2015 Northern Valley Soccer League

Indoor Soccer

Guidelines for Play

2015 NVSL indoor rules (link to download)

 

2015 Northern Valley Soccer League

Indoor Soccer

Guidelines for Play

 

The following are the rules of NVSL Indoor Soccer.  The rules are based on the PVISL (Pascack Valley Indoor Soccer League) rules as found on the website www.PVISL.com.

 

1. FACILITIES

1. Two goals (12 ft. Wide by 7 ft. High) each equipped with a net.
2. One Voit size 4 indoor (fuzzy yellow) soccer ball which is used for all divisions.
3. Penalty area is marked at NVOT is the gray box, NOT THE MAROON. 
4. Mats and/or tables are to be used to fill in gaps along bleachers.

 

2. TEAMS

1. Each town must enter teams in Divisions 78 (7^th/8^th grade), 56 (5^th/6^th grade), and 34 (3^rd/4^th grade), which are coed.
2. All players must be insured and registered through their respective recreation programs.
3. Teams’ roster sizes are unlimited, but rosters are suggested at double the number players playing on the court at one time.
4. Player can NOT play for another team in its same division, with the exception that a team is so shorthanded that the game could be cancelled.
5. Players can play up an age group an unlimited number of times.
6. Players on PVISL rosters can be rostered on NVSL teams if they are deemed “alternates” on the PVISL teams by their respective towns.  An alternate is a player who gets limited playing time for the PVISL team.
   1. 9 players from PVISL Div4 and Div5 rosters can not play NVSL
   2. 5 players from PVISL Div 3 rosters can not play NVSL

 

3. CONDUCT OF GAMES

1. The basic concept behind this program is to provide the youngsters with an opportunity to play indoor winter soccer.  The stress is and must remain on good clean fun. Excessive pressure by parents, spectators, and coaches will not be tolerated.  
2. Coaches, assistant coaches, town representatives, and assistant town representatives are responsible for the proper behavior of their players and spectators before, during and after the game. Coaches and assistant coaches can be punished by a yellow or red card or the town can be suspended from play for failing to carry out this rule.  Coaches who receive yellow cards are required to appear in front of the NVSL Board of Directors.
3. There are no restrictions as to clothing as long as a team shirt / color is worn. (Goalies must wear a neutral shirt color). Kneepads or sweatpants to protect against floor burns are acceptable.

 

4. REFEREES

1. The referees during the regular season will be our own coaches, parents, or local children from the high schools.  They will make mistakes, but will try their best.  Coaches and fans should treat them with respect.  If a problem needs to be addressed, coaches should address it in private with the referee at halftime or at the end of the game.  Offer suggestions at halftime or after the game if appropriate (do this constructively).  Yelling at a referee will not be tolerated in this league and can lead to suspension.
2. A call made by the referee, right or wrong, is the only and final call on the court and can not be changed.  Referees (as well as coaches and players) makes mistakes and are part of the overall game.

 

5. SAFETY

1. No games should be conducted without the presence of a first aid kit. It is the responsibility of each team to have a first aid kit at all times.
2. All players shall wear shin guards and eyeglass straps. Those requiring glasses are encouraged to wear sports safety glasses. Hats are not permitted.

 

 

 

 

 

6. DIVISIONS

Number of Players:            

• Division 78 (7th and 8th Grade)                               5 plus a goalie
• Division 56 (5th and 6th Grade)                               5 plus a goalie
• Division 34 (3rd and 4th Grade)                               6 plus a goalie

 

7. LENGTH OF GAMES

a)Prompt Starts:             

• Referees:  Time is precious and therefore the referee should be urged to always start on time, even if a team is short or there has been no warm up.
• Coaches:  Plan on the game starting at the exact start of the time slot.  Prior to the game, teams can stretch and warm up without a ball out in the hallway.  Do not plan on pre-game floor time.

b)All games will fall into a 50 minute time slot.  Therefore, all games regardless of division, should be limited to 20 min halves with no halftime.  At halftime, the teams will switch ends and a kickoff will ensue. [new in 2015]

c)All games must end promptly at the allotted time regardless of the time left in the game.  Therefore, if a game starts late, the duration of the halves must be shortened such that the games end by the end of the time slot. For example, a game that starts 10 minutes late should fall back to 15 minute halves so as to keep the schedule on track.  There are no time outs.

