Maryland Sports Arena is
not responsible for any injuries sustained by players, regardless of how the
injury occurs. The Maryland Sports Arena also assumes no responsibility for any
player’s medical treatment or payment of medical bills.
· Maryland Sports Arena follows Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) rules unless amended by Maryland Sports Arena.
· Youth games consist of two 22-minute running-time halves.
· No timeouts are allowed.
· Halftime is 30 seconds.
· Game time is forfeit time. Teams must be prepared to play as soon as they enter the field.
· There is minimal on-field warm-up time. Players should stretch or warm up off the field before the scheduled start time.
· The clock starts at the scheduled game time.
· Substitutions are unlimited.
· A maximum of 15 seconds is allowed for guaranteed substitutions when the ball goes out of bounds off the ceiling, side netting, or rear netting.
· Fouls are not guaranteed substitutions. Teams may substitute “on the fly” during foul situations.
· The ball must be played within five seconds on fouls and other restart situations.
· Two whistles indicate out-of-bounds situations; one whistle indicates a foul.
· No guaranteed substitutions are allowed during the last five minutes of each half.
· Teams must have at least five players to begin a game.
· The ball may be played backward on kickoff.
· Goalkeepers may not handle balls intentionally played to them by a teammate, except for headers or balls played above the knee.
· No punting or drop-kicking is allowed by the goalkeeper except in U8, U9, and U10 leagues.
· For youth leagues U11 through U14, once the goalkeeper has possession, the ball may only be distributed by throwing.
· For U15 and older leagues, the goalkeeper may also roll the ball to their feet. Once the ball is placed on the ground, it is no longer in the goalkeeper’s possession and may be challenged by an opposing player.
· The three-line rule is not enforced.
· Opposing players must remain 10 feet from the ball in dead-ball situations.
· Outstretched legs into the 10-foot area are considered encroachment and may result in a two-minute penalty.
· Coaches may not hold post-game meetings on the field. Please leave the field immediately when the game ends and use another location inside the building.
· Gum chewing or chewing similar products will result in a two-minute penalty.
· Spitting on the field is a red card and ejection.
· U12 and younger teams play with seven players and use a size 4 ball.
· U13 and older teams play with six players and use a size 5 ball.
· Slide tackling is not allowed in any Coed, Men’s Over 30, or U14 and younger leagues.
· Maryland Sports Arena attempts to group teams by appropriate skill level, but mismatches may occur.
· To promote sportsmanship and fair play, the MSA “kill rule” applies to youth teams. If a team is losing by six goals, that team may add up to three players on the field to make the game more competitive.
· Once the losing team adds players under the kill rule, the winning team is awarded the victory and the score is recorded as 6–0.
· Teams may have a maximum of three coaches on the players’ bench.
· Players who are not dressed to play are not allowed on the bench unless approved by staff.
· All high school teams must have an adult coach, such as a parent or someone of similar parental age, on the bench during all games.
· Dissent toward officials will not be tolerated from players, coaches, or spectators. Continued dissent may result in expulsion.
· Taunting is a two-minute penalty.
· Teams are responsible for the behavior of their fans.
· Any player ejected before, during, or after a game is automatically suspended from league play for a minimum of two additional games.
· All red cards are reviewed and may result in a longer suspension, league expulsion, or facility ban.
· A red card is a five-minute unreleasable penalty. The player or coach receiving the red card must leave the facility.
· Teams, players, and coaches who threaten officials will be banned from the facility.
· Simultaneous penalties are unreleasable.
· A referee’s decision cannot be protested.
· Teams wishing to protest an ineligible player must notify the referee before the end of the game.
· The referee will identify the protested player by asking the opposing coach for the player’s name and birthdate.
· A $100 protest bond per player must be paid to Maryland Sports Arena within 24 hours of the game.
· The protest bond will be returned if the player is found ineligible.
· Only teams participating in the game may protest player eligibility.
· If Maryland Sports Arena discovers that a team used an ineligible player from the official, the Arena reserves the right to forfeit the game.
· Sportsmanship is an important part of player development. Coaches should lead players in a positive manner and avoid disparaging remarks toward other players or coaches.
