Kanata 7's Indoor League - Laws of the Game

FIFA outdoor laws of the game will be used with the following exceptions

1. Equipment
a. Shin guards must be worn by all players, with socks covering the entire shin guard.

b. Only flat soled indoor or turf boots, or multi studded outdoor boots may be worn by players participating in the Indoor League.

c. Screw-in studded outdoor boots are not permitted.  Any players wearing this type of boot, will be told to leave the playing surface.

d. All outfield player shirts must have official numbers on them.  The goalkeeper must wear a shirt distinct (i.e. different colour) from that of his own team, as well as the opposing teams uniforms.

e. The home team must provide to the Referee before the start of the game, a game ball that is properly inflated and in a suitable condition to use for the game.  Failure to present an adequate ball to the Referee will mean loss of valuable playing time.

f. If two teams are wearing very similar coloured shirts, it is the responsibility of the away team to change to their alternative shirts.

g. Any player who has a wrist or arm cast will not be permitted to play. 

h. Knee braces will be permitted provided they appear safe, stable, and meet the Referees approval. 

i. Players may not wear watches and or jewelry.

2. Kick off
a. Each team must be ready to play at least 5 minutes before kick off

b. The home team will kick off the game.

c. The away team will decide which end they will attack

d. All players must be in their own half at a kick off.

e. The ball may travel forward or backward when kicked off

f. Opponents must be 5 yards from the ball at a kick off

g. A team who conceded a goal will restart the game with a kick off

h. The away team will kick off the 2nd half

3. Duration of game
a. Games will consist of 2 x 25 minute halves. 

b. Time cannot be stopped for any reason, it is running time. 

c. Teams will have approximately a 1 minute half-time break. 

d. All teams must be ready to play exactly at the scheduled kick-off time.  If a team (or teams) is not ready to commence play at the scheduled kick-off time, or at the beginning of the second half, the Referee shall have the right to start the time. 

e. Any team more than 5 minutes late will automatically forfeit the game.  Any team forfeiting more than two games during the regular season; will appear before the Kanata 7s Discipline Committee.

4. Number of players
a. Each game will be 7 aside (6 outfield players and 1 goalkeeper).

b. Teams are required to have a minimum of 5 players (including goalkeeper) on the field to begin the game. There will not be any warm-up time permitted.

c. If a team has too many players on the field during play then the referee can caution any player on the team.

5. Kick ins
a. When the ball crosses the touchline the game will restart with a kick in to the opponents of the team who last touched the ball when it was in play.

b. The kick in will be taken from the location where the ball exited the field of play. The ball must be stationary and on the touchline. 

c. All opposing players must be a minimum of 5 metres from the ball at a kick in. 

d. Failure to give the proper distance can result in a caution. 

e. A goal keeper may not handle a ball that is passed to him deliberately by a team mate.

f. The player taking the kick in can not touch the ball a second time before another player has touched the ball. If he does so an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opponents.

6. Goal kicks
a. When the attacking team plays the ball over the goal line but not between the goal posts, the game will restart with a goal kick.

b. Goal kicks are to be taken anywhere within the penalty area.

c. All attacking players other than the goalkeeper/defenders must be outside the penalty area for a goal kick

d. A goal kick is in play when it is touched and moves, it does not need to leave the penalty area to be in play.

e. The goal keeper can not touch the ball a second time before another player has touched the ball. If he/she does touch the ball a second time, an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the attacking team, to be taken at the closest point along the penalty area line which is perpendicular to the goal line.

f. A goal can not be scored directly from a goal kick

7. Corner Kicks
a. When the defending team plays the ball over the goal line but not between the goal posts, the game will restart with a corner kick.

b. The player taking the corner kick can not touch the ball a second time before another player has touched the ball. If the player does so an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opponents.

c. All opposing players must be a minimum of 5 metres from the ball at a kick in

8. Goals
a. A goal may be scored from anywhere on the field of play with the following exceptions:

i) A goal can not be scored directly from a kick off, goal kick, indirect free kick, directly from the ceiling or kick-in. 

ii) Goalkeepers cannot score by throwing the ball into their opponents net. 

