OUTDOOR LEAGUE RULES – 7v7
Soccer Spectrum is one of the oldest Indoor & Outdoor Soccer facilities in North Texas, established in 1986. In 2021 Soccer Spectrum started a new chapter to its proud legacy, bringing a renewed energy and vision for the next 30 years.
Soccer Spectrum reserves the right to modify league rules at their discretion and will update the website accordingly in the best interest of our guests. Soccer Spectrum reserves the right for any final decision on suspensions, rules discrepancies, and/or controversial issues that may arise during or after play, with the exception of suspensions sent directly to NTX soccer by referees.
Our Current Divisions:
● Men’s Open (18 years & older)
● Men’s Over 30 (each team will get 2 exemptions over 27)
● Men’s Over 40 (each team will get 2 exemptions over 38)
● Men’s Over 50 (each team will get 3 exemptions over 48)
● Women’s Open (18 years & older)
● Women’s Over 30 (each team will get 2 exemptions over 27)
● Co-Ed Open (18 years & older)
● Co-Ed Over 30 (each team will get 2 exemptions over 27)
ROSTERS:
● Max Roster Size: 21
● All league rosters will lock after the last regular season game. Team captains Must invite/drop players accordingly before the deadline via their Daysmart team profile.
- The roster lock requirements extend to any quarter-final, semi-final, and final games across all divisions. Consolation games are exempt from this requirement.
● Players may not be rostered on multiple teams within the same division at any time. Players found playing on multiple teams within the same division will be pulled and any points they scored removed from the games standings. Multiple offenses will result in suspensions and penalties.
- A player may not be dropped from one team in a division and added to another team in the same division during the season.
- A player may only play on one team in a division during a season.
● Captains are responsible for ensuring their team's Daysmart roster are up to date during the season as well as before/during playoffs & finals.
● Spectrum Personnel will only add players to the roster manually at the request of the team captain. If your roster is at the max capacity of 21, players must be dropped before adding or requesting to add more players.
● Guest players are not allowed in outdoor 7v7.
TEAM STRUCTURE:
● For Mens, Women, and Co-ed Leagues, the game will consist of 6 outfield players and 1 goalkeeper on the field at one time.
● There will be a maximum of 7 players per team on the field at any one time.
● The Co-ed game format consists of 3 female players on the field (if only 1-2 are available, the team must play 1- 2 players down.) and 3 male players on the field. The goalkeeper may be either. Male players may not sub in for female players. However, female players may sub in for male players. There must always be 1 male player on the field.
- For Men's leagues, women may play, but men's rules will apply.
● Teams may play 2 players down maximum to start the game, which means 4 outfield players and a goalkeeper or 5 outfield players and no goalkeeper.
League Games:
● All league games are 42 minutes long with two twenty minute halves.
● Halftime is 1 minute long.
● Field size is approximately 165’ x 115’
● Goals are 7’ x 21’
● Penalty area is: 2’X24'
● Two referees will be assigned to all games, excluding Youth Leagues.
● Referees will each hold game time individually and on the scoreboard. It is the referee's discretion to implement stoppage time.
● A size 5 ball will be used. Game ball will be provided by the teams. Each team should bring one (1) soccer ball each game. Soccer Spectrum is not responsible for lost or damaged soccer balls.
● Home teams are responsible for changing their jersey if they are wearing the same color as the away team.
● The game clock on the scoreboard runs continuously throughout the game, with the only exceptions being playoff or final games & for injuries and referee discretion for extenuating circumstances.
● Regular season games that end in a tie are considered a "draw". No overtime will be played in the regular season.
● In the event a playoff or championship game is tied at the end of the game they will move directly to a PK Shootout with the current players on the field including the goalkeeper. All players on the field must shoot once, then the cycle repeats if the game is still tied.
● Slide tackling is NOT permitted in any division (except reasonable play by a
goalkeeper inside their box or to save a completely uncontested ball from going out of bounds, as determined by the referee).
● All players must provide an active North Texas ID Card to the referee before the game to be eligible to play.
● In the event a team is short on players, they will be given a 10-minute period before the game is considered a forfeit, beginning at games start time. A single point will be awarded to the ready team at the 5 minute mark during this 10 minute period.
