Your Squad

1. Mercury Student Soccer allows an unlimited squad. You can have however many people in your squad as long as you only turn up with a squad of 10 for every fixture.
2. Your players must not play for any other teams in the league. Players caught playing for more than one team will be banned from the league.
3. You need to register all your players with us, you can add players to your squad at any time during the league, just contact your respective league rep.

Penalties

1. The penalty taker is allowed no more than two steps before striking the ball.
2. The keeper must remain on his line and not move until the ball is struck.
3. It is the responsibility of teams to clarify to the referee who is taking the penalty kick. Teams will be penalised and the penalty disallowed if the referee feels the goalkeeper was placed at a disadvantage by the opposing teams not making it clear who was taking the penalty kick.

Backpasses

1. When an outfield player receives the ball from the goalkeeper, the ball must be touched by another player before being passed back to the goalkeeper.
2. 1 2’s with the goalkeeper are strictly forbidden.

Substitutes

1. Teams can make as many substitutes as they wish during the game as long as they are not made outside of their 10 man squad. For example 5-a-side teams will have 5 substitutes and 6-a-side teams will have 4 subsitutes available.
2. More than one substitution is allowed at any one time, however if there are more than the allowed players on the pitch at any one time the team shall be penalised with a penalty kick.
3. Substitutes can only enter play at the referee’s discretion.
4. Substitutes can be used as often and whenever the team wishes.

The Head-Height Rule

1. Mercury don't operate a head height ruling at our games, as this allows the game to flow better. The ball can go any height.

Free Kicks

1. On all free kicks, players should be two yards from the ball.
2. If a player refuses to retreat two yards from the free kick or, as the free kick is being taken, extends any part of his body towards the ball which means that he is no longer two yards from the free kick then he shall be penalised by the free kick moving forward 2 yards. The ball should be stationary before the free kick is taken.

The Two Yard Rule

1. If a player fails to retreat two yards or, the ball hits a player from the free kick who has not retreated two yards, or who has extended his leg towards the ball meaning that he is no longer two yards from the ball, then the referee shall move play forward two yards and allow the kick to be taken again.
2. Players that show dissent towards the referee or his decision at a free kick, will result in the kick being moved forward two yards.
3. The referee may move the kick forward at two yard intervals, however many times he wishes.
4. If, by moving the ball forward two yards, the free kick then becomes within the area of the defending side, a penalty can be awarded at the referees discretion.

The Sin Bin

1. There is a disciplinary procedure in place for all leagues and it is the responsibility of all team captains to adhere to this. However, if a player is shown the yellow card then he is sin-binned for two minutes and must wait behind his own goal until the referee instructs him to come back onto the field of play.
2. If the player refuses to leave the pitch immediately then a red card and dismissal will occur.
3. The referee shall be the sole timekeeper in cases of sin-bin.

Dismissal

1. If a player is dismissed then he should leave the pitch immediately. Failure to do so will result in the referee automatically awarding the match to his opponents.

Penalties for Infringement of the Rules

An Indirect Free Kick shall be awarded when

1. A player attempts to play or plays the ball or is on the pitch with his shirt off.
2. Intentional handball occurs (and the player gains an advantage by so doing).

Referees Discretion

1. The referee may award a penalty if a team plays with more than its allotted number of players on the pitch at any one time. The referee should award the penalty as soon as the offence is spotted.

When the ball leaves the pitch...

1. Play shall be restarted with a kick in, played off the floor as a dead ball.

If at anytime throughout the season you have any queries feel free to email us or call Nick on 07920 401007 or Matt 07811 103753, we are able to take your call at any time.

Good luck for the season!

the Mercury Student Team.