skip to content

Rules for Intramural Sports

6 on 6 Co-Rec Soccer

The NCAA Official Soccer Rules shall govern play of all intramural games with the exceptions listed in these rules; the Assistant Director-Intramural Sports and Special Events having the authority to modify said rules at his discretion.

Special Intramural Rules

  1. Each team must have 6 players (including a goalie) to start the game; 3 Men and 3 Women at all times. In the case of an injury, a team can finish with less than 6 players.
  2. Fields will be approximately 60 yards by 35 yards and smaller soccer goals will be used.
  3. There will be no offside violations.
  4. Games will consist of two 20-minute halves, running time, with a 3-minute half time. THERE ARE NO TIME OUTS. All the games will begin simultaneously when the Intramural Supervisor sounds a horn at the scheduled game time.
  5. Sneakers and soft rubber turf cleats may be worn. Not Allowed: bare feet, metal cleats, plastic molded-in or screw-in cleats, and boots of any kind.
  6. Penalty kicks: The official marks off 10 yards from the goal line. It is a dead ball situation. All players must line up behind the mid-field line during penalty kicks.
  7. All throw-ins shall be indirect.
  8. All kick-offs are direct.
  9. No punts or drop kicks allowed. If a goalie catches the ball, they must throw the ball.
  10. The goal post may not be used in any way to assist the goalie or players from making a play on the ball. A goal may be automatically awarded to the offensive team if the official rules the ball was heading into the goal when a defensive player interferes by moving the goal post. If the offensive player moves the net to gain an advantage, a direct kick will be awarded to the defensive team.
  11. A blatant hand ball outside the box will result in a yellow card for the offending player and a direct kick for the opposing team.
  12. A blatant hand ball inside the box will result in a red card for the offending player and a penalty kick.
  13. Absolutely No Slide tackles! (automatic yellow card for slide tackling)

    It is for your safety as well as others!

  14. Sliding to save the ball is permitted.
  15. SHOOT OUT PROCEDURE (after a tie score in regulation)
    1. Only players who have been in the game during regulation are eligible.
    2. Goalies finishing regulation must remain in goal (for all kicks) during the shoot out.
    3. Each team selects 3 players for alternating kicks.
    4. Coin toss decides which team kicks first.
    5. Once the whistle has been blown by an official for a kick, the kicker must kick within 10 seconds or lose the chance.
    6. In case the game is still tied at the conclusion of penalty kicks, each team selects one player and the two will alternate kicks until one player scores and the other doesn’t (preceded by a coin toss).
  16. Substitutions must be male for male and female for female.

Other General Rules

CARDS

  • Yellow-warning for unsportsmanlike conduct, handballs, slide tackling, use of foul language.
  • Red-automatic ejection for extreme unsportsmanlike conduct (i.e. abusive language or gesture, serious foul play). The ejected player must leave the playing site within five minutes. Suspensions may follow. Please read page 7 of the Intramural Handbook.

  • An ejected player may not be replaced; team must play a player down during the game.
  • Two yellow cards given to the same player equals a red card (see above).

GOAL KICKS

  • Must be taken from the end line at a distance approximately 10 yards to the right or left of center goal.
    • Anyone can take the kick.
    • Cannot pass to the goalie inside the box. The ball must leave the goalie box and go out into the field before touching another player.
  • Are direct.

CORNER KICKS

  • Are direct - team can score directly into goal.
  • A player cannot move a cone before taking a corner kick.

FIELD THROW-INS

  • Are indirect.
  • Must be legal. (On an illegal throw, throw-in is awarded to the other team)
    • Two feet must be on the ground all the way through the follow through.
    • Ball must be released in front of the player’s head, not behind.
    • Ball must come directly over head with no side spin.
    • Throw must be in one motion all the way through.
      • Cannot slow down in order to make a short throw.
      • Cannot drop the ball.
      • Cannot release the ball behind the head.

PENALTY KICKS

  • Goalie cannot be changed for penalty kicks
  • Goalie must keep both feet on the goal line until the ball is kicked.
  • Goalie may move laterally across the line, but not forward until the ball is kicked.
  • Distance -10 yards from the goal line.
  • Shooter must wait for the official’s whistle.
  • Other players must line up behind the mid-field line.
  • Ball is dead after the shooter has taken the shot.

DIRECT KICKS

  • Awarded for: tripping, holding, hand ball, charging, jumping on, kneeing, punching, kicking, hitting, pushing, fighting, swinging, sliding, slide tackling, or others - anything deemed by the official to be inappropriate behavior.
  • Ball is placed at the point of infraction. Defender must be 10 yards from the ball.
  • Offensive team can score.
  • Ball must be touched by another player before the kicker can touch it again.

INDIRECT KICKS

  • Awarded for:
    • Dangerous play.
    • Touching the ball twice by the same person on all indirect kicks, direct kicks or a kickoff.
    • A goal keeper taking more than 6 seconds to put the ball back into play once the individual takes control of the ball with the hands, regardless of the number of steps that might be taken during this time.
    • Failure to put kickoff in play within 10 seconds.
    • Passing the ball back to their own goalie intentionally then the goalie plays the ball with their hands.
    • All others deemed by the official to be inappropriate behavior.
  • Ball is placed at point of infraction and the defender must be 10 yards from the ball.
  • Ball must hit someone else before it can go into the goal.
  • Ball must be touched by another player before the kicker can touch it again.

KICKOFFS

  • Are taken from mid-field.
  • Defending team must allow 10 yards.
  • Ball must be kicked forward.
  • Person starting the kickoff can only touch the ball once. If they touch it twice, it is an indirect free kick for the defending team.
  • The offensive team has 10 seconds to put the ball in play. Failure to comply will result in an indirect kick from the center by the defensive team.
  • Kickoffs are direct kicks.

GOALS: Awarded for a ball completely over the line.

OUT OF BOUNDS: Ball is only out if it is completely over the line: on the ground or in the air.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Must be authorized by an official

  • Only on goal kicks, after goals, half-time and for injuries.
  • NO OTHER SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED AT ANY TIME.