The Rules Of The US3v3 Soccer League

The following rules have been designed to ensure fair play for all participants. Each player is expected to understand these rules prior to their participation in the season. Any questions concerning these rules should be directed to US3v3 Event Staff.

 

Teams will be placed into divisions based upon age, gender and playing experience. Any team or teams that span more than one age group will be placed into the division of the oldest player on the team.

Sportsmanship: Good sportsmanship is to prevail at all times. Coaches will be held responsible for the conduct of themselves, their players, players’ parents and spectators.

Number of Players: 5 or 6 is the maximum number of players on a team: three field players and two substitutes. (A team must have a minimum of 2 field players). Players may only play on one team per division. There are no goalkeepers in 3v3.

Player Registration: All players must be registered prior to their first scheduled game time. Teams can-not add players after their first game has been played, with out written approval from the US3v3 Staff League Director

Falsifying Ages: A team, player or coach determined by the us3v3 Staff to have falsified age, identity, or skill level will be dismissed from the league and potentially future events. This act of sportsmanship will not be tolerated by the RSC or United States 3v3 Soccer.

Skill Level: Teams are placed in divisions based on their players’ competitive experience. Teams that have one or more players with any club competitive experience will be bracketed in the competitive division.

Proof of Age: All participants must provide proof of age if asked by a league official (players and coaches are required to have their proof of age at all times).

Age of Participants: The age group of each team is determined by the birthdate of the oldest player on the roster (see registration form for age group breakdown).

Coed Rules: A young lady can play in the boy's division, however there must be only one or two femals per team.

Uniforms: All players must wear matching jerseys/t-shirts during play and each team must bring both a light and dark colored jersey/t-shirt. If both teams are wearing the same color, a coin flip in pool play will determine which team must change. No Numbers are required on shirts.

Protective Casts: The League Director, Athletic trainer and/or referee must approve players wearing protective casts. Hard casts will not be allowed. No jewelry will be allowed, including earrings of any type, rope necklaces and bracelets. The only exception will be players wearing medical bracelets.

League Equipment: All players must wear shin guards. Any player without shin guards will not be allowed to play. Teams are responsible for providing game balls. Here are the following sizes for each group: U6-U8 = Size 3; U9-U12 = Size 4; and U13 & up = Size 5.

Field Dimensions: The playing field is 40 yards long by 30 yards wide for ages U9 and higher. U6, U7 and U8 age groups play on 30 x 20 yard field. The goals are four feet high and 8 feet wide or smaller

The Goal Box: The goal box is ten feet wide by six foot long located directly in front of the goal. The goals are four feet high by eight feet wide. There is no ball contact allowed within the goal box, however, all players may pass through the goal box as long as they do not touch the ball while in the box. If the ball comes to a rest on the goal box, a goal kick is awarded regardless of who touched the ball last. Any part of the ball or player’s body on the line or inside the plane of the box is considered in the goal box and an extension of such. If a defensive player touches the ball after it has entered the plane, a goal will be awarded to the offensive team. If an offensive player touches the ball after it has entered the plane, a goal kick will be awarded to the defensive team. The plane of the goal box extends upward.

Goal Scoring: A goal may only be scored from a touch (offensive or defensive) within the team’s offensive half on the field. The ball must be completely on the offensive half of the field, and cannot be touching the mid-line (Example: kick-off). If a player in their defensive half kicks the ball across the midline and the ball hits another player (offensive or defensive) and the ball goes in the goal, a goal will be awarded. If a ball is kicked from the defensive half and is not touched before the ball rests in the goal, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.

Game Duration: The game shall consist of two 12-minute halves separated by a three minute halftime period OR the first team to reach 12 goals, whichever comes first. A coin toss will determine direction and possession before the start of the game. Games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie, except in the playoffs. There are no timeouts and the Game Clock does not stop in 3v3 games. The referee has the official time on the field and holds the right to take necessary action if he/she feels that a team is delaying the game.

Substitution: Substitutions may be made during dead-ball situations, regardless of possession. Teams must gain the referees attention and players must enter and exit at mid-field. Substitutions should not be made on the fly!

