Northeast Cobb YMCA Indoor Soccer League Rules
Revised December 4, 2009
1.0 The Field of Play
1.0.1 The Ball
1.0.1.1 The ball is in play when;
 It rebounds off the side wall and back into the field of play.
 It rebounds off the Plexi-glass and back into the field of play (to include Plexi-glass above goals).
 It rebounds off a referee when they are on the field of play.
 It travels above the height of the Plexi-glass wall and back into the field of play.
1.0.1.2 The ball is out of play and an indirect Free-Kick or Kick-In (see section 1.1.8) awarded when;
 It hits the ceiling, a light fixture or travels out-of-bounds (i.e., Player Benches).
 It rebounds off the net between the vertical red stripes.
 It is caught between the net and the Plexi-glass wall.
 The referee deems that the ball is out of play.
1.0.1.3 The ball is out of play and a Goal Kick (see point 1.1.9.7) is awarded when:
 It rebounds off the net beyond the vertical red stripes last touched by the offense.
1.0.1.4 The ball is out of play and a Corner Kick (see section 1.1.7) is awarded when:
 It rebounds off the net beyond the vertical red stripes last touched by the defense.
1.0.2 The Penalty Area
1.0.2.1 The penalty area is marked by the yellow box directly in front of each goal.
1.0.2.2 The goalkeeper can legally handle the ball inside the penalty area as per FIFA rules.
1.0.2.3 Field players from both teams are allowed in the penalty area as per FIFA rules.
1.0.3 Penalty Kicks
1.0.3.1 All free-kicks are indirect, therefore, penalty kicks are not allowed.
1.0.3.2 All offenses against the defensive team inside the Penalty Area shall be taken as an indirect kick from the
‘face-off’ circle or ‘red square’ closest to the offense.
1.0.3.3 Defending players shall remain outside the ‘face-off’ circle or a 6 yard offset.
1.0.4 Player Benches
1.0.4.1 Players and up to two coaches shall remain in their designated player bench area when not on the arena floor.
1.0.4.2 Persons other than players, coaches and Northeast Cobb YMCA officials are not allowed in this area.
1.0.4.3 Players and coaches should not lean over the wall while in the Player Bench area. An indirect free-kick shall
be awarded to the opposition if a player in the bench area comes in contact with the ball.
1.1 Game Management
1.1.1 The Referee
1.1.1.1 The referee shall move about the arena as play dictates to ensure they have the best angle to view play.
1.1.2 Blood
1.1.2.1 Play shall stop immediately if a player requires treatment for blood. The game will not continue until the
Northeast YMCA Director on Duty confirms that the area is clean and that the YMCA health and safety procedures
have been followed. The Game clock will continue to run.
1.1.3 The Ball
1.1.3.1 Only balls issued by the Northeast YMCA will be used. Two balls will be given to each team during the warmup.
Division
Ball Size
u8-u12
Size 4
u14-u19
Size 5
1.1.4 Game Clock
1.1.4.1 Games will be timed by a Northeast YMCA staff member. The clock will start on-time as scheduled and will be
continuous. Game length and breaks may be customized to meet divisional needs within allotted time blocks. This
must be prior approved and agreed on by coaches as well as a YMCA Program Director.
Division
u8-u10
u12-u14
u16-u19
Game Length
Two (2) 15 min. periods
Two (2) 18 min. periods
Two (2) 20 min. periods
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Key Points
Clarification
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Halftime
5 minutes
5 minutes
5 minutes
Northeast Cobb YMCA Indoor Soccer League Rules
Revised December 4, 2009
1.1.5 Start of Play
1.1.5.1 Each game or half will start with a drop ball at the center circle between players from each team. All players
should be in their own half of the arena.
1.1.5.2 After a goal has been scored, play will resume with a kick-off by the team scored on.
1.1.6 Minimum Number of Players
1.1.6.1 If a team cannot field the minimum number of players, four (4), by the scheduled game start time, the
Northeast YMCA staff member responsible for controlling the clock will start the game clock on-time. Play will not start
but teams can continue their warm-ups. If after a five (5) minute grace period the minimum of players are still not
available the Northeast Cobb YMCA official will deem the game a forfeit. The non-forfeiting team will be given the win
with a score of 5-0.
