3 V 3 SOCCER TOURNAMENT RULES:

Games will be played with regular indoor rules with any exceptions listed below.

Roster: Every team has to hand or register online a roster with all the players and their date of birth.

Number of players per team: A team can carry a maximum of 5 players – three field players and 2 substitutes.  Teams are allowed to register less than 5 players if they choose (A team must have a minimum of 2 field players).  Players may only play on one team per age group.

Game Duration: The games are 20 minutes running clock.  Flip of the coin will start possession. 

Tie Games:  Games cannot end with a tie game.  If a game is tied after 20 minutes of play, there will be a sudden death 2 minute 2 v 2 format with a flip of the coin determining the possession again.  No substitutions are permitted in sudden death unless an injury occurs.  If the game is still tied after this 2 minute sudden death then another 2 minute sudden death will occur with a 1 v 1 format.  Flip of the coin again will determine possession.  This 1 v 1 format will continue until there is a winner.

Substitutions:   May be done on the fly except for overtime.

Kick Offs/Kick-ins/Direct and Indirect Kicks/Goal Kicks/Penalty Kicks:

Kick Offs: May be kicked in any direction.  You cannot score from a kick off (ball must be 100% over the mid-line to be considered on the offensive half of the field).  The kick-off is an indirect kick.

Direct and Indirect Kicks:   All dead ball kicks (kick-ins, kick-offs, free kicks) are indirect with the exception of corner kicks, hand balls, and penalty kicks.  Indirect kicks must only change position before the ball will be considered in play.  If a free kick is awarded within five yards of the opposing goal box, the ball will be moved back to five yards from the box.  It is a referee’s discretion where the ball will be placed. 

Goal Kicks: May be taken from any point of the end line.  All goal kicks are indirect kicks. 

Penalty Kicks: Shall be awarded if, in the referee’s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by an infraction (the infraction does not automatically result in a red card).  Penalty kicks are DIRECT kicks taken from the center of the mid-line with all players (on both teams) behind the mid-line.  Penalty kicks are dead ball infractions.  If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick. 

Five Yard Rule:  In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball.  If the defensive player’s goal is closer than five yards, the ball shall be played five yards from the goal box in line with the direction of play prior to the penalty. 

NO HEADING:  Heading is not permitted at any level.  Any player that heads the ball will be given a foul at the point of contact and the opposing team will receive an indirect kick from that point.

Goal Scoring:   A goal may only be scored from a touch (offensive or defensive) within the team’s offensive half of the field.  The ball must be completely on the offensive half of the field and cannot be touching the mid-line.  If a player in their defensive half kicks the ball across the midline and the ball hits another player (offensive or defensive) in their offensive half, and the ball goes in the goal, a goal will be awarded.  If a ball is kicked from the defensive half and not touched before going in the goal, a goal kick will be awarded to the defensive team.  A goal cannot be scored from an indirect kick.

Goal Keepers/Off Sides/Slide Tackling:  There are no goalkeepers in 3 v 3 soccer and no off sides.  Slide tackling is not permitted and a free kick will be awarded if it occurs. 

Hand Ball Clarification:  Deliberate handling of the ball that denies a team of an obvious goal scoring opportunity will result in the following: 1) penalty kick (at the discretion of the referee) 2) a yellow or red card given to the player committing the hand ball (at the discretion of the referee).

Plane of the Goal:  A goal will be awarded if the ball strikes the netting portion of the goal. 

Delay of Games:  The referee has the official time on the field and holds the right to take necessary action if he/she feels that a team is delaying the game.  Any player may be cautioned with a yellow card if it is deemed by the official that the player is intentionally wasting time. 

Time outs:  Each team will be given a 30 second time (clock stoppage) during the regular game time.  This will not be allowed in overtime situations.

Game time:  Teams must be ready to play at their scheduled game time.

Champions:  Champions will be awarded championship shirts and have their team picture taken.