Referee Indoor Soccer Rules

This summary outlines:

 

  1. The rules for the Men’s and Women’s Indoor soccer program for Ottawa TFC Soccer Club
  2. Competition specific rules
  3. The differences from the FIFA laws of the game. Unless otherwise noted, the FIFA laws apply.

 

Law 1: Field of Play

Games are played using 1/3 of the regular soccer pitch, across the width of the pitch.

All touch lines, goal lines and goal area lines are appropriately marked.

 

Law 2: The Ball

A size 5 ball is to be used for both men’s and women’s games.

 

Law 3: The Number of Players

Each team must have a minimum of five and a maximum of seven players on the pitch at any given time.

One player from each team must be designated as the goalkeeper and wear a jersey that distinguishes them from other players.

Substitutions:

Substitutions can be made while the ball is in play, i.e. “on the fly”.

A player subbing off the field should be within a reasonable distance of the touch line before the player subbing on enters the field of play.  The definition of “reasonable” is left to the discretion of the referee.

If a player subbing onto the field of play touches the ball before the player he is replacing has left the field, the referee may award an indirect free kick to the opposing team because one team has a numerical advantage in players.

Consequently, if a player is subbing off the field of play and his substitute has entered the field of play, he/she may not play the ball. If they do, an indirect free kick to the opposing team may be awarded.

 

Law 4: Players’ Equipment

All players must wear an Ottawa TFC jersey (red or grey for home or away), blue or black shorts and dark socks (blue/black).  Goal keepers must wear a jersey that distinguishes them from all other players and the referee.

 

Law 5: The referee

All decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play and interpretation of the laws of the game are final.

 

Law 6: The Assistant Referee

There are no Assistant Referees in Ottawa TFC indoor soccer.

 

Law 7: Duration of the match

All matches will consist of two 25 minute halves, with a three minute break in between.

Additional time will not be added for any reason.

 

Law 8: Start and Restart of play

No changes

 

Law 9: Ball in and out of play

No changes

 

Law 10: Method of Scoring

No changes

 

Law 11: Offside

There is no offside offense for indoor soccer

 

Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct

All fouls and misconduct are penalized with an indirect free kick, with the exception of fouls that would be penalized by a direct free kick in the FIFA laws and are committed within the goal area.  These are:

  • Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
  • Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
  • Jumps at an opponent
  • Charges an opponent
  • Strikes to strike an opponent
  • Pushes an opponent
  • Tackles an opponent
  • Holds an opponent
  • Spits at an opponent
  • Handles the ball deliberately, with the exception of the goal keeper within his own goal area.

The indirect kick is taken from the place where the offense occurred. All players of the opposing team must be at least eight yards away from the ball when it is kicked.

Slide Tackling:

Ottawa TFC considers slide tackling dangerous play and is punishable by an indirect free kick regardless of whether contact is made with the opponent.  The exceptions to this are:

  • A goal keeper sliding to save the ball within his/her goal area
  • A player sliding when no other player is in the vicinity.

Cautionable offenses:

Any player receiving a caution during the match will be required to server a two minute “time out”, during which time his/her team will play short one player.  After this time out, a player may return to the pitch with the permission of the referee.

Dismissal offenses:

Any player or substitute receiving a red card must leave the field and vicinity of the pitch immediately and is not eligible to return to the match.  The team of the offending player will play short one player for two minutes, as with a yellow card.   After this the team may send on a replacement player with the permission of the referee.

 

Law 13: Free kicks

As indicated above, all free kicks are indirect with the exception of fouls that would be penalized by a direct free kick in the FIFA laws and are committed within the goal area.  These are:

  • Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
  • Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
  • Jumps at an opponent
  • Charges an opponent
  • Strikes to strike an opponent
  • Pushes an opponent
  • Tackles an opponent
  • Holds an opponent
  • Spits at an opponent
  • Handles the ball deliberately, with the exception of the goal keeper within his own goal area.

The indirect kick is taken from the place where the offense occurred.

 

Law 14: The Penalty Kick

A penalty kick is taken from a spot eight yards from the goal line, positioned at the middle point of the goal. All players must be eight yards from the ball and not closer to the goal than the ball.

 

Law 15: The Throw In

For indoor soccer, if the whole of the ball crosses the touch line either on the ground or in the air, play is restarted with a kick in from where the ball left the field of play.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick in.

The ball is considered in play when it enters the field of play. If the ball does not enter the field of play, the  kick in is retaken.

As with throw ins, after delivering the ball, the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.

 

Law 16: The Goal Kick

The goal kick is taken from anywhere in the goal area.

Players from the opposing team must be at least eight yards away from where the goal kick is taken.

 

Law 17: The Corner Kick

No changes

 

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