/ Intramurals

Coed Soccer Rules

Maximum roster size: 14 players
Minimum roster size: 4 players

THE GAME

A team shall consist of no more than 14 players, with a maximum of six (four players minimum) players on the field (excluding the goalie).

  • When playing with an even number of players, there must be an equal number of male and female players.
  • When playing with five, there must be three of one gender, and two of the other.
  • If both teams have six players and a goalie and agree, they may play with that number.
    • The breakdown must be three members of one gender and four of the other, and the goalkeeper may be either gender.
    • This must be agreed upon before the game begins, and if one team would rather not play with seven total players, that decision must be respected.
  • A goalkeeper may be used by each team. Since there is no box, each team is responsible to make sure they are within the legal space. 

Current players from Hope's soccer teams are not allowed on your roster! They are in their non-traditional season, which means they're in season. You may have a total of two past players on your team (can be both male, both female or one player of each gender who have ever been on Hope's varsity team. Graduating seniors who played for four years fall into this category and count toward the legal total of two past players.)

On your team's first night of competition, you must mark the past players from your team on your roster so that the IM worker can monitor this rule. If you are found to be breaking this rule, our team can be eliminated from IMs. If you need to remove any players from your team, fill out a roster addition form, but specify that you are removing a player.

Length of the field: Two 15-yard penalty boxes and two 15-yard areas between the box and the center line

Length of the game: Two 25-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime. The clock is stopped only after scoring a goal for a penalty kick or for an IM supervisor timeout.

  • Tiebreakers only occur in playoffs.
    • Length: 10-minute sudden death overtime period
    • If still tied after overtime, then a kick off occurs. Each team will get three penalty kicks, alternating kicks between teams. Each goal scored counts toward final score.

START OF PLAY

Play begins with a place kick toward opponent’s half of the field with both teams in an on-side position.

  • The receiving team must be eight yards from the ball until it is kicked
  • The ball must roll its circumference or be rekicked
  • The clock starts after the ball rolls one circumference
  • A goal cannot be scored from a kickoff

OFFSIDES

Only blatant offsides will be called and thus no "cherry picking."

FOULS AND MISCONDUCTS

The captains will call their own fouls as you would in a pick-up game. Captains may turn to the soccer arbitrator and ask for a decision. All arbitrator decisions are final. Refusal to accept the arbitrator decision results in a forfeit.

Fouls penalized with an direct free kick:

  • Handling the ball with hands or arms
  • Holding or obstructing an opponent to keep him from playing the ball
  • Placing hands on an opponent in an effort to reach the ball
  • Pushing, striking or attempting to strike an opponent
  • Jumping at an opponent
  • Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent or tripping an opponent
  • Charging an opponent from behind, when the opponent has both feet off the ground, or using the knee on an opponent
  • Tackling an opponent from a blind side or behind
  • Charging a goalie in the goal area
  • Using foul or abusive language (swearing loudly or at someone)
  • Unsportsmanlike conduct

Fouls penalized with an indirect free kick:

  • A player playing the ball a second time before it has been played by another player on the kick-off, a throw-in, a free kick, a corner kick, a goal-kick (if the ball has passed outside the penalty area) or on a penalty kick
  • Ball not kicked forward on a penalty kick
  • Goalkeeper carrying ball more than four steps within penalty area
  • Substitution made at an improper time, or for failure of the substitute to report to the supervisor
  • Offsides
  • Interfering with goalie or impeding him in any manner until he clears the ball while he is in the goal area

FREE KICKS

Opposing team players must stand eight yards away and the ball must be motionless prior to the kick.

GOALKEEPER PRIVILEGES

Hands and arms may be used to stop a ball from scoring while standing in the five yard penalty box. The penalty box goes out to the sideline.

Hands may not be used to receive a pass back from the feet of a teammate nor a throw-in.

PENALTY KICKS

The penalty mark is on the edge of the penalty box, 15-yards out from the goal line.

  • The goalkeeper must stand on the goal line until the ball is kicked
  • A defender committing any foul inside the penalty area results in a penalty kick

THROW-INS

Throw-ins are taken when the ball goes out of bounds over the sideline.

The throw is two-handed with equal pressure and continuous. Both feet must remain on the ground and behind the sideline.

CORNER KICKS

Corner kicks occur when the ball crosses the end line (not scoring), last touched by a defender.

  • A goal can be scored directly
  • Opponents must stay eight yards away from the kick

GOAL KICKS

Goal kicks occur when the ball crosses the endline (not scoring), last touched by the offender.

  • Goal kicks are kicked from the corner of the goal area
  • Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball crosses the penalty area line
  • The kick must be a place kick

SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions occur on your team’s throw-in, unless the other team is also subbing, or on a goal kick, a corner kick, or after a goal.

SCORING

A goal counts as one point and the entire ball must pass over the goal line to be counted as a goal.

Ties will stand in regulation, whereas tiebreakers are played during playoffs. For seeding purposes only, a win counts two points and a tie counts one point.

PROTESTS

All protests must be made in writing and presented to the Dow office according to IM protest rules in the IM Handbook.

PARTICIPATION RULES

All teams are expected to follow IM participation rules which means the team must be dressed and ready to play (lineup properly recorded) at game time.

Absolutely no metal cleats or screw in spikes are allowed. No baseball, softball or football cleats are allowed either. Soft cleated shoes or tennis shoes are allowed. Shin guards are optional.

SPORTSMANSHIP RULES

IM sportsmanship rules will be strictly enforced. Rosters will be checked regularly. Unsportsmanlike action will not be tolerated!

  • One no show will put your team on probation. Once on probation, one additional no show will remove your team from competition.
  • Additional players may be added up to game time on the day of your scheduled event using the roster addition form. Email intramurals@hope.edu with questions.
  • Check the IM website homepage to learn of cancellations due to rain.
Hope CollegeIntramurals

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