South Brunswick Soccer Club - In-Town Program Rules


General Rules & Guidelines

Pre-game Check-In

  • At the start of each game, the teams will be checked by the referee to make sure the players are wearing shin guards and not wearing jewelry of any kind.  Band-Aids are not allowed to be worn over pierced parts of the body.  No shin guards, no play.  Players must have socks that cover their shin guards. Players must also wear their jerseys on the outside of any other clothing.  While cleats are not required, they are highly recommended.

  • The teams will then have a coin toss to see who will get the ball or the choice of goal first.

  • Both teams will be one sideline and the parents on the other.  No one will be allowed to be on either end line area.  No exceptions.

Rules of the Game

  • All FIFA rules will apply except where overridden by a division-specific rule.  Make sure you have a copy of the Supplemental Information for your specific division.

  • The ball will be put into play by a throw in where it stopped when the quarter ended with the exception of the start of the second half of the game.  The team that did not kick off the ball at the start of the game will have the kick off at the beginning of the second half.

  • Teams are to switch sides at the beginning of the second half of the game.

  • Inappropriate behavior will not be allowed at any time by anyone and such behavior will result in the immediate dismissal and the offenders will also be brought up for action by the disciplinary committee and could mean a suspension or expulsion from any further games without any refund.

  • Coaches are not to approach the referees at any time.  If there is a problem, please see your commissioner or the head of the in-town program for resolution.

  • Parents are not allowed on the field for any reason.  If a child gets hurt, the coach will be called onto the field.  If the coach deems it necessary to have the parent come onto the field, he/she will motion for the parent to come on.

  • At the end of the game, each team will line up and shake hands.  Please encourage good sportsmanship at all times. 

  • The SBSC In-Town program is recreational and as such promotes equal playing time for all participants.  Please make every effort to balance playing time and give all players opportunities to play both offense and defense.  There are no records kept in the program so please keep the spirit of recreation in mind at all times.

Misc. Information

Rainouts

In case of inclement weather, please check our Field Condition web page at: S.B.S.C. Soccer Field Conditions (http://www.sbsoccer.org/fc.asp) and your email.  A mass email will be sent whenever possible and the Field Conditions page will be updated.  Please also check the Field Conditions page if we have had rain before you practice.  We do play in the rain, however, it does not take a lot of rain to make our fields unplayable.

Behavior

It is the responsibility of all players, coaches, and parents to act in a responsible way while at any of the soccer games and practices.  Each of the registrants have signed that they have read the S.A.G.E. program and will comply by the rules therein.  Any negative comments directed at players, referees , coaches or parents will not be tolerated at anytime.   The use of foul language by players, coaches or parents will not be tolerated at anytime. If anyone is unruly on the sidelines, they will be asked to leave the park immediately and the disciplinary committee will meet to see review the incident and consider penalties.

Practice

We ask that practices be limited to once a week since we have limited fields and space available.  Practice is on a first come first serve basis and we ask that you work together with other coaches.  You may use Sondek Park, Summerfield, the outfield of Field 1 at Woodlot and open space at grammar schools and local parks.

First Aid

First aid should be left to the professionals and those that have been certified in this training. A coach should only attend to minor scrapes and bruises.  For all other injuries, please contact the First Aid Department (732-329-4646).  If you feel that the injury is serious enough, please contact the parents to make the final decision and an ambulance will be called.  Parents are not allowed on the field unless they have been called onto the field by the coach or referee.  If you feel it is necessary, please ask the referee for permission to call on the parents and then do so.  This rule is for the safety of the players.  Please also instruct your players that if they are hurt, they are to go down on one knee or sit down on the field so that the game can be stopped.  If the referee doesn’t see a hurt player, they will not stop the game.

Referees

It is important for all coaches to understand that some of the referees that will be utilized are resident teenagers.  Some have gone through extensive training and are certified Referees, while others will have gone through some instructional types of training.  All have played soccer at some point in their lives.  Remember that it is the decision of the referee during the play that counts as to whether a foul will be called or not.  You may see something that the Referee doesn’t, but you are not the game official, they are and will make the appropriate call as they see it.  At no time is a coach to approach a referee.  If you find that there is a problem with the way a referee is handling a game, please contact your commissioner to voice your concerns.  If your commissioner is not around, please go to the snack shack after your game and ask for a Program representative.

Website

You can find almost everything you need at The South Brunswick Soccer Club website, www.sbsoccer.org.  All training and game schedules should be available by the end of August or beginning of September.  Makeup procedures are also posted on the club’s website.

