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PRSC Special Rules for House League Play

PARK RIDGE SOCCER HOUSE LEAGUE
SPECIAL RULES

(Updated - January 2024)

Park Ridge Soccer House League play is governed by the rules and regulations of the current United States Soccer Federation Rules, except where modified by the Executive Committee or Board of Directors (Article One, Standing Rules, Park Ridge Soccer).

RULE ONE – Team Size, Game Duration, Ball Size

Teams must always field the same number of players at the start of and throughout the game.  Teams may play at uneven numbers as a result of: 1) a red card ejection and/or 2) a significant score differential (see Rule 4.4).

Teams will play with the maximum possible, unless both coaches agree to play with a lesser number.  If a team elects to play short in order to have a substitute, the opposing team is not required to also play short.  Coaches may not use players from other teams without PRS approval, unless the game has already been forfeited.  All games that are tied at the end of regulation will remain a tie.  Overtimes will not be played and penalty kicks from the mark will not be taken.

DIVISION, GAME DURATION, BALL SIZE, MIN / MAX PLAYERS (INCLUDING GOALKEEPER)

Interval between Halves - Five minutes.

Division

Player School Grade

Game Duration

Ball Size

Optimal Number of Players Per Side

Min / Max Players (w/ Goalkeeper)

Instructional *

Kindergarten

2 x 15 minutes

3

4 vs 4

3 – 4 players

Pee Wee

1st Grade

2 x 20 minutes

3

6 vs 6

4 – 6 players

Mid-Juniors

2nd & 3rd Grade

2 x 25 minutes

4

8 vs 8

6 – 8 players

Juniors

4th & 5th Grade

2 x 30 minutes

4

11 vs 11

7 – 11 players

Mid Seniors

6th thru 8th Grade

2 x 35 minutes

5

11 vs 11

7 – 11 players

Seniors **

9th thru 12th Grade

2 x 35 minutes

5

11 vs 11

7 – 11 players

 

*   Does not play with a Goalkeeper.
**  Each team must have at least one sub.  Coaches to agree on number of players to be fielded.

RULE TWO – Uniforms

  1. Mandatory – League issued soccer shirt with socks that match the shirt color, black soccer shorts and shinguards. Shinguards must be worn under the socks.
  2. Accessories - No jewelry, watches, splints, casts, or metal cleats will be allowed. Stud earrings must be taped.  Prescription glasses are allowed. Medical alert medals must be taped to the body. Knee braces must be padded
  3. Cold Weather - Caps (no hard bills), gloves, and sweats may be worn in cold weather.  Hoods on sweatshirts must be tucked inside the game jersey.  Sweat pants shall be worn under the regulation black game shorts and team socks will also be on top.
  4. Sliding Shorts - These shorts need not be the same color as the regulation black game shorts.
  5. Cleated Shoes – Cleats are optional in the House League Program.  However, Kindergarteners (Instructional Division) may NOT wear cleated shoes.
  6. Home Teams = Orange Uniforms
  7. Away Teams = Blue Uniforms

     

RULE THREE – Substitutions

  1. Teams may substitute an unlimited number of players at any stoppage in play with the referee’s permission.
  2. Mandatory Substitutions - A team must substitute for a player if that player has been attended to on the field for an injury, is bleeding, or has been cautioned.

RULE FOUR – Player Equity

  1. Each rostered player from Instructional through Junior Division must play approximately 50% of each game. Each rostered player from Mid Senior and higher Divisions must play approximately 25% of each game. Exceptions to include injury, missed practice, and/or conduct.

RULE FIVE – Slide Tackling

  1. Slide talking is not allowed at any level of House League play. Slide tackling is defined as a defensive maneuver where a player leaves his or her feet and slides on the ground at an opposing player who is in possession of the ball to stop the player or steal the ball. Slide tackling is a foul and will result in a Direct free kick (a slide tackle in the penalty area will result in a penalty kick. Exception under Rule 7.4 . A player sliding for a loose ball where no player has possession is NOT a slide tackle.

