All players must wear shin guards. Referees will be enforcing it. Any player not wearing one may be asked to leave the field (referee discretion).
Indoor soccer shoes are preferred (small rubber studs appropriate for indoor turf fields are preferred. Outdoor soccer cleats with big studs are usually not allowed by the facility management). Referees have discretion. They may ask a player to change cleats if found inappropriate.
Players must not wear watches or jewelry inside the field (injury hazard).
Games must start on time. A team may start a game with a total of 6 players (instead of 8). However, if a team cannot field at least 6 players on the field within 5 minutes of the game start time, it forfeits the game. If both teams fail to field a team with a total of 6 players, then the game will be dismissed and none of the teams will get any points.
Teams may register a max of 15 players before the tournament start. No unregistered players can play.
Up to 5 players can be from ‘other ethnicity’ than desi but only 3 can be on the field at any given time.
Ideally, games will be played 15 minutes + 5 min water break + 15 minutes + injury times, if any, up to 3 min (discretion of the referee) [Game time may vary for unforeseen reasons. Check the schedule for latest info]
Substitution may happen as the game continues with the referee’s attention (when the ball is out or with the goalkeeper) and during a water break. Outgoing players must go out of the field first. The referee may show a yellow card to the captain when in violation. The Field observer will work with the referee to ensure this. No limits to substitution.
No sliding tackling or dangerous foul. For the first offense, if not so serious – a yellow card; if serious – a red card (discretion of the referee). Second offense, red card. [A red card means misses remaining of that game and the next game]
Regular rules for fouls (discretion of the referee)
Yellow cards do not propagate to the next game.
Goals: (Referee decision final) Referee will decide if a goal will be given or not.
No offsides.
Penalty rule same as in regular soccer games.
When the ball goes out from the sides, throw.
The goalie cannot pick a ball when it is back passed to him by foot.
Wall for freekick – 8 feet or whatever referee decides
The injured player must be taken out or substituted quickly.
Handball – referee determines.
There are 2 stages of the tournament. League, final
League: There will be two groups each consisting of 4 teams (Open and 35+). Every team in a group plays the other teams once. Win 3 points, draw 1.
Final: Top 2 teams from each group
Champion team: Trophy
Runner up team: Trophy
Top scorer – Trophy
Best player (determined by a panel of judges) – trophy
Best goalie (determined by a panel of judges) – trophy
Breaking ties
Group level:
goal difference (all matches)
goals scored (all matches)
Points from head to head games (teams that are tied) [games played between tied teams only]
Fewest points deducted
Yellow card – 1 point
Two yellow cards (converts to red) – 3 points
1 red card – 4 points
1 red after 1 yellow – 5 points
Less drawn games (all)
Fewer fouls (all) ) (if being counted else go to the next point)
If more than two teams are still tied, do a draw to determine the top two (from each group)
Final:
Tie-breaker: 3 penalty kicks (from all registered players, don’t have to be present on the field).
If still tied, the sudden death penalty kicks up to 7 additional kicks per team (if time doesn’t permit then the number of kicks may be reduced and vice versa).