Soccer Rules

Eligibility

All team members must have a current DAPER membership and be either:

• A MIT undergrad or grad student who is registered for the semester
• A member of the Staff, Alumni, Faculty, Instructors, Lecturers or Post Docs
• A member of MIT Alumni Club of Boston (MITCOB) who is registered with DAPER
• A spouse or partner of any eligible player who has an active DAPER membership

Varsity/Club Sport Eligibility

• After gaining permission from their coach, members of MIT club or varsity teams may ONLY compete in the highest level league offered (ie B league if no A league is offered) in the same sport as their varsity/club sport. These members are eligible to participate in any B or C League as well as any A League of a sport different from their varsity or club. In the event that only 1 general league is offered for the IM sport, then varsity and club sport members are ineligible to compete in the same sport as their varsity/club sport.
• IM participants may only compete on one team in each league per sport. Roster changes may be made up to the start of playoffs. During this time, players may join, quit, or switch teams. Once playoffs begin, rosters will be locked.

Leagues

• Here are basic descriptions of levels of skill and competition within each league. Leagues may be combined or split at manager’s discretion. Champion t-shirts are awarded to A, B, and Co-Rec Leagues. See ‘Number of Players’ section for how many t-shirts will be awarded.
  • A League – Higher level of competition. Players may have played in high school or have a higher level of skill. Open to men and women with no male-to-female ratios
  • B League – Intermediate level of competition. Players’ main goal is to be active and have fun. Open to men and women with no male-to-female ratios.
  • C League – Lower level of competition. Typically players have little to no experience playing and are just looking to try a new sport. Open to men and women with no male-to-female ratios.

Sportsmanship

• Proper sportsmanship is expected of all teams at all times. Attire and/or behavior that implies, or contains; inappropriate, offensive, or vulgar themes, language, images, or symbols, is not permitted within DAPER facilities. Individuals found with inappropriate attire can be denied participation in DAPER sponsored programs and events. Staff decisions regarding attire policy enforcement are final. Refer to MIT’s Mind and Hand Book’s section on Harassment, Freedom of Expression, and Institute Expectations of Student Behavior and Integrity for further elaboration of standards and expectations.
• Most MIT intramural leagues are not refereed. The captains are expected to control the behavior of their team
  members.
• The sport manager reserves the right to remove any player or team from the league without prior warning if there are any incidents of unacceptable sportsmanship.
• Any complaints should be reported to the manager immediately and/or via this form. Please also submit reports of any exceptionally good sportsmanship experiences.

Reporting Scores

• It is the responsibility of the WINNING team’s captain to record the score on IMLeauges.com. It will result in a double forfeit if no score is recorded 24 hours after the game was played.

Forfeits

• If the minimum number of players are not present by game time, the other team has the option of calling a forfeit on that team OR waiting 10 minutes.
• If a team does not have the minimum number of players by 10 minutes past the scheduled game start, it counts as a forfeit.
• The penalties associated with a forfeit can be avoided by communicating to the sport manager and opposing captain that you will not be able to field a team. Further advance notice reduces the penalty, as it gives the manager a better opportunity to use that field/court time for other games:
• More than 72 hour advance notice results in no penalty. We will try our best to reschedule the game but
  are limited by facility space. If the game cannot be rescheduled, it will not count towards your record.
• 24 – 72 hour notice results in loss if game cannot be rescheduled (but no fine)
• Less than 24 hour notice results in forfeit and fine

Fines

• Fines will be issued according to the IM Handbook Section XII. Refer to the handbook for more information.
• Failure of either team to commence play at game time will cause either or both of them to be charged with a forfeit and a corresponding fine.
• Failure to attend captain’s meeting: $15
• Forfeited Matches- First infraction: $25. Second infraction: $50 and disqualification from playoffs. Third
  infraction: $75 and removal from league.
• Dropping out of league (once games have been scheduled): $75

Injuries

• Most intramural games are played on campus within or nearby the Z Center facilities. If an injury occurs, send a teammate to summon help at one of the desks within the Z Center. The Z Center staff can provide 1st aid and summon additional help if needed.
• Please report any injuries to the Intramural Office via the Injury Report Form: (http://bit.ly/1VwUyAD)

