THE COMPETITION - STRUCTURE

Regular Season

All teams will play each other in a round robin format. Teams may not play each team an equal amount of times. However the schedule will be presented before the start of the season.

There will be a playoff bracket and a consolation bracket for all teams.

Points system

Wins will earn teams 3 points, losses 0 points. 

Accumulation of yellow cards will lead to a deduction of points. In a regular full season 10 yellow cards will lead to a deduction of 1 point. Every 5 yellow cards after that will further lead to a 1 point deduction.

All red cards will have an automatic 1 point deduction.

Additionally, the in-season tournament will award teams additional points as will be explained at a further time.

In the event of a tie on points, the team rankings will be carried out as follows:

1. Greater difference in goals between those scored and received.
2. Greater amount of points between the teams involved.
3. Greater goal differential between the teams involved.
4. In the event that there is still a tie, it will be resolved by drawing lots.

Play-off

Format

Depending on the amount of teams in the league, the playoffs will be structured. All playoff games will follow the same format as the regular season.

Game Rules

Duration

The games will last thirty-eight (38) minutes, which will be divided into two (2) parts of Eighteen (18) minutes. It is expressly stated that time will not be stopped at any time, except to end the half, 2nd half, and Target Score Ending Time(explained below)

The clock may be stopped in the event of an injury if medical assistance arrives. If the player denies medical assistance, to avoid loss of time, the referee will require immediate return to the game or treatment off the field of play.

Between halves, there will be a two (2) minute rest period.

Time Wasting

The Competition advocates fair play and the celebration of matches in the most fluid manner possible. The referee will immediately award a yellow card which will lead to the offending player being sent off and the player’s team resuming play less one player as per the yellow card rules. Additionally the referee will add twice as much time wasted back to the clock,

Any player that interferes with the continuation of play (after a goal is scored for example) shall receive an immediate yellow card and the appropriate yellow card rules shall apply.

Target Score Ending Time

Once the full-time whistle blows, a target score is set, calculated from the leading team’s score plus one. Then teams play up to a 10 additional minute period. Teams will start 6 vs 6 and every 2 minutes 1 player will be removed until the target score is reached by either team.

In the unlikely event of a tie, there will be one single shootout penalty The team that scored the last goal will have the choice to attack or defend. If no goals were scored in the match it shall be decided by coin flip.

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General rules

1. Kick-off: The team designated as the Visiting Team shall have the kick-off. The home team decides on which half to defend.
2. Throw-in: All throw-ins in matches will be taken by hand, in accordance with traditional football regulations.
3. Corner kick: All corner kicks in matches will be taken by foot, in accordance with traditional football regulations.
4. Pass back to Goalkeeper: A field player may not deliberately give the ball to the goalkeeper with his foot and for him to touch or catch it with his arms or hand(s) (unless these are clearances of the ball and, therefore, there would be no intention to deliberately pass the ball to the goalkeeper). In this sense, you can transfer it with any other part of the body.

In the event of a violation of the provisions established above, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the rival team, from the place where the goalkeeper would have touched or caught the ball.

In any case, the transfer will be governed in accordance with traditional football regulations.

5. Offside:The playing field will be marked by a horizontal line on the front of each team's area. In case of this line not being marked on the field, then the goalkeeper’s box shall be the area where offsides may occur.
6. Substitutions:Each team will be able to make unlimited changes, without time stopping.

These substitutions must always be made from the midfield and only on play stoppages and when authorized by the referee. 

Re-entries to the field of play, whether due to yellow card or Secret Weapon sanctions, must be authorized by the referee.

7. Penalty shooting: These will consist of a standard shot, from the penalty spot. Players who do not take the penalty must stand outside the penalty area and the semicircle where the penalty is taken. In the event that an attacker crosses the aforementioned limits before time, and the penalty ends in a goal, the penalty must be retaken. If it was a defending player who entered the area first and the penalty did not result in a goal, the penalty must be retaken.

Likewise, if the goalkeeper did not have at least part of a foot on or behind the goal line when the penalty shot was taken, and it did not result in a goal, the penalty must be retaken. In the event of a repeat offense, the goalkeeper will be cautioned with a yellow card and must be substituted.

In the event that the attacker and defender commit some type of infraction, the penalty must be repeated in all cases.

8. Bookings

   1. Yellow card: In the event that a player is sanctioned with a yellow card, said player must leave the field of play for two (2) minutes, and may later re-enter the field. In the event that a player is sanctioned with a yellow card, and there is not enough time remaining in the half for the player to serve said sanction, the sanction time will continue to count in the second half or Target Score Ending.

In the event that a player is sanctioned with a yellow card while on the bench, said player will serve the sanction without being able to be used during the sanction time. Additionally the player’s team will have to designate a player to come off the field to resume play 1 player down.

If a player received two yellow cards in the same match, the player will be sent off at the moment of receiving the second yellow card and will not be able to play again, and the sanction applied to his team will be that corresponding to a red card, that is, a five-minute sanction with one less player. Furthermore, said double yellow card, and subsequent red card, will carry a one-match suspension.