9. Free kicks
a. Direct and Indirect Free Kicks will be used in the Kanata 7s Indoor League in accordance with the laws of the 11 a side game of soccer.

b. Opposing players must be a minimum of 5 metres from the ball for a free kick.  Outstretched legs into the 5 metre area are considered encroachment and may result in a yellow card for the guilty player. 

c. Any ball hitting the netting on the ceiling while the ball is in play, will continue to be considered in play.  No stoppage in play will occur.

d. A goal cannot be scored, if the ball is deflected into the net from the ceiling.e. Slide tackling is not permitted.  A direct free-kick will be awarded to the opposing team when a slide tackle has occurred.  Sliding to save a ball from going out of bounds or in the goal, which does not constitute a "tackle" or endanger an opposing player in any way, is permitted.

10. Penalty kick
a. A penalty kick will be awarded when a player commits an offense in his/her own penalty area that results in the award of a direct free kick.

b.  The ball is to be placed on the penalty mark that is located inside of the penalty area.

c. All players must stand behind the ball before the ball is kicked.

d. All players except the kicker must be 5 metres from the ball at a penalty kick.

11. Substitutions
a. Substitutions are unlimited and may take place at any time including "on the fly". 

b. Players must substitute in the general area of their own team bench area. 

c. An illegal substitution will result in an indirect free kick where the ball was last played. 

d. Repeated disregard could result in a caution to a player who has left the field of play at any point other than along his/her own team’s bench area touchline. 

e. A team who has a player shown the yellow card for leaving the field of play illegally will not have to serve a 2 minute penalty.  The player is deemed off the field of play, and is now a substitute and will simply have a yellow card noted against their name.

12. Spitting
Spitting is NOT permitted in the field house (includes on or off field).

If the referee sees the spitting he/she must stop play and award an indirect free kick to the opponents at the place where the offence occurred. If the spitting occurs when the play is stopped then the restart does not change.

The player who spat on the floor is to be cautioned and shown the yellow card for unsporting behavior and his or her team will play short for 2 minutes.

Any player who is found spitting on the floor, off the field of play, shall be cautioned and shown the yellow card for unsporting behavior and his/her team will NOT play shorthanded for 2 minutes, as this infraction occurred off the field of play.

If a player spits at another person then this remains a dismissible offense. In this scenario the player is shown the red card and the must leave the field house immediately. The player's team will play short for the 5-minute penalty.

13. Cautions
a. A player who is cautioned will be shown a yellow card.

b. The player receiving a yellow card will leave the field for two-minutes (based on the referee’s time), forcing his/her team to play short handed for that time.  If the opposing team scores before the two minutes has expired, the penalty is considered served and the Player can return to play. The Referee will signal when the two-minute penalty has been served.

c. If a defending player performs an action, which is punishable by a penalty kick and also receives a caution, he/she will leave the field of play to serve a 2-minute penalty. The two-minutes will not commence until the penalty kick has been completed. If a goal is scored on the penalty kick, the two-minute penalty is considered served and the player can return to the field of play. If the penalty kick is saved or misses the goal, the two-minute penalty will commence at this time and the offender’s team will play short handed. The Referee will signal when the two-minute penalty has been served.

d. Team members who are sitting on the bench are considered substitutes, not players. If a substitute is cautioned, their team will not have to play short handed or serve a two-minute penalty. The Referee will note the substitute’s name & number and offence.

14. Dismissals
a. A player who is dismissed will be shown a red card. The player must leave the field house and is no longer eligible to participate in this game. The game will not restart until the player has left the vicinity of the field of play. His/her team will play shorthanded for 5 minutes.  The referee will indicate when the 5-minute penalty is served. The 5-minute time penalty must be served completely irrespective of the number of goals scored.

b. A coach or team official who is dismissed from the game must leave the facility for the duration of the game.  

c. If a player, coach or team official that has been dismissed disturbs the continuation of the game, the Referee can terminate the game immediately.

d. A Referee shall terminate a game, if a player receives a red card when his team is using the minimum number of players allowable during a game (see law 4)

e. If a substitute is dismissed, their team will not have to play short handed. The dismissed substitute must leave the facility for the duration of the game