All District Sports matches will be played per the FIFA Laws of the Game. However, we reserve the right to adapt the rules to align with our local competitions.
A. Game Time
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.
B. Equipment
- Shin guards are mandatory and must be covered entirely by socks.
- Soccer turfs (recommended), cleats, or other athletic shoes are mandatory; no street shoes or metal cleats. Referees’ decisions on footwear suitability are final.
- Each team shall be responsible for providing at least one game ball (District Sports will supply a small number of game balls for indoor leagues).
- Watches are not permitted during play unless covered by wrist sweatbands or padded covering.
- District Sports is not responsible for any item lost or stolen during games or at District Sports field sites.
C. Rosters
District Sports 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.
For organizational purposes, District Sports has established the rules for our CoEd leagues by classifying players as either male-identified or female-identified. All players are welcome to play in men’s leagues, and there are no gender requirements during game-play. Female-identifying, transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary players are welcome to participate in the women’s league.
The following are the maximum amount of players identifying as male or female that may be on the field at any given time for 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.
In our Over 35 leagues, a set number of participating players on a team must be age 35 or older. The following are the maximum number of players age 34 or younger who can participate in a match.
- 11s- Teams may have no more than four (4) players under 35 participating in any game.
- 9s- Teams may have no more than three (3) players under 35 participating in any game.
- 7s – Teams may have no more than two (2) players under 35 participating in any game.
- 5s – Teams may have no more than one (1) player under 35 participating in any game.
D. Forfeits
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 players, then they are considered to have forfeited:
- 11s – 8 players, including at least one rostered player of each gender.
- 9s – 6 players, including at least one rostered player of each gender.
- 7s – 4 players, including at least one rostered player of each gender.
- 5s – 3 players, including at least one rostered player of each gender.
To start a CoEd match, a team must have at least one female-identified player on the field. If no female-identified players can play at the start of the match, that team must forfeit.
E. Adding players from other teams
Teams may add players if needed to satisfy the coed rule or if they do not have a goalkeeper present. Should teams have enough players that they don’t need to forfeit but not enough for a whole team, they may pick up players from another team (provided that player is a registered District Sports player). If the remaining players from the scheduled team arrive after the game starts, then any players picked up from another team should leave.
Any team that picks up players should not add more players than can play on the field at any given time; the team should not have any substitutes for players of either gender where they have elected to pick up players. Note: this does not apply to goalkeepers.
F. Substitutions
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 may call for an immediate substitution of a carded player. The carded player will remain on the sideline until the referee determines that they may re-enter the game.
For 5v5 & and 7v7, 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.
G. Slide Tackling
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 in such a manner that a knee or other body part touches the ground; it also includes unintentionally going to ground while slipping.
Performance of a slide tackle, particularly one that results in dangerous contact with an opponent, may be grounds for a yellow card or worse on the part of the referee.
Referees’ discretion is final, and they will award either an indirect or direct free kick depending on the result of the play. Any slide tackles committed in the penalty area will result in an automatic 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 plays the ball. They are not allowed to slide to tackle an opposing player.
H. Free kick Distance
11s – 10 yards
9s – 10 yards
7s – 8 yards
5s – 5 years
I. Off-sides
Off-sides are always in effect for 11s outdoor games.
Off-sides are always in effect for 9s outdoor games.
There will be no off-sides in 8s, 7s, or 5s play.
J. Athletic Plays
Athletic plays (i.e., bicycle and scissor kicks) are allowed in the run of play, provided they do not put another player at risk. If an athletic play is performed in proximity to other players, it will be ruled a dangerous play and will result in a foul.
K. Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers may punt, throw, or send goal kicks as far as they like across the half-line. Goalkeepers can slide but may be cautioned if they do so aggressively. A goalkeeper can score off a punt or throw. In 5v5 and 7v7, a goalkeeper may not score off a throw.
L. Misconduct
Yellow Card: Referees can immediately substitute the offending player for at least two (2) minutes.
Red Card: A player receiving a red card (or two yellow cards in the same match) must leave the field premises, sight and sound, without substitution.
M. Team Conduct/Player Conduct
**Effective April 2018, District Sports instituted its Player Pledge and Code of Conduct. District Sports expects participants to adhere to these guidelines during league activities.**
Discipline: The Team Captain assumes the responsibility regarding team leadership and maintenance of order and discipline. District Sports expects each Captain to set a positive example for their players in promoting good sportsmanship and self-control. If a player not registered with District Sports receives a Red Card during a game, the Captain will be asked to serve the player’s suspension.
Sideline Control: The Captain is responsible for the behavior of their bench area. After being verbally warned or cautioned (yellow card) by the referee for unsportsmanlike behavior from their bench area, the Captain will receive a red card if the situation persists. The referee also has the power to eject any spectator at any time at their discretion.
N. Player Suspension
If a player receives a red card, they will be asked to sit out at least one game (longer at the discretion of league management). It is the responsibility of captains to ensure that players serve suspensions handed down by referees and District Sports league admins. District Sports may refuse registration to any player suspended from any Washington DC-area league. District Sports also reserves the right to suspend players from league play at the League’s discretion and cannot be appealed. Registration fees will not be refunded to suspended players.
O. Playoff Specific Rules
District Sports 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 Sports reserves the right to end a season and award the championship based on points should circumstances require us to.
- Leagues with fewer than six teams will be crowned on regular season points or feature a championship match.
- Leagues with 6-14 teams will have semifinals and a championship.
- Leagues with 14-18 teams will have quarterfinals, semifinals, and a championship, season schedule permitting.
Should teams be tied on standings points, the following tie-breakers will be used to determine final regular season seeding:
- Goal Differential
- Goals Scored
- Head-to-Head
- Coin Toss
An individual player may not play on two playoff teams in the same league, regardless of whether they registered for both teams; this rule applies to goalkeepers and field players.
To adhere to our permitted field time and effectively 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 Sports 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)
5s & 7s Leagues: Games that end in a draw will be decided by one 5-minute golden–goal overtime, followed by three penalty kicks if necessary.
- Any player who has played any duration of the game is allowed to participate in a PK shootout.
- In CoEd games, at least one male-identified and one female-identified player will be required to shoot by the 3rd round of kicks.
- If the shootout extends beyond five players, at least two male-identified players and two female-identified players must have shot by the 6th round.
9s & 11s Leagues: Games that end in a draw will be decided by one five-minute golden–goal overtime, followed by five penalty kicks if necessary.
- Only players on the field at the end of regulation or overtime will be allowed to participate in a PK shootout.
- In CoEd games, at least one player of each gender will be required to shoot by the 3rd round of kicks
- If the shootout extends beyond five players, at least two male-identified players and two female-identified players must have shot by the 6th round.
- If the shootout extends beyond six players, at least three male-identified players and three female-identified players must have shot by the 8th round.
P. Team League Promotion
Teams who consistently dominate their league (i.e. finish top of their league, win back-to-back championships, have a very high goal difference compared to the rest of the league, etc…) may be asked by District Sports administrators, to move up in division, as long as it is the same competition format on the same day as their current league.
Failure to accept the divisional change, may result in a team being ineligible for playoffs the following season.
District Sports reserves the right to modify these rules at any time.
Questions? Contact District Sports at info@districtsports.com.
