SF Spikes

The same rules of play apply for indoor soccer as they do for outdoor, with the differences listed below. If there are any rules changes, they will be highlighted in red.
 
Offsides
There aren’t any.
 
3 Line Rule
It’s simple. You can’t kick from the defensive zone to the offense zone without the ball touching something (wall, any player, referee, ground) in the middle zone. 3 line violations result in an indirect free kick from anywhere on the green zone line of the defensive third of the team assessed the violation. The ball is considered in a zone when it has full crossed the first green line. 
 
Field of Play
Out of Bounds - See Ball In and Out of Play below.
Kick-In Line - The basketball court’s out of bounds black line.
Penalty Box - The black 3 point arc of the basketball court.
Goal - The blue pad on wall behind basket hoop. Anything that touches it is a goal. This includes the space extending below the bottom of the pads. 
 
Ball In and Out of Play
A ball out of play is when it touches any space or object that is not within the field of play including:

1. Anything above the blue wall
2. The railing of the bleachers
3. The seating section of the bleachers
4. The space in the corner exits or the objects in that space
5. Any objects hanging from the ceiling or wall including the basketball hoops, chains, backboards and framing
6. A bench player that is awaiting sub or penalty time
7. Non players who enter the pitch (excluding the referee)

 
Restarting Play
When a ball goes out of play over the side line off a player, it is restarted from the kick-in line by the opposing team. All kick-ins are indirect free kicks at the point where the ball goes out of play.
 
To restart play when a ball goes out of bounds off the offending team over a defending team's goal line, the defending team takes a goal kick from within the red arc at the bottom of the basketball key. If the ball last touches a defending teams player, then a corner kick is taken by the offending team at the nearest corner on the kick-in lines. All goal kicks and corner kicks are direct.
 
Free kicks are taken from the point where the infraction occurred. Outdoor rules apply in determining if the kick is direct (scoring directly off the free kick) or a indirect kick (a second player must touch it before scoring). The only exception is when an indirect kick violation occurs within the penalty area. In that case, the ball is moved to anywhere on the penalty box line. 

Kick off is taken from the center of the basketball court. All opposing players must be outside the center arc. Unlike outdoor soccer, it is ok of the ball is passed backwards to start. All kick offs are direct kicks.
 
With all free kicks, defending players must automatically get at least 5 yards from ball. In the event of a 3 line violation, players must automatically line up behind the free throw line. After one warning, a player may receive a 2 minute violation. 
 
Duration of Game
Game length depends on the number of teams and the time allotted for gym space usage. Typical games are as follows:

• For 2.5 hours of play time with 4 teams, games will be two 22 minute halves with a 3 minute halftime.
• For 2.5 hours of space usage time with 6 teams, games will be two 21 minute halves with a 3 minute halftime.
• For 3 hours of space usage time with 8 teams, games will be two 18 minute halves with a 2 minute halftime.
• For 3.5 hours of facility usage time with 8 team, games will be two 20 minute halves with 3 minute halftime.

If a game is delayed, the game length may be reduced. Because of the limited time we have for the space, extra time may be limited. 
 
Required Equipment

• Like outdoor, all players must wear shin guards….no exceptions. Some shin guards may be available from the league. Check with the referee before the game starts or borrow some from another team.
• Only gum bottomed shoes are allowed. Do not wear black bottomed shoes that may scuff the floor.

Substitutions
Players can be substituted at anytime during a game except when they are serving a penalty box violation. When substituting, a new player cannot enter the pitch until the player being substituted for is within 5 feet of the substitution box. If a player enters the field early and plays a ball while the player being replaced is still on the pitch, then the opposing team will be awarded an indirect free kick. The same rule applies for goalies, so it is best to wait until a stoppage of play to make a goalie substitution.

