Unless otherwise noted, all games will be governed by the Rules of the Gainesville Regional Soccer League (GRSL) with the following 6 vs. 6 modifications:

PLAYERS & EQUIPMENT

1. Each team shall consist of 6 players each (including 1 goalkeeper). Each team must have a minimum of 5 players in order to begin a game.
2. Due to injury, a team may continue with less than the minimum number of required players. An ejection that leaves a team with less than the minimum number of required players will result in a forfeit by that team.
3. Each team is required to wear numbered shirts of one distinguishable color. Jerseys must be clearly and permanently numbered by stencil, heat transfer, silk screening, or shall be sewn on. Magic marker or other ink, tape, and peel and stick numbers are unacceptable. In the event both teams have the same, or similar colored jerseys, as determined by the referee, the away team may wear penneys or practice vests owned by the Gainesville Regional Soccer League. Each goalie should wear a shirt that contrasts in color to that of all other players. No shirts v. skins is permitted.
4. Shoes: Regulation, rubber-soled cleats, plastic cleats, detachable rubber cleats that screw into the shoe, and tennis shoes are the only permissible footwear. Sandals, street shoes, hiking boots, combat boots, or metal spikes are not allowed. No player will be allowed to participate in bare feet. No steel cleats or shoes with detachable steel cleats that screw onto the shoes may be worn.
5. Shin guards are mandatory and must be completely covered by socks.
6. Players may wear soft, pliable pads or braces on the leg, knee, and/or ankle. Braces made of any hard material must be covered with at least one-half inch of padding for safety reasons. Players wearing a cast or splint will be permitted to play only after approval from the referee.
7. If eyeglasses are worn, they must be unbreakable. Each player is responsible for the safety of her own eyeglasses.
8. Jewelry: No jewelry or any other item deemed dangerous by the referee may be worn. Any player wearing exposed permanent jewelry (i.e. body piercings) will not be permitted to play. Taping of jewelry is not permitted. Medical bracelets may be worn, but must be taped.
9. Headwear: Players may wear a knit or stocking cap during play. Caps will bills may be worn by goalies, but only after approval from the referee.
10. Players will use a size 5 ball, which will be provided by the home team.

GAME FORMAT

1. The field will be approximately 60 x 40 yards.
2. Each game will consist of two 25-minute halves with a running clock. The clock will only stop for injuries. The game officials will be responsible for keeping the game clock. Halftime will be 5 minutes.
3. Game time is forfeit time. A team must have the minimum number of players to start a game. If there is an insufficient number of players, the opposing captain has the option of taking the win or waiting 5 minutes into game time for the minimum number of players to show. In the event that she decides to wait, that decision is irreversible and game clocks will be adjusted accordingly. If a team decides to wait, play will start as soon as the opposing team has the minimum number of players present.
4. A coin toss at the beginning of the game shall determine which team has the choice of a goal to defend or kicking off first. The visiting team calls the coin toss. The loser of the toss shall have the remaining option. Between halves, each team shall exchange ends and alternate the kickoff.
5. Mercy Rule: A game shall be called if a team is ahead by five (5) goals with five minutes or less remaining in the game and ten (10) goals with 7 minutes or less. In the event that a score remains tied at the end of regulation play, the game will remain tied in regular season play. In a tournament game, a five minute sudden death extra period will be played followed by a shootout until a winner is determined. The shoot-out will proceed as follows:
a. The referee shall choose the goal at which all of the penalty kicks shall be taken.
b. Each captain will select any five different players on the field, including the goalkeeper, to take the penalty kicks.
c. The winner of a coin toss shall have the option of kicking first or second. The visiting team calls the coin toss.
d. Teams will alternate kickers. There is no follow-up on the kick.
e. Following five kicks for each team, the team scoring on the greatest number of these kicks shall be declared the winner.
f. If the score remains tied after each team has had 5 penalty kicks, each team will select additional players (one of whom was on the field at the end of regulation) to take kicks in a sudden death situation. Each team will alternate kicks until one team scores and the other team does not score, thus ending the game without more kicks being taken.
g. No player may take an additional kick until all those players who were listed on the game report and present have kicked.

