Player FAQ
ALL PLAYERS MUST REGISTER WITH THE NEW MEXICO STATE SOCCER ASSOCIATION
There is a $10 registration fee. If you are already registered, you do not need to reghister again.
The Game
- Games Consist of Two (2) x Fifteen (15) Minute Halves with a Two (2) Minute Halftime
- A flip of a coin or a “rock, paper, scissors” decides which team will kick off. Winner will choose either a side or to kickoff.
- Each team must stay in its own half of the field and the defending players must be at least 8 yards from the ball when it is kicked on a kick off.
- Kickoffs are INDIRECT.
- After a goal, the team scored upon will kick off.
- After halftime or periods end the teams change sides and the kickoff will be taken by the opposite team to that which started the game.
- Any ball played out of bounds on either touchline will result in a kick in for the team that did not touch the ball last.
- Kick-ins from touchlines are INDIRECT.
- There are NO offsides
- All opponents must be at least 5 yards from the ball until it is in play.
- Penalty kicks- If foul occurs in the penalty area, a penalty kick will be rewarded and placed on penalty mark. (12 yards Out)
- All other players must be outside the penalty area behind the penalty mark.
- Teams tied in their brackets will proceed accordingly:
- The tie-breaker rules are as follows:
- Points Accumulated
- Head to Head
- Goal Differential
- Goals Scored
Tie Games
- In the event of a tie between two teams after the game is complete, the game will be declared a tie.
- In the event of a tie in a Knockout Match (Quarterfinal, Semi-Final or Final) there will be a 3-minute golden goal period.
- If the game is still a draw, then there will be a shootout to determine the winner.
Shootouts
-
Shootouts will consist of 3 shooters from each team.
-
After the three shooters have shot, the team with the most goals wins.
-
Shooters do not have to be on the field of play to participate in the shootout.
-
In the event that teams are tied after 3 shooters each, it will go to a sudden death round until a winner is determined. Both teams get to have a shooter take a shot. When one team makes it and the other doesn’t, the team who scored is determined the winning team
-
All players on each team must kick before any individual player kicks for a second time.
Teams
- Each team consists of 5 players, one of whom must be the goalkeeper.
- There must be always a minimum of 2 females on the field and a maximum of 3 males.
- Only players on the roster may play.
- Shin guards must be worn.
- Goalkeepers may not handle the ball anywhere outside of the penalty area.
- Goalkeepers are NOT allowed to handle the ball if a teammate plays the ball back to them by foot.
- Goalkeepers must throw balls in for goal kicks. No punting is allowed.
- Goalkeepers may not throw the ball into the opposition’s goal.
- If this takes place the opposing goalkeeper will be granted possession of the ball and no goal will be granted.