Rules & Regulations

  • 8 game guarantees with 20-minute halves per game

    • 1 minute half time intervals

    • No stoppage time

  • Games are played 5v5 including the goalkeeper

  • The game ends when one team has 11 more goals than the other or when time expires

  • In Co-ed, goals scored by females will count as two goals. 

  • We will use the “Golden” goal to determine winner in overtime. 

  • A forfeit results in a 3:0 loss unless the game has started and the score differential is 3 or more in favor of the non-forfeiting team

  • Rosters cannot be changed after the 2nd game unless they replace an injured player who cannot play (with a doctor’s note)

  • Seasonal standings are determined by (1) points, (2) goal differential, (3) goals for, (4) goals against, (5) head-to-head competition, (6) least red cards, (7) least yellow cards, (8) coin toss

  • Play-off participation in competitive divisions: Top 2 teams play in a final to determine a winner

  • Standings are held in most divisions, first place in these results in medals.

  • The clock starts at the scheduled time

  • A team forfeits if they are not ready to play within 10 minutes

  • The seasons are year-round and ongoing

  • A limited number of teams will be registered in any given season. First teams to turn in roster, registration, & fees will be considered for a division

  • A minimum of 3 or a maximum of 5 players per team must be on the field to start or continue any game.

    • Players serving penalty time for 6 fouls or a yellow card count towards the minimum

  • Substitutions are done “on the fly” 

  • The referee’s permission is not necessary

  • Your team must be in possession of the ball.

  • Players coming off must be within 10 feet (3 meters) of the line and cannot interfere with play before the substitute can enter the field

  • The substitution rule is players must sub in/sub out on your team’s side.

  • Substitution on the opponent’s side will result in an indirect free kick

    The Players

  • Metal cleats are not permitted

    • Indoor or turf shoes, or molded plastic/rubber cleats are acceptable

    • Shin guards are required

  • All players must be 35 or older to be eligible to play in the 35 and older division

  • Up to three players from a higher division are permitted for each team in the open divisions

    • i.e. 3 " level 2” players can join the same “level 3” team. No “level 1” players can play a “level 3” team.

  • Players may only play for one team in the same division

  • Players may transfer to another team in the same division until the beginning of the 2nd game only if the coach of the team they are leaving agrees

  • A valid issued ID must be available for any player if requested by the referee

  • Only the opposing team can protest illegal players to the referee or league administrator no later than 10 minutes after the game ends

  • League fees per team: $450.00 (Men and Coed) $325 for Women

    • No partial payments will be accepted. No exceptions

  • Teams that pay by due dates will be the only teams added to schedules. Games begin the following week

  • Rosters are due at the time of registration to help ensure proper placement of teams

    • We reserve the right to place teams in the appropriate divisions based on win/loss records or the roster from previous seasons

  • A maximum of up to 10 players per team roster. Players Must SIGN and PLAY by the end of the 2nd game!

  • Numbers are not required on the back of jersey tops

    • Must have matching colors and an extra color in case of having to switch.

  • Each player is required to sign a roster before taking the field for the first game they play in a season

  • Player "sharing" in any division is not permitted. You may play on one team per league division

    (Mis)conduct

  • Fouls or abusive language from players or fans will not be tolerated

  • No slide tackles

    • This means that a player shall not slide if an opponent is close enough to be endangered through this action.

    • The goalie may slide if the cleats are not up. A player is considered to be sliding if s(he) moves horizontally and touches the ground with any part of the body other than the feet

  • No offside

  • Opponents shall respect a distance of at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the ball on any restart

  • Restarts must be kicked into play within 5 seconds, or the opposing team receives an indirect free kick

  • Any PK or indirect free kick inside the penalty area will be taken from the middle of the top of the penalty area

  • All balls leaving the field of play are kicked in and are indirect with two exceptions:

    • Corner kicks are direct, and goal kicks must be thrown in by the goalkeeper.

  • Balls that touch any part of the building structure are out of bounds and are kicked in from the sideline

  • A violation results in an indirect kick for the opposing team from the center line at either side of the field

  • A player who commits a 6th team foul must sit out for 2 minutes or until the opposing team scores

  • Fouls that result in a yellow or red card don’t count for the team’s foul tally

  •  A player who is shown a yellow card must sit out for 2 minutes or until the opposing team scores

  • Any field player can serve a 2-minute penalty for the goalkeeper

  • In co-ed, the player must be the same gender as the goalkeeper

  • A player who is shown a red card- MUST LEAVE THE BUILDING to allow for cool down period. 

  • The team may replace the player after the full 5 minutes penalty has elapsed

  • If a coach or substitute is shown a yellow or red card, a player must be removed from the field to serve the penalty

  • 3 yellow cards in the same season result in an automatic one game suspension

  • A red card results in a minimum of 1 game suspension in the same division

  • A red card issued for violent conduct results in a 5-game suspension

  • 3 accumulated RED cards in a 12-month period will result in the player’s suspension from league play for 1 year at Momentum NWA

  • A fight in which multiple blows are exchanged or perpetrated results in a 1-year suspension

  • If additional time is added by the disciplinary committee or the facility/league administration for any other reason, the suspension will apply to all Momentum NWA Soccer leagues and divisions

  • 2 red cards in the same season result in a minimum 5 game suspension

  • 3 red cards in the same season result in a minimum 8 game suspension and 6 months’ probation pending a 1 year suspension

  • 2 multiple game suspensions within 12 months result in a 1 year suspension.

  • A second violation which results in a 1-year suspension will result in a permanent suspension form Momentum NWA Soccer

  • A player who is suspended for a third 1-year violation will be suspended indefinitely and will no longer be welcome to participate in Momentum NWA Soccer leagues

  • Children at Momentum NWA must be supervised at all times. If a guardian is playing soccer, bring along another adult to supervise

    • Children are not permitted to be on the sidelines during games for safety reasons

    • Children are not permitted to be on the field before or after games

  • We have the right to refuse service to anyone