 
Supplemental Information

Division 1 – 1st Grade Coed

Division-specific rules: 

  1. Each team will field 7 players including one goalie.
     
  2. Games will consist of four 10-minute quarters with a 2-minute break in between quarters and a 5-minute break in between halves.
     
  3. One coach is allowed on the field during play but please be aware that if you are on the field, you become part of the field.  If the ball is played off of you and goes into the goal, it is a goal.  Coaches are not allowed inside of the goalie box and if the referee sees you in there, you’ll be asked to move only once.  If a coach has been warned and goes in the goalie box again, he/she will be asked to go to the sideline.
     
  4. Penalty kicks are NOT allowed in this division.  If a penalty occurs inside the “18”, the ball will be place outside the box for a direct kick.
     
  5. There is NO OFF SIDES in this division.
     
  6. Players are given two chances to make a legal throw-in.  The ref will give guidance after the 1st attempt.  If after the second throw-in, the ball has not been put into play correctly, possession will go to the other team.
     
  7. The Ball size for this division is size 3.

Division 2 – 2nd Grade Coed

Division-specific rules:

  1. Each team will field 8 players including one goalie.
     
  2. Games will consist of four 10-minute quarters with a 2-minute break in between quarters and a 5-minute break in between halves.
     
  3. One coach is allowed on the field during play but please be aware that if you are on the field, you become part of the field.  If the ball is played off of you and goes into the goal, it is a goal.  Coaches are not allowed inside of the goalie box and if the referee sees you in there, you’ll be asked to move only once.  If a coach is been warned and goes in the goalie box again, he/she will be asked to go to the sideline.
     
  4. Penalty kicks are NOT allowed in this division.  If a penalty occurs inside the “18”, the ball will be place outside the box for a direct kick.
     
  5. There is NO OFF SIDES in this division.
     
  6. Players are given two chances to make a legal throw-in.  The ref will give guidance after the 1st attempt.  If after the second throw-in, the ball has not been put into play correctly, possession will go to the other team.
     
  7. The Ball size for this division is size 3.


Division 3 – 3rd Grade Coed

Division-specific rules:

  1. Each team will field 8 players including one goalie.
     
  2. Games will consist of four 12-minute quarters with a 2-minute break in between quarters and a 5-minute break in between halves.
     
  3. No coaches are allowed on the field.
     
  4. Penalty kicks are allowed in this division. 
     
  5. There is NO OFF SIDES in this division.
     
  6. Players are given only one chance to make a legal throw-in before turning possession over to the other team.


Division 4 – 4th Grade Coed

Division-specific rules:

  1. Each team will field 9 players including one goalie.
     
  2. Games will consist of four 12-minute quarters with a 2-minute break in between quarters and a 5-minute break in between halves.
     
  3. OFF SIDES is called in this division.


Division 5 – 5th & 6th Grade Coed

Division-specific rules:

  1. Each team will field 11 players including one goalie.
     
  2. Games will consist of four 15-minute quarters with a 2-minute break in between quarters and a 5-minute break in between halves.
     
  3. The Ball size for this division is size 4.


Division 6 – 7th – 12th Grade Coed

Division-specific rules:

  1. Each team will field 11 players including one goalie.
     
  2. Games will consist of two 35 minute halves with a 5-minute break in between halves.


Division 7 – 2nd & 3rd Grade Girls Only

Division-specific rules:

  1. Each team will field 7 players including one goalie.
     
  2. Games will consist of four 10-minute quarters with a 2-minute break in between quarters and a 5-minute break in between halves.
     
  3. No coaches are allowed on the field.
     
  4. Penalty kicks are allowed in this division. 
     
  5. There is NO OFF SIDES in this division.
     
  6. Players are given two chances to make a legal throw-in.  The ref will give guidance after the 1st attempt.  If after the second throw-in, the ball has not been put into play correctly, possession will go to the other team.


Division 8 – 4th & 5th Grade Girls Only

Division-specific rules:

  1. Each team will field 10 players including one goalie.
     
  2. Games will consist of four 12-minute quarters with a 2-minute break in between quarters and a 5-minute break in between halves.
     
  3. Players are given only one chance to make a legal throw-in before turning possession over to the other team.
     
  4. OFF SIDES is called in this division.

 
Division 9 – 6th thru 12th Grade Girls Only

Division-specific rules:

  1. Each team will field 11 players including one goalie.
     
  2. Games will consist of four 15-minute quarters with a 2-minute break in between quarters and a 5-minute break in between halves.