San Antonio SSC Soccer Rules

Updated January, 2010

ROSTER:
There are no maximum number of players allowed on your roster. Players will not be allowed to participate without signing the San Antonio SSC roster/waiver form. Players may be added after the registration deadline only if the league has their t-shirt in inventory. New shirts cannot be ordered. Otherwise, the only way to add a new player to your roster after the registration deadline is by first dropping another player. Teams have up until the third week of the season to do so. After that, rosters are frozen. The additional player must obtain the t-shirt from the dropped player in order to play. If a team wishes to add a player only after the registration deadline, this can only be done if the league has the t-shirts in stock.

WAIVERS:
In order to participate in the league, each player must sign the team waiver. Waivers can be downloaded by clicking here.  Captains need to print, have all players sign, and turn in the first night of play. Players not present the first week of play will still be required to sign a waiver with our staff before participating. A San Antonio SSC staff member will keep your team waiver at the field, or a new one can be printed out. Players who sign up as individuals, agree to the waiver electronically when they register.

PLAYER RESTRICTIONS:
All San Antonio SSC participants must be at least 21 years old before the season starts.
Players that have participated in Division 1 sports must be 2 years removed from Division 1 participation if they wish to play in a similar San Antonio SSC sport.
San Antonio SSC will have the right to request ID from any player. Any player in the super social league who is determined a social player by the San Antonio SSC will have their league fee credited towards a future season. If more than one player fits in the category, the San Antonio SSC has the option to move the team to the social division.
Players may only play for one team and be on one roster, regardless of if multiple divisions are offered. One can play, for example, softball on Tuesday’s & softball on Thursday’s, but not for two teams in the same day or night. Any player that breaks this rule will cause both of their teams to forfeit games played on that day.

SPORTSMANSHIP:
We are all adults, and the San Antonio SSC expects all participants to act like it. Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in that player being ejected from the game. An ejection may result in further suspension from participation in current and / or future SSC sports. An ejected player(s) is required to leave the premises immediately – refusal to leave the premises may result in a team forfeit and / or increased length of suspension.

GAME UNIFORMS:
San Antonio SSC t-shirts are your team’s uniforms. All players must wear their current San Antonio SSC uniform (past season’s uniforms are not permitted) to participate and any player not wearing his/her uniform will be will be sidelined for that game. Missing or swapped uniform players’ names will be taken and if they are not on your roster, a loss will be assessed for that game.

UNIFORM ALTERATIONS:
Names on uniforms, numbers, cut-off sleeves, corporate logos, etc, are permitted, as long as they do not cover any logos originally printed on the shirts.

TEAM SIZE:
The maximum number of players on the field is 8 (standard: 5 men, 3 women); minimum number of players is 6 (4 men, 2 women). If there are only 2 women, 5 men may still play. However, there cannot be more than 5 men on the field under any circumstance. There are no limits to the number of women on the field at one time.

LINE JUDGES:
Must be provided by the playing teams. Home teams must provide one line judge for the following game and the visiting team who plays second must provide one line judge for the earlier game. Captains are responsible for making sure one representative is on time and actively being doing the job of a line judge. Talking on cell phones is not permitted.

“NO LINE JUDGE” FINE:
Will be assessed when the team fails to provide one. The fine is $25 and must be a check made out to the San Antonio Sports & Social Club by the following game, or the team will receive a loss for that game. If the line judge arrives late in the first half, a $10 fine is imposed. That same fine will be imposed for a line judge who is there, but failing to do the job (running the lines and actively paying attention to the game). All teams appreciate having two line judges to help call a good game; please do your part to ensure this continues for all teams.

FORFEITS:
Teams without the minimum number of players at the start of the game will be charged a $50 fine. This fine will go towards your opponents bar tab for the following week. Teams that receive the money from the forfeit fine must use it the next week or lose it. If a 24 forfeit notice is given to the San Antonio SSC (San Antoniossc@gmail.com), your team will not be assessed the fine.

FIELD OF PLAY:
Will be approximately 70 x 50. The goals are 7 x 21.

THE BALL:
Will be regulation size 5. The league will provide a game ball, or any team ball can be used if agreed by both teams.

SUBSTITUTIONS:
Are allowed on any “out of bounds ball”.

EQUIPMENT:
All players must wear shin guards. No metal cleats, hard knee braces, hats, or jewelry will be allowed. Smooth wedding bands are the only jewelry allowed. Unpadded hard casts are not allowed. Soft casts cannot be heavier than the normal arm.

REFEREES:
Enforce the laws and maintain safety. They will have the last word. Excessive arguing will result in a yellow card.

DURATION:
Of the game is two 22 minute halves separated by a 3 to 5 minute half time. Regular season games may end in a tie. If for any reason the game should be cancelled with more than half of the game played, the game and the score is considered final.

PLAYOFF:
Games have two five minute sudden death overtime periods followed by penalty kicks. Kicks must be taken by 3 men and 2 women, in any order. All shootout kicks are worth one point. If after 5 kicks the score is still tied, kicks will be made with remaining players with no player kicking twice until everyone has gone. Extra kicks will be taken alternating men and women until one team wins.

OUT OF PLAY:
Is when the ball wholly crosses the boundary or when the play is stopped by the referee.

FEMALE TOUCHES:
Must occur on every possession started before midfield. The touch can take place on either side of the field. If a goal is scored and this did not happen, the goal is waived off and a goal kick is awarded to the opposing team. If a pass is stolen on the opposition’s side by a male, he is allowed to continue to goal and score without a female touch.

GOAL:
Is scored when the ball completely crosses the goal line. Male goals are worth 1 point, female goals are worth 2 points. A female goal is where the initial shot or deflection by a female causes the ball to cross the goal plane. Ruling a female goal is at the discretion of the referee.

OFFSIDES:
There are none.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT:
San Antonio SSC issues yellow cards only a warning and “cooling” off for players who are either dangerous or dissenting. If a yellow card is issued the player is sent off and can not return for 2 minutes and your team plays a man down, no matter if a goal is scored during the 2 minutes. If the referee deems a players repeated misconduct to warrant a red card, it will be issued. If a red card is issued the team has to play a man down for the remainder of the game and the player may have to sit at least one additional game, pending review by the league.

SLIDE TACKLING:
No sliding tackles, period. If a slide is near a player, intentional or not, a foul will be called and a yellow card may be issued.

FREE KICKS:
Can be direct & indirect, depending on the foul. The defending team must give 7 yards.

PENALTY KICKS:
Will be awarded at the referee’s discretion on whether the foul stopped a goal or a scoring chance. The goal box has no bearing on whether the foul warrants a penalty kick. Anyone can take the penalty kick and a female penalty kick goal is worth 2 points. The goalie in goal at the time of the foul must face the kick.

GOAL KICKS:
Are taken at any point within the semi-circle. Opposing players must be out of the goal box. Goal kicks or throws do not have to touch the field of play or a player, before crossing the midfield.

CORNERS:
No change. You cannot move the corner flag to take a corner kick. Corners are direct.

GOALIES:
May use their hands in the goal box.

REFUNDS:
San Antonio SSC is not responsible for any refunds at any time during the season. If a party cannot continue the season, is the responsibility of that party to replace themselves on the roster if they so choose. Also they must notify the San Antonio SSC office of the change.

PLAYOFFS:
Are single elimination with seeding based on regular season standings. The number of teams to make the tournament changes per season. The maximum goal differential for a single game will be capped at +10, forfeits will be recorded at 10-0.

All other rules not mentioned follow FIFA guidelines.