Women's Soccer League Rules

All players must register with the Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department prior to participating in their first game.

Teams will consist of six field players and one goalkeeper. Each team may have a maximum of (15) players and a minimum of ten (10) players. Exceptions may be appealed to the team managers or league director.

To avoid forfeits, players playing in previous games may be eligible to play in a second game with another team as long as all coaches agree.

Teams need a minimum of five players to start the game or a forfeit is declared. Should a team start with five and lose a player to injury or ejection, the game will be considered abandoned (the team with at least five players will be awarded 1 goal and the team with four players will be awarded 0). If one team is playing with less than seven players the other team can field a full seven and is not required to play down in numbers. Note: after a forfeit has been declared a "just for fun" scrimmage may be played. All teams have a ten-minute grace period after the designated start time to field minimum five players. If both teams have minimum five players by the designated start time, the referee will start the game.

Substitutions can be performed at any time during the game. You do not need the referee's attention or permission to substitute. However, players being substituted must be out of the play when substitute enters the playing area and both must slap hands during substitution.

Players may be added to a team at any time during the season. They will be allowed to pay only $15 to play after October 9.

There is no off-side unless a player is camping-out in the opponents penalty area.

All free kicks will be called per FIFA rulebook. See rule #9. You can score directly from an untouched corner kick.

All opposing players must allow 10 yards clearance from the placement of the ball for any free kick (except when the ball is within 10 yards of the penalty area) until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper's feet may not leave the line until the ball is kicked, but she may move laterally along the line.

Penalty kicks will be taken at the penalty mark (a spot 12 yards from the center of the goal line). All players must be at least 10 yards from the placement of the ball and outside the penalty area until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper's feet may not leave the line until the ball is kicked, but she may move laterally along the line.

All goal kicks will be taken from the end line within 10 yards of either side of the goal post. The ball must leave the penalty area before it can be played and considered in play. If touched before it leaves the penalty area, the kick will be retaken.

Once the ball is under control, the goalkeeper may only take four steps (and will have a count of five) before she must release the ball into play.

Players are encouraged to use gentlemen's rules on out of bound calls. All disputed calls will be left to the center referee's decision.

Team captains will be responsible for educating their players about league philosophy and rules.

If no referee is present at scheduled game time and no replacement can be found, teams may elect to play without a referee by mutual consent.

All team captains are instructed not have players standing in the opponent's penalty area (goal hanging), when the ball is on the other side of the field and is not being kicked forward by the offense. This is a gentlemen's rule to be administered by the team captains not the referee. Please inform your spectators.

No opposing player may intentionally charge the keeper once the ball is in control.

Players, coaches and referees will remember that fun, friendship and fitness are the goals of this league. Players are expected to stay in control of their own forward motion for the safety of themselves and others.

Players may be carded for repeated rough or aggressive play, whether or not it is in violation of FIFA law. Judgement of aggressive play will be left to the discretion of the referee.

Each team shall appoint one player to bring an ice chest filled with ice and several plastic bags for dealing with injuries and dehydration.

Unless otherwise noted above, the referee will use FIFA laws when calling a game (those in effect on the day league play begins), but no linesmen will be used. Referees will make an effort to educate players to the laws of the game as circumstances allow.

Nets will be stored by the referee, but put up and taken down by the Over 25 League players.

Referees will deposit scorecards in to Recreation Center drop box following each Sunday's games and will be paid directly by the Georgetown Recreation Department.

A game will consist of four (4) twenty (20) minute quarters. The breaks between quarters will be two (2) minutes and the break at half time will be five (5) minutes. Quarters may be shortened by mutual consent of team managers. There are no overtime games during the regular season.

By agreement of both teams, if the air temperature is above 85 degrees, each quarter will be reduced to 15 minutes by the referee. By agreement of both team captains, quarters may be further reduced to 12 minutes.

Rainouts will be posted on the RAINOUT NUMBER (512) 931-7719 by noon each Sunday. If there is no message about the games, we will plan on playing them as scheduled. The referee will be the judge of field and weather conditions at game time and once the games have started.

The first rainout games will be made up as indicated on the schedule. They will be played at their originally scheduled times and will be scored normally. By agreement of all team captains at the organizational meeting, any rainouts which can not be rescheduled on these days may be rescheduled as scrimmages during time slots allocated for byes on the regular schedule.

League scoring will be as follows:

• TIE = 2 points
• GOALS = 1 extra point (maximum of 3 for one game) to scoring team
• LOSS = 0 points
• FORFEIT = no points for loser, 6 for the winner
• SHUTOUT= 1 point

Mutually agreed upon forfeits will be scored as scoreless tie.

A red card will be cause for an automatic ejection. Players receiving a red card must sit out the next league game. Two (2) yellow cards in one game will result in a red card being issued.

No slide tackles are allowed in this league. An intentional slide tackle will result in a red card being issued.

Red cards will be issued for intentional handballs in the penalty area (except the goalie). Referees will use their judgement to assess player skill level and the use of the hand. A yellow card may be issued to lower level skilled players.

If in the judgement of the referee, a player has a clear goal scoring opportunity and they are interfered with by an obstruction, a yellow card will be issued.

There will be a 5-minute mandatory break for anyone receiving a yellow card. Two (2) yellow cards in one game will result in a red card being issued.

Policing/eliminating the use of profanity is the responsibility of the team captain. The team captain must control yelling at or attempted intimidation of the referee. The captains are the only individuals allowed to discuss any game situation with the referee. Players and /or teams will typically receive a warning. A yellow card will be issued for continued use of profanity.

All players must wear shin guards and socks covering the entire guard. Shoes must be approved soccer cleats or non-cleated athletic shoe.

No jewelry (except conforming to the body i.e. wedding band) can be worn. Earrings, watches, necklaces and bracelets must be removed. Hats are restricted to soft foam billed visors. All glasses must be secured by an elastic strap.

All team members must have same color jersey to play. Different shades of the same color will be acceptable. Numbers are suggested but not required.