START OF PLAY

1. At the referee’s signal, the game shall be started by a player taking a kick off from the midfield line. The ball does not have to go forward at the start of each half, or at a restart after a goal. All players shall be in their team’s half of the field and all players of the team opposing that of the kicker shall be at least 5 yards from the ball until it is kicked.
2. The kicker may not play the ball again on the kickoff until it has been touched or played by another player on either team. Penalty: Indirect free kick at the spot of the foul.
3. After a goal is scored, the team scored against shall restart play by a kickoff.
4. Between halves, teams will exchange goals to defend and the team who received first half will kick off second half.

SUBSTITUTIONS

1. Substitutions will be permitted after a goal, on either team’s goal kick, and on a team’s own throw-in. A team may also make a substitution for an injured player. No substitutions may be made during a penalty kick. Substitutions are unlimited.
2. A substitute must enter for a player that has been cautioned (received a yellow card), with the exception of the goalkeeper. The cautioned player may re-enter the field of play at the next legal opportunity.
3. The goalkeeper may change positions with a player on the field during a stoppage of play or a substitution, provided the uniforms are legal and the official is notified prior to the change.
4. Substitutes must be recognized by the referee and must enter the field only after a player has left the field of play. All substitutes shall enter and leave the field at the halfway line.

SCORING

1. A goal is scored when the entire ball passes legally beyond the goal line between the goal posts and under the cross bar. A ball on the goal line is not considered to have crossed the goal line.
2. If a defending player, other than the goalkeeper, intentionally (in the opinion the referee) stops the ball with her hands or arms in the penalty area to prevent a goal from scoring, then a goal is awarded and no penalty kick is awarded. Penalty: At the discretion of the official, the offending player may be presented with a red card and ejected from the game.
3. A goal MAY be scored during play directly from a:
a. Kickoff
b. Penalty Kick
c. Corner Kick
d. Drop Ball
4. A goal MAY NOT be scored during play directly from a:
a. Indirect free kick
b. Throw-in
c. Free kick into a team’s own goal
d. Goal Kicks

GOALKEEPER PLAY

1. The referee shall remove without caution any player who intentionally charges and contacts the goalkeeper. Warnings will be issued to players dangerously charging but not contacting the goalkeeper.
2. From the moment the goalkeeper takes control of the ball with the hands within his/her own penalty area, he/she has six seconds in which to release the ball into play. Possession includes holding, bouncing, or throwing the ball in the air and catching it again. After it has been released into play, the ball shall be played or touched by another player before the goalkeeper can touch it again with the hands. Penalty: Indirect free kick awarded to the opponent at the spot of the violation, unless in the goal area (in that case, at the top of the penalty area).
3. The goalkeeper in possession of the ball must not be interfered with or impeded in any manner by an opponent.
4. On any occasion when a player deliberately kicks the ball to her own goalkeeper, the goalkeeper is not permitted to touch the ball with his/her hands. A goalkeeper shall not touch the ball with his/her hands when receiving it directly from a throw-in by a teammate. Penalty: Indirect free kick awarded to the opponent at the spot of the violation, unless in the goal area (in that case, at the top of the penalty area).
5. The goalkeeper may not touch the ball with his/her hands or arms outside of the penalty box, but he/she may play the ball with any other part of the body.
6. Goalkeepers may not punt or throw the ball past the midfield line in the air, without touching or having been played by another player on either team. Penalty: indirect free kick for the opposing team, at the spot on the midfield line where the ball crossed.

MIDFIELD LINE VIOLATION

1. A player may not pass a goal kick or free kick from inside his/her own penalty area, past the midfield line in the air, without touching or having been played by another player on either team. Penalty: indirect free kick for the opposing team, at the spot on the midfield line where the ball crossed.

