League Rules Indoor

CHARM CITY SOCCER LEAGUE
INDOOR LEAGUE RULES

BASICS

Knowledge of the Rules

Every player in the League is deemed to know ALL of the rules as set forth below; all players will be treated accordingly.

Alcohol and Trash

NO alcoholic beverages are allowed in (a) any of the Baltimore City property, (b) Baltimore City Parks/Recs indoor or outdoor venues, (c) DuBurns Arena, or (d) any other venue in accordance with the rules/regulations of that particular venue. Players will be responsible for any citations they receive in violation of this rule.
Teams are responsible for removal of any trash before leaving the fields. It is the responsibility of the League and its members to leave all soccer venues in a clean, trash fee condition.

PLAYERS/ROSTERS

Player Participation

All League participants must be at least 21 years old before the session starts. Any team found violating this rule will forfeit all of its games.
The League will have the right to request identification from any player throughout the regular season and any playoffs.

Team Representatives

Team Captain. Each team shall designate one (1) player to be the team captain. The Team Captain’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- To be the point of contact for communications between the League and their team; and
- To make sure that all players on the team are aware of all of the League rules and that their team’s players are following the League rules.
Assistant. Each team shall designate one (1) player to be the Assistant Team Captain. It is the responsibility of the Assistant to carry out the duties of the Team Captain in the event the Team Captain is unavailable or unable to do so.

Rosters

Number of Players. Each team shall have a minimum of twelve (12) players on their roster. There is no maximum to the number of players who may be on a roster.
Roster Due Date. It is each team captain’s responsibility to submit their team’s completed roster form to the League email address no later than two weeks and two days prior to the League’s first regular season game or such time as otherwise specified. Failure of a captain to do so may result in untimely delivery of team uniforms.
- In the event that a captain does not have all of the names of their team’s players at the time of the Roster Due Date, the captain may select shirt sizes/numbers and submit the final roster form to the League on or before the team’s first scheduled game.
Final Roster Due Date. Captains may add players to their rosters and make roster modifications (discussed below) until midnight on the day of the third game of the session. As of this date, all rosters will be considered final.
Player Not Listed on Roster. Any individual who is not listed on the team’s completed final roster will be considered a substitute player for that team.

Waivers

Each League player must sign a waiver form provided by the League before participating in their first game.
In the event a team brings in a substitute player during a regular season game, such substitute player must, if they have not already done so, sign a waiver before participating in any game.
Failure of a player to sign a waiver before participating in a game may subject that player’s team to a forfeit for that game(s).

Roster Modifications

Roster Changes. Team captains will have the ability to make changes to their rosters:
- Until midnight on the day of the third game of the session; or
- If, in the discretion of the League, such a change is agreed upon.
Roster Changes will be considered valid provided the following steps are met:

An email is sent to the League email identifying (1) your team, (2) the player to be removed, (3) the player to be added along with his/her complete roster information.

Any captain making Roster Changes understands and agrees that it is his or her responsibility to ensure that the new player receives the removed player’s jersey and Bar Card (if applicable, discussed under sponsorship).

Additional requirement if jerseys do not match. If the player to be added is not the same size jersey as the player to be removed, the Captain must make payment of $15 for a proper jersey for the player to be added. Such payment must be made by the roster change deadline.

Any Roster Changes not made in accordance with the above will be considered invalid and the team will be subject to disciplinary action in the discretion of the League.

Substitute Players

Everybody on each team has paid to play in the League. As a result, it is the League’s philosophy that players should be given the right to play and it is unfair to those players to have that right taken away from them by teams forfeiting.
Substitute players during the regular season
- Because everyone has paid to play, the League wants to do everything possible to avoid forfeits. Thus, substitute players are allowed during regular season games; provided:
Substitute players during the playoffs
- Not allowed, generally. As a result of feedback from Captains, the consensus opinion was not to allow substitute players during the playoffs. As a result, the determination has been made that no substitute players (e.g., those players not on the team’s roster as of the Final Roster Due Date).
- While the League recognizes that teams may fall short on players due to injuries, work, outside commitments, etc., the League encourages teams to have a sufficient number of players on the roster to account for these conflicts.
Any team that has a substitute player in violation of any of the above will forfeit the game(s) in which the illegal substitute player participated.