RULE SIX – Game Rules

  1. Girls may protect their chest by placing the right hand on the left shoulder and the left hand on the right shoulder.  There may be no upward motion of the arms while in this position.
  2. Touchlines - The Home team will occupy the North or East side, and the Visiting team will occupy the South or West side.  No one shall be allowed behind either goal.
  3. Game Ball Supply - The Home team is responsible for providing the game ball.
  4. Adding Additional Players - A team may add an extra player if it is down by four goals and two players if down by five goals.  If the losing team does not have additional players to add, the winning team may, but does not have to, remove players.
  5. Yellow and red cards will be shown to coaches when appropriate.
  6. For Junior teams and younger, players may not intentionally head the ball.  Violation of this rule will result in an Indirect Free Kick for the opposing team.
  7. Handball infraction is only called when it is deliberate.
  8. Offside is judged at the Center Line.
  9. For Goal Kicks, the ball will be in play when it is kicked and moved.  It no longer needs to clear the Penalty Area.  Players for the team in possession may be in the Penalty Area prior to the kick.  This change also applies to Free Kicks coming out of the Penalty Area.
  10. Drop balls will be uncontested.  The ball will be dropped to the Goalkeeper inside the Penalty Area or to the team last in possession, if outside the Penalty Area.  All other players must be 4.5 yards away.
  11. Penalty Kicks - For Junior Divisions and above, Penalty Kicks will be awarded.  At the taking of a Penalty Kick, the Goalkeeper cannot touch the goal posts, the cross bar, or the net.  The Goalkeeper can still move side to side, but need have only one foot on the goal line at the taking of the kick.
  12. If a wall is established consisting of 3 or more players, the attacking team cannot be closer than 1 yard of the wall.

RULE SEVEN – Special Rules for Peewee and Mid-Junior Divisions

  1. Goal Kicks - Goal Kicks shall be taken from the equivalent of the 18-yard line.
  2. Corner Kicks - Corner Kicks shall be taken from the intersection of the goal line and the edge of the Penalty Area (short corners).
  3. Build Out Line - When the Goalkeeper has the ball during play (from an opponent) or a goal kick is being taken, the opposing team must move behind the Build Out Line.  Once the opposing team is behind the Build Out Line, the Goalkeeper can pass, throw, or roll the ball into play (punting is not allowed).  Once the ball is considered to be in play (either touched by a teammate of the restarting team or the ball crosses the build out line), the opposing team can cross the Build Out Line and play resumes as normal.  If the Goalkeeper punts the ball, there will be a do over.
  4. Penalty Kicks - Penalty kicks will not be taken.  A direct kick shall be awarded from the 18-yard line.
  5. Throw-ins - A second chance will be awarded on illegal throw-ins.
  6. Offside - Offside will be called only when it is blatant (i.e., a player is “cherry picking” well ahead of play).  For the purpose of judging offside position, the Build Out Line, rather than the halfway line, will be used.

RULE EIGHT – Special Rules for Senior (Co-ed) Division

  1. Mix of boy/girl players - Coaches to agree at game time on the maximum number of boy players to be allowed on the field at any one time.

RULE NINE – Referee Interaction

  1. The purpose of this policy is to make clear that referee and assistant referee abuse of any kind is unacceptable and to define the standard sanctions for all reported referee abuse.
  2. No coach or spectator shall question decisions by the referee by word or action. Mistakes are part of gaining experience and learning how to officiate matches.
  3. All forms of abuse – especially emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse – of referees is not tolerated. The referee subjected to abuse is authorized to dismiss the abuser immediately and without warning in accordance with this policy.
  4. The referee may, at an appropriate stoppage in play and at their discretion, provide clarification or an explanation of a decision to a coach or both coaches. However, coaches and spectators are not entitled to clarifications or an explanation of a referee’s decisions.
  5. The coach is responsible for controlling the behavior of all spectators associated with their team. A coach’s failure to take successful corrective action, may result in the coach’s dismissal and/or abandonment of the match.
  6. Park Ridge Soccer Board Members or Staff Members, Referee Supervisors, or Game Supervisors are allowed to (1) intervene on behalf of the referee and/or (2) Take immediate action including, but not limited to: a) Dismiss a coach or spectator, or b) Abandon a match.
  7. Park Ridge Soccer Board Members or Staff Members, Referee Supervisors, or Game Supervisors may conduct post-game reviews and may suspend or remove any coach, player, or parent if found to have abused the policy up to and including permanent suspension from Park Ridge Soccer.

Anyone who observes an incident of referee abuse or misconduct to a referee or by a Participant should Report a Conduct Violation, using the following procedure:

  1. Send an email to Houseleague.info@prsoccer.com with the following information:
    • Date and time of incident
    • House League Division (pee-wee, Junior, etc)
    • Team names
    • Coach names
    • Score at time of incident
    • Description of incident or call in question
    • Final Score of the game
  2. Issues come up and no game is perfect, Park Ridge Soccer will review the incident or game report and follow up with results. This feedback is beneficial to the ongoing training of our young referees.