FOULS AND MISCONDUCTS

1. There will be no offside penalty.
2. A player or team demonstrating behavior unbecoming to the GRSL such as, but not limited to, fighting, threats to other players or referees, violent conduct, vulgar or obscene language may result in suspension or expulsion from the league.
3. Cautions (Yellow Cards):
a. Any player, upon receiving two consecutive cautions, shall be suspended from the next scheduled game.
b. Any player who receives five (5) or more cautions for the whole season regardless of the phase of competition, can be suspended for up to five (5) consecutive games and his/her case reviewed by their respective VP and the Referee Liaison, and if necessary the Rules, Regulations and Discipline Committee.
c. Any player who receives 12 or more cautions (or an equivalent thereof, with a red card equaling two (2) cautions over the course of a calendar year shall be suspended for at least four (4) games.
4. Sending-Off (Red Cards):
a. Players sent off the field for:
i. Denying an opponent a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball
ii. Having received a second caution in the same match
Shall be suspended for one (1) game as determined by the respective conference VP unless the circumstances described in rule 1501-b are applicable.
b. Players sent off the field for:
i. Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
ii. Using offensive, insulting or abusive language
Shall be suspended for at least one (1) scheduled games as determined by the respective conference VP.
c. Players sent off the field for:
i. Serious foul play which arises when a player commits one of the offenses punishable by a direct free kick or a penalty kick and uses disproportionate and unnecessary strength in a manner likely to injure an opponent. It is also serious foul play when a player infringes the Laws of the Game and uses intentional violence when challenging for the ball against an opponent.
ii. Spitting at an opponent or any other person
Shall be suspended for at least two (2) scheduled games as determined by the respective conference VP.
d. Players sent off the field for:
i. Violent conduct which is the aggression of a player towards an opponent who clearly has no intention of playing or fighting for the ball. The ball can be in or out of play. Moreover, when a player attacks a teammate, the referee, an assistant, a spectator, etc.; this shall also be considered violent conduct.
Shall be suspended for at least three (3) scheduled games to life expulsion from the GRSL, as determined by the respective conference VP. If the conference VP is of the opinion that the player should be suspended for more than five (5) then there shall be a hearing to determine the proper punishment. If, after such hearing, a player is to be suspended for a season or longer, then the case shall be reported to the FSSA acknowledging the incident and the GRSL decision.
e. Any player who is ejected from a game shall be suspended from the next scheduled game.
f. Any player who receives a second red card for the season will serve a suspension of three (3) consecutive games in addition to the suspensions outlined above.
g. Any player who receives a third red card for the season will be suspended for five (5) consecutive games in addition to the suspensions outlined above and his/her case reviewed by their respective VP and the Referee Liaison, and if necessary the Rules, Regulations and Discipline Committee.
h. Referee abuse is a verbal statement or physical set which implies or threatens physical harm to a referee (or an assistant referee, 4th official, any non-licensed, non-registered person serving in an emergency capacity as a referee or any club line) or to his/her property or equipment. Abuse includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed upon the referee: using offensive, insulting or abusive language toward a referee, spewing any beverage on referee’s personal property or verbally threatening a referee. Verbal threats are remarks that carry the implied or direct threat of physical harm. Such remarks as "I’ll get you after the game" or "You won’t get out of here in one piece", shall be deemed referee abuse. Referee abuse is punishable by a mandatory suspension of at least three (3) games, as determined by the respective conference VP. If the referee is verbally threatened, then the suspension will be at least four (4) games.
i. Referee assault is an intentional act of physical violence upon a referee. Assault includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed upon a referee (or an assistant referee, 4th official, any non-licensed, non-registered person serving in an emergency capacity as a referee or any club line): hitting, kicking, punching, choking, spitting at, or on, grabbing or bodily running into a referee; the act of kicking or throwing any object at a referee that could inflict injury, damaging the referee’s uniform or personal property, i.e., car, equipment, etc. The player, coach, manager or official from the GRSL committing the referee assault is automatically suspended for at least one (1) year from the time of the assault, unless serious injuries are inflicted, then the minimum suspension period will be at least five (5) years.
j. If these circumstances happen on or near the final game of the season, the suspension will carry over to the first official game(s) of the next season in which the player participates.
i. As suspension is defined as the disallowance of a GRSL member to participate in games of the GRSL for a time not to exceed two seasons. For a suspension to be served, the member must be listed as a player on the roster of a GRSL registered team.
ii. An expulsion is defined as the disallowance of a GRSL member to participate in games of the GRSL for a time greater than three consecutive seasons. An expulsion may be served without the member being listed on any roster of a GRSL registered team.
5. A team that averages three (3) cautions per game, where an ejection equals two (2) cautions, during the regular season or tournament phases of competition will not be allowed to advance to the next phase of competition, and will be considered for further disciplinary action. Any multi-game suspension will equal three (3) cautions in calculating team discipline points.
6. Non-monetary Fine Schedule:
a. A Team that has two players ejected from a game for any reason will be docked one game point in the computed regular season or season-end tournament standings.
b. A team that fails to send a representative to attend a properly called, mandatory meeting will be docked one game point in the computed regular season or season-end tournament standings.

