: FlFA rules apply, if not modified below.
The following rules have been designed to ensure fair play for all participants. Each player is expected to understand these rules prior to their participation in 3v3 play.
Six is the maximum number of players on a team: three field players and three substitutes. (A team must have a minimum of 2 field players). Players may only play on one team per division. There are no goalkeepers in 3v3.
All players must wear shirts during play and each team must have both a light and dark colored jersey/shirt. If both teams are wearing the same color, a coin flip will determine which team must change. No jewelry will be allowed, including earrings of any type, rope necklaces and bracelets. The only exception will be players wearing medical bracelets.
All players must wear shin guards. Any player without shin guards will not be allowed to play. Teams are responsible for providing game balls. U9-U12 = Size 4; U13 & up = Size 5.
The goal box is ten feet wide by six foot long located directly in front of the goal. The goals are four feet high by eight feet wide. There is no ball contact allowed within the goal box, however, all players may pass through the goal box as long as they do not touch the ball while in the box. If the ball comes to a rest on the goal box, a goal kick is awarded regardless of who touched the ball last. Any part of the ball or player's body on the line or inside the plane of the box is considered in the goal box and an extension of such. If a defensive player touches the ball after it has entered the plane, a goal will be awarded to the offensive team. If an offensive player touches the ball after it has entered the plane. a goal kick will be awarded to the defensive team. The plane of the goal box extends upward.
A goal may only be scored from a touch (offensive or defensive) within the team's offensive half on the field. The ball must be completely on the offensive half of the field and cannot be touching the mid-line (Example: kick-off). If a player in their defensive half kicks the ball across the midline and the ball hits another player (offensive or defensive) and the ball goes in the goal, a goal will be awarded. If a ball is kicked from the defensive half and is not touched before the ball rests in the goal, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.
The game shall consist of two 12-minute halves separated by a two minute halftime period OR the first team to reach 12 goals, whichever comes first. A coin toss will determine direction and possession before the start of the game. Games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie, except in the playoffs. There are no timeouts and the Game Clock does not stop in 3v3 games. The referee has the official time on the field and holds the right to take necessary action if he/she feels that a team is delaying the game.
Substitutions may be made during dead-ball situations, regardless of possession. Teams must gain the referees attention and players must enter and exit at mid-field. Substitutions may not be made on-the-fly!
Any player may be cautioned with a yellow card if it is deemed by the referee that the player is intentionally wasting time, e.g., if a player intentionally kicks the ball long distances away from the playing field in order to waste time.
If a player is sliding, no contact is allowed. If a player slides and contact is initiated, a free kick shall be awarded. This does not prevent players from sliding to stop or intercept a ball where contact is not initiated during the slide. Example: a player may slide to save a ball from going out-of-bounds.
Deliberate handling of the ball that denies a team of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity will result in the following: (1) A penalty kick (at the discretion of the referee) (2) A yellow or red card given to the player committing the hand ball (at the discretion of the referee).
Players that receive two yellow cards in one game will result in a red card. (Please see PLAYER EJECTION (RED CARD) Rule). Any player accumulating three yellow cards during a tournament will automatically be suspended for their next game (no exceptions).
Referee's have the right to eject a player or coach from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants sending off. The team may then continue with their remaining two, three or four players, however, if the player receiving the red card was on the field of play, the team must complete the entire game a player short. The player receiving the red card will automatically be suspended for their next game (no exceptions). Players or coaches that are red carded must leave the immediate playing area, including the spectator and team areas. If the player delays or refuses to leave, the game will be forfeited in favor of opposing team (regardless of the score at the time of the incident).
May be taken in any direction. You cannot score directly from a kick-off (ball must be 100% over the mid-line to be considered on the offensive half of the field).
The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead of thrown in. The ball is considered in play when the ball is touched and moves one full rotation.
In all dead-ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player's game is closer than five yards, the ball shall be played five yards from the goal box in line with the direction of play prior to the penalty.
All dead-ball kicks (kick-ins, kick-offs, free kicks) are indirect with the exception of corner or penalty kicks.
May be taken from any point of the end line.
Shall be awarded if, in the referee's opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by an infraction (the infraction does not automatically result in a red card). Penalty kicks are direct kicks taken from the center of the mid-line with all players (on both teams) behind the mid-line. Penalty kicks are dead ball infraction. If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick.
Games will be scored according to the following: 3 points for a win; 1 point for a tie; 0 points for a loss. A forfeited game is scored as a 6-0 win for the team that is present. Referees will have the official game card.
