Guelph Soccer 6 vs 6 Rules

Spirit of the Game: Perpetual Motion 6 vs 6 Soccer Leagues relies upon a spirit of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from the Soccer field. Such actions as taunting opposing players, dangerous aggression, belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions, or other "win-atall- costs" behavior are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players.

1. Equipment/Score Sheets:

▪     Each team should bring both light and dark coloured shirts to each and every game, and a water bottle as well.

▪     It is recommended that players wear shin-guards.

▪     Only the regulation ball provided by the league may be used for the games.

▪     Cleats are allowed but no metal spikes (baseball cleats).

▪     Please do not wear jewelry or sunglasses

▪     The conveners have a basic first aid kit (ice packs, band aids and tensors).

 

2. Game Time/Default:
▪     Please arrive 15 minutes early to warm up and start your games on time.

▪     Games are played rain or shine (but no lightning), cancelled games are not rescheduled. Always show to the game even if it's raining as the weather can change very quickly. At the start of the game the captains are to make the decision if the games are to be cancelled. If lightning cancels any game the rest of the games are canceled for the night.

LIGHTNING POLICY:   If thunder is heard within 30 seconds of seeing lightning, games will be postponed.   All participants must leave the playing area and seek shelter in a building or an automobile.  Never stand under trees, in an open field or under an umbrella.  Games will resume 15 minutes later if the thunder and lightning have moved away.   If thunder and lightning are still present 15 minutes after, the game will be cancelled and the score counts as it was when the game was stopped.  Halfway point of the game must be reached (20 minutes) in order for the game to count towards the league standings.

▪     Captains do a rock, paper, scissor game to decide who picks the end and who has the ball first.

▪     Games are comprised of two 17 minute halves with a 2 minute half time. Teams will change ends after each period and alternate kick offs.  

▪     A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad 10 minutes after the official start time.

▪     A team can play with a minimum of 5 people, as long as two (2) of the players are women and two (2) of the players are men.  A female goalie does not count towards the two female players.

▪     The captains may agree to waive the rules regarding minimum people but this should be decided before the game begins. IF IT IS SPECIFICALLY AGREED THAT THE GAME COUNTS, IT COUNTS!  Agreeing to play does not infer that the game counts.

▪     If two teams have the same number of points at the end of the round robin, the tiebreaker will be awarded to the team with a) Head to head.  If the two teams tied played each other, the winner of the game places higher. b) Point differentials, counting only games against common opponents  c) Points scored, counting games against all common opponents.  d) Points against, counting games against all common opponents. e) Point differentials, counting games against all opponents  f) Points scored, counting games against all opponents.  g) Points against, counting games against all opponents.  h) Highest spirit average i) Flip a coin

  ▪     If three or more teams have the same number of points at the end of the round robin, the tiebreaker will be awarded to the team with a) Head to head.  b) Point differentials, counting only games against the tied teams  c) Points scored, counting games against the tied teams.  d) Points against, counting games against the tied teams. e) Point differentials, counting games against all common opponents  f) Points scored, counting games against all common opponents.  g) Points against, counting games against all common opponents.  h) Point differentials, counting games against all opponents  i) Points scored, counting games against all opponents.  j) Points against, counting games against all opponents.  k) Highest spirit average l) Flip a coin

3. Start of Play: 

▪    The kickoff starts with all players on their own side of the field. The ball is stationary at the center point of the field and the opponents of the team taking the kickoff should be at least 10 paces away from the ball - until it is put into play.

▪    The ball is put into play when it is kicked forward and moves wholly into the opposing teams end.  The initial kicker cannot touch it again until another player has contacted it.  If the initial kicker touches the ball before it has touched by another player, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

▪    You cannot score a goal directly from the kick off.

 

4. Scoring: 

▪     The ball has to completely cross the goal line between the goalposts and under the crossbar to count as a goal. In the event that we are using pylons as nets, the ball must pass through the pylons at a height lower than the (full standing) top of the head of the goalie.  The pylons should be 5 paces apart (approximately 16 feet).  If the ball goes in the goal but on the shot it hits the pylon and knocks it over, the goal does not count.  However, if the goalie knocks the pylon over (when it is questionable as to the location of the ball is inside the pylon), the goal counts.  The goalie knocking the pylon over at another time does not result in a goal being awarded to the opposing team.

▪     Games in the regular season can end in a tie. In the playoffs, if a game is tied at the end of regulation time, a "Shoot-out" will take place The five players remaining on the field will each take a shot from 12 paces out from the goal line.  If the score is still tied after 5 shots each then the teams will redo the same order until the tie is broken (i.e. if one team scores and the opposing doesn't the game is over).  The goalie for the shootout must be the goalie that finished the game. The goalkeeper must stand with both feet on his/her own goal line between the goalposts, without moving off the goal line (they may move sideways on the goal line) until the ball has been kicked forward.

 

5. Substitutions: 

▪     Substitution on any player but the goalie can happen at any time but the player must be on the sideline before the new player enters the field.  The player substituting must cross the out of bounds line within 10 feet from where the player came off and the change can not disrupt the flow of the game.  If a team has more than a maximum number of players on the field an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team on the location of the ball on the field.  Goalies can only substitute on a stoppage of play.  A stoppage of play is considered as a throw in, corner kick, goal and goal kick.

