All games shall be conducted under the cur rent Laws of Soccer as recognized by the United States Soccer Federation unless otherwise stated herein.

Players from the defending team must stay outside this circle in their own half of the field until the ball is in play.

On a kick-off, each team must stay in their own half of the field until the ball is in play. A player cannot be off-side in his own half of the field

When the whole ball passes over these lines, unless it is a goal, the ball is out of play and the game is restarted by:
1. A goal-kick when the ball has last been played by an attacking player.
2. A corner-kick when the ball has last been played by a defending player.
Neither the spectators, coaches, nor the players are permitted behind the Goal Lines during play.

1. It is the area in which the following offenses call for a penalty-kick if committed intentionally by a defending player - (a) charging opponent violently or dangerously; (b) charging opponent from behind; (c) handling the ball; (d) striking an opponent; (e) holding an opponent; (f) pushing an opponent; (g) tripping an opponent; (h) kicking an opponent; (i) jumping at an opponent; (j) spits at an opponent; (k) tackles making contact with opponent before contacting ball.

2. Limits part of the field where the goalkeeper can handle the ball.

3. Indicates the distance the ball must travel when a goal-kick is taken before it can be touched by another player. All opposing players must be out-side this area when the goal-kick is being taken.

4. Indicates area outside of which players must stand during a penalty-kick. Only kicker and goalkeeper can be in penalty area during the penalty-kick.

The purpose is to limit the area from which a goal-kick is taken, with exception of Shrimp Pre-K, Shrimp K, and Shrimp Divisions.

Minimum Number of Players
Shrimp Pre-K, Shrimp-K, and Shrimp Division games may not be started with fewer than five (5) players on each team. After the game has started, it may not continue if either team has fewer than five (5) players on the field. In all other Divisions, a game may not be started with fewer than seven (7) players on each team. After the game has started, it may not continue if a team has fewer than seven (7) players on the field. Any team failing to field the minimum number of players at the start of the game will forfeit the game. Each team must play with a goalkeeper.

Shrimp Divisions - Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade
1. 7 v 7  (6 on field 1 in goal per team)*

Bantam Divisions - 3rd Grade
1. 9 v 9 (8 on field 1 in goal per team)*

Midget Divisions - 4th and 5th Grade
1. 9 v 9 (8 on field 1 in goal per team)*

Juvenille Divisions - 6th, 7th and 8th Grade
1. 10 v 10 (9 on field 1 in goal per team)*

Senior (Co-Ed) Divisions
1. 11 v 11 (10 on field 1 in goal per team)
2. Ratio of male to female players permitted each season on the field will be determined by the Executive Board.

*If need be an addendum will be issued to coaches if the number of players on the field need to be adjusted as determined by the Executive Board, due to registration numbers.

Substitutions are allowed at any time during stoppage of play at the discretion of the referee. A player ordered from the field (REDCARDED) by the referee cannot be substituted. The Coach MUST have the referee's approval before a substitution is made.

The official league jersey, black shorts, solid red socks, and shin guards must be worn by each player. The shin guards must be fully covered by the socks. Failure to wear the approved uniform will result in ejection until the equipment is corrected. Goalies must wear an approved helmet, a shirt which will distinguish him/her from the other players and the referee, and may wear long pants. Soccer shoes are recommended; street shoes will not be allowed, although sneakers are permitted. Long pants may be worn in cold weather with black shorts worn over the long pants.

A player may NOT wear anything which is dangerous to himself/herself or another player (including, but not limited to, any kind of jewelry or a hard cast).

One (1) referee will be used per game. The referee is in complete control of the game and respective teams, coaches, spectators from his/her arrival at the field, throughout the game and until his/her departure from the field. All decisions made by the referee are final. The referee must call the Division Chairperson with final scores of the game between 7:00 and 9:00 pm within 48 hours after played. All referees must mail the "Team Evaluation Cards" to Evaluation Chairperson. Failure to comply will result in loss of pay for the specific game.

Shrimp Pre-K

Practice and play on each scheduled day. The teams shall practice for 25 minutes and then play a game made up of four 6- minute quarters, 2-minute rest between quarters, 5-minute rest at half time.

Shrimp K

Four 7-minute quarters, 2-minute rest between quarters, 5-minute rest at half time.

Shrimp (1st Grade)

Four 8-minute quarters, 2-minute rest between quarter, 5-minute rest at half time.

Shrimp (2nd Grade)

Four 10-minute quarters, 2-minute rest between quarter, 5-minute rest at half time.