Player Eligibility
1. All rostered players must be Spikes club members and current with all dues and fees
2. All players must sign liability waiver
3. Players who have been suspended by the club are ineligible until permitted by Spikes Board to play
 
Guest Players
Guest players (unrostered players and players from other teams) are allowed to sub for a team under the following conditions:
1. Unrostered players (players on the waiting list, new players, and former Spikes visiting) get first priority. Unrostered players are allowed 1 trial game, after which they must pay dues in order to continue. The referee will select which team the unrostered player plays on to insure teams are evenly skilled. A maximum of 10 players are allowed on one team. 
2. If no unrostered players are available and a team has fewer than 7 rostered players, then a player from another team can be used. Both teams must agree on the substitute in this case. If an agreement can't be reached, then the referee will make the decision. 
3. Outside friends cannot be brought in for the sole purpose of subbing. Positions are reserved exclusively for players interested in joining the club.
 
Goalies
There are only 2 rules that are different for goalies for indoor as opposed to outdoor.
1. Goalies are NOT allowed to punt the ball. They can put the ball on the ground and play it with their feet, or toss it to another player using hands. 
2. Goalies can NOT slide tackle (see slide tackles below). Diving by goalies to control the ball, or prevent a goal, within the penalty area is ok but should be done with extreme caution. The same rules that apply to field players also apply to goalies when the goalie leaves the penalty area.

These are indoor and outdoor rules to remember:
1. A goalie cannot control a ball with their hands if it is "played" back to them by their own teammates except when ball is headed or deflected. "Played" means an intentional pass.
2. Goalies who receive ball outside of penalty area are allowed to dribble into the penalty box and pick it up.
3. Once the goalie has set the ball down, the ball must be touched by another player before he/she can pick it up again. 
 
Even though it is not required, it is highly recommended that goalies wear gloves, goalie jerseys and goalie pants. This is simply to reduce the chances of injury. 
 
Slide Tackles
For the obvious reasons, no slide tackles are allowed. Slide tackling can result in a direct free kick for the opposing team, a yellow card, and a 2 or 5 minute penalty box stay depending on the severity or the number of times it is repeated. This is also the case for goalies. Goalies are allow to leave their feet to stop a shot with their hands and body, but not with there feet. When a goalie leaves the penalty area, he/she is subject to the same rules as a field player. 
 
Penalties
The same outdoor soccer rules of play in regard to fouls apply to indoor as well. The only exception can be the penalties awarded. In addition to Red Card and Yellow Card offenses, there is also a Blue Card offense in indoor soccer. When a player is issued a Blue Card (which typically accompanies a Red and/or Yellow Card) a player is then required to sit in their team’s penalty box for 2 or 5 minutes depending on the severity of the foul. When a player is issued a stay in the penalty box, his/her team cannot replace him/her until a goal has been scored against the penalized team or the penalty time has lapsed. Typical penalty box fouls include, but are not limited to:
 
1. Repeat offenses, especially slide tackles (2-5 mins depending on the severity)
2. Kicking a ball into the roof (2 mins). Deflections are the exception.
3. Fighting (automatic ejection and a 5 minute foul assessed to the replacement player)
4. Arguing with the Referee (2-5 mins and a possible ejection depending on the severity.
 
Penalty Kicks (This rule will remain in place but reviewing taking PKs instead)
There are none. Instead we have adopted a 1v1 rule similar to what was done in the NASL and what is used in the MLS. 1v1 rules are as follows:
 
- Goalie starts from behind black line at the bottom of the basketball key.
- Shooter starts from midcourt.
- All other players start from behind the shooters defensive third line.
- As soon as the ball is touched by the shooter, play resumes. 
 
Because there is little extra time available to stop the clock, referees will only stop the clock in the event the penalty occurs in the last 5 minutes of play. 

Mercy Rules
1. There is a ten goal cap on goal difference. If a team is ten goals ahead, additional points will not be added until the goal difference goes below 10.  
 
Ranking Rules
In order to keep teams from running the scores up, tie breakers will not be based on scoring. Rankings and tie breakers are determined by the following:
 
- Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie)
- Head to head results 
- Fewest goals against
- Goal differential