2017
DSG Health Club
SSC Soccer League Rules
General Information
1. The league will begin the week of May 29th and will run until August 18th (12 weeks). This includes
playoffs and a make-up week.
2. Games will be scheduled Monday-Thursday at 5:30PM
3. REGISTRATION: Registration will run from May 1st – May 19th.
4. There will be a captain’s meeting on Wednesday, May 24th @ 10:30AM to review all rules and
guidelines and discuss any questions. ALL team captains (or 1 representative) from every team MUST
be present. ALL league fees will be due at the time of the captain’s meeting.
5. Registration may be of a single individual or by team. Teams are encouraged to be formed within
departments. Please avoid “stacking” of teams as this is a co-ed, recreational soccer league. Again,
teams should make every effort to maintain their team to departments.
6. There is a $5 registration fee per participant. Registration fee, by check only, must be submitted by
May 26th to the Health Club front desk. Checks should be made payable to DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Captains are required to submit registration fees for his/her entire team. Only in the case of an
individual registrant being assigned to a team will a ($5) registration fee be accepted.
*ALL participants must be a member of the DSG Health Club in order to participate. Nonmembers must complete the application process prior to the start of the league if they wish to
participate
7. Team captains will be responsible for relaying information to their teams. The league coordinator will
email team captains with any information regarding the league and the captains will be responsible for
relaying the information to his/her team.
8. Winning team captain MUST report the score by the end of the day Monday in an email to the league
coordinator. If there is no score reported, the team that did not report the score will receive a forfeit loss
for the game in question (the other team associated will receive a regular loss). There will not be any
lenience to this rule.
9.
The league will be split into 2 “seasons”: *this will be discussed during the captain’s meeting
a. All games scheduled within the seasons’ dates MUST be completed by the end of the season’s
make-up week (weather permitting). If a team is unable to play during the regularly
scheduled date/time or within the same season as the scheduled game, that team must
take a forfeit loss. There will not be any lenience to this rule.
b. Any reschedules during the week MUST be communicated to the league coordinator prior to the
game being rescheduled and/or played.
10. We will utilize the DICK’S Sporting Goods soccer field located above the parking lot in front of the
building.
11. Please keep playing area litter free!
12. Teams must return the soccer balls to the front desk of the HEALTH CLUB.
13. For questions, contact the Health Club at 724-273-3276 or email rachael.callen@dcsg.com
Rosters
1. A maximum of 9 teams for the league.
2. Roster maximum is 16 players. Roster minimum is 11 players.
3. Each team will field at least 2 women at ALL times
Equipment
1. The DSG Health Club will provide soccer balls that will be utilized for the league. If necessary, mesh
jerseys (pinnies) will be provided.
3. No metal cleats! Only soft bottom cleats are to be used and shin guards are required.
a. Mouthpieces are strongly recommended to prevent injury.
DO NOT WEAR GAME SHOES INSIDE THE BUILDING!
Game
1. A regulation game will consist of two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime.
a. There are NO timeouts. Clock will stop only for goals, penalty shots, and injuries.
b. During the regular season, games may end in a tie. If a tie were to occur it will be recorded as a
“half win” and a “half loss” to both teams
2. Teams must have 5 players to start a game.
3. Teams will each have 7 players and 1 goalie on the field at a time.
4. Teams will be given a 10-minute grace period to assemble a complete team. If a team is not ready to
play after the grace period, they will be required to forfeit the game.
5. Games will be self-officiated. Captains will decide final ruling of any disputed calls.
6. Game will begin with a coin toss to determine who kicks-off. Winner of the coin toss will kick off and be
deemed the Home Team. Loser of the coin toss is deemed Visitors.
7. Teams forfeiting more than 2 games will not be eligible for playoffs regardless of overall record.
a. A forfeit score of 0-1 will be added to the schedule in the event of a forfeit.
8. The Health Club Team reserves the right to postpone/cancel any event due to inclement weather.
Inclement weather includes, but is not limited to rain, lightning, etc. In the event of inclement weather
and therefore a game cancellation, the Health Club Team on duty will contact the Team Captains
scheduled to play that day to cancel the game. If you do not hear from the Health Club Team, the
game is to be played as scheduled. There will be one week designated for makeup games prior to
playoffs.
Rules
1. Offside Rule is in effect.
2. Throw-in:
a. A throw-in is taken to put the ball back into play after it has passed completely over a touch line,
either on the ground or in the air. How Taken: The thrower, at the moment of delivering the ball,
shall face the field of play and part of each foot shall be either on the touch line or the ground
outside the touch line. The thrower shall use both hands equally and shall deliver the ball from
behind and over his or her head. The throw-in shall be taken from the point where it crossed the
touch line, being thrown in any direction by a player of the team opposite to that of the player
who last touched the ball. The ball shall be in play from the throw as soon as it enters the field of
3.
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play. A goal may not be scored directly from a throw-in. The thrower shall not play the ball a
second time before it has been touched by another player.
Goal Kick:
a. A goal kick is taken by a member of the defending team when the ball passes completely over
the goal line (except when a goal is scored), either in the air or on the ground, having last been
touched by a member of the attacking team. How Taken: The ball is placed on the ground at
any point within the goal area and is kicked directly into the field of play beyond the penalty
area, or the kick shall be retaken. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick. Players of the
team opposing that of the player taking the goal kick shall remain outside the penalty area until
the ball goes over the penalty-area line after the kick has been taken, or the kick shall be
retaken. The goalkeeper shall not receive the ball into his or her hands from a goal kick in order
that he or she may thereafter kick it into play. The goalkeeper cannot pick up the ball and kick it
— the ball must be placed on the ground and kicked from there. The kicker may not play the ball
a second time after it has passed beyond the penalty area and before it has touched another
player.
