OFFICIAL RULES

Registration:

1. Online registration and waiver must be completed by players before their first match.
2. All players on the team must be registered to play, no guests will be able to replace an absent player
3. All teams must dedicate one player as their caption who will be responsible for all correspondence with the league.
4. No players will be allowed to play for more than one team in the same division
5. NO REFUNDS ONCE SIGN-UP IS CLOSED: We offer credits only in certain cases.

Equipment:

1. All players must wear shin guards and provide a reasonable degree of protection
2. For indoor games the following footwear is acceptable:
   • Indoor shoes
   • Turf shoes
   • Running shoes
   • Outdoor (non-metal stud) cleat
3. All players (excluding goalies) must wear their official league provided jersey.
4. Referees are not authorized to allow exceptions to these rules and will prohibit players from participating who are not properly attired.
5. Goalkeepers may wear long pants. All other players must wear shorts. Players failing to abide are ineligible. EXCEPTIONS: Religious considerations may withstand this rule.

Team Size:

1. Each team consists of 7 players, including 1 goalkeeper.
2. Teams may have a maximum of 6 substitutes.
3. Substitutions are typically allowed during stoppages in play, and players must enter and exit the field at the designated substitution area.
4. Teams that do not have at least 7 players must play short-handed until more players arrive. The start time will not be delayed and there will be no automatic forfeit. The League reserves the right to add players to a team that is consistently short.
5. Any forfeited matches are scored as 3 – 0. Refunds are not granted for forfeited matches. The scorelines for ALL matches from ANY withdrawn or expelled team will revert to 3 – 0 losses.

Point System:

1. All matches are 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss. Ties in the standings will be resolved as follows: result(s) of head-to-head competition (aggregate +/- is not applicable), most wins, least goals against, greatest positive goal difference, coin toss.

Game Duration:

1. Matches are played in two halves, with each half lasting 25 minutes.
2. Half-time intervals will be 10 minutes.

Start of Play:

1. The match begins with a kickoff from the center circle.
2. The opposing team must be at least 5 yards (4.5 meters) away from the ball during the kickoff.
3. The referee will determine at his/her discretion which team will have possession of the ball at the start of the 1st half with the opposing team then having possession at the start of the 2nd half.

Offside Rule:

1. There are no offsides or floating line violations.

Slide Tackles:

1. Slide tackles are prohibited. This is not applicable to a keeper sliding in his own box providing the slide is done in a safe manner. Sliding to stop, trap, kick, or pass a ball when there is clearly no danger to an opponent is NOT slide tackling and is permitted. All other slide tackles (including ones in the box) will result in an indirect free kick.

Ball Out of Play:

1. When the ball goes out of play (crosses the touchline or goal line), the game is restarted with a throw-in or a corner kick, depending on which team touched the ball last.
2. For goal kicks, the goalkeeper takes a goal kick from inside the penalty area.

Fouls and Misconduct:

1. Standard soccer rules regarding fouls and misconduct (such as yellow and red cards) apply.
2. Card accumulation is wiped clean before the post-season. Suspensions and fines are NOT wiped clean. Carryover: Unless otherwise stated, suspensions not fully served at the end of a session will carry over to the next session in which the suspended player is active.

Free Kicks:

1. For free kicks, the opposing team must maintain a distance of at least 5 yards (4.5 meters) from the ball.
2. There are no direct free kicks; all free kicks are indirect.

Penalty Kicks:

1. Penalty kicks are taken from a distance of 8-10 yards (7-9 meters) from the goal line.

Goalkeeper Rules:

1. The goalkeeper can use their hands to play the ball but only within the penalty area.
2. Goalkeepers cannot handle the ball outside of the penalty area and are subject to the same rules as outfield players in that area.
3. The keeper must play a ball that has been intentionally foot passed back to him with his feet. He may not pick up the ball. The keeper may not handle the ball outside the penalty area.

Tiebreakers:

1. In the event of a draw in a regular-season match, the result will stand as a draw. However, in playoff games, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, an additional 10 minutes of play will be added. If the tie persists after extra time, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout

Fines:

1. Red Cards: $25 fine payable by the offender to his Team Representative. The suspended player will not be allowed to return until his suspension is served AND the Team Representative has received the payment of the fine.
2. No Pinnies or Alternates: Home Team failure to wear pinnies or alternates when there is a colour conflict will result in a forfeit and $50 fine.
3. Forfeit Without 48-hour Emailed Notice: $100 fine.
4. Ineligible Players: Teams caught using unregistered, suspended, expelled, or players otherwise ineligible will forfeit the match and will be fined $100. Further disciplinary action may be pursued.

All other regular rules of soccer, the Ontario Soccer Association and the Peel Halton Soccer Association will be observed.