INTERMEDIATE DIVISION RULES

All US Youth Soccer rules and regulations are in effect with the exception of the following 

• Player Eligibility: Intermediate is for 4th and 5th Grade children. 
  • lower grade players may be allowed if their skills are sufficient to avoid creating a safety concern for themselves or other players. 
  • Higher-grade players are not allowed under any circumstances. This rule will be enforced by the league commissioners through their team coaches and not by the game referee. 
• Player Safety Hazards: 
  • No jewelry of any kind is permitted. 
  • Recently pierced earrings must be taped. 
  • Hard casts are not permitted. Soft casts or bandages are allowed. 
  • Hard hair clips are also not allowed. 
• Player Equipment: 
  • Players must wear shin guards and team jerseys for all games. 
  • Cleats must be for soccer, that is no cleat in the center front. No metal cleats/spikes. 

IN GAME RULES

• Length of Game: 60 minutes total played as two 25-minute halves with a 5minute half time.
• Roster Substitutions: 
  • There are no roster substitutions, unless discussed with the division coordinator and/ or HBYS board prior
  • Intermediate division will play 11v11; if there are challenges with roster size and attendance this can be decreased with coach discussion. For any challenges with agreement on play size the division coordinate and/ or HBYS board member will assist with mediating.
  • If a team can’t field enough players, a minimum of 6 in the intermediate division that team will forfeit the game. 
  • At that point, both teams can agree to play a scrimmage with an equal amount of players on the field. 
• In-Game Substitutions: 
  • Scheduled substitutions will occur every 5 minutes, when an opportunity to substitute occurs in game play. (see below)
  • Unlimited substitutions are allowed (i.e. players can re enter the game after being substituted for). 
  • Substitutions can occur at these times: 
    • after a goal kick is called for either team
    • after a goal by either team
    • after a throw-in is called for your team
    • at an injury time-out if the other team replaces a player (but you can only sub as many players as they do). 
    • You cannot sub on corners, or free kicks. 
    • Once a team possessing the ball calls for substitutes, the opposing team may substitute players only after the referee gives approval. 
  • The expectation is for all players to receive equal or close to equal playing time regardless of skill level
• Goalie Jerseys: Goalies must have a different color shirt (pinnie, goalie vest, etc.)
• Throw ins: 
  • Intermediate players will be given a 2nd chance for the first two weeks of play. 
  • Following this introductory grace period, the same rules apply for Intermediates, no second chance on throw-ins. 
• Slide Tackling: No slide tackling of any kind is allowed for safety reasons. 
• Heading: No purposeful heading the ball of any kind is allowed for safety reasons.
• Any player noted to be violating the above rules purposefully will follow the same rules as red and yellow cards (see below).
• One sided games, sportsmanship, 5-goal rule: 
  • If a team is leading by 5 goals, that team must remove a player. 
  • The player removed should be its best player. 
  • For every goal above 5 than another player must be removed. That player should also be one of the best players on the field. 
  • If the team that is winning by 5 goals gives up a goal for the goal differential to become 4 goals, then that team may put back a player. 
  • Coaches are reminded and encouraged to “manage” the score. Move players around, encourage more passing prior to taking shots, using opposite foot for shots. 
  • The removal of players should be handled on a discreet basis. Please remember that this is a recreational game for the enjoyment of the players.
• Yellow and Red Cards: 
  • One yellow card will remove a player from the game for 5 minutes. 
  • A second yellow card, results in ejection from the game. 
  • One red card is an ejection. 
  • Card usage is at the discretion of the referee. 
• Linesman: Each team should supply one linesman. 
  • That person is an official of the game and cannot coach from the sidelines. 
• Coach Responsibilities: 
  • Coaches are responsible for the behavior of its team, parents and supporters. 
  • In the event that a parent is harassing a referee, the coach of that parent must counsel that parent immediately or have the parent face ejection from the field. 
  • All coaches within both leagues are required to sign codes of conduct and attend Rutgers SAFETY clinic. 
• Inter-League Play rules (when applicable)
  • Game Logistics & Field Player Jerseys: Visiting teams must contact the opposing home team by the Wednesday before the game to confirm the location, directions, game time and uniform colors. In the event that both teams use the same colors, the VISITING team is required to either wear an alternate color shirt or use pennies.