Equipment

There will be no jewelry, hard casts, or any other hard protruding pieces on your body. Athletic attire must be worn and sneakers that do not scuff must be worn.

You must present a VALID Worcester State OneCard to be eligible

General Participant Play

Participants are not allowed to play in a manner that is potentially dangerous or reckless. Safety for all our participants is our number one priority. Any action(s) that is deemed dangerous and/or reckless by the game's official or the Intramural Sport Supervisor will result in either an unsportsmanlike penalty or an ejection depending on the severity of the action. Players should consider this rule their warning not to play in a dangerous or reckless manner.

Game Play:

1.  The game consists of two (2) fifteen (15) minute halves. The clock will only be stopped for penalty kicks, injuries, and time-outs, or at a referee’s or supervisor’s discretion. Each team is allowed one (1) timeout per half lasting one (1) minute. Time-outs can be called during any dead ball situation, not including free kicks, or if a team’s goalie gets possession of the ball. The supervisor has the authority to shorten any game due to time restraints or any other reason.

2.  To start the game, a player can kick the ball in any direction to put it into play

3.   After any dead ball situation, the team has a five (5) count to put the ball into play with a kick-in; this includes corner kicks, goal kicks, and any time the ball enters the goalie area. Kick-ins are indirect kicks and must touch another player before the kicker may play the ball again. Corner kicks are direct kicks.

4.  The half and the game will end with the buzzer. The last two minutes of the second half will have stopped time for out of bounds, penalties and at the officials’ discretion.

5.   Games tied during playoffs will go to a golden goal five (5) minute overtime period, followed by a shootout; games may be tied during the regular season.

The Field

1.  The game will be played inside the lines of the basketball court

2.  The goalie box will be the entire inside of the Three Point Arc. The goalie may use their hands only in this area. All other players may enter the area but cannot make contact with the goalie at any time.

Player Rules

1.  Players:

• Teams consist of five (5) players, including one (1) goalie. In order for the game to be official, there must be at least four players present per team.

• If at any time there are more than five (5) players on the field the offending team's captain will receive a yellow card.

2.   Substitutions:

• Substitutions may be made during any stoppage of play, except for free kicks, or anytime the substituting team’s goalkeeper gains possession of the ball. Substitutions may only be made on possession stoppages; if the team with possession chooses to sub the opposing team may do so as well. Play will then be started with an indirect free kick.

• Substitutions must remain in the designated area until signaled in by the official.

• Substitutions must notify the official before entering play.

• Failure to comply with the above rules will result in a yellow card to the captain of the offending team.

• Within the final minute of the 2nd half, there will be no substitutions.

3. Fouls:

• THERE IS NO SLIDING!!! The minimum penalty for sliding is a yellow card.

•. A player receiving a yellow card receives an automatic substitution for a minimum of 2 minutes.

Yellow card fouls include, but are not limited to the following:

            • Entering or leaving the field of play without the permission of an official

            • Objecting by word of mouth or action to any decision of an official (dissent)

            • Delay of game (including refusing to yield 3 yards on a free kick)

            • Holding a shirt, shorts, etc.

            • Deliberate handball to stop an attack

            • Deliberate tactical foul

            • Sliding

            • Unsportsmanlike conduct

A player receiving a red card is disqualified, and the team must play shorthanded for the remainder of the game.

Red card fouls include, but are not limited to the following:

            • Taunting, violet conduct, insulting, offensive or abusive language

            • A second yellow card

            • Exhibiting violent conduct

            • Spitting at another person

            • Moving the net in an attempt to stop a goal from scoring

            • Deliberate handball in the goalie area to prevent a goal.

4. Kicks:

• • Indirect Kick
    • Charging
    • Obstructing a player
    • Dangerous play
  • Direct kick
    • Contacting the goalie
    • Intentionally kicking or striking an opponent
    • Tripping opponents
    • Deliberately handle, carry or strike the ball with a hand or arm.
    • Holding or pushing an opponent with the hands or arms extended from the body.

5. Goalies and the Goalie Area

·         The goalie area is inside the three point arc

·         The goalie may use his/her hands in the goalie area. Once the goalie has the ball in their hands, the must play it out in 5 seconds and may not pick it up after they place it on the ground.

·         The goalie may only roll the ball out underhanded, or play it as a field player. The penalty for this infraction is an indirect free kick awarded to the opposing team

·         Any offensive indirect free kick awarded inside the goalie area will be taken from the midfield line.

6. Out of Bounds

·         Ceiling and rafters, bench area, scorer’s table, or any other foreign object that is not part of the playing surface.

·         Balls touching the ceiling or rafters will be restarted by the opposing team at the nearest point on the court.

·         All other out of bounds will be restarted at the closest point by the opposing team.

Advantage is a discretionary judgment that allows an official to permit play to continue rather than stopping play to call a foul. This would be used if calling the foul would take away a favorable situation for the team that did not commit the foul.

8. Penalty/Shootout Kicks:

·         All penalty kicks will be taken from the top of the three point line with one approach step allowed

·         All players on the field must each take one shot before repeating the order.

·         Penalty kicks are dead ball situations; rebounds are considered unplayable.

·         Players not shooting must remain behind the far green volleyball endline.

9. Deliberate Delay of Game

·         Teams may not deliberately waste time or delay the game. Doing so is strictly prohibited.

·         If a team does so, they will be warned, and then the captain will subsequently issued a yellow card if the infraction continues.

10.Mercy Rule

If a team is up by 5 goals with 5 minutes remaining in the game, the game will be considered over.

Overtime

Games during the regular season may end in a tie. A five minute, golden goal overtime period shall be played if necessary in playoffs. If the extended period is still tied, there will be a shootout, best of 3 goals with players who were on the court. If after 3 attempts the shootout is tied, it will become a golden goal shootout using remaining players on the court then extending to bench players. There will be no substitutions during overtime.