Bantam

Four 12-minute quarters, 2 minute rest between quarters, 5 minute rest at half time.

Midgets

Two 25-minute halves,5 minute rest at half time.

Juveniles

Two 30-minute halves, 5 minute rest at half time.

Seniors

Two 35-minute halves, 5 minute rest at half time.

Official playing time is kept by the referees. Running time will not be grounds for a protest providing both halves are equal. Allowance may be made in total time to account for injuries, deliberate delays in play by a team, or for any other reason the referee feels it is warranted.

The ball is out of play when it has completely crossed the goal line or touch-line or the game has been stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times including if it rebounds from any part of the goal-post into the field. If it rebounds off the referee while he/she is on the field or in the event of a violation of the Rule until a decision is given by the referee.

The League strongly discourages "running-up" of a score during any game. If one team is winning by a goal differential of four, the coach of that team is directed to take the necessary action to prevent the goal differential from increasing. If a team scores another goal, that goal will be disallowed and a direct penalty kick will be awarded against the team in violation of the scoring rule.  The penalty and direct kick will continue with each differential greater than 4 goals.

VIOLATION OF THIS RULE BY EITHER COACH MAY RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF THE GAME AND/OR REMOVAL OF THE COACH.

A player is in an off-side position when he/she is nearer his opponent's goal-line than both the ball and the second last opponent the moment the ball is played unless (a) he/she is in his/her own half of the field of play; (b) he/she is level with the second last opponent; (c) he/she is level with the last two opponents; (d) he/she receives the ball direct from goal-kick, a corner-kick, a throw-in or when it was dropped by the referee. A player in an off-side position shall be penalized only if, in the opinion of the referee, he/she is interfering with the play or with an opponent, or is seeking to gain an advantage by being in an off-side position. For a violation of the rule, an indirect free-kick shall be taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the violation occurred.

Law XI is a simple law. Please do not complicate it.

A caution is called and an indirect free-kick awarded any time a player:

1. Displays unsportsmanlike conduct;

2. Repeatedly breaks the rules;

3. Shows displeasure with any decision, either by words or by action;

4. Enters the field after the game has begun or resumed without signaling the referee and receiving permission;

5. Delays the restart of the play;

6. Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted;

7. Deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee's permission.

Cautions are signified by the referee holding up a yellow card. Any player receiving two yellow cards is sent-off for balance of game. Players sent-off may not be substituted.

A player is ejected or "sent-off" by the referee when he/she:

1. is guilty of serious foul play;

2. is guilty of violent conduct;

3. spits at an opponent or any other person;

4. denies an opponent a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area);

5. denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offense punishable by a free-kick or a penalty-kick;

6. uses offensive, insulting or abusive language;

7. receives a second caution in the same match.

Any player receiving a red card is sent-off for the balance of that game and is prohibited from playing in the next two (2) consecutively played games within the NYCSL schedule. If the player is a league referee he/she is also prohibited from refereeing their next two (2) scheduled games. A player sent-off the field cannot be substituted. The team does not play short in the next two (2) games.

CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS MAY BE APPLIED TO COACHES AND SPECTATORS AS WELL AS PLAYERS. ANY PERSON RECEIVING A RED CARD MUST LEAVE THE COMPLEX IMMEDIATELY AND CANNOT RETURN FOR TWO (2) GAMES. AN UNSUPERVISED CHILD MAY REMAIN IN THE COMPLEX UNTIL A PARENT OR GUARDIAN ARRIVES. THE CHILD MUST REMAIN TWENTY (20) YARDS FROM THE FIELD.

If a referee presents a red card, the referee shall submit a written report of the incident to the Vice President of Personnel and to the Division Chairperson within 48 hours. This report shall be forwarded to the Executive Board for review. The Executive Board will then review the case for any possible further action under Article I, Section of the League By-Laws. The referee who issued the red card and the recipient may be present at the hearing. The hearing is strictly to determine further action. The red card is not revocable.

This is commonly called "HANDS". The hands and arms are not allowed to be used to intentionally control the progress or impede the flight of the ball. Whether or not the player gains an advantage makes no difference; the intent is sole criterion. This is a judgment call on the part of the referee. For a violation of this rule, the opposing team shall be awarded a direct kick from the point of infraction. Repeated violations can be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and can lead to ejection.

Girls will be permitted to protect their chest while blocking the ball. This shall be accomplished by placing the hands and arms tightly against the chest just prior to and until the playing of the ball is completed. If the hands and/or arms are used to attempt to propel the ball, it will constitute a handball.

