Adult Soccer League Rules & Format

FC Riverside County is committed to providing an exemplary soccer experience. This is accomplished by the enforcement of the following rules:

1A. SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP & PLAYOFF TOURNAMENT

Season Championship

• Each season is 8 weeks long.
• Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss.
• The team with the most points at the end of the season will win the Season Championship.
• The winner of the Season Championship will receive a team trophy.

FC Riverside County will attempt to release the full season schedule before the first week of the season The season schedule may be adjusted throughout the season.

Playoff Tournament

• All teams will qualify for the Playoff Tournament. If nine or more teams are in a division, only the top eight teams of the season will advance to the playoffs. If possible, we will attempt to host a second tournament for the teams that do not qualify.
• The lower-ranked team in the top eight will compete with the highest-ranked team. Season point tiebreakers will be broken in the following order (1) goal difference, (2) goals for, (3) goals against, or (4) LIVE drawing. A penalty shootout will directly take place if a quarter-final or semi-final game ends in a draw.
• The winner of the Playoff Tournament will receive a team trophy. Each player will also receive an individual trophy.

1B. SPECIAL RECOGNITION TROPHIES

FC Riverside County wants to recognize our players for their hard work throughout the season. We will provide trophies as follows:

1. Golden Boat (Top Goal Scorer) - Presented to the leading goal scorer in season matches.
2. Golden Glove (Most Saves from a Goalkeeper) - The Golden Glove Award is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament. The Golden Glove is handed out to the goalkeeper who has kept the most clean sheets. A clean sheet is when a team concedes zero goals in a match. A clean sheet will only count if the goalkeeper plays the entire match.
3. Top Assister - An assist is credited to a player for passing or crossing the ball to the scorer. It may also be awarded to a player whose shot rebounds (off a defender, goalkeeper, or goalpost) to a teammate who scores.
4. Most Clean Sheets - A clean sheet is when a team concedes zero goals in a match. If you stop the opposition from scoring throughout an entire soccer game, you've successfully kept a clean sheet.

To help us keep track all stats, we are requiring players to have their player number and name printed on their jerseys. If a player fails to have their player number and name, we will not track their stats for the respective game.

2. ROSTER

Players are required to register before playing in a season game. Guest players can play season games by paying a $5 temporary permit. Permits are non-refundable and expire on the issuing date. Any team found playing an unregistered player without a permit will result in a forfeit.  ALL PLAYERS MUST SIGN FC RIVERSIDE COUNTY'S TERMS OF SERVICE AGREEMENT (17 & YOUNGER PLAYERS MUST ALSO RECEIVE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN SIGNATURE).

* Players can play in different divisions during the same season.

3. SUSPENSIONS

Players will receive a red card, a $25 fine, and at least a 1 game suspension for any verbal abuse made to a referee (including but not limited to offensive, insulting, or abusive language.), making contact with a referee (softly tapping a referee with a hand[s] or finger[s] in a non-threatening manner), or threatening to hurt another player. Players will receive a red card, a $100 fine, and at least a 2-game suspension for charging or pushing an opponent with both hands, and any abusive language made to a staff member. Players will receive a red card, a $250 fine, and at least a 3-game suspension for touching a referee in a threatening way (slapping a card from a referee’s hand.), any racial abuse, or deliberate foul play. Players will receive at least a 6-month suspension and a $500 fine for any retaliation fighting (including but not limited to kicking, punching, or spiting), and touching a referee in a violent manner, making violent threats, accumulating 3 Red Cards within the same season. Players will receive at least a 1-year suspension and a $1,000 fine for violent conduct (including but not limited to fighting, kicking, punching, or attempting to hurt another individual), spitting on another individual, or hitting a referee. Any team found having played any suspended player will receive a $25 fine.

*NO FIGHTING. No warnings will be given. All offenders will receive at least a 1-year suspension.

4. REFEREES

All decisions made by the referee are final. All players entering the field must receive permission from the game’s assigned referee.

5. UNIFORMS

A team is required to have their players wear matching uniforms. Matching jerseys (no t-shirts allowed) are required and must be numbered. All teams must fulfill this requirement no later than game 3. Shorts and socks must at least be of similar color. The visiting side team will wear pennies/bibs if the opposing team has a similar or the same colored jersey.

6. SUPPORTERS

Supporters will be asked to leave the facility if they enter the field during a live game. Supporters will be asked to leave the facility if they disrupt an opponent during a live game. Supporters will be asked to leave the facility if they use inappropriate language or make inappropriate gestures.

7. SERVICE MEMBER TEAM (SMT)

A Service Member Team (SMT) receives accommodation, including, but not limited to pricing, scheduling, and the official rules. A team can only be designated as an SMT by the league’s General Manager. An SMT must abide by the following rules and requirements listed below:

1. Verification – Each player registering as an active military player must present a U.S. military ID card to league coordinators for verification. Failure to verify a player(s) may result in a playoff disqualification.
2. Season Scheduling – A SMT may only play up to 2 official season matches in one given day.
3. Roster – A SMT must meet the league’s roster requirements.
   *Non-military player – A player that is not currently serving in the United States Armed Forces

8. 11v11 SEASON & PLAYOFF GAME LAWS

Sports Operations of America’s game laws follow those prescribed in FIFA. While this may be true, the following laws have been altered:

