Indoor Soccer Rules

Last updated: March 26, 2024

•• Rules For All Sports: To be eligible for playoffs, participants must play in at least 3 regular season games for their team. The purpose of the League Rep(s) are not to referee the games. Team captains and their teams are expected to referee their own games accordingly and responsibly. League Rep(s) will step-in to make important calls and clarify rules at their own discretion. If issues arise, team captains are asked to speak with the League Rep(s). No players except for captains should approach the League Rep(s) with issues. ••

A. GENERAL

  1. Teams are advised to be at the courts 10 minutes before the game.
  2. A match will consist of two 25-minute halves with a 5-minute break between halves.
  3. Teams are comprised of 6 players (1 goalie and 5 players). A minimum of 2 players of each gender must be on the floor at all times. A female goalie does count against this ratio.
  4. At minimum, a team must field at least 4 players. If only 1 female player is present, the team must play with one less player; if NO female players are present, the team will automatically forfeit the game.
  5. Team captains and players are required to self-officiate and call their own fouls.
  6. Regular season games may end in a tie. For playoff games, please refer to the Playoff Rules page.

B. GAME PLAY

  1. The game will start with one team kicking off at mid-court. Team captains will rock-paper-scissors for opening possession of the ball. The team that does not begin the game with the ball will start the second half with possession.
  2. Teams will change ends after each half, unless both captains decide otherwise.
  3. After each goal scored, the team which conceded the goal will restart the game with a kick-off at centre.
  4. Kick-offs do not have to go in a forward direction.
  5. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-off.
  6. The ball must completely cross the goal line inside the net for it to count as a score.
  7. The opposing team must be at least 5 feet away from the ball on a kick-off, until the ball has been put into play.
  8. Substitutions can be made on the fly, except for the goalie where there must be a stoppage in play.
  9. Heading of the ball is allowed.
  10. Balls that go out of play on the end lines will result in a goal kick if it goes off the offensive team and a corner kick if it goes off the defensive team. The entire ball must cross the line before it is considered out.
  11. Balls that go out of play on the sidelines will result in a “kick-in” where the ball went out of play for the team that did not touch the ball last. For games played at SFX, the side lines are the blue lines.
    • The entire ball must cross the line before it is considered out.
    • The ball must be stationary and kicked in at the point where the ball went out.
    • A player cannot score a goal directly from a side-line kick-in. However, if it bounces off another offensive player and into the net, the goal will be allowed.

C. FOULS / INFRACTIONS

  1. No slide tackling. This means no players or goalkeeper shall go down on their knees whatsoever to make a challenge on a player with the ball/take them down. The ball automatically goes to other team if this happens. If this infraction continues, the player may be subject to a warning and potential removal from the game. Goalies may go down on their knees if it’s to make a save as long as they are not moving towards an ongoing player.
  2. Players may not jump to play a ball with their feet.
  3. Players may not kick or attempt to kick a ball that is above their own waist while they are standing on the ground.
  4. Players are not allowed to attempt to kick or challenge the ball or other players, while lying on the ground.
  5. No bicycle kicks allowed.
  6. Players may not kick or attempt to kick an opponent.
  7. Players may not trip or attempt to trip an opponent.
  8. Players are not allowed to jump at or into an opponent.
  9. Players may not charge an opponent in a violent, reckless, or dangerous manner.
  10. Players may not hold, grab, push, or obstruct an opponent in any way.
  11. Players may not initiate contact in any way with the goalkeeper inside the goalie crease. Any interfering contact with the goalie will result in the goalie gaining possession of the ball.
  12. Handballs: A handball occurs when the balls touches any part of a player’s arm from the bottom of shoulders to the fingertips. The only exception to this rule is for a goalkeeper within their own crease. ALL handballs, even if deemed unintentional or accidental, are considered a foul and the opposing team will receive an indirect free kick — except if infraction committed inside the crease area (Refer to Rule C13).
  13. Indirect free kicks: If a player commits a foul or violates a rule, the opposing team is then awarded an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction. A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick; rather it must be touched by a second player on the offensive team before a goal can be scored.
  14. Penalty kick: If an infraction occurs within the crease area, the opposing team is then awarded a penalty kick.
    • At SFX, the penalty spot will be at the basketball free throw line.
    • The kick can be taken by any player on the offensive team that was on the floor at the time. Players may take only ONE step to lead into the kick. If multiple steps are taken, the goal or attempt will not count and the ball is turned over to the opposing team. There are no re-kicks allowed.
      • Example: If you are kicking with your right foot — you may take one step with your left foot prior to the kick and vice versa.
    • Goalkeeper must remain in contact with the goal line until that kick is taken (no cutting off the shooter’s angle early before the shooter kicks the ball).
  15. The defending team must be at least 5 feet from a kick off, goal kick, indirect kick, or corner kick.

D. GOALKEEPING

  1.  Players may pass a ball to their goalkeeper. Goalies are ALLOWED to come out of their crease to play the ball with their feet. However, the goalie is NOT ALLOWED to play the ball with their hands outside of the crease and may not take the ball back to their crease area to pick it up with their hands. If this occurs, the opposing team will receive an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction or from the edge of the goal crease, whichever is farther.
  2. Goalies are not allowed to go past the half court line. If called, the opposing team receives an indirect free kick from half court line.
  3. Goalies are not allowed to handle or pick up the ball with their hands when the ball is kicked to them by their own team. They ARE allowed to use their hands inside the goal crease only if the ball is last touched by the opposing team, or if the ball is inadvertently deflected off their own team. If a goalie uses their hands to play the ball after it was thrown or passed to them by their own team, then the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from the edge of the goal crease (See Rule C12).
  4. Once a goalkeeper has gained possession of the ball, they must put the ball back into play within 5 seconds, as counted by the opposing team. The 5-seconds starts once all opposing players have exited the goal crease. This means the goalie must either dribble the ball out of their crease, where they can be challenged for possession, or they must attempt to pass the ball to another player on the court.
  5. Goal kicks: The goalie must kick the stationary ball from the floor within the goal crease during a goal kick. Please refer to Rule B10 for reference on when a goal kick occurs.
  6. Goalies are NOT allowed, under any circumstance, to kick or throw a ball past the centre line without it first being touched on their side of half. The ball can be touched by the floor or any object, teammates, or opponents. This is to dissuade the goalie from throwing or kicking the ball the entire length of the court. In the event that a goalie throws or kicks the ball into the opposing side of centre without the ball first touching anything on the goalie’s side of half, the play will be dead and the opposing team will take possession with an indirect free kick from centre.