The goalkeeper must release the ball into play within six (6) seconds of picking it up. He/she may kick or throw the ball to another player. After releasing the ball, the goalkeeper may not touch the ball until it has been touched by another player. Bouncing or tossing the ball by the goalkeeper to himself shall not be considered putting the ball into play.

However, if the goalkeeper waits more than 6 seconds without releasing the ball into play he/she shall be warned and/or an indirect kick will take place as follows:

1. Divisions up to Bantam (inclusive) - the goalkeeper will be warned for the first occurrence. An indirect free-kick will be awarded for the second occurrence.

2. Midgets Division and up - an indirect free-kick will be awarded on the first occurrence.

Players may not charge the goalkeeper when he/she is in possession of the ball. Goalkeepers cannot use their hands outside the penalty area or a direct free-kick will be awarded to the opposing team. Shrimp Pre-K, Shrimp K, and Shrimp goalies may carry the ball to the edge of the penalty area before putting the ball back into play. All other goalies are allowed to wait no more than 6 seconds before putting the ball back into play.

THE GOALKEEPER IS NOT PERMITTED TO HANDLE THE BALL AFTER A THROW-IN BY A TEAMMATE OR KICKED TO HIM BY A TEAMMATE.

A direct free-kick is awarded to the opposing team from the spot of any serious personal foul. These fouls include a violent or dangerous charge, charging from behind, pushing, jumping at, holding, striking, tripping, kicking, spitting, and handling of the ball intentionally. No opposing player may be closer than ten (10) yards from the ball until it has been kicked. A goal may be scored directly from the kick without touching another player first. A legal charge consists of bodily contact between the side of the upper arm and shoulders of two (2) players equally playing the ball.

A free-kick which is awarded to the opposition for technical violations of the rules. The difference between this and a direct free-kick is that no goal can be scored directly from this kick. The ball is put into play the same as for a direct kick, except it must touch another player before a goal can be scored. Players on the opposing team must be at least ten (10) yards from the ball when it is kicked. Indirect free kicks within the penalty area are not penalty shots. If the indirect kick is to be taken less than ten (10) yards from the goal, opposing players must stand on the goal line or at least ten (10) yards from the ball.

An indirect free-kick is awarded if any of the following offenses are committed: dangerous play, impeding the progress of an opponent, and preventing goalkeeper from releasing the ball.

An indirect free-kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following five offenses:

1. takes more than four (4) steps while controlling the ball with his hands, before releasing it from his possession;

2. touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any player;

3. touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate;

4. touches the ball with his hands after it has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate;

5. wastes time.

If a free-kick is awarded to a team within its own goal area, it may be taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line and nearest the infringement. The goal area for the Shrimps is out to the edge of the penalty area.

This is a direct free-kick from the penalty mark (8-yard for Shrimp Division) awarded to the offense for any of the ten(10) direct free-kick fouls by the defense inside their own penalty area. The Goalie's feet have to be somewhere on the goal line and no player on either team, except the kicker may be closer than ten (10) yards from the ball. This means the other players take positions outside the penalty area and semi-circle. The ball is in play after it is kicked and moves forward. Whistle starts play. A direct free-kick violation within the penalty area is automatically a penalty-kick. A player can be in an off-side position on a penalty-kick.

A goal-kick is awarded to the defensive team if the offensive team causes the ball to go over the goal-line. The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played or touched by another player. The kick is taken from either side of the goal-post and within the six (6) yards line and the ball may not be touched by either team until it goes out of the penalty area. If the ball doesn't clear the penalty area, the kick is taken again. All opposing players must be outside the penalty area.

Shrimp Pre-K, Shrimp K, and Shrimp players shall take goal-kicks from the edge of the penalty area. Opposing players must remain at least ten (10) yards away. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick. The kicking team cannot score directly against itself.

After the defense causes the ball to go over its own goal-line, the offense puts the ball back into play from the corner of the field nearest to where the ball went out. A goal may be scored directly from a corner-kick. The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played or touched by another player. Players on the defending team must be at least ten (10) yards from the ball when it is kicked.

Shrimp Pre-K, Shrimp K, and Shrimp Division players shall take corner-kicks from the intersection of the penalty area and the goal-line.

There is not off-side on corner kicks. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick. The kicking team cannotscore directly against itself.

NO ONE IS TO TOUCH OR MOVE THE CORNER FLAG DURING A CORNER KICK