Adult Outdoor Soccer – Rules & Regulations
Overview
All participants must be registered with the Nelson Soccer Association (NSA) and have all fees paid. Unless otherwise specified below, the FIFA Laws of the Game shall be applied.
League Formats at a Glance
| League | Format | Field | Duration | Sliding? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Open (19+) | 11 v 11 | Full Field | 2 x 45 min | Allowed |
| Women’s Open (19+) | 8 v 8 | Half Field | 2 x 40 min | No |
| Men’s Masters (35+) | 8 v 8 | Half Field | 2 x 40 min | No |
| Co-ed Open (16+) | 6 v 6 | Small Field | 2 x 25 min | No |
General Regulations (All Leagues)
Equipment & Safety
- Mandatory Gear: Shin pads, soccer jersey, soccer shorts, soccer socks, and outdoor soccer shoes are mandatory.
- Jewelry: Strictly prohibited. NO JEWELLERY is allowed.
- Braces: Knee braces must be covered with soft material.
- Pre-Game: Players should arrive at least 20 minutes before kickoff for Referee equipment checks.
Attendance & Forfeits
- Attendance Policy: Players missing 4 consecutive games without a valid reason may be dropped from their team’s roster at the sole discretion of the team captain.
- Waitlist: The League reserves the right to add players from the waitlist to teams struggling with attendance to avoid forfeits.
- Forfeits: If a team is playing with non-registered players, the game will be forfeited.
Substitutions
- Procedure: Substitutions are to be made from the sidelines at the center line mark. The player must come off the field first before the substitute enters.
- Caution: Any abuse of the substitution rule will result in a Yellow Card.
Specific League Rules
Men’s Open League
- Age & Roster: Minimum age 19. Roster capacity is 20 players.
- Draft & Registration: Nelson Selects enter as a team. Returning players may register for their same team (by deadline). New players go into the draft. No refunds after the draft. Adding players after the draft is not allowed.
- Game Format: 11-a-side on a full field. Minimum 7 players required to start.
- Playoffs: Players must play a minimum of 3 games to be eligible.
- Substitutions: Unlimited subs allowed when the ball is out of play with Referee approval.
Women’s Open League
- Age & Roster: Minimum age 19. Roster capacity is 16 players. (Younger players admitted if capacity is not met).
- Draft & Registration: Returning players may register for their same team. New players go into the draft. No refunds after the draft. Adding players after the draft is not allowed.
- Game Format: 8-a-side on a half field. Minimum 6 players required to start.
- Playoffs: Players must play a minimum of 3 games to be eligible.
- Slide Tackling: Not allowed. It will be cautioned. Goalkeepers may slide only in their own penalty area.
- Substitutions: Unlimited subs “on the fly” or at stoppage.
Men’s Masters League
- Age & Roster: Minimum age 35. Roster capacity is 16 players.
- Draft & Registration: Returning players may register for their same team. New players go into the draft. No refunds after the draft. Midseason draft may occur to replenish rosters.
- Game Format: 8-a-side on a half field. Minimum 6 players required to start.
- Playoffs: Players must play a minimum of 4 games to be eligible.
- Slide Tackling: Not allowed. It will be cautioned. Goalkeepers may slide only in their own penalty area.
- Substitutions: Unlimited subs “on the fly” or at stoppage.
Co-ed Open League
- Age & Roster: Minimum age 16. Roster capacity is 12 players (Minimum 5 females).
- Draft & Registration: Teams are made by the League. No refunds after the season starts/rosters confirmed. Adding players after the season starts is not allowed.
- Game Format: 6-a-side on a small field. Minimum 5 players required to start.
- Gender Rule: Minimum of two female outfield players on the field are required at all times.
- Playoffs: Players must play a minimum of 3 games to be eligible.
- Slide Tackling: Not allowed. It will be cautioned. Goalkeepers may slide only in their own penalty area.
- Substitutions: Unlimited subs “on the fly” or at stoppage.