Men’s 11v11 Summer Soccer Rules
Updated 5/15/2017

Genesee Fieldhouse Adult Soccer Leagues intend to follow the rules set forth by the USSF (FIFA), with the following stipulations.

A. Registering Your Team

1. As the Team Captain, this is your organization and you are responsible for this team and its conduct. You will be the contact person for all phone calls, schedules, and rules situations. As the main person, you will need to register the team either online, in person or over the phone.
2. A team is considered registered once all contact information is received, registration form signed, as well as a deposit is paid.
3. A Credit/Debit Card is required at the time of registration to be held on file. If a team does not have a Credit/Debit Card to be put on file the team will need at minimum 50% of the total team fee paid at the time of registration.
4. This is a team fee, and thus every team member is responsible for the team total. If you do not want your credit card that is securely filed with us to be charged, pay the team balance in its entirety prior to the 2nd game. If your team is not paid, you will be removed from the schedule and/or a $50.00 late fee will be added if payment options have been discussed with GFH personnel regarding your team’s balance.
5. Rosters, with photo identification will be required for each player participating on your team. If you are playing at an outdoor venue we will take a picture of each player’s identification to complete the roster process. Genesee Fieldhouse will be developing the rosters based on this photo identification. Random referee checks of the roster will be conducted throughout the season.

B. Eligibility (The following rules have been brought to our attention and we want to make sure that all rosters are properly managed.)

1. Prior to taking the field, all players must completely fill out and sign the Team Waiver/Roster Form and provide photo identification. A player is assigned to your team once this process is completed and said player is unable to participate on any other team within the same division. A player must turn 27 years old to qualify for the 27+ league by turning 27 within the calendar year and for the Men’s Open league a player must turn 18 years old prior to the first scheduled contest. If a player doesn’t have a photo ID at their first game, this player will not be allowed to participate until photo identification is provided – please pass this along to your team members. Men’s 27+ League teams are allowed to have two player’s that are 25 – 27 years old, again this person must be age appropriate during the calendar year ending December 31st. A player can participate if his/her age is not of age prior to the first scheduled contest, but does turn 27 during the current calendar year. If during the league session (in regards to Men’s 27+ teams) your younger aged player is no longer participating, you can add a younger player to fill that spot, but there is a $25.00 transaction fee and the player that is no longer participating cannot return to your team unless you remove the newly added player and the $25.00 transaction fee is paid for the re-activated player.

2. Divisioning: There may be two divisions in 11 v 11 Men’s Summer Soccer League(s). An age appropriate player can play on two teams if he decides. However, this player cannot play on two teams within the same division. A rostered player competing for two teams within the same division will cause both teams to forfeit any and all games this player participated in. At this point after all forfeits are given, GFH, will speak with each team captain to render a decision on which team this player is rostered or this player will no longer be able to participate for any team playing in the league. Do not ask for the forfeits to be overturned. We are not the ones that broke the rules.

3. Maximum Roster Limit is 22 players and rosters are final at the beginning of the 6th game for Men’s 27+ teams and at the beginning of the 6th game for Men’s 18+ teams. If your team has injuries, players may be added to your roster for an additional $25.00 transaction fee per player (if the roster is at its maximum), to be paid before they take the field and subject to league administrator approval and the player having completed the team’s waiver/roster form and photo ID process. No players may be added once play-offs begin regardless of the team roster situation. If at any time during the season you, as the Team Captain, decide you would like to add a player to your roster and it is at the maximum roster amount, you will need to remove a player, and pay the $25.00 transaction fee. The player that is on injured reserve/inactive list will not be allowed to go play for another team. No transaction fee needed if your roster is under 22 players. 
Roster Example: Your team registers at the Maximum Roster Limit of 22 players, and after the 1st game one of your players is injured. Your team now has 21 functional players, but your roster is still at its maximum of 22. You can add a player for the injured party for a transaction fee of $25.00. The injured player can rejoin your team for a $25.00 transaction fee and take the roster spot of someone else on your team. Regardless, you can only have 22 players on your roster at the time of the game. If you want to use a player just for one game, that player will have to pay the $25.00 transaction fee, and when his/her time is completed, you can rotate another player into that spot for an additional $25.00 transaction fee to get your roster up to the maximum allowable roster limit. Ie, this rule is written to protect you, the Team Captain. Usually the previous scenario happens due to players deciding not to show up, however, once signed on your team roster, they are assigned to your team for the whole session.

C. Game Day Procedures  

1. Referees must be paid before the start of the game. If the referees are not paid, the game will be forfeited and the team's charge card on file will be charged $40
($35 referee charge and $5 service charge)   

2. Referees will identify the team captain for each team prior to the start of the game(s). Teams will use opposite touch lines for their bench area and will switch ends/direction at halftime.

