Outdoor Soccer Rules

Foreword

First and foremost all District Sports leagues are purely recreational! We do have officials; however, we expect individuals to respect the league’s culture of fair play. Foul language and rough play will not be tolerated and individuals who cannot adhere to our standards of fair play and sportsmanship may be asked to leave the league.

 

Section I: League policies and Guidelines

 

A. Individual and Team Registration

Eligibility - All players must be 21 years of age or older

Registration Requirements

Signed Registration/Waiver Form

Individual or Team on-line registration

Team Rosters - Team Captains for single payer teams are required to submit team roster complete with player names and emails to the league before league play begins.

 

B. Rosters

Teams that are registered by a single payer may carry as many players as they like on their rosters. For teams that register as individuals, District Sport retains the right place non-aligned free agents on their team. District Sports aims to place no more than the following amount of players on each team:

7v7 outdoor soccer- 13 players

9v9 outdoor soccer- 15 players

11v11 outdoor soccer- 18 players

During regular season play teams may pick-up registered players from other District Sports teams. This should only be done should the team not have enough of its own players present at the games. Captain discretion is requested in these cases.

Only Registered District Sports players are allowed to play on a given team. District Sports retains the right to suspend any team playing with un-registered players.

During playoffs only players on a teams original roster will be allowed to participate. District Sports officials will cross check rosters and valid State ID's before these games. 

C.  Rosters: Male to female ratio

The following are the maximum amount of men and women that may be on the field at any given time for each format. Please consider this when putting together teams.

11v11- Teams may have no more than eight (8) players of either sex on the field at any one time.

9v9- Teams may not have more than six (6) players of the same sex on the field at any one time.

7v7 – Teams may not have more than five (5) players on the field of the same sex on the field at any one time.

 

D. Equipment- Please consider when preparing for the season

Shin guards (must be totally covered by socks to reduce risk of injury) are mandatory and are an absolute requirement for all players.

Footwear - Only soccer/athletic shoes are acceptable. No street shoes or metal cleats. Referees’ decisions on footwear suitability are final.

Each team shall be responsible for providing a game ball

Field Preparation and Clean up - Each team shall take responsibility to ensure fields are ready for play and the field is clean after the game. Generally District Sports will have fields set-up and properly lined at the beginning of the first game. Field setup by teams is the exception rather than the rule. Help with clean-up is always appreciated.

 

E. Uniforms

Teams shall have matching colored shirts. Players should make every effort to wear jersey provided by District Sports (if only to maintain consistent uniform colors).

Please be aware that team jerseys are ordered well in advance of the season and are therefore made available in the following pre- set amounts:

11v11 teams- 18 jerseys

9v9 teams- 15 jerseys

7v7 teams- 13 jerseys 

If you have registered as an individual and you do not receive a jersey due to roster numbers District Sports will work to accommodate the situation.

 

F. Regular Season Schedule

Schedules will be created based on the amount of teams playing in each league. It is normal for a few games to be lost because of inclement weather. The league makes no guarantee of any certain number of games- If conditions beyond the control of the league are present, including but not limited to, excessive inclement weather conditions.

Schedule Adjustments - Adjustments to the schedule require the agreement of BOTH teams, and are not final until approved by District Sports. However, it should be understood that adjustments are not guaranteed. Teams can not reschedule games, only the District Sports league administrator has the authority to reschedule a game.

 

G. Weather Related Closings

Field Closings - District of Columbia Parks and Recreations (DCPR) makes all decisions on field closings. Normally a field will be closed with any significant rain within 24 hours of first schedule game time. Games played on turf fields will go on even in the event of rain. District Sports Hotline will be updated 2 hours prior to first game start time with field closing and game delay information.

District Sports Game Hotline: 202-263-1143

Suspended Games - If, due to weather conditions, safety conditions, or referee discretion a game is halted prior to half-time, it will be replayed, allocations permitting. A game halted at half time or later will stand as indicated by the score when the game was halted.

Rescheduled Games - If a game is cancelled for any reason, the league will reschedule if possible. Up to two (2) games may be cancelled without a rescheduled game. If more than two games are cancelled without rescheduling then players will receive a reimbursement. See fees & reimbursements.

