Code of ConductThe Administrator and Team Officials must conduct themselves in such a manner as to set an example that if followed, would enable every player to be a credit to the game

.League Standings

1. For the League standings, three (3) points shall be awarded for a win, one (1) point for a tie and zero (0) for a loss.

2. The League Champion shall be the team that accumulates the most points after all games have been played or decided by the League schedule.

3. In the event that two or more teams are tied for the first position with the same number of points, the following criteria will be used to decide the Champion:
(a) A deciding game or games shall be played in its entirety that may include penalty kicks, if still tied (best of 5), as per cup competition.
(b) If two or more teams finish with an equal number of points for any other position the following formula shall be used:
(I) Goal differential: goals for minus goals against.
(ii) How the teams performed against each other during the season (wins versus losses).
(iii) If (I) and (ii) do not break the tie then will determine final standings by the toss of a coin.

Teams Responsibilities

4. All teams wishing to play in the Forest City Indoor Soccer League and Cup schedules must be dully registered with the League (official forms provided) and must pay the prescribed fee within 2 weeks of the start of the league.

5. A team may register and play up to eighteen (18) players (subject to section #6).
(i) Recreational division teams may register up to two (2) premier players.
(ii) Competitive division teams are open to player registration.
(iii) No players may play for more than one team in any division.

6. A player must be in possession of the following documents to be eligible to play in any league.
(I) Valid player card as per OSA.
(ii) Temporary registration as per current OSA policies.(iii) Trial permit as per current OSA policies.

7. All teams must make their player cards/ trial permits available up to and including the half time period. Failure to do so will automatically constitute ineligible player(s) and the game shall be rewarded to their opponent at a score of 3-0. In the event that both teams do not have their player cards available then the game will be double forfeited and no points will be awarded. Teams have up to this time to notify the referee that they require to do a player card check which will be done at half time interval. Any delay due to this will result in the second period being shorter by the time used. If no protest is lodge by this time then the official result will stand,

8. If a players name appears on the game sheet, then he/she is considered to have played in that game. Only the players and officials names on the game sheet shall be permitted to play and stay on the bench.

.9. Number of players allowed on the playing field: Six (6) players including the goalie.

10. The minimum number of players required on the field of play: Four (4) players.Teams having less than the required amount of players prior to the start of the game or during the game will forfeit the game.

11. Any team found guilty of playing an ineligible player(s) will automatically forfeit any game(s) in which the player (s) were involved and the opponents will be awarded the game by a score of 3-0. If this continues to happen then the team may be suspended for the remainder of the season.

12. Teams must submit a type and readable team roster, to the LOSC Management,  prior to their first game.  Any additions there after will also be submitted in the same manner before the player is eligible to play. All players added after submission of roster must produce a valid EMSA registration book before they are allowed to play..

13. Prior to their game, teams will collect  their roster from the office and submit to the referee.

Team Colours

14.. Each team shall register its colours. In the event of two teams wearing similar colours, the away team shall change their shirt colours. All sweaters must have different numbers on the back at least six inches high.

 Players Movement

15. The cut off date for transferring players from team to team in the indoor league is January 31st or one week before the Cup schedule commences whichever comes first.

16. Any newly registered player will not take part in Cup play unless that player has been registered before Cup Schedule begins. New players can register up to March 15/10.

Rules of the Game, League, and Cup Competition

17. All games will consist of two halves of 22 minutes each separated by a one minute half-time break.

18. All games must start promptly and not later than three (3) minutes after scheduled kick off time. No further grace period will be given to a late arriving team. If the grace time of five minutes has passed then the game shall be awarded to the opposing team with a score of 3-0. If BOTH teams are past the grace time of five minutes then both will forfeit and the score shall be recorded as 0-0. If delay is due to a team absence then the game period will be shortened by the time of absence.

19.. The visiting team kicks off. The ball may be kicked in any direction, forward, backward or sideways to start the game.

20. Cup competition and League Championship games- if the game is tied after the full game is played, then best of 5 penalty kicks will be taken as per FIFA rules.

Substitutions

21. Teams can substitute on the “fly” at all times including the goalkeeper for whom the referee must be notified. Play will only be held up for substitution at restart because of a goal or injury.

22. The referee may stop the time at his/her discretion otherwise the clock will be running at all times.

23. Player leaving the field of play must be within the touchline nearest to his/her bench area. Failing to do so will result in “too many players” on the field and a minor penalty of two minutes will be given to the incoming player. All players must enter and exit from their bench area.

Ball out of play

24. At the side lines- kicked in by the opponents of the player who last touched the ball, at a corner- kicked in by the attacking team, at a goal kick- by placing the ball on the ground within the goal area and kicked into the field of play by the defending team.

25. All free kicks, including the kick off, corner kick, and goal kick except the penalty kick are indirect.

26. There will be no offside or three-line rule.

Fouls and Misconduct

27. The rules of fouls and misconduct are the same as outdoor penal offences and technical offences but with one additional change. SLIDE TACKLES ARE NOT ALLOWED.

