Teams are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled kick off ê¬
mes. Teams failing to appear for their designated fi
The Soccer Lot League Rules: Page
Rule
Rule 1: Constitutional Procedures………………………………………Page 2 Rule 2: Players…………………………………………………………………….Page 2 Rule 3: Player Equipment……………………………………………………Page 4 Rule 4: The Ball……………………………………………………………………Page 5 Rule 5: Field Of Play……………………………………………………………Page 5 Rule 6: Duration Of The Match……………………………………………Page 6 Rule 7: The Referee.……………………………………………………………Page 6 Rule 8: Start And Restart Of Play………………………………………Page 7 Rule 9: In and Out Of Play…………………………………………………Page 8 Rule 10: Method Of Scoring………………………………………………Page 9 Rule 11: Fouls And Misconducts…………………………………………Page 9 Rule 12: Free Kicks……………………………………………………………Page 12 Rule 13: Penalty Kick…………………………………………………………Page 13 Rule 14: Kick‐in…………………………………………………………………Page 14 Rule 15: Goal Kick……………………………………………………………Page 15 Rule 16: Kicks from the Penalty Mark……………………………Page 16 Last updated: 05/20/2016
Rule 1: Constitutional Procedures Teams will be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 for a ꬅe, and 0 for a loss. In the last week of league play, teams may face off in a playoff round to determine the champions. Teams are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled kick off ꬅmes. Teams failing to appear for their designated fixture or not giving noꬅce the day before of cancellaꬅon, will have the match awarded to their opponents 5 – 0, will be deducted 3 points and, for repeated absence, may be ejected from the league. In the event that a team refuses to complete a match which has already started, the match will be awarded to the other team 5 ‐ 0 and the team refusing to complete the match will be deducted 3 points. If the score at the ꬅme produces a goal difference greater than 5‐0 then that score will stand. All matches are to be played unless adverse weather creates hazardous condiꬅons. Any decision to cancel a match can only be made by The Soccer Lot management. If a match(es) are cancelled due to weather condiꬅons, every a縂ꬅempt will be made to reschedule. An abandoned match will be given every a縂ꬅempt to be reschedule by The Soccer Lot officials.
Rule 2: Players Number of Players A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than five players, one of whom must be recognized as the ‘goalkeeper.’ The rest are considered ‘field players.’ A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than four players. In coed league matches, each team must field two female players at all times, or play down a player if they are unable to field one of their required female players. Players’ Box: Only substitute players and coaches are permitted to be in the players’ box. Spectators are not permitted to enter or remain in the players’ box during the course of a match. Coaches can be expelled from the players’ box. Players who have received a red card are to leave both the field and players’ box. Players and coaches are never to enter the opposing team’s players’ box. Substitutions Each team may have substitute players for substitutions of field players. 2
There is no limit to substitutions made. Substitutions for field players may occur at any time of a match, during play or at a stoppage of play. Play does not stop or will not remained stopped for substitutions to occur except for at the discretion of the referee. Only players declared on the team’s roster or as guest players may be used as substitute players Substitution Procedure The substitution procedure in all matches requires the field player to first leave the field of play before the substitute player may enter the field. The substitution is complete when the substitute player enters the field of play. From that moment the substitute becomes a field player and the field player becomes a substitute. Changing Of Goalkeeper Any of the other players or substitutes may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that: ● the referee is informed before the change is made ● the change is made during a stoppage in the play or match Infringements and Sanctions If a substitute enters the field of play without the referee’s permission: ● the referee stops play (although not immediately if the substitute or substituted player does not interfere with play) ● the referee may use discretion to blue card him/her for unsporting behavior and orders him to leave the field of play ● if the referee has stopped play, it is restarted with an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the position of the ball at the time of the stoppage If a player changes places with the goalkeeper without the referee’s permission before the change is made: ● the referee allows play to continue ● the referee may use discretion to blue card one or both of the players concerned for unsporting behavior when the ball is next out of play In the event of any other infringements of this Law: ● the players concerned are blue carded ● the match is restarted with an indirect free kick, to be taken by a player of the opposing team from the position of the ball at the time of the stoppage Guest Players
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Each team may declare up to 2 guest players to act as players or substitutes. A team using guest players may not exceed a total team size of 7 and may not exceed a total team size greater than their opposing team. Guest players may be persons registered to another team, a person previously registered, or a person who has been approved by a representative for The Soccer Lot by signing a waiver and registering. Players And Substitutes Red Carded Field players, goalkeepers and substitute players can be shown a blue card or red card. If a substitute player is shown a blue or red card a field player must appropriately leave the field of play to accommodate for the sanction. A player who has been shown a blue or red card before the kickoff may be replaced by a substitute. A player or substitute who has been shown a red card, either before the kickoff or after play has started, may not return to the field of play and is to leave the players’ box.