GAME PLAY/FORMAT

Season Format

Each team is guaranteed to play a minimum of eight (8) games over the course of the season.
Regular Season. The regular season will resemble a round-robin round as closely as possible.
- The length of the regular season will be determined by the number of teams in the league and the number of weeks in the session. A bye week may be necessary depending on the league schedule.
- In the event of a draw at the end of a regular season game, the game will end as a tie; no additional time or shootout will be granted.
Playoffs. The playoffs will follow the regular season and will be determined based on standings at the end of the Regular Season. The format and length of the playoffs will be determined by the number of teams in the league and the number of weeks in the session.
- In the event of a draw at the end of a playoff game, two 6-minute periods of additional time will be added (no golden goal). If, at the end of additional time, the score is still tied, the teams will determine a winner by penalty kicks.
Penalty Kick Shootout (Playoffs Only). In the event of a tie at the end of additional time, the game will be decided by penalty kicks.
- The team to take the first penalty kick is decided by a coin toss.
- The referee will decide which goal will be used.
- Teams will take turns taking penalty kicks until each team has taken five (5) penalty kicks.
  - At least two (2) of these penalties must be taken by female players.
  - No player is allowed to take a second penalty kick until all other Eligible Players have taken a kick first, including the goalkeeper.
  - Eligible Players. Eligible Players are those players on the field at the time the game clock expires.
  - If, after five penalty kicks, the teams have scored an equal number of successful kicks, sudden death rounds of one kick each are used until one side scores and the other does not.
    - For these additional penalty kicks, each team must alternate men and women, but may decide to start with either a woman or a man.
      - Subject to the above, no player is allowed to take a second penalty kick until all other Eligible Players have taken a kick first, including the goalkeeper.

Standings/Points

Teams will be ranked during the regular season based on the number of points their team has earned. Points will be awarded during the regular season as follows:
- Three (3) points will be awarded for a win;
- One (1) point will be awarded for a tie;
- Zero (0) points will be awarded for a loss.
In the event teams are tied in their total number of points at the end of the regular season, tie-breakers will be determined, in order, as follows:
- Head-to-head competition
- Goal differential
- Goals scored
- Number of wins
- Coin toss

Game Times

Games times will be determined based on the number of teams in the league and the number of weeks in the session. The League will make best efforts to post the Regular Season schedule no later than a week before the season begins.
- The League appreciates the flexibility of teams and players in case any adjustments need to be made.
Games will start on time.
- The referees, in their discretion, may allow for up to a three (3) minute grace period at the beginning of the game. This grace period will be subtracted from the allotted game time.
- There may be a slight delay in the scheduled start time of games during the playoffs if extra time or a shootout is required.

Game Clock

Running Clock. Except in the case of unusual delay, determined by the Referee, the Game Clock counts down continuously through each half and any period of additional time.
- Every regular season game will consist of two twenty-four (24) minute halves.
- Every playoff game will consist of two twenty-four (24) minute halves.
- The League may, in its discretion, change the format to four (4) twelve (12) minute quarters; such a change would only occur at the beginning of a season and never once the season has begun.
The game clock will be managed by a referee or League representative.
Additional Time. In the event of a draw at the end of a playoff game, six (6) minutes of additional time will be added (no golden goal). If, at the end of additional time, the score is still tied, the teams will determine a winner by penalty kicks.

Time Outs

Each team will be allowed one (1) time out for each half and one (1) time out for the full period of extra time.
A time out will last no more than one (1) minute.

Referees

Barring unforeseen circumstances, there will be no fewer than two (2) referees at each game.
Referees are responsible for making all calls during the game. The calls by the referees are final and are to be honored by the players.
- The League maintains the authority to override a referee’s decision, but will only do so if the League feels a referee has acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner.

