SABR Adult Soccer Rules

Player & Game Rules

All SABR League & Pickup Games require every player, including guests, to have FSSA Insurance, purchased between 8/1/22 - 7/31/23, here: http://sabr-membership.sportsaffinity.com/

All SABR League & Pickup Players must agree and adhere to the SABR Guidelines of Play during Covid-19

Our Covid Guidelines were developed in order to eliminate or limit all unnecessary contact during a recreational game of soccer.

Do not come to a SABR game or event is you have a "positive" PCR test result for Covid-19, or if you are or have had Covid symptoms.  You must obtain two "negative" PCR test results prior to returning to SABR activities.

If you test positive for Covid-19 within 5 days of playing in a SABR League or Pickup game, immediately notify your Pickup/League Manager directly. Your identity will remain confidential. The attendees of the game will be notified of a potential contact with Covid-19, and the players will "sit out" of all SABR activities for 2 weeks as a precautionary measure.

All SABR League & Pickup Players must wear shin guards

All SABR Members are able to report misconduct or complaints per the instructions below

See "Cards and Inappropriate Behavior" section below

All FIFA rules will apply with the following exceptions:

  • No slide tackles
  • Unlimited substitution on goal kicks and throw-ins
  • Flat wedding bands may be worn – no other jewelry allowed
  • When a field player receives a yellow card, they must leave the field and can be replaced by a substitute (does not apply to goalkeeper). That player can re-enter the game at the next goal kick or throw-in

SABR's Adult Program is recreational and open to players of all skill levels. Our club is a non-profit organization and balances fun and fair play with the challenges to improve individually and as a team. When you sign up to play in SABR, you are joining thousands of neighbors who come out to the fields to play and enjoy soccer – to make new friends and share good times with old ones.  In that regard, SABR continues to be a club that welcomes all walks of life interested in enjoying the game of soccer with their community.

Participation and Team Sizes

Participation in SABR Adult Soccer – including our league games – is limited to those players that are registered through Playerweb and insured through Affinity. Under no circumstances will unregistered, uninsured players be allowed to play, even if there are not enough registered players to have a game.

As long as there are at least 7 registered players on each team, the assigned referees are expected to officiate the League game. Pickup games do not have referees.

SABR is a Non-Profit Organization.  In order for a SABR Adult League or Pickup to be active, the group must "break even" with their annual budget (Sept 1 - Aug 31), and follow the SABR Adult Soccer Rules as outlined on this page.

Game Length, Subs, & Composition

  • Men's League: Two 40 minute halves
  • Women's League: Two 40 minute halves (11v11); Two 25 minute halves (7v7)
  • Pickup Games: Per Permit Window
  • All players must rotate as subs for equal time during games.
  • All players are expected to be ready to play at game start time.  If players arrive late (ie: are not ready to play at game start time), they will not be put into the game for at least 15 minutes. If the game size (7v7, 9v9, 11v11, etc) or team balance must change due to a large influx of late arrivals, the game will not be altered until half-time.

Cards and Inappropriate Behavior

  • Excessive foul language and unsportsmanlike conduct are not tolerated and typically result in suspensions and eventually a ban from the league
  • Players receiving 5 or more yellow cards over the course of the season are suspended for the next game.
  • Players receiving red cards (either straight red or two yellow cards) are suspended for the next game and may be subject to additional suspension depending on the nature of the offense.  The durations or the suspension are determined by the SABR Board and can not be adjusted by the League Coordinator or Captains.
    • Each Red Card ruling will be based on a Discipline Chart.  The Discipline Chart is available upon request.
  • Players, Captains, and Managers cannot contact the City or Parks with complaints about field conditions or field assignments.  Send all field/park complaints to your Pickup/League Manager and cc the SABR Adult Director.  If anyone in the SABR Adult Program directly contacts the City or Parks related to SABR Fields or Permits, they will be suspended from play for 1 month.
  • SABR has a Zero Tolerance Policy for bullying, discrimination, or conduct unbecoming. Players who are found to behave in manners inconsistent with our community standards will not be permitted to continue playing in our organization. SABR does not permit solicitation of its members for non-SABR events or leagues. All players must agree to uphold these community standards in order to register for and remain within our programs.
  • Players who are physically aggressive or verbally abusive will not be permitted to play with SABR.

