The Cal Intramural Sports Indoor Soccer Laws are based on the FIFA Laws Of The Game. Some of the more important laws as well as laws unique to the Cal Intramural Sports Program are included herein. All players are responsible for reading this document prior to participating in Indoor Soccer.
Good sportsmanship is essential in Intramural Sports contests. Therefore, if a player or players are sent off from a game, they will receive a minimum, automatic one-game suspension. In some cases suspensions may be longer than one game. The suspension of that participant becomes effective immediately following the ejection and carries through the following game in that same sport. In extreme situations, the matter will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.
While on suspension, the participant is not allowed to participate in any Intramural Sports-sponsored sport, special event, activity, or IFC Sport. Participants suspended for longer than one game may appeal their suspension to the Intramural Sports Council. The Intramural Sports Council meets on an as needed basis. Intramural Sports Council meetings take place at the availability of Council members. Call (510) 643-6822 to schedule an appeal hearing.
All participants must be prepared to show Game Officials a valid University of California, Berkeley, Student ID Card or a current Cal Rec Club Card in order to participate in Intramural Sports. Individuals without current membership and picture identification will not be allowed to participate. A team unable to field a minimum number of players with current membership and picture identification will forfeit the contest.
The maximum number of players on the field per team is six; the minimum number is four. CoRec teams must always have an equal or greater number of women on the field than men. The goalkeeper does not count as a field player, and can be either gender. NOTE: A CoRec team which fields enough players to start a game, but not enough females, will be issued an automatic-loss, however, will not forfeit the match.
Each team is allowed a maximum of twelve (12) players on their Team Roster.
A player shall not wear anything that may be dangerous to another player. Non-cleated, soft- soled shoes are to be worn by all players. NO BLACK SOLED SHOES MAY BE WORN. Bare feet are not allowed.
A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player including any kind of jewelry. All items of jewelry are potentially dangerous. The term “dangerous” can be ambiguous and controversial, therefore in order to be uniform and consistent, any kind of jewelry is forbidden. Players are not allowed to use tape to cover jewelry, as taping jewelry is not considered to be adequate protection.
A forfeit is awarded if the opposing team is not ready to play at game time or fails to produce the minimum number of players 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. If the team arrives with the minimum number of players necessary to play, within fifteen minutes of the scheduled game time, or, if they called the Intramural Sports Office at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled game time, informing the Office of an inability to field a team for their game, an auto-loss shall be awarded. Any team that forfeits during the regular season will be ineligible for playoffs, no exceptions! Any team that forfeits during the first week of the regular season, may be removed from the league and no refunds will be issued.
Each team member should bring two different colored shirts to every game – one light (white or yellow) and one dark (blue or black). Each team should bring a different colored shirt for their goalie (red or green).
Games will be played in either the Blue or Gold Gyms at the RSF. The balls may be played off the walls. During warm-ups, teams may not kick a ball against the walls or take shots at the goals. Refusal to comply with this rule may result in forfeiture of the scheduled game.
The game shall consist of two halves of twenty minutes each. The interval at half time shall not exceed five minutes. Time outs are only called in case of injury to players or temporary loss of the ball.
A Cal Intramural indoor soccer ball will be provided for the game, but not for warm-ups. Teams must bring their own ball to warm-up. Outdoor balls will not be kicked against the gym walls or at the goals at any time.
At the beginning of the game the ball must be kicked forward and the kicker cannot kick the ball a second time until it has touched another player. At the kickoff, the opposing team must remain 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked for the first time.
If the game is temporarily suspended for any reason, the Referee will restart the game by dropping the ball at the point closest to where play was suspended or the closest point outside the penalty area if the ball was in the penalty area at the time of the stoppage. No player may play the ball until the ball has touched the ground.
The ball is out of play when:
- The ball has completely crossed the goal line, whether on the ground or in the air.
- The ball hits the rafters or goes out the door of the gym.
- The ball goes in any drinking fountain area.
- The game has been stopped by the referee or for any other reason.
- The ball is stuck behind the goal area.
The ball is in play at all other times including:
- If the ball rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar, or the wall onto the court.
- If the ball rebounds from the referee while s/he is in the field of play.
- In the event of a supposed infringement until a decision is given (advantage).