● During the grace period, the clock will remain running. If the minimum number of players arrives, the clock will not be reset. The game must start once the minimum number of required players have arrived.
● In the event of a forfeit, the teams will still be able to play for the remaining game time but a 3-0 win will be awarded to the team that was prepared to play on time.
● The offside rule does not apply.
● Throw In's not Kick In's
SCORING:
MEN'S & WOMEN'S LEAGUES -
● All goals will always count as one (1) point.
COED -
● Female goals will count as two (2) points.
● Male goals will always count as one (1) point.
● In the event of a deflection by the defense, the last offensive player touching the ball will determine the number of points awarded, ie a male player scoring from a deflection would count as one (1) goal and a female player scoring from a deflection would count as two (2) goals.
- A deflected goal is defined as a shot by an attacker that is on target and strikes a defender altering its trajectory, but still entering the goal.
● Any own goals scored directly by a defender shall count as one (1) goal.
- An own goal is defined as a player altering the trajectory of a ball either intentionally or unintentionally to enter their own goal from a shot, pass, or play that was on target to enter the goal.
CARDS & PENALTIES:
● Yellow Card Consequences:
- A yellow card is a warning on the field.
-After a second yellow card players will automatically be given a red card and will be ejected from the facility, the same as receiving a straight red card.
- Offensive language is considered to warrant an ejection. Any language
directed towards officials, opponents, or spectators will result in ejection from
the game.
- Soccer Spectrum does not tolerate violent conduct, verbal abuse, threatening
behavior, racist/hateful language, or spitting at or near officials, staff, or opponents.
- Any violations of the above infractions may result in temporary or permanent suspension from our facility.
● Red Card Consequences:
- Players ejected from a match for a red card for any offense will be
suspended until the referee report is reviewed and a determination will be made.
- The player receiving the red must leave the facility immediately.
- Ejections for violent actions including but not limited to fighting may result in extended or permanent suspensions.
- A team that receives a red card will play short one player. (one player down per red card received)
TEAM REGISTRATION
● Team Captains must register their team at Daysmartrecreation.com a $100.00 deposit is required to hold your spot. First come first serve basis. Any new or returning team is required to put a deposit down.
● All Outdoor leagues consist of 8 games guaranteed. Championship Game will consist of 1v2. If time allows, we will have semifinal and final games in one night.
● Team Fees are $925.00
● Team fees must be paid in full no later than the 3rd game. No exceptions.
● Any teams who fall into delinquency after week 3 will have their game scores reversed to a 3-0 loss or will be subject to being replaced by a team on the waitlist. If this should happen, the captain will be suspended until the balance is paid.
● No team will be awarded a playoff game if dues are still owed.
● If both teams are in delinquency, the game be scored 0-0.
● Referee Fees are included. There will always be two referees on the field per game.
RESCHEDULES
● We no longer accept reschedule requests. All games scheduled are final. If you have a specific game request (i.e. a specific date not time frames throughout the season) these need to be made at the time of renewal or signup. You can send schedule requests to info@soccerspectrum.com Once the schedule is posted, they will not be accepted.
FORFEITS
● Soccer Spectrum does not do forfeits. We want to ensure our teams have the highest quality soccer experience playing at our facility. As a result, we have instituted an aggressive policy:
- If a team is running late, the opposing team will be awarded a goal 5 minutes
after the scheduled start time.
- A forfeit will be awarded if an opposing team is not ready to play within 5
minutes of a scheduled start time.
- The clock starts at the scheduled kickoff time and time will not be made up if
a team shows up late.
- A forfeit will go down as a 3-0 win for the team that is there and ready to play.
- If both teams do not show, and are not ready to play – neither team will be
awarded points.
-For any team that forfeits a game less than 48 hours before, a forfeiture fee of $100 will be charged to the team. A credit of $65.00 will be awarded
to the team that showed up for their committed match. (The forfeit fee minus ref fees) If your team still owes money and it is past the 3rd game, you will not receive credit.
● Teams with more than 2 forfeits during the regular season may not be allowed to participate in Playoffs.
