1. The referees apply the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rules.
2. Gee-Gees Recreation has introduced a number of modifications to better comply with the philosophy and objectives of its intramural programs:
Team/Player Eligibility
- Players must remove all jewelry before entering the field of play. This includes electronic fitness devices such as the ‘Fitbit’ bracelet.
- Jeans, flip-flops, boots or any other equipment that the referee deems unsafe for the participants are not allowed on the field.
- Shin guards are optional, but recommended for the safety of the participants. Metal cleats are not allowed.
- A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than five players on the field with their Intramural shirt to start a game.
- Should a player become injured during the game and be no longer able to continue play, causing the team to fall below the minimum required of players; the team may play one player down to a minimum of 5 players on the field.
Game Format
- Games are 44 minutes in length, divided into a 5 minute warm-up, two 22 minute halves and a 1 minute halftime. If, for any reason, the game should begin late, time will not be added to the game.
- No game shall end in a tie. Penalty kicks will occur at the end of regulation time with 3 players from each team alternately attempting a penalty kick in the first round. Players must be on the field of play at the conclusion of the game to be eligible to attempt a penalty kick. The team with most goals after 3 kicks shall be declared the winner.
- If the game is still tied, additional penalty kicks shall be attempted, alternately by members of the two teams who have yet to attempt a penalty kick until one team has more goals than the other after each team has attempted an equal number of penalty kicks. Players cannot attempt to score twice, unless all eligible players have participated. Players who are penalized at the end of the regulation time are not eligible to participate.
- If a 10-goal differential is reached at any point in the match, the official game clock will stop, and the score will be finalized at that differential. To maximize playing time and keep the environment fun, the teams may continue to play a friendly/scrimmage match for the remainder of the time slot. The referee will stay to officiate the remainder of the match.
Rules Governing Play
- Kick-ins are indirect.
- A player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area/bench area.
- The required distance on any free kick for the opponents is 6 yards (5.5 meters) from the ball. The required distance on kick-ins is 3 meters.
- There is no limit to the number of substitutions during a game, but a substitution can only be made during (any) stoppage in play, and only at the referee’s discretion.
- There shall be no offside offences.
- Absolutely NO slide tackling allowed by any player (including the goalkeeper).
- Slide tackling is defined as a tackle in soccer in which a player attempts to disrupt the play, or take possession of the ball away from an opposing player by deliberately leaving their feet and sliding along the ground with one leg or both legs extended to block or push the ball away from the opposing player. The slide tackle is committed against an opponent within playing distance.
- The fact that contact with the ball was made first does not mean that the tackle is legal.
- A player may slide to block a shot or save a ball from going out of bounds, providing they are not near any other player (their team or opposing team). This decision is based on the referee’s discretion.
- A direct free kick will be awarded to the opposing team. The infringement may result in a caution (yellow card) or dismissal (red card) for the offending player at the discretion of the referee, depending on the gravity of the infraction.
- The goalkeeper may slide hands first to make or attempt a save while inside the goal area. Once the goalkeeper leave the goal area, they are subject to the same rules as fielded players.
- If the goal keeper slide tackles a player feet first, an indirect free kick is to be awarded if the tackle would have been deemed legal under FIFA regulations. A caution (yellow card) is to be awarded for dangerous play if the tackle is considered careless under FIFA regulations. The play is restarted with a penalty kick if the offence occurred in the penalty area. A red card (dismissal) is to be awarded if the tackle is considered reckless or with excessive force under FIFA regulations. The play is restarted with a penalty kick if the offence occurred in the penalty area.
- A player receiving a yellow card will serve a 2 minute penalty while their team plays a player short for the duration of the penalty or a goal against.
- A player receiving a red card will be ejected from the match while their team plays a player short for 5 minutes despite the number of goals against.
- A goalkeeper receiving a yellow card does not have to serve a 2 minute penalty, they may stay on the field. However, one of their teammates must serve the 2 minutes penalty for them.
- If a card is handed out to both teams on the same play, the teams will play 6v6. If a team scores a goal before the end of the penalty, the two teams will still play 6v6 until the end of the penalty.
Defaults
- A default takes place if, after a 5 minute warm-up and 5 minute grace period, one of the two teams a) has fewer than 5 players (wearing the intramural t-shirt) on the field b) has fewer than 2 female athletes on the field(for mixed leagues).
- In the event of a default, the recorded score will be 3-0 in favour of the team with the appropriate number and composition of player