• Scheduling: Teams will play 1 game each week. Some teams MAY be scheduled into double headers as outlined in the FAQ section. The schedule will be as balanced as possible with regards to early and late games.
• Reseeding: Teams may be reseeded for competitive balance requirements throughout the season as warranted at Urban Rec’s sole discretion.
• Format: Games are played 5-a-side. A complete starting lineup consists of 5 players including a minimum of 2 women and 1 man on the field. A team may play with an incomplete starting lineup of as few as 3 players provided there is at minimum 1 woman and 1 man on the field to start to avoid a forfeit.  If a team has 3 or more players and only 1 of a specific gender they forfeit the match and play for fun. If a team has less than 3 players they will besubject to the Urban Rec Default Policy.  Most teams in these leagues have between 10-12 people on their roster including subs.
• Sliding/Slide Tackling: Absolutely NO sliding or slide tackling is permitted in Urban Rec Okanagan soccer. At no time may a player leave their feet to play or challenge for a ball. Goalies are permitted to dive headfirst in an attempt to make a save, but not to tackle an opponent.
• Captains must meet at the beginning of the game to introduce so both teams know who to talk with if any issues arise.

URBAN REC COED SOCCER RULES, EXPECTATIONS AND ROLES

Teams

1. Have fun and play with good sportsmanship! Players are required to know the rules and manage their own actions on the field. Sportsmanship, fun and being social are number one at Urban Rec and we expect to see that exhibited by all of our participants!
2. Team captains are responsible for adding all players to their Urban Rec online team roster and ensuring that every player on the roster has indicated they have read the online waiver. Any players who do not complete this step are NOT eligible to participate. All players must be on the roster and indicate they have read the online waiver, even if they are subs. Teams with incomplete rosters may be left off the schedule until their roster is in compliance.
3. Playoffs Eligibility – all players must have played a minimum of 2 games (on two different nights) over the regular season to be eligible to play in the playoffs as per the Urban Rec Playoff Roster Policy. A team using an ineligible player will automatically forfeit the playoff game if the game has begun and that player has played in the game at that point. If the captain claims that a player in question had previously played or subbed during the regular season but the captain forgot to add them to the roster, that player will NOT be permitted to play. See rule above- captains are responsible for adding all players to the roster prior to them participating.
4. On-site Supervisors may do a random roster check of players at any time at their discretion. If a team is found to be using an ineligible player, then that player’s team will forfeit the game if it has already begun. If the roster check is done prior to the game starting, then there is no forfeit, but that player is not permitted to participate until they have indicated they have read the online waiver (they can do this via their smartphone). 
5. Teams have a 10-minute grace period from their scheduled start time as tracked by the Onsite Supervisor to field a starting lineup
   • full starting lineup- 5 players– 4 on the field and 1 goalkeeper including a minimum of 2 women and 1 man not including the goalie.
   •  minimum starting lineup- If a team is short of players, they may avoid defaulting or forfeiting by starting the game with at least 3 players with at least 1 woman and 1 man on the field.
6. If a team does not have enough players to field the minimum starting lineup by the end of this 10-minute grace period, that team defaults the game and is subject to the associated default compensation bond used to reimburse their opponent. In this situation, the teams are encouraged to mix up players and play for fun during their time slot. Any team defaulting more than 2 games in a season may be expelled from the league without refund.
7. Teams may avoid defaulting in the regular season games by utilizing players from other teams that play in the league (you cannot borrow players from your opposing team) without penalty and the game result will count. However, if a team does this for a playoff match, the game will be considered a forfeit loss (but not a default).

Equipment & Uniforms

1. Urban Rec will provide goals and nets (where not already provided). Match balls will be available, but teams may use their own balls at their own risk provided both teams agree – lost or damaged balls will not be covered by URO.
2. AWAY Teams are responsible to wear either black or white depending on the colour of the HOME team. Goalkeepers must wear a different coloured jersey than the rest of their team as well as being different from the opposing team’s jerseys. 
3. Metal cleats ARE NOT ALLOWED.
4. Shin pads are not required, but strongly recommended.  If worn, shin pads must be totally covered by socks.

Match/Game Play

1. Captains will rock-paper-scissors after their pre-match meeting to determine who will start with the ball. The game will start with a kick-off at the center spot.
2. Teams may change ends at half-time (if one team requests to change ends, then teams must change ends), and the team who did not kick off the start of the game will kick off the second half.
3. A kick-off will also restart the game after a goal is scored.
4. Kick-offs may have the ball going in any direction, but the ball must roll at least one full rotation and may not be touched by the kicker again until the ball has been contacted by another player.
5. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-off; however, it may be scored if the ball has made at least one full rotation and has been touched by a second player.
6. The opposing team must be at least 6 yards away from the ball in any direction on a kick-off, until the ball has been put into play.
7. Balls are out of play when the entire ball has crossed the side-line - this will result in a kick-in. A player may not take a run at the ball. The ball must not cross center-line in the air if the defensive team is in the defensive end; the kicker cannot play the ball again until it has been touched by another player.  A goal cannot be scored directly from a kicker-in.
8. Balls are out of play when the entire ball has crossed the end line (but not into the net) – this will result in a corner kick if a defending player was last to touch the ball, or a goal kick if an offensive player was the last to touch the ball. Opposing players must stand at least 6 yards away until the kick is taken.
   1. Goal Kick MUST land on the defensive side of the field.
9. Goalies are not allowed to handle the ball with their hands when the ball is thrown or kicked to them with intent by their own team. They ARE permitted to use their hands inside the accepted goal crease when the opposing team throws or kicks the ball towards the goalie or if their own teammate heads the ball back to them.  If a goalie uses their hands to play the ball in when it was thrown/passed by their own team then the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick at the spot of the handling – see the free kick section below for further details.