A goal is scored when the whole ball has passed over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided it has not been thrown or carried by a player of the attacking side. A game shall be decided by whichever team has the greater number of goals at the end of the game.
The removal of a jersey after a goal has been scored is unnecessary and players must avoid excessive displays of celebration. The removal of a jersey is a mandatory caution.
Any delivery (kick, throw, or punch) of the ball by the goalkeeper from inside the penalty area must be touched by a player or touch the ground on the goalie’s half of the field. An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the point where the ball crossed the mid-field line.
Free kicks are classified as either “direct” or “indirect”. From a direct kick, a goal can be scored without anyone else touching the ball. From an indirect kick, a goal cannot be scored unless a player other than the kicker has played the ball before it passes over the goal line. Under no circumstances may the original kicker play the ball twice in a row. During an indirect kick, the Referee will raise his/her arm, indicating another player must play the ball before it goes into the goal. No signal will be displayed for a direct kick.
When a free-kick is being taken, either “direct” or “indirect”, no player of the opposing side may be within 7 yards of the ball until it is kicked, unless he/she is standing on his/her own goal line, between the goal posts. The ball must be stationary when the kick is taken. In the case of a free kick being awarded to the defending side in the penalty area, the ball must be kicked out of the area before it can be touched for a second time. This rule also applies to a goal kick.
Fouls and misconducts can be divided into two categories, those punished by a direct free kick, and those punished by an indirect free kick.
A direct free kick is awarded against a player who intentionally commits any of the following offenses:
- Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent.
- Trips an opponent.
- Jumps at an opponent.
- Charges an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner.
- Charges an opponent from behind.
- Strikes, or attempts to strike, an opponent.
- Holds an opponent with his/her hands or any part of his/her arm.
- Pushes an opponent with his/her hands or any part of his/her arm.
- A hand ball offense.
An indirect free kick is awarded against a player who commits any of the following offenses:
- Playing in a manner considered by the referees to be dangerous.
- Charging fairly (i.e. with the shoulder) when the ball is not within a yard of the players concerned, and definitely not trying to play the ball.
- Intentionally obstructing an opponent when not within playing distance of the ball.
- A goalkeeper who fails to put the ball into play after possessing it with his/her hands for at least six (6) seconds.
- Having too many players on the field at the same time.
- Being guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct (this includes shouting at an opposing player or referee to insult him or distract his/her attention).
- Double possession by the goalkeeper. If the goalkeeper were to drop the ball into play and then use his/her hands to secure it again.
- If a player slide tackles.
- The goalkeeper handling a ball after a pass was played to him/her intentionally, by a teammate from below the passer’s knee.
If play becomes potentially dangerous along the wall, the official will stop play, move the ball away from the wall and restart the game with a drop ball.
- Players may only use their hands on the wall to slow their momentum.
- A player may not use his/her hand on the wall to gain advantage (aside from standing up); obstruction (indirect kick) will be called.
- A player may not use two hands on the wall to shield an opposing defender, obstruction (indirect kick) will be called.
- If an offensive player has to use two hands on the wall because the defender forces him/her to, illegal shoulder charge (indirect kick) will be called on the defender.
- A dangerous charge along the wall will result in an automatic caution (yellow card).
- A violent charge along the wall will result in an ejection (red card).
- Charging in the corners will not be tolerated.
- A player charging an opposing player, in any fashion in the corner, will receive a caution (yellow card). If the charge is extremely violent the player may be ejected without prior warning.
- All of the rules regarding the play along the walls also apply to the corners of the court.
The goalkeeper may not be charged or obstructed. The penalty for charging the goalkeeper is a direct free kick awarded to the opposing team and a caution to the offending player. The penalty for obstructing the goalie is an indirect free kick awarded to the offended team and a caution to the offending player. If a collision occurs that is violent in nature, the player will be ejected from the game by the referee. The goalkeeper’s box is one and the same as the penalty area. Green lines mark the penalty area approximately 25 feet from the goal.
The goalkeeper is considered to be guilty of time-wasting if he holds the ball in his hands or arms for more than 5-6 seconds. The goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball by touching it with any part of his hands or arms. Possession of the ball includes the goalkeeper deliberately parrying the ball, but does not include the circumstance where, in the opinion of the Referee, the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper, for example after he has made a save.
