- Games consist of two 25-minute halves, with a five-minute halftime period.
- Teams will consist of 1o total players. Five players will feature on the field at any one time: one goal keeper and four outfield players.
- Substitutions are made “on-the-fly” and are unlimited. A player exiting the game must come completely off the field before the entering player can join play.
- No shoes, socks, or footwear of any kind. Players may not wear any equipment that is dangerous to himself/herself or another player, including any type of jewelry. Ankle-braces are permitted.
- The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line, whether on the ground or in the air.
- If the ball leaves the field of play, play is resumed with a kick-in. Defending players must stand at least 10 feet from the ball. This same distance also applies to corner kicks and the positioning of walls for free kicks.
- If the ball crosses over the end line, the goalkeeper restarts play with a goal clearance. The goalkeeper may kick or throw the ball back into play. The goalkeeper must take the goal clearance from within the penalty area.
- If the ball is deliberately passed back to the goalkeeper, he cannot use his hands. In the event that goalkeeper uses his hands after a deliberate back-pass, an indirect free kick will be given.
BASIC RULES OF THE GAME
LAW I: THE PLAYING FIELD
The dimensions of a regulation futsal court according to the United States Futsal Federation are shown below. Our dimensions meet these requirements. Playing fields for the Bradford Beach Soccer League are to be 84 feet X 50 feet. This is equivalent to the size of a regulation basketball court. Boundary lines will be marked, as well as the penalty areas. A ball is out of play when it wholly crosses the goal line or end line. Corners will be marked with flags. Bench areas will be sectioned off.
LAW II: THE BALL
The official measurements of a FIFA Approved beach soccer ball can be found in the 2008 Beach Soccer Laws of the Game. To view these measurements, click here.The official ball of the Bradford Beach Soccer League is the Puma Beach Football II. This 18-panel machine-stitched TPU beach football is underlaid with a soft foam and reinforced with a 100% polyester backing with anti-fungus additives, providing an incredible soft touch for barefoot use. A transparent abrasion resistant cover enables the player to use this ball on sand.
The Puma Beach Football II is developed according to the FIFA regulations and has the official size and weight. The 6-wing butyl bladder, PUMA air lock valve and Perimeter Balance Technology gives the ball maximum air retention and excellent flight characteristics.
LAW III: THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS
The Bradford Beach Soccer League allows no more than 10 players on a roster for each team. Games are played by two teams, consisting of four field players and one goalkeeper. At the start of the game, each team must have a minimum of five players. In the event of players being sent off, the game is to be abandoned if a team has fewer than three players, including the goalkeeper. The result of an abandoned match is to be recorded as a 5-0 loss for teams with too few to play.
Substitutions need not be made upon stoppage of play. They can be made during the course of play as well, so long as the player being substituted has completely left the field of play before the substitute enters the field of play. In the event that a substitute enters play before the player being substituted has left the field, play is stopped. The opposing team is given an indirect free kick from the point at which the ball was when play was stopped. If the ball is in the penalty area, it is placed on the penalty line the nearest distance from where the ball was when play was stopped. Upon the referee’s discretion, the substitute may also be shown a yellow card.
Substitutions need not be made upon stoppage of play. They can be made during the course of play as well, so long as the player being substituted has completely left the field of play before the substitute enters the field of play. In the event that a substitute enters play before the player being substituted has left the field, play is stopped. The opposing team is given an indirect free kick from the point at which the ball was when play was stopped. If the ball is in the penalty area, it is placed on the penalty line the nearest distance from where the ball was when play was stopped. Upon the referee’s discretion, the substitute may also be shown a yellow card.
LAW IV: PLAYER’S EQUIPMENT
A player may not wear any piece of equipment that is dangerous to himself/herself or any other player. This includes jewelry. The wearing of socks, shoes, or any other footwear is prohibited. Ankle and knee braces may be worn by players requiring them. Teams must have jerseys or shirts that distinguish them from another team.
LAW V: REFEREES
Play is governed by a match referee who is on the pitch. The match referee has full authority over the match he/she has been assigned to. The referee is to make sure that all elements of the game at hand are up to Bradford Beach Soccer League standards, as described in these Laws of the Game, prior to the match. Questioning of referee decisions is punishable by bookings and expulsions from the match, subject to referee discretion. The match referee may be accompanied by a secondary official, located on the sideline at the officials table. This official would aid the match referee in timekeeping, score-keeping, and overseeing that proper substitution takes place.
LAW VI: DURATION OF THE GAME
Games consist of two 25-minute halves, with a five-minute halftime interval. This time is continuous, and does not stop when the ball is out of play. In the event that play has been stopped dramatically throughout a half, stoppage time may be added dependent on the referee’s discretion. In the event of two teams being tied at the end of play, the match ends in a draw.
LAW VII: POINTS SYSTEM
The Bradford Beach Soccer League has a specific points system for league play. Teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero for a loss. The first tiebreaker is to be goal differential. If teams are tied on goal differential, its position will be decided by goals for (scored). If this is also tied, a team's position will be decided based on its head to head record with an opposing team.
LAW VIII: START OF PLAY
A coin toss determines which team decides which end. The winning team can choose either to kick-off or defend an end of their choice. If they choose to defend a certain end, the team that loses the toss kicks off. Teams switch ends at halftime, and play is resumed in the second half by the team that has not yet kicked off. Kick-offs are used to start play at the beginning of each half and after a goal is scored. Players must wait for the referee’s whistle before beginning play. The kick-off is a direct free kick, and goals may be scored directly from the kick-off.