General Game-Play Rules

1. There is absolutely NO sliding or slide tackling. Stay on your FEET!
   For additional clarity if you leave your feet you must land on your feet – for example bicycle kicks, slide tackles, sliding to kick a ball, or jumping to kick a ball and not landing back on your feet are not allowed.
    
2. Slide tackling includes any player, including the goalie, who leaves the ground in a foot or feet-forward motion REGARDLESS if there is an opposing player in the area or not. There is to be NO sliding to prevent a ball from going out of play, or to make any play on the ball REGARDLESS of whether another player is in the vicinity or not.
    
3. The goalie may dive head/hands first to make a save on a shot, and the goaltender can ONLY leave their feet to move parallel with the goal line. A goalie may leave their feet head/hands first to collect a ball as long as they are doing so parallel with the goal line, and NOT moving towards an oncoming player. A goalie MAY NOT leave their feet at any time when challenging or attempting to tackle and oncoming player. For examples of when and what a goalie is allowed to leave their feet head/hands first for, please click HERE.
    
4. If the goalie is attempting to make a save, or recovering after making a save, the opposing team MAY NOT contact the keeper in any way. This includes going after any rebounds or trying to hinder the goalie’s attempt to recover back into the play. Should an offensive player make contact with a goalie inside the box attempting to make a save, a foul will be called, the player will be removed for a minimum of 5 min, and an indirect kick may be awarded to the goalie’s team. Offensive players inside the goalie box must make EVERY EFFORT POSSIBLE to avoid contacting the opposing goalie.
5. Responsibility to avoid collisions on 50/50 balls:
   If the 50/50 ball is INSIDE the designated goalie box:
   - Any player who is running towards the opposing keeper inside the designated goalie box has the primary responsibility to avoid making any contact with the keeper and should ease up on the play.
   - If an oncoming player makes contact with the keeper, this will result in a foul being called against this player, and the player will be removed for a minimum of 5 minutes.
   - The keeper must not change their trajectory and should make every attempt to avoid contact when possible, despite not having the primary responsibility to do so. Should the keeper intentionally run into an oncoming player in the box when the contact could have been avoided, the foul may be levied against the keeper.
   
   If the 50/50 ball is OUTSIDE the designated goalie box
   - Any keeper who is attempting to challenge a player outside the goalie box has the primary responsibility to avoid making any contact with an oncoming player(s).
   -  If the keeper makes contact with an oncoming player outside the goalie box, this will result in a direct penalty kick for the opposing team.
   - The oncoming player(s) must not change their trajectory and should make every attempt to avoid contact when possible despite not having the primary responsibility to do so. Should the oncoming player intentionally run into the keeper outside the box when the contact could have been avoided, the foul may be levied against the oncoming player, and no penalty kick will be awarded.
6. Responsibility to avoid collisions on NON-50/50 balls. If Player A clearly has the chance to gain possession of the ball before the opposing Player B, then it is Player B’s responsibility to avoid initiating contact (regardless of where the ball is on the field). This includes goalkeepers as well as regular players. If contact is initiated by Player B, this is a foul and Player A’s team will receive either a direct or indirect kick depending on where the foul occurred and if it falls under rule #4 above.
7. Any player who slides for any reason will have a foul called for the slide either by themselves or by an opposing player on the field. If a player “forgets”, then it is the responsibility of his/her team captain to call the foul. If there is a disagreement, then the respective team captains are expected to maturely discuss the situation and come to a resolution.
8. Any attempt at a slide tackle will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team (unless the foul occurs in the penalty box area, in which case a penalty kick is awarded). The player who commits the sliding infraction will be removed from the game for a minimum of 5minutes, and any other player on that same team who commits a second sliding infraction (regardless if they are the same player or a different player) will be sent off for the remainder of the game. Repeat offenders will be subject to supplemental discipline from league management which may include suspension.
    
9. Play the Ball – Not the Body. If you are using your body (arms, shoulders, etc.) against an opponent to gain possession or position you are not playing the ball and thus are committing a foul.
    
10. Handballs – There is no ‘advantage’ in our leagues, and all handballs will result in an indirect free kick.

Only exception is when a player is using their arm to protect their body.

