LAW ENFORCEMENT GAMES
RULES & GUIDELINES

Soccer (indoor)

 

GUIDING BODIES:
Law Enforcement Games
FUTSAL Rules and Regulations

EVENTS:
This sport is currently offered for Men’s Open Division only. Teams will consist of twelve (12) members.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Players
: Teams may have up to ten (12) players on the roster. During play each team will have on the playing field four (4) field players and one (1) goalkeeper.

Substitutions: The "Flying Substitution" method will be used (all players but the goalkeeper may enter and leave the game as the please; goalkeeper substitutions can only be made when the ball is out of play and with the referee’s consent. All substitutions take place at midfield and substitutions are unlimited.

Players Equipment: A player’s footwear must conform to the following: Flat soled shoes or other footwear designed for gymnasium floor use (no black soled shoes are allowed), the goalkeeper shall wear colors that distinguish him from other field players and the referee, and all team jerseys must have numbers displayed on the backs.

GENERAL RULES:

Issuance of 1 or 2 Minute Penalties

      The referee at his discretion will make the issuance of one (1) minute penalties.

      When a one (1) minute penalty is assessed, the offended team will have a man advantage or a power play. The team being assessed the one (1) minute penalty will play a man short until the one (1) minute expires or the opposing team scores a goal.

      A player issued a yellow card will also receive a one (1) minute penalty.

      If a player receives a red card he will no longer be allowed to participate in the tournament and the team will receive a two (2) minute penalty. The team being assessed the two (2) minute penalty will play a man short until the two (2) minute expire or a goal is scored by the opposing team.

      If a player receives three (3) yellow cards during the length of the tournament he will no longer be allowed to participate in the event.

Players shall be cautioned (i.e., shown yellow card) when:

          - a substitution player enters the pitch from an incorrect position or before the player he is substituting has entirely left the pitch

          - he persistently infringes the Laws of the Game.

          - he shows dissent with any decision of the referee.

          - he is guilty of ungentlemanly conduct

           

These four (4) yellow-card offenses are punishable by a one (1) minute penalty and an indirect free kick taken from the point of infringement (or from the top of the restraining arc when the infringement takes place in the penalty area).

Players shall be sent off (i.e., shown the red card) for:

      Serious foul

      Violent conduct

      Foul or abusive language

      Second instance of cautionable offense (i.e., second yellow card)

      Intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity (e.g., through a "professional foul")

      Intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity in the penalty area by handling the ball

Direct free kicks (or penalty kicks) accompany the expulsion for a (a), (b), (e), and (f); indirect free kicks, for (c) and (d) (from the top of the restraining arc when the infringement takes place in the penalty area).

Duration of Game

      The duration of games will be twenty (20) minutes long with a continuous clock.

      The games clock will only stop at the referees’ discretion.

      The scoreboard time is unofficial; the referee will keep the official time on the field.

      There will be no time outs allowed.

Forfeited Games

Any team who fails to show for a scheduled match will forfeit the game to the opponent.

Disqualified Players or Teams

The Games Organizing Committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual player or a team for any ungentlemanly conduct, unfair play or very physical play. If a team is disqualified, they will not be refunded their registration fee and the remaining games will be forfeited. If a player is ejected from the game he/she must also sit out the next game.

 

Fouls and Misconduct

      Slide tackles and aggressive play from behind will NOT be permitted. However, sliding to ball to prevent it from going out of bounds is permitted as long as it does not interfere with an opposing player. This will be judged at the referees’ discretion.

      The opposing players must give five (5) yards between them and the ball.

      A Direct Free Kick shall be awarded when a player intentionally commits any of the following eleven (11) offenses (penalty kick warded when infringement takes place in penalty area):

          - Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent

          - Tripping an opponent

          - Charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner

          - Charging an opponent from behind

          - Striking, attempting to strike, or spitting at an opponent

          - Holding an opponent

          - Pushing an opponent

          - Charging an opponent with shoulder (i.e., shoulder charge)

          - Sliding at an opponent (i.e., sliding tackle)

          - Handling the ball (except goalkeeper)

      An Indirect Free Kick shall be awarded when any one of the following eight (8) offenses is committed (when an infringement takes place in the penalty area, the kick shall be taken from the top of the restraining arc):

          - Dangerous play (e.g., attempting to kick ball held by goalkeeper)

          - Obstruction

          - Charging the goalkeeper in the penalty area (i.e., goalkeeper charge)

          - Goalkeeper throws ball directly over the halfway-line (without it first touching his own side of the pitch or any player)

          - Goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a backpass

          - Goalkeeper picks up or touches with his hands a kick-in from a teammate

          - Goalkeeper controls the ball with any part of his body for more than four (4) seconds

          - Goalkeeper touches with any part of his body a backpass that has been played back to him before the ball has a) crossed the half-way line or 2) been touched by an opponent

           

           

Accumulated Fouls / 5 Foul Limit

Once a team has accumulated five (5) Team Fouls (accumulated fouls refers to any direct free kick foul), a Direct Free Kick will be given from the sixth foul on.