FREE KICKS

1. Free kicks shall be classified as:
a. Indirect - two touches in which a goal cannot be scored unless the ball has been played or touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through the goal.
b. Direct- a goal can be scored directly by the kicker
2. All free kicks may be kicked in any direction from the point where the infraction occurred, except the penalty kick, which must be taken from the penalty spot and kicked forward. Free kicks are awarded for the following:
a. Handling the ball with hands or arms.
b. Tripping an opponent, including throwing or attempting to throw an opponent by the use of the legs and slide tackling.
c. Pushing and opponent with the hand or with any part of the arm or body.
d. Holding an opponent.
e. Playing dangerously (kicks, strikes, attempts to kick or strike, jumps at an opponent, charges in a violent or dangerous manner).
f. Charging an opponent in a dangerous manner.
g. A player playing the ball a second time before it has been played by another player at the kickoff, a free kick, a penalty kick, a corner kick, a goal kick, or by the thrower following a throw-in.
h. Improper substitution.
i. Dissension by word or action toward a referee’s decision.
j. Unsportsmanlike conduct.
k. To resume play after a player is ordered off the field for persistent misconduct or violent conduct.
l. Illegal obstruction (interfering with an opponent’s movement without the ball).
m. The goalie taking more than the allotted six seconds at any one possession.
n. Charging the goalie or not allowing her to move with the ball.
3. When a free kick is being taken, a player of the opposite team shall not approach within 10 yards of the ball until it is in play. A violation of this may cause player removal from the game. The ball must be stationary when kicked, and after being kicked, the kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

PENALTY KICKS

1. A penalty kick shall be awarded when a foul, which ordinarily results in the awarding of a direct free kick, is committed by a defending player within his/her team’s penalty area.
2. All players except the kicker and the opposing goalkeeper shall be within the field of play but outside the penalty area and at least 10 yards from and behind the penalty mark until the ball is kicked.
3. A penalty kick shall be taken at the top of the penalty box.

THROW-INS

1. A throw-in shall be awarded when the opposing team last touches or plays the ball before the entire ball passes beyond the touchline either in the air or on the ground.
2. The ball shall be thrown in any direction from the point where it crossed the touchline by a player who is facing the field of play and has both feet on the ground behind the touchline. The thrower shall use both hands with equal force and shall deliver the ball from behind and over the head in one continuous movement.
3. On a throw-in, the ball is playable by either team when it has left the hands of the thrower and any part of it breaks the plane of the touchline.
4. Players have 5 seconds to throw the ball back into play. Penalty: after 5 seconds, the opposing team will regain possession, and have a throw in.

GOAL KICKS

1. A goal kick shall be awarded to the defending team when the entire ball crosses the goal line, excluding that area between the goal posts and under the crossbar, either in the air or on the ground, having last been played or touched by the attacking team.
2. Players opposing the kicker shall remain outside the penalty area until the ball has cleared the penalty area.
3. The ball shall be kicked from the ground one yard off the end line, within the penalty area by a player of the defending team. If the ball is not kicked beyond the penalty area, the goal kick shall be repeated.
4. The player taking the goal kick has 5 seconds to take the kick. Penalty: after 5 seconds, the opposing team will regain possession, and have an indirect free kick at the top of the penalty box.