 

6. Off-Sides: 

▪     There are no off-sides in 6 vs 6 Soccer. 

7.  Misconducts/Fouls

▪     All players are expected to call their own fouls. If there are any concerns over un-sportsmanlike behavior, all attempts should first be made by the captains to deal with it at that time.  If there is a dispute and an agreement cannot be reached, don't waste time arguing the play - a throw-in from the sideline will be awarded to the team last having possession of the ball.

▪     If a player breaks a rule or fouls, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from the location of the foul. All free kicks are indirect. The player taking the free kick may not touch it again until another player has touched it. Opposing players must be 10 paces away from all free kicks. For an indirect free kick, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and all opposing players must be at least 10 paces away from the kicker (except when the ball is being kicked from a point closer than 10 paces from the goal. In this case the defending player may stand on their goal line.) The kicker must not touch the ball a second time until another player has touched it.  A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick.

AN INDIRECT FREE KICK is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offenses:

  1. Plays in a dangerous manner (i.e. charging, checking or pushing an opponent)

  2. Impedes the progress of an opponent (i.e. tripping, kicking or holding an opponent)

  3. Slide tackling

  4. High kicking (dangerous kick)

  5. Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball

  6. Handball: A handball infraction occurs when the ball hits a player's arm from the ELBOW down (as opposed to the shoulder). A handball does not need to be called if the ball goes to an opponent or an opponent is the next player to touch the ball, but does need to be called if it goes off to yourself or a teammate. 
    Exceptions:     Players may use their arms to block the ball from hitting their groin area and women can also use their arms to block the ball from hitting their chest. This rule will reduce the number of stoppages in play. Please don't abuse this rule. 

         Or if the goalkeeper (insider his/her own goal box):

  1. Takes more than 5 seconds while controlling the ball with his/her hands before releasing it. Failure to do so will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team

  2. Touches the ball again with his/her hands after it has been released and has not touched any other player

8. Slide Tackles:  Slide tackling is not allowed under any circumstances even if contact is made with the ball first. As well, no players (with the exception of the goalie) can slide to block a shot or pass at any time. 

 

9. Throw Ins:

▪     A throw in is awarded when the whole ball passes over the sideline, either on the ground or in the air and is taken from the point where it crossed the sideline, by the opponents of the player who last touched the ball, before it crossed the sideline. The player taking the throw must face the field of play and have both feet on the ground on the sideline or outside the sideline and must throw the ball with both hands. The thrower must not touch the ball a second time before it has touched by another player, or an indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.  A throw in may be thrown back to the goalkeeper, but the goalkeeper is NOT allowed to pick up the ball.

 

10. Goal Kicks:

▪     A goal kick is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line (end line) if the ball was last touched by the team attacking the goal (offense).  The goal kick can be taken by any defending team member on the side of the goal where the ball went out of boards 5 paces from the goal line.  All players (except the goalkeeper) must be outside the goal box.  The person kicking the ball can not touch the ball a second time before it has touched another player outside the goal box or an indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the place where the infraction happened.

 

11. Corner Kicks:

▪     A corner kick is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line if the ball was last touched by the team defending the goal (defense).  The corner kick is taken from the closest corner to where the ball went out of bounds.  The ball is in play the moment it has been kicked.  If person taking the corner kick touches the ball a second time before another player touches it, an indirect kick shall be awarded to the opposing team.  A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick.

 

12. Goalkeeper:

▪     Goalkeepers can touch the ball with his/her hands only in the goal box area only (approximately the 10 yard box).  Goalkeepers are not allowed to pick up the ball with their hands when a teammate intentionally passes the ball to them using his or her feet.  If this happens an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the edge of the goal box.  If a goalkeeper picks up the ball outside the goal box, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the place of infraction. Goalkeeper has 5 seconds to release the ball from his/her hands after they have caught the ball.  The goalkeeper must not touch the ball a second time after their initial release of the ball before another player has touched the ball or an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

 

13.  Playoff Eligibility:

▪     Each player must play at least half of the regular season games, in order to be able to play in the playoffs, unless it is cleared with the league convener. This prohibits teams from adding "ringers" to their teams for the playoffs.

 

14. Discrepancies:

▪     All games are self officiated (no referees), so teams are required to call their OWN violations, and are expected to be honest and keep a high level of sportsmanship and safety at all times.  If you feel your opponent is not being accountable, your team captain may politely intervene to discuss rules called or uncalled.  We rely on your spirit of sportsmanship and honesty to keep the matches fun and enjoyable for all. If there is a dispute and an agreement cannot be reached, don't waste time arguing the play - a throw-in from the sideline will be awarded to the team last having possession of the ball.

 

15. Abuse/Alcohol: 

▪    Any abuse, whether it be physical, sexual or mental is not acceptable in any manner.  If this kind of abuse is reported, the player or team will receive a verbal warning.  If a second incident occurs the player or team will be asked to leave the league or tournament without refund.  Teams are responsible for other teammates actions, as a teammate, please encourage good sportsmanship at all times.  Perpetual Motion Sports & Entertainment Inc. reserves the right to eject a player or team without a warning and without a refund.  Guelph 6 vs 6 Soccer is a Coed-league for everyone to have a great night out, lets keep it that way. Alcohol is not permitted at any game or event, offenders will be asked to leave the league without refund. Playing while intoxicated is prohibited.