 

8. PRE-GAME PROCEDURES

a)Referee explains to the coaches the area of the goalie box

b)Referee reminds the coaches of the “indoor indirect rule”

c)Referee checks shinguards of players

d)Referee has coaches disclose playups and crossover players

e)Referee reminds coaches game ends at end of time slot or at end of two 18 minute halves, whichever comes first.

f)Referee reminds coaches that there is a limit to scoring.  A differential of 10 goals reached is an automatic loss for the team that reached that differential.  A maximum of a 5 goal differential will be the official score so there is no need to run a score to the maximum 9 goal differential.  For example a score of 8-1 will be officially recognized as 6-1 in the standings.  Coaches do NOT have to remove players at any point during the game.

 

9. APPLICATION OF OUTDOOR RULES

All outdoor rules (FIFA) apply indoors with the following exceptions:

1. no offside rule applies
2. no corner kicks (see exception later).
3. The start of the game, the start of the second half, and play after a goal, is restarted in the center of the gym. Opposing players must be 10 ft. from the ball at the start. The ball must be moved forward at the "kick-off".
4. Sliding and/or slide tackles are NOT permitted even if properly executed, except by the goalie within the box to save a goal, by referee discretion.
5. Goalie can not use hands if ball intentionally passed back from own player.  An infraction results in an indirect free kick taken by the opposition from a point on the penalty area line closest to the place of the infraction.

 

10. RULES REGARDING THE BALL IN PLAY

1. Whenever possible, play should not be interrupted. The ball bouncing off walls at the sides and ends are in play.
2. Each gymnasium will have its own special "ground rules" pertaining to what is "out". These must be explained to the referee and visiting coaches prior to the start of the game.
3. A ball striking a spectator is considered "out" only if, in the opinion of the referee, the spectator purposely re-directed the ball. A ball that goes into the bleachers but then back into play will not automatically result in stoppage of play.
4. Free kicks
   1. All free kicks are "Indoor INDIRECT".
   2. To score from a kick-off, a free-kick, or a corner kick, the ball must be touched first by a second attacking player.
   3. Opposing players must be 10 feet away from the ball on a free-kick, a kick in, and a kick off.
   4. The ball must travel at least the distance equal to the width of the ball before another attacking player may play the ball. An infraction of this rule will result in the awarding of a free kick to the opposition at the same point.
   5. When a ball goes ‘out’ over a sideline, the opposing team is awarded a kick-in, (not a throw-in).
   6. Fouls, deliberate ‘hands’, sliding, etc. by a defending player inside his own penalty area results in a penalty kick. Outdoor penalty kick rules apply. 
   7. All outdoor rules pertaining to fouls, unsportsmanlike conduct apply. Infractions result in a free kick.
   8. On a free kick, kick-in, penalty kick, or kick-off, the kicker may not play the ball again until another player has touched the ball even though it may have hit a wall, goal post, or grandstand. A violation will result in a free kick for the opposition.
   9. Striking the ceiling results in a free-kick, below the point where the ball struck the ceiling.
   10. An attacking player cannot score from his own half of the gymnasium, unless the ball is touched by another attacking player in the defenders half of the gymnasium.
5. Free-kick from centerline
   • If the goalie’s throw in crosses the center line without first touching a player, wall, or floor.
   • If the goalie kicks or punches the ball over the centerline from inside his own penalty area and the ball does not first touch a player, a wall, or floor before crossing the center line.
   • If the goalie kicks the ball over the center line from outside his penalty area after having touched the ball with his hands without touching a wall, player, or the floor.
6. Corner kicks

• If a defending player strikes the ceiling within his own penalty area.
• If, in the opinion of the referee, a defender deliberately kicks the ball into the end-line obstruction or behind the goal in an effort to gain a goalie’s throw in, the defending team is penalized with a corner kick.

• If team has too many players on the floor.
• If substitute enters a game before the player he is replacing is off the floor.
• If goalie takes too many steps after gaining control of the ball.
• If goalie fails to remain behind his touch-line when taking an "awarded" throw in.

 

11. LIMITS ON SCORING

A differential of 10 goals reached is an automatic loss for the team that reached that differential.  A maximum of a 5 goal differential will be the official score so there is no need to run a score to the maximum 9 goal differential.  For example a score of 8-1 will be officially recognized as 6-1 in the standings.  Coaches do NOT have to remove players at any point during the game.

 

12. RULES APPLYING TO THE GOALIE

a)A player may only play goalie for one half of the game.

2. Goalie must wear a neutral colored shirt.
3. Play stops when goalie has hands or arms around the ball, regardless of control.  Players may not dislodge a ball from the goalie’s control.
4. Goalies return the ball into play with a "throw-in". The ball must strike the floor, a wall, or a player prior to crossing the half-line. Otherwise a free-kick is awarded to the opposition at the half-line where the ball crossed the line.
5. Goalie Throw-In

• A ball striking ANY part of a basketball assembly ABOVE the goal is a dead ball resulting in a goalie throw-in.
• A ball lodged behind the goal results in a goalie throw-in.
• If a ball is unplayable after going over the end-line the defending goalie gets the ball for a throw-in, regardless who kicked the ball over the end-line.
• Throw-in may not be touched by a player from either team until the ball has passed outside the penalty area. A violation results in another goalie’s awarded throw-in.
• The goalie must throw-in the ball from the point where he caught the ball, or where he arose from the ground. A goalie may not run up to the edge of the penalty box to throw-in. A goalie may take reasonable evasive action to avoid collisions. An infraction of this rule results in a corner kick.
• If a goalie is awarded a throw-in without having first captured the ball (the ball hitting the basketball assembly, ball lodged behind the goal etc.) he must take the throw-in from behind the goalies TOUCH LINE which is located three (3) feet in front of the goal line. Violation results in a corner kick.

6. If a goalie touches the ball with his hands outside the penalty area, the opposition is awarded a free kick from the point of the infraction.
7. If a goalie kicks or punches the ball from inside his penalty area over the half-line without first touching a wall, the floor, or another player, the opposition is awarded a free-kick at the half-line at the point where the ball crossed the line. A goalie, however, may take a free kick from inside his own penalty area, in which event, this rule does not apply.
8. Outside the penalty area, the goalie is like any other "field" player. However, once the goalie has touched the ball with his hands, he may not kick the ball over the half-line regardless of the fact that he is outside the penalty area. (This rule is designed to prevent the goalie from rolling the ball to himself outside the penalty area in order to kick it over the half-line). An infraction of this rule results in a free kick at the half-line.
    

13. COURTESY AND DISCIPLINE

1. When a kick-off, a kick-in, a free kick, a corner kick, an awarded keeper’s throw-in, or a penalty kick is awarded, play may not resume until after a referee’s whistle.
2. A referee whistle stops play and another whistle from the referee restarts a play.
3. A referee may issue a yellow card to a player, coach, or assistant coach for a serious infraction of the rules or a repeated minor one. A "yellow-carded" player is benched for a minimum of two minutes and may not return to the game until advised by the referee. A substitute may take the "excused" player’s place. Two yellow card infractions by a player within a single game constitute a red card. Further, three yellow cards accumulated by a player during the season and play-offs will result in an automatic one game suspension.

 

14. STANDINGS

a) Standings will be kept during the regular season.  A team receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss, and -1 points for a forfeit.  Standings are ordered by points per game played since there may be an imbalance in the schedule for games played.

b) Games cancelled due to gym conflicts or weather do not have to be made up.  Unfortunately teams with less games due to scheduling conflicts might not be able to make up the game.

c) Every team makes the playoffs, so standings are only a formality for seeding in the playoffs.

d) Tiebreakers after points are goals against, then goal differential.  Since goals against are a high priority, emphasis should be on defense in a close situation.

 

15. PLAY-OFF RULES

1. Every team makes the playoffs.
2. Seeds will be determined by regular season standings.
3. All rules that apply to regular season games also apply to play-off games with the following exceptions:
4. Players can only play on one team in the playoffs, no playing up.
5. The referee flips a coin to determine which team kicks off at the start of the game. The highest seeded team calls the coin flip. The winner has the choice of taking the ball or defending a certain goal.
6. Goalie can play the whole game
7. 20 minute halves
8. If tied after regulation, 5 minute sudden death overtime
9. If tied after overtime, 3 player shootout
10. If tied after shootout, 1 player shootout until winner
11. Shootout rules
    1. The goalie that was in the goal at the end of the game must remain in the goal during the shoot-out, unless injured during the shoot-out.
    2. Before the shoot-out starts, each coach must select the three kickers and place them in the order in which they are to kick. First three kickers are seated on the floor, behind the penalty spot in the order in which they are kicking. No other players or civilians are allowed on the floor.
    3. The referee flips a coin. The winner of the coin toss may choose whether to kick first or second.
    4. There is a gray penalty spot at NVOT which reside outside the penalty area.  The ball must be placed on the spot and must be kicked from there. The ball must be at rest when kicked.
    5. First three designated kickers alternate between teams shooting penalty kicks. The ball must cross the goal line 100% to count.
    6. Kicker must wait for referees whistle before proceeding.
    7. The kicker gets only one kick. The ball may not be dribbled nor may the kicker follow up if the ball bounces off the goalie, wall, or goal-post.
    8. The kicker must return and sit in the proper order with his team.
    9. The goalies feet must be on the goal-line and he may not move prior to the kick. Moving prior to the kick may cause the referee to order the kick to retaken. If a goal is scored even though the goalie moved before the kick, the goal counts. Per FIFA rules, the goalie may move side to side but not forward.