Indoor Soccer
Rules Clinic
Please turn off your cell phones!!
Basics of Officiating
Positioning
Preparation
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Being on time
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Proper Dress/Equipment
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Whistle, Black/Dark Shorts, Tucked
in shirt, Forward Hat (if worn)
Knowledge of Rules
Pre-Game Conference
Determine the play style of teams
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Judgment
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Safety/Risk Management
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Check Facility
Check Equipment
Check Players
Stop game if needed
Eject Players if needed
Hustle and Be in Position
Proper coverage/Keep all
players in sight
Communication
Preventative Officiating
Determine if players are
playing the ball or other
players
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Pace determined by teams
Keep flow of game
uninterrupted
Incidental contact
www.rowan.edu/rec
Basics of Officiating
Improvement/Evaluation
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Post-Game
Work on 1-2 things to improve
each game
Mentor others or ask questions
to experienced officials
Praise in public, criticize
privately
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Get more game experience
Promotions
Being the head official
Working more competitive
games
Mechanics/Calls
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Make the basic calls
Don’t look for insignificant or
rare calls
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Confidence/Use of Voice
Whistle and Crisp mechanics
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Work on signals
Rapport with Players
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Command Respect but be
respectful
Communicate with captain
Warn players before ejecting
Don’t socialize with one group
over another
www.rowan.edu/rec
Please Arrive Early!
Supervisors report 30
minutes before 1st game
Officials report 30
minutes before 1st game
or 15 minutes before late
shift
Game time is start time!
Forfeits
Game time is start time!
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Teams are penalized a goal per minute after start time
Maximum of 5 minute grace period (losing 4 – 0)
Winning team must have their lineup with the at least
4 players by start time
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Must have players on court checked in (not putting on shoes,
showing ID’s, running to court, etc.)
Teams must abide by shirt color policy
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If they do not, they will receive a 3 in sportsmanship
Cannot rely on pinnies every week, but will be available
Forfeited teams must pay half the registration fee in
order to play their next contest
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Forfeit will count against their season record
Money must be turned in by game time of their next contest
Forfeits
Both teams may forfeit same contest
Teams forfeiting twice will be removed from
the league for the rest of the season
ONLY EXCEPTION FOR 5 MINUTE GRACE
PERIOD
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If the majority of the team had another intramural
sport 1 hour prior to scheduled contest
Game running over, IM Supervisors will wait until the
minimum amount of players show up to start game
Example: Team A had an indoor soccer game at 7pm
that is running late, if Team A has a flag football game at
8pm, the IM Supervisors will wait until there are 5 people
(minimum to start) at the field to start the game
Proper Attire
ONLY ROWAN ID CARDS PERMITTED!!
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No driver’s license, SS Card, etc.
Don’t even make exceptions for friends or employees
Jewelry is prohibited
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Includes rings, watches, necklaces, earrings, ankle
bracelets, rubber bands, belly button rings, nose rings, etc.
Placing tape over area is not allowed
Casts are prohibited
Proper shoes are required
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Non-marking rubber soled athletic shoes
No sandals/barefeet
Knee braces are permitted with protective covers and
must be approved by the intramural supervisor
Shin guards are highly recommended
GOALIE’S MUST WEAR A DIFFERENT COLOR
SHIRT THAN TEAMMATES!
Eligibility cont’d
Each participant in each intramural sport must:
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Be listed on the intramural roster and sign the waiver
Must play 1 regular season game in order to be eligible for playoffs
Players may not transfer from one team to another once
they have played with a team
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A player wishing to change teams prior to the season and has not
participated may request in writing to the Intramural Director
Even by mutual agreement, teams cannot play with an
ineligible player
Teams that pick up an ineligible player forfeits all games in
which the person participated
The ineligible player is not allowed to participate and is
suspended for a until he/she meets with the Intramural
Director
Eligibility cont’d
No Olympic, professional, or varsity athletes in their
respective sports
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Student is considered an athlete, when he/she is listed on
the varsity roster
Includes red-shirted athletes
The number of former NCAA athletes is limited to 2
per team
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Any person that played an intercollegiate game is not
eligible until 1 academic year after that year that they
participated in
Participants may only play on a maximum of 2 teams
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1 male team/1 co-rec team or 1 female team/1 co-rec team
Women may play on a male team if they choose, but are not
eligible to play on a female team.
Violation of rule will result in suspension
Court Setup
The check in table will be closest to the
scoreboard
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No longer by the water fountains
All bags must be placed underneath the table
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Please make sure before the game to check the
edges of the court
If the bags are a basketball players, move to court 3
Electronic Scoreboards will be used to keep
time & score
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During a dead ball period, and official can ask the
supervisor to reset a time
Protests
Only protests based on questions of player eligibility and rule
interpretation will be accepted.