· If a game becomes physical, or if a player is out of control, the coach is responsible for correcting that player.
· Major infractions in the penalty box result in penalty kicks.
· Penalty kicks are taken from the first dot outside the penalty box. All other players must remain behind the second dot outside the penalty area until the kick is taken.
· The ball is live once the penalty kick is taken.
· Shootouts have been eliminated from league play.
· Under the “Hot Head” rule, anyone with an issue or complaint about a game must wait 24 hours before contacting Maryland Sports Arena. Do not call.
· Maryland Sports Arena contracts with the Baltimore Independent Group to officiate more than 2,000 games per year. Written complaints are forwarded to the president of that group for review.
· If a complaint involves an opponent, the opponent will receive a copy of the email. Keep all emails professional and civil.
· The president of the officials will respond as soon as possible.
· Each manager will receive a separate password-protected link for their players. Managers should forward the link to parents so they can complete the required information and sign electronically. This is your roster.
· All team registrations are completed online, and online form submission is mandatory.
· Teams wishing to add players must email Maryland Sports Arena before their sixth game.
· Teams may carry a maximum of 18 players.
· Players may not play on more than one team in the same league.
· If a team forfeits a game, a $150 forfeit fee is due before the team’s next game.
· Failure to pay the forfeit fee will result in expulsion from the league without refund.
· No cleats are allowed on the playing surface.
· Players may wear flat-soled soccer shoes, tennis-style shoes, or turf shoes.
· Shin guards are mandatory for all youth players.
· Non-plaster casts may be allowed if bubble-wrapped and, in the referee’s opinion, not dangerous to other players.
· Earrings and other jewelry may be taped or covered in a manner that helps prevent injury to other players.
· If there is a tie for league champion, tiebreakers are applied in this order: head-to-head competition, head-to-head goal differential, and then co-champions.
· Teams should not run up the score against weaker teams. In youth leagues, the maximum recorded score is 6–0.
· Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a tie.
· For playoff advancement, the same format applies, with least goals allowed used as the third tiebreaker.
· If teams remain tied, advancement will be determined by a shootout before the playoff game or by a coin flip, as determined by management.
· Penalty-shot tiebreakers are best of three. If tied after three rounds, penalty kicks continue until one team misses after both teams have had equal opportunities.
· The home team is responsible for changing uniforms in the event of a conflict.
· For inclement weather updates, coaches should check the Maryland Sports Arena website, where game cancellations will be posted.
· Coaches may also call 410.538.7300, check schedules at http://marylandsportsarena.com, or visit the Maryland Sports Arena Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/marylandsportsarena.
· Coaches, parents, and players are strongly encouraged to follow the Facebook page for league updates and facility information.
· Maryland Sports Arena does not follow Harford County school cancellations.
· Parents are not allowed on the field at any time except in the case of a serious injury to their child.
· No fast food or other types commercially prepared food may be brought into the facility.
· Food purchased from the food stand located in the parking lot may be brought into the facility.
· No food or drink is allowed on the playing field. Sports drinks or water may be consumed only on the players’ benches.
· Plastic bottles only are permitted inside the facility.
· No gum, chewing tobacco, sunflower seeds, pets, alcohol, artificial noisemakers, smoking, vaping, or foul or abusive language are permitted.
· No ball playing is allowed off the field. All balls must be held or bagged, and balls may not be bounced off the field.
· Children must be supervised by their parents.
· Please do not stand in front of the bleachers, and remain seated while on the bleachers.
· For safety, do not stand on the top level of the bleachers or climb on building structures.
· Do not bang on the glass dasher boards.
· Anyone fighting on the Arena’s premises may be banned from the facility.
· Please place your name and phone number on all balls used at the facility.
· The lost ball closet and lost-and-found bin are located next to the concession stand.
· If arriving late, report to the concession stand attendant. Late arrivals may enter the field at the next dead-ball situation through the players’ entrance adjacent to the concession stand.
· Do not enter through outside emergency exits or the employee/referee-only entrance.
Have fun and enjoy the facility, but
enter and play at your own risk.