COVID-19 guideline

Any COVID-19 guidelines overrule other rules

• 12 players maximum per team.
• No subs allowed outside your 10-player roster.
• Halves will be 20 minutes.
• Kick-ins will be used instead of throw-ins.
• There will be no playoffs.
• Players must maintain physical distancing while not in play.
• Players must wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
• Equipment will be sanitized between games.
• No handshakes, high fives or after-game cheers.
• Do not play if you are feeling unwell.
• Read the full COVID-19 guidelines here.

The team

• Each team has 6 players on the field. There is no goalie. There are no gender requirements.
• Unlimited subs at any time during play. Subs must enter the field after the other player comes off the field.
• Subs who are not on the roster are allowed to play, but need to sign a waiver online before playing.
• You need at least 5 players to start the game. If you don’t have the minimum, you lose by default.

The Basics

• Games are played with two 25 minute halves.
• Teams will change sides at half-time.
• There is no offside in this league.

Starting the game

• Captains should ensure that the goal creases, lines, and sidelines are clearly outlined before starting the game.
• Captains will decide which team starts with the ball.
• The ball does not need to move forward at kick off.
• Players cannot score directly from kick off.
• After a goal has been scored, the game shall be restarted by a kick off, to be taken by a player of the team against which the goal was scored.

Out of Play

• The ball is out of play when the whole ball crosses the sideline or goal-line.
• If the ball is out of play the opposing team will be given a throw-in (sideline) or corner kick (goal-line).
• Kick-ins from a team’s own goal-line must occur from the goal-line.
• Throw-ins must be completed with both hands, and feet remaining on the ground.
• The player taking the corner-kick must not play or touch the ball a second time before it has been played or touched by another player. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.

Ending the game

• At the end of each game the captains will agree on the final score.

Uniforms and equipment

• Play Sask will bring the equipment and set up the fields.
• Players are required to come to games with a light and dark coloured shirt to ensure there isn’t a conflict (both teams wearing the same colour jersey).
• NO metal cleats.
• Shin pads are optional, but strongly recommended.

Fouls

• Games are self-officiated. You are responsible for calling your own fouls.
• Play Sask encourages teammates to help officiate each other in a friendly way.
• In the event of a foul the game will stop, and the opposing team will be given a free kick (see below).

Fouls include (accidentally and on purpose)

• Physical contact: Tripping, kicking, holding or pushing an opponent
• Slide tackling
• Hand/arms making contact with the ball.

Free kick

• The free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred.
• The player taking the free-kick must not play or touch the ball a second time until it has been played or touched by another player.
• All free-kicks are indirect (you cannot score a goal directly).
• During a free kick the opposing team must stand 10 meters away

What’s different from other leagues?

• There is no offside.
• There are no gender requirements.

Playoffs

The regular season is 12 weeks long, with one week of playoffs. The top four teams will play in the playoffs, the remaining teams will play a just-for-fun match. Teams must maintain an overall Spirit Point rating of three to play in the finals. No new subs can play during the playoffs (no ringers).

Spirit points

Spirit points are awarded to the opposing team at the end of each match, on a scale of 0-5.

Teams must maintain an overall rating of 3 to play in the finals. Play Sask managers will encourage teams that have a rating of less than 3 to improve their sportsmanship. Low spirit scores may be used as an indicator of how well a team adheres to the code of conduct; if your score is too low and does not improve, your team may be penalized.

5 = The game was extremely fun! We wish all of our opponents were like this!

• All of our players really enjoyed playing against all of the opposing team’s players
• Our opponents exhibited a great deal of sportsmanship throughout the game
• They were extremely knowledgeable about the rules, OR were very receptive to learning

4 = The game was a lot of fun!

• Most of our players enjoyed playing against most of the opposing team’s players
• Our opponents exhibited good sportsmanship throughout the game
• They were fairly knowledgeable about the rules, OR were fairly receptive to learning

3 = The game was okay, but there were a few poor plays or discrepancies

• Some of our players enjoyed playing against some of the opposing team’s players
• Our opponents exhibited some sportsmanship throughout the game
• Our opponents knew most of the rules, but sometimes made questionable calls

2 = Several discrepancies or opposing players made the game not much fun to play

• Most of our players did not enjoy playing against most of the opposing team’s players
• Our opponents exhibited a lack of sportsmanship throughout the game
• They seemed confused about the rules, and were not receptive to learning them

1 = This team was not fun at all to play against

• None of our players enjoyed playing against the opposing team
• Our opponents exhibited poor sportsmanship throughout the game
• They were not very knowledgeable about the rules and did not want to learn them