A. Players/Substitutes
1. Games will be played with ten (10) players. A team must begin and/or end play with a minimum of seven (7) players.
2. Substitutes must report to and be recognized by the referee before entering the game. Unlimited substitutions may be made during any goal kick, the substituting team's corner kick, the substituting team's throw-in, when a goal is scored, when an injured player is being attended to on the field, and when a player is cautioned or disqualified.
3. There is no limit to the number of substitutions during a game.
4. Substitutes cannot take penalty kicks. Only a player on the field at the time of the foul may take the penalty kick.
5. The goalkeeper can switch positions with a player on the field at any time a substitute is allowed, provided the referee is informed before the change is made.
6. A team MUST substitute for a player who is bleeding. Officials can stop play immediately when there is an immediate dangerous situation/injury.

B. Time/Periods
1. Game time- two twenty (20) minute halves with a three-minute half time. The game clock is continuous and will not stop for a ball going out of play.
2. Teams are not allotted any time-outs. The referee may, however suspend time for injury, etc., if he/she deems it necessary.
3. GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME. Teams should report to the Coordinator a minimum of 15 minutes prior to the scheduled game time to complete the scorecard and checkout jerseys, etc. Legal team may give short team 10 minutes from game time to field a legal team or take the win by forfeit. Game clock starts at game time if the 10 minutes is awarded.

C. Scoring/Ties
1. A goal is scored when the whole of the ball has passed over the goal-line, between the goal posts and under the cross-bar, provided it has not been thrown, carried or intentionally propelled by hand or arm, by a player of the attacking team, except in the case of a goalkeeper, who is within his own penalty area.
2. A goal may be scored during play directly from a:
a. Direct free kick
b. Penalty kick
c. Corner kick
d. Drop ball
e. Goalkeeper's throw, punt, or dropkick (not allowed in indoor soccer)
f. Kickoff
g. Goal kick
3. A goal may not be scored during play directly from a:
a. Indirect free kick
b. Throw-in
c. Free kick into a team's own goal
4. A game ending in a tie will be decided by an overtime shootout/penalty kicks. Each team alternates kicks, with only the eight players from each team who were on the field at the end of regulation being eligible to participate as kicker or keeper. Every player on the field must attempt a penalty kick before any player can shoot a second time. Goalkeepers WILL shoot penalty kicks. In the event that a player who finished the game on the field becomes injured and cannot participate, substitutions will not be allowed and the shot will automatically be counted as a missed attempt. Substitutions for the goalkeeper may be made at any time during the shootout so long as the substitute is eligible to participate. Each team shall select five shooters for each round of the shootout. If the game is still tied after the five shooters from each team have kicked, another five shooters shall be chosen. There is no sudden victory in penalty shootouts.
5. Once a player who is taking a penalty kick begins his/her approach to the ball, they may not interrupt their movement by faking a kick, stopping or hesitating, then proceeding to kick the ball. Failure to kick the ball as stated in this rule results in a rekick. The goalkeeper may move laterally on the goal line. If the goalkeeper violates the provisions of the penalty kick such as moving off the goal line before the kicker contacts the ball, a rekick will be awarded if the shot is missed, but the goal will count if made. All players other than the goalkeeper and the kicker must be at least 10 yards from and behind the penalty kick line until the ball is kicked. Once kicked, it may be played by anyone other than the kicker. Someone else must touch it before being played again by the penalty kicker. Substitutes cannot take penalty kicks.

D. Players/Equipment
1. No boots, screw-in cleats, steel-cleated or hard-toed shoes are allowed. Tennis shoes, turf shoes or molded soccer cleats are recommended.
2. No jewelry is allowed (watches, earrings, necklaces, etc.).
3. Sweatbands on head or wrist are allowed-elastic type.

E. Starting the Game: After Goal/After Half time
1. A coin toss shall occur before the game. The team winning the toss shall have the option to choose the kick-off or defend a goal.
2. The game shall be started by a player taking a placekick (i.e., a kick at the ball while it is stationary on the ground in the center of the field of play) into his opponents half of the field of play. The ball must travel forward before another player can play it.
3. Every player shall be in his own half of the field and every player of the team opposing that of the kicker shall remain not less than 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked off.
4. The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.
5. A goal may be scored directly from a kick-off.
6. After a goal is scored, the game shall be restarted in a like manner by a player of the team losing the goal.
7. When restarting after halftime, ends shall be changed and a player of the team that did not kick off to start the game shall take the kick-off. 8. When restarting the game after a temporary suspension of play from any cause not mentioned elsewhere: the team with possession of the ball at the time the suspension of play was called shall be awarded an indirect kick at the point of possession, provided that immediately prior to the suspension the ball had not passed over the touch or goal lines. If neither team had possession of the ball, the referee shall perform a drop ball at the location of the ball when the suspension was called. 9. When any kick is used to begin play, opposing players must stand at least 10 yards from the ball. During a goal kick the ball is not regarded as in play until it leaves the penalty area.

