Important rules as well as rules unique to SDSM&T Intramurals follow. Team captains are responsible for sharing this information with their team members prior to the team’s first competition.
1) TEAM SIZE
a) A co-ed soccer team consists of six players. TWO of these players must be female. One player must be designated as the goalie. The goalie is the only participant permitted to use his/her hands to play the ball (and only in the penalty area).
b) If necessary, a team will be allowed to start or complete a game with only four or five players, one of which must be female. (This provision is intended for situations in which a team must play short one player due to late arrival, injury, disqualification, etc. The intent is NOT to allow teams to routinely play as four-person teams.)
2) LENGTH OF GAME
a) A match will consist of two 15-minute halves with a running clock and a three-minute halftime.
3) EQUIPMENT
a) Shoes must have non-marking soles. Shoes with cleats, studs, or waffle soles are prohibited.
4) RULES OF PLAY
a) There is no offside rule.
b) Call your own fouls (i.e., tripping, pushing, hand ball, etc.). All infractions will result in an INDIRECT free kick (the ball must touch another player on the same team before going into the goal) at the point of the infraction. This is the case even if the infraction occurs in the penalty area. However, intramural officials have the authority to call infractions as they see fit. Actions deemed by intramural officials to be excessively aggressive or blatantly illegal will result in a DIRECT free kick (the ball can go directly into the goal) at mid-court. Excessive actions of this nature are grounds for expulsion from the competition.
c) Sliding tackles ARE NOT ALLOWED. The penalty for this infraction is IMMEDIATE EXPULSION from the competition.
d) Any delivery (kick, throw, or punch) of the ball by the goaltender from inside the penalty area must be touched by a player or touch the ground on the goalie’s half of the court. Violation of this rule results in an INDIRECT free kick awarded to the opposing team at mid-court.
e) The goalie cannot keep possession of the ball for more than five seconds. Violation of this rule results in an INDIRECT free kick awarded to the opposing team at mid-court.
f) Defending players must be at least ten feet from the ball on all free kicks.
g) The goaltender may not be obstructed. The penalty for obstructing the goalie is an INDIRECT free kick awarded to the offended team at the point of the obstruction.
h) Goalie safety is a priority. Behavior that endangers a goalie will result in a DIRECT free kick for the goalie’s team at mid-court.
5) SUBSTITUTIONS
a) Substitutions may be made on the fly, but the substituting player must enter play in the same area that the player subbing out departs play. Substitutions may not be made in a manner that creates an advantage for the subbing team. Violations of this stipulation will result in an INDIRECT free kick for the opposing team.
6) SCORING
a) A goal is scored when the entire ball has passed over the goal line, between the goal posts, and under the cross bar.
b) Teams can only score from inside their own offensive half of the court.
c) In the event of a tie, a five-minute sudden-death period will be played. If the game is still tied at the end of this overtime period, three free kicks (alternating) will be awarded to each team. A different player must take each kick and at least one kick must be taken by a female. This will continue until the winner is determined or three rounds of kicks have been completed without one team outscoring the other, in which case the match will be ruled a tie. The goalie must remain the same for all three free kicks (per round) unless an injury necessitates a change.
d) Free kicks used in the tie break procedure will be taken from beyond the penalty area.
7) COURT BOUNDARIES
a) The basketball three-point line designates the penalty area if matches are played East-West in the gym.
b) The only out-of-bounds areas are the three doorways on the East end of the gym.