3. A team that has at least 7 rostered players will be considered a full team and the game will begin at the scheduled time. If a team has less than 7 players, the referees are allowed to delay the game by 5 minutes past the listed game start time, at which point the clock must begin.

4. Forfeits If additional players have not shown up, the team that has less than 7 players will forfeit the game 1-0. Officials must be paid or the team's charge card on file will be charged $40 ($35 referee charge and $5 service charge) 
Forfeited games will not be made up.

D. General Gameplay Rules and Amendments

1. Standard FIFA rules will apply (except as amended herein). Summer games are scheduled as two, 40 minute halves with up to five minute half time.

2. All teams must have like colored jerseys/shirts with a number to play. The team listed first is the home team and will be responsible for an alternate colored shirt when the two teams have like colored jerseys (ref’s decision is final).

3. While the wearing of shin guards will not be enforced, it is strongly recommended.

4. Slide tackling is not allowed. Any player that slide tackles will cause that team to lose possession of the ball. If the slide tackle is deemed to be dangerous the player will receive at minimum a yellow card with the possibility of the player receiving a red card based on the ref’s interpretation of the foul.  The keeper will be exempt from this rule ONLY if the slide is to make a save on the ball. A field player can slide to save a ball from going out of bounds only if there is clear intent and no opposing player is within a 3 yard radius of this action. “Cleats up” is unacceptable from all players.

5. Unlimited substitution on the fly from the half line (where the ref can see) is permitted. In cases of multiple substitutions, the referees have the right to stop play to verify proper substitution numbers.

E. Facility Rules

1. Any player or spectator that consumes alcohol before an athletic activity will not be allowed to play or enter the dome or be in the outdoor “competition area” as determined by a referee or league administrator. Smoking is not allowed inside the facility. Also, be aware that alcohol, smoking, and other items may be prohibited at some or all of the outside venues rented for use by the league. Facility rules at other venues are beyond the control of Genesee Fieldhouse, and must be observed by all of us.

2. Players and teams that play in these leagues are held liable for any damage to any and all field equipment, whether at the facility or at an outdoor location. Pass the information along, that if one of your players hangs from a goal and breaks the equipment, your team will be financially responsible for replacing, fixing, repairing and/or purchasing the damaged equipment.

3. Genesee Fieldhouse League Administrators, referee’s and any affiliates reserve the right to stop, cancel or forfeit a game due to the actions on the field. We will not tolerate abusive language, physical threats, nor confrontation regarding a call or outcome of a game.

F. Field Conditions and Inclement Weather

1. Outdoor Games Genesee Fieldhouse contracts for the use of outdoor fields. Please make us aware of any field condition problems so that we can address them with the field coordinators. Referees will make the determination as to if a game cannot be played due to safety concerns with the field. A game canceled due to dangerous field conditions will be rescheduled.

• Inclement weather policy – A game MUST be stopped in the event of lightning, thunder, tornado warning, or similar extreme or dangerous weather conditions. In the event of lightning, the game cannot be resumed until there is no lightning for at least 30 consecutive minutes. A tornado warning will result in the immediate suspension of play. In both instances, players and their spectators must leave the field and competition area and seek shelter in a safe location. Failure to leave is expressly prohibited, and is not the responsibility of Genesee Fieldhouse, the referees, or any affiliate of Genesee Fieldhouse.
• In the event that a game is suspended due to inclement weather, and the first half has been completed, the game will be considered complete and the score will be recorded in the standings as is when the game is stopped. Any game suspended before the completion of the first half will be rescheduled.

2. Indoor Games Any ball played at Genesee Fieldhouse that touches the netting or the top of the dome above the field of play, will result in loss of possession by the team last touching the ball at the closest point on the field as determined by game referees, but always outside and to the side of the penalty box, and if a free kick is awarded, it will be indirect.

D. Cards and Suspensions

1. There is zero tolerance on fighting and foul language. ANYONE FIGHTING WILL BE KICKED OUF OF THE LEAGUE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON. The expelled player may not be allowed to return to play in future Genesee Fieldhouse leagues. Any participant or spectator that fights will be required to leave the premises. If the violator does not leave, the team he is supporting will have to forfeit and face the possibility of being removed from the schedule. These decisions will be final. Any abusive/foul language used toward Genesee Fieldhouse Administrators or referees will follow the same policy procedures.  The refs and/or a Genesee Fieldhouse representative have the right to end a game early due to fighting, abusive behavior, unsporting and dangerous play.  If it is necessary to end a playoff game early, one or both teams will be disqualified from the playoffs. A game may be considered complete with less than 80 minutes of game play for these reasons or any reason outlined within these rules.