If a player accumulates five yellow cards, said player will be sanctioned with a one-match suspension due to the accumulation of cards. It is expressly stated that the second yellow card (for subsequent expulsion) will not count for the purposes of accumulation. It is expressly stated that a double yellow card with the subsequent red card cancels the second yellow card for the purposes of the accumulation of cards, that is, only the first card will count for the accumulation. In the case of a yellow card and a direct red card.

If a player received enough yellow cards in the last regular matchday, that player will serve a suspension for the first of the playoff games. If no yellow card was received on the last matchday, which would lead to accumulation, the yellow card history will be cleared before the play-offs begin.

Finally, the player who is sanctioned with a yellow card must always be by the midfield line and may not leave it at any time until the end of the corresponding sanction time.

If the sanctioned player does not respect these limits or re-enters the field of play before completing the sanction period or without the referee's authorization, he will be sanctioned with a second yellow card, which will result in a red card.

2. Red card: In the event that a player is sanctioned with a direct red card or double yellow card, said player must leave the field of play and the facilities and will not be able to re-enter the match. In the event that a player is sanctioned with a red card, and there is not enough time remaining in the first half for him to serve said sanction, the sanction time will continue to count from the start of the second half.

After this period, the team may replace the expelled player with another player from the squad. The time of five (5) minutes will be counted by the Competition, and will be in running time, except in cases in which there is any injury. 

If during the penalty time, a team violates the numerical inferiority derived from the red card, incorporating more players than allowed, the referee will stop the match and will instruct the Team to remove the extra players, and will sanction said Team with one less player for two (2) minutes.

9. Secret Weapons: Before the start of each match, the coach (or representative, as the case may be) of each Team must pick at random a poker chip from a bag that will contain one of the following Secret Weapons. There will be ten (10) Poker Chips will consist of three (3) Double Goal Chip, Three (3) Man Advantage Chip, Two (2) Shoot-out Penalty Chip, (1) Penalty Chip, one (1) Steal Chip.

1. Double Goal: For two (2) minutes the goals scored by the Team will be worth double.

If a penalty is called while the double goal card is activated, the penalty will be worth double, even if it is taken with the time on the card expired.

Likewise, if during the application of the Double Goal card the attacker hits the ball in the direction of the opposing goal at minute 1:59 of the weapon’s duration, the goal will still count double.

2. Player Penalized:The team that uses this weapon may penalize any player on the rival team for two (2) minutes. This player will have to spend those 2 minutes by the midfield line on the sidelines and that player’s team will play less 1 eligible player on the field. In no case can the chosen player be the rival goalkeeper. This is the same as a yellow card without the player actually receiving a yellow card

If a penalty is called while the double goal card is activated, the penalty will be worth double, even if it is taken with the time on the card expired.

Likewise, if during the application of the Double Goal card the attacker hits the ball in the direction of the opposing goal at minute 1:59 of the weapon’s duration, the goal will still count double. 

 In the event that a Penalty is to be taken by the course of action or a secret weapon, and the player to take the penalty kick has been the player to be penalized, then the order in which the weapons or actions happening will take precedence. That is to say, if Player A was penalized and then Player A’s team gets to take a penalty kick through the natural course of action or a secret weapon, then Player A would not be available to take said penalty kick.

Conversely, if the penalty kick was scheduled to be taken and Player A then was penalized by secret weapon, Player A will still be eligible to take the penalty kick before being penalized and spending 2 minutes out of the game and the player’s team losing one player for those 2 minutes.

3. Penalty-Kick: The team that takes this card will have a standard penalty shot.

At the moment of the shot, the goalkeeper must be with at least part of a foot on the goal line or behind it, applying the same criteria as those indicated above in case of not respecting said circumstance All players, except the penalty taker, must be behind the middle of the field during the shot. Once the shot is resolved, no matter the outcome, the defending player shall have possession through a goal-kick or if scored upon a kick-off from the usual midfield spot.

Other cases:

• In the event that a penalty is called in favor of the team that has activated the penalty card, immediately after said activation, the team will consecutively take two penalties, first taking the one from the Secret Weapon, and secondly, the corresponding one. as indicated by regulation.
• In the event that a penalty is called against the player in the play after the activation of the card, the team that activated the card will first take the penalty, and then the team that was designated by regulation will take the penalty.

4. Shoot-out Penalty: The circumstances of this secret weapon will be the same as for the normal penalty.

The attacking player, starting from midfield at the referee's direction, will have 3 seconds to score. The player will only have 1 attempt at a shot and any rebound shots will not be allowed.The defending team will have possession of the ball at the end of the action in the same manner as after a penalty- kick weapon.

If the player who is going to take the penalty goes ahead before the 3-second countdown, the action will be invalidated, that is, the shoot-out penalty will be annulled. The goalkeeper must initiate the penalty while being at least part of thefoot above the goal line or behind it. 

If the goalkeeper fouls the player, and within the period of the penalty shot, the referee will signal a standard penalty shot, which will be taken immediately afterwards. In addition, a yellow card will be shown, and he must leave his position and be replaced by another goalkeeper during the corresponding penalty time.

