3v3 Rules
GAMES:
Teams will be guaranteed 3 games. Additional games, Semi-finals and Finals may be added in age groups where necessary to determine a champion. Games will be 25 minutes in duration. All games will start on time and be timed by the scoreboard on the wall. The clock will not stop for any reason. If a game begins after the 25 minute clock has started, the game will run for the time remaining only.
FORMAT OF PLAY:
Teams play with 3 field players. There are no goal keepers in 3-V-3.
SUBSTITUTION:
Players may sub while ball is in play. The player being substituted should be off the field before the substitute enters the field of play.
COACHING:
The 3v3 tournament is intended to be a fun event for the players. A single adult is allowed on the sidelines, but not required. If an adult is present he/she should primarily be a facilitator of substitutions. A coach that is argumentative or disruptive to the game will be asked to leave the sidelines at the discretion of the referee or tournament official. That coach can only be replaced by another adult if the game is U8, U9 or U10.
FIELD DIMENSIONS:
Approximate: Length – 30 yards, Width – 25 yards.
FIELD BOUNDARIES:
There will be 4 fields set up, each being half of a full field. There is a net dividing the 3v3 fields that share a full field. Out of bounds will be the normal field line on 3 sides of the field. On the end with the net, the net itself will be considered out of bounds. If the ball goes behind the goal, it will also be considered out of bounds.
GOALS AND GOAL BOX:
The goals are approximately 4 feet high by 6 feet wide. There will be a mark 3 feet outside of each goal. Defensive players may not stand between that mark and the goal. If a defending player is standing in that area and touches the ball, a goal will be awarded to the other team. Attacking players may not touch the ball in that area either. If a goal is scored from a touch inside that area, the goal will not count and a goal kick will be awarded.
GOAL SCORING:
A goal may be scored only from a touch within a team’s offensive half of the field. The midline will be designated by 2 cones, one on each sideline. The referee will administer the game from one of those cones and will determine when a ball is played from behind that line.
UNIFORMS:
All players must wear same color shirts during play and each team must have a light and dark color shirt to resolve color conflicts. The team designated as “Home” will change in the event of a conflict.
DIRECT & INDIRECT KICKS:
All free kicks, with the exception of penalty kicks and corner kicks will be indirect. Defending players must stand at least 10 feet from the ball on dead ball restarts.
PENALTY KICKS:
Penalty kicks are awarded if, in the opinion of the referee, a scoring opportunity was nullified by a handball or a foul. A penalty kick is a direct kick taken from the middle of the half field line. For U8 – U10 age groups, players will shoot directly at the goal. For U11 and older, an upright cone is placed in the goal. If the ball hits the cone, a goal is awarded. The referee will determine if the ball hits the cone. The ball is dead after the kick.
KICK-INS:
All kick-ins are indirect and the ball is kicked into play from the sidelines instead of thrown in.
GOAL KICKS:
Goal kicks can be taken anywhere along the end line. Because space outside the boundaries of the field is limited, the ball may be placed inside the field of play, but within a yard of the endline.
MISC:
- NO OFFSIDES IN 3-V-3 SOCCER
- NO SLIDE TACKLING
- NO TIMEOUTS
- SHINGUARDS ARE MANDATORY
- ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE PROOF OF AGE AVAILABLE AT THE TOURNAMENT
- NO PROTESTS
POINTS:
Standings will be determined by points. Points will be awarded for a win (3 points) or a tie (1 point).
TIE BREAKERS:
In the event that teams are tied in points, the following tie breakers will determine the standings:
1. Head to head competition.
2. Goal differential (Max 5 per game)
3. Goals scored (Max 8 per game)
4. Goals allowed (total)
5. In the event that teams are still tied, a 3-person, 1v1 shootout will be administered only if the tie determines which team will advance to the Championship game. Otherwise those teams will be considered tied in the final standings.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES:
Championship games cannot end in a tie. If regulation ends in a tie, the game will continue immediately. If the ball was dead at the time of the buzzer it will restart from that spot (i.e. a kick-in or free kick). If the ball was in play, it will be restarted with a drop ball at that spot. Overtime will be 5-minutes, Golden Goal (sudden death). If neither team scores during the 5-minute period, a 3-person, 1v1 shootout will take place to determine the winner.
SHOOTOUTS:
· Each team selects 3 players.
· The home team will start with the ball first. Once all 3 shooters have gone for the home team. The visiting team will then have 3 chances to start with the ball.
· Each shooter enters the field and gets the ball on his/her half of the field, 5 paces from the midline.
· The defending team can then select a defender (from their 3 selected shooters) to defend against the shooter, but a player cannot defend against more than one player. The defender starts at the line in front of the goal. The defender may leave that area when the referee blows the whistle to start play.
· Players play 1v1 once the referee blows the whistle to start play.
· Both players on the field may score, but again goals can only be scored from that player’s attacking half.
· Play stops when a goal is scored or the ball goes out of bounds.
· Any foul against the player with the ball will result in a penalty kick. Made or missed, that kick will end the play.
· Total goals will determine the winner.
· In the event the game is still tied, sudden death penalty kicks will determine the winner.
