League Rules

11s – Two 35-minute halves with a 1-5 minute half-time or as required due to adjusted game times per field allocations.

9s- Two 25-minute halves with a 1-5 minute half-time or as required due to adjusted game times per field allocations.

7s – Two 25-minute halves with a 1-5 minute half-time or as required due to adjusted game times per field allocations.

5s- Two 25-minute halves with a 1-5 minute half-time or as required due to adjusted game times per field allocations.

District Soccer unequivocally respects the rights of players to determine and establish their gender identity as it pertains to participation in our leagues; we, as an organization, do not make that call for players or teams.

All genders, including trans, genderqueer, and non-binary players, are welcome to play in whichever league is comfortable for them, including men’s+, women’s+, or CoEd competitions.

The following gender ratios are required on the field at any given time in each format.

• 11s- Teams may have no more than eight (8) players of the same gender on the field at any time.
• 9s- Teams may not have more than six (6) players of the same gender on the field at any time.
• 7s – Teams may not have more than five (5) players of the same gender on the field at any time.
• 5s – Teams may not have more than three (3) players of the same gender on the field at any time.

Teams must be ready to play their game within 10 minutes of the scheduled game time. If a team does not have the following number of their own players by that time, then the game is considered a forfeit. For CoEd leagues, at least one of these players must be of a different gender.

• 11v11 – 8 players
• 9v9 - 6 players 
• 7v7 - 4 players
• 5v5 -  3 players

Teams may invite substitute, non-rostered players to play in a particular match, given they are registered with another team in the league that particular season. Player(s) added as substitutes must wear either the team’s assigned District Soccer jersey or a shirt in an identical color. Referees may choose to exclude any players who are not compliant from game play. 

When recruiting substitutes, please be considerate of the level of play in your league. Also,  please only recruit as many players as you need to reasonably play the match. 

Generally speaking, teams may make unlimited substitutions with the consent of the referee at the following times:

• Throw Ins

• Goal Kicks

• Goals

• Injuries - When the referee stops play, a team can substitute for an injured player. The opposing team is then allowed to substitute a single player.

• Yellow Card – The referee will call for an immediate substitution of a yellow-carded player. This player must remain on the sideline until the referee determines that they may re-enter the game.

For 5v5 and 7v7 leagues, field player substitutions may be made at any point during gameplay or stoppages (except for free kicks) and do not require referee consent. Players must enter and leave the field from their team's bench. Failure to do so will result in an automatic yellow card. Goalkeeper substitutions may only occur during stoppages in play and with the referee's consent.

Slide tackling is not permitted. A slide tackle is defined as going to the ground in such a way that creates a dangerous situation for an opponent (no matter where on the field or whether performed by an attacking or defending player). Included in sliding is lunging, where the knee or other body part touches the ground, or unintentionally going to the ground while slipping.

Performance of a slide tackle, particularly one that results in contact with an opponent, may be grounds for further intervention from the referee - such as issuance of a caution card. Generally speaking, a slide is considered a dangerous play with a restart of an indirect free kick. In cases where the sliding player commits a foul (not just a dangerous play), a direct free kick will result.  A slide tackle committed by the defending team in their own penalty area will result in a penalty kick.

Players may slide when not creating a dangerous play, i.e., sliding to keep a ball in play. Goalkeepers can slide if attempting to block a shot or make a save. Some incidental contact with an attacking player may be allowed if the goalkeeper makes contact with the ball.

Free-kick wall distance varies by format. They are as follows: 

• 11v11: 10 yards
• 9v9:  - 10 yards
• 7v7:  8 yards
• 5v5 - 5 yards

Offside enforcement varies by format. The variance is as follows: 

• Offside is always in effect for 11v11 outdoor games.
• Offsides is always in effect for 9v9 outdoor games.
• There will be no off-sides in 7v7 or 5v5 play.

Athletic plays (i.e., bicycle and scissor kicks) are allowed in the run of play, provided they do not put another player at risk. An athletic play performed in proximity to another player is not allowed as it creates a dangerous situation. Play will be restarted with an indirect or direct free kick, depending on the result of the play

Goalkeepers may punt, throw, or send goal kicks as far as they like across the half-line. Goalkeepers may slide to save a shot, but are urged to be cautious.

In 11v11 and 9v9 matches, goalkeepers may score with a punt or throw. This is not the case in 5v5 and 7v7 matches.  

In accordance with IFAB rules, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team should a goalkeeper hold the ball in their hands for more than 8 seconds.

Yellow Card: Players receiving a yellow caution card caution will be required to substitute off the field for a minimum of 2 minutes. Referees will indicate when a cautioned player may return to the field. Should a team not have substitute players available, they will be required to play down a player until the referee indicates that re-entry is possible.