Number of Players

Each team will have no more than six (6) players on the field at one time, at least two (2) of which shall be women.
- A minimum of five (5) players will be required to begin a game.
- A team may start a game with one (1) woman player on the field, but the team must play down a player.
- A team that does not have one (1) woman player on the field to start the game is subject to a forfeit.
- No team may have more than four (4) men on the field at one time.

Substitutions

Free substitutions on the fly will be allowed during game play.
Guaranteed substitutions will be allowed during stoppages due to the ball being out of play.

Game Ball

Game ball must be a size 5 ball
Each team must provide a game ball for each game.

Team Bench

The members of the team on the team’s bench are not in the field of play. However, they are still subject to League rules and may be penalized in the same manner as players on the field.

Uniforms

The League will provide shirts or jerseys to each player listed on the team’s completed final roster as of the Roster Due Date.
- The League’s priority is to provide uniform colors to teams such that two teams will not have the same color uniforms and play each other. In light of this, the League will make best efforts to provide each team with their desired color of uniforms, but does not guarantee to be able to do so.
- Any uniforms up to and including size “XL” are included in the standard price of the League. If a team needs a uniform size larger than an “XL”, an additional $3 fee will be required for that uniform.
- If any roster modifications are made (in accordance with League rules), the team captain will provide the new player with the old player’s uniform. If such modification would not enable the new player to wear the old player’s uniform (e.g., the new player is a ‘Large’ and the old player is a ‘Small’), an additional uniform may be purchased for the new player for $15.
If players would like an additional shirt, or need to replace a lost shirt, additional shirts can be purchased for $15.00. Shirt orders will go in prior to the season and after the third week of the season.
Except for goal keepers, players are required to wear the League uniform for all games in order to be eligible to play. Any player not wearing his/her uniform for any game will be considered a substitute player for that game.
- Exception: If a player has been added to the roster after the Roster Due Date and has not yet received his or her shirt, that player may play with a shirt of his or her team’s color until such time as the uniform is received, at which time the uniform must be worn in order to be eligible to play.
- The numbers on the uniforms will be used to track goals scored and cards received by the players.
Goalkeepers shall wear a jersey color distinguished from all other field players and from the Referees.
Players must wear appropriate indoor footwear.
Shin guards are highly recommended by the League, but are not required to be worn.
No jewelry is allowed to be worn during games. Non-dangling earrings may be worn provided tape is used to cover them.
Glasses should not be worn while playing. If a player is required to wear prescription glasses to play, that player may wear such glasses at his or her own risk.

Home Team v. Visiting Team

The home team for each game is listed second on the schedule. In any case where two teams with the same (or substantially similar) shirts or jerseys are playing one another, the visiting team must wear pennies or different color shirts.
The visiting team will start with the ball at the beginning of the game. The home team will start with the ball at the beginning of the second half. If the game is played using quarters instead of halves, the teams will alternate starting with the ball, accordingly.
A coin toss will determine who starts with the ball in any period of extra time.

Scoring

A team scores a goal when the whole of the ball legally passes over the Goal Line.
- A goal may be scored directly from a Kickoff or Restart.
No female touch is required before scoring.

Sportsmanship

The League expects its participants to behave in a sportsmanlike manner on and off the field. The League understands that players and teams can become quite intense as the level of competition rises; nevertheless, the League expects that players will be able to exercise sufficient self-control. Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated and will result in a player or team being suspended or removed from participating in the League.
- If any issues arise with players, referees, League staff or others, the team captain will be the only player entitled to address the issue with the referee or the League. Issues or complaints from players on the team other than the team captain may not be addressed.
Penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct:
- A referee, in the referee’s discretion, has the right to give any player(s) a card commensurate with the nature and degree of the unsportsmanlike conduct.
- League staff has the right to impose any disciplinary action on any player in the League, which disciplinary action shall be commensurate with the nature and degree of the unsportsmanlike conduct.

