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League Rules

Soccer (Outdoor, 7-on-7)

Quick Summary

This is what you need to know to get going. For a full listing of all the rules, with detailed descriptions and definitions, see Full Rules below.

  1. Sportsmanship, camaraderie and having fun are the 3 most important things in all TRSL activities. Please keep these in mind when playing. RELAX! It’s just a game!
  2. Except for the changes noted, all Official FIFA soccer rules apply.
  3. Teams play 7-a-side (6 plus goalie). You must have at least 5 on the field to start/continue playing (min. 2 of each gender – not including goalie).
  4. The game is two 40 minute halves with a 5 minute half-time break. Agree on and use 1 official watch.
  5. The field is approx. 70 x 45 yards. If it's not marked, pace out the field (1 pace = 1 yard). Use the 14 provided cones to mark the field.
  6. Don't be super strict on out of bounds calls. If it's close, keep playing.
  7. The game is self-officiated; the player who commits the foul is responsible for calling it. The player fouled may also call a foul if they believe it is a clear foul and has not been called.
  8. There is no "advantage rule" in a self-officiated game. If a foul is called play must stop.
  9. No contact or slide tackles are allowed whatsoever. Goalie may slide in his/her crease but must always be aware of safety first.
  10. Substitutions can be made "on the fly", but a TAG must be made at the sideline/goal line.
  11. Offside will NOT be called.
  12. All free kicks are INDIRECT. (In TRSL, an indirect free kick cannot go in off of the opposing goaltender).
  13. "Kick-ins" (a free kick from the sideline) will replace throw-ins.
  14. Reminder: Goalies can NOT use their hands when the ball has been kicked to them by a team-mate.
  15. Reminder: "Handball" refers to any part of your arm (from the shoulder down). It is NOT “handball” if your hands/arms are against your body in an effort to protect yourself.

Full Rules

Unless otherwise stated, all rules and regulations are in accordance with FIFA’s Official Laws of the Game (http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/lawsofthegame.html).

Changes specific to TRSL Recreational Soccer and other important highlights are listed below:

START-UP

  1. Each team must have a minimum of 2 of each gender on the field at any one time (not including goalie), with a maximum of 7 players in total (6 PLUS a goalie). The 2 woman / 2 men rule does NOT include the goalie (i.e. you CANNOT have 1 woman in goal and only 1 woman and 5 guys out). A team may not start or continue playing with less than 5 players total (i.e. 2 short).
  2. If a team cannot field the minimum number of players by 15 minutes past game time, they will have defaulted. A score of 2-0 will be recorded. Not having your goal ready on time is grounds for forfeit.
  3. The captains should have a coin toss to determine who kicks-off first and who defends which goal. In the 2nd half, teams should switch ends and the other team should kick-off.
  4. The game will consist of two 40 minute halves, with a 5 minute half-time break.
  5. Players must wear shirt colours that are the same/similar to their teammates and different from the opponents. If both teams are wearing the same colour, the HOME team is required to change colours. Home team is the first team listed on the schedule.
  6. At the beginning of each half, and after a goal is scored, play will be restarted by a kick-off from centre. The kick-off may not be taken until all players are in their own half. The ball may go forward or backward.

FIELD OF PLAY

  1. The field is approximately 70 yards long by 45 yards wide. If the lines are not marked, the captains should pace out the field (1 pace = 1 yard). Marker cones should be placed at all 4 corners, on either side of the mid-field line, on both sidelines between mid-field and the goal-line, and at either end of the penalty area.
  2. The penalty area (area where goaltender may handle the ball) should extend approximately 5 yards from the goal-line and 5 yards to either side of the posts. If the penalty area is not marked, goaltenders should use reasonable judgement in estimating it during play.
  3. These are approximate lines indicated by cones in a self-officiated game. Unless the ball is clearly out of bounds (or outside the penalty area) it will still be considered in play. "If it's close, keep playing".

