Current International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules apply. To download a current “Laws of the Game,” go to https://www.theifab.com/laws-of-the-game-documents/?language=all&year=2024%2F25.
We do have exceptions based on the format being played:
5v5
- Number of players. 5 including the goalkeeper. For coed divisions a minimum of 1 female is required on the field (not including goalkeeper).
- Duration. Games are 2x23 minutes unless expressly stated otherwise.
- Offside. Not applied.
- Kick-ins, no throw-ins.
- Slide tackles. Prohibited (see below for interpretation).
- Substitutions. For outfield players teams may make an unlimited number of substitutions on the fly. For goalkeepers, substitutions are permitted only during a break of play with the referee’s permission.
- Distance to retreat. The defending team is required to retreat a minimum of 3 yards for restarts.
- Determining the outcome during playoffs. If the game is tied after full time the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
- Forfeits. Minimum number of players required on the field to avoid a forfeit/termination is 3 and if coed one of which is female.
5v5 Futsal
- Number of players. 5 including the goalkeeper. For coed divisions a minimum of 1 female is required on the field (not including goalkeeper).
- Duration. Games are 2x23 minutes unless expressly stated otherwise.
- Offside. Not applied.
- Kick-ins, no throw-ins. Kick-ins are indirect.
- No goal kicks, Goalkeepers can restart play by distributing with their hands.
- Penalty kicks are taken from a spot 10 yards from center of goal.
- Slide tackles. Prohibited (see below for interpretation).
- Goal keepers may not score directly with their hands.
- Substitutions. For outfield players teams may make an unlimited number of substitutions on the fly. For goalkeepers, substitutions are permitted only during a break of play with the referee’s permission.
- Distance to retreat. The defending team is required to retreat a minimum of 3 yards for restarts.
- Determining the outcome during playoffs. If the game is tied after full time the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
- Forfeits. Minimum number of players required on the field to avoid a forfeit/termination is 3 and if coed one of which is female.
7v7
- Number of players. 7 including the goalkeeper. For coed divisions a minimum of 2 females are required on the field (not including goalkeeper).
- Duration. Games are 2x23 minutes unless expressly stated otherwise.
- Offside. Not applied.
- Slide tackles. Prohibited (see below for interpretation).
- Substitutions. For outfield players teams may make an unlimited number of substitutions on the fly. For goalkeepers, substitutions are permitted only during a break of play with the referee’s permission.
- Distance to retreat. The defending team is required to retreat a minimum of 6 yards for restarts.
- Determining the outcome during playoffs. If the game is tied after full time the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
- Forfeits. Minimum number of players required on the field to avoid a forfeit/termination is 5 and if coed one of which is female.
8v8
- Number of players. 8 including the goalkeeper. For coed divisions a minimum of 3 females are required on the field (not including goalkeeper).
- Duration. Games are 2x23 minutes unless expressly stated otherwise.
- Offside. Not applied.
- Slide tackles. Prohibited (see below for interpretation).
- Substitutions. For outfield players teams may make an unlimited number of substitutions on the fly. For goalkeepers, substitutions are permitted only during a break of play with the referee’s permission.
- Distance to retreat. The defending team is required to retreat a minimum of 8 yards for restarts.
- Determining the outcome during playoffs. If the game is tied after full time the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
- Forfeits. Minimum number of players required on the field to avoid a forfeit/termination is 5.
9v9
- Number of players. 9 including the goalkeeper. For coed divisions a minimum of 3 females are required on the field (not including goalkeeper).
- Duration. Games are 2x23 minutes unless expressly stated otherwise.
- Offside. Not applied.
- Slide tackles. Prohibited (see below for interpretation).
- Substitutions. For outfield players teams may make an unlimited number of substitutions on the fly. For goalkeepers, substitutions are permitted only during a break of play with the referee’s permission.
- Distance to retreat. The defending team is required to retreat a minimum of 8 yards for restarts.