Rule 3: Player Equipment Safety A player may not use equipment or wear anything deemed dangerous by the referee. Basic Equipment The basic compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items: ● a jersey or shirt if visible undergarments are worn, the color of the sleeves must not be the same or similar color to the opposing team ● shorts or pants ● socks ● athletic shoes or turf shoes if the match is played on natural surface, cleats may be worn, but not in any other case Shinguards ● Shinguards are optional but highly suggested ● are covered entirely by stockings or socks ● are made of rubber, plastic or a similar suitable material ● provide a reasonable degree of protection Colors ● The two teams must wear colors that distinguish them from the other team and the referee. 4
Infringements and Sanctions In the event of any infringement of this rule: ● play need not be stopped ● the player at fault is instructed by the referee to leave the field of play to correct his/her equipment ● the player leaves the field of play when the ball next ceases to be in play, unless he has already corrected his equipment ● any player required to leave the field of play to correct his/her equipment must not reenter without the referee’s permission ● the referee checks that the player’s equipment is correct before allowing him to reenter the field of play Restart Of Play If play is stopped for an infraction of this rule: ● the match is restarted by an indirect free kick taken by a player of the opposing team, from the place where the ball was located when the referee stopped the match
Rule 4: The Ball All nonyouth matches will be played with size five FIFA International Matchball Standard balls Matches played on hard surfaces may be played with Futsal balls Matches will be played only with balls approved of and supplied by The Soccer Lot
Rule 5: Field Of Play Field Surface Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces, including hard surfaces. Field Markings The field will be rectangular with outer boundaries marked by walls, and inner boundaries marked with lines. These lines belong to the areas of which they are the boundaries. Nets extend up from the walls and connect to a top net representing a vertical boundary. If there are no top boundary nets to mark the vertical boundary height, the vertical boundary will be determined as 6 feet above the ground. The dimensions of the field are 90 ft. (30 yds) in length, 50 ft. (16.6 yds) in width. The two larger outer boundaries are called the sideboards and side boundary nets. The two shorter outer boundaries are called the backboards and back boundary nets. 5
The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line, which joins the midpoints of the two sideboards. The centre mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of 7 ft. (2.3 yds) is marked around it. Goal Area The goal area is marked by two lines, starting at 22 ft (7.3 yds) apart at a right angle. A third line is marked 9 ft. (3 yds) from the goal line to connect the parallel lines with rounded corners.
Penalty Mark A penalty mark is indicated at 20 ft. (6.6 yds) from the centre of each goal line by a dot, line or X. Head Height In the event of no vertical boundary net, the vertical boundary is 6 feet above the ground. The ball must pass above this boundary in its entirety to be considered outside the field of play.
Rule 6: Duration Of The Match Periods of play The Soccer Lot League matches lasts four equal periods of ten minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the ref and two teams, or at the discretion of the league officials. Each period is over when the scoreboard buzzer sounds after time has expired, or if no automated buzzer is available, the referee will whistle to indicate the end. If both teams are tied on goals scored when time expires in the fourth period, an additional period of five minutes may be played. The first team to score in this additional period wins the match. Between Period Intervals Players are entitled to an interval between periods to get water, or other replenishing drinks. The duration of intervals may be altered at the discretion of league officials, but may not exceed five minutes. Penalty Kick If a penalty kick is to be taken or retaken when time for a period expires, the duration of the period will be extended until the penalty kick is completed.