Playoffs

• A & B leagues will have playoffs. Unless the manager requests special conditions, the following guidelines will be used in all IM sports for determining qualifications for playoffs:
  • Total points (a) two points for a win (b) one point for a tie (c) no points for a loss
  • Head-to-head result
  • Goal differential (in case of less common scoring system, the manager will determine the method of goal scoring)
  • Goals for/Goals against
  • Coin toss

Number of Players

• MIT intramural teams are open to men and women, and there are no male-to-female ratios that need to be adhered to, unless specified in the league description.
• 7v7 games can commence if a team has at least 5 players.
• 5v5 games can commence if a team has at least 4 players.
• Champions in A and B Leagues will receive t-shirts; regardless of players registered, no more than 12 shirts will be issued.

Schedule

• The manager’s goal is to schedule as many matches as possible. Depending on the field availability and the number of teams, they will schedule the maximum number of games he can.
• Matches not completed by the end of the season will be considered double-forfeits.
• During a forfeit the winning team will claim a 4-0 victory in order to keep the point-diff standard for all forfeits.

Referees

• Some leagues will have paid, part-time referees at games. They are assigned to help keep track of time, call fouls and remind captains to report scores online at the end of each game.
• If you are interested in being a ref, contact IM Exec at im-exec@mit.edu.
• Should the referee deem the game to be unruly or the actions of any player to be unacceptably dangerous, they reserve the right to terminate game play immediately. In doing so, play must cease, and the referee must follow up with an immediate report to the sport manager and to the IM Executive Board so as to enable corrective and punitive action to take place.

Equipment

• Players may supply their own ball or obtain one at any of the Zesiger Center Equipment Desks. Note that this is an indoor soccer league, not a futsal league. Players must use a size 5 soccer ball, unless both captains agree otherwise.
• It is the responsibility of each captain to make sure the balls are put away if you don’t see that other intramural teams are waiting to play.
• Shin guards are required at all times.
• Close-toed shoes are required.
• Coordinate with your team to wear the same color shirts. Captains should communicate with opposing captains prior to the game.

Fields

• 7v7 leagues are played on the Johnson Indoor Track infield (Z Center)
• 5v5 leagues are played on the MAC (Z Center)

Start of Play

• The winner of the coin toss decides which goal to defend or takes kick-off. The opposing team takes the other option.
• After halftime, teams switch ends, and the team that did not take the kick-off at the beginning of the match now takes the kick-off.

Length of Play

• Each half is 25 minutes long, and halftime is 5 minutes long. Each game is scheduled for a one-hour slot. Please start games punctually, since matches are frequently scheduled back-to-back. Should a game be started late, and the space be needed, the second half will be cut in order to end on the hour.
• During the regular season, matches can end in ties.
• During playoffs, if a match ends in a tie, then the teams immediately move into a standard penalty shootout with five players per team. The shootout begins with a coin toss. The winner of the coin toss decides whether to go first or second. If the teams are still tied after five penalty kicks per team, then sudden death rounds of one kick per team are taken until there is a winner.

Rules & Clarifications

• The FIFA16-17 Laws of the Game will be used, with exception or clarifications listed below.
• No throw-ins are allowed in indoor soccer. Kick-ins (indirect), corner-kicks (direct), and goal kicks (indirect) must be used.
• There are no off-sides.
• Slide tackling is not permitted under any circumstance except for saving a ball from going out-of-bounds while no other players are near. However, the goalkeeper is allowed to enter a slide if they do so hands or torso first.
• No goals awarded through an accidental handball. If a defender accidentally touches the ball with the hand and the ball goes in for an own goal, the goal will be disallowed, and a penalty kick will be given.

The following rules only pertain to 7v7 matches played on the Johnson Indoor Field:

• Free kicks will be taken on the spot of the foul; opposing players must be either at least 7 yards from the ball or on their goal line, between the two posts. No attacking players may join a defensive wall.
• See figure for the penalty mark: this is noted to be exactly between the goal box boundary and penalty box boundary, or approximately 9 yards from the goal line.
• A ball that touches any object on the ceiling is considered out of bounds and a kick-in is taken from the sideline closest to the point it went out.