1.1.6.2 If a team cannot meet the minimum limit and coaches and referee agree, the teams may play a ‘friendly’
match.
1.1.7 Corner Kicks
1.1.7.1 Corner kicks (on X mark) will be awarded when the defense kicks the ball into the net beyond the vertical red
stripes.
1.1.7.2 Corner kicks are direct.
1.1.8 Free-Kicks or Kick-Ins
1.1.8.1 All free-kicks and kick-ins are indirect. The referee shall place the ball in the center of the ‘face-off’ circle or
‘red square’ closest to the offense.
1.1.8.2 Defending players shall remain outside the ‘face-off’ circle or a 6 yard offset.
1.1.8.3 All offenses against the defensive team inside the penalty area shall be taken from the ‘face-off’ circle or ‘red
square’ closest to the offense.
1.1.8.4 Defensive free-kicks inside the penalty area will be taken as a Goal Kick.
1.1.8.5 Kick-ins are awarded when the ball travels out of play into the netting between the vertical red stripes or into
the player benches. The balls is kicked back into play next to the side wall closest to where it went out of play.
1.1.9 Keepers
1.1.9.1 Apart from where stated, Keeper play is as per FIFA laws of the game.
1.1.9.2 In the best interest of safety, the keeper will have possession of the ball when he/she has one hand on the ball.
At the referee’s discretion, a warning, yellow card, or red card may be given to any player violating the spirit of this
rule.
1.1.9.3 Keepers cannot distribute the ball via drop-kick or punt. In the event a keeper attempts a drop-kick or punt the
referee will award a free-kick at the halfway line to the opposing team.
1.1.9.4 When a Keeper distributes the ball by ‘hand’ (rolling or overhand throw), the Keeper must first play the ball in
their half of the arena (Halfway-line Restriction). The referee will award an indirect free-kick at the halfway-line to the
opposing team if the ball lands on or across the halfway line.
1.1.9.4 When a Keeper distributes the ball by ‘hand’ (rolling or overhand throw) and the ball first hits the side wall or
Plexi-glass in their half of the arena and rebounds to hit the half-way line or rebounds into the other half of the arena
the Halfway-line Restriction is NOT in effect.
1.1.9.6 When a Keeper plays the ball from their feet the Halfway-line Restriction is NOT in effect (EXCEPTION: when
they are within the penalty area).
1.1.9.7 A Goal Kick is a method of restarting play. The ball is put in play from the feet within the penalty area by any
player of the defending team. The ball is in play when it is distributed or kicked directly beyond the penalty area.
Opponents must yield six yards (U8 & U10 half field), until the ball is distributed or kicked.
1.1.10 The Wall
1.1.10.1 Players are not allowed to place ‘both’ their hands on the arena wall while in possession of the ball. The
referee will award a free-kick to the opposing team.
1.1.11 Offside
1.1.11.1 Offside rules do not apply.
1.1.12 Standings and Tie Breakers
1.1.12.1 Team standings will be kept based 1st on Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie), 2nd on Goal Differential
(up to 5 per game), 3rd on Goals Against and 4th on Goals For. If after these four criteria are determined teams are still
tied the tie breaker criteria will be head-to-head competition followed by a coin flip.
1.1.13 Medals
1.1.13.1 Medals are awarded to the top team in each division.
1.1.13.2 Any team playing down a division (i.e., Academy/Select to Recreational) may not compete for 1st or 2nd place.
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Key Points
Clarification
Changes
Northeast Cobb YMCA Indoor Soccer League Rules
Revised December 4, 2009
2.0 Player Management
2.0.1 Players
2.0.1.1 Games at the Northeast YMCA arena will be 6v6; a goalkeeper and five field players.
2.0.1.2 Up to 6 substitutes are allowed in the player bench area.
2.0.1.3 Each team must have four (4) players to start and four (4) players to continue.
2.0.1.4 Teams cannot use non-roster Players. If the Northeast Cobb YMCA determines that a non-roster player is or
was playing, the offending team will forfeit the game.
2.0.2 Substitutions
2.0.2.1 During play substitutions may be made at any time on an unlimited basis.
2.0.2.2 Neither player involved in a substitution can be involved in the play when they are in the process of leaving or
entering the field. An indirect free-kick will be awarded in case of an offense.
