THE MARYLAND SPORTS ARENA IS NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES, REGARDLESS OF HOW SUSTAINED WHICH A PLAYER
RECEIVES. MARYLAND SPORTS ARENA ASSUMES NO
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MEDICAL TREATMENT OF ANY PLAYER OR FOR PAYMENT OF
MEDICAL BILLS.
Maryland Sports
Arena League Rules for 2023-24 season
Each
team's roster/liability waiver form must be fully completed and submitted
before the beginning of the first game of the season. Each
team will be emailed a separate password protected link for their team.
Type all information then print the form.
Have each parent sign where it is indicated on the form. All information is automatically saved on the
form when typed. Please submit your
signed liability/roster form to the concession stand prior to your first
game. Hand written
forms and forms from other leagues are not acceptable and will be returned.
Completion of online form and submission of roster/waiver form is mandatory. If
a parent is unable to sign the liability/roster form, please forward the separate
individual parent liability waiver form to that parent. Form is located here http://marylandsportsarena.com/waiver.pdf
and must be stapled to the completed roster/waiver form signed by other parents. Use the form only if the parent is not
available to sign the roster/liability form.
Please save your online roster
link for future additions. You may
add or drop players up to the beginning of the 6th game of your
season. Teams may carry a maximum of eighteen players. Players may not play on more than one team in
the same league. If you forfeit your
game, there is a $150 forfeit fee due before your next game. Failure to pay will result in expulsion
from league without refund.
Teams
U12 and younger play with 7 players and use a size 4 ball. Teams U13 and older play with 6 players and
use a size 5 ball. No slide tackling is
allowed in ALL Coed, Men’s Over 30 and U14 and younger leagues. A “kill rule” is in effect for youth
teams. If a team is losing by 6 goals,
to promote sportsmanship, fairness and fun, losing teams have the option of
adding up to 3 players on the field to make the game competitive. Once the losing team adds the additional
players, the winning team receives the victory.
The score will be recorded 6-0.
Teams may have a maximum of 3 coaches on the players’ bench. Players not dressed to play are not allowed
on the bench unless given approval by staff.
All High School teams must have an adult coach (i.e., a parent or
someone of similar parental age) on their bench during all games.
All rules are those of the Major Indoor
Soccer League (MISL) unless amended by the Maryland Sports Arena. Gum chewing or chewing of other similar type
of products will result in a 2-minute penalty.
SPITTING ON THE FIELD IS A RED CARD AND EJECTION. Games will be played in two halves, 22
minutes running time per half. No timeouts.
Halftime is 30 seconds. Game time is forfeit time. Be prepared to play when your team enters the
field. Substitutions are unlimited.
Maximum 15 seconds allowed for guaranteed substitutions (ceiling, side,
or rear netting out of bounds.) Fouls
are not guaranteed substitutions.
Teams may substitute "on the fly" for fouls. Ball must be played within five seconds in
foul situations. Two whistles for out of
bounds, one for fouls. No guaranteed
substitutions will be allowed during the last 5 minutes of each half. Youth teams must have 5 players to start
and finish the game, adults 4. Ball may
be played back on kickoff. Goalkeepers may not handle balls which are
intentionally played to them by a teammate except for head balls or other balls
played above the knee. No punting or
drop kicking is allowed by the goalkeeper EXCEPT for u8, u9 & u10
leagues. For youth leagues, ages u14 and
younger except for the leagues previously mentioned, once the goalkeeper has
possession, the ball may only be distributed by throwing (U11, U12, U13 &
U14). For ages u15 and up, the goalkeeper may also roll the ball to his/her
feet as an alternative to throwing, however, once the keeper places the ball on
the ground, it is no longer his/her possession and may be challenged by an
opposing player. The 3-line rule is not
enforced. The opposing player must be 10 feet from the ball in dead ball
situations. Outstretched legs into the
10 feet area are considered encroachment and may result in a two-minute
penalty. No coaches’ meetings on the field after the game. Please use other locations inside the
building and leave the field immediately when your game has finished.
Dissent towards officials will not be tolerated from
players, coaches, or spectators.
Continued dissent may result in expulsion. Taunting is a 2-minute penalty. Teams are responsible for the behavior of
their fans. Any player ejected before, during or after a game will be
automatically suspended from league play for a minimum of two additional games. In addition, all red cards are
reviewed with the possibility of a larger game suspension, league expulsion or
facility ban. A red card is a 5-minute
un-releasable penalty. Any teams,
players and coaches who threaten officials will be banned from the
facility. Simultaneous penalties are
un-releasable. A referee's decision
cannot be protested. Teams wishing to protest
ineligible players must notify the referee prior to the end of the game
regarding the player being protested. Referee will note the players being protested by asking the opposing
coach the name of the players.
A $100 protest bond per player must be paid to the Maryland Sports Arena
within 24 hours of the game. The $100 protest bond will be returned if the
player is found ineligible. Sportsmanship
is a very important part of your player’s learning process. We encourage you to coach your players in a
positive manner. Please do not shout
disparaging remarks at other players or coaches. Never tell your players to foul an
opponent. If your game becomes physical,
or you have a player out of control, it is your responsibility as a coach to
correct your player. For major infractions
in the penalty box, penalty kicks are awarded.
Penalty kicks are taken from the first “dot” outside the penalty
box. All other players must be behind
the 2nd dot outside the penalty area when the penalty kick is
taken. Ball is
live once the kick is taken. Shootouts
have been eliminated from league play.
A
player wearing a plaster cast will not be allowed to play. Other casts are
allowed if wrapped and are not dangerous to other players. Earrings may be taped. Players may use flat soled soccer, tennis
type shoes, or turf shoes on the field. No
cleats are allowed on the playing surface. Shin guards are mandatory for all youth
players. The home team is responsible
for uniform changes in case of conflict.
In
case of a tie for league champion, the following tie breaker will apply: first, head-to-head competition, second, goal
differential head-to-head, third, teams will be declared co-champions. Please note, do not run up the score on
weaker teams. The maximum recorded score will be 6-0 (youth leagues). 3
points for a win, one point for a tie.
For playoff round advancement, same format plus 3rd
tiebreaker – least number of goals allowed.
If still tied, shootout before playoff game or coin flip. Management will make the determination.
Shootout is always the best of 3. If tied at 3, shootout continues until
someone misses.
For
inclement weather, coaches please visit our website, game cancellations will be
posted. You may also call 410.538.7300,
visit your schedule @ http://marylandsportsarena.com
or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/marylandsportsarena. It is strongly suggested that coaches,
parents, and players follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/marylandsportsarena
for league updates and facility information.
We do not follow Harford County School Cancellations.
House Rules
No
commercially prepared food or drink may be brought into the facility. Food from “Eat Like a Greek” (located in our
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 on the
players’ benches only. Plastic bottles
only inside facility. No gum, chewing
tobacco or sunflower seeds. No ball playing off the field. All balls must be held or bagged. Please do not bounce balls off the field.
Children must be supervised by their parents. To be courteous to others, please
do not stand in front of the bleachers.
Please remain seated while on the bleachers. For your safety, please do not stand on the
bleacher’s top level. No climbing is
allowed on any building structures. Do
not bang on the glass dasher boards. No smoking. No foul or abusive language. 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. Lost ball closet is next to the concession
stand. Lost and found bin is next to the concession stand. If arriving late, please see the concession
stand attendant. You will be allowed on
the field at the next dead ball situation at the player’s entrance adjacent to
concession stand. Do not enter through
outside side emergency exits or employee/referee only entrance.
Have fun and
enjoy the facility but enter and play at your own
risk.