Delay of Game: Any player may be cautioned with a yellow card if it is deemed by the referee that the player is intentionally wasting time .e.g.: if a player intentionally kicks the ball long distances away from the playing field in order to waste time.

Playoff Overtime(If Your Local League Has Playoffs): Shall consist of a 3-minute “golden goal” overtime period with a coin toss to decide kick-off/direction. The first team to score in overtime is the winner. If no team has scored in the 3-minute overtime, the winner shall be decided in a shootout with a coin toss to decide team kicking order. The three players from each team remaining on the field at the end of the overtime period will be the only players to kick for their team. The remaining three field players after overtime regulation will rotate, alternating teams with each kick. The first round of shootouts will consist of each player kicking once (round of 3 players shooting per team). The team with the most goals after the first round will be considered the winner. If the score remains tied after the first round of penalty kicks, the same 3 players will alternate in the same order in a sudden death penalty kick format until one team scores unanswered. If one team has received a red card during the game and finishes with 2 players on the field, a remaining roster player (other than the red carded player) must be chosen to kick in the rotation of penalty kicks. If the red-carded player is the last remaining roster player, one of the two field players must kick twice.

No Offsides in 3v3 Soccer! No slide Tackling: If a player is sliding, no contact is allowed. If a player slides and contact is initiated, a free kick shall be awarded. This does not prevent players from sliding to stop/intercept a ball where contact is not initiated during the slide. Example: a player may slide to save a ball from going out-of-bounds.

Hand Ball Clarification: Deliberate handling of the ball that denies a team of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity will result in the following: (1) A penalty kick (at the discretion of the referee) (2) A yellow or red card given to the player committing the hand ball (at the discretion of the referee).

Cautioned Players (Yellow Card): Players that receive two yellow cards in one game will result in a red card. (Please see red card rule). Any player accumulating three yellow cards in two consecutive games will automatically be suspended for their next game (no exceptions).

Player Ejection (Red Card): Referee’s have the right to eject a player or coach from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants sending off. The team may then continue with their remaining two, three or four players, however, if the player receiving the red card was on the field of play, the team must complete the entire game a player short. The player receiving the red card will automatically be suspended for their next game (no exceptions). Players or coaches that are red carded must leave the immediate playing area, including the fan and team areas. If the player delays or refuses to leave, the game will be forfeited in favor of opposing team (regardless of the score at the time of the incident).

**If players are red carded for fighting, they will be ejected from the league. (no exceptions)

Coach/Parent Ejection: Referees have the right to eject a coach or parent from any game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants ejection. Coaches or parents whom are ejected by the referee or tournament official must leave the field and area around the field before play will continue. If a coach or parent refuses to leave, the game will be forfeited in favor of the opposing team.

Kick Off: May be taken in any direction. You cannot score directly from a kick off (ball must be 100% over the mid-line to be considered on the offensive half of the field).

Kick-Ins: The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead of thrown in. The ball is considered in play when the ball is touched and moves one full rotation.

Five Yard Rule: In all dead-ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player’s goal is closer than five yards, the ball shall be played five yards from the goal box in line with the direction of play prior to the penalty.

Direct & Indirect Kicks: All dead-ball kicks (kick-ins, kick-offs, free kicks) are indirect with the exception of corner/penalty kicks.

Goal Kicks: May be taken from any point of the end line.

Penalty Kicks: Shall be awarded if, in the referee’s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by an infraction (the infraction does not automatically result in a red card). Penalty kicks are direct kicks taken from the center of the mid-line with all players (on both teams) behind the mid-line. Penalty kicks are dead ball infractions. If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick.

Scoring: Games will be scored according to the following: 3 points for a win; 1point for a tie; 0 points for a loss. A forfeited game is scored as a 6-0 win for the team that is present. Referees will provide the winning coach a scorecard, which must be turned into the us3v3 official.

Protests: Protests are not allowed. Referee has final say on the interpretation of the rules. If there is a possible rules infraction please see a US3v3 staff member for final interpretation.

Weather Related Issues: We will make every attempt to re-schedule all rain outs. We may require you to have a double header the following weekend.

** The US3v3 League Director and or location US3v3 staff will have final say on all disputes and interpretations of The Rules. **