2.0.2.3 Play will not stop to allow the substitution of a field player.
2.0.2.4 The referee shall stop the game to allow a keeper substitution only if the replacement keeper is ready to enter
the arena.
2.0.2.5 Only GYSA Roster Players may substitute.
2.0.3 Player Equipment
2.0.3.1 The equipment of a player at all times while on the soccer arena is a shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards and
indoor soccer footwear. Shirts are to remain tucked into shorts and socks are to be pulled up to the knee covering shin
guards.
2.0.3.2 This is the same for any soccer activity at the Northeast YMCA soccer arena.
2.0.3.3 Players shall not be permitted to wear necklaces, chains, bracelets, earrings or watches at any time on the
soccer arena.
2.0.3.4 Keepers and field players may wear soft knee pads.
2.0.3.5 If the Guest and Home teams have the same or similar color jerseys then the Home team must change. Vests
are available from the Northeast Cobb YMCA monitor on duty.
3.0 Miscellaneous
3.0.1 Cautionable Offenses
3.0.1.1 Sliding: Deliberate slide tackles will not be allowed and will result in an immediate yellow card for the first
offense. The offending player must come off the arena floor and serve an immediate two minute penalty. An indirect
free-kick is awarded for the offense. For the slide tackle rule to be enforced, both the slide and the tackle must occur.
3.0.1.2 Hip Checks: Hip Checks or running players into the boards will result in an immediate yellow card for the first
offense. An indirect free-kick is awarded for the offense.
3.0.2 Yellow and Red Cards
3.0.2.1 Any player given a Yellow card must come off the arena floor and serve an immediate two minute penalty.
3.0.2.2 Any player given two Yellow cards or a Red card must come off the arena floor immediately. The player is not
required to serve an additional game suspension nor is the offending player’s team is required to play down. ‘Forfeit’
rules will apply if the team cannot field the required number of players.
3.0.3 Registered Non-Roster Players
3.0.3.1 League rule 2.0.1.4 states that a team cannot play registered, non-roster players. A registered, non-roster
player is defined as “any player currently registered to play in the Northeast Cobb YMCA Youth Indoor Soccer League
and is not listed on your official Team roster.” If a team plays a registered, non-roster player the team will forfeit the
game with a final score of 5-0 in favor of the non-forfeiting team.
During the preceding week a Coach must inform the Arena Staff (NCYSports@ymcaatlanta.org) that their team will
forfeit their game. Acceptable reasons are:


The Team will not be able to field the minimum number of players, or
The Team can field enough players but by playing the Coach feels his/her Team will be playing in an unsafe
situation. (Note: Having limited substitutes, in general, does not constitute a need to forfeit a game).
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Key Points
Clarification
Changes
Northeast Cobb YMCA Indoor Soccer League Rules
Revised December 4, 2009
The Northeast Cobb YMCA Arena Staff will contact the opposing coach and agree on how the teams will play the next
game given the following options:



To play the game by combining Team roster players,
To play the game with Division Level non-roster players (Note: If this option is chosen, the team using Division
Level registered, non-roster players may only have as many substitute players as the team NOT using nonroster players.), or
Not to play the game (not recommended).
If a Coach cannot foresee until game time that their team must forfeit their game, the forfeiting coach must inform the
opposing coach at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the game warm-up period that he/she will forfeit the game. The
opposing/non-forfeiting coach may then choose from one of the above three options.
At the start of the game warm-up period, both coaches must inform the Northeast Cobb YMCA Arena Staff Monitor
and Referee of the following:



That the game is a forfeit,
Who the winning team is, and
Which players will be available to participate in the game.
3.0.4 Non-Registered Players
3.0.4.1 Under no circumstances may a team use a Non-Registered player.
3.0.5 Mercy Rules
3.0.5.1 In the event a team goes ahead by 5 points or more, an additional player from the team that is down will be
allowed on the arena. If a team is ahead by 10 or more, it will be 2 additional players.
3.0.5.2 When the team that is down cuts the lead within 3 points, the additional player will come off.
3.0.5.3 The mercy rule is a discretionary measure used by the referee to assist in fair play within the league.
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Key Points
Clarification
Changes