A player may not touch the ball twice consecutively off of the kick-off. Doing so will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the spot of the infraction. For all other infractions, the kick-off will simply be retaken. Players of the team kicking off must all be within their defending half. Players of the opposing team must be at least 10 feet from the ball. The ball must be on the center line and stationary when kicked.
A drop ball may be used to restart play after certain infractions dependent on the referee’s decision.
A player may not touch the ball twice consecutively off of the kick-off. Doing so will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the spot of the infraction. For all other infractions, the kick-off will simply be retaken. Players of the team kicking off must all be within their defending half. Players of the opposing team must be at least 10 feet from the ball. The ball must be on the center line and stationary when kicked.
A drop ball may be used to restart play after certain infractions dependent on the referee’s decision.
LAW IX: OUT OF BOUNDS
A ball is out of play when it wholly crosses either the goal line or the end line. This applies whether the ball is in the air or on the ground. If the ball crosses the sideline, play is resumed with a kick-in. If the ball crosses the endline, play is resumed by either a corner kick or a goal clearance depending on which team made contact with the ball last. If the ball crosses the goal line and a goal is scored, play is resumed by a kick-off.
A ball is also dead if the referee has stopped play.
A ball is also dead if the referee has stopped play.
LAW X: FOULS AND INFRACTIONS
The majority of rules concerning fouls and infractions for the Bradford Beach Soccer League are as they are in a normal game of soccer. A direct free kick is given if the referee judges that a player commits an offence in a manner that is careless, reckless, or excessively forceful. These offence include kicking or attempting to kick an opponent, tripping or attempting to trip an opponent, jumping or attempting to jump at an opponent, striking or attempting to strike an opponent, and pushing. Deliberate hand balls and spitting are punishable by a straight red card dependent on referee discretion.
Swearing is not allowed. Bradford Beach is a community environment. Use of profanity results in an immediate booking, but may also be punishable by the red card if the severity permits it, judged so by the referee. Two bookable offences result in a sending off. A player who has been sent off must not only leave the playing field, but the premises as well. A teammate may enter play for a player that has been sent off after a three-minute penalty period. Teams must play short-handed until this period has ended.
Teams may form walls to block free kicks, kick-ins, and corner kicks. Walls or any player of the opposing team must be at least 10 feet from the ball. This is true for all restarts in play.
The goalkeeper is permitted to use his hands. However, if the ball is played to him deliberately by a teammate, he may not use his hands. Doing so will result in an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction.
Swearing is not allowed. Bradford Beach is a community environment. Use of profanity results in an immediate booking, but may also be punishable by the red card if the severity permits it, judged so by the referee. Two bookable offences result in a sending off. A player who has been sent off must not only leave the playing field, but the premises as well. A teammate may enter play for a player that has been sent off after a three-minute penalty period. Teams must play short-handed until this period has ended.
Teams may form walls to block free kicks, kick-ins, and corner kicks. Walls or any player of the opposing team must be at least 10 feet from the ball. This is true for all restarts in play.
The goalkeeper is permitted to use his hands. However, if the ball is played to him deliberately by a teammate, he may not use his hands. Doing so will result in an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction.
LAW XI: FREE KICKS
Free kicks are either direct or indirect. All free kicks must be taken when the ball is stationary. A goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick. A goal may be scored off of an indirect kick if the ball touches any second player except the goalkeeper. If a free kick is not taken within 10 seconds, an indirect free kick is given to the opposing team.
The referee indicates a direct free kick by pointing in the direction in which the free kick is to be taken. The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm straight up in the air, holding it there until the kick has been taken.
The referee indicates a direct free kick by pointing in the direction in which the free kick is to be taken. The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm straight up in the air, holding it there until the kick has been taken.
LAW XII: PENALTY KICKS
A penalty kick is awarded to a team when a foul or infraction resulting in a direct free kick is committed in the opposing team’s penalty area. The kick is to be taken on the referee’s whistle. The goalkeeper must be on the goal line when the ball is kicked. If the goalkeeper moves forward, the referee may have the penalty retaken. The player taking the penalty must place the ball on the penalty line and the ball must be stationary. All other players must be at least 10 feet from the player taking the penalty, behind the ball.
LAW XIII: KICK-INS
When a ball is out of play, play is resumed with a kick-in. There are no throw-ins for the Bradford Beach Soccer League. The kick is to be taken from the spot it left the field of play. The ball can be placed on the line or behind it, so long as the ball is stationary. No part of the player taking the kick can be on the playing field. Doing so will result in a kick-in for the opposing team. Players from the opposing team must be at least 10 feet from the ball. The kick-in must be taken within five seconds of placing the ball. The ball is in play immediately after it is kicked or touched. A player taking a kick-in may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. Doing so will result in the opposing team being awarded a kick-in.
LAW XIV: GOAL CLEARANCES
A goal clearance is taken by the goalkeeper when the ball crosses the endline after being touched last by the opposing team. Goalkeepers may kick or throw the ball, so long as the clearance is taken within the penalty area. If the goalkeeper chooses to kick the ball, the ball must be stationary. The goalkeeper cannot touch the ball twice consecutively. Doing so will result in an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction. The ball is in play as soon as it leaves the penalty area after a goal clearance. A goal may not be scored directly from a goal clearance.
LAW XV: CORNER KICKS
A corner kick is given when the ball crosses the endline after being last touched by a defending player. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick. The ball is in play as soon as it is kicked or touched. A player cannot touch the ball twice consecutively. Doing so will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the spot of the infraction.
FURTHER QUESTIONS...
Please direct any questions about these rules to referee@bradfordbeachsoccer.com
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