Laurier Recreation - Waterloo Campus

Team Composition 

• Rosters may not be larger than 20 total players 
• A maximum of 11 of players including the goalkeeper are permitted on the field at one time 
• For the Co-Ed league, there can be no more than 8 players of any one gender on the field at one time 
• A game may not proceed with less than 7 players. An exception can be made if an injury occurs during a game 

Game Procedures 

• Each game will consist of two 25-minute periods with a 5-minute intermission in-between. The league (convenor and referee) has the discretion to shorten the game if it starts late 
• Teams will switch ends for the second half of the game 
• A coin toss will decide which team starts with the first kickoff. The team that does not start with the ball at the beginning of the game will start with the ball at the beginning of the second half. If a coin is not available, the team captains may play rock, paper, scissors 
• Goals are scored when the whole ball passes over the goal line between the goalposts and under the crossbar 
• Games can end in a draw if no goals are scored, or an equal number of goals are scored 
• During playoffs, games that end in a draw will be decided through a series of 5 penalty kicks. Each player on the roster including the goalkeeper must shoot before a player may take a second shot. The team with the most successful penalty kicks will be determined the winner. If it is tied after 5 shooters, the penalty kicks will continue in sudden death format, however each team will receive an equal number of kicks 
• Default score will result in 1-0 
• If both teams default, it will result in a score of 0-0 
• Substitutions for goalkeepers must be done during stoppages, whereas substitutions for outfield players may be done on the fly 

Rules of Play

Small Sided Laws of Ontario Soccer will be used with the following adaptations.

• Games will be played on a regulation soccer field with markings designated for soccer 
• The objective of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team. Goals are scored when the whole ball passes over the goal line, between goal posts and under the crossbar 
• The start of the match, after a goal, and the start of the second half will begin with a kickoff 
  • You can score a goal directly from a kickoff 
• When a kickoff occurs 
  • All players must be on their own half 
  • The ball must be stationary on the centre mark 
  • The referee will blow the whistle to start or restart play 
  • The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has been in contact with another player 
• Dropped balls occur when the referee has whistled for a temporary stoppage and play is being restarted 
  • The referee will drop the ball where play was stopped and assign a team to restart the play 
  • If the play was stopped inside the penalty area, the ball will be placed nearest to where the ball was located when the play was stopped and along the penalty area line that is parallel to the goal line 
• Throw-ins are awarded when the ball crosses either of the touch lines 
• Referees may play advantage to a team when a violation has occurred. For example, the referee may play advantage until they have deemed a player to have returned onside 
• Offsides occur when any part of an offensive player is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent 
• A player who is offside will only be penalized by becoming involved in the active play before they have returned onside. A player can be considered involved in the active play without touching the ball. The referee may have some discretion over offsides depending on the level of play 
• Offsides do not apply during goal kicks, throw-ins, and corner kicks 
• Fouls include the following: kicking an opponent, tripping, jumping at an opponent, charging, striking an opponent, pushing, slide tackles, contacting an opponent before touching the ball, holding an opponent, spitting, handling the ball deliberately and the goalkeeper handling the ball outside the penalty area or when passed to by a teammate 
  • Fouls will be called at the discretion of the referee and may include any attempts 
  • Additional disciplinary action may also be enacted such as a game ejection or suspension depending on the severity of the foul 
• Goal kicks are awarded if the ball makes last contact with an offensive player before it goes over the defending team’s goal line (but not in the net). All goal kicks are indirect 
• Drop kicks or throws must be taken 6 seconds after the goalie attains possession 
• Corner kicks are awarded if the ball makes last contact with a defensive player before it goes over the defending team’s goal line (but not in the net) 
• Free kicks will be awarded for fouls that occur beyond the goalkeeper’s box, unless the referee deems the play a clear scoring chance or the infraction is deemed within the box 
  • Free kicks may be direct or indirect as per the referee’s discretion 
  • Indirect free kicks must touch two (2) players before it is considered in play (the kicker and another player) 
  • All defending players must be at least ten (10) metres from the ball 
• Penalty kicks are rewarded for fouls within the box. Penalty kicks are taken 12-feet from the goal line 
  • The goalkeeper must stay on their line until the kick has been taken 
  • The ball must touch another player before the kicker may touch it again. An indirect free kick is awarded if an infringement occurs