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Captain must see supervisor about protest and fill out a protest
form
No protests on judgment calls are permitted.
Protests must be made at the time of the incident (report to
supervisor)
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Once play is restarted, the situation cannot be protested (unless for
player eligibility)
Upheld protests will be replayed from point of rule infraction
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Exception: ineligible players will result in a win by forfeit
During playoffs, if protest is deemed valid on ineligible player,
protesting team advances, but all previous rounds remain the
same
Sportsmanship
Following each team sport contest, intramural
officials and supervisors will issue
sportsmanship points (Will be reviewed by IM
staff to be fair)
The Intramural Sports Program expects ALL
participants to be sportsmanlike
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Teams must average 3.5 sportsmanship points per
contest to be eligible for playoffs
Any average below 3.5 during the regular season, the
captain must meet with the Intramural Director in
order to possibly participate in playoffs
During playoffs, teams must have 4 sportsmanship
points to advance, teams with a 3 or less will be
reviewed by the IM staff to determine if they advance
Sportsmanship Points
What constitutes what?
5 = NORMAL GAME: Questioning an official on rule interpretation
only
4 = SOME STATIC: Some question of judgment or repeated
complaints. No infractions issued
3 = DIFFICULTY: Repeated question of judgment.
Unsportsmanlike call in softball, volleyball, flag football, street
hockey; a yellow card in soccer or technical foul in basketball,
failure to clean up trash on sidelines, dugouts, etc.
2 = HARASSMENT: Multiple unsportsmanlike calls, yellow cards,
technicals (not on same participant) or spectators harassment of
the officials
1 = EJECTION: Any ejection, whatever the cause
0 = FORFEIT OR FIGHTING: Included threatening an employee. If
involved in a fight your team could be removed from the league
for the remainder of the season.
Indoor Soccer Set-Up
Take down volleyball net
Take out goals and balls
Pinnies and scoreboards from IM closet
Scorer’s table
Tape floors
Captain’s Meeting
Introduce selves and shake hands with captain’s
Check to ensure captain made sure all participants are
signed in
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Be sure everyone has signed the waiver
Remind them “NO JEWELRY ALLOWED!”
Go over main rules and new rules
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Slide tackle, hitting ceiling/track rails/backboards, goalie
restrictions, co-rec rules
Discuss that only captain’s should speak to officials
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Tell them that they can calmly discuss situations at dead ball
situations, injuries, or time-outs
Coin Toss/Fingers behind back
Wish the teams a good game
Indoor Soccer Rules
The Game:
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Games will consist of 20 minute halves with a
running clock.
Halftime will not exceed 5 minutes.
There are no time-outs and the clock will stop only
for injuries
Players
Each team consists of six total players (5 players & a
goalie)
Teams may begin with four total players (including a
goalie)
Co-Rec teams must have a minimum of 2 women at all
times
Co-Rec teams may begin with four total players
(including goalie), but there must be 2 girls(not including
goalie) on the floor at all times (in the game) at all times
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If 4 players (3 total females: 1 goalie and 2 in field) or 2 total
females: 2 males (1 being the goalie)
Indoor Soccer Rules (cont.)
The referees have the right to stop the clock at
their discretion for players actions.
A Mercy Rule occurs if a team is ahead by 8 or
more goals (MENS), or ahead by 10 or more
goals (CO-REC) with 5 minutes left in the second
half
Female goals = 2 points; Male goals = 1 point
The last person that touches the ball on a score is
credited with the score
In situations where officials cannot determine who
the ball was off of, it will be a 1 point goal
Tie Games (cont.)
Regular season ties are final.
Playoff ties, a five-minute overtime sudden
death will be played
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If a tie still remains:
Games will be decided by three penalty shots (players
must be in the game at the conclusion in order to shoot)
If a tie still remains, each team will alternate until a
winner is decided
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There are no off-sides in indoor soccer.
All free kicks will be indirect. Only penalty
kicks are direct.
Indoor Soccer Rules (cont.)
Substitutions may be made at any time during
contest
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When a player reaches the bench area, the substitute may enter
the game
Be strict on substitutions and warn teams or give yellow cards
when needed
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Goalies must only be substituted on dead balls
If a player is disqualified, (receives a red card)
the team plays down a player for 5 minutes with
no release (even if a goal is scored)
Putting the Ball in Play
Kick off from the center circle at the beginning of the
game, halftime, and after goals
When ball is put into play, it can go forward or
backward as long as it completes on full rotation
before another player touches it
Player A1 initiating the kick cannot be the first to
touch the ball after putting into play (another player
has to touch the ball before Player A1 can touch the
ball)
Defense must be behind the mid-court line & must
be 7 feet from ball at kick-off
Indoor Soccer Rules (cont.)