2. Card Procedures

• Any yellow card given will result in that player having to sit out for a full 5 minutes. The team will play down until the 5 minutes are up or the opposing team scores, whichever occurs first. However, the player that received the yellow card must sit out for the full 5 minutes. Genesee Fieldhouse will track yellow cards throughout the session. Any player that receives a 3rd yellow card across the session will result in a one game suspension for the next scheduled game, no exceptions. Any additional yellow cards in the same session will result in another game suspension for each yellow, with a review by the league administrator starting with the fourth yellow, and all subsequent yellow cards, regarding additional sanctions up to and including suspension from the league. Yellow card tallies will NOT be reset for play-off games, they will carry over.
• Any red card given to a player will result in that player’s immediate removal from the game and the competition area. The team will have to play down a player for the remainder of the game for any red card given. Each red card will be discussed with the referees only, for a decision to be rendered. Once a decision is made it will be final.
  
  
• The offending player(s) name(s) must be accurately provided to the referee by you, the Team Captain. Failure to do so will result in game forfeiture and team expulsion from the league.
  
  
• Suspension information will be sent to you, the Team Captain. Suspended players are allowed to attend any game(s) for which they are suspended, but cannot play. Any problems, distractions, or issues that occur involving a suspended player will cause their team to forfeit and the player to receive additional sanctions. If a suspended or red carded player refuses to leave, a ref can stop play for up to 2 minutes to allow you to get the offending player to leave the competition area. (Note: stoppage time may be added to the clock at the referee’s discretion at the end of regulation time, for this countdown, injuries, etc; in accordance with FIFA rules – Law #7). If the suspended player does not leave the competition area by the time the 2 minutes expire, then the game is forfeited, and the player will not be allowed to participate in any future games for the remainder of the season and the team may be removed from the schedule.  The referee will only deal with you, the Team Captain for any questions/calls. Any player that confronts a referee in an argumentative/angry fashion will receive a red card. This player will be required to sit for a minimum of the next two scheduled contests. All of your team members need to understand that the refs are there to call the game. Any physical confrontation by a player with a referee or Genesee Fieldhouse League Administrator will cause that player to be banned from participating in any future league games for the rest of the whole season, including playoffs. The team will forfeit the rest of their games. The team can play, but the score of each contest will be recorded as a 1-0 forfeit loss. It is not the referee’s responsibility to control the actions of your team members. 
  
  
• If one of your team members is required to sit out a game or multiple games, these suspensions are not chosen by you of when a player must sit. The player is suspended for the next game or games listed on the schedule. 

J. Injuries and Emergencies

1. For any major injury please use a cell phone to call for proper medical attention. Genesee Fieldhouse is not responsible for any injuries that may occur during a sporting event. Teams should keep a first aid kit on hand for any games played outside. Genesee Fieldhouse will not be responsible for supplying first aid products at the outdoor venue.

2. Any injury must be reported to us in detail the day of the occurrence so that an accurate incident report may be written.

E. Summer League Playoffs and Champion Awards

1. The regular league schedule is used to determine the playoff seedings. Teams will receive three points for a win and one point for a tie. The league champions will be determined in the playoffs. A situation may arise in which league games are scheduled where a team plays against a team from the other age division. Only games played against teams in the same age division will apply toward determining a team’s (if that division is to have playoffs) playoff seed and the regular season team champion. If there are at least 4 teams in each age division, then there will be independent playoff schedules for both divisions. In this case, the summer league playoff champion of both divisions will win the age appropriate league trophy and a $100 team voucher good toward any Genesee Fieldhouse winter men’s league session. The regular season team champion will also receive a $100 team voucher good for any winter men’s league session. If there is a tie for the regular season team championship, the following tie breakers will be used:

• Head to head competition
• Least goals allowed
• Largest positive goal differential
• Most goals scored
• Coin Toss

2. If there are 3 teams or less in a division, then that division will not have playoffs and there will not be a voucher awarded. If scheduling allows, they will receive an extra league game and/or a mini playoff. The team with the best league record will be declared the champion with three teams or less.

K. Men’s Summer Soccer League Playoff Tie Breaker Rules

In the event of a tie score in a playoff game at the end of regulation play, the following resolution will be used:

1. The two teams will play up to an additional 10 minutes under “golden goal” rules. If either team scores a valid goal as determined by the referees, the game will be over and the scoring team is the winner.

2. If after the ten minute extra period the score remains tied, then the standard five (different) man shootout will be used. If the score is still tied, a sudden death shoot out will be used. Each team will choose 1 player to shoot, and this will be considered a “round”. As many rounds as needed will be used until one team makes and the other team misses. During sudden death, a different player will shoot in each round until all players (goalie on field may be exempt) have been used.

THESE RULES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED! Genesee Fieldhouse reserves the right to add or change rules at any point during the season if it is determined to be in the best interests of the league. In the event of a rules change, this information will be provided to all team captains and will be posted on our web-site www.geneseefieldhouse.com