OFFICIATING

  1. PLEASE FOLLOW THE COMMON SENSE GUIDELINES OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND SHOW COURTESY AND RESPECT TO YOUR FELLOW PARTICIPANTS. THIS IS CRUCIAL TO EVERYONE ENJOYING THE GAME. DO NOT TAKE THINGS TOO SERIOUSLY! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING FUN!!
  2. As there are no referees, all fouls and other calls are to be made by the player(s) involved. If you handle the ball, call yourself for “handball”. If you trip someone, call “foul”. Only players on the field of play may be involved in rulings and the calling of fouls (i.e. no shouting from the sidelines!)
  3. As there are no referees, there is no "advantage rule". If a foul is called causing players to stop playing then the foul must be enforced regardless of any disadvantage to the fouled team. However, players should demonstrate good sporting play by NOT calling insignificant fouls against themselves when their opponents would clearly benefit from the play continuing. The offending team should not purposefully benefit from their foul.
  4. The player that commits a foul is to make the call. However, if you are clearly fouled by someone and they do not call it, you are allowed to call the foul. If the opponent contests the call and no agreement can be quickly reached, the ball will go to the goalie of the team that last had clear possession.
  5. If a decision regarding the ruling on a play cannot be made, the ball will go to the goalie of the team that last had clear possession.

SUBSTITUTIONS

  1. Substitutions may be made “on the fly”. This means at any time, including while the ball is in play.
  2. The new player must not enter the field of play until the player leaving has reached the sideline or goal line AND a tag is made. There MUST be a tag. The spirit of this rule is that no positional advantage should be gained through substitution.
  3. The substitution of goaltenders is allowed in two ways:
  4. During a stoppage in play. The play will not restart until the substitution is completed (i.e. the new goaltender has indicated that s/he is ready to play) ; or
  5. During play, if the ball is in the opponents’ half and a tag occurs inside the team’s own penalty area with a loud, verbal “goalie change” announcement.

FOULS

  1. All fouls will result in an indirect free kick. Indirect means that after the ball is kicked it must touch another player (in TRSL this does NOT include the opposing goaltender) before entering the goal.
  2. You are responsible to AVOID CONTACT and minimize the severity of contact at all times. The refrain of “I was playing the ball” or “I played the ball first” is NOT a valid excuse. If you can’t make a play safely, then don’t make it! This is not a rough, physical game. No one should get hurt.
  3. You are responsible for being in control of your body at all times. If there is significant contact with another player because you lacked control of your body – then you have committed a foul.
  4. There are to be NO SLIDE TACKLES whatsoever. The goaltender may slide while in his/her penalty area, but must always be aware of safety first. Sliding to play the ball is allowed IF there is absolutely no chance of any contact with another player. If there are any other players near enough to the sliding player to be concerned about contact then that slide was illegal.
  5. If a player is guilty of a foul inside his/her team’s penalty area, a penalty kick will be awarded. A penalty kick is a direct free kick (with goalie!) taken from 8 yards in front of the goal, by any player. There are no rebounds – the play is dead after the kick has been taken (either a kick-off or a goal kick will restart the play).
  6. If a defensive player commits an intentional hand-ball to prevent what would have clearly been a goal, then the following actions will be taken. (Note : it must be BOTH clearly intentional AND clearly going in the goal. If the foul fails to meet both of those criteria then it should be handled as in Fouls #5).
  7. The goal will be counted; and
  8. The offending player will receive a 5-minute penalty during which time their team will play short one player (same gender as the offender). The team will remain short for the entire 5 minutes regardless of any scoring.
  9. The “offside” rule will not be enforced. However, this is not a license to be a “cherry-picker”. Please do not abuse this rule and be a goal-suck. Doing so will take away from the friendly nature of TRSL games.
  10. Goaltenders may not handle the ball when it has been intentionally kicked to them by one of their teammates. For violation of this rule, the opposing team is awarded a free kick to be taken from any point that is approximately 10 yards from the goal.

MISCELLANEOUS

  1. All restarts of play (i.e. kick-ins, free kicks, goal kicks, kick-offs, corner kicks) are indirect.
  2. During any restart of play, opposing players must be at least 5 yards from the ball.
  3. “Kick-ins” will replace throw-ins. A kick-in is a free kick taken from the sideline at the point the ball crossed it. All rules pertaining to free kicks apply to the taking of kick-ins.


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