Rules

1. Team Registration: Teams must register to play in RATS for the season in which they wish to participate. Information on team registration fees, location and time preferences, and other seasonal events will be listed on the form. For consideration for registration a completed form must be submitted with the listed team fee.
2. Player Registration: All players must sign and submit a RATS Waiver Release before they will be allowed to play. This is a MANDATORY requirement regardless if a player is a paying team member or not.
3. Field Maintenence: All teams are responsible for leaving the fields in the condition in which they found them. Do not leave any waste at the fields. If a field is in poor condition prior to play, please document (with pictures if possible) and report it to the league so that we can report it to the appropriate park department.
4. Rescheduling Games: Requests for game reschedules must be mutually agreed upon by both teams and submitted 15 days prior to the originally scheduled game.
5. Forfeits: There is currently no fee for forfeiting a game. However, please have respect for your opponents who have also paid to play 10 90-minute games a season. Inform the league and the opposing team manager of a possible forfeit at least 3 days before the game and make every effort to field a team with a minimum of 7 players.
   1. A team must have a minimum of 7 players within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time. Teams may extend the deadline to another 5 minutes if agreed upon by the referee and the legal team. If the other team fails to field a legal team within the time frame the game will be declared a forfeit.
   2. In the event of a forfeit, the forfeiting team will be given a loss.
   3. After a forfeit is declared the team(s) may scrimmage.
6. Make Up Games: Make up games may be rescheduled or refunded depending on circumstance.
   1. If a game is cancelled early or mid season due to an unforseen or weather field closure or a parks departement cancellation the game can likely be rescheduled. The league will work with the displaced teams to determine the day, date, and time of the rescheduled game. If the game cannot be rescheduled the teams will be refunded their game.
   2. If a game is cancelled late in the season due to an unforseen or weather field closure or a parks departement cancellation the teams will be refunded their game.
7. Ref No Show: In the event the referee is not on the field at game time, contact the league referee coordinator at 206-498-8044 and  begin to play the game as scheduled. If a substitue ref cannot be found continue to play, self officiate, and report the game score. The two teams will be credited the referee’s pay for the game.
8. Coed Gender Distribution: No more than 5 of any one gender may play on the field. Goalies do not count as field players and may be of any gender. We offer a Koed division with gender distribution of 6 males and 4 females.
   1. Teams also need at least one of the other gender to meet the minimum requirement of 7 players to field a team.
   2. If your team doesn’t have enough of any one gender, plays short and is “blown out” by the other team, you have some options: 1) persevere, 2) effectively forfeit a game and continue playing a “friendly” with any players available.

Official FIFA rule shall apply in all situations with the exception of the following modifications:

• No slide tackles except within Men’s D1

Note:  Shinguards are required. Players without shinguards will be sent off the field and may not return until they are wearing them.

Goalkeeper Rule Clarification

• A goalkeeper is not permitted to keep control of the ball in their hands for more than six seconds. A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball:
  • while the ball is between their hands or between their hand and any surface (e.g. ground, own body)
  • while holding the ball in their outstretched open hand
  • while in the act of bouncing it on the ground or tossing it into the air
• When a goalkeeper has gained possession of the ball with their hands, they cannot be challenged by an opponent.
• A goalkeeper is not permitted to touch the ball with their hand inside their own penalty area in the following circumstances:
  • if they handle the ball again after it has been released from their possession and have not touched any other player
  • if they touch the ball with their hands after it has been deliberately kicked to them by a teammate
  • if they touch the ball with their hands after they have received it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate

Handball Rule Clarification

• Law 12 of FIFA’s laws of the game states that a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player (other than the goalkeeper within their own penatlty area) handles the ball deliberately.
• Translation: Not all hand to ball contact is a ‘handball’

Substitution Rule Clarification

• Players may be substituted on any stopage of play.
• The referee must be informed before any substitution is made, substitutes shall only enter the field after the referee has signaled the substitute to come onto the field.
• The number of substitutes shall be unlimited. Any player removed from the match may re-enter the match an unlimited number of times, at a stoppage of the match as specified.

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