top of page

Soccer Rules & Formats

FUTSAL (thru grade 6)

GENERAL RULES:

  • Futsal is played on a basketball court, with a futsal ball (a smaller and heavier ball than a regular soccer ball).

  • THERE IS NO SLIDE TACKLING IN FUTSAL.

  • No heading the ball. 

  • Although some contact is unavoidable, futsal is largely a non-contact sport. Legal contact shall not be careless, reckless, or excessive.

  • There are no off-sides in futsal.
     

PLAYER EQUIPMENT:

  • Players must wear flat soled tennis shoes or indoor soccer flats. No cleats.

  • All players should wear shin guards.

  • Players will not be allowed to wear any jewelry.

  • Teams will be provided pinnies.

  • Goalkeepers must wear a different color shirt/pinnie from the other players.
     

ALL GRADES: 

  • 5 players on the court, 4 + goalkeeper 

  • Futsal Ball, size 3

  • All games are 20-minute halves - running clock, no stoppage time

  • 2 minute half-time

  • All games will have a referee.
     

SUBSTITUTIONS:

  • Substitutions will be made on the fly and are unlimited.

  • Subs cannot go on the field until the exit player has reached the bench. 

  • Goalkeeper substitutions can only be made when the ball is out of play and the referee has given permission.
     

START OF PLAY:

  • Home team has kickoff.

  • Opposing team waits outside of the center circle and the ball will be deemed in play once it has been touched.

  • Back kick is allowed (i.e. the ball does not have to move forward past the center line). 

 

OUT OF BOUNDS:

  • Ball will be out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline.

  • If a ball goes out-of-bounds on the sidelines, then it will be a kick-in to restart play.

  • The ball will be placed on the sideline where it went out-of-bounds and the player will have 5 seconds to kick the ball back into play or it becomes opponent’s ball.

  • All kick-ins will be indirect — defense must give 4 yards.

  • Balls out-of-bounds on the end lines for the offensive team will be a corner kick. Normal soccer rules apply (kick is direct.) Defense must give 4 yards.

  • Balls out-of-bounds on the end line for the defensive team will be a goalkeeper throw instead of a goal kick. Goalie must throw in - no punts or drop-kicks allowed. 

  • The goalkeeper will throw the ball in, in place of a goal kick. The ball must touch either a player or the floor prior to crossing half court.

  • Balls hitting the ceiling or lights is out of play. The play shall be restarted with a kick-in on the nearest touch line. The opposing team will take the kick-in.

 

GOALKEEPER:

  • The goalkeeper may not use his/her hands outside their own penalty area.

  • Keeper may slide in own penalty area but only when playing the ball.

  • Keeper may not kick the ball after releasing it until another player has played it (no punts or drop-kicks allowed).

  • The goalkeeper will throw the ball in place of a goal kick. No punts or drop-kicks allowed. The ball must touch either a player or the floor prior to crossing half court. An indirect free kick from the center mark is awarded to the opposing team if this does not happen.

  • Goalkeeper has 5 seconds to return ball to play.

  • The ball is not in play until it clears the penalty area. If the ball is received inside the penalty area, then the goalkeeper throw is taken again.

 

FOULS & PENALTIES:

  • All foul restarts shall be awarded an indirect free kick, except for fouls that occur in the penalty area or fouls resulting from dangerous play.

  • Fouls will result in either an indirect free kick or a penalty kick.

FALL RECREATIONAL

PeeWee Format

PeeWee

Game Format: TBD

Match Duration: TBD

Ball Size: 3

Field Size: TBD

Goal Size: TBD

​

Equipment 

Players must wear their ES issued uniform. Shin guards must be worn at all games. Player cannot participate without them. Soccer shoes or tennis shoes can be worn. NO FOOTBALL OR BASEBALL CLEATS are allowed. A size 3 soccer ball will be used.

 

  • Shin guards worn under socks are mandatory

  • Soccer cleats are required (no baseball or spiked cleats)

  • Absolutely no jewelry (earrings must be removed not covered) 

  • All players must wear a team shirt with a number on the back 

​

U7-8

U7-8

Game Format: 7v7 (6 field & 1 goalie) 

Match Duration: TBD

Ball Size: 4

Field Size: TBD

Goal Size: 6x12ft 

 

Equipment 

Players must wear their Empower Soccer issued uniform. Shin guards must be worn at all games. Player cannot participate without them. Soccer shoes or tennis shoes can be worn. NO FOOTBALL OR BASEBALL CLEATS are allowed. A size 4 soccer ball will be used for all matches.

 

  • Shin guards worn under socks are mandatory

  • Soccer cleats are required (no baseball or spiked cleats)

  • Absolutely no jewelry (earrings must be removed not covered) 

  • All players must wear a team shirt with a number on the back 

 

Substitutions

A team can substitute at any game stoppage (corner kicks, goal kicks, free kicks, fouls, etc.). Teams are encouraged to maximize each player’s playing time (a minimum of 50% in each game).

 

Rules

No heading... 

​

​

U9-10

U9-10

Game Format: 8v8 (7 field & 1 goalie) 

Match Duration: TBD

Ball Size: 4

Field Size: TBD

Goal Size: TBD

 

Players

Players must be on approved Empower Sports (ES) rosters to participate and have an ES Liability Waiver and the Player/Parent Concussion Information sheet signed and dated on file.

 

Roster Size 

A team’s roster may not exceed fourteen (15) players, nor have less than eleven (11) players. A team must have a minimum of five (6) players on the field to begin a match. Each team will play with 7 field players and one GK (goalkeeper) wearing a different color.

 

Equipment 

Players must wear their ES issued uniform. Shin guards must be worn at all games. Player cannot participate without them. Soccer shoes or tennis shoes can be worn. NO FOOTBALL OR BASEBALL CLEATS are allowed. A size 4 soccer ball will be used for all matches.

 

  • Shin guards worn under socks are mandatory

  • Soccer cleats are required (no baseball or spiked cleats)

  • Absolutely no jewelry (earrings must be removed not covered) 

  • All players must wear a team shirt with a number on the back 

 

Substitutions

A team can substitute at any game stoppage (corner kicks, goal kicks, free kicks, fouls, etc.). Teams are encouraged to maximize each player’s playing time (a minimum of 50% in each game).

 

Rules

No heading... 

bottom of page