Penalty Cards

Blue and Yellow Cards. A blue or a yellow card is shown by the referee to indicate that a player has been officially booked. Whether a player is given a blue card or a yellow card is a matter of degree and is left to the discretion of the referee.
- Any player receiving a blue or yellow card will serve a two (2) minute penalty in the penalty box. That team whose player received such a card shall play down a player and the opposing team will have a player advantage.
  - If the team with a player advantage scores during the two (2) minute penalty, the penalty will automatically expire and the penalized player will be allowed to leave the penalty area.
  - In the case of a blue card given as a result of a “team penalty”, the team may select any player to serve the penalty.
  - If a blue card is given to a player as a result of dissent toward a referee, the penalized player must serve a two (2) minute penalty, but the team is not required to play down a player.
  - The reasons for being booked are:
    - Unsporting behavior
    - Dissent by word or action
    - Persistently infringing the laws of the game
    - Delaying the restart of play
    - Failing to respect the required distance of a corner kick or free kick
    - Entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s permission (except for substitutions)
    - Deliberately leaving the field of play with the referee’s permission (except for substitutions).
    - A player who receives three (3) blue cards or two (2) yellow cards in one game has the effect of receiving a red card.
Red Cards: A red card is shown by the referee to indicate that a player has been sent off. A player who has been sent off is required to leave the field of play immediately and must take no further part in the game. The team whose player received a red card shall select one of their remaining players to serve a five (5) minute penalty in the penalty box. The penalized team will play down a player for the five (5) minute period and the opposing team will have a player advantage. After the five (5) minute penalty, the team will not be required to play down a player as a result of that red card. If a goalkeeper receives a red card, one of his teammates must be substituted out for another goalkeeper.
- The reasons to be sent off are:
  - Serious foul play (a violent foul)
  - Violent conduct (any other act of violence)
  - Spitting at anyone
  - A deliberate handling offense to deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by any player other than a goalkeeper in his own penalty area
  - Committing an offense that denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
  - Using offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures
  - Any player who has been given two yellow cards in one game, a yellow card in each of two successive games, a yellow card in three (3) games over the course of the regular season, or a red card in any game will not be allowed to play in the team’s next game. Any player found playing in a game in violation of this rule will be suspended from all of the team’s remaining games. Any team allowing a player to play in their team’s game in violation of this rule will forfeit any such game.

Slide Tackling

Slide tackling is risky and may cause injury to the slide tackling player or other players. It is highly discouraged, but it is a part of the game and is therefore allowed.

Pregnancy/Blood

Under no circumstances is a pregnant player eligible to play in the League. If the League discovers that a pregnant player is playing, that player will be removed from the League and will only be allowed to return with League approval.
If an injury results in a player bleeding, the player shall be removed from the game and may be replaced by another player. The bleeding player shall receive medical attention and shall not be allowed to return to the game until the wound has been bandaged and the bleeding has stopped.

Forfeits, Forfeit Fines and Forfeit Notice

Forfeits. If a team does not have at least five (5) players, including one (1) woman player, at the time the game is scheduled to begin, the referees, in their discretion, may allow for up to a three (3) minute grace period at the beginning of the game. This grace period will be subtracted from the allotted game time.

Regular Season.

If, at the end of the three (3) minute grace period, a team does not have the requisite number of players, that team will be assessed a Forfeit Fine and the opposing team will be awarded a 1-0 win and three (3) points. If both teams agree to play a “friendly” match (which will not count in the standings), the League will not impose the Forfeit Fine.
If, at the end of the three (3) minute grace period, both teams do not have the requisite number of players:

Both teams will be awarded a loss; and
Neither team will be awarded any points.
Both teams will be responsible for the Forfeit Fee, unless both teams agree to play a “friendly” match which will not count in League standings.

Playoffs.