F. Ball in/out of play
1. The ball is out of play:
(a) When it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline (sideline), whether on the ground or in the air.
(b) When the game has been stopped by the referee.
2. The ball is in play at all other times from the start of the match to the finish including if it rebounds from a goalpost or crossbar into the field of play.
3. The lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries. The touchlines (side lines) and goal lines, therefore, belong to the field of play.
4. If the defending team has touched the ball last when it crosses the goal line, (end line), then the attacking team is awarded a corner kick. The ball is placed in the corner of the field (placement on the lines is legal) and kicked into play. If the attacking team touched the ball last when it crossed the goal line (end line), then the defending team is awarded a goal kick. The ball is placed anywhere in the goal box and kicked by any defending player.
5. Both corner kicks and goal kicks are direct kicks.
6. When the ball passes over the touchline (sideline), the team that didn't touch it last will be awarded a throw-in at the spot the ball went out of bounds. The ball is put into play by using both hands simultaneously and with equal force. The ball shall be delivered from behind and over his/her head, while keeping both feet on or behind the touchline and in contact with the ground.
7. A free kick awarded to the defending team within its goal area may now be taken from any point within the goal area. This also applies to goal kicks.
8. A ball may be dropped in the penalty area, but not in the goal area. A drop occurs when: 1) the ball goes out-of-bounds off of two players simultaneously and the referee does not know who touched it last, 2) the ball becomes deflated, and 3) there is no clear possession of the ball when an injury occurs. A drop ball is administered 5 yards from the sideline when it goes out-of-bounds on the sideline, 5 yards from the end line outside of the goal area when it goes out-of-bounds on the end line, and at the spot it was blown dead when an injury occurs or when the ball becomes deflated. The official holds the ball at waist level and drops the ball between two opposing players and the ball must touch the ground before being played. If a player touches the ball before it hits the ground, the player is warned and if the same player does this twice, he/she receives a yellow card. A redrop occurs in the above instances.

G. Offsides
1. A player is in offside position if that player is nearer to an opponents' goal line than the ball, unless: (1) the player is in his/her own half of the field of play or (2) the player is not nearer to the opponents' goal line than at least two of the opponents.
2. A player shall only be penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate, that player is, in the opinion of the officials, either interfering with play or with an opponent or seeking to gain an advantage by being in that position.
3. There are no offsides if the ball is received directly from a throw-in, goal kick, or corner kick. Penalty: Indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction.

FOULS/MISCONDUCT
A. Penalties
 A direct free kick shall be awarded to the offended team from the spot closest to the infraction for the following offenses:
1. Deliberately kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
2. Deliberately tripping an opponent.
3. Deliberately jumping at an opponent.
4. Deliberately charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner.
5. Deliberately charging an opponent from behind.
6. Deliberately striking, attempting to strike, or spitting at an opponent.
7. Holding an opponent.
8. Pushing an opponent.
9. Deliberately handling the ball with hand or arm other than the goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area.
10. Charging the goalkeeper inside the penalty area unless the goalkeeper is obstructing the opponent or dribbling the ball with the feet. Outside the penalty area, the goalkeeper has no more privileges than any other player. Direct kick penalties called against the defensive team inside their own penalty area (18 yd. line) will result in a penalty kick.

