SPORTSMANSHIP
At SoCo Sports, we facilitate fun! We hope that all participants keep that in mind when becoming involved in our leagues and social events.
Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior
deemed unacceptable by SoCo Sports staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league. Any player that gets
ejected from a game is welcome to come back the next week to play. However, if that player is ejected a second time (at any point during the
season), he/she will be removed from the league and will no longer be allowed to participate with SoCo Sports, no exceptions. SoCo Sports
reserves the right to remove a player or team from the league after just one incident depending on the severity of the situation.
FIGHTING
Fighting is not allowed and will NOT be tolerated. All parties involved in fighting will be subject to ejection from the game at the referees
discretion and subject to ejection from the league at the discretion of SoCo Sports staff.
NCAA
Normal rules and penalties of the NCAA apply unless exceptions have been made herein.
SCHEDULE/STANDINGS
League Schedule and Standings will be posted on-line throughout the season.
ROSTERS / SUBSTITUTES
During regular season ONLY, teams are allowed to use substitutes if they cannot field a full and legal team. Teams are encouraged to use
the SoCo Sub Program to find eligible sub(s) for their game if they do not have enough players to field a full and legal team. All rosters must
be finalized by the second game of the regular season. Players added after the second game will NOT be on the final roster and therefore
will NOT be eligible for playoffs. Maximum roster size 18.
PLAYOFFS
All eligible teams make the playoffs (teams that have not abused any policies are eligible). In certain situations and depending on the
number of teams in the league, some teams at or near the bottom of the standings may not advance to the playoffs. Playoffs are single
elimination. Depending on schedule and facility constraints, some teams may need to play more than one playoff match per day.
RANKING
Teams are ranked according to winning percentage and a points system. If two teams have the same win-loss record, then the team that
has scored the most points will be ranked higher in the playoffs.
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. The 5 minute sudden death overtime period will follow the same gender rules as regulation play. If neither team
scores after the sudden death overtime period, teams will go into a shootout.
SHOOTOUTS
• Each team selects 5 players (3 males, 2 females)- selected players did not have to be playing at the end of regulation. A coin toss will
decide which team shoots first. The referee will decide which goal will be used.
• Teams will alternate taking direct penalty shots from 12 paces off the goal line. (No guy/ girl 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 & 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.
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