In play:
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Backboards
Underside of track
Out of play:
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Track Rails
Ceiling and lights
Black supports for the backboards
Ball brought to half court circle for indirect kick for opposing
team
If the ball is declared out of play, the ball
will be brought to the half court circle.
Goalie Restrictions & Rules
Any pass back purposely to the goalkeeper with
the feet will result in an indirect kick at the spot
of the foul. This also applies for this situation in
the goal box.
Goalies can kick the ball across half court on a goal kick,
but cannot punt or drop kick the ball across half court
without it bouncing or touching a player first. All Goal
Kicks are indirect.
Throws from the keeper may not cross midfield in the air
without touching the ground or another player.
Goalie Restrictions & Rules
The goalie is the only player who may slide, but he/she
must be making an attempt on the ball. Goalies must
play the ball. Goalies can only use their hands inside the
crease.
After gaining possession the keeper has a 5 count to
release the ball back into play. There is no restriction on
the amount of steps the keeper may take with the ball.
Indoor Soccer Rules (cont.)
Goals:
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Whole ball must
cross goal line
The keeper may come
out of the goal area
and play the court, but
they cannot be pulled
for a field player.
The keeper may use
their hands within the
goal area without
penalty. They may not
use their hands
anywhere else on the
field.
Indoor Soccer Rules (cont.)
Goal Kicks
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Ball goes out behind dividers kicked by offense
Ball gets stuck behind goals
If in doubt it is a goal kick
The kick may come from anywhere within the box,
including on the line. (indirect)
Corner Kick
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Ball was kicked out of bounds behind dividers by
defense
Indoor Soccer Rules (cont.)
Fouls and Misconduct
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Minors: kicking, tripping, holding, charging,
obstruction, dangerous play, illegal use of
hands, too many players
Penalty: Offended team puts play at
offended spot as an indirect kick
Majors: *slide tackling (ejection and penalty
kick)* body checking, goalie interference,
abuse to officials, unsportsmanlike conduct,
handling an obvious goal (red card and goal
awarded)
Penalty: Yellow card to a Red card
Make sure to distinguish between a slide, slip
& a dangerous play vs. a slide tackle
WHEN GIVING A RED CARD, BE
CALM AND CONTROLED. YOUR
POISE MAY HELP DIFFUSE THE
SITUATION.
Yellow and Red Cards
Yellow infraction cards will result in a 2 minute penalty
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Play with 1 less player for 2 minutes, or until the opposing team
scores
Disregarded for jewelry/checking in yellow cards
Individual players are limited to one yellow card, with a
second resulting in automatic ejection (red card)
All ejected players must leave the gym area and cannot
spectate
2 red cards or 4 yellow cards in a season will disqualify
the player for the remainder of the season
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That person must meet with the Intramural Director in order to be
eligible to play further
Free Kicks & Penalty Shots
All free kicks, except penalty shots are indirect
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Defense must be 7 feet from ball
Offense can choose to start play without
defense 7ft. away, but may request officials to
step off distance or warn defense
Penalty shots are granted for intentional/flagrant
fouls in the goalie crease
During penalty shot, all players must be behind
white line that will be indicated by officials
Goalkeeper can move side to side, but
cannot move forward until ball is kicked
ONLY Obstruction or Dangerous Play fouls in
goalie area committed by the defending team
will be indirect at spot of the foul
INDIRECT KICK SIGNAL
Hand Balls
HANDLING THE BALL
Player's may not make deliberately contact the ball with
their hand or arm.
"Deliberate Contact" includes: • not avoiding contact
with the hand
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Movement of the arm to an un-normal position
Grabbing or reaching for the ball
Moving hands or arms instinctively to protect the body when
suddenly faced with a fast approaching ball does not constitute
deliberate contact
Likewise, placing hands or arms to protect the body at a free kick or
similar restart is not likely to produce an infringement of the rules.
Accidental contact that results in an advanatge does not change the
nature of the play.
Hand Balls
The referee should only punish
the deliberate actions of a player
that grabs, strikes, or pushes the
ball to gain an unfair advantage.
General Rule:
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The ball can "play" the hand, but it is a
foul if the hand "plays" the ball.
The Shoulder and Arm
The “hand” is considered to be any part of
the arm-hand from fingertip to shoulder.
Using the top of the shoulder is not
considered as using the hand
Restarting Play
The ball will be restarted with an indirect
kick at the spot of the foul.
Defensive handling of the ball in the box
will result in a penalty kick.
ALWAYS CLEARLY
SIGNAL WHICH WAY
THE KICK IS GOING.
ADVANTAGE
USE ADVANTAGE IN A MANNER THAT
IT HAS A POSITIVE EFFECT ON GAME
CONTROL
APPLY ADVANTAGE APPROPRIATELY
TO THE TEMPO OF THE GAME
CORRECTLY INDICATE BY SIGNAL
AND VOICE
Advantatge
Allows play to continue
when the team against
which an offense has
been committed will
benefit from such an
advantage and
penalizes the original
offense if the
anticipated advantage
did not ensue at that
time.
