Livingston FC Adult Rec Soccer League
Winter Indoor at the Football Academy 2025-26
Code of Conduct and Rules of Play

FIFA rules will apply in all cases not covered by these local rules

INDEMNITY

• PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK!
• All players agree to all of these rules and FA waivers when they register and submit payment
• You may get hurt and soccer is a contact sport
• Do not play if you suffer from any condition that may lead to injury, feel you will not get injured, are already injured, recovering from an injury, surgery, heart condition, etc.
• All league participants are required to agree to and (digitally) sign a waiver that indemnifies all individuals involved in the league including, players, organizers, managers, The Football Academy, Florham Park Dome, and any others involved from any liability including gross negligence
• Players cannot enter the field without agreeing to the rules and (digitally) signing the waivers
• Players are required to carry their own health insurance and the league is not responsible for any costs relating to injuries
• If a serious injury occurs, players and spectators are encouraged to assist that player in receiving immediate care or to call for help if needed. The game will be paused to make sure said player is attended to and will not continue until the referee says so
• A player or spectator WILL be removed from the field of play if they appear visibly injured, bleeding, dizzy, disoriented, or in any condition that is not in fully capable and in mental and physical health to play soccer

CODE OF CONDUCT

• Livingston FC Indoor Soccer at the FA is a RECREATIONAL LEAGUE
• This league's intention is to have fun, grow the game of soccer, and make new friends
• The league expects all players, managers, and spectators to conduct themselves according to the highest principles of sportsmanship and fair play
• LFC is not an entity, and is organized by volunteers. We are just helpers, this is a Football Academy league and we must abide by their code of conduct and rules
• Should the league learn that the Code of Conduct has been violated by a player or team, then the league reserