*Seven players per team on the field...six field players, plus a goalkeeper. In co-ed games, this means five men and two women on the field at the same time. If you do not have at least two women for a given game, you must play short by that many players. (i.e., if only one woman is there, you must play short by one player.) All players must be at least 18 years of age.
* All games are played on Sunday afternoons starting at 1:00 or 1:30 pm, and the last game starting at 6:30 or 7:00 pm. Games start every hour, halves are 25-minutes each. The referee's watch will start at the scheduled game time. If you aren't ready to play at game time, the clock starts anyway, and that much time will be subtracted from the game.
Special schedule requests are not accepted for summer league games; you are expected to be able to play at any of the posted starting times.
A schedule will be published a few days prior to the start of the season.
*There are NO SLIDE TACKLES allowed in summer league (much like indoor), except for the goalkeeper in and around the penalty area. Penalty: indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction (for what would have been an otherwise legal tackle in a "real" game) or a direct free kick (if it would have been a foul anyway). (Note: Since a slide tackle is treated as a foul, referees may allow for an "advantage" to be given in lieu of calling the foul when appropriate.)
* There is no offside violation (much like indoor soccer).
* Goalkeepers may not punt or drop-kick the ball once they gain possession of it. They must throw it or play it with their feet to release it to another player. (Penalty: first offense, reminder/warning from referee....second offense, direct kick from the top of the penalty area [not a PK].)
* The pass-back rule for goalkeepers is the same as it is during a regular game...passes made intentionally with the feet cannot be picked up, nor can throw-ins be picked up.
* If the ball goes into touch, standard throw-ins, goal kicks and corner kicks will put the ball back in play. (There are no "kick-ins" in lieu of throw-ins.)
* Substitutions may be made "on-the-fly" or at any stoppage in play by either team.
* Fields are about half the size of a regulation-sized field, approximately 50 x 70.
* While there are no yellow cards or red cards issued per se, referees maintain the right to "sub-out" any players who are playing recklessly, or who are creating significant problems, either for a period of time to "cool off", or permanently (depending on the issue). Keep in mind that tempers often tend to run shorter when the temperatures are higher; everyone should conduct themselves accordingly.
* Uniforms are encouraged, but not required; teams often will play "Shirts & Skins", or "White Shirts & Dark Shirts". It is highly recommended that you bring a white t-shirt and a dark-colored t-shirt to each game, especially for coed games (since "shirts & skins" obviously won't work in coed). It is preferable that your "dark shirts" all be the same color.
* Pick-up games are welcome. While each team is scheduled to play at certain times, anyone interested in playing can usually find a game. Teams that are short are welcome to "draft" other players who want to play.
* This isn't a rule, just a very strong recommendation...BRING WATER! These games are played in the middle of the summer...and for those who haven't lived in Memphis for very long, that usually means that temperatures will be between 90 and 100 degrees, with very high humidity levels...it's very easy to get dehydrated if you're not careful. So again, BRING WATER!
* You should also remember that summer league is (and has always been) non-sanctioned; that is, there is no individual player registration with TSSA or other organizations. As such, any injuries that are incurred are your sole responsibility. The supplemental insurance that exists during our regular season does not apply during summer league.
* Every effort will be made to play all scheduled games. However, any games that are not played because of rain, or other weather-related issues (lightning, etc.) will not be rescheduled.