Corner Kick:
a. A corner kick is taken by a member of the attacking team when the ball passes completely over
the goal line (except when a goal is scored), either in the air or on the ground, having last been
played by a member of the defending team. How Taken: A member of the attacking team shall
take a kick from within the quarter circle at the nearest corner flag post, which shall not be
removed. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick. Players of the defending team shall
not approach within 10 yards of the ball until the ball is in play, that is, has been touched or
traveled forward, or the kick shall be retaken. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time
after the ball is in play until it has been touched by another player. If the ball hits the goal post
and rebounds toward the kicker, that player still shall not play the ball until it has been touched
by another player
Free Kicks: A free kick is taken to resume play after play has been stopped for any Major or Minor
Fouls (see Fouls and Misconduct). The kick is taken by a member of the team against which the
offense is committed and is taken from the point where the infraction occurred, unless otherwise
specified in the rules.
Direct Free Kick:
a. A direct free kick is one from which a goal can be scored directly from the kick against the
offending team.
Indirect Free Kick:
a. An indirect free kick is one from which a goal cannot be scored unless the ball has been
touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through the goal. How Taken: When
a free kick is being taken, no player of the opposite team shall encroach within 10 yards of the
ball until it is in play, unless the player is standing on his or her goal line, between the goal
posts. The kick shall be retaken if a player is within 10 yards of the ball and intentionally
interferes with the kick. If a player tries to slow the game by standing or moving closer than 10
yards from the ball, the player shall be cautioned. If the individual repeats the infraction, that
player may be ejected from the game. As soon as the ball is in position to be played, the kicker
shall give a signal, which may be a hand in the air. The ball may be kicked in any direction. The
ball shall be stationary when the kick is taken and is not in play until it has been played or
touched. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by
another player.
8. Penalty Kicks:
a. A penalty kick is awarded for any infringement of the rules by the defending team within the
penalty area that is penalized by a direct free kick. The ball must be in play when the
infringement is committed in order for a penalty kick to be awarded. A penalty kick may be
awarded irrespective of the location of the ball if the violation by the defending team is
committed within the penalty area. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. A penalty
kick is not awarded for offenses that call for an indirect free kick, regardless of where or by
whom the offense is committed. How Taken: The penalty kick is taken after the kicker gives a
hand in the air as a signal he/she is ready to kick. Only those players on the field at the time the
penalty kick is awarded may take the penalty kick. When it is being taken, all players (except for
the kicker and the opposing goalkeeper) shall be within the field of play, but outside the penalty
area and at least 10 yards from and behind the penalty line or spot. The opposing goalkeeper,
who shall remain on the goal line facing the kicker, between the goal posts, is permitted to move
laterally (i.e., from side to side) but shall not step or lunge forward until the ball is kicked. The
player taking the kick shall kick the ball forward in order for it to be in play. If the ball is not put
into play properly, the kick shall be retaken. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until
it has been touched by another player. If the ball hits the goal posts or the crossbar and
rebounds into play, the kicker still shall not play the ball until it has been touched by another
player.
Substitutions
1. Free substitutions rules apply
2. Substitutions will be made on any stoppage of play (i.e. throw-ins, goal kicks, corner kicks)
Fouls and Misconduct
1. THIS IS A NONCONTACT SPORT. Slide tackling is not permitted – a yellow card and direct free kick
shall result.
2. Major Fouls will result in a direct kick.
a. Slide tackling, kicking, tripping, jumping at, charging at, striking, holding, pushing, and
intentional hand ball.
3. Minor fouls will result in an indirect kick
a. playing in a dangerous manner, intentional obstruction, Unsportsmanlike conduct and
unintentional hand balls
4. Yellow Card (Caution)
a. Yellow cards will result from any of the following:
i. Unsporting behavior
ii. Showing dissent by word or action
iii. Persistently infringing the rules of the game
iv. Delaying the restart of play
v. Failing to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free
kick
b. Any player receiving two yellow cards in a game will result in an automatic ejection and
suspension for the next game.
5. Red Card (Sending off)
a. Red cards will result from any of the following:
i. Serious foul play
ii. Violent conduct
iii. Spitting at an opponent or any other person
iv. Denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately
handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within their own penalty area).
v. Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the
player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick.
vi. Using offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
vii. Receiving a second caution in the same match
b. Any player receiving a red card in a game will result in an automatic ejection and suspension for
the next game.
6. Goalkeeper
a. Goalkeeper fouls will result in an indirect kick.
i. A goalkeeper takes more than six seconds inside their own penalty box while controlling
the ball with their hands before releasing it from their possession.
ii. Goalkeepers are not allowed to play the ball with their hands when the ball is served
back to them by foot or throw-in from their teammates.
b. A goalkeeper can play the ball with their hands when the ball is served back to them via header
from a teammate.
League Standings and Divisions
1. To determine a team’s rank in the regular season standings, teams will be seeded in the following
manner:
a. Overall winning percentage
b. Head-to-Head record
c. Most average points scored
d. Lowest average points allowed
e. Coin toss
2. Teams forfeiting 2 or more games will not be eligible for the playoffs (regardless of the team’s record)
3. Top 6 teams will advance to the single elimination playoffs