First and foremost... this is a social adult league, not the EPL or World Cup.  We are all here to have fun, meet people, and get some exercise! Beehive has a zero tolerance policy against any disrespectful behavior towards other players, and we reserve the right to ask anyone who is not following this policy to leave the game or fields immediately. If you see someone acting inappropriately or playing too aggressively, tell us! We will not be handing out warnings or asking for "sides of the story." If someone is playing too aggressively, they will be asked to leave the game. If it happens again, they will be removed from the league and refunded--no questions asked. 

Please remember all of this every time you step onto the field. Carry the spirit of Beehive on your sleeve at all times :)

Teams 

• 7 vs 7 (including the goalie)
• Minimum of 2 female players at all times at any positions. If a team has only one female player, they will play a player short.
• Minimum of 4 players must be present to play. If a team has less than 4 players 10 minutes after scheduled game time, that team forfeits. The teams can still play a game for fun!

Equipment

• No metal cleats are allowed.
• Shinguards are encouraged but not mandatory.
• Teams are required to bring one (1) size 5 soccer ball to each game.

On-site Coordinator

• A league representative will set up all equipment and inspect the fields before play begins.
• The coordinator is not a referee but a neutral support of both teams. 
• The coordinator may stop a game before the full time has expired due to overly aggressive play, persistent unsportsmanlike conduct, or a general violation of the rules of the game.
• At the end of the game, the captain of the winning team needs to report the score to the on-site coordinator.
• The coordinator will clarify rules, record scores at the end of the game, clean up equipment, start/stop games, and inform players of league news.

Game Play

Start of Play

• Game length is two (2) 20 minutes halves, with a 5 minute halftime. 
• Captains will meet at midfield to play rock, paper, scissors (best of 1). The winner will decide which team gets to start with the ball.
• The kickoff can go forward or backward. 
• At halftime the teams will switch sides.

Time and Score

• We will have digital timers on site to keep time. A player from one of the teams will start the time for each half. 

• After a goal is scored but before the kickoff happens, the player that starts with the ball must yell out the score. If the opposing team disagrees with the score, immediately stop play and have the players on each team who have scored raise their hands. Count them up!

Throw-ins, offsides and substitutions

• Throw-ins must be taken with two hands. One handed throw-ins or players that cross the sideline before they release the ball will need to attempt their throw-in again.
• Once the game has started there is no offsides rules.
• Players can substitute freely at midfield on their bench side as long as the departing player is off the field before the substitute enters. Goalies may substitute at any dead ball stoppage (free kick, throw in)

Big NO-NOs

• No play on the ground (the goalie may leave his/her feet to block a pass or shot). 
• No slide tackling whatsoever.
• No high kicks

Goals

• After a goal is scored but before the kickoff happens, the player that starts with the ball must yell out the score. If the opposing team disagrees with the score, immediately stop play and have the players on each team who have scored raise their hands. Count them up!
• To score a goal, the entire ball must pass over the goal line and into the net. If a discrepancy arises as to whether the ball was in or not, the person deemed to have the "best perspective" will ultimately make the call. Please remember that you are playing in a self-officiated social league, any disputes should be kept to a minimum.

Handball

• A handball infraction occurs when the ball hits a players arm from the ELBOW down (as opposed to the shoulder). In addition, players may use their arms to block the ball from hitting their groin area, and women can also use their arms to block the ball from hitting their chest. This rule will reduce the number of stoppages in play. Please do not abuse this rule.

Fouls

• The offending player should call their own infractions, however any players involved with the infraction can also make a call. When a foul is called, play must stop as there is no "advantage" in this league. 
• Players not on the field at the time of any incident and not involved in the play cannot make a call at any time.
• All fouls result in an indirect free kick which means they must be contacted by a player (offense or defense but not goalie) before entering the net.
  • Fouls in the goalie box will not result in penalty kicks. All fouls result in indirect free kicks where the foul is committed.

Goal Box

• The goal box is approximately a 20'x26' rectangle around the net. There will be 4 cones demarcating the goal box and teams should use their best judgment.
• Goalies can:
  
  • Use their hands when they are within the "goal box".
  • Roam as far from their goal as they wish.
• Goalies cannot:
  
  • Use their hands outside of the box. If this occurs, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team.
  • When inside the goal box, pick up a ball with their hands if the ball has been played back on purpose to the keeper by a player on their team. This includes all forms of passing and kick-ins. The only exception is if the player directs the ball back to the keeper with their head - in this case the keeper can pick the ball up with their hands. A violation of this rule results in an indirect free kick for the other team at the spot where the keeper inappropriately used their hands.

Playoffs (with the exception of below, all of the above rules apply during playoffs)  

• Two (2) 20 minute halves with a brief halftime, then the teams will switch sides. 
• If the game is tied at the end of regulation, 2 extra five (5) minute golden goal halves will be played. 
• If the score remains tied at the end of the extra halves, the game will go to penalty kicks. 
  • Each team will take a minimum of 5 kicks and a minimum of 2 girls must be in the lineup. 
  • At the end of the 10 kicks, the team that made more penalties will advance. 
  • If still tied, each team will get another kick until one team scores and the other does not.