Mesilla Valley Soccer League

Men’s Over-30 Division

Spring 2006

GENERAL INFORMATION

• 5 v 5 rules were derived from Futsal but most of the rules will more closely align with FIFA Laws.

• All games are on Fridays, at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m., at Burn Lake fields, unless otherwise notified.

• Team must be present 30 minutes prior to game time to help set-up fields.

• Teams are responsible for setting up and taking down goals.

• Players must be prepared to check-in with officials 15 minutes prior to game time. The minimum number of players needed to start a game is four; the minimum players required on the field after the start is three; one player must be the goalie.

• Each team should supply 2-3 balls for the game, to save time retrieving balls.

• All players must wear same color jerseys (team’s color), and goalies must wear neutral color.

• Only registered players are authorized to play.

• A team may use guest players who are registered players from another team in this same division and who present a player pass card, but only with the approval of the opposing team’s representative. The result of the game will be final, and will not be subject to protest. The number of guest players is limited to three and as regular team members appear after the start of the game they must replace a guest player of their choosing.

• After the first game, only players with an official player pass card (with a current photo, signed and totally laminated) will be allowed to play.

SEASON FORMAT

• Teams will play round robin format, with all teams playing 10 games within their pool. Go to www.mesillavalleysoccer.net for complete schedule and playoff format.

• Points will be awarded as follows: Win = 3 points, Tie = 1 point, Loss = 0 points

5 v 5 GAME RULES

• Game Time: Each half is 30 minutes, and if game starts late, each half will be reduced. A two minute time out per half is allowed for each team.

• Kick-off: Requires a 5-yard opponent distance, and first touch can go forward or backward.

• Sidelines: Midfield line of large field, and the 18-yard lines.

• Out of Bounds (Kick-ins): Ball is put in play from outside sidelines with stopped ball on the ground.

• Goalie Area: Goalie can handle ball with hands within 5-yard box. Provided the goal keeper throws the ball in play on his half of the pitch, play-backs to the keeper are allowed at any time; however, the keeper may not touch with their hands if deliberately kicked by teammate or kick-in by teammate.

• Corner Kicks: Taken same as 11 v 11 game.

• Goal “Kicks”: Goalie puts ball in play with hand-pass, but pass cannot go past midfield, restart of infraction is an indirect free kick at the half-way line. Goalie can also put ball down and dribble down field, but cannot pick-up ball again.

• Offside: No offside.

• Penalty Kick: Taken from midfield, with no goalie.

• Substitutions: Players must substitute at midfield, with referee’s permission, and ball stoppage is not necessary, except for goalie changes.

• Fouls: All fouls result in indirect kicks, except those resulting in penalty kicks.

• Goalie fielding a ball during course of play: The goalie may kick or throw the ball if he picks up the ball during the course of play, but it still may not go past half-field (just as with a goal “kick”).

• Slide Tackling: There is absolutely no slide tackling allowed in the O-30 division. However, you are allowed to slide to field the ball, so long as there is no opposing player within playing distance (usually 2-3 feet) of the ball. The goalie is the only exception to this rule. He may slide within his 5-yard box. Once he leaves that box, though, he is just like any other player and the no slide tackling rule applies.

• Contact: This is a no contact league. No contact is allowed except for shoulder charges. It is the referee’s discretion as to what he/she deems contact, and he/she should remain consistent throughout the game with the level of contact allowed.

• Other: All other FIFA Laws apply.

The Board of Directors may make changes to the rules as necessary.