There will be no rescheduling of games.
Teams will be allowed to request one date as a bye in their schedule two weeks prior to the
start of the session. If your team has an outdoor Icebreaker tournament at the end of Winter Session #2, they must notify the Sportsplex prior to starting the season.
All notifications for byes must
come in writing to the Sportsplex via email. If you call and leave
a message, management does not consider this an official request.
If your request does not appear listed on our published list, it will
not be honored. Teams will not be allowed to request two byes in one season. Finally, some byes are not possible to honor.
Teams must understand that requests for byes are not guaranteed. Our schedulers will do everything they can to honor requests
but if they are unable, games will not be rescheduled.
Any team requesting a bye or forfeit must do the following:
1. Email the Rockville Sportsplex using the specific Forfeit/Bye request email listed on the Soccer page of our
Website. The Email must include the day of the requested bye, the team requesting the bye, and the team managers name and phone. Click here to send an email to
request a bye.
2. Check the website links within 24 hours to make sure requested bye was
listed. If it was not listed, please call the Sportsplex immediately.
If your bye was not listed and you wait until after the deadline, your bye
request will not be honored.
3. Forfeits: Teams must call the Rockville Sportsplex to inform them of the forfeit.
The Sportsplex will then notify the other team. If a team shows up to play and the opposing team does not show up, then the team present will win by forfeit.
In the case of a forfeited game, players from the teams are normally allowed to
use the field, to practice, scrimmage, etc. However, Rockville Sportsplex
reserves the right to use the field, at that time, for other activities at the
discretion of management.
4. Rescheduled Games: Teams rescheduling a game during seeded play (Due to
a bye being requested) must fill out the reschedule game form located on the Soccer page. The form must be signed by both coaches and turned in to management at least 1 week in advance of the rescheduled game. RSP Fax number 301-838-0389.
Failure to do so will result in the game being forfeited. Two
foreitures will result in removal from the league. However, the league
commissioner has the authority to override this rule, if it is determined best
for the league.
- A forfeiture will be incurred if a team has failed to field the
minimum number of players (4 player minimum) within ten minutes from the start
of the game clock. Teams incurring forfeitures during a session may not be
allowed to play in subsequent sessions.. A game clock will not stop once
it has started, and it will not be reset if a team shows up late.
Any team no show will result in a 3-0 victory for opposing team and no rescheduled game will be given.
Sportsmanship:
- Individuals are expected to play under control and within the rules of the game, and to the best of their ability will avoid causing injury to themselves and other persons using the facility.
Referees:
- Referees appointed to officiate each game have complete authority on the field of play, and their decisions on points of fact connected with the game are final. Officiating will be monitored and assessed periodically and management will always try to provide quality officiating at the facility. Constructive comments regarding officiating are welcome and encouraged. Please submit any such comments in writing
via email. Complaints regarding officials should be submitted in writing
(via email), contain points of fact (ref's name, if known, date, time, and
field number), and have your name and the name of your team at the top. Teams may not discuss the officiating in a game immediately following their game. The commissioner will take seriously all complaints written 24 hours after a game. The commissioner will not take seriously complaints directed at him immediately following a game, verbal or written. The commissioner will not overturn any calls made by the referee during the course of a game. If a team suspects an illegal player or other illegal activity associated with other team, they should inform the commissioner immediately. If this activity is discovered after the game is completed, the team should file a formal protest to the commissioner. Please read our rules below to understand how to file a formal protest Do not discuss officiating or the officials with the facility staff during or immediately after your game.
Red Card Policy:
- Rockville Sportsplex has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY toward fighting.
Anyone fighting will be ejected and they will be banned from the facility
permanently. This means that said player cannot participate or spectate
at the Sportsplex ever again.
- A player or coach that is red carded during or after a game by a referee
will automatically be suspended for a whole week through the next day of the session
in which the player was
red carded. For example, if a player is red carded on a Saturday, he or she
will not be eligible to play until the Sunday of the following week. In addition,
the player will be banned from playing on any other team until the suspension has been served. If a player is ejected in the last game of a session (he/she) will be prohibited from playing in the first game after he/she registers for another session.
- A player or coach red carded for the offense of "foul and abusive language" will be suspended as outlined above.
- A player red carded for the offense of "persistent infraction of the rules after receiving a caution (yellow card) or a third 2 minute time penalty" will be suspended as outlined above.
- A player or coach red carded for the offense of "violent conduct" (including, but not limited to: spitting, threatening, continued rough play, etc.) will be suspended as outlined above and, in addition, will be suspended for one additional game and subject to further disciplinary action as decided by the facility management.
- A player or coach red carded for "assaulting an official" will automatically be suspended from any further activities at the Rockville Sportsplex.
- Any player or coach who accumulates three cautions (yellow cards) during
one session will be suspended as outlined above.
- Should a coach of a team be unable to control a player's actions after a red card is issued, the coach will also be suspended as outlined above
- A player jumping from the player box onto the field to break up or participate in a fight will automatically be ejected from the game and will be subject to the same penalties as outlined above.
- A $100 bond will be required from any team involved in an altercation where more than one player is involved in a fight. Should a bond be placed against a team, the bond must be paid prior to the team's next game, or that game will be forfeited. The terms of the bond will be given in writing to the team. Should the team fail to adhere to the terms, the bond will be forfeited to the arena and the team's participation will be terminated. If the team adheres to the terms of the bond, then the team will receive the $100 bond at the end of the session.
