Men's Soccer Rules

Minimum roster size: 4
Maximum roster size: 12

THE GAME

A team shall consist of a maximum of six players including the goalie and a minimum of four players including the goalie. No more than two former Hope soccer players can be on the pitch at a time for your team.

Length of the field:
- When played on DeVos lawn: 60 yards: two 15-yard penalty boxes and two 15-yard areas between the box and the center line
- When played on VanAndel Stadium: Width of the field
Length of the game: two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime. The clock is stopped only after scoring a goal, for a penalty kick or for anIM supervisor timeout.
- See rules for overtime in regular season and playoffs!

All players are encouraged to wear shin guards. Soft cleated shoes are allowed but absolutely no metal or screw-in spikes allowed.

With larger goals, 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.

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 IM worker and ask for a decision. All worker 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, attempting to kick 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
Slide tackling and 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 5-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 and 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.

TIEBREAKER

Regular Season:

If the score is tied after regulation, each team will get three penalty kicks (PK) on the main Van Andel goal, alternating kicks by team. Each goal scored will count toward final score. If both teams score an equivalent number of goals in the best of three PKs, they will continue alternating kicks until a winner is declared.

Playoffs:

If the score is tied after regulation, there will be a 10-minute sudden death overtime period. If the score is tied after 10 minutes of overtime, each team will have five penalty kicks on main Van Andel goal, alternating kicks. Each goal scored will count toward the final score.

SCORING

The entire ball must pass over the goal line. A goal counts as one point. Ties will stand in regulation. For seeding purposes only, a win counts two points and a tie counts one point.

PARTICIPATION RULES

All teams are expected to follow IM participation rules that are explained in the IM Handbook.

SPORTSMANSHIP RULES

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, either one additional no show or one forfeit will remove your team from competition.
Additional players may be added up to game time on the day of your scheduled event through the roster addition form on the IM website. Email intramurals@hope.edu with questions.
Check the IM website homepage to learn of cancellations due to rain.