 

H. League Standings

Game Statistics (wins and losses) will be recorded and posted on the District Sports web page.  Teams are encouraged to review their respective League Standings page periodically.  The Team Captain should notify the League Administrator of any errors.

A 3-3 draw will be posted for games cancelled and not rescheduled at the end of the regular season.

 

Section II: Games Rules

Generally speaking all games should be played in accordance with the FIFA rules of the game.

A. Game Time

11v11 - Two 35-minute halves with a 5 minute half time or as required due to

adjusted game times per field allocations.

9v9- Two 25 -minute halves with a 5 minute half time or as required due to

adjusted game times per field allocations.

7v7 - Two 25-minute halves with a 5 minute half time or as required due to

adjusted game times per field allocations.

 

B. Equipment- Shin guards (must be totally covered by socks to reduce risk of injury) are mandatory and are an absolute requirement for all players.

Footwear - Only soccer/athletic shoes are acceptable. No street shoes or metal cleats. Referees’ decisions on footwear suitability are final.

Each team shall be responsible for providing a game ball

 

C. Coed Rule

11v11- Teams may have no more than eight (8) players of either sex on the field at any one time.

9v9- Teams may not have more than six (6) players of the same sex on the field at any one time.

7v7 – Teams may not have more than five (5) players on the field of the same sex on the field at any one time.

 

D. Forfeits

Teams must be ready to play their game within 10 minutes of the scheduled game time.

If a team does not have the following amount of players for each of the particular format then they are considered to have forfeited.

11v11- 8 players

9v9- 6 players

7v7- 4 players

Should teams have enough of their own players that they don’t need to forfeit but not enough for a whole team, they may pick up players from another team provided that they are registered District Sports Players. If remaining players from the scheduled team arrive after the start of the game then any players who have been picked up from another team should leave the game. Any team who picks up players should not add more players than can play on the field at any given time- meaning that team should not have any substitutes.

 

E. Substitutions

Referees are responsible for managing substitutions and shall be made upon his/her consent

Generally speaking unlimited Substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee at the following times:

Throw In - your possession or when opposing team substitutes

Goal kick - either team

Goal - either team

Injury when the referee stops play that team is allowed to substitute for the injured player. The opposing team is then allowed to substitute a single player.

Yellow Card – Referee may choose for an immediate substitution of carded player. Carded player will remain on the sideline until referee determines that they may re-enter the game.

 

F. Slide Tackling

Slide tackling is NOT permitted. Performance of a slide tackle, may be grounds for a yellow card on the part of the referee. Players may slide when not creating a dangerous play, i.e. sliding to keep a ball in play.

 

G. Off-sides

Off-sides is always in effect for  11v11 outdoor games

Off-sides is always in effect for  9v9 outdoor games

There will be no off-sides in 7v7 play

 

H. Goalkeepers

Goal keepers may punt, throw, or send goal kicks as far as they like across the half-line

 

I. Misconduct

Yellow Card - Referees will immediately substitute player out for a minimum of two (2) minutes.

Red Card - A player receiving a red card, or two yellow cards in the same match, must leave the field premises, sight and sound, within one minute without substitution.

Any player receiving a red card will be suspended from the following match

Multiple red cards in one season will be grounds for suspension -without refund- from the league

 

J. Team Conduct

Discipline - The Team Captain assumes the responsibility regarding team leadership and maintenance of order and discipline. District Sports expects each Captain to set a positive example for their players in promoting good sportsmanship and self- control.

Sideline Control - The Captain is responsible for the behavior of his/her bench area. After being verbally warned or cautioned (yellow card) by the referee for unsportsmanlike behavior from his/her bench area, the Captain will receive a red card if the situation persists. The referee also has the power to eject any spectator at any time at his or her discretion.

 

K. Player Suspension

District Sports will refuse registration to any player currently on suspension from any Washington DC-area league.

District Sports also reserves the right to suspend players from league play. This is at the sole discretion of District Sports and cannot be appealed. Registration fees will not be refunded to suspended players

 

District Sports reserves the right to modify these rules at any time.

Questions?  Contact District Sports at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .