1. Team Requirements
 1.1 A team will consist of 12 players on a roster with 8 players on the field for each team.

2. Equipment and Facilities
 2.1 Knee braces made of soft, yielding substances may be worn as well as shin guards if covered by socks.  It is recommended that all players wear protective equipment.
 2.2 Cleats with soft or rubber spikes are permitted to be worn while playing.  METAL CLEATS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED!
 2.3 All jewelry must be removed before play begins.
 2.4 All games will be held across the street at Hoover Park on the open field behind Giant Eagle.

3. Start of Game and Timing
 3.1 A coin flip will ensue at the start of every game.  The winning captain will have the choice to either kick off or defer starting possession until the second half.  If they choose to differ, they will choose which end they would like to defend for the start of the game.  If they choose to kick off, the other team will choose which end they wish to defend.
 3.2 The game will consist of two 20 minute halves with a continuous running clock.  Halftime will last 5 minutes long.
 3.3 Any regular season game that ends in a tie score will be recorded as a tie.  No additional time will be added to break the tie.
 3.4 TIE BREAK PROCEDURES (PLAYOFF GAMES ONLY)- Penalty kicks will ensue by the following guidelines
a. A coin flip will decide which team shoots first
b. Each team will have 5 kicks.  Teams will alternate taking shots and the team with the most made goals of the 5 will be named winner.
c. If the score remains tied after the 5 kicks, a sudden-death round will continue until the tie is broken.  *A PLAYER MAY NOT SHOOT TWO PENALTY KICKS UNTIL ALL PLAYERS ON THE FIELD AT THE END OF THE GAME HAVE KICKED AT LEAST ONE PENALTY SHOT*

4. Substitutions
 4.1 There are unlimited substitutions during a game, with the exception of the goalie.  The substitute may not enter the game however until the outgoing playerhas touched (i.e. hand slap) the substitute on the sideline.
 4.2 A change of goalie must be announced to the referee's before goalie may be substituted.  Goalie substitutions can ONLY be made when the ball goes out of bounds, after a scored goal, or a penalty/ejection/injury.

5. The Game
 5.1 Kickoff will occur at the midfield line.  The referee will whistle the ball into play.  Teams must be on their delegated half of the field and the team without possession must be at least 10 yards from the ball during kick off.
 5.2 For a legal kickoff, the ball must roll one full rotation before being touched by another player.  The player who first kicks the ball may not make a play on the ball until it has been touched by another player.  All kickoffs are indirect and if kicked directly into a goal without being touched by a second player, the kickoff must be replayed.
 5.3 A goalie is allowed to use any part of their body (hands and arms included) to block shots or stop plays made by the opposing team.  Goalies may use ONLY their feet if a ball is passed back to them by their own teammates.  In either instance, a goalie may only posses the ball for a 5 second count.  If a goalie holds on to a ball for an extended period of time, it will result in an indirect kick for the opposing team.
 5.4 A goal will be counted if the WHOLE BALL CROSSES OVER THE GOAL LINE, between the goal posts and under the crossbar, as long as it was not thrown nor propelled by hand into the goal.  Goals will also not be counted if they do not cross the goal line before time expires and the whistle is blown.  Kicked balls that are air-born are considered dead at the end of the period time.
 5.5 A referee blowing his or her whistle signals a dead ball.
 5.6 If play is stopped inadvertently, or it is unclear who had possession of the ball at the time of stoppage, a drop ball will ensue.  Drop ball will occur between two players of opposing teams and neither can play the ball until it has touched the ground.
 5.7 A ball that is kicked out of bounds by one team will warrant a throw in (two handed overhead throw) at the spot where the ball left play by the opposite team.
 5.8 If a ball is kicked out of bounds across the goal line by the team defending that half of the field, the opposite team will receive a corner kick from the side of the field where the ball went out of bounds.
 5.9 If a ball is kicked out of bounds across the goal line by the team attacking that side of the field, the defending team's goalie will receive a goal kick.  The ball must be placed anywhere on the ground inside the goalie box when the goalie kicks it.

6. Penalties/ Direct and Indirect Kicks
 6.1 OFFSIDES will be enforced.  A penalty is called when the offense is behind the last line of defense, goalies not included, and then the ball is played to them.
 6.2 An indirect kick is a kick that cannot be counted as a goal unless touched by another player before crossing the goal line.  Penalties that will result in an indirect kick for the opposing team include?
a. The goal keeper holds on to the ball for too long of a period after obtaining possession
b. Illegal substitution
c. A player plays the ball twice before another player touches it after a throw in, kick off, free kick, corner kick, or goal kick.
d. Offsides
 6.3 A direct kick is a kick that is allowed to directly cross the goal line and be counted as a goal even if it hasn?t touched another player.  Penalties that warrant a direct kick include?
a. Kicking, striking, or attempting to harm another player
b. Tripping an opponent
c. Intentional handling of the ball (Hand Ball)
d. Holding or pushing another player with hands, arms, or body
e. Slide Tackling.  SLIDE TACKLING IS NOT PERMITTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
 6.4 Any foul that would normally warrant a direct kick that is committed inside the penalty box, will warrant a penalty kick.  This is a direct kick where the ball will be placed on the ground in the exact middle of the penalty box and goalie box.  No defense is allowed in this type of kick except the goalie for the defending team.