Division of Student Affairs

Intramural Soccer Rules

1. Duration of the Game - The game will be divided into two halves. Each half will be 18 minutes long. The game clock stops on a timeout or injury/officials timeout. Teams intentionally delaying the game shall be penalized. Halftime will be a maximum of three minutes in length.
2. Timeouts - There will be one timeout allowed per game. The timeout shall last one minute.
3. Substitutions - A team may have free substitution when in possession of the ball when the ball is not in play. Players must report to the official when coming into the game.
4. The Off-side Rule - There is no off-side rule.
5. Free Kicks - Free kicks are classified as follows: Direct, from which a goal can be scored directly, or Indirect, which means a goal cannot be scored until the ball has been touched by another player.
6. Direct-free Kicks - Direct-free kicks are awarded for major infractions of these rules and personal misconduct. Offenses for which a direct-free kick is given includes:
   1. offenses committed with the hands or arms (i.e., handling the ball, holding, using hands or arms on an opponent in order to reach the ball, pushing, and striking);
   2. offenses committed with the feet and legs (kicking, tripping, use of the knee, high kicking, etc.)
   3. offenses committed with the body (charging from behind, charging violently, and charging an opponent who has both feet off the ground).
   4. offenses involving the goalkeeper while he/she is in the penalty area and intentionally throwing or striking an opponent with the ball by the goalkeeper.
   5. offenses concerning unsportsmanlike conduct (arguing with the official, ungentlemanly conduct, dangerous play, failure to leave the field of play after being asked to do so, etc.)
   6. No Slide Tackles - Players may not slide tackle an opponent when he/she has possession of the ball. Penalty - Direct Kick
7. Indirect Free Kicks - Indirect free kicks are awarded for minor infractions of the rules and for technical violations. Offenses for which an indirect free kick is given includes:
   1. offenses concerning a player kicking the ball a second time before it is played by another player (kick-off, free kick, corner kick and goal kick if the ball has passed outside the penalty area)
   2. offenses committed during the penalty kick (ball not kicked forward)
   3. offenses involving the goalkeeper (carrying the ball by the goalkeeper more than four steps and delaying the game by not getting rid of the ball, throw/kick on fly over midfield line)
   4. offenses involving persons on the sidelines (substitutions when the ball is not dead or out of play, a substitute failing to report to the official)
   5. offenses concerned with improper charging, interfering with goalkeeper, obstruction other than holding
   When a free kick is being taken, all members of the opposing team must remain 10 yards away from the ball until it is in play, i.e. until it has traveled the distance of its circumference.
8. Tie Game - There will be no tie games. To break a tie, Sudden Death Penalty Kicks will take place. The first team to make their penalty kick with their opponent missing their attempt will be declared the winner. No player may kick twice until every member of his/her team has kicked once.
9. Shoes other than tennis shoes or shoes with molded rubber soles or cleats are illegal.
10. All other rules pertaining to Intramural Outdoor Soccer will be governed by the NCAA Soccer Rulebook.
11. Goalkeeper Restrictions - The goalkeeper may not throw or kick the ball past the midfield line.