SPORTSPLEX 4 v 4 SOCCER OFFICIAL RULES
(FIFA RULES APPLY IF NOT MODIFIED WITHIN)
ROSTERS: All rosters are final upon team check-in. Roster maximum - 8 players.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Four field players at one time. Players may only play on one team per division. There are no goalkeepers. Substitutes may occur at any dead ball situation, but players must get referees attention and enter and exit at the half-field mark only.
GENDER: No males will be allowed to participate in any female divisions. Females CAN play in male divisions.
EQUIPMENT: Flats and turf shoes only! All players must wear shin guards. Any player without shin guards will not be allowed to play.
GOAL BOX: The goal box, ten feet wide by eight feet long, is directly in front of the goal. No player may touch the ball within the goal box, however any player may move through the goal box. Any part of the ball or player's body on the line is considered in the goal box; the player is an extension of the box. An INFRACTION occurs if a defender touches the ball in the goal box, a penalty kick is awarded to the offensive team. If an offensive player touches the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. Habitual touches in the goal box MAY result with a Yellow Card given to offending party. If the ball comes to a complete stop in the goal box, regardless of which team touched it last, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. The goals are approximately 4 feet high by 8 feet wide.
GAME DURATION: The game shall consist of two 10 minute halves separated by a two minute halftime period, OR the game shall end when a team reaches a 10 goal lead. Games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie. Except Playoffs, this will be a golden goal period.
GOAL SCORING: A goal may be scored from a touch on the offensive half of the playing field.
SCORING (IN POOL PLAY): Games will be scored according to the following: 3 points for a win; 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss.
TIEBREAKERS: In pool play, ties between two or more teams will be broken by; 1) head to head results between tied teams; 2) goal difference in pool play Maximum of 10 goals per game; 3) Fewest goals against in Pool Play; 4) playoff team shootout with entire rosters.
PLAYOFF OVERTIME: TEAMS WILL HAVE A “GOLDEN GOAL” OVERTIME PERIOD.
NO OFFSIDES IN SPORTSPLEX 4-V-4 SOCCER AND NO SLIDE TACKLING IN SPORTSPLEX 4-V-4 SOCCER
FIVE YARD RULE: In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player's goal area is closer than five yards, the ball shall be placed five yards from the goal area in line with the place of the penalty.
KICK-INS: The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead of throw in.
INDIRECT KICKS: All dead ball kicks (kick-ins, free kicks, kick-offs) are indirect with exception to corner and penalty kicks.
GOAL KICKS: May be taken from any point on the end line, and not in the goal box area.
KICK OFF: May be taken in any direction.
PENALTY KICKS: Shall be awarded if, in the referee's opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by the infraction. It is a direct kick taken from the penalty spot 15ft from midfield in the offensive half of the field for U10-12. U14+ penalty kick will be taken from the midfield line with all other players behind the midfield line. If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick. Penalty kicks are not live balls.
PLAYER EJECTION (YELLOW/RED CARD): Referees have the right to eject a player from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants sending the player off. RED CARD suspension = Rest of game PLUS next game. Tournament Director may eject player for rest of tournament. Teams still play with 4 on the field
FORFEITS: A forfeit shall be scored as 5-0.
SPORTSMANSHIP: Players, coaches and spectators are expected to act in the nature of good sportsmanship at all times. Abuse of the referees will not be tolerated. Any instance of such conduct will disqualify the responsible team from the event.