Rules

Team Registration: Teams must register for the season they wish to play. The team registration form lists fees, location/time preferences, and seasonal items. A completed form with the listed team fee is required for consideration.

Player Registration: All players must be 18 years of age or older. All players must complete/submit a RATS Waiver Release form before playing. This is MANDATORY for all players, paying or not. Complete the RATS Waiver Release form: https://seattlerats.org/player-registration

Field Maintenance: Leave fields as found; do not leave waste. If a field is in poor condition before play, document (photos if possible) and report to the league so we can notify the park department.

Rescheduling Games: Requests must be mutually agreed by both teams and submitted 15 days prior to the original game.

Forfeits: Notify the league and the opposing manager of a possible forfeit at least 3 days in advance and make every effort to field at least 7 players. Please respect opponents who paid for 10 × 90-minute games.

- A team must have a minimum of 7 players within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time. The game may be shortened to accommodate the delayed start.

- Teams may extend the deadline by another 5 minutes if agreed by the referee and the designated captains of both teams.

- If the other team fails to field a legal team within the time frame, the game is a forfeit; the forfeiting team takes a 0–3 loss.

- After a forfeit is declared, the team(s) may scrimmage. The referee is not required to referee the scrimmage.

Make Up Games:

- Early/Mid-season cancellations (unforeseen/weather field closure or parks cancellation): game will likely be rescheduled. The league will work with teams on day/date/time. If it cannot be rescheduled, teams will be refunded that game.

- Late-season cancellations (unforeseen/weather/parks): teams will be refunded that game.

Referee No Show: See Game Day Info tab above.

Coed and Koed Divisions Gender Distribution:

- Coed Gender Distribution: A minimum of 5 females must be on the field or the team plays short. A maximum of 5 males can be on the field at one time.See 8v8 Additional Rules and Modifications, as applicable.

- Koed Gender Distribution: A minimum of 4 females must be on the field or the team plays short. A maximum of 6 males can be on the field at one time.

- Goalkeepers may be of any gender and do not count toward the minimum gender requirements for field players.

- Teams must have at least one of each gender to meet the 7-player minimum.

- If short on any gender and being "blown out," options are: (1) persevere, or (2) effectively forfeit and continue as a friendly with any available players.

Good sporting behavior will be observed in all games. Respect for players, coaches, officials, and spectators is essential for amateur competition, inclusion and fair play.

Official FIFA Laws of the Game apply. The league follows FIFA Laws of the Game and U.S. Soccer Referee Abuse Prevention Policy (RAP) in all situations with the following modifications:

Reminder - Shinguards are required. Players without shinguards will be sent off and may not return until wearing them.

RULES MODIFICATIONS - All divisions

Designated Captain: Each team must identify a designated captain to the referee prior to the start of the game. This designated captain may change during the game by informing the referee.

No Slide Tackling allowed (except in Men's D1): No slide tackling and no playing from the ground that creates contact or danger. Sliding to block a shot, keep a ball in play, score, or intercept is allowed if no player is put in danger (referee's judgment).

Exception: Goalkeepers may slide or go to ground inside the penalty area to perform standard goalkeeper saves if done safely. Goalkeepers may not slide in an unsafe straight leg manner, may not slide with cleats exposed and may not slide with feet pointed toward the opponent. Outside the penalty area, goalkeepers are treated like any other field player.

No bicycle kicks allowed (except in Men's D1).

Yellow Card: An official caution. The yellow carded player must leave the field of play. They may re-enter at the next substitution opportunity. The yellow-carded player or manager must provide that player's Photo ID before reentering the game. The team is not required to play short at the time. Exception: In Men's D1, a yellow carded player must provide Photo ID but is not required to leave the field of play. (See Misconduct and Player ID Policies for more information.)

Red Card: The red-carded player or manager must provide that player's Photo ID and that player leave the field complex. The player may not be replaced; the team must continue with one fewer player of the same gender that was dismissed.(See Misconduct and Player ID Policies for more information.)

Handling Offenses: Not all plays in which the ball hits the hand or arm constitute handling offenses. See FIFA laws.

Unlimited substitutions: Any player removed may re-enter an unlimited number of times at stoppages with referee permission.

Speed of play rules: Enforcement of the FIFA laws regarding 10-second substitution duration, 5-second throw in and goal kick warnings, 8-second goalkeeper possession and an injured player leaving the field for one minute are at the discretion of the referee and likely will not be enforced. In the spirit of the game, the referee will apply the laws to avoid unnecessary delays in the game.

Gender distribution for Coed and Koed: See General Information and Registration section under the Rules tab.

No unsafe accessories (jewelry, watches,recording devices, etc.) allowed. This is enforced and safe is determined at the referees discretion.