Rule 7: The Referee 6
Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce The Soccer Lot League Rules in connection with the match he/she has been appointed. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with the match, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match are final. The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect, provided that he/she has not restarted play or ended the match. The referee may allow play to continue when a foul or infraction has occurred but not affected play to either team’s advantage, to help maintain a better flow of the match. The Referee: ● enforces The Soccer Lot League Rules ● controls the match ● ensures that the players’ equipment meets the requirements of Rule 3 ● ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Rule 4 ● acts as official timekeeper and keeps a record of the match ● stops, suspends or abandons the match, at his discretion, for any infringements of the Rules ● stops, suspends or abandons the match because of outside interference of any kind ● stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is injured ● allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in his opinion, only slightly injured ● ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play. The player may only return on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been cleaned ● allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time ● punishes the more serious offence when a player commits more than one offence at the same time ● takes disciplinary action against players guilty of blue card and red card offences. He/she is not obliged to take this action immediately but must do so when the ball next goes out of play
Rule 8: Start And Restart Of Play Kickoff A kickoff is a method of starting or restarting play ● at the start of the match ● after a goal has been scored ● at the start of each period 7
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at the start of each period of extra time where applicable
A goal can be directly scored from a kickoff. Procedure Before a kickoff at the start of the match or extra time ● a coin is tossed and the team that wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first period of the match. ● the other team takes the kickoff to start the match. ● the team that wins the toss takes the kickoff to start the second period of the match. ● for each period of the match, the teams change ends and attack the opposite goals. Kickoff ● after a team scores a goal, a kickoff is taken by the other team ● all players must be in their own half of the field of play ● the opponents of the team taking the kickoff must be at least 7 ft. (2.3 yds) from the ball until it is in play ● the ball must be stationary on the centre mark ● the referee gives a signal ● the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves ● the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player Infringements and Sanctions If the player taking the kickoff touches the ball again before it has touched another player: ● an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team to be taken from the position of the ball when the infringement occurred In the event of any other infringement of the kickoff procedure: ● the kickoff is retaken Drop Ball A drop ball is a method of restarting play when, while the ball is still in play, the referee stops play temporarily for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in The Soccer Lot League Rules. Procedure The referee drops the ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the ball on the penalty mark. The ball is in play when it touches the ground. Infringements/Sanctions The ball is dropped again: ● if it is touched by a player before it makes contact with the ground 8
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if the ball leaves the field of play after it makes contact with the ground, without a player touching it.
If a dropped ball is kicked directly into the goal, a goal kick is awarded for the defending team.
Rule 9: In and Out Of Play Ball Out Of Play The ball is out of play when: ● it has wholly crossed the goal line, whether on the ground or in the air ● touches any of the boundary nets, or passes over the height of 6 feet off the ground if no net represents the vertical boundary ● leaves the field of play over the backboards or sideboards without touching the boundary nets ● play has been stopped by the referee Ball In Play The ball is in play at all other times, after the appropriate starts or restarts of play, including when: ● it rebounds off a goalpost, crossbar, backboard or sideboard and remains in the field of play ● it rebounds off the referee when he/she is on the field of play
Rule 10: Method Of Scoring Goal Scored A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and below the crossbar, provided no infringement of The Soccer Lot League Rules has been committed prior to the goal being scored in the play by the scoring team. Winning Team The team scoring the greater number of goals during the match is the winner. If both teams have an equal number of goals scored, an extra period of five minutes may be played. The first team to score in this period will be winning team of the match. If no goals are scored in this period, the match is drawn. Competition Rules When competition rules require there be a winning team after a draw, Kicks from the Penalty Mark will be taken to determine the winning team.
