Outdoor Soccer

The rules governing this intramural sport activity are derived from rules used by the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and rules unique to the UVM Intramural Sports Program. This rules sheet is not meant to be all-inclusive; rather it is a summary of the more common rules, policies, and procedures used by the Intramural Sports Program. All important policy information can be found in the Intramural Sports Handbook. All team managers and players are responsible for reading this document and understanding the rules, policies, and procedures prior to participating in this activity.

General/Eligibility

Player Eligibility - See the Intramural Sports Handbook for complete listing of eligibility requirements.

Varsity & Club Player Eligibility:

Members of the UVM Varsity Soccer Teams are not eligible to participate in intramural soccer.
Members of the UVM Club Soccer Teams are eligible to participate in intramural soccer; however these players are subject to the following participation guidelines:
Competitive League Teams – No more than three (3) club players (men’s or women’s team members) may be listed on a roster.
Recreational League Teams – No more than one (1) club player (men’s or women’s team members) may be listed on a roster.
Penalty: Any team with a varsity player on the roster or that is in violation of the club player participation guidelines will automatically forfeit every game in which the ineligible player(s) participated. During playoffs, use of an ineligible player will result from the team being removed from further competition.

Intramural Team Participation - Individuals may only play on one same sex team and one mixed gendered team per outdoor soccer season.
UVM Identification - All players MUST present a physical UVM Cat Card or thru the GETMobile app to the IMS Supervisor prior to every game. Players who do not have their Cat Card will be subject to the terms of the Campus Recreation ID Policy.

Team Rosters - The official team roster consists only of those individuals who are eligible and who have signed the official roster/waiver. Individuals must be listed on the official roster by the end of regular season play in order to be eligible to participate in playoffs. Confirming that all players are listed on the official roster prior to the end of the regular season is the responsibility of the Team Manager.

Communication with IMS Staff

Team managers are the only individuals permitted to speak with officials regarding substitutions, calls or questions. If another player attempts to dispute, a warning may be issued. Subsequently, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty may be called followed by a possible ejection.

Reverse Clause - The IMS Staff reserves the right to make time adjustments to accommodate scheduling conflicts.

Players and Substitutions

Teams will be comprised of seven (7) players including the goalkeeper. Rosters may have a max of 15 players. A team may start with no less than five (5) players. In the event a team is playing with the minimum number (5) of players, and a player becomes injured or has to leave (for a reason other than an ejection) the game will continue until it is deemed a farce as determined by the officials and supervisors. Mixed gendered teams may have no more than 3 of the same gender on the field at any time (see goal keeper exception). The goalie may be of any gender. For example, if your team shows up with six males and three females, they can only play three males and three females at a time. The 7th player may be a male, but needs to be the goalie.

Field Player Substitutions - Unlimited substitutions are permitted. All substitutes must enter from the designated substitution area at midfield after the referee approves the substitution by calling the subs onto the field. Substitutions can only be done during the following situations:

Prior to a corner kick
Prior to a goal kick
After a goal
Prior to throw in
When play has officially stopped (injury, protest, etc.)

Goalkeeper Substitutions -Goalkeeper substitutions are unlimited; however goalkeeper subs are only allowed on dead ball after the referee has been notified and the substitution is approved.

Ejected Players - NO substitution is permitted for an ejected player (1 red card or 2 yellow cards). The team will play shorthanded for the remainder of the game.

Nomad Rule - A team may add a “nomad” player or players who are not currently rostered on the team to avoid a forfeit and play competitively. A team may use nomads when they have less than the surface maximum number of rostered players present at game time. To start a game, the required number of rostered players needed is four (4). Nomad players must follow all eligibility guidelines including mixed gender ratios and restrictions.

The eligibility guidelines are as follows:

A team MUST announce nomads to officials, the scorekeeper (if applicable) and opposing team captain during the pregame meeting.
A team may only pick up enough nomad players to start a game with the surface maximum while meeting mixed gendered ratios and requirements. (i.e. a mixed gender team has four (4) rostered males and one (1) rostered female. That team is able to pick up two (2) non-rostered female players or non-binary players to bring the team up to the surface maximum of seven (7) players).
If rostered players arrive after the contest has started, it is up to the discretion of the team using the nomad rule if nomads will continue to play.
A team may decide to use a nomad at any point in the game if an injury occurs and the team will be playing with less than the surface maximum. This does not include circumstances involving unsporting behavior.
Teams and nomads must follow club and varsity eligibility guidelines.
If a nomad is not currently rostered on a team for that sport, they will automatically be added to the team’s roster.
Any unsporting behavior penalties and suspensions will be carried over to the nomad’s rostered team.
A nomad cannot act as a speaking captain for the team they are playing for.
Teams may not use nomads during the playoffs.