          - The team with the accumulated fouls will NOT be allowed a defensive wall.

          - Infringements committed within 30 feet of the goal line shall be punished with a direct free kick from the point of the infringement

          - Infringements from 39 feet or further form the goal line shall be punished with a direct free kick from the Second Penalty Spot.

          - All players must be behind the ball before the free shot is taken.

Free Kick Procedure

          - Until the ball is kicked into 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.

          - The goalkeeper shall remain in his penalty area at least five (5) yards away from the ball

          - The 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 pitch, rebounded from the goal post or crossbar, or has left the pitch.

Kick Offs

A kick off is a Direct Free Kick. The ball does not have to be played forward it may be passed backwards. The team listed first on the schedule will kick off.

Kick-Ins

      Kick-Ins will take place when the ball crosses entirely over the touchlines.

      A goal may NOT be scored directly from a kick-in. It is an Indirect Kick.

      A kick-in must be taken within four (4) seconds; if it is not, the kick-in will be given to the opposing team.

      When the ball crosses the end line for a goal kick, the goalkeeper may either roll or throw the ball back into play. The goalkeeper may not punt the ball into play.

      The opposing players must give five (5) yards between them and the ball.

       

       

Goal Clearance

      To be taken in place of a goal kick.

      From inside the penalty area, the goalkeeper throws or rolls the ball into play.

      The ball is not in play until it has passed outside of the penalty area. If the goal clearance is received inside of the penalty area, the goal clearance shall be taken over.

Corner Kick

      Ball place on the corner (no corner-kick arc). If ball is misplaced the corner kick is taken over.

      Must be taken within four (4) seconds; failure to do so entails indirect free kick to the opposing tea, form the corner mark.

      The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player; infringement of this rule entails an indirect free kick to the opposing team from the point of the infringement.

      Players on opposing team must be at least five (5) yards from point of the corner kick.

      You may score a goal directly from a corner kick.

Goalkeeping Restrictions

      If the goalkeeper intentionally commits a hand-ball violation outside the penalty area, a timed one (1) minute penalty shall be assessed to the goalkeeper at the referee’s discretion. The goalkeeper MUST serve the penalty.

      The goalkeeper may NOT throw or drop kick the ball directly past midfield. The ball must bounce on his side of the field prior to it entering the opponents half of the field. If this does occur, the opponent will have an indirect free kick at the point where the ball crossed midfield.

      If the goalkeeper handles an intentional back pass from a teammates foot, the referee will award an indirect kick to the opposing team at the top of the restraining arch.

      The goalkeeper must distribute the ball within four (4) seconds of handling it no matter where he is on the field. If this occurs within the penalty area, the referee will award on indirect free kick to the opposing team at the top of the restraining arc. If this occurs anywhere else on the field, the referee will award on indirect free kick to the opposing team at the point where the infraction occurred.

      Once the goalkeeper plays the ball with any part of his body to a teammate, he may not receive a back pass from a teammate unless an opponent touches the ball or the ball crosses the halfway-line. If this occurs, the referee will award an indirect free kick to the opposing team at the point where the goalkeeper played the ball, unless it occurs in the penalty area, then, the ball will be placed at the top of the remaining arc.

Stoppage of Play

Failure by a team to put the ball into play within four (4) seconds, as assigned by the referee, shall result in a possession turnover to the opponent.

Penalty Kick

      A penalty kick shall be awarded when a player commits a flagrant fouls with his own penalty area.

      The penalty kick will be taken at the top of the restraining arc.

      The goalkeeper must remain on his goal line but may move from side to side.

      Players other than the kicker must be at least five (5) yards away from the ball and all players must be outside the penalty arc.

      The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until another player has touched it.

Penalty Kick Shoot-out

      The referee will decide which goal shall be used.

      A coin toss will decide the order.

      Five (5) kicks to be taken by five (5) different players selected for the suited players. The Captain of each team shall provide the referee with the order of kickers.

      If the two teams remain tied after the five kicks, each team will select one (1) player (who has not previously taken a kick, unless that team has used all of its players including the goalkeeper) to take a kick until a winner is declared.

      A player who has been ejected from the tournament may not participate.

       

       

Tournament Format – Pool Play

Elimination Rounds

This competition is single elimination.

If the score is tied after regulation, a sudden death overtime of five (5) minutes will occur (except for the championship game where a fifteen-minute sudden death overtime will occur). If the game remains tied after the five (5) minute sudden death, a Penalty Kick Shootout (as described under Penalty kick Shoot-Out) will decide the winner. Each team will select five players to take the kicks. The team with the most goals after all five kicks are taken will be the winner. It the score remains tied: each team will select one (1) players (who has not previously taken a shoot-out, unless that team has used all of its players including the goalkeeper) to take a kick until a winner is declared.

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09/22/08 - Last updated