Hood River Co Ed Soccer Association follows FIFA rules
(Laws of the Game) with the exceptions noted below:

1. All players are required to wear shin guards and matching team jerseys. Goalkeepers are required to wear a jersey which differentiates him/her from both teams. Field players can purchase a jersey from the league for $10.00. Soccer cleats are strongly recommended, but not required.

2. A team may not start the match with more than 8 men on the pitch. If a team is playing short because it does not have enough women and goes down by 2 goals, the team can add a male player until the goal differential is below 2, at which point the team must remove the additional male player so they have no more than 8 men again. Any number of women is acceptable up to a total of 11 players.

3. No team can play with fewer than 7 players. A team forfeits if there are fewer than 7 players available to play at the time the game is scheduled to start.

4. Women must take all free kicks in their offensive half of the field. This means that women must take all penalty kicks, and indirect and direct free kicks in their offensive half. (Men may take kick offs, corner kicks and anything in their defensive half of the field). The opponent shall be awarded an indirect kick in the event that a male takes a kick in error.

5. Slide tackling is NOT permitted. Violation of this rule will be considered dangerous play, and will result in an indirect free kick. The first offense by a team will result in a verbal warning to the team. A second offense by any member of that team will result in a caution (yellow card) for unsporting behavior, to the offending player. A third slide tackle, and all subsequent slide tackles, will result in the sending off (red carding) of the player for serious foul play. Please note: this does not mean that a referee cannot penalize the first or second slide tackle of the game with a harsher penalty. It merely means that he or she MUST give cards beginning with the second slide tackle of the game. Also note: This rule does not exempt goal keepers. A Slide Tackle is defined as an attempt to take the ball from an opponent in which the back knee makes contact with the ground.

6. Unlimited substitutions by either team are permitted during dead balls other than free kicks and corner kicks, at the referee's discretion. (This means any throw-in, goal kick, drop ball, penalty kick, injury or carding).

7. Games will consist of two 45-minute halves and a 5-minute half- time. The times may be shortened if circumstances warrant (darkness, etc.).

8. At the Referee's discretion, any player that exhibits unsportsmanlike conduct, including rough or dangerous play, or foul or negative comments directed at the referee, players on the opposing team, or players on their own team, will be issued a warning, a yellow card, or a red card depending on the severity of the infraction. The infraction will result in an indirect free kick or a drop ball, if the offense is directed at one's own team. The referee's decisions are final. Abuse or harassment of officials and players is entirely inappropriate and runs counter to the spirit of the league. Players who persistently engage in such conduct may be asked to leave the league, without a refund. The League Administrator reserves the right to refuse any person the opportunity for participation in the league, without recourse, who shows a lack of consideration for their opponents, officials, or the spirit of the game.

9. If a yellow card is given, the player must immediately substitute out of the game, at least until the next dead ball, and re-entry is at the referee's discretion. Two red cards in a season warrants suspension from the league. The discipline committee (managers) will make that determination.

10. The referees will call the games based on these rules. It is within the referee's discretion to issue cautions in the form of yellow cards and ejections in the form of red cards for a violation of these or any of the FIFA rules. If you receive two yellows or a red in any single game, you will be suspended for one game.