- Determining the outcome during playoffs. If the game is tied after full time the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
- Forfeits. Minimum number of players required on the field to avoid a forfeit/termination is 6.
11v11 Competitive
- Number of players. 11 including the goalkeeper. For coed divisions a minimum of 4 females are required on the field (not including goalkeeper).
- Duration. Games are 2x45 minutes unless expressly stated otherwise.
- Substitutions. Teams are permitted to make an unlimited number of substitutions, to take place only during a break of play with the referee’s permission.
- Distance to retreat. The defending team is required to retreat a minimum of 10 yards for restarts.
- Determining the outcome during playoffs. If a game is still tied after normal time an additional 5 minutes of play will be added to the second half. If the game is still tied after extra time the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
- Forfeits. Minimum number of players required on the field to avoid a forfeit/termination is 7.
11v11 Division C
- Number of players. 11 including the goalkeeper. For coed divisions a minimum of 4 females are required on the field (not including goalkeeper).
- Duration. Games are 2x25 minutes unless expressly stated otherwise.
- Substitutions. Teams are permitted to make an unlimited number of substitutions, to take place only during a break of play with the referee’s permission.
- Distance to retreat. The defending team is required to retreat a minimum of 10 yards for restarts.
- Determining the outcome during playoffs. If the game is tied after full time the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
- Forfeits. Minimum number of players required on the field to avoid a forfeit/termination is 7.
Suspensions
- Ejected players shall face a minimum of an 8-day (inclusive) suspension starting with the date of the dismissal. The suspension is applied to the individual player and includes all teams they play for within the Gotham League.
Weather Policy
- We play rain or shine. In the event of known weather issues, league administrators will notify team captains of game cancellations by two hours before game time. If word has not been received by that time, the decision is left in the hands of the referee and field staff on the field upon arrival or thereafter. Non-attendance without word of cancellation is a forfeit. All games should be considered on unless a league official says otherwise.
- In the event a game unexpectedly ends early (weather, problems with the field, problem with the lights, etc), the result will be official if at least the first half has been completed. If not, the league will schedule a time to finish the remaining minutes of the game. It is up to the league to decide when a game is or is not official; only dangerous or unreasonable conditions prevent a game from going forward as scheduled.
- Game length may be adjusted to maintain the schedule or to compensate for bad weather. Games may be played earlier or later to accommodate needed schedule changes.
Forfeits
- If a team can't / doesn't show up for a game or shows up with at least the minimum number of players required for their division, the game will be ruled a forfeit (result varies by division).
Determining the winner
For group stage play, the standings will be determined by the following criteria:
- Points
- Goal differential
- Goals scored
- Head-to-head
- During the playoffs, see above for methods to handle, which for most divisions will be penalty shoot outs.
T-Shirts
- In our small-sided divisions teams are provided with a set of Gotham t-shirts to wear for the season. All field players must wear the same color shirt. If two teams have similar colored shirts as indicated on the website, both teams are expected to bring a backup color. Goalkeepers must wear a different color shirt from both teams.
Ground challenges
- “Slide tackles” are not permitted in certain divisions.
- A slide tackle infraction results in an Indirect Free Kick.
- This rule is technically a re-definition of “playing in a dangerous manner,” for the adult recreational level. To be considered dangerous, and an Indirect Free Kick, two elements have to be present:
- A tackle or potential tackle,
- A player going to ground.
- Outfield players are permitted to go to ground (slide, knee, fall, etc) to save a ball from going out of bounds, stop a ball by extension, or to block/save a shot provided there is no opponent within playing distance of the ball. Think, “is it safe?” if yes, no foul.
- Goalkeepers are allowed to make sliding saves. These must be within what would be considered a normal goalkeeper motion. Once outside of the penalty area, normal outfield player rules apply to ground challenges by keepers.
- Definition of safe distance at which going to ground is permitted would be greater than bodily able to reach, 6 feet, 2 yards, or more.
