Rules & Regulations (SOCCER)

RCEIAA WEST SOCCER TOURNAMENT RULES (2025)
Rules for Participation and Conduct for Tournament

EQUIPMENT

1. All students are required to have matching uniforms with a number. If teams have similar coloured shirts to their opponents, rock-paper-scissors by the team captains will determine which team wears the pinnies.

2. All players must wear shin pads. Cleats are strongly recommended (no metal or aluminum cleats).

3. All students must remove any jewelry and accessories (including wristbands).

4. Shorts or athletic pants may be worn. If a sweatshirt/hoodie is worn, the hood must be tucked into the athlete’s jersey.

5. Goalies are permitted to wear gloves and should have a shirt that distinguishes himself/herself from others on their team.

6. A standard size 5 soccer ball will be used for all games.

7. All games will take place on full-sized fields with a 12 ft x 24 ft net.

RULES

1. Out of bounds: Lines are marked on the field. If the entire ball goes out along the sidelines, a throw-in will result. If the entire ball goes out on the end lines, either a goal kick (when the offensive team kicks the ball out), or a corner kick (when the defensive team kicks the ball out) will result, depending on which team’s player touched the ball last. On goal kicks, the ball must travel out of the 18-yard box.

2. Throw-ins: Both feet must be on the ground when the ball is released. Both hands must release the ball at the same time. If a foul throw is called, the opposing team will be awarded a throw in from the same position.

3. Offside: If a player is in a position behind the last defender of the opposing team when a pass is kicked toward them, a free kick for an offside will result. If there are qualified linesmen, they will be responsible for calling offsides (likely in the semi-final and final). If there are no linesmen, offside calls are up to the referee’s discretion.

4. Goals: The entire ball must cross the goal line between the posts.

5. Free Kick: Opposing teams must step back ten yards from the spot of an awarded free kick, as measured by the referee.

6. In a case where the referee is unsure of what to call, they may restart play with a drop-ball (ball touches ground, and then may be controlled or kicked by a player).

7. Inappropriate language will be given a yellow card on the first offence. A second will result in dismissal.

FOULS AND INFRACTIONS

Fouls and infractions will result in either direct or indirect free kicks. A direct kick can travel directly into the net. An indirect free kick must be touched by at least 2 players on the team taking the free kick.

- Handball: If a player moves his/her hand in the direction of the ball, and comes in contact with the ball, a direct-free kick will be awarded. An intentional handball that takes away a scoring chance from the opposing team will result in a yellow card. An intentional handball that stops a goal will result in a goal and a yellow card.

- Fouls: If a player trips, kicks, slide tackles, or bumps another player, a foul will be awarded. If any of these fouls are committed with any intent to harm another player, a yellow card may be issued by the referee. If a second offence occurs, or if the incident is serious enough to warrant it, the referee may also issue a red card.

There will be no slide tackling permitted in the tournament.

- Obstruction: If a player blocks off the path of an opposing player intentionally, obstruction will be called, and an indirect free-kick will be awarded.

- Penalty Shots: Can be awarded if a player commits a foul or a handball in their own 18-yard box. Any player on the team awarded the penalty may take it. On the referee's whistle, the player will kick the ball from a spot identified (12 m out). The goalie must stay on his/her line until the player kicks the ball.

- Yellow and Red Cards: May be issued by the referee in cases of rough or unsporting behaviour. A yellow card acts as a warning to a player, whereas a red card results in the removal of the player from that game. This will result in disqualification from at least one additional game as well, and depending on the severity of the offence, a player receiving a red card may not be permitted to play for the rest of the tournament.

For Ontario Soccer Association rules and items of interest, please visit http://www.ontariosoccer.net/

GAME REGULATIONS

Coaches will be asked to provide a roster (player names, as well as numbers if available) before the tournament. Before the game, numbers or last-minute changes may be made. Team captains will be called to center field for the coin toss, with the winner deciding if they would like first ball or choice of end. The team captain is the only player permitted to seek clarity from the official (during an appropriate time).

PLAYERS: Each team will consist of 11 players on the field (including the goaltender).

SUBSTITUTIONS:

• can be made on your own team’s throw-ins, goal kicks or after a goal is scored. If one team calls for a substitution, both teams may do so. Referees will be encouraged to have all players substitute at mid-field to keep track of the number of players going on/off the field. Players must wait on the sidelines until the player they are replacing exits the field. Substitutions must be made in a timely manner to avoid delaying the game.

• In the case of injury, substitution is permissible at the referee’s discretion.

• A substitution for a yellow-carded player is compulsory. The yellow-carded player is the only player who may be replaced at that time and he/she may re-enter the game at a regular substitution period.

• If a player receives a red card he/she must leave the field for the remainder of that game (no substitution allowed). 

GAME LENGTH: Games will consist of two 14 minute halves with a 2 minute half time. Please vacate the field immediately after your game is finished to allow the next team 5 minutes for equipment check and a short goalie warm up if time allows.

POINTS:  Three points will be awarded for a win; two points for a tie; and one point for a loss.

TIES IN STANDINGS: 

• If two teams are tied in the standings, the following tie-breaking steps will be followed in order:

  • Round robin play between the teams, if applicable (winning team ranks higher)

  • Total goals allowed (fewest goals allowed ranks higher)

  • Goal differential (highest goal differential ranks higher)

  • Half-time score in the game between the two tied teams, if applicable (team winning at half ranks higher)

  • If the teams remain tied after all tie breakers, the winner of a coin toss will determine rankings.

TIE IN PLAYOFF GAMES: 

• If a game is tied at the end of regulation, there will be a 5-minute, sudden-winner tiebreak. 

• If still tied, games will move to a three-round shootout. Both teams select three players to shoot. These players alternate shooting. If still tied after three rounds, the next rounds become elimination rounds (if only one of the two shooters score, that team wins). The higher-seeded team may choose whether to shoot first or second. 

• If the shootout goes several rounds, all team members (including goalies) must shoot once before a player can shoot a second time.