Coaches Notes 

Division Breakdowns:

• Division 3A/B – teams will play two Round Robin games each within their Pool. 1st Place and 2nd Place teams in each Pool will play in a Gold Medal Game in divisions 3A and 3B respectively. 3rd Place teams will play in a Bronze Medal Game in Division 3B.

• Divisions 3C & 4C – teams will play three Round Robin games each and final placement determined will be awarded based on record within the division.

• Divisions 4A/B - teams will play two leveling games. After the two leveling games the top 4 teams will be placed in 4A, teams 5-8 will be placed in 4B. Teams will then play in a semi-final game and advance to either a Gold or Bronze Medal game in their respective divisions.

• Divisions 5A/B - teams will play two leveling games. After the two leveling games the top 4 teams will be placed in 5A, teams 5-8 will be placed in 5B. Teams will then play in a semi-final game and advance to either a Gold or Bronze Medal game in their respective divisions.

• Divisions 5C/D - teams will play two leveling games. After the two leveling games the top 4 teams will be placed in 5C, teams 5-8 will be placed in 5D. Teams will then play in a semi-final game and advance to either a Gold or Bronze Medal game in their respective divisions.

Duration of the game:

• All Leveling Games will be one 20-minute half with no halftime

• Division 3 and 4 Games - will play two 20 minutes halves with a 5-minute halftime.

• Division 5 Games – will play two 15 minutes halves with a 5-minute halftime.

• The clock is stopped only for injury time outs, determined by the referee.

• Overtime – will only be used in Semifinal and Medal Games.

1. If overtime is used to break a tie – two 5 minute “sudden death” overtime periods are used (first goal scored wins).  If the game is still tied, penalty kicks will be used to break the tie.

Rosters:

• • • • • Teams must start each game with a minimum of five players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper. All players listed on the game roster must play in that game.

        • A minimum of three players (including the goalkeeper) shall be on the field at any one time in case of injury or player misconduct.

        • Substitutions are unlimited in number (players may return to the field after being substituted).  Substitutions can be made anytime the ball is out-of-bounds, between periods, after a goal is scored, or during a time-out for an injury.  The coach must signal the referee or linesman in order to make a substitution.  A substituted player can only come on to the field when given a signal by the referee.

        • Goalkeepers must wear a jersey or top that is of a different color than that of the rest of the team.

        • Hats are not allowed, with the exception of goalkeepers who desire to block the sun from their view, or athletes who need to wear a hat for medical or sun allergy reasons.  It is recommended that the hat either have a Special Olympics logo, or no logo.

Ball in and out of play:

• The ball must be completely over the line to be considered out of play.

• A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in/throw-in.

• A goalkeeper may not pick up a ball passed back to him from kick-in/throw-in

• Infringement penalties:

a)  If the player taking the kick-in plays the ball for a second time before it has been touched by another player, an indirect free-kick is awarded to the opposing team from any point on the halfway line.

• Kick In

1. The ball must be stationary before being kicked 

2. It shall be deemed in play immediately after it has traveled the distance of its own circumference

3. The ball cannot be played again by the kicker until it has been touched by another player.  

4. The players from the opposing team must retire at least 5m from the spot where the kick is being taken.

• Throw-In

1. The thrower must face the field of play, have part of each foot either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline, use both hands and deliver the ball from behind and over his/her head

2. The ball cannot be played again by the thrower until it has been touched by another player

3. The players from the opposing team must retire at least 5m from the spot where the throw is being taken.

• Goal Clearance

1. All goal clearances must be thrown, and may not exceed the half-way line (without first having touch the ground or another player). The ball shall be deemed in play as soon as it is passes outside the penalty area.

2.  Infringement penalties:

a)  If the ball thrown by the goalkeeper passes beyond the half-way line without first having been touched by a player or without having touched the ground, an indirect free-kick shall be awarded for the opposing team from any point on the half-way line.

b) From the goalkeeper’s throw, if the ball is touched by an opposing player inside the penalty area, the throw shall be retaken.

• Headers: Headers (using the head to direct the ball) are allowed in all levels and may be used to direct a ball towards the goal for a score.

• Corner-Kick: Awarded to the attacking team when a player from the defending team kicks the ball over his/her own end-line.  Opposing players must retire at least 5m from the ball.

• Free-Kick - Opposing players must retire at least 5m from the ball for all free-kicks.

• Direct-Kick- Goal may be scored directly against the opposing team without the ball having first touches another player

•  In-Direct-Kick- Ball must be passed before an attempt on goal

• Re-start exception - Any free-kick that is awarded to the defending team inside their own penalty area will be restarted with a throw from the goalkeeper.

Method of scoring:  The whole of the ball must have completely crossed the line inside the goal to count as a goal.

Fouls and misconducts: 

• With the exception of no off-sides:  slide tackling, tripping, pushing, handball, or charging result in a direct free-kick.  Obstruction or dangerous play results in an indirect.

• If a player is expelled from the game (receives two yellow cards or one red card), this player may not re-enter the game.  His/her team must play a player down for 2-minutes unless a goal is scored before the two minutes have elapsed.  In this case the following shall apply:

1. If there are five players against four players and the team with the larger number scores a goal, the team with four players may be completed.

2. If both teams are playing with four players and a goal is scored, both teams may be completed.

3. If there are five players playing against three, or four against three, and the team with the larger number scores a goal, the team with the three players may be increased by one more player only.

4. If both teams are playing with three players and a goal is scored, both teams may add one more player.

5.  If the team scoring the goal is the one with fewer players, the game shall continue without changing the number of players.

a)  Keeping check of the 2-minutes shall be the task of the Timer or Referee.

b) The player who enters the game as a substitute after two minutes may only do so with the consent of the referee and when the ball is out of bounds.

Red/Yellow Cards:

• Yellow cards will be accumulated throughout the competition, i.e., Leveling Games, Division Games, Round Robin Play, and Medal Rounds.  When an athlete receives a 2nd yellow card, he/she will be suspended from playing the current game and the next scheduled game.

• Athletes receiving a red card will be suspended from playing the current game and the next scheduled game. 

• If a team coach is ejected from the game by the official, it will be considered a red card.  The coach will not be allowed to coach the remainder of the current game and will be suspended from coaching the next scheduled game. 

Other Notes

1.  Coaches shall remain within the designated coaches’ area (their own team bench) while the game is in progress.  Coaches, as well as spectators associated with the team are not allowed to coach from the goal lines, or from the opposing team’s bench area, or from the opposite sidelines.

2.   Slide-tackling is NOT allowed at any level.

3.  Coaches should meet with officials prior to games to insure there are no questions regarding rules, substitution procedures and sideline conduct, and ask if there is anything the official should be aware of about individual players.

4.  Wristbands provided in Team Packets must be worn all day.

5.  ISC will take place at 12:00pm on Field 9

6. Team awards will be distributed at the end of division play, or as soon as placement is able to be determined.  All athletes will receive either a medal or ribbon.

7. Meals (for registered coaches, athletes and volunteers only) – One Coach can turn in the Lunch Pass included in your Team Packet once you are ready, we will be delivering lunches to you. Lunch will be served from 11:00am – 2:00pm.

8. Parking –There will be parking throughout the complex, there will be other events throughout the complex. We will be using POD A.

9.   Igloos and Cups will be provided at each field.

10. No Pets Allowed, unless it is a service animal that is clearly marked. This will be enforced, it is a rule of the complex also.

11. Smoking is only permitted off-site, outside of the parking lot.