The SoDak Spurs Winter Classic
Rules & Laws of the Game
I. TEAM ELIGIBILITY:
SoDak Spurs SC indoor tournament shall be open to all teams.
Players may only play on one team.
All teams must present an official signed state roster.
Guest players will be allowed providing a guest form is submitted at check-in.
II. PLAYER REGISTRATION & TEAM CHECK-IN:
All teams are required to registered by registration deadline.
The team coach or team manager must have all registration forms completed and submitted via Online Check-in by check-in deadline.
III. TOURNAMENT FORMAT:
Three game minimum.
If not enough teams have registered for a specific age bracket the Tournament reserves the right to combine age group & level of play brackets.
IV. TOURNAMENT SCORING
Scoring will be:
3 points for a win,
1 point for a tie,
0 points for a loss.
Red cards or bench area removal will result in a 1-point deduction (each card/removal)
Forfeits will result in points being awarded to the opposing team winning 4 - 0.
Teams with a forfeit cannot advance
The tie breakers for advancement
Winner of head to head competition (if more than two teams are tied, record among teams that are tied will be used)
Best Goal Differential for all games played (goals for minus goals against, max of +/- 4 per game)
Fewest goals allowed
Coin toss
V. TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINALS OR CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ENDING IN A TIE
Each team will begin overtime with a full team minus one player.
Kick off decided by coin toss
If no goal scored after 2 minutes of play each team will remove a player.
If no goal scored after 4 minutes of play each team will remove another player.
If no goal scored after 6 minutes of play the use of a penalty kick shoot-out will be used to determine winner.
No substitutions are allowed in golden goal overtime unless an injury occurs
VI. PENALTY KICK SHOOT-OUT
Main referee decides goal to be used.
Coin toss to decide which team shall shoot first.
Three kicks taken by 3 different players selected among eligible players with names given to main referee.
After 3 kicks and still tied, additional kicks will be taken by the remaining eligible players on a sudden death basis.
Any eligible player may change places with goalkeeper.
All Players will remain on opposite half of pitch.
VII. GAME SCHEDULE:
It is the responsibility of the team coach and/or manager to double check the schedule one day prior to their first scheduled game.
IX. CANCELLATION POLICY:
The tournament committee has the right to shorten and/or cancel matches due to climatic conditions and/or other acts of nature and circumstances beyond the control of the tournament or soccer club.
In the event of total cancellation prior to the start of the first scheduled game, the tournament will refund a percentage of the application fee based on the tournament expenses. In the event the tournament interruption or cancellation after the first scheduled tournament games begin, the tournament will have no obligation to refund any portion of the application fee.
Refund Policy Due to Weather
The Tournament Director, the Director of Referees and/or Tournament Committee shall also have full and final authority concerning the cancellation, delay, change of time, or any other alteration of games that may be required due to the weather or emergencies.
The following is the tournament refund policy due to weather or emergencies as deemed by the tournament officials.
A. No games played = registration fee less $100.00 returned.
B. 1 game played = 50% of the registration fee returned.
C. 2 games played = 25% of the registration fee returned.
X. DELAY OF START:
Any team, coach, player or substitute delaying the start of a scheduled game without authorization from the tournament director shall forfeit the game to the opponent. Forfeit will be recorded with a score of 4-0.
XI. PROTESTS:
There will be no protests. The Tournament Director will resolve all disputes immediately and any decisions will be final. The Tournament Director reserves the right to amend the rules if necessary, in the interest of player safety.
XII. SPECTATOR AREA:
The spectator viewing area is limited to bleachers or chairs. We encourage players/coaches to place their equipment bags away from any traffic area.
XIII. WARM UPS AREA:
Each team will have approx. 5 minutes before each game to warm-up on the designated field. Teams may not warm-up in any lobby area, in areas where spectators will be waiting to enter the courts between games, or any areas closed by SoDak Spurs SC.
XIV. SIDELINE CONDUCT AND CONTROL:
Players, reserve, managers, coaches, assistant coaches and fans are expected to conduct themselves with the letter and spirit of the “LAWS OF THE GAME”. The site directors have the authority and responsibility to remove any person(s) from the premises for any type of abusive language, misconduct in addition to any specific disciplinary action brought about by other authorities. Coaching may only occur on the team’s half of the sideline from the centerline.
XV. AWARDS:
The U13-U19 divisions will advance into championship games and receive awards for first (1st) and second (2nd) place teams.