B. An indirect free kick shall be awarded to the offended team from the spot nearest the infraction for the following offenses:
1. Playing in a manner considered dangerous by the referee, i.e. "dangerous play." (High kicks, playing the ball while prone on the ground).
2. When not playing the ball, intentionally obstructing an opponent, i.e. "obstruction."
3. Interfering with or impeding the progress of goalkeeper in possession of the ball. This includes the act of bouncing the ball or dropping the ball for a kick or attempting to throw the ball or tossing the ball in the air to re-catch.
4. When playing as goalkeeper, taking more than 4 steps while holding, bouncing, or throwing the ball in the air and catching it again without releasing it so that it is played or touched by another player of the same team outside of the penalty area or by a player of the opposing team either inside or outside of the penalty area.
5. A goalkeeper shall not intentionally parry the ball (a catch or controlled touch which is deflected down to the feet) and then touch it again with his/her hands before it has been played or touched by another player of the same team outside of the penalty area or by a player of the opposing team either inside or outside of the penalty area. 4-step rule in effect as above.
6. Indulging in tactics, which, in the opinion of the referee, are designed merely to hold up the game and thus waste time and so give an unfair advantage to a player's own team.
7. As the kicker on a kick-off, free kick, corner kick, or goal kick, playing the ball again beforeit has been touched or played by another player.
8. In case of body contact in the goal area between an attacking player and the opposing goalkeeper not in possession of the ball, the referee, as judge of intention, shall stop the game if, in his or her opinion, the action of the attacking player was intentional.
9. Intentionally obstructing the opposing goalkeeper in an attempt to prevent him/her from putting the ball into play.
10. Any infringement by the attacking team during a penalty kick.
11. If during a throw-in, the thrower plays the ball a second time before it has been touched or played by another player.
12. Goalkeeper touches the ball with his/her hands if it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a teammate.
13. Goalkeeper touches the ball with his/her hands if it has been "passed to" the goalkeeper by a teammate using trickery (i.e. played from the feet to the head and then headed back to the goalkeeper).
14. Goalkeeper touches the ball with his/her hands after receiving it directly from a throw-in by a teammate.
15. Delay tactics by the goalkeeper-in the referee's opinion, the goalkeeper in possession of the ball with hands or feet must not use delay tactics (waste time) and must play the ball within a reasonable time.

C. A player shall be cautioned (yellow card) for the following offenses:
1. Leaving or entering the field of play without first getting the signal from the referee.
2. Persistently infringing the rules of the game.
3. Showing by word or action dissent from any decision given by the referee.
4. Being guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct (i.e. unnecessary delay of game, holding a shirt orshorts, intentional handball to stop an attack).
5. During a free kick, dancing or making gestures in a way to distract an opponent.
PENALTY: A cautioned player shall be substituted for immediately and not return until the next legal substitution opportunity. The restart after a card has been issued shall be an "indirect free kick" awarded to the non-offending team from the spot of the ball when the referee stopped play, unless the game had been stopped for some other reason calling for a different restart. The Intramural Sports Program shall keep a record of yellow cards given in all games. Once a player has earned 2 behavior related yellow cards in the league, he/she must sit out the remainder of the current game and meet with the Protest Board prior to his/her next game. The Protest Board according to existing ejection procedures shall determine the duration of the player suspended. In the event that a player receives 2 behavior related yellow cards in the same game, the player will be ejected and the team WILL play shorthanded for the remainder of the game. NOTE: The exception to the cumulative yellow cards rule shall be non-sportsmanship related offenses such as wearing jewelry. Final decisions concerning sportsmanship issues shall be made on site according to the officials and Coordinator.

D. A player shall be ejected (red card) for the following infractions:
1. Being guilty of violent or serious foul play.
2. Using foul or abusive language.
3. Being guilty of misconduct after having received a caution (referee shall show both a yellow and a red card).
4. A player anywhere on the field (other than a goalkeeper within his/her own penalty area) intentionally handling a ball to prevent it from going into the goal.
5. An intentional foul by a player against an opponent who is moving toward his/her offensive goal with an obvious opportunity to score.
6. Slide tackle from behind.
7. Conduct which warrants ejection in the judgment of the referee.
PENALTY: A disqualified/ejected player (on the field/in the game) cannot be replaced (no substitution and team must play short for the remainder of the game). Ejected bench personnel or an ejected coach does not reduce the number of players on the field. The restart after a card has been issued shall be an "indirect free kick" awarded to the non-offending team from the spot of the ball when the referee stopped play, unless the game had been stopped for some other reason calling for a different restart.

E. Advantage clause: The referee shall refrain from penalizing when it would be an advantage to the offending team. When this occurs, the referee will signal that advantage is being called, and give the verbal indication "play on."

H. Participants should be aware that there is a risk of injury in participation of intramural sports due to the inherent nature of the activity. Individuals are encouraged to have a physical examination and to obtain adequate health and accident insurance prior to participation. Individuals participate in intramural activities at their own risk! Participants who are bleeding must be removed immediately from the game and may not return until the wound is properly covered. All soiled clothing must be changed before being allowed again in the game. Officials can stop play immediately when there is an immediate dangerous situation/injury.

For any additional information about the tournament, contact IMAN's Minister of Sports: Ambreen Parvez

This event is sponsored by IMAN, ISUM, and MSOFAU.

Last update 11/2003. Please send comments to iman_nsu@yahoo.com