University of Chicago

Revised: Winter 2022

General

• All teams and players are subject to IM Policies.  
• In general, a combination of high school and college soccer rules will be used.
• Only the team captain/manager should speak with officials regarding calls, questions, or clarifications.
• All games will be played at Henry Crown Field House - Upper Level unless otherwise specified.
• All players must have their UChicago ID card for access to HCFH and swipe in at the front desk.
• Only water is allowed inside HCFH.  NO FOOD, GUM, SPORT DRINKS, ETC.

Equipment

• Team members must all wear the same color shirts.  Goalkeeper should wear a shirt that is a different color.
• All players must wear appropriate footwear.
  • Cleats, non-rubber soled shoes, any shoe that marks the floor, bare feet, or stockinged feet are not permitted.

Players & Substitutions

• A team consists of five (5) players on the court at a time (4 field players & 1 goalie).
  • Coed = At least two (2) female-identifying players on the court (female players may play in the field or goal).
  • A team may start and play with as few as four (4) players.
• Substitutions are unlimited and may be made on the fly or during a stoppage.
  • The player subbing out must be fully off the court BEFORE the replacement enters the game.
  • Violations will result in a yellow card for the player coming on and a free kick for the opposing team.  
• For goalkeeper substitutions, the referee must be properly informed, and the change must be made during a stoppage in play.

Roster Submission

• Team managers/captains are responsible for inputting their rosters on IMLeagues. 
• Players must be listed on the online/printed roster to play.
• All players will check in with the IM Official or Supervisor prior to game time.
• Roster additions are unlimited and can be made throughout the regular season. 
• Rosters will lock at the conclusion of the regular season. 
• Only players on the official online roster on IMLeagues will be permitted to compete in the playoffs.

Field of Play

• The playing area is defined as the confines of two basketball courts.
  • Balls going over the sideline will be returned to play by a kick-in.    
• If the ball strikes a basketball backboard, the ceiling, etc. an indirect free kick from that spot will be awarded.

General Rules

• Games consist of two 18-minute halves with running clock.
  • Due to extenuating circumstances, officials may need to adjust the length of the game.
  • A short halftime will be provided.  Teams switch sides after halftime.
• Teams must be on the court by game time.
  • This means arriving early to stretch and check-in.
  • A 5-minute grace period will be given if needed.  After 5 minutes, a forfeit will be awarded.
    • As long as a team has the required minimum number of players, the game begins on time.
    • Teams that forfeit are subject to being removed from the league.
• No timeouts.  Only the official may stop the clock for extenuating circumstances.
• All goals are worth 1 point.
• Regular season games ending in a tie will be recorded as such (No Overtime).
• ALL FREE KICKS (Non Penalty Kicks) & CORNER KICKS ARE INDIRECT
  • On the restart, opposing players must be at least 3 yards from spot of the foul
• NO OFFSIDES

Beginning the Game

• Captains Rock/Paper/Scissor for choice of ball or side to begin the game.
  • In playoffs, the higher seeded team will have choice.
• Kickoffs may go forward or backward.  All players must be on their defensive half at kickoff.  Kickoff on refs whistle only.
  • A goal may not be scored directly from the kick-off (must be touched by a second player of either team first)

Fouls & Misconduct

• SLIDING & SLIDE TACKLING IS PROHIBITED.  Goalies, however, may slide to make (or attempt to make) a save within the penalty box only.  If, however, the goalkeeper's slide is determined to be malicious or unwarranted then a penalty may be called (based on the discretion of the official). 
• A goal kick or goalkeeper's throw may not cross over the half court line in the air. 
  • PENALTY: free kick at the point nearest where the ball crossed over the line.
• PROTECTING GOALIES.  Field players must go out of their way to avoid contact with goalkeepers.  As soon as a goalie (in the penalty area) has a body part on the ball, it will be a goalie ball and other players many not attempt to play it.
• Goalkeepers have 5 seconds to release the ball after making a save.  3 steps may be taken from the point of capture.  
• Back-Pass Rule: Goalies may not use their hands to play a ball purposely kicked to them by a teammate.  Balls that are passed back with a header or any other body part may be handled by the goalie.
  • PENALTY: free kick at spot of infraction (not a PK) 
• Penalty Kicks:
  • Most fouls committed by the defending team in the penalty area result in a free shot at goal from the penalty spot.
  • Only the kick taker and opposing goalie may be within the penalty area during a penalty kick.
  • Penalty kicks not resulting in a goal are a dead ball and a goal kick.  Other players may not rush in after the kick 
  • The goalkeeper must stand on their own goal line until the ball is kicked. 
  • The kick taker must kick the ball forward and may only play the ball once.
  • No Fake Kicks.  Once the kick taker begins their approach toward the ball, they may not interrupt their forward progression (or fake a kick).  A warning and re-kick will be issued on the first offense.
• Unruly/temperamental/malicious players may be substituted out of the game by the official/supervisor at any time.  The length of time that the player must remain off the field is at the discretion of the official/supervisor. 
  • A "forced substitution" may be done in addition to, or in lieu of, a yellow card.
• In egregious situations, officials/supervisors may impose a 2 or 4 minute penalty in which an offending player must leave the court and their team will be forced to play down a player. 
  • This penalty may also be done in addition to, or in lieu of, a yellow card.
• Players may be ejected from a game for any of the following reasons:
  • Persistently disputing an official's decision and/or failing to leave the field in a timely fashion.
  • Involvement in a physical altercation or verbal harassment
  • A red card or two yellow cards
  • Any verbal or physical action deemed to be unsportsmanlike
• No substitution is permitted for a player receiving a red card or ejected by the referee.
• Teams are responsible for the actions/behavior of both their players and fans.
• While yellow/red cards may be utilized, they are not necessary to warn a player or remove the player from a game.  Verbal warnings will be treated the same as cards.
• Red cards/ejections carry a minimum 1-game suspension.  Any player receiving a red card or being ejected will be indefinitely suspended from all intramural activities until they have met in person with the Director of Intramurals. After meeting, the Director reserves the right to suspend the ejected player for additional games.

Overtime (Playoffs Only)

• One 5-minute golden-goal overtime session. 
• If still no winner, a penalty kick shootout will occur.
  • Only players on the court at the end of overtime may participate in the shootout.  The goalie must remain the same.
  • Captains Rock/Paper/Scissor for choice of kicking first or second.
  • Each team takes an initial series of 3 kicks, alternating turns from the penalty spot, to determine a winner. 
  • A different player must take each kick.  The goalie may be one of the three kickers.
  • In coed play, at least one of the three kickers must be a female-identifying player. 
  • If the score remains tied after each team's three kicks, kicks will continue in the same order until a team has one more goal than their opponent in the same number of kicks. 
    • All 5 players that ended OT on the court must kick before the kicking order begins to repeat.

Tiebreakers

For playoff advancement and seeding, the following tiebreakers will be used as applicable:

1. Winning Percentage
2. Head-to-Head
3. Goals Against (Average per Game)
4. Record vs. Common Opponents
5. Record vs. Other Playoff Teams
6. Coin Flip