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Rule 11: Fouls And Misconducts Direct Free Kick A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following nine offenses in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force: ● kicks or attempts to kick an opponent ● trips or attempts to trip an opponent ● jumps at an opponent ● charges an opponent ● strikes or attempts to strike an opponent ● pushes an opponent ● tackles an opponent ● performs a slidetackle, or leaves their feet to make a play on the ball ● forces an opponent into the backboards or sideboards A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if the player commits any of the following four offenses: ● holds an opponent ● spits at an opponent ● handles the ball deliberately, except for the goalkeeper within his/her own goal area ● uses their head to play the ball deliberately, except for the goalkeeper within his/her own goal area A direct free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred. (see Rule 12 Position of free kick) Penalty Kick A penalty kick is awarded to the opposing team if any of the following four offences are committed: ● goalkeeper plays the ball outside their own goal area ● defender plays the ball inside their own goal area ● defender enters their own goal area and is involved in active play ● a defender commits any foul to deliberately deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity for the opposing team Indirect Free Kick An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the goalkeeper, within his/her own goal area, commits any of the following fouls: ● maintains control of the ball for more than five seconds before releasing it from his/her possession 10
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the goalkeeper, after having received the ball from a deliberate pass from a teammate, controls the ball and returns it back to the player who originally passed to the keeper, before any other player has touched the ball
An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referee, a player: ● plays in a dangerous manner, or in a way which prevents opponents from playing safely ● impedes the progress of an opponent ● prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his/her hands ● uses his/her arm(s) against the boundary walls to sustain position or block an opponent ● commits any other offense not previously mentioned in Rule 11, for which play is stopped to blue card or red card a player An indirect free kick is taken from the place the offense occurred. (see Rule 12 Position of free kick) Disciplinary Sanctions The blue card is used to communicate that a player or substitute player has been cautioned. The red card is used to communicate that a player or substitute player has been sent off. Only a player or substitute player may be shown a blue card or red card. The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions towards any players or substitute player that has entered the technical area or field of play, from the moment the referee enters the field of play until he/she leaves the field of play after the final whistle. A player who commits a blue card or red card offense, either on or off the field of play, whether directed towards an opponent, a teammate, the referee or any other person, is disciplined according to the nature of the offence committed. Blue Card Offenses A player is cautioned and shown the blue card if he/she commits any of the following six offenses: ● denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick ● unsporting behavior ● dissent by word or action ● persistent infringement of The Soccer Lot League Rules ● delaying the restart of play ● failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted ● entering the field of play without proper substitution procedure, or without the referee's permission 11
A substitute player is cautioned and shown the blue card if he/she commits any of the following three offenses: ● unsporting behavior ● dissent by word or action ● delaying the restart of play A player or substitute who has been given a penalty and blue carded must leave the field of play to their players’ box and remain off for a duration of two minutes, beginning when play is next restarted, or until the opposing team next scores a goal. The team of a blue carded player cannot replace the player during the duration of the penalty. The team of a blue carded substitute must send a player to the technical area who cannot be replaced for the penalty’s duration. Red Card Offenses A player or substitute is sent off and shown a red card if he commits any of the following seven offenses: ● serious foul play ● violent conduct ● spitting at an opponent or any other person ● using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures ● receiving a second blue card in the same match. A player or substitute who has been sentoff and red carded must leave both the field of play and the players’ box, and cannot return to the either for the rest of the match. The player cannot be replaced on the field for a duration of three minutes, beginning when play is next restarted. The team of a red carded substitute must send a player to the technical area who cannot be replaced for the penalty’s duration.
Rule 12: Free Kicks Types Of Free Kicks Free kicks are either direct or indirect. Direct Free Kick Ball Enters the Goal ● If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded ● If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, placed on the nearest penalty mark Indirect Free Kick Signal 12
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the referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his/her arm above the his/her head. He/she maintains the arm in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.
Ball Enters the Goal ● A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal ● If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded to the opposing team ● In an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, placed on the penalty mark Free Kick Procedure For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
Position of Free Kick For both direct and indirect free kicks, ● the kick is taken from where the infraction occurred, or in the case of the infraction taking place in the opposing goal area the ball will be placed on the penalty mark nearest to where the infraction occurred ● all opposing players must be 2 yards from ball ● the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken ● the ball is in play after it is kicked and moved Infringements and Sanctions If, when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance, the kick is retaken. If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team
Rule 13: Penalty Kick A penalty kick is awarded against the team which commits one of the three offenses for which a penalty kick is awarded, pertaining to their own goal area and while the ball is in play. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of each period or at the end of periods of extra time. Position Of The Ball And The Players The ball: 13
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must be placed on the penalty mark
The player taking the kick: ● must be properly identified ● must complete the kick with a single, uninterrupted motion The defending goalkeeper: ● must remain touching his/her goal line, facing the kicker, until the ball has been kicked The players other than the kicker must be located: ● inside of field of play ● behind the penalty mark ● at least 2 yards from the penalty mark Procedure ● After the players have taken positions in accordance with Rule 13, the referee signals for the penalty kick to be taken ● The player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward ● He must not play the ball again until it has touched another player ● The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward The referee decides when a penalty kick has been completed. Infringements and Sanctions If the referee gives the signal for a penalty kick to be taken and, before the ball is in play, one of the following occurs: The player taking the penalty kick infringes The Soccer Lot League Rules: ● the referee allows the kick to be taken ● if the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken ● if the ball does not enter the goal, the referee stops play and the match is restarted with an indirect free kick to the defending team, from the place where the infringement occurred. The goalkeeper infringes The Soccer Lot League Rules: ● the referee allows the kick to be taken ● if the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded ● if the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is retaken. A teammate of the player taking the kick infringes The Soccer Lot League Rules: ● the referee allows the kick to be taken ● if the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken 14
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if the ball does not enter the goal, the referee stops play and the match is restarted with an indirect free kick to the defending team, from the place where the infringement occurred.
A teammate of the goalkeeper infringes The Soccer Lot League Rules: ● the referee allows the kick to be taken ● if the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded ● if the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is retaken. A player of both the defending team and the attacking team infringe The Soccer Lot League Rules: ● the kick is retaken If, after the penalty has been kicked: The kicker touches the ball again (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: ● an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred The kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player: ● a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred
Rule 14: Kick‐in A kickin is a method of restarting play. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kickin. A kickin is awarded to the opposing team of the player who last touched the ball when the ball touches the top, or side boundary nets, or if the ball crosses over the backboards and sideboards without touching any of the boundary nets. A kickin is also awarded to opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball passes over the height of 6 feet off the ground if no net represents the vertical boundary. If the last player to touch the ball was a goalkeeper in the act of making a save from a deliberate kick from an opponent, a goal kick for that same keeper will take place instead.
Position of Kick‐in A kickin is taken from the point nearest on the ground from where the ball touched the top or side boundary nets or left the field of play without a goal being scored. 15
If the ball hits the boundary nets, or leaves the field of play from a position over the goal area, it will be placed on the nearest penalty mark for the kickin. Procedure All opponents must stand no less than 2 yards from the point at which the kickin is taken. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves in any direction. After the ball is kicked and moved, the kicker cannot touch the ball again until it has touched another player. Infringements/Sanctions If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball again (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: ● an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred If, after the ball is in play, the kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player: ● a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred
Rule 15: Goal Kick A goal kick is a method of restarting play. A goal cannot be scored directly off a goal kick. A goal kick is awarded when the entirety of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air or touches any back boundary nets, having last touched a field player of the attacking team, and a goal has not been scored. If the last player to touch the ball when it hits any of the boundary nets was a goalkeeper in the act of making a save from a deliberate kick from an opponent, a goal kick will be awarded to the same goalkeeper. Procedure ● The ball is kicked or thrown from any point within the goal area by the goalkeeper of the defending team ● The ball is in play when it’s kicked or thrown from the goal area directly into the field of play Infringements and Sanctions For any infringement of this rule: 16
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the kick is retaken
Rule 16: Kicks from the Penalty Mark Procedure ● The referee chooses the goal at which the kicks will be taken ● The referee tosses a coin and the team whose captain wins the toss decides whether to take the first or the second kick ● The referee keeps a record of the kicks being taken ● Subject to the conditions explained below, both teams take five kicks ● The kicks are taken alternately by the teams ● If, before both teams have taken five kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could score, even if it were to complete its five kicks, no more kicks are taken ● If, after both teams have taken five kicks, both have scored the same number of goals, or have not scored any goals, kicks continue to be taken in the same order until one team has scored a goal more than the other from the same number of kicks ● A goalkeeper who is injured while kicks are being taken from the penalty mark and is unable to continue as goalkeeper may be replaced by a substitute ● Only players who played during the match are eligible to take kicks, or goalkeeper ● The decided eligible players to take kicks for each team must be equal in number ● Each kick is taken by a different player and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick ● An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper at any time when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken ● Only the eligible players and match officials are permitted to remain on the field of play when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken ● All players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain on the opposite half of the field ● The goalkeeper who is the teammate of the kicker must remain on the field of play, behind the penalty mark from which the kick is being taken, and in the same half of the field from which the kick is being taken
Proposed Rules or Changes: The following rules or changes are only considerations for rules or changes. Normal league play will not be played with any following proposed rules or changes, unless otherwise agreed upon by both teams. Pick up may be used to test any consideration for new rules or changes. All rules or changes that are to be proposed will be done so following the set structure of titling the rule or change, stating what the rule or change is, why it would be considered an improvement and it’s potential drawbacks, and what existing rules the new rule or change would affect. 17
Conservative Penalty Kicks: Penalty kicks would no longer be awarded for goalkeepers playing the ball outside the area or for defenders playing the ball inside the area, and instead an indirect free kick would be awarded to the opposing team. With this change, we would also want a more liberal use of the existing rule of awarding a penalty kick to the opposing team of a player who denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity by means of a foul. Both of the previously mentioned fouls could be considered for a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity in certain circumstances, and a penalty kick would be awarded. This change would see a more forgiving environment to new players. Currently, committing either of the two fouls results in a penalty kick regardless of the context, and both are easily done especially if a player is unfamiliar with the rules. This change would be a vast improvement to fun, fairness and player safety, being that penalty kicks are somewhat dangerous in nature. The negative aspect of this change would be the addition of decisions a ref would need to make in a game, and the nature of the decisions would need to be of personal discretion. Discretionary rules should usually be avoided if possible, being that they are an area of potentially poor consistency from one referee to the next. Rules affected by this change would be Rule 11: Fouls and Misconducts, § Penalty Kick, Rule 11: Fouls and Misconducts, § Indirect Free Kick. Direct Free Kick A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following eight offenses in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force: ● kicks or attempts to kick an opponent ● trips or attempts to trip an opponent ● jumps at an opponent ● charges an opponent ● strikes or attempts to strike an opponent ● pushes an opponent ● tackles an opponent ● forces an opponent into the backboards or sideboards A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if the player commits any of the following eight offenses: ● handles the ball deliberately using their arms, except for the goalkeeper within his/her own goal area ● Handles the ball deliberately using their head, except for the goalkeeper within his/her own goal area 18
● ● ● ● ● ●
performs a slidetackle, or leaves their feet to make a play on the ball holds an opponent spits at an opponent as the goalkeeper, touches the ball outside his/her own goal area plays or touches the ball inside either goal area, excluding the goalkeeper within their own goal area enters either goal area and becomes involved in active play, excluding the goalkeeper within their own goal area
A direct free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred. (see Rule 12 Position of free kick) Penalty Kick A penalty kick may be awarded when a player commits any offence that would otherwise be punishable by a direct free kick, if when the offence occurs it denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opposing player For a play to be considered an obvious goal scoring opportunity, these four qualifying elements must be considered: ● The number of defenders no defending players are between the attacker and the goal area, or the attacker and the ball, other than the player committing the offence ● Distance to goal the attacker must be in the attacking half of the field ● Distance to ball the attacker must have been close enough to contest for the ball ● Direction of play the attacker must have been moving towards the goal at the time the foul was committed
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