● Teams that forfeit more than once in a season a team may be subject to
being removed from the league without a refund.
ID CARDS
● NTSSA player card is required. Each player must submit their own valid
I.D. card to the referee or assistant referee and be registered on that team in
order to be eligible to play.
● Players with no ID Cards will be instructed to leave the sidelines and watch from the Outdoor patio.
Driver's Licenses are not accepted on the field for play.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
● Substitutions are unlimited during the games and are on the fly.
● Outgoing substitutions must leave the field of play before the replacement
enters the playing area.
● Exiting players may exit the field from anywhere on the field
● All players must sub at the halfway line.
EQUIPMENT
● The goalkeeper must wear a different-colored jersey.
● No watches or jewelry.
● Casts and braces may be wrapped at the referee’s discretion.
● All players must wear shirts (no shirts vs. skins).
● Each team should bring two sets of matching jerseys (light and dark). The
home team (1st team listed) is required to change uniforms if jerseys between
opposing team's conflict.
PLAYER SAFETY AND FOULS
● Delay of game is called when:
- The defending player lines up closer than 5 yards for a free kick deliberately delaying the restart will result in a caution.
- A player taking longer than 6 seconds to put a free kick in play after
having been signaled to do so by the referee.
- The goalkeeper not distributing the ball outside the box within 8
seconds of possession with hands the opposing team receives a corner kick.
●Only Soccer Spectrum staff, rostered players, team captains, and referees are allowed on the fields. Children and spectators are not allowed on the field at any time as they are not covered by liability.
- ANY AND ALL FIGHTS THAT RESULT IN BENCH CLEARING WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION OF THE GAME. THE GAME WILL NOT BE SCORED (IF BOTH TEAMS ARE INVOLVED) IF ONLY ONE TEAM, THE TEAM THAT DID NOT CLEAR THE BENCH WILL BE AWARDED THE WIN. THIS WILL ALSO RESULT IN THE TEAM(S) BEING SUSPENDED FOR A MINIMUM of 1 WEEK FROM ALL SOCCER SPECTRUM GAMES WITH A $100.00 FINE PER PLAYER.
GAME CLOCK
● The game clock on the scoreboard runs continuously throughout the game.
● Teams are to be on the field ready to play at their scheduled time.
●The clock can only be stopped at the referee’s discretion.
The clock will only stop at the referee discretion for injuries.
CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT- Outdoor and certain division. Some divisions will play ONLY a 1v2 Championship Game.
● Semi-finals for the “Championship” round
○ 1st vs 4th
○ 2nd vs 3rd
○ Final game - 1st vs 2nd
● Draws
- For any playoff game that ends in a tie, the game will go straight to
penalties where 5 kicks will be taken by each team.
● In the Co-ed divisions, the penalty kicks must be taken alternately by gender (male/female/male or vice versa). There is no requirement as to the number of males or female shooters; however, a goal scored by a female shooter will count 2 points whereas goals scored by male shooters will count 1 point.
● All team members on the roster must kick (unless injured – ref determines) before a player takes a second shot.
STANDINGS
Standings are determined by wins, losses, and ties.
● WIN = 3 points
● TIE = 1 point
● LOSS = 0 points
● FORFEIT = 3-0 win (worth 3 points)
The best overall team record determines playoff positioning. Our software
system cannot determine head-to-head, so in the case of a tie, Soccer
Spectrum will determine who won the league after looking at the standings.
In the event of a tie in records, the following tie-breaking system will be used:
A) head-to-head play B) Goals differential C) Goals for D) Goals Against
DIVISIONS:
Individuals may play on different teams provided; 1) they are on the team roster,
2) they are not competing on two teams within the same division. 3) in a
division with 3 or more leagues the player may not play in a top division and a
bottom division.
In an effort to provide the most fun and competitive environment for all teams,
Soccer Spectrum reserves the right, if necessary, to place teams in the
appropriate division based on the level of play and /or ability of the players.
CONCUSSION PROTOCOL:
● Players who are suspected of having sustained a concussion shall be
removed from play immediately.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
Our inclement weather policy may be found here:
https://soccerspectrum.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/22723000967956-INCLEMENT-WEATHER-POLICY