1. Substitutions can be made “on-the-fly” and substitutions must be done with the player coming in entering the field at the same spot, or within arms-length of the player subbing out – EXCEPT for the goalie, who can only be substituted for at a stoppage in play. 

Calling Fouls

1. Games are self-officiated, and players are encouraged to call their own fouls. Team Captains are responsible for informing their team of the rules and for enforcing them if their team is negligent in this regard.
2. Please remember to be sportsmanlike and call your own fouls. If a foul has been committed against you, raise your hand, and make a clear vocalization of a foul call. When a foul is called, regardless if you believe it is right or wrong, respect the call and your opponent making the call.
3. Fouls must only be called by the players on the field and involved in the play– under no circumstances are players off the field or on the sidelines allowed to make any foul calls. Unless it is a captain calling a foul on their own teammates.
4. Only those players involved in the play should be self-officiating and making a call. The players on the field of play should handle what happens on the field of play - save for involvement by Urban Rec onsite supervisor if necessary.
5. If you feel that a team is not calling their own fouls or is playing in an unsportsmanlike manner, at the next stoppage in play the team captains and ONLY the team captains, are expected to discuss the issue and attempt to resolve it, with the help of an onsite supervisor if necessary. Captains and participants are expected to respect the onsite supervisors and their decisions and abide by them in these instances. 
   Important Note: This is a recreational league and there is a Code of Conduct which you all agreed to abide by. Aggressive play will not be tolerated and will result in a player being temporarily or permanently removed from the game, or face further supplementary discipline after review by Urban Rec Management.
6. If at any time in the season a team is consistently showing poor sportsmanship (at the sole discretion of Urban Rec), the team captain will be contacted by Urban Rec and given the opportunity to respond to these claims. It is Urban Rec's goal to give all players and teams the benefit of the doubt, and the opportunity to explain themselves should any unsportsmanlike conduct be reported. Working together we hope to resolve any issue at that point.

Indirect Free Kicks

1. Fouls result in an indirect free kick to the opposing team from where infringement occurred.
   • Indirect means that the ball must touch at least one other player before going into net.
   • If a player taking the indirect kick scores and the ball does not touch any other player (offensive or defensive including the goalie) the goal does NOT count. Possession will now be a goal kick.
   • In the spirit of Urban Rec, if a player is deemed to have intentionally shot a ball on goal that goes off the goalkeeper or deflects off a defender, the on-site staff may disallow the goal.
2. Defending players must be at least six yards away from the spot of an indirect free kick, except when the ball is being kicked from a point closer than six yards from the goal line - in which case the defending players may stand on their goal line.

Role and Expectations of Team Captains

• We strongly encourage team captains to meet each other before the start of the game so that they can discuss any potential issues before they become problems during the game.
• Captains may also consult with the Urban Rec on-site supervisor for clarification on rules, etc. Team captains should ensure that ALL players on the team have read and understand the rules prior to playing. It is imperative that ALL players, not just the team captains, understand the rules; if the rules are not followed and applied correctly by teams in matches in the spirit of self-officiating, on-site staff will arbitrarily step in and apply the rules at their discretion for the equality and integrity of the match for all players involved.
• A team captain’s role and responsibility is more than registering a team- a team captain is accountable for not only their actions but also their players’ actions. It is the team captains' responsibility to keep their players in check and to ensure that everyone on the team knows and understands the rules. Your on-site staff are empowered to hold team captains responsible for the actions of their team and address them on behalf of their team as necessary if issues arise that require disciplinary action.
• Urban Rec on-site staff are empowered to hold team captains responsible for the actions of their team and address them on behalf of their team as necessary if issues arise that require disciplinary action.

Role of On-site League Staff

If the rules are not followed and applied correctly by teams in matches in the spirit of self-officiating, on-site staff will step in and apply the rules at their discretion for the equality and integrity of the match and for all players involved.

Urban Rec Onsite Supervisors are not referees, and their primary purpose is to facilitate league play.  It is not to call teams’ fouls for them- teams have the responsibility to play with good sportsmanship and call their own fouls. However, the exception to this is that the Urban Rec Onsite Supervisors are empowered to make referee-based calls under the following conditions:

• Players on the field are unable to determine the correct call due to not understanding the rules, and play is not continuing as a result
• There is heated disagreement/impasse over what the correct call should be
• The on-site supervisor are asked directly by the players on the field to make a ruling
• The on-site supervisor determines that a player, multiple players or a team as a whole are playing in an unsafe or unsportsmanlike manner

Urban Rec supervisor reserve the right to remove players temporarily or permanently from games. Our supervisor’s decisions are to be respected by participants. Any abuse or disrespect of the staff will result in supplemental discipline from league management.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT URBAN REC SOCCER IS A FUN AND SOCIAL SPORT!!!!

We expect our Urban Rec participants to have a “Fun First” attitude about this unique sporting opportunity. There is an emphasis on the players knowing the rules and managing their own actions on the field.  Sportsmanship, fun and being social are number one at Urban Rec and we hope to see that carry over to our co-ed soccer leagues!

Note that the above details are generic Outdoor Soccer rules. The rules for each specific league may differ.