The following rules only pertain to 5v5 matches played on the MAC:

• The penalty box, goal box, and penalty mark are designated in red paint.
• Free kicks will be taken on the spot of the foul; opposing players must be either at least 5 yards from the ball or on their goal line, between the two posts. No attacking players may join a defensive wall.
• There are no out of bounds unless a ball strikes the hanging net which is considered out-of-bounds and will award a kick-in, taken from the sideline point closest to the spot it went out (note: a kick-in cannot be taken from an endline–instead a goal kick or corner kick is used).
• Caution-able and send-off offences are the same as the FIFA16-17 rules as seen on page 85.
• The only exception to this list is that a player who slide tackles and would otherwise be noted as a clean tackle will be cautioned; if a foul is committed, or a risk of serious injury occurs, at the discretion of the referee, that player is sent off.
• Players who are sent off during a reffed match are suspended from the next match. Should that sent off player attempt to play during the next match, the team can be removed from the league, at the discretion of the manager. Additionally, teams with multiple incidents of unsportsmanlike behavior may be removed from the league at the discretion of the manager.
• Substitutions for the Mac Court will be taken on the fly like in hockey.  This is due for the need of subs to be outside of the rink watching and the lack of stoppage due to no out of bounds lines on the floor.

Substitutions

• Substitutions are unlimited but may only occur during an appropriate stoppage of play–if a referee is present, he or she must give the signal for substitution to take place.
• Substitutions should be from center field.
• Should a goalkeeper be changed, this action should be made explicitly clear to the opposing team and to the referee, if applicable.

Playing Field

• 
• Colors designate the different parts of the field of play as shown above.
• The midfield is not shown here for simplicity, rather, only the two tennis courts at each end is shown.
• The kick-off mark should be roughly at the midpoint between both goal lines and opposing players should be at least 7 yards from this mark on their side of the field.

Number of Players

• MIT intramural teams are open to men and women, and there are no male-to-female ratios that need to be  adhered to, except in the co-rec leagues.
• All players must register on IMLeaues.com before playing in a game.
• Each team on the field shall consist of 11 players. A team must have a minimum of 8 players to start a game.  Champions in A and B Leagues will receive t-shirts. Regardless of players registered, up to 20 champion t shirts will be awarded per team.
• CoRec guidelines: The 11 players must contain at least 4 members of the each gender. If this cannot be met, the team should play down a player (ex: if 3 women and 8 men show up, the team should play with 3 women and 7 men)
• During a forfeit the winning team will claim a 4-0 victory in order to keep the point-diff standard for all forfeits.

Start of Play

• Before the match, a coin toss between both captains will determine kick-off and side of play. The winner decides which goal to defend, and the other team takes the kick-off at the start of the match. After halftime, teams switch ends, and the team who won the coin toss takes the kick-off at the start of the second half.

Duration of Games

• Games will last for approximately one hour and will consist of two 25-minute halves, running clock, with a five-minute half time.
• Regular season games may end in a tie.
• In the case of a tie during the playoffs, the game will be determined by a shootout. The shootout will consist of 5 shooters.

Equipment

• Teams are encouraged to bring their own ball. If no one has a ball, one can be borrowed from the Z Center Vassar Desk in exchange for an ID card.
• Shin guards must be worn at all times.
• Close toed shoes must be worn at all times.
• Metal cleats are not permitted.

Field

• Games will be played on various turf and natural grass fields. A field map is available online at
  http://web.mit.edu/athletics/www/testim/images/Outdoor%20Field%20Map.jpg

Ball In and Out of Play

• If a ball travels beyond the sidelines, it is deemed out of bounds and shall be put back into to play with a throw in.
• Corner kicks will be used when the ball travels beyond the goal line and was last touched by a defensive player
• A goal kick will be used when the ball travels beyond the goal line and was last touched by an offensive player.
• Substitutions can only be made on dead ball situations (either a goal or out of bounds).
• There is no limit on the number of substitutions that can be made. Players may reenter the game after they have subbed out. Substitutions should take place at center field.