When the ball is lodged behind the goal area, play is stopped while the goalkeeper retrieves the ball. Once the goalkeeper has brought the ball back onto the field of play, the game resumes with the goalkeeper having possession of the ball inside the goalkeeper’s box. Once the game resumes, the ball is considered live, and the goalkeeper is subject to all rules.
Any player, coach or spectator affiliated with a team who is guilty of any incidental vulgar or profane language shall be cautioned by the referee. Any player, coach or spectator who uses insulting or abusive language shall be ejected.
When one of the fouls that is normally punished by a direct free-kick is committed in the penalty area, a penalty kick shall be awarded. A penalty kick is taken from the penalty mark, and, when it is taken, all players, with the exception of the player taking the kick and the opposing goalkeeper, shall be within the field of play but outside the penalty area, and at least 10 yards from the ball. The opposing goalkeeper must stand on the goal line and may move laterally along the line but may not move toward the ball until it is touched. The player taking the kick must kick the ball forward, and may only kick the ball once. If the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper’s body, the player can kick the ball again. If the ball rebounds from the goal post or crossbar, the player may not touch the ball again until another player does.
There will be free substitution but a player can only enter the field when the player he/she is replacing is completely off the field. The new player must stand at the corner of the field (each time to its own corner), flush against the wall. The first violation of this receives a verbal warning, the second time an indirect free kick is awarded from the spot at midfield nearest the ball, and the third violation will call for a yellow card being given to the player entering the field.
In the event that the ball hits the rafters, baskets or ceiling above the gym, play will be immediately called dead. A free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team from the spot where the ball came into contact with the rafters. The player who kicked the ball into the rafters no longer has to sit out a minute.
A player may be cautioned for persistently infringing the rules of the game, for unsportsmanlike behavior, for incidental foul language or if by word or action a player shows unnecessary dissent to the referee. Players issued a caution can continue to play and need not sit out, however, two cautions in the same match will result in an ejection.
A player shall be ejected from a game for violent conduct, serious foul play, using abusive language, or if he/she persists in misconduct after having received a caution. A player may also be ejected without prior warning for intentionally fouling a player from behind on a breakaway.
If a player is ejected, he/she cannot be replaced by another player. This means that his/her team will have to finish the game with one less player. The ejected player must check with the Intramural Sports Office before playing in any subsequent games. Soccer is not a game of physical strength, and the only contact between players should be when the ball is within one yard and then only shoulder to shoulder. In soccer, the rules encourage that players play the ball and not the opposing players.
All players issued ejections will be suspended indefinitely until the ejected party and the team manager see the Student Director of Sport Programs. All ejections carry a minimum one game suspension and all ejections involving fighting carry an automatic, minimum 365-day suspension.
During the regular season, there is no overtime or Kicks from the Penalty Mark for games ending in ties. During playoffs, if the score is tied after regulation, one “golden goal” overtime will be played. If the game is still tied after five minutes, Kicks from the Penalty Mark shall ensue.
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 chooses the goal at which the kicks will be taken. All players besides the kicker and the goalkeeper are to remain within the Center Circle (with the goalkeeper who is the teammate of the kicker standing outside the penalty area on the goal line where it meets the penalty area boundary line.
Both teams take four kicks. The kicks are taken alternately by the teams. If, before both teams have taken four 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 four 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. Each kick is taken by a different player and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick. Only players who are on the field of play at the end of the match are allowed to take kicks from the penalty mark. An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper at any time when kicks form the penalty mark are taken. A goalkeeper who is injured and is unable to continue as goalkeeper may be replaced by a substitute.
In CoRec games, two of the four kickers must be female; the other two kickers may be either male or female. Kicks do not have to alternate female/male.
When a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponents, they shall reduce their numbers to equate with that of their opponents, and inform the referee of each player excluded. When possible, teams must reduce to equate male for male and female for female.
Men can only touch the ball consecutively four times in a CoRec game. Any other player must then touch the ball before the initial (male) player can touch the ball again. There are no restrictions on how many touches women are allowed. If this rule is violated, an Indirect Free Kick will be issued at the point of the fifth touch to the opposing team. This does not apply to the goalkeeper in his own penalty area. Once a male goalkeeper leaves his own penalty area, he is subject to the regular 4 touch rule.
