Game Duration
90-minute games consist of 2 – 45-minute halves with a 2-minute rest period in between. Halves may be shortened due to start time.
Game Formation
11 vs. 11 (9 males and 2 females). 2 females on the field at all times. You need 7 players to start the game – 6 males and 1 female. You have a 10-minute grace period to field the 7 players (6m/1f). If you cannot field the 7 players (6m/1f) at the 10-minute mark then the team(s) will take a 3–0 loss and play on as a friendly. If you cannot field the 2nd female within the 10-minute grace period then you will play a man down (9m/1f) for the remainder of the game.
Playoffs
Playoff games will be determined on the number of teams in the league, as well with a maximum of only 6 teams in each division qualifying.
Each game will consist of 2 – 45-minute halves, halves may be shortened due to start time.
ID checks are required, please arrive 15 minutes before kick off.
Winners advances to next round.
Losers will have consolation games (with no ref).
If tied, straight to penalty kicks.
5 shooters including 1 female, then sudden death.
Only the championship game in each division will have linesmen or a 2-ref system.
Weather
Chance of game cancelation due to weather may occur, games will NOT be rescheduled.
Anytime during a game, when thunder is heard or lightning is seen, the game is suspended immediately. Wait 30 minutes. If no thunder is heard or lightning is seen after 30 minutes, proceed with the game. If thunder is heard or lightning is seen after 30 minutes of the initial thunder and lightning then the referee will call the game.
If the game is canceled during the first 60 minutes of the game, the game is unofficial and will result in a 0–0 draw. If more then 60 minutes have been played before the game is canceled, the game is official and the score will remain as what it is.
Point System
Win = 3PTS
Draw = 1PTS
Lose = 0PTS
Regular Season Standings
Points
Goal Differential
Head to Head
Dress Code
All players must wear jerseys with numbers, shin guards and socks.
Outdoor soccer shoes and cleats are allowed. NO METAL cleats are permitted.
Goalie must wear different colour jersey then their own team and their opponents.
Watches and fit bits must be cover or wrapped in a sweat band.
Slid Tackle
Slide tackle when versing a player is NOT allowed.
Sliding to save a ball from a goal or going out of bounce with no tackle is allowed.
Officials
One referee to officiate the game. Only the championship game in each division will have linesmen.Referee decisions are final.
All players must respect the decisions of the referee. If you disagree with a call, raise the issue with your team captain and he/she will approach the referee if he/she deems it necessary.
Language/Arguing/Abuse
Any verbal abuse and/or physical abuse toward referees, coaches or any player in the league will not be tolerated and will result in cards issued and/or a season ending suspension and/or league band.
Cards
A yellow card is a caution with no action in one game. 2 yellow cards in one game is then issued a red card and is ejected from the game and the team will play down a man for the remainder of the game.
All red cards come with a 1 game suspension. Refs are instructed to record full names of the player issued a red card as well as a disciplinary report. Any player receiving a red will be suspended for the following game.
Substitution
Substitutes must get referee acknowledgment before substituting.
Players can change on throw-ins, goal kicks and kick off with unlimited amount of substitutions.
The exiting player must leave the field at the team bench before the substituting player steps onto the field.
Offsides
A player is offside if he/she receives a forward pass in the opponent’s half with fewer than two opponents between him/herself and the goal line.
The offside is judged at the time when the ball is kicked forward.
Please note that the referee is only human and can only call the obvious “offsides”. Please have some integrity on the field.
There is no “offside” during a throw-in.
If there is a player in the offside position, but is not given the forward pass and he/she is not in the play, then this situation may not be called an offside by the referee.
Free Kicks
Free kicks are awarded for fouls.
All free kicks are direct, from which a goal may be scored.
All players of the offending side must be ten yards from the ball.
Goal Kicks
A ball that goes out of bounds at the ends of the field is put back into play by a kick off of the ground from the goal kick box.
Any player may take the goal kick within the goal kick box.