1. Roster – Teams are permitted to register up to 23 players in a season.
2. The Number of Substitutions – Unlimited substitutions are permitted during a match. Players subbed out can reenter the field.
3. Forfeit – Teams must always have no less than 7 players on the field during the match period. Any failure to have at least 7 players show up will result in a forfeit. Each team is privileged with a 10-minute grace period from the scheduled time to field the field with at least 7 players. The team that wins by default will add 3 points to their season standing and 3 goals to their season goal count. Teams that forfeit will be fined $200. Teams must provide at least a 2-week notice to avoid the $150 fine.
4. Duration of the Match – Season and playoff matches have a match duration of 80 minutes (two 40-minute halves). The duration of the match may be shortened due to uncontrollable reasons including but not limited to poor weather conditions or if the aggressive game activity becomes dangerous.
5. Extra Time – A penalty shootout will occur place if a final ends with a draw.
6. Field Size – Field size may at times be slightly different from a FIFA sanctioned field.
7. Referee – One referee will be assigned for each season game. Three referees will be assigned for playoff games; one center referee and two linesmen.

9. 7v7 SEASON & PLAYOFF GAME LAWS

1. Roster – Teams are permitted to register up to 17 players in a season. SMTs are permitted to register up to 20 players in a season. SMTs are only permitted to have up to 17 players in attendance for an official match. An SMT must have at least 8 players rostered that are actively serving in the United States Armed Forces at the time.
2. The Number of Substitutions – Unlimited substitutions are permitted during a match. Players subbed out can reenter the field.
3. Forfeit – Teams must always have no less than 4 players on the field during the match period. Any failure to have at least 4 players show up will result in a forfeit. Each team is privileged with a 12-minute grace period from the scheduled time to field the field with at least 4 players. The team that wins by default will add 3 points to their season standing and 3 goals to their season goal count. Teams that forfeit will be fined $80. Teams must provide at least a 2-week notice to avoid the $80 fine.
4. Coed – Female players receive 2 points for scoring. Male players receive 1 point for scoring.
5. Duration of the Match – Season and playoff matches have a match duration of 50 minutes (two 25-minute halves). The duration of the match may be shortened due to uncontrollable reasons including but not limited to poor weather conditions or if the aggressive game activity becomes dangerous.
6. Extra Time – A penalty shootout will occur if a final ends with a draw.
7. Slide Tackling – Slide tackling is strictly prohibited. Slide tackling will result in a yellow card for the offending player.
8. Halfway Line Rule – The keeper cannot kick the ball over the halfway line with a goal kick. The keeper can’t throw the ball over the halfway line when the ball is in play.
9. Freekicks – Defending players must stand at least 5 feet away from the shooting point during a freekick.
10. No Off-sides – No off-sides.
11. Penalties – Players shooting a penalty may only take up to 1 step before kicking.
12. Yellow Cards – A player that receives a yellow card will be disciplined with a 2-minute timeout. Players in timeout must receive permission from the game’s assigned referee before entering the field.
13. Field Size – Field size may at times be slightly different.
14. Referee – One referee will be assigned for each season game and semi-final games. Two referees may be assigned for final games; one center referee and one assistant referee. The assistant referee will monitor substitutions and serve other requests made by the center referee.
15. Goal Size – Goal size may at times be slightly different. Goal sizes can vary from 12 feet wide by 6 feet tall to 18 feet wide by 8 feet tall.

10. 6v6 SEASON & PLAYOFF GAME LAWS

1. Roster – Teams are permitted to register up to 15 players in a season. SMTs are permitted to register up to 18 players in a season. SMTs are only permitted to have up to 15 players in attendance for an official match. An SMT must have at least 12 players rostered that are actively serving in the United States Armed Forces at the time.
2. The Number of Substitutions – Unlimited substitutions are permitted during a match. Players subbed out can reenter the field.
3. Forfeit – Teams must always have no less than 4 players on the field during the match period. Any failure to have at least 4 players show up will result in a forfeit. Each team is privileged with a 10-minute grace period from the scheduled time to field the field with at least 4 players. The team that wins by default will add 3 points to their season standing and 3 goals to their season goal count. Teams that forfeit will be fined $80. Teams must provide at least a 2-week notice to avoid the $80 fine.
4. Coed – Female players receive 2 points for scoring. Male players receive 1 point for scoring.
5. Duration of the Match – Season and playoff matches have a match duration of 50 minutes (two 25-minute halves). The duration of the match may be shortened due to uncontrollable reasons including but not limited to poor weather conditions or if aggressive game activity becomes dangerous.
6. Extra Time – A penalty shootout will occur if a final ends with a draw.
7. Slide Tackling – Slide tackling is strictly prohibited. Slide tackling will result in a yellow card for the offending player.
8. Halfway Line Rule – The keeper cannot kick the ball over the halfway line with a goal kick. The keeper can’t throw the ball over the halfway line when the ball is in play.
9. Freekicks – Defending players must stand at least 5 feet away from the shooting point during a freekick.
10. No Off-sides – No off-sides.
11. Penalties – Players shooting a penalty may only take up to 1 step before kicking.
12. Yellow Cards – A player that receives a yellow card will be disciplined with a 2-minute timeout. Players in timeout must receive permission from the game’s assigned referee before entering the field.
13. Field Size – Field size may at times be slightly different.
14. Referee – One referee will be assigned for each season and playoff game.
15. Goal Size – Goal size may at times be slightly different. Goal sizes can vary from 12 feet wide by 6 feet tall to 18 feet wide by 8 feet tall.