•• 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
- Teams are advised to be at the field 10 minutes before the game.
- A match will consist of two 25-minute halves with a 5-minute break between halves.
- Teams play 6-a-side (1 goalkeeper, 5 field players). At least 2 players of each gender must be on the field at all times.
- Teams must have at least 4 players to begin a match. 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.
- Team captains and players are required to self-officiate and call their own fouls.
- Regular season games may end in a tie. For playoff games, please refer to the Playoff Rules page.
B. EQUIPMENT
- Rubber or plastic cleats only. Metal or sharp studs are not permitted.
Shin guards are recommended but not required. - Non-dangerous protective equipment (gloves, headgear, soft padding, sports glasses, goalkeeper caps) is permitted.
- Jewelry and watches should be removed before play.
C. GAMEPLAY
Kick-off
- Opening possession is determined by rock-paper-scissors between team captains.
- Team captains will rock-paper-scissors before the game begins. The winner chooses whether to start with the kick-off or which side of the field to start on. The other team takes the remaining option.
- Kick-offs do not have to go in a forward direction.
- Opponents must remain at least 5 feet away until the ball is in play.
- After each goal scored, the team conceding the goal will re-start the game with a kick-off at mid-field.
Sides
- Teams will change ends after each half, unless both captains decide otherwise.
Substitutions
- Substitutions can be made “on-the-fly” and must be done with the player coming in tagging the player subbing out. No positional advantage should be gained through substitutions.
- Goalkeeper substitutions can only be made during a stoppage in play.
Ball Out of Play
- Balls are considered out of play when the entire ball has crossed a side line or end line. Play is restarted with a “kick-in”, corner kick, or goal kick awarded to the team opposing the player that last touched the ball before going out of play.
- If any part of the ball is touching the line, it is still in play.
Restarts
- Kick-in: Awarded when the ball crosses the sideline; taken from where the ball left the field.
- Goal kick: Awarded when the attacking team last touches the ball before it crosses the defending team’s goal line. A goal kick is taken within the goal crease by a defending player.
- Corner kick: Awarded when the defending team last touches the ball before it crosses their goal line. Taken from the nearest corner.
- The ball must be stationary for all restarts.
- A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in, goal kick, or indirect free kick. However, if the ball makes contact with another player first, the goal is considered a good goal.
- Opponents must remain at least 5 feet away until the ball is in play.
D. RULES AND INFRACTIONS
Slide Tackling
- Slide tackles are not permitted. A slide tackle is defined as a player leaving their feet and sliding to challenge an opponent for the ball. Violations will result in an indirect free kick or penalty kick, depending on the location. Reckless or repeated infractions may lead to a warning and possible removal from the game at the League Rep’s discretion.
- There are two exceptions to this rule:
- Goalkeepers may drop to their knees to make a save.
- Players may slide for a loose ball when no opponent is within playing distance to contest the ball.
Dangerous Play
- Players may not:
- Kick a ball above waist height while standing.
- Play the ball while lying on the ground.
- Perform bicycle kicks.
- Kick, trip, push, hold, grab, charge, obstruct, or jump into an opponent.
Goalkeeper Protection
- Players must avoid contact with the goalkeeper inside the goal crease, and goalkeepers must also refrain from initiating contact with opposing players.
- Interference in the crease results in goalkeeper possession and an indirect free kick.
Handball
- A handball occurs when the ball contacts a player’s arm or hand (shoulder to fingertips).
- The only exception is the goalkeeper inside their crease.
- All handballs (even if deemed unintentional or accidental) result in an indirect free kick, or a penalty kick if inside the crease.
Offside
- There is no offside rule.
Free Kicks
- Fouls result in an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction.
- Goals cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick.
Penalty Kicks
- If an infraction occurs within the crease area, the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick.
- The kick can be taken by any player on the attacking team that was in play at the time of the infraction. Defenders must remain at least 5 feet away.
- The penalty kicker may take one step before striking the ball. If more than one step is taken, the attempt is void and possession is awarded to the defending team’s goalkeeper. (Example: If you are kicking with your right foot — you may take one step with your left foot before the kick.)
- The goalkeeper must remain on the goal line until the ball is kicked. If the goalkeeper leaves early and no goal is scored, the kick is retaken.
E. Goalkeeping
- Goalkeepers may leave the goal crease and play the ball with their feet but may not handle the ball outside the crease.
- If the goalkeeper handles the ball outside the crease or brings it back to pick it up, an indirect free kick is awarded at the spot where the infraction occurs.
- To discourage stalling, once the goalkeeper has possession, the ball must be played within 5 seconds.
Back passes
- Goalkeepers may not pick up a ball intentionally passed by a teammate, even inside the goal crease. A ball unintentionally deflected off a teammate may be picked up by a goalkeeper.
Goal kicks
- Goal kicks must be kicked from the ground within the crease.
Last updated: March 16, 2026