Soccer Rules 

REVISED: Dec, 12 2024

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Welcome to the Coptic Soccer Tournament! Please carefully review the following rules and guidelines before registering your team.


Registration

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- All teams must pay the registration fee and complete the form prior to the tournament.

- Each team MUST be accompanied by a church servant who will sign up and come to the day with them.

- Each church that has more than 1 team, there MUST be a servant per team. 


Team Requirements

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- Age groups are determined based on the school year as of this NEW SCHOOL YEAR 2024-2025.

- A player can ONLY represent ONE church in ONLY ONE age group 

-A player can combine with other churches.

- Each church can have TWO teams in the following:

  - Middle School/High School (combined)

  - College/Adults (combined)

- The game is played with 7 players, including the goalie, playing at once. A maximum of 5 subs.

- The ideal number of players is 7. A minimum of 6 players is needed to start a game. If a team has fewer than 6 players, it will result in a forfeit.

- Rosters may only have a maximum of 12 players. 

- Any Proof of age is needed: Passports, ID cards, School grade is fine.


Equipment

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- Each player should wear the appropriate footwear (Indoor soccer shoes/cleats).

- Shin guards are strongly recommended.

- Goalies may use their own equipment (gloves).

- Baseball caps are not allowed to be worn during gameplay.

- Jewelry, chains, rings, or earrings that could interfere (officials/coordinators' opinion) may NOT be worn.

- Teams should wear their registered shirt color only. 


Format

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Adult's Division


Boys's Division


Girl's Division



Playing Time

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- Normal Games will be 15 minutes long, running time. The clock will stop only at the Officials' discretion.

- Overtime for semi-finals & finals: 20 minutes long and 5 minutes of overtime will be used and if still tied, then 3 penalties.

- Substitutions: Teams can sub during dead-play situations. All subs must inform officials before entering the game. An unlimited number of subs are allowed.


Rules of Play

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- The game shall begin with a kickoff at the center circle (the ball can be kicked forward or backward). The defense must stand outside the circle, no closer than 4 yards.

- Kickoffs will be used to start a half and after each goal scored.

- The ball is out of bounds when it goes out of the playing area or it goes off opposing team player.

- When the ball is dead at the sideline, the ball is put into play by the opposing team player by KICKING into play where it went out of bounds. Defense must stand 4 yards away.

- A corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team when the player puts the ball out of bounds at their end line. The defense must stand 4 yards away.

- A goal kick will be awarded to the team when the ball is put out of bounds at either end line by the opposing team player.

- All standard soccer penalties will be enforced: tripping, handball, interference, or bodily contact; results in a direct kick.

- Direct or indirect kicks will be played from the spot where the offense was made.

- Body Checking will be allowed. If harsh depending on the ref, the penalty for Checking is a Direct Kick and the player will receive yellow card.

- Any fouls in the goal area shall result in a penalty kick.

- A Yellow card will be given to players committing harsh tackles, curse words. Two yellow cards will result in ejection from the game with a red card.

- A Yellow card means the player will sit out for two minutes. 

- If a player is on the floor, they may not interfere with the play.

- Slide Tackling is not allowed.

- The offside rule will not exist in the games.

- Good Christian conduct and sportsmanship are expected from all players. Any player failing to oblige will result in IMMEDIATE ejection from the competition.