Throw Ins

• When a ball goes out of play on the sidelines, the opponent of the player who last touched the ball will take a throw in. The player taking the throw in must keep their feet outside the sideline, with both feet on the ground and the throw must be executed with the ball over the thrower’s head with two hands.

Methods of Scoring

• A goal may be scored while in play and as long as there are no infringements of any soccer rules.
• A goal is considered when the ball crosses the goal line with its entire circumference.

Fouls and Misconduct

• Safety and fun are the primary concerns of all MIT intramural leagues. Players must play under control at all times.
• Most games are self-officiated by the players on the field, so use good sportsmanship at all times.
• Fouls (handball, kicks, pushes, trips, etc) outside of the goal box will result in an indirect kick. Indirect kicks must be touched by an additional player besides the kick-taker before entering the goal. Defensive players must be 10 feet from the point of the free kick. No attacking players may join a defensive wall on a free kick.
• Fouls (handball, kicks, pushes, trips, etc) inside of the goal box will result in a penalty kick. During a penalty kick the only two players inside the penalty box are the penalty taker and the goalkeeper. Goalkeeper must have at least one foot on the goal line until ball is kicked.
• No goals awarded through an accidental handball. If a defender accidentally touches the ball with the hand and the ball goes in for an own goal, the goal will be disallowed, and a penalty kick will be given.
• All other players must remain outside the goal box until the ball is struck. If the penalty shot does not result in a goal, the ball is then live. Penalty shots are be taken at the 16-yard maker.
• Intentional severe fouls leading to a red card will be reviewed by the IM office and penalized with a multi game suspension.
• Should the referee deem the game to be unruly or the actions of any player to be unacceptably dangerous, they reserve the right to terminate game play immediately. In doing so, play must cease, and the referee must follow up with an immediate report to the sport manager and to the IM Executive Board so as to enable corrective and punitive action to take place.

Sliding

• NO SLIDING – Slide tackles are not allowed in IM soccer. A slide tackle is defined as a challenge on the ball by a player who intentionally leaves their feet.
• Field players may not play the ball while on the ground if another player is within 5 yards.
• Sliding infractions result in an indirect free kick to be taken by the opposing team, taken from where the offense occurred.
• Slide tackling is an automatic yellow card. A player that receives two yellow cards in one game is given a red card, which ejects him/her from that game and suspends him/her from playing in their next game.
• Goalkeepers are allowed to make sliding tackles as long as they lead with their hands (not their feet). Goalkeepers are allowed to leave their feet to dive to make a block.

Goalkeeper

• Goalkeepers have 10 seconds to put the ball back into play after gaining control.
• A goalie may only touch the ball with their hands within the box. If the ball is intentionally passed back to the goalie from a teammate’s feet, the goalie may NOT use their hands. The goalie may use their hands on intentional passes back from other body parts (head, chest, thigh, etc.)
• If the goalie has control of the ball (two hands on the ball or the ball trapped between one hand and the ground, their body, etc.) other players cannot kick the ball.

Offsides

• A player is in an “offside position” when they are ahead of the ball and closer to the goal line than the last defender. A player is penalized for being in an “offside position” only if they are interfering with play or an opponent, or seeking to gain advantage at the moment the ball is played by a teammate. An indirect kick is awarded for an offside penalty, at the spot of infraction. There are no offsides on a throw in or on a goal kick

Number of Players

• MIT intramural teams are open to men and women, and there are no male-to-female ratios that need to be adhered to, except in the co-rec leagues.
• All players must register on IMLeaues.com before playing in a game.
• Each team on the field shall consist of 7 players. A team must have a minimum of 6 players to start a game. Regardless of players registered, up to 15 champion t-shirts will be awarded per team.
• During a forfeit the winning team will claim a 4-0 victory in order to keep the point-diff standard for all forfeits.

Start of Play

• Before the match, a coin toss between both captains will determine kick-off and side of play. The winner decides which goal to defend, and the other team takes the kick-off at the start of the match. After halftime, teams switch ends, and the team who won the coin toss takes the kick-off at the start of the second half.

Duration of Games

• Games will last for approximately 45 minutes and will consist of two 20 minute halves, running clock, with a five minute half time.
• Regular season games may end in a tie.
• In the case of a tie during the playoffs, the game will be determined by a shootout. The shootout will consist of 5 shooters, 2 of which must be men and 2 of which must be women.