DURING PLAY - ADVANTAGE
LEAD AND TRAIL REFEREE
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EITHER REFEREE MAY SHOUT “PLAY ON”
AND MOVE BOTH HANDS FORWARD IN A
SWEEPING ACTION
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE
REFEREE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE
PLAY DELAY HIS/HER WHISTLE IN CASE
THE REFEREE CLOSER TO THE PLAY
CHOOSES TO ALLOW ADVANTAGE
MANAGEMENT SKILLS
SUPPORT/REINFORCE OTHER
OFFICIAL’S DECISION
DEAL WITH OFF THE BALL INCIDENTS
MAKE PROMPT DECISIONS AND
ENCOURAGE QUICK RE-STARTS
PROPER “WALL” MANAGEMENT
IDENTIFY GAME-DELAYS AND DEAL
WITH IT APPROPRIATELY
RECOGNITION SKILLS
KNOWLEDGE OF THE RULES AND THE
SPIRIT OF THE RULES
IDENTIFY DELIBERATE FOULS
FOULS FROM BEHIND
GAMESMANSHIP
FIRST FOUL/IMMEDIATE RETALIATION
PERSISTENT INFRINGEMENT
IDENTIFY SERIOUS FOUL AND VIOLENT
CONTACT
DURING PLAY - FOULS
LEAD AND TRAIL REFEREE
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STOP THE GAME WITH A WHISTLE AND RUN TO
THE SPOT OF THE FOUL TO CONTROL
RETALIATION OR MISCONDUCT
INDICATE DIRECTION AND MAKE SURE THE
BALL IS PROPERLY PLACED
ALLOWS EITHER A QUICK FREE KICK RESTART
OR MAKES SURE THE DEFENDERS ARE AT
LEAST 7 FT. FROM THE SPOT OF THE BALL
DURING PLAY - FOULS
LEAD AND TRAIL REFEREE
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INDIRECT KICKS, GIVES THE APPROPRIATE
HAND SIGNAL AND HOLDS IT UNTIL THE BALL
HAS BEEN PLAYED BY ANOTHER PLAYER OR
GOES OUT OF BOUNDS
IF BOTH REFEREES WHISTLE AT THE SAME
TIME, HAVE A PRE-ARRANGED SIGNAL PRIOR
TO THE GAME TO AVOID MAKING OPPOSING
CALLS
IF THERE IS AN OPPOSING CALL, FIRST FOUL IS
GIVEN FREE KICK
DURING PLAY - DROP BALL
THE REFEREE NEAREST THE POINT WHERE
THE DROP BALL SITUATION OCCURRED,
WILL ADMINISTER THE DROP BALL
EACH REFEREE WILL RETAIN THEIR
POSITION OF TRAIL AND LEAD REFEREE
RESPECTIVELY, WITH THE NONADMINISTERING REFEREE OBSERVING THE
PLAYERS AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE
BALL IS DROPPED
Goalie Play
Any throw by goalie must bounce and/or
touch another team member prior to
crossing the mid-court line. The goalie is
allowed to put the ball on the ground and
kick it as far as they want, but no punting
or drop kicks can go over half court
without touching a player or bouncing first.
Goalie is the only player that may slide,
but must make an attempt at the ball and
stay inside the box (where the ball is…not
the body).
DURING PLAY - PENALTY KICK
LEAD REFEREE
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POINTS TO THE PENALTY MARK AND MOVES TO THE
EDGE OF THE PENALTY AREA NEAR THE GOAL LINE
WILL HANDLE THE BALL TO THE KICKER AND INSTRUCT
THE PLAYER WHERE TO PLACE THE BALL
POSITIONS HIM/HER SELF TO OBSERVE MOVEMENT OF
BOTH GOALKEEPER AND KICKER
OBSERVES THAT THE GOALKEEPER DOES NOT MOVE
FORWARD BEFORE THE BALL IS KICKED
ACTS AS GOAL JUDGE
MAKES SURE THE GOALKEEPER IS READY
DECLARES THE BALL READY AND WHISTLES FOR THE
KICK TO BE TAKEN
DURING PLAY - PENALTY KICK
TRAIL REFEREE
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IS POSITIONED AT THE CORNER OF THE
PENALTY AREA, OPPOSITE THE LEAD REFEREE
RESPONSIBLE FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PENALTY
AREA AND SEMI-CIRCLE ARC BY MEMBERS OF
BOTH TEAMS
AFTER A PENALTY KICK HAS BEEN AWARDED,
THE TRAIL OFFICIAL WILL PICK UP THE BALL
AND PREPARE FOR THE KICK.