Pickup & League Manager Responsibilities

There are 4 Leagues and 8 Pickup groups within the SABR Adult Program.  Each League and Pickup Group has one main manager, responsible for the following items, at a minimum:
  • Coordinating with the Adult Director and meeting budget, supply request, and permit request deadlines and restrictions
  • Disseminating information to their Group
  • Upholding and following the SABR and FSSA Rules
  • Ensuring that the League or Pickup Group will obtain enough funds to cover their costs
  • Maintaining a welcoming and fair atmosphere within their group's games, per the SABR Adult Soccer Rules
  • Reporting misconduct and/or conflicts to the Adult Director immediately
  • Ensuring all players have FSSA Insurance
  • Attending the Quarterly Manager Meetings held by the Adult Director
  • Assist SABR with its Mission and Support SABR's Growth and Development.
  • Specific to Covid 19 Guidelines:
    • Advising all Players & Spectators to wear masks to/from car/field and on the sidelines
    • Advising all Players & Spectators to social distance (6') while on sidelines and to/from car
    • Suspend or eject any player or spectator that violates these rules from the field for 2 games, & report incident to the Adult Director

League Team Manager Responsibilities

There are 4 Leagues within the SABR Adult Program.  Each League has one main League Manager, and Each Team within the League has one Team Manager.  Each League Team Manager is responsible for the following items, at a minimum:
  • Maintain a welcoming, positive, and fair atmosphere within their Team during games and practices, per the SABR Adult Soccer Rules. If complaints arise, forward them to the League Manager so they can be immediately addressed. Keep team focused on having fun and enjoying themselves.
  • Manage the Team to ensure good attendance at each week's game. Alert the League Manager if any game will need help meeting minimum numbers for play.
  • Assist the Team by suggesting player positions before and during the game, to promote a cohesive Team layout on the field.
  • Ensure each member of the Team rotates out with Subs during the Game.
  • Coordinate with the League Manager for supply requests, team issues, player issues, and overall League maintenance.
  • Disseminate information to their Team from SABR and League Management.
  • Assist SABR with its Mission and Support SABR's Growth and Development.
  • Assist the League Manager in reiterating the SABR and FSSA Rules at the start of each Game
  • Ensure that they and their Team follow the SABR and FSSA Rules, and report any rule violations to the League Manager asap.
  • Report misconduct and/or conflicts to the League Manager immediately.
  • Bench any player who plays in an aggressive or abusive manner (physically or verbally) for 15 minutes. Aggressive and abusive behavior cannot be tolerated at SABR games. Report repeat offenders to League Manager.
  • Ensure all players have a Playerweb Player Card Registration for the League, and FSSA Insurance, prior to start of Game
  • Specific to Covid 19 Guidelines:
    • Advise all Players & Spectators to wear masks to/from car/field and on the sidelines
    • Advise all Players & Spectators to social distance (6') while on sidelines and to/from car
    • Suspend or eject any player or spectator that violates these rules from the field for 2 games, & report incident to the League Manager
    • Take photo of your team (with social distancing) each Game for Contact Tracing purposes

League Team Captain Responsibilities

There are 4 Leagues within the SABR Adult Program.  Each League has one main Manager, Each Team has one Team Manager.  Each Team can then vote per season or per game on one Captain per Team.  If/When someone accepts a position as a Team Captain, a Captain is responsible for the following items, at a minimum:
  • Maintain a welcoming, positive, and fair atmosphere within their Team during games and practices, per the SABR Adult Soccer Rules. If complaints arise, forward them to the Team Manager so they can be immediately addressed. Keep team focused on having fun and enjoying themselves.
  • Assist the Team by suggesting player positions before and during the game, to promote a cohesive Team layout on the field.
  • Ensure each member of the Team rotates out with Subs equally during the Game.
  • Coordinate with the Team Manager for supply requests, team issues, player issues, and overall League maintenance.
  • Disseminate information to their Team from SABR and League Management.
  • Assist SABR with its Mission and Support SABR's Growth and Development.
  • Assist the Team Manager in reiterating the SABR and FSSA Rules at the start of each Game
  • Ensure that they and their Team follow the SABR and FSSA Rules, and report any rule violations to the Team Manager asap.
  • Report misconduct and/or conflicts to the Team Manager immediately.
  • Bench any player who plays in an aggressive or abusive manner (physically or verbally) for 15 minutes. Aggressive and abusive behavior cannot be tolerated at SABR games. Report repeat offenders to League Manager.
  • Specific to Covid 19 Guidelines:
    • Assist Team Manager in upholding Covid 19 Guidelines

Reporting Misconduct or Filing a Complaint

  • In the event that you feel any of these Adult Soccer Rules have been broken, or if you have a complaint, please email adultleague@sabrsoccer.net with your report, citing the rule which was broken and any other details necessary to review the event.  We will address each report fairly and without bias.  Such fair and unbias reviews may take time, please be patient following submittal of a report of misconduct.