Equipment

• Teams are encouraged to bring their own ball. If no one has a ball, one can be borrowed from the Z Center Vassar Desk in exchange for an ID card.
• Shin guards must be worn at all times.
• Close toed shoes must be worn at all times.
• Metal cleats are not permitted.

Field

• Games will be played on various turf and natural grass fields. A field map is available online at
  http://web.mit.edu/athletics/www/testim/images/Outdoor%20Field%20Map.jpg

Ball In and Out of Play

• If a ball travels beyond the sidelines, it is deemed out of bounds and shall be put back into to play with a throw in.
• Corner kicks will be used when the ball travels beyond the goal line and was last touched by a defensive player
• A goal kick will be used when the ball travels beyond the goal line and was last touched by an offensive player.
• Substitutions can only be made on dead ball situations (either a goal or out of bounds).
• There is no limit on the number of substitutions that can be made. Players may reenter the game after they have subbed out. Substitutions should take place at center field.

Throw Ins

• When a ball goes out of play on the sidelines, the opponent of the player who last touched the ball will take a throw in. The player taking the throw in must keep their feet outside the sideline, with both feet on the ground and the throw must be executed with the ball over the thrower’s head with two hands.

Methods of Scoring

• A goal may be scored while in play and as long as there are no infringements of any soccer rules.
• A goal is considered when the ball crosses the goal line with its entire circumference.

Fouls and Misconduct

• Safety and fun are the primary concerns of all MIT intramural leagues. Players must play under control at all times.
• Most games are self-officiated by the players on the field, so use good sportsmanship at all times.
• Fouls (handball, kicks, pushes, trips, etc) outside of the goal box will result in an indirect kick. Indirect kicks must be touched by an additional player besides the kick-taker before entering the goal. Defensive players must be 10 feet from the point of the free kick. No attacking players may join a defensive wall on a free kick.
• Fouls (handball, kicks, pushes, trips, etc) inside of the goal box will result in a penalty kick. During a penalty kick the only two players inside the penalty box are the penalty taker and the goalkeeper. Goalkeeper must have at least one foot on the goal line until ball is kicked.
• No goals awarded through an accidental handball. If a defender accidentally touches the ball with the hand and the ball goes in for an own goal, the goal will be disallowed, and a penalty kick will be given.
• All other players must remain outside the goal box until the ball is struck. If the penalty shot does not result in a goal, the ball is then live. Penalty shots are be taken at the 16-yard maker.
• Intentional severe fouls leading to a red card will be reviewed by the IM office and penalized with a multi game suspension.
• Should the referee deem the game to be unruly or the actions of any player to be unacceptably dangerous, she/he reserves the right to terminate game play immediately. In doing so, play must cease, and the referee must follow up with an immediate report to the sport manager and to the IM Executive Board so as to enable corrective and punitive action to take place.

Sliding

• NO SLIDING – Slide tackles are not allowed in IM soccer. A slide tackle is defined as a challenge on the ball by a player who intentionally leaves their feet.
• Field players may not play the ball while on the ground if another player is within 5 yards.
• Sliding infractions result in an indirect free kick to be taken by the opposing team, taken from where the offense occurred.
• Slide tackling is an automatic yellow card. A player that receives two yellow cards in one game is given a red card, which ejects him/her from that game and suspends him/her from playing in their next game.
• Goalkeepers are allowed to make sliding tackles as long as they lead with their hands (not their feet). Goalkeepers are allowed to leave their feet to dive to make a block.

Goalkeeper

• Goalkeepers have 10 seconds to put the ball back into play after gaining control.
• A goalie may only touch the ball with their hands within the box. If the ball is intentionally passed back to the goalie from a teammate’s feet, the goalie may NOT use their hands. The goalie may use their hands on intentional passes back from other body parts (head, chest, thigh, etc.)
• If the goalie has control of the ball (two hands on the ball or the ball trapped between one hand and the ground, their body, etc.) other players cannot kick the ball.

Offsides

• There will be no off-sides in 7 vs 7 soccer.