If, at the end of the three (3) minute grace period, a team does not have the requisite number of players, that team will be assessed a Forfeit Fine and the opposing team will be awarded a 1-0 win and advance in the playoff bracket.
If, at the end of the three (3) minute grace period, both teams do not have the requisite number of players:

Both teams will be assessed a Forfeit Fine; and
Neither team will advance in the playoff bracket.

Forfeit Fine. A Forfeit Fine in the amount of $35.00 will be assessed onto the forfeiting team(s) unless sufficient notice of the forfeit was given to the League. The Forfeit Fine is in addition to the referee fees for your team and covers the other team’s Referee Fees and a small administrative League fee.
- The Forfeit Fine must be paid prior to the no later than the advanced notice deadline for the team’s next scheduled game. Any team that has forfeited a game will not be entitled to play a subsequent game until such time as the Forfeit Fine is paid.
- Any Forfeit Fine not paid will result in further forfeits of any and all subsequent games scheduled for that team until such time as the Forfeit Fine is paid.
Forfeit – Advanced Notice. No Forfeit Fine will be assessed onto a team if sufficient notice is given of such forfeit. Sufficient notice is deemed to be noon on the day preceding the scheduled game.

Inclement Weather

In case of inclement weather, the League will use the following means to communicate cancellations to its members:
- A notification on the home page of the website;
- A status update on the Facebook page; and
- An email to coaches and league participants.
If cancelation is not made through one of these means, all games are on as scheduled. In the event inclement weather occurs after the first game has started, a cancellation message will be posted on the website as soon as possible.
For indoor leagues, there is less likelihood of inclement weather, but it is still possible. We want to ensure that league participants are not placed in dangerous situations and may cancel games if road conditions become hazardous.
Games canceled due to inclement weather will be rescheduled by the League as quickly as possible. In such an instance, your patience and flexibility are greatly appreciated.

ADDITIONAL RULES

To the extent not addressed by the League rules above, any rulings will be governed by FIFA rules.
The League reserves the right to make changes to existing League rules as necessary.

LEAGUE SPONSORS

Sponsor(s)

League Official Sponsor: Looney’s Pub is the official bar sponsor of the League. Looney’s has been kind enough to provide each team’s players with drink specials throughout the season to players in the League. In order to continue to have Looney’s be a sponsor for the League and offer such drink specials, we ask that you strongly encourage the players on your team to frequently patronize Looney’s after your games and throughout the week. (Drink specials may change and will be relayed to league players via email prior to the season).

League Official Sponsor: National Bohemian Beer is the official beer sponsor of the League. Natty Boh has been kind enough, in conjunction with Looney’s, to provide us with great specials on Natty Boh bottles, drafts and pitchers. Make sure you’re drinking Natty Boh!

Bar Card. Every player listed on the team’s completed roster as of the Final Roster Due Date will receive a Bar Card. Upon showing the Bar Card to the bartenders at Looney’s, the player will be entitled to drink specials courtesy of the League sponsor(s). These drink specials are available throughout the session — not only for the day of the game!

DO NOT lose your Bar Card! If a player loses his/her Bar Card, s/he will only be able to get drink specials when wearing his/her league shirt.
DO NOT pass your Bar Card to people who are not in the league! Anyone who is caught doing this will have his/her Bar Card taken and that player will no longer be entitled to drink specials unless wearing the League shirt. In extreme cases, that player will no longer be entitled to drink specials.
Note: Any captain making changes to the team’s roster understands and agrees that it is his or her responsibility to ensure that the new player receives the removed player’s Bar Card. The League will not provide a number of Bar Cards to the team captain for distribution in excess of the number of players on the completed final roster, as modified, in accordance with League rules.

Other Sponsors. The League encourages teams to find additional sponsors in an effort to further reduce costs to each player on the team; provided, however, such team sponsors may NOT be another bar (or the like). Teams being sponsored by another bar (or the like) will ultimately impact the entire League’s existing sponsorship which, in turn, would impact the ability of all of the players in the League to continue to receive existing specials graciously offered by the League’s bar sponsor.

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