CONCUSSION INITIATIVE
Per U.S. Soccer’s Concussion Initiative, if a player is suspected to have a head injury the referee is instructed to stop play to allow for treatment/evaluation as needed. If the player leaves the field of play for additional evaluation, a substitution can be made in that moment. The player with the suspected head injury may not return to the game unless a Health Care Professional (HCP) or Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) has cleared the player. Any coach or parent insisting on returning the player to the game without approved clearance will result in the referee ending the game.
DUAL ROSTERING
Dual rostering is not allowed unless previously approved by the Tournament Director.
SDSSA Modified Futsal Indoor Rules
Adopted November 2013, Amended November 2015, SoDak Spurs Modifications made in red.
LAWS OF THE GAME (FIFA laws of the game will govern play with exception to local rules)
LAW 1 - THE PITCH
Length greater than width
Penalty spot – 7 yards (21 feet)
Penalty area – size may vary by venue
Center circle – 10 feet (may vary by venue)
Designated team areas for coaches and team subs only
LAW 2 - THE BALL
Size 5
Material – Leather or other suitable material (not dangerous)
SoDak Spurs SC shall provide the game balls and no other game balls shall be allowed.
LAW 3 - THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Maximum number of players
U13 & U14 is 6 (one of whom is a goalkeeper)
U15+ is 5 (one of whom is a goalkeeper)
Minimum number of players to start and finish a match is 3 (one of whom is a goalkeeper)
Roster size is a maximum of 12 for U13 & U14
Roster size is a maximum of 10 for U15+
Substitution Limit: None
Substitution Method “Flying Substitution” (All players but the goalkeeper enter and leave at the center line. Goalkeeper substitutions only made when ball out of play and with referee’s consent.) There is to be no advantage gained during simultaneous substitution. Improper substitution shall result in a caution for the player not complying with Law and restart is an Indirect Free Kick (IDFK) from spot of improper substitution.
Player may only play for one team. See TR I.
Current player passes are required for insurance. See TR I.
LAW 4 - THE PLAYER’S EQUIPMENT
Usual Required Equipment:
Numbered shirts or jersey
Socks
Protective shin guards covered by socks and surface appropriate footwear.
Players are encouraged to change out of street footwear in the facility.
Goalkeepers must wear a different colored jersey to distinguish themselves from the other players.
No jewelry.
Undergarments if warn are to match jersey and shorts.
Home team (first team listed on schedule) changes jerseys when teams have a color conflict.
Cast/Orthopedic wear may be worn if well padded and at the discretion of the referee.
Exposed Velcro and metal hinges will not be allowed.
LAW 5 - THE REFEREE
Must be a USSF Certified Futsal Official.
Duties – Enforce the Laws of the Game
Position - The side opposite to the player benches
Power Unique - Can overrule Second Referee calls
Game Report to competition committee
Local options:
Position of referee can be changed to meet local setup
LAW 6 - THE ASSISTANT (SECOND) REFEREE
All U15 and up matches will have a second referee.
Must be a USSF Certified Futsal Official.
Duties – Enforce the Laws of the Game
Position – The same side as the player benches.
The use of the second referee may be used on large courts in championship games.
TIMEKEEPER
Start game clock.
With running clock note end of half and game with some sort of sound.
LAW 7 - DURATION OF THE MATCH
Duration - Two equal halves of 18 minutes
Halftime - Players are entitled to a half time 3 minute interval.
A referee warning whistle will be sounded 1 minute prior to game or half start.
All games and halves will be started by a referee whistle.
All games will end by scorer’s table / timekeeper/ scoreboard horn/sound.
LAW 8 - THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY
Kickoff - Ball deemed in play once it has been touched and moved.
The kicker shall not touch ball before someone else touches it.
Goal may not be scored direct.
Visiting team kicks off first half and home team kicks off second half
LAW 9 - THE BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
Ball is out of play:
When the ball has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline.
When game is stopped by a referee.
When the ball hits the ceiling, netting, a light fixture, a support beam or etc…, spot ball closest to point of contact.
If ball hits object or ceiling in penalty area, move ball to the edge of penalty area.
Players from opposing team must be at least 6 feet from point of kick-in
LAW 10 - THE METHOD OF SCORING
When the whole ball has passed over the goal line, between the goal posts, under the crossbar and provided there is no infringement of the laws committed by the team scoring the goal.
The team with the greatest number of goals is winner of match and equal goals results in a draw.
The official score will be kept by assigned game referee.
LAW 11 - OFFSIDE
There is no offside rule on offense.