Equipment (See Handbook for revised uniform rules)

Game Jerseys - IMS Pinnies will be checked out if needed - (we ask all teams come to field with a white shirt and dark colored shirt. Avoid grey shirts.)

Footwear - Turf shoes, cleats, and soft, pliable, rubber bottom shoes are permitted. METAL CLEATS, SANDALS & OPEN TOED SHOES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Shoes must be worn. If there are any questions concerning footwear, contact the supervisor/official.

Jewelry - All jewelry must be removed. This includes, but is not limited to, necklaces, earrings, newly pierced earrings, facial piercings, bracelets and watches. Individuals will not be allowed to tape over any jewelry item. If you cannot remove the item then you CANNOT play (exception: Medical or Religious jewelry that has been approved by the IMS professional staff).

Soccer Balls - Teams are encouraged to bring their own soccer ball(s) to practice (warm up) with and use in the game if both teams agree. The game ball shall be issued by the officials. Teams will not be allowed to warm up with a game ball.

Other Equipment: Shin guards are not required but highly recommended.
**Any player issued an equipment warning after the start of a game will be given a yellow card and asked to sub out of the game until the player has corrected the problem.

Captains’ Meeting and Coin Toss Captains’ Meeting

Five minutes before the game, the officials will conduct a ‘Captains’ Meeting’ with the team captain/team representative of each team. Home team calls the toss (team listed first on schedule. The team winning the toss shall have their choice of options. The options for each half shall be the following:

Team winning the toss - chooses to start with the kickoff OR goal to defend
Team losing the toss - exercises the remaining option

Duration of Game

Game Length

Game will be played with two 20-minute halves with a running clock.
Clock stops for injuries or formal rules protests; during the final two (2) minutes of the second half, the clock will stop for all dead ball situations.

Game Time is Forfeit Time!

All intramural events are tightly scheduled based on facility availability to allow for maximum participation, so keeping the games on schedule is very important. Please have your team at the field checked-in and ready to play at least ten (10) minutes before your scheduled game time. If one team is late/is not present, the captain of the team that is present and has the minimum number of participants required to play will be given two options (once a decision is made it cannot be changed):
Take the forfeit immediately
Give the team five (5) minutes to show
If the team shows, the game must be played with only the remaining amount of time left. If the team still does not show, it will be a forfeit.

Mercy Rule - If a team is down by four (4) goals or more at the two minute mark in the second half, the clock will run continuously (it will not stop on every dead ball situation) for the remaining two minutes.

Halftime - Halftime will not exceed three (3) minutes. Teams will switch directions of play at half time.

Time Outs - 2 timeouts per game. Do not carry over.

Overtime -

Regular season games that end in a tie will be recorded as such. Overtime will only be played for playoff games. Games that end in a tie will result in a five (5) minute sudden death overtime (a new coin toss will be used). The first goal scored will determine the winner. If the game is still tied at the conclusion of the five minute OT, a penalty kick (shoot out) tie breaker will be used in the following manner:
Only the players on the field (including the goalkeeper) at the end of the sudden death overtime will be allowed to participate in the shootout
A new coin toss will determine the kicking order, with the winner electing to go first or second.
Each team shall take an initial series of five (5) kicks alternating from the penalty mark. Each kick shall be taken by a different player. The team scoring the greater number of goals shall be declared the winner. If the score remains tied after the initial five (5) kicks, they shall continue alternating in the same order, allowing each member of the team to kick, until a team has one more goal in the same number of kicks.
If a team is playing shorthanded because of an ejected player, then the team must have one (1) player kick twice (only if the team is playing with four (4) or less players).
Mixed gender teams must alternate by gender. If there is not an equal number of gender's present, members of one gender will shoot again to maintain the alternating order.

Playing Rules

Current NFHS Rules are in effect with exceptions outlined below.
Start of Play -

A kickoff begins from the center of the field of play, on the referee’s whistle.
The game shall be started by a player kicking the ball into the opponent’s half of the field (the ball must travel forward one full circumference of the ball).
Every player shall be on their team’s half of the field at the time of the kickoff.
Players opposing the ball must remain outside the center circle until the ball is kicked.
A goal may be scored directly from the kickoff.

