Rules & pROCEDURES

Informed Consent Agreement

Each player must sign and submit the informed consent agreement prior to competing. A player found to engage in competition prior to submitting the agreement will forfeit any points gained for the team and will be deemed ineligible to compete for the remainder of the tournament.

Team and Player Registration

Each team must register a minimum of 8 players and maximum of 10 players.

Players can play on as many teams as they wish but not on teams in the same division. For example, you cannot play in Men’s 35+ for two teams. Players must pay the registration fee for each team they register.

Players can be added to your roster after registering your team no later than May 18, 2019. Email Davd (davidb@nipissingu.ca) to make any changes.

Registration and Procedures

A team roster must be submitted online from the Soccer 7's website no later than May 11, 2019.

Equipment

• Absolutely no jewelry will be permitted on the field of play. Players will kindly remove all jewelry before they enter the field of play. A player that refuses to remove a piece of jewelry will not be eligible to play. It is the responsibility of the team coach/manager to enforce this FIFA regulation.
• All players must wear shin guards.
• Only flat soled indoor, turf shoes, or multi studded outdoors shoes may be worn by players on the turf. Six studded outdoor shoes are allowed.
• A team must have matching colour uniforms or T-shirts for each player. Jersey numbers are not required but should be considered.
• In the event that two teams have similar coloured uniforms, it is up to the home team to provide for an alternate strip. Pinnies will be available for the home team to use if required.
• The goalkeeper must wear a shirt distinct (i.e., different colour) from that of his/her own team, as well as the opposing team's uniforms.
• Game balls will be provided for each game.
• Any player wearing a wrist or arm cast will not be allowed to play because of the chance of injuring another player or aggravating his/her own injury. Knee braces are only permitted if they are well wrapped and the mechanics of the hinges pose no visible threat to the safety of others.

Game Scoring

Win = 3 points Tie = 1 point Loss = 0 points

In the event of a tie in the final standings, the following tiebreaker rules shall apply:

1. Head to Head competition
2. Most Wins
3. Goal Differential
4. Most Goals Scored
5. A coin toss

If more than two teams are tied, Head to Head rules do not apply. The following tiebreaker rules shall apply:

1. Most Wins
2. Goal Differential
3. Most Goals Scored
4. A coin toss

A game that is forfeited will count as a 3-0 win for the non-forfeiting team.

Playoffs

All playoff games (i.e., Quarters, Semi-finals and Finals) that end in a draw will be decided by penalty kicks. Each team will take 3 shots, one (1) shooter at a time. The team that scores the most goals from their 3 shots wins the game. If the score is tied after each team has taken 3 shots, sudden death penalty shots will begin. The game concludes when one team scores and the other team does not.

Players do not have to be on the field at the end of regulation to take a penalty kick. Each Player on a team must take a penalty kick (including the goalie) before a player can take his/her second penalty kick. If the game is still tied after all players have taken one shot, the teams will once again shoot penalties in the same order.

Discipline

It is the expectation of Soccer 7's that all participants play within the rules of competition and exercise Fair Play in their actions on and off the field of play. Our goal is to provide a fun and safe experience for all participants while enjoying friendly and healthy competition. Soccer 7's will tolerate absolutely no competitor and referee violence or abuse.

Yellow Cards

Any player receiving two yellow cards in a single game will miss the duration of that game and their team shall play shorthanded. The player in violation will miss the next game played by that player’s team.

Any player receiving 2 yellow cards during the course of the tournament will receive a one game suspension commencing the next game played by that player's team.

Any player receiving a 3rd yellow card after returning from the one-game suspension will be suspended from competition for the remainder of the tournament.

Red Cards

All dismissals will be considered by Soccer7s committee at the conclusion of the game in which the red card was received.

A player who is ejected with a red card will leave the field of play and the facility and his team shall play shorthanded.

A player who receives a red card will not be permitted to play for the remainder of the tournament.

Tournament Rules

1. Duration of Games: 1 x 40 minute halves. Teams must be ready to play exactly at the scheduled game time. Any team more than 5 minutes late automatically forfeits that game.
2. Number of Players: Games are 7 v 7 (including goalkeepers) on half field. Teams must have a minimum of 5 players (including goalkeepers) on the full field to start the game. Minimum 2 female players on the field at all times (Coed). A 5-minute formal warm-up time is allotted.
3. Ball out of Bounds: Instead of throw-ins, players will play "kick-ins" from out of bounds. All opposing players must be a minimum of 5 yards from the ball. Ball out of bounds at either goal line will result in either a goal kick or corner kick. Goalkeepers are not permitted to pick up "kick-ins." Kick-ins are indirect.
4. Offside: There will be no offsides.
5. Goal: All field players may score from anywhere on the field of play with the following exception: A goal cannot be scored directly from a restart from an indirect kick or kick-in. Goalkeepers cannot score by throwing the ball directly into the net.
6. Free Kicks: All restarts are Indirect (ball must be touched by two players before a goal can be scored) with the exception of a penalty kick. Opposing players must be a minimum of 5 yards from the ball in foul situations. Outstretched legs into the 5 yard area are considered encroachment.
7. Goal-Kick: A goal can be scored from a goal kick.
8. Penalty-Kick: A penalty kick will be awarded for a field player (not the goalkeeper) handling the ball, tripping an opponent, and any other infraction of the Laws that would result in the award of a direct free-kick inside the penalty area (based on FIFA Laws). All Players from both teams must stand 5 yards from the ball before the ball is kicked.
9. Corner-Kick: Corner-kicks are played on all fields. Corner-kicks are direct. All defending players must be 5 yards from the ball.
10. Kick-Off: Will be awarded to the opposing team after every goal is scored and to start each half of the game. All opposing players must be 5 yards from the ball.
11. Pass-Back: Regular pass-back rules to the keeper are in effect. If a goalkeeper picks up a ball passed from his/her own team, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the point in the penalty area where the GK touched the ball with his/her hands. If the goalkeeper touches the ball near the goal line, the Referee will place the ball 5 yards from the goal line for an indirect free kick. Goalkeepers are not permitted to pick up "kick-ins."
12. Substitutions: Substitutions are unlimited and may take place at any time including "on the fly" in all divisions. However, players must substitute along the same touchline, on the same half of the field where their team bench area is located.
13. The use of offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards the Referee, any Player, team officials or spectators will result in a sending off and/or expulsion from the complex.
14. FIGHTING: Players that fight will be dismissed from the tournament. If teams brawl then both teams irrespective of who started the melee will be dismissed from the tournament. Team fees will not be returned.

All team reps must make their players aware of the RULES.