LAW 12 - FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Indirect free kick (IFK) awarded when a player intentionally commits the following offenses (a penalty kick will be awarded when an infringement takes place in the penalty area).
kicking or attempting to kick an opponent
tripping or attempting to trip an opponent
jumping at an opponent
charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner
charging an opponent from behind
striking or attempting to strike an opponent
spitting at an opponent
holding an opponent
pushing an opponent
handling the ball (except goalkeeper in his/her penalty area)
dangerous play
impedance
charging the goalkeeper in the penalty area
preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball
goalkeeper throws ball directly over the halfway line (U13 & above only – see Law 16)
goalkeeper picks up or touches the ball with his hands after a pass from a teammate
goalkeeper picks up or touches the ball with his hands after a kick-in from a teammate
goalkeeper controls the ball with hands for more than 4 seconds
any type of slide tackle is prohibited, except goalkeeper in the penalty area PLEASE STAY ON YOUR FEET!
Players shall be cautioned (shown a yellow card) and punishable by an indirect free kick (IFK) from point of infringement. Cautioned player may be substituted.
substituting player enters the pitch from an incorrect position or before the player being substituted has entirely left the pitch.
persistently infringing the Laws of the Game
shows dissent toward a decision of a referee
guilty of unsporting behavior
Players shall be sent off (shown a red card) and punishable by a Indirect free kick (IFK) from point of infringement
serious foul play
violent conduct
deliberately impeding a clear goal scoring opportunity
deliberately impeding a clear goal scoring opportunity in the penalty area by handling the ball
foul or abusive language
second instance of a cautionable (yellow card) offense
Rules of expulsion (red card)
Players sent off are out for the rest of the game and must leave the game premise.
No substitute for a sent off player. The player receiving the red card cannot be replaced.
Any Player/Coach sent off and will be in ineligible to play/coach in the team’s next match.
LAW 13 - THE FREE KICK
Indirect free kicks (IFK) for any of the IFK infringements or any other undefined stoppage. Team cannot score directly from an IFK.
Opponents must stay clear at a minimum of 6 feet until ball is in play
Ball in play after it has been deliberately touched.
Kick must be taken with 4 seconds
Kicker cannot touch the ball a second time until the ball has been touched by another player.
ACCUMULATED FOULS
Accumulated fouls refer only to the fouls mentioned in Law 12.
Referee will keep track of accumulating fouls
Once a team has accumulated 5 fouls during a half, starting with the 6th foul and on for that half infringements shall be punished with a direct free kick from the penalty spot
Procedure:
Until ball in play all players other than the goalkeeper and kicker shall remain behind an imaginary line that is in line with the ball and parallel to the goal line
Goalkeeper shall remain on the goal line at least 21 feet (7 yards) from the ball
Kicker must aim at the goal with the intention of scoring
No other player may touch the ball until it has been touched by the goalkeeper, rebounded from the goal post or crossbar, or has left the pitch.
LAW 14 - THE PENALTY KICK
To be taken from the penalty mark by a properly identified kicker 21 feet from goal line.
The kicker is to aim at the goal with the intention of scoring
All players must be out of the penalty area and the players of the opposing team must be 6 feet from penalty spot
The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until the ball has been touched by another player
LAW 15 - THE KICK-IN
To be taken in place of the throw-in
The ball is placed on the touchline before kicking
The kick-in must be taken within 4 seconds
The kick-in player cannot play the ball a second time until the ball has been touched by another player
Players from opposing team must be at least 6 feet from point of kick-in
Cannot score directly from a kick-in
LAW 16 - THE GOAL CLEARANCE
The goalkeeper may only handle the ball in the penalty area.
The goal clearance is to be taken in place of goal kick
Taken from inside the penalty area, the goalkeeper throws the ball into play
The ball is not in play until it has passed outside of the penalty area
The throw in must be taken within 4 seconds.
The Goal Clearance has no limitations. May be thrown over the half line with no violation. May not be thrown directly into goal.
LAW 17 - THE CORNER KICK
Ball placed on the corner.
Must be taken with 4 seconds, failure to do so results in an indirect free kick to the opposing team from the corner
The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until the ball has been played by another player
Players of the opposing team must be at least 6 feet from the corner
A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick.
LAW 18 - GOLDEN GOAL OVERTIME
Each team will begin overtime with the number of players on the field they finished regular time with minus one player.
Kick off decided by coin toss
If no goal scored after 2 minutes of play each team will remove a player.
If no goal scored after 4 minutes of play each team will remove another player.
If no goal scored after 6 minutes of play the use of a penalty kick shoot-out will be used to determine winner.
No substitutions are allowed in golden goal overtime unless and injury occurs.
Accumulated Fouls are reset to 3 fouls per team at the start of overtime.
The minimum number of players on the field is 2 players (including the keeper). If a team gets down to having 2 players on the field during overtime (due to injury), then the opponents will keep the same numerical advantage they had when the team was reduced to 2 players.