5. Steal:The Team that obtains this Weapon will be able to steal the opposing team's weapon, making it their own.

This card can only be used once it is activated by the other team and before it is used by said team.

Activation and operation of Secret Weapons

Secret weapons may only be activated if the team in question has possession of the ball after play-stoppage (Throw-in, goal-kick, kick-off after being scored upon, foul in their favor, etc.). If the half or game is over and the secret weapon was not used, then the secret weapon shall be forfeited.

l) Likewise, it is agreed that all those circumstances or situations of the game that have not been expressly provided for in these Regulations will be interpreted, according to their best judgment, by the match referee.

Rescheduling of matches due to force majeure

In the event that an unforeseen event or external causes occur that prevent the match from being played on the official date, the match will be rescheduled to another day and must be played with the same starting lineup communicated (if possible) and squad on the date of the match. .

Uniform protocol

Team players must wear the official uniforms of their team, and must be numbered..

Players must always play with shin guards. It is prohibited to play with any type of jewelry, earrings, chains or similar

Code of Conduct

Players, team members, coaches and team fans must always maintain courtesy and respect with their opponents, the public and Competition staff. In particular, violent behavior or language that violates the dignity of people will not be permitted.

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following considerations will be taken into account, by way of example and not limitation:

1. Observe the internal rules and agreements adopted by the team and/or the Competition at all times.
2. Respect the laws, regulations and social norms that may be applicable and, in particular, everything related to their duty to maintain a correct attitude on the field (and off it) towards the referee, the public, other athletes, coaches, technicians, labor personnel, leaders and security forces among others.
3. It will be prohibited for the Team to let itself lose or play poorly on purpose.

Team Expulsion

If a team is expelled from the Competition, all its matches will be considered lost and the points will be added to the other teams.

Referees

• The decisions made by the referee will be made according to his best judgment in accordance with the rules of the game, the Regulations and the spirit of the game. The referee will have the discretion to make the decisions he deems appropriate within the framework of the rules of the game.
• The referee's decisions on facts related to the game, including the result of the match, are final.
• The arbitration panel may enter ex officio In cases of aggression.
• The referee may take disciplinary measures against players, coaches, or any member of the team staff or fans who commit infractions worthy of a warning or expulsion.

In the event of showing yellow cards to any player who was on the bench, the sanction will also apply to the player and must remain on the bench for the duration of the sanction. In addition the player’s team will have to play “one player down” for 2 minutes.

Likewise, in the event of showing a red card to the coach, players, or any other member of the Team staff who is on the bench, said sanctioned person must leave the bench area and leave the facilities.

• The referee will stop, temporarily suspend or definitively suspend the match for any violation of the rules of the game or external interference, when:

O An object thrown by a spectator hits a member of the referee team, a player or even a member of the team's coaching staff; The referee may allow the match to continue, or stop it, temporarily suspend it or permanently suspend it, depending on the severity of the incident.

• The referee may suspend the match due to force majeure (incidents in the public, invasions, terrorism, etc.).

Disciplinary Code

The Competition and the corresponding Disciplinary Committee will be the competent bodies to apply the sanctions that are necessary for unsportsmanlike behavior or that goes against the spirit of the Competition.

The Competition will sanction and/or reprimand players and/or coaches and staff of the Teams who do not ensure the proper functioning and development of the game.

It will also be the responsibility of the Disciplinary Committee to review, upon request from the affected club, serious attacks that have not been sanctioned.

For the purposes of these Regulations, the Competition will sanction, among others:

• The fact of entering, leaving or re-entering the field of play without referee authorization.
• Performing acts of inconsideration towards the referee, sports authorities, technicians, other players, spectators, etc.
• Adopt passive or negligent attitudes in compliance with the referee's orders, decisions or instructions.
• Deliberate waste of time.
• Commit any technical fault.
• Simulation of a foul.
• Using rough or dangerous play
• Any other actions or omissions that the Competition or the Disciplinary Committee considers from time to time threaten the good name and spirit of the sport and the Competition.

Given the actions indicated above, the referee will adopt according to his best judgment and interpretation what the corresponding disciplinary sanction should be (that is, yellow card or red card).

• In the case of a red card, disciplinary sanction consisting of suspension matches for the sanctioned player, and even the possibility of expulsion from the Competition temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of the sanctioned action at the discretion of the Disciplinary Committee itself. Minimum 2 game suspension for a red card shall be observed, including playoff games.
  
  The Competition and the Disciplinary Committee reserve, at their sole discretion, the right to adopt other disciplinary measures, such as the temporary and/or definitive expulsion of the players, depending on the seriousness of the action that could occur.
  
  The Competition and the Disciplinary Committee may, among other measures, sanction the team if any member of the team has made inconsiderations, insults or bad acts against the referee, public, another player, spectators, members of the competition, etc. The sanction will begin to count at the start of the next match. For clarification purposes, the Competition and the Disciplinary Committee may sanction: