SEVENTH – NINTH/TWELFTH GRADE DIVISIONS 

• The home team will provide either 2 or 3 referees per game. If there are 3, one will serve as a center referee and the other two will be linesmen. The linesmen should stay even the “next to last defender”.
• There are 2 halves of 30 minutes each.  The teams will alternate kickoff using a size 5 ball. Any game ending in a tie will be recorded as such. No overtime. No shootout.
• Only players and coaches registered with their league may be on the sideline.
• Maximum 11 players including the goalie, minimum 9 players including the goalie

•  If a team is short players, they must have all players on the field with no substitutions. The opposing team will play with an equal number of players plus one.

• Substitutions can be made before any kick-off, goal kick and on a team’s own throw in. Teams do not need referee permission to substitute on a kick-off.

• Poor sportsmanship or foul language will not be tolerated from anybody. This includes players, coaches and spectators.

•  If a player needs to be disciplined for poor sportsmanship, they will be given a yellow card for unsporting behavior or dissent and sent off.

• Players receiving a yellow card will leave the field and stand at the centerline for 2 minutes (time kept by coach). They may return to the game (or be subbed for) at the next substitution stoppage.

•  A player receiving a red card (or a 2^nd yellow) will be ejected from the game and must leave the team area. The team may substitute for the ejected player. After the game, the league commissioners of the two involved teams will discuss and review the red card violation and decide if any additional disciplinary action is warranted. The center referee will call the referee commissioner/coordinator following the game and report on the red card.

• If the problem is with a coach, they will be warned once. If the problem continues, the coach will be given a red card for using offensive, insulting or abusive language and instructed to leave the game area.

• If the problem is with a spectator, the coach will be instructed that he/she has one-minute to deal with the spectator and the referee will stop the game (not the clock) while they do. The referee will not restart the game until the coach has successfully dealt with the problem and it has ended. If the problem persists, the coach will be issued a yellow card  for delaying the restart of the game and then must ask the spectator to leave the game area. The referee will not restart the game until this has taken place.

• In the case of a “bad” throw-in, the ball goes to the other team. There are no re-do’s.
• The goalie will be called for a foul if he holds the ball more than 5-seconds
• Handballs will not be called unless it is intentional or gives the team committing the foul an advantage. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself: Did the hand play the ball or did the ball play the hand?
• There will be no touching of the goalie.  Offside shall be called.  Coaches and players are expected to know the difference between being  offside and being in an offside position.
• Slide tackling: This league does NOT allow the use of slide tackling. Players must stay on their feet. If the tackle is at the feet or legs of the opposing player, a card shall be issued. If the tackle is away from the body, tripping shall be called. If a player is persistent in slide tackling, a red card will be issued.
• If the goalie holds the ball more than 6-seconds the other team will receive an indirect kick from the edge of the penalty box closest to the goalie.
• Jewelry shall not be worn, this includes hair barrettes and earrings.