Hartford Parks & Recreation Department
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Futsal League Rules


Upper Valley Futsal
League Rules
2019-2020
 
 
 
 
  1. League
 
  1. The League will be governed by the Town of Hartford Parks and Recreation Department (HPRD), Hartford, VT
  2. The League will consist of no more than Twelve (12) teams.
  3. A team will consist of no less than seven (7) players and no more than twelve (12).
  4. Player rosters will be held to 12 players per team and players can be rotated in, out and between teams if more than one team is registered BUT all players must be registered HS students in grades 9-12th
 
  1. League Committee
                                                                                     

o   Jay McDonough, HPRD, Program Coordinator - jmcdonough@hartford-vt.org; 802-295-5036(work), 802-356-5391(cell)

           
  1. Registration and fees
 
  1. Each team will pay a team registration fee of $750.00. Team fee can be paid: by cash or check mailed to or delivered in person at the Recreation Office; or online with a credit card. Credit card payments will have a 3.5% convenience fee charged by a third party and non-refundable. The team fees cover the costs of referees, league coordinators, equipment and facility management.
  2. All coaches must register their team with full payment by the registration deadline (11/22/19 by 5:00pm).
Registration Instructions: www.hartfordrec.com
Coaches: Create an individual account and register your team with Town Name and coach’s contact information. If signing up two teams, you must name them Town 1 and Team 2. Note: Coaches must also register with an assistant coach or volunteer who will help with score keeping and other administrative duties.
  1. All players must register with their team on com, under the town name their Coach has listed, prior to participating in the first game. Parents/Guardians over the age of 18, must first, create a household account and add their child to the account as a member, prior to registering the player in the league.
  2. Each team will have a roster with a minimum of 7 players and team registration fee, by the Friday, 12/5/19 no later than 5:00pm. Team rosters must be finalized by the 3rd game of the season (01/05/20).
 
 
 
  1. Eligibility
 
  1. Each player must be a registered student in grades 9th through 12th.
  2. Each player MUST register with the team through our online website – hartfordrec.com. Create an account, then register for the program with the town name your Coach has designated.
 
  1. League, Teams, Schedule
  2. We can accept up to 12 individual teams. Teams are secured on a first come, first serve basis; in all fairness, limit of 2 teams per participating town. Note teams can be single gender or coed.
  3. The Program Coordinator and League Coordinators will arrange the schedule.
  4. Games will take place December 7th through March 15th.
Approx. 14-15 season games. No games will take place on 12/22 & 12/29.
  1. Game times will take place Sundays between 10:00am-2:00pm at the Hartford High School Gymnasium in WRJ, VT.
  2. Games are played 5v5 (including goalie). 40 minutes/game. 2-20 minute halves, running time with 5 minute break at the half.
  3. All Team schedules can be located online (once registration is complete) leaguelineup.com/hartfordparksandrec
  4. Game Forfeiture: In the event that a team must forfeit a game, coaches must notify the League Coordinator with advance notice. This needs to happen no later than the Friday before a game at 5:00pm
 
  1. General Rules:
  • Games are played 5v5 (including goalie). 40 minutes/game. 2-20-minute halves, running time with 5-minute break at the half.
  • Teams may call one one-minute timeout per half (when in possession of ball, ball out of play).
  • There is no overtime, injury time or stoppage time.
  • There is no offsides in futsal.
  • Matching Uniforms/Shirts are required.
  • All Uniforms must have player numbers
  • No player will be allowed to play in a game without their uniform.
  • Teams must assume responsibility for the school facilities being used. Lack of responsibility will result in suspension from the league.
  • Pick up all trash and dispose properly.
  • Given the intensity of the game and tightness of the space, for every player’s safety and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, a Code of Conduct will be strictly enforced for volunteers, coaches, players and spectators.  
  • Indoor soccer shoes or regular play (tennis) shoes are desired. No Cleats.
  • Shin guards are required
  • No shoes worn outside should be worn on the courts, especially during poor weather (snow, ice, salt, rain) Please bring a change of shoes. This is for the safety of the kids when playing, and helps maintain a clean court.
Coaches: Each team must be coached by an adult (21 years +) who assumes the responsibility for their players, league rules and code of conduct.
Volunteers: Each team must enlist and bring 1 volunteer (in addition to the coach). The volunteer will manage the score board, time keeping, foul counts and penalty box timing for opposing team. (In Futsal, once teams reach 5 penalties in a half, all subsequent penalties result in a free kick. Also, “Red Card” players sit out for 2 minutes or when the opposing team scores, they can rejoin the team, except in cases of multiple offenses when they must be substituted for another player.)
 