The player receiving the goal kick can receive the ball inside the penalty box.
The opponent can touch the ball once the goalie has kicked/ passed the ball of the kick box line.
Penalty Kicks
A penalty kick, a direct free kick awarded to the attacking side in the penalty area, taken from a spot 12 yards from the centre of the goal, with all players other than the defending goalie and the kicker outside the penalty area.
The ball is in play once it is kicked.
If someone goes into the penalty area before the soccer ball is kicked, the penalty kick may be re-taken.
A penalty kick is awarded for intentional hand ball. If a player has their arms tucked into their body, and the ball hits their arm, then this would NOT be judged at an intentional handball.
If the player has his/her arms tucked into his/her body and motions to strike the ball with his/her arms, then it may be judged as an intentional handball.
If the player opens his/her arms in a defensive motion in the penalty box and stops the ball, this would be judged as an intentional handball.
Other reasons for a penalty kick is any foul (anything that would get a personal Yellow/Red card) in the penalty area.
Corner Kicks
A corner kick is awarded to a team in the opponent’s end when the ball passes the opponent’s end line.
The ball had to be last touched by the defending player/team before crossing the end line.
The corner kick is taken within 2 feet of the actual corner of the soccer field.
Corner kicks are direct, from which a goal can be scored.
Throw-ins
Both feet must be touching the ground and two hands must be on the ball and the ball must be thrown in such a manner as it crosses the vertical body plane (feet to head plane), and the ball must be release at or above shoulder level. If this is not done correctly the referee has the right to reverse the throw-in to the other team.
There is no offside on a throw in.
A throw-in thrown directly into the net without any contact is governed as ball thrown out of play and the throw-in is reversed to the other team. A throw-in thrown into the net that has touched any player on the field (including the goalie) is counted as a goal.
A throw-in that never makes it into the field and is not touched by anyone before hitting the ground, is re-taken by the original thrower.
Goalies may receive a throw-in pass but cannot use their hands/arms. If they do, free kick will be awarded to opposing team.
Goal Keeper
Ball handling: A pass back through use of the feet or throw-in to the goalie from a teammate cannot be picked up. A pass back with the head (header) is allowed.
Handball: A goalie cannot use his/her hands outside the penalty box. A free kick is awarded for the opposing team, where the goalie hand touched the ball.
Penalty kick: On a penalty kick the goalie cannot move off his/her line before the ball is touched on the kick. If such an offense occurs, the referee may have the penalty kick retaken.
6 second release: Goalies have 6 seconds to release, if he/she takes more than 6 seconds they may be shown a yellow card and opponents may be rewarded an indirect free kick.
Drop and Pickup: Once the goalie has put the ball on the ground, he/she may no longer pick it up until a player has touched the ball.
Hand Ball
A handball is called when the hand or arm of the player in call used their hand intentionally or when the hand/arm influenced the game in that the touch caused an advantage for his/her team in touching the ball with his/her hand /arm.
An intentional handball is noticed by the person being called against has moved their arm/hand in the direction of the ball.
An unintentional handball is when the ball hits the arm or hand without the person moving the hand/arm toward the ball but the ball hits the hand or arm.
If the hand ball is not advantageous to the team of whom the infraction was being called against, then the referee may wave the hand ball off.
Drop Ball
Rough play or problems that cannot determine who is at fault is resolved by a drop ball.
Drop ball situations are at the discretion of the referee and the referee will then tell the players to cool it or explain why he/she stopped play, and then have a drop ball to continue the game.
The ball must touch the ground before anyone may touch the soccer ball.
Choosing Sides
The Referee will call team captains before the start of the game for a coin toss. Whoever wins the coin toss will choose between picking first kick off or what side to start on.
This is reversed in/for the second half.
No Alcohol
Alcohol is not permitted on the field.
This is a City of Markham by-law and we don’t want to lose our permit to the soccer field because someone brings alcohol to the game.