Indirect or Direct Free Kick - When a player is taking an indirect or direct free kick, all opposing players shall remain at least 10 yards away until the ball is kicked.
Goal Kick - On a goal kick, players opposing the goalkeeper must remain outside of the penalty box until the ball is kicked. Both team’s players may not touch the ball until it has left the penalty box.
Slide Tackling - Slide tackling is PROHIBITED and a yellow card will be given immediately to the offending player! Slide tackling is a penalty when in the immediate vicinity of an opposing player and a direct free kick will be awarded to the opposing team. Contact does not have to be made in order for a penalty to be called.

Sliding to keep a ball in bounds or to prevent a goal is not a penalty (as long as it is not deemed malicious or intended to make contact with another player) (i.e., no opposing player is within playing distance of the ball).

Goalies may not slide tackle feet first in the vicinity of an opposing player, a yellow card will be given immediately. Goalies, however, can slide hands first if clearly going for the ball.

Drop Ball

A drop ball will occur when:
An injury has transpired and no one has clear control of the ball
Both officials are unsure of an out of bounds call
There is a double foul (one on each team)

Legal Throw-In:

For a legal throw to occur all of the following conditions must be met:
BOTH FEET must be on the ground and behind the boundary line
The throw must be made with two hands and directly over the head
The ball must not be “spinning” as it leaves the player’s hands
*A violation of any of the above will result in a throw in for the non-offending team.

Advantage - The “advantage” rule is used when the team with the ball is better off maintaining possession instead of stopping to enforce the penalty on the opposing team. The referee will yell “PLAY ON” to acknowledge the foul, while maintaining the flow of play. This is strictly a judgment call by the referee and may not be protested.

Goalkeepers Intentionally Kicking Ball to GK

On any occasion when a player deliberately kicks the ball to their goalkeeper, the goalkeeper is not permitted to touch the ball with the hands.
Players may not use trickery to circumvent the rule.
For example: Players may not flick the ball with their feet to their own head, chest, knee, etc. and then pass it to their own goalkeeper who touches the ball with their hands. In addition, the goalkeeper is not allowed to play the ball with the hands directly from a throw in (from own team).
A goalkeeper in possession of the ball shall not indulge in tactics which, in the opinion of the referee, are designed to waste time, thus giving and unfair advantage to the goalie’s own team.
If the ball is deflected off of the goalkeeper’s own teammate (not intentional), the keeper is allowed to pick up the ball with the hands. If the deflection is deemed intentional, an indirect kick will be awarded to the opposing team outside the penalty area. Goalkeepers have six (6) seconds to release the ball after making a save; however the GK may not leave the goal box until the ball is released.
If a goalkeeper maintains possession of the ball longer than six (6) seconds, an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team from the spot the infraction occurs. The goalkeeper may use the hands within the entire box (penalty area)
The goalkeeper is not allowed to handle the ball if the ball is outside this area. The goalkeeper may NOT punt, throw or drop kick the ball across the mid-field line.
If it is airborne and does not touch any player before crossing the line, the defending team will receive an indirect kick from the mid-field line. A player shall not, in any manner, charge or make contact with the goalkeeper in the penalty area unless the goalkeeper is obstructing the player or dribbling the ball with the feet. Penalty: Direct Free Kick and possible ejection if deemed malicious or intentional.
A player may not attempt to kick the ball when it is in the possession of the goalkeeper.
A player may not touch the ball while the goalkeeper is trying to clear the ball by throwing or kicking it.
If the goalkeeper drops the ball down and starts to dribble the ball, they have no more privileges than a normal player would.
If the goalkeeper, while going for a ball, intentionally makes contact (kicks, pushes, heads, knees, etc.) with an opposing player, a direct free kick (penalty shot) will be awarded to the opposing team. (Possible ejection of keeper may be warranted as well.)

Fouls and Misconduct Ejections - A player shall be ejected if the player intentionally kicks, strikes, splits, pushes, trips, or attempts to kick, strike or jump at an opponent, teammate, spectator and/or official. Penalty: Offending player will be ejected and a direct free kick will result from the spot of the foul for the non-offending team.
NOTE: If both teams are involved in misconduct a midfield drop kick will occur. Unsportsmanlike players will be ejected and will be subject to IMS policies and procedures regarding ejected players.

Direct Free Kicks: The following infractions will result in a direct free kick:

Holding, pushing, striking and/or tripping that is “accidental” in nature.
Fouling the goalkeeper while the keeper is in possession of the ball or while jumping to receive the ball inside the penalty area (possible ejection).
The goalkeeper intentionally elbowing or kneeing a player as they go up for the ball.
Slide tackling.
NOTE: Be aware that any flagrant foul by a player is cause for an immediate ejection.