Substitutions:
All substitutions are on the fly, this includes goalkeeping substitutions. Referees will not stop play for goalkeeping substitutions. A substitute may not enter the pitch until the player leaving the pitch leaves through the substitution zone in front of his teams’ bench. Any substitute who enters the pitch before the player being replaced has completely left the field of play may be shown a yellow card. All substitutions must take place through the substitution zone in front of his teams’ bench -- not at the half-way line.
Both teams will switch benches (and ends) at the beginning of halftime, ensuring that all substitutions take place in the defensive half.
 
Restarts:
Kickoffs: A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-off. The ball must be played forward first. Tapped balls are not in play – the ball must move forward.
Kick-ins: are indirect. The ball must be placed on or no more than 10 inches behind the line and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. The kicker's non-kicking foot must be out of bounds or on the line. (A kick-in that goes directly in the opposing goal is a goal clearance for the opposing team. A
Kick-in that goes directly in the defensive goal is a corner kick of the opposing team.) If the kick-in does not enter the pitch or if the kick is not taken within 4 seconds the kick-in is taken by the opposing team.
 
Goal Clearances: are taken when the ball solely crosses the goal line and not under the crossbar and between the goalposts and after being touched last by the attacking team. The goalkeeper must use his hands to roll, bounce or throw the ball from anywhere inside the penalty area to outside the penalty area.
 
Corner Kicks: are direct. The ball must be placed directly on the corner arc and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. If the kick is not taken within 4 seconds the restart becomes a goal clearance for the opposing team.
Free Kicks: may be indirect or direct. The ball must be stationary before the kick may be taken.
Penalty Kicks: are taken from the penalty spot and must be taken by a clearly identified kicker. Defenders may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and even or behind the ball when the kick is taken.
 
Fouls and Misconduct:
Indirect Free Kicks: When a player plays in a dangerous manner, impedes an opponent, prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball with her hands, goalkeeper takes more than 4 seconds to release the ball when in possession in his own half, plays the ball again within his own half after releasing the ball and the ball doesn’t touch an opponent or has gone out of play, or commits any offense for which play is stopped to caution or eject a player.
 
Direct Free Kicks: When a player kicks an opponent, tackles an opponent, trips an opponent, jumps at an opponent, charges an opponent, strikes an opponent, pushes an opponent, holds an opponent, spits at an opponent or handles the ball deliberately.
 
Yellow Card / Caution: The offending player is shown a yellow card. If a player is shown two yellow cards in a match, he is shown a red card.
 
Red Card / send-off: The offending team plays with one less player for two full game minutes or unless scored upon before the two-minute penalty expires. The offending player serves a minimum one-match suspension.
 
Accumulated Fouls: All direct free kick fouls are recorded on the scoresheet and on the scoreboard. If one team accumulates 5 or more direct free kick fouls in one half, the opposing team will take a direct free kick without a wall. If the foul occurs farther from the attacking goal than the second penalty spot, the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall is taken from the second penalty spot. If the foul occurs nearer to the attacking goal than the second penalty spot (but outside the penalty area, of course), the attacking team may choose whether to take the Direct Free Kick Without a Wall from the second penalty spot or from the spot of the foul. All Direct Free Kicks Without a Wall must be kicked with the intention of scoring a goal by a clearly identified kicker. The defending team may not make a wall and may not be nearer to the ball than 16 feet and even or behind the ball when the kick is taken. The goalkeeper may be off the goal-line but may not be nearer than 16 feet from the ball. Accumulated fouls are reset to zero at the beginning of the second half and carry over into extra-time if being played.
 
Penalty Spot: 20 feet from goal-line and the center of the goal and placed at the top of the penalty area line.
 
Advantage: Advantage is applied in Futsal. Direct free kick foul will count as accumulated fouls if advantage is applied even if play is not stopped by the referees. If the referee gestures with both arms, the foul was a direct free kick foul and will be counted accordingly. If the gesture is with one arm, the free kick would have been indirect and will not count as an accumulated foul.
 
The Goalkeeper:
Must wear a different color shirt.
May wear long pants and/or other padding as deemed safe by the match referee.
May receive a kick-in directly.
May kick the ball directly over the half-way line.
May score directly with his feet during the run of play.
May not possess the ball for more than four seconds in his own half.
May throw the ball directly across the half-way line.
May not score a goal by using the hands (cannot throw or hit the ball directly into the goal)
Cannot touch the ball again in any way within his own half after releasing the ball into play unless an opponent has touched it or it has gone out of play.
 
 
  1. General/Facility:
  2. Each Coach and Team Volunteer will be responsible for team and players actions.
  3. Any question should be directed to the League Coordinators.
  4. Teams must assume responsibility for the school facilities being used. Lack of responsibility will result in suspension from the league.
  5. Pick up all trash and dispose properly.
  6. Changes or cancellations: The Parks & Recreation Department reserves the right to change or cancel any game(s) in any event and/or other conditions beyond their control.
  7. Given the intensity of the game and tightness of the space, for every player’s safety and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, a Code of Conduct is noted below and will be strictly enforced for volunteers, coaches, players and spectators.  
 

CODE OF CONDUCT
 
We ask that you read and discuss these items and feel free to respond with any questions or concerns. We hope that your involvement with the Upper Valley Futsal League will be a rewarding experience for the whole family.
 
PHILOSOPHY:  We believe that participation in athletics is a privilege that is given to any player who is willing to follow the standards and rules of the sports in which they choose to participate in.  We believe that the values and attitudes learned in athletics contribute to the complete education of the individual.
 
HARRASSMENT POLICY: Harassment is any unwelcome conduct directed at a player or player’s disability, gender, race, religion, grade, or sexual orientation with the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.  It is the Upper Valley Futsal League’s belief that harassment disrupts the playing environment and infringes upon player rights and therefore is strictly prohibited. Any player found to have engaged in such harassment shall be removed from the League. Any player who believes he or she has been subjected to harassment is encouraged to report the incident to League Coordinators.  
 
PLAYERS’ PLEDGE
As a player participating in the Upper Valley Futsal League, I understand and accept the following responsibilities:
  • I will respect the rights and beliefs of others and will treat others with courtesy and consideration.
  • I will be fully responsible for my own actions and the consequences of my actions.
  • I will respect the property of others.
  • I will respect and obey the rules of the game, my school and the laws of my community, state and country.
  • I will show respect to those who are responsible for enforcing the rules of the game, my school and the laws of my community, state and country.
 
Players in the Upper Valley Futsal League are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Improper behavior directed toward other players, teams, officials, coaches, and fans is unacceptable. Such behavior includes foul language, back talk, gestures, or anything else that shows disrespect and undermines the authority of those people connected to the activity. Egregious violations of this expectation will be considered a breach of the Code of Conduct.
 
Other egregious behavior deemed inappropriate, such as stealing, vandalism, gambling, and evading the truth, will not be tolerated and will be considered a violation of the Code of Conduct.
 
Players have a moral responsibility to their teammates and coaches to uphold this code.  It is their responsibility to tell their coach, or administrator about any violation of this code by another participant.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES
 
There should be no use of illicit substances of any kind (to include, but no be limited to: chewing tobacco, cigarettes, vape devices, alcohol, illegal drugs or improper use of prescription drugs or any look-alike devices or substances on or around the premises by Upper Valley Futsal League players. 
 
PENALTIES FOR BREAKING THE CODE OF CONDUCT
 
When the Coach, Team Volunteer, League Coordinator, or other responsible administrator has reliable information that an athlete has engaged in unacceptable behavior, (noted above) the player will be confronted with the evidence as soon as possible.   If after this meeting the evidence is found to be true, the coach or athletic director will impose the appropriate penalties.

Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in:


A Player being suspended and/or removed from a period/quarter of a game for misconduct.
A Player being suspended and/or removed from a game for misconduct.
A Player could be removed from the team/facility for the duration of the season.
 
These guidelines are not absolute in dealing with behavioral problems. Severe situations could merit harsher sanctions against participant.
 
Upper Valley Futsal League takes pride in player’s conduct as representatives of their school, community and the values of the game.
 
Upon registering, you and your son/daughter agree that he/she and you will abide by the rules and regulations of the Futsal League.  It is, in effect giving one’s word that the athlete will not violate the Code of Conduct.
 
This is a commitment that we take very seriously.



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