- It is the responsibility of each player and the player's team representative to be aware of the total status of their player's infractions. Failure to comply may result in further disciplinary measures which may include suspension of the coach/rep. and forfeiture of games in which that player participated.
- If a player receives a second red card in the same season, that player will
be suspended for three (3) games.
Protest:
- Intention to file a protest must be noted in writing immediately following the game. A formal written protest with a $20 fee (refundable if upheld), must be submitted to Rockville Sportsplex within 48 hours after the end of a game.
A league committee will review and have the final authority on all protests. ALL DECISIONS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE ARE FINAL. Only violations of the laws of the game, rules or guidelines of the facility as published are matters for protest. Any protests regarding fielding of illegal players must be brought to the attention of the game officials prior to the suspected player(s) leaving the field of play.
Referee complaints must be submitted via email.
INDOOR SOCCER RULEBOOK
Note: The Rules below are either substituted for, or supplemental to FIFA soccer
rules. Any situations not covered below fall under the jurisdiction of
FIFA.
Game Length:
- Youth Game Length:
Two 20 minute periods with a two minute
half-time.
Warm-Up Area:
Rockville Sportsplex does not guarantee any areas for teams to warm-up prior to their games. Teams will have approximately two minutes to warm-up prior to the start of the game.
There is no guarantee that this two minutes will be available. If the training area is available, teams may use this to warm up in. The training area is a privilege not a right. If classes are being conducted on the training area, teams must stay off. Any team that disrupts these classes may be escorted out of the building and their season forfeited.
Levels of Competition:
- The facility will offer the following divisional structure for youth teams:
Champions League for division 1 & 2 WAGS and NCSL teams only
Premier division for select teams in WAGS and NCSL and some upper level classic teams
Division 2- Classic division for some lower level WAGS and NCSL team, MSI classic teams, recreational teams, as well as MPSL teams and upper division MSI Classic teams.
- The Rockville Sportsplex reserves the right to make the necessary changes within league divisions to ensure an equal level of ability and competition.
- The following guidelines represents the parameters for Youth Competition. The age group you play in is determined by the oldest player on your team.
Whatever age group your team played during the fall constitutes the age group
you will play in the winter. The cutoff date is August 1st, 12am.
Any player caught playing in a younger age group will forfeit all the teams games in that age group. Rockville Sportsplex management reserves the right to check player identifications (outdoor registration cards or birth certificates) at any time.
- Players may only be on one roster in a given division and league. Players may participate in more than one division and league. A lower division team may
not field any players from an upper division. Rockville Sportsplex reserves the right to determine if a player is considered too advanced for a given division and remove the individual from the team roster. This is done in the spirit of maintaining parity in a given division.
Roster Size
- Youth:
The maximum roster size will be 18 players. Teams play 7 v 7 for U10
divisions and below; all other divisions play 6 v 6. Combined divisions, such
as U10-U11 will always play 6 v 6. There will be no guest players allowed. If a team has an injury or other "circumstances" whereby they lose a rostered player, that team may request that a new player be added to the roster. If a commissioner has not permitted this addition that player will be considered "illegal" and the game forfeited. Please note that ten awards will be handed out to the winning teams. More awards may be purchased from the Sportsplex at
an additional cost.
All youth teams must have an adult representative on their bench during all
games. This adult must be at least 18 years of age or older. Any team caught
violating this rule will automatically forfeit their game and be subject to
banishment from the facility. No more than 20 people may be in the players
box at any given time (18 players, a coach, and an assistant coach).
Awards
-
Youth:
- Each first place team will receive up to 12 trophies. If teams want
additional prizes or awards, they may purchase them from the Sportsplex.
Kick-Off
- The home team (the first team on the schedule) will defend the goal furthest from the scoreboard and will kick-off the first half. The visitors will defend the goal under the scoreboard and will kick-off the second half.
A kickoff can go backwards. A goal can be scored directly on a kickoff.
Substitutions
- Substitutions are free and unlimited as long as such substitutions do not interfere with the flow of the game. Furthermore, each and every substitution must wait until the player they are substituting for is off the field before they can enter. Teams that violate this rule will be given a warning for having too many players on the field by the referee. If a team has been warned but continues to ignore this rule then the referee will award a direct kick to the opposing team from the 30 foot mark. The referee has the right to award a yellow card if teams continue to ignore this rule.
- Any team that continues to make illegal substitutions after the opposing team is awarded a free kick will be given a team yellow card.
- Teams may substitute for the goal keeper during play. The referee should be notified of a change in goalkeeper.
Play will stop for goalkeeper substitution at the referee's discretion. Penalty for failure to notify official of keeper substitution will result in a loss of possession.
Out of Bounds
- The ball is in play throughout the arena, including the side netting and the netting behind the goal. Any ball touching the ceiling netting or entering a team box is considered out of bounds and a kick (indirect) will be awarded to the team that did not last touch the ball. The ball will be placed one yard off the wall from the spot closest to where the ball touched the netting or went out or just outside the goalie box if the ball touches the ceiling net inside the goalie box.