General Rules:
- Ball = Volleyball (Outdoor version):
- Diameter = 8.15 to 8.39" / 207 to 213mm.
- Circumference = 65-67cm / 25.59-26.38".
- Weight = 260-280g / 8.36-9oz.
- Inside Pressure = 2.5-3.2psi.
- Both halves begins with the Bounce-Off; The referee bounces the ball on the ground inside the prime ring high into the air and the tallest fielder from each team attempts to gain possession.
- Games are played in 2 15-minute halves.
- Teams switch ends each half.
- There are no timeouts or shot clocks.
- Halftime is 5-minutes.
- The captain will select 2 shooters and one Goalkeeper; The captain will also choose the order in which the 2 offensive players will shoot.
- Each team will alternate shots.
- The team with the most points after all offensive players have shot is declared the winner.
- If the score is tied after all offensive players have shot, the game will go into a sudden death shootout in reverse order (i.e. 1,2,2,1) until one team has more points than the other at the end of the round.
- In a shootout, a goal is worth 1 point.
- 5-a-side; 15-man roster.
- A max of 10 players may be on active roster for each game; All 15 players on the roster are eligible to be selected.
- Roster Setup = 12 Fielders and 3 Goalkeepers.
- Goalkeeper (GK) - Traditional keepers stay close to the goal and don't wander outside of the penalty area or race into the midfield with or without the ball and wind up as part of the attack. Most goalies are 6' or taller as bigger goalkeepers can cover more ground in front of the net, but they must be quick and nimble (1).
- Fielders (F) - Their primary jobs are to 1) score goals or to create them for teammates, and 2) stop the opposition from scoring (4).
- Players are required to stay within their zones (F - Whole Field, GK - Goal zones)
- A team reduced to less than 4 players will result in a forfeit.
- Coaches and other personnel may not enter the field of play or cross the scorer's table at the center of the field.
- Failure to comply will result in an unsportsmanlike conduct technical foul.
- Unlimited number of substitutions allowed per half and at the half-time break.
- A team is allowed 45 seconds to replace an ejected or injured player.
- Players on offense and defense may dribble, roll, hold, pass, catch, trap, deflect, kick, shoo or advance the ball in any way with their arms, hands, torsos, legs, feet, or head; The approved methods for advancing the ball throughout the entire field are 1) Basketball & Soccer Dribbling, 2) Olympic Handball Throwing & Passing, 3) Kicking (either on the ground or out of their hands), 4) Basketball & Soccer Passing, 5) Gaelic Football Handpassing (slapping the ball with an open hand), and 6) Australian Football Handballing (hitting the ball with a closed fist similar to volleyball).
- All players can touch and lift the ball with their hands while it is on the ground, but they cannot lift the ball off the ground with their knees or lift the ball off the ground while on their knees.
- A player cannot take more than 2 steps without dribbling the ball unless that player attempts to score a goal or over before completing a 4th step or is switching to the opposite dribbling method; Once a player stops dribbling the ball, they may only advance the ball by using the opposite dribbling method they using or by shooting/passing the ball.
- Once a player stops dribbling the ball, the foot that lands on the field first is their pivot foot.
- They cannot pick this foot up again while in possession of the ball unless they attempt to switch is dribbling method (Basketball to Soccer and vice versa); However, that player may take an unlimited amount of steps with the free (non-pivot) foot so long as the pivot foot stays in place.
- If both feet are touching the playing surface when the player takes possession, then the player may elect to designate either foot as their pivot foot by moving or lifting their free foot.
- Once a player stops dribbling the ball, they may only advance the ball by using the opposite dribbling method he was using or by shooting/passing the ball; However, if they switch dribbling methods and stops dribbling again, they must either pass the ball or attempt to score.
- Once a player stops dribbling the ball, they have 8 seconds to make their decision regarding the advancement of the ball.
- The number of consecutive passes that teams are allowed is 4.
- A player cannot have the ball for more than 5 seconds when being closely guarded by another defender; A five-second count will begin if an offensive player with the ball and not facing-up start dribbling below the free throw line extended while being closely guarded or starts dribbling outside and then penetrates below the free throw line extended while being closely guarded. A defender must be guarding the player in control of the ball, in the frontcourt, and must be within 6 feet of the player.
- A player on the ground or on their knees may not pick up the ball or drag it back under them; If they do, they will have a free kick awarded against him. When in this position, a player can only knock the ball on.
- A throw in is a dead ball, and therefore cannot be scored without being touched by another player; If an offensive player attempts a shot on goal from a throw in, and a defensive player touches it, it is considered in play, and may then cross the goal line or plane of a ring and count as a legal score.
- Shoulder to shoulder contact and hip checks are permitted provided neither player is airborne; However, it must be made when the player is either 1) in possession of the ball or 2) making a play on a loose ball, and the player making the contact cannot leave the ground.
- Slapping the ball out of an opponent's hand is permitted.
- Sliding tackles are permitted; However, it must be from the front and contact must be made with the ball first.
- Hand checks are permitted; However, they must be made from the front of the ball handler and cannot made against a player who is not in possession of the ball.
- Boxing/Shielding and set picks are legal; However, motion picks are not.
- Defensive players are allowed to establish their position to draw charging fouls.
- No foul is called for airborne contact between two players of contact is made on a neutral-vertical plane.
- Pushing/Pulling/Striking/Kicking/Elbowing/Tripping/Tackling an opponent is not permitted.
- Pulling the ball out of the ball-carrier's hands is not permitted.
- Blocking a shot/pass while making contact with the foot/hand while a player is attempting to shoot or pass is not permitted.
- Interfering with the Goalkeeper during a shot attempt is not permitted.
- Hitting a defenseless player (from the back/blindside, while in the air, or still in motion while attempting a shot/pass) is not permitted.
- Impeding the landing of airborne players is not permitted.
- Hitting a player who is not within reaching distance of the ball is not permitted
- A Goal (Throwing or kicking the ball into the goal net): 3 points, umpire waves green flag and raises 1 fist above his head.
- A Behind (Throwing or kicking the ball in between the goalposts and one of the outside posts): 1 point, umpire waves white flag and raises one arm above his head.
- A Penalty Goal: 1 point.
- Soccer jersey, shorts, socks, shoes, shin guards, and american football wide receiver gloves.
- Both team must wear their dark color uniforms during games unless the team share similar colors; If that is the case, the designated home team will wear their dark color uniforms and the away team will wear their lighter color uniforms.
- Uniform # System (Defenders and Goalkeepers = 67-99 / Midfielders = 34-66 / Attackers = 1-33).
- If a player has a cast or other protective equipment due to injury, it must be covered and padded. It is the official’s final judgment if the equipment is safe enough to enter the game; If that player is to ever use that equipment to gain an advantage or physically attack another player on the field, the person will be immediately ejected from the game. That player can no longer participate in any future games until the equipment is removed.
- If any player has unapproved equipment, that player shall be removed from the game until a dead ball when an official can inspect the new equipment and approve it.
- 8 & Under (Same for 6 & Under) = Goal (6' wide) & No Behinds, Field Size (25-35yds x 15-25), Match Format (4 vs 4 & 20-minute halves).
- 10 & Under = Goal (12’ wide) & Behinds (6' wide), Field Size (55-65yds x 35-45yds), Match Format (7 vs 7 & 25-minute halves).
- 12 & Under = Goal (18’ wide) & Behinds (12' wide), Field Size (70-80yds x 45-55yds), Match Format (9 vs 9 & 30-minute halves).
- Junior High School, High school, & College = Goal (24’ wide) & Behinds (18' wide), Field Size (100-130yds x 50-100yds), Match Format (11 vs 11 & 30-minute halves).
- Each team has unlimited substitutions for each half and at the halftime break (from 6 & Under to College).