All rule modifications specified n the section "Rules of Play - All Divisions" apply to 8 v 8, and then there are the additional rule modifications listed below.

LAW 1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY

Cross-field on U11/12-size fields, with smaller goals. Penalty area remains 44 yards × 18 yards.

LAW 3 – THE PLAYERS

- Max 8 players; a team must have a minimum of 5 players to start.

- Coed Gender Distribution: A minimum of 2 females must be on the field or the team plays short. A maximum of 4 males can be on the field at one time.

- Goalkeepers may be of any gender and do not count toward the minimum gender requirements for field players.

- Goal Differential: If a team falls behind by 3 goals, one additional player may be added (male or female).

- Substitutions: Allowed during live play or at stoppage without referee permission. The sub area is 10 yards long beginning at halfway. A substitute only enters after the replaced player has entered the sub area and left the field.

LAW 7 – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH

-Two 40-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime (may be shortened based on start time).

LAW 11 – OFFSIDE

-No offside on the short, modified field.

LAW 12 – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

-No slide tackling, unsafe playing from the ground or bicycle kicks allowed. See Rules of Play - All Divisions for further clarification.

-Penalty Kicks: Awarded for offenses in the penalty area that would result in a DFK. All PKs are taken from the top of the penalty arc with all other players at the halfway line and the goalkeeper on the goal line. Play is live at the referee's whistle; the shooter may dribble, pass in any direction, or shoot and the goalkeeper may come off the line.

LAW 13 – FREE KICKS

-All free kicks are Indirect except corner kicks, kick-offs, and penalty kicks.

-Opponents must be at least 8 yards away (or retreating) for all free kicks.

LAW 16 – GOAL KICK / KEEPER THROW / PUNTING

-Goal kicks and keeper throws (after gathering the ball in the hands) may not pass midfield without touching the ground or a player first.

-Punting/Drop kicks are not allowed.

-The restart for either violation is a free kick at midfield for the opponent.

All rule modifications specified n the section "Rules of Play - All Divisions" apply to Over 30, and then there are the additional rule modifications listed below.

- Players must be 30 years of age or older on December 31 of the current year, except:

- Up to 2 players on each game-day roster may be exempt from being 30 or older. Note: This exemption is per game-day roster, not per the number of players on the field at a time.

If you believe an opponent is not within the rules, email info@seattlerats.org with details. Referees do not enforce this rule.

Teams found in violation will forfeit their game 0–3. Repeat violations: team may be moved out of the Over 30 Division and issued forfeits for all current games.

PLAYER IDENTIFICATION

RATS operates on the honor system. Every player in a RATS game must be be registered by submitting the RATS Waiver Release form (See Player Registration tab above) and be prepared to present name and Photo ID (e.g., driver's license) to the referee on request.

Yellow or Red Card: Photo ID must be presented by the offending player or manager prior to restart or prior to reentering the came for a yellow. If the player/manager refuses or fails to provide ID, the referee will abandon the match and report the events. Failure to provide ID may lead to further sanctions including but not limited to player suspensions, team suspension, season suspension, or expulsion.

MISCONDUCTS

Yellow Card: An official caution. The yellow carded player must leave the field of play. They may re-enter at the next substitution opportunity. The yellow-carded player or manager must provide that player's Photo ID before reentering the game. The team is not required to play short at the time. Exception Men's D1: Cautioned player must provide Photo ID but is not required to leave the field of play.

Red Card: An official ejection. The red-carded player or manager must provide that player's Photo ID as above and that player must leave the field complex. The player may not be replaced; the team must continue with one fewer player of the same gender that was dismissed.

PATTERNS OF MISCONDUCT (PLAYER & TEAM)

- Player cautions (yellow cards): A player's multiple cautions in a season may result in a suspension as determined by the RATS Disciplinary Committee.

- Player send-offs (red cards): Reviewed case-by-case by the RATS disciplinary committee. Automatic one-game suspension at minimum to be immediately enforced by the manager and team (honor code). Additional games, time period, season suspension, or expulsion possible.

-Patterns of repeat misconducts or failure to produce Name/ID may result in the team missing the next game(s) as forfeits or expulsion. Additional sanctions include but are not limited to player suspensions, team suspension, season suspension, or expulsion and team fines (payable before the next match) as determined by the RATS Disciplinary Committee.

Questions can be be sent to the RATS Disciplinary Committee at disco@seattlerats.org

Suspensions for cautions and send-offs may be appealed to the RATS Disciplinary Committee.

Appeals must state the reason for appeal and be submitted within 24 hours of the suspension. The committee will exercise due process and offer its ruling within 3 days.

Appeals must be in writing; electronic submissions accepted at disco@seattlerats.org.