28. If a player receives two (2) caution (yellow) cards in a game it will be equal to an ejection (red) card and the player will immediately retire from the team bench and be subject to an automatic game suspension from the next league game. Teams will play shorthanded for duration of five (5) minutes for this penalty.

29. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick off, corner kick, or goal kick.

30. Any indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team occurring inside the penalty area will be taken from any point on the line of the penalty area.

31. Referees may assess a two-minute penalty for an offence, a caution (yellow) card, or both. Teams will play short handed for the duration of the penalty time issued.

32.If in the opinion of the referee an offence committed in the penalty area is serious, the referee may award a penalty kick, plus a two or five minute penalty.

Penalties

33. (I) referee discretion- two minutes.

(ii) Caution- two minutes

(iii) Ejection (Second yellow card)-five minutes

(iv) Ejection (red card)- five minutes

34. Only two players from each team can be serving penalties at any one time. Any others must continue to play until the team’s first penalty expires; then subsequent penalized player(s) must retire to the penalty box.

35. In the case of an ejection that causes the team to have less than the minimum number of players on the field, the penalized team will forfeit the game and the opposing team will be awarded the game by a score of 3-0.

36.(I) Offsetting major penalties (5 min) will require that both teams play shorthanded for the duration of the penalty time.

(ii) Any minor penalties (2 min) awarded to a goalie can be served by any player on the field at the time of the incident. If a major penalty (5 min.) is awarded to the goalie, the goalie must leave the field of play and be replaced in goal by another player.

Delay of game

37. If in the opinion of the referee, a player is deliberately delaying the game, the referee may award a caution (two minute penalty) for: taking more than six (6) seconds to put the ball back into play from a free kick or for failing to respect the required distance (3 metres) from the ball on a penalty kick or any free kick

38. Another player on the field of play may serve a time penalty for the goalkeeper. The time penalty does not expire if a goal is scored.

39. In the event of an “ejection/dismissal” an alternate player may not serve time in the penalty box. The penalized team will play shorthanded for the duration of the time penalty (5 minutes).

Bench

40. Anyone who leaves the team bench and enters the field of play during an altercation will receive an automatic caution (two minutes or more) at the referee’s discretion. Only registered team players and officials (coach, asst. coach, manager) listed on the games sheet are allowed on the team bench.

41. Spitting on the field or players area is not permitted at any time. Anyone caught by an official or staff will be subject to automatic disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

Discipline

42. All discipline matters will be dealt with in accordance with the EMSA rules and regulations. Players will remain suspended until after their hearing and punishment is served.

Postponements and Rescheduling

43. Coaches and team officials are not permitted to postpone or reschedule any games under the jurisdiction of F.C.I.S.L.

44. It is the League’s general policy to adhere to the schedule as printed.

45. ONLY the Indoor Soccer League Executive will reschedule games due to unforseen cancellations or other serious matters.

Dropouts

46. Should any team drop out of the League, all games played by that team will be declared null and void in the League standings.

Protests, Disputes, and Appeals

47. All protests must be submitted in writing to the Indoor League Executive and accompanied by a fee of fifty dollars.. Such protest fee shall be in the form of certified cheque/money order or cash.

48. Such protest shall be hand delivered with five days of the date of the protested game.  The date of delivery will be taken as the limiting date in all cases (including weekends and holidays).

49. A copy of the written protest must be sent via registered mail, e-mail or hand delivered to the opposing team. This letter must be clearly written or typed so that it is readable. If sent e-mail a copy must be produced at the hearing.

50. All protests and disputes shall be dealt with by the Indoor League committee and shall be heard within three weeks of its receipt.

51. Representatives from a club having jurisdiction over the teams involved in the protest should be involved in the debate over the dispute but will not be involved in the final decision of the case.

52. The protest fee will be refunded in cases where the protest is upheld.

53. Any decision of the Indoor Executive resulting from a protest or dispute hearing may be appealed to EMSA in accordance with their appeal process.

Referees

54. The Referee Coordinator shall appoint referees in all games. If no qualified referee is available to officiate a game, the game has to be postponed unless both coaches agree and sign the game sheet indicating their consent for some other person to officiate. Teams agreeing on another person refereeing their game shall not be allowed to protest against such person.

55. Referees should be suitably attired.

56. Referees shall keep a record of the game, time, score, and goal scorers. These stats, along with the game sheet, shall be forwarded to the Indoor Executive at the end of the game.

57. The referee shall report in writing to the Indoor Executive any action detrimental to the game.

58. Referees must be paid., in cash, prior to kick-off of the game by each team. Fees are as per league rules.

Serious Misconduct

59.. Violence of any nature does not have a place in soccer. The Forest City Men’s Indoor League Executive will adopt a zero tolerance attitude.

60. Any game not completed due to an occurrence of any type of serious misconduct such as violent conduct, fighting, assaults or spectator problems may lead to the guilty team being removed from the league for the rest of the season with no refund of their registration fee regardless.

61.  Teams will be held responsible for their spectators behaviour.  Should they enter the field or become involved in any dispute then they may be subject to be banned from the facility, and the team punished.

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