Red Card: A player receiving a red card (or two yellow cards in the same match) will be sent off for the remainder of the match. They must leave the field premises, sight and sound, without substitution.

**Effective April 2018, District Soccer instituted its Player Pledge and Code of Conduct. Participants are expected to adhere to the pledge during league activities.**

Specifically, behavior that endangers the safety of other participants, is blatantly disrespectful of others either by word or action, or is not keeping with our league's obligation to be good community members, will not be tolerated. 

Team Captains are considered leaders within our organization and are responsible for the behavior of their team during games. Should teams engage in persistent negative behaviors during league matches, District Soccer staff will first be in touch with captains. The expectation is that these individuals will proactively help seek solutions.

District Soccer reserves the right to suspend players receiving red-card cautions for additional games. 

Suspensions will be communicated to players and captains by league administrators, whose responsibility it is to ensure compliance. Should a player not registered with District Soccer receive a Red Card, the captains will be obligated to serve the suspension.

As a private organization, District Soccer may refuse registration or suspend players from league play for any reason without obligation to refund league fees and may follow whatever process it chooses to determine appropriate suspensions. 

While not formally affiliated with the US Soccer Federation, District Soccer will reference its published guidelines regarding referee abuse and player misconduct when issuing suspensions. These guidelines can be found here. District Soccer maintains a Banned Player list. Banned players are not welcome at  District Soccer matches and events, including those organized under the auspices of the DC Premier League. The list of Banned Players is here.

District Soccer will refer to regular-season league standings in determining which teams qualify for playoff rounds. The number of teams qualifying for playoffs may vary based on the number of teams competing in your league, the schedule of any leagues sharing field space with your league, and various other factors. District Soccer reserves the right to end a season and award the championship based on points should circumstances require us to.

• League winners in leagues with fewer than six teams may be determined based on regular-season points, or culminate in a single final match.
• Leagues with 6 to 12 teams will culminate with a 4-team playoff, inclusive of a semifinal and a final.
• Leagues with 12 to 18 teams will culminate with an 8-team playoff, inclusive of quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.

Should teams be tied on standings points, the following tie-breakers will be used to determine playoff seeding (or league winner if a playoff is not to be played):

1. Goal Differential
2. Goals Scored
3. Head-to-Head
4. Coin Toss

An individual player may not play with two playoff teams in the same league, regardless of whether they’re registered for both teams. This rule applies to goalkeepers and field players.

To adhere to our permitted field time and manage schedules across our various leagues, game lengths for playoffs are slightly shorter than regular-season matches. Extra-time/penalty kicks will follow playoff games that end in draws. The exact format will depend on the league. Generally speaking, District Soccer referees will adhere to the following game lengths:

• 11s playoff games will be 60 minutes long (30-minute halves)
• 5s, 7s, and 9s will be 40 minutes long (20-minute halves)

Games that end in a tie will be decided by penalty kicks (best of five).

• Anyone on your roster who’s played in the game may take a penalty kick.
• In CoEd games, at least one player of a different gender is required to complete a penalty kick.

Rules stated below apply to all District Soccer gym-based futsal leagues played in DC. For league rules specific to MoCo 5s at Airpark Soccerplex, please click here.

The court layout will be determined based on the facility. This may impact the size and configuration of penalty areas and placement of penalty marks. These details will be communicated by referees before matches.

Equipment 

• For all indoor games, futsal balls will be used. These are provided by District Soccer
• Flat indoor shoes or sneakers are required for play. Cleats or turf shoes are not permitted. 

Restarts

• Generally speaking, all restarts are indirect in indoor games, including kickoffs and returning the ball to play after it has left the court.  
• Direct Penalty kicks are awarded for fouls that occur within the penalty area. 
• Defensive players must allow a minimum of 5 yards of space on all restarts. 
• After the ball has left play, the shall be restarted with a kick-in. All kick-ins are indirect. 
• The opposing team must provide a minimum of 5 yards of space for kick-ins.
• Should the ball hit the ceiling or structures attached to the ceiling (basketball backboards, etc.), it would be a kick-in for the opposing team on the nearest sideline.

Goalkeepers

• The goalkeepers may not use their hands when directly receiving a pass from a teammate. Should this occur, the restart will be an indirect free kick for the opposing team.
• All restarts will be kick-ins (including goal kicks).
• Goalkeepers may not punt the ball. In the event of a punt, a corner will be awarded to the opposing team.
• There are no limitations on the number of touches a goalkeeper may take in their defensive half.
• Goalkeepers may not score a goal off a throw.

Substitutions

• Unlimited Substitutions may be made on the fly without the consent of the referee. The one exception is penalty kicks, where no substitutions will be allowed.  
• Subs must enter the court at the half-court line.

Player Contact

• Indoor games are meant to be largely non-contact  - please exercise restraint. Slide-tackling is NOT permitted.