Indirect Free Kicks: The following infractions will result in an indirect free kick:

One player touching the ball twice in succession on the kickoff, throw in, corner kick, or goal kick (i.e., a player may not kick or throw to oneself).
Yellow or red card given to a player, coach, and/or spectator for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Obstruction, other than holding.
Goalkeeper kicking the ball across the midfield line.
Goalkeeper playing the ball with the hands when it is passed back by a teammate.
Unsportsmanlike conduct/Delay of game.
Dangerous play (e.g. bicycle kick, playing the ball while on the ground, high kicks, etc.). These calls are judgment calls and may not be protested.
**All free kicks (direct and indirect) will be taken from the spot of the foul. Exception: If the infraction (against attacking team) is within the defending team’s goal area (box), the kick shall be taken from the part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the offense was committed.
Red Card Violation: Player is ejected from the game and the team must play shorthanded for the remainder of the game.
Yellow Card Violation: Player must sit out for five (5) minutes. The team can substitute for that player. If a player receives a second yellow card, the individual will be ejected and their team must play shorthanded for the remainder of the game. Ejected players are subject to all IMS policies and procedures regarding ejected players.

Penalty Kicks

Penalty kicks are awarded for any infraction by the defending team within the penalty area that would normally be penalized by a direct free kick.

The penalty kick shall be taken at a distance of eight (8) yards from the goal line.
A penalty kick shall be taken only from the penalty mark. All players except for the kicker and opposing goalkeeper shall be outside the penalty area and at least ten (10) yards from the spot of the kick.

Interrupting a Penalty Kick

The NFHS rules state that once a player who is taking a penalty kick begins the approach toward the ball, movement may not be interrupted.
While the kicking player is approaching the ball, the player may NOT fake a kick, stop to hesitate and then proceed to kick the ball.
The ball is live after it either deflects off the post or off of the goalie’s hands, it can be played by any player from either team.
The kicker is NOT allowed to play the ball a second time, until it has been touched by another player (the kicker would have to wait for another player to touch the ball if it were to go untouched by the goalkeeper and deflect into play off the goal post).
As with the other situations addressed in this rule, failure to kick the ball as specified results in a re-kick.
*The goalkeeper must stand on the goal line until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper is allowed to move laterally but cannot come forward off the line until the ball is kicked.

Infringement
If there is an infringement during a penalty kick:

By the Defending Team:
- The kick is to be retaken if a goal has not resulted (the infringement is ignored if a goal is scored).
By the Attacking team (other than the player taking the kick):
- A re-kick is awarded if the ball enters the goal. If no goal is scored, play will stop and the defending team will receive an indirect kick from the spot of the foul.

Scoring

A goal is scored when the whole ball has passed over the goal line between the goal posts and between the crossbar and ground, providing the ball has not been intentionally thrown, carried or propelled, by hand or arm, or by a player of the attacking side.

Definitions

Direct Free Kick: A free kick from which a goal may be scored against an opponent without a second player touching the ball.
Indirect Free Kick (or spot kick): A free kick from which a goal may not be scored unless the ball is played or touched by another player of either team
Drop Ball: A method by which a dead ball becomes live. An official drops the ball to the ground between two (2) players from opposing teams. After the ball touches the ground it becomes live and may be played by anyone.
Penalty Kick: A kick awarded to a team because an opponent was charged with one of the major offenses, within the team’s own penalty area, which requires a direct free kick.
Throw-in: A method by which a dead ball becomes live. A player throws the ball using both hands with equal force (no spinning the ball). The ball must be delivered from behind over the head in one continuous movement, while BOTH feet are on the ground and on or behind the touch line. The player must be facing the field.
Touch Line: Longer boundary lines. The entire line is within the field of play.
Goal Kick: A goal kick shall be awarded to the defending team when the entire ball crosses the goal line, excluding that portion between the goal posts and under the cross bar, either in the air or on the ground, having last been touched by the attacking team. Players opposing the kicker must remain outside the penalty area until the ball has cleared the penalty area. If the kick does not clear the penalty area, the kick shall be repeated. The ball may be played by anyone except the person who kicked it initially.
Corner Kick: A corner kick shall be awarded to the attacking team when the entire ball passes over the goal line, excluding that portion between the goal posts and under the crossbar, either in the air or on the ground, having last been touched by the defending team. Players of the defending team must be at least 10 yards from the ball until it has been kicked (the ball must travel at least one full circumference or it results in a re-kick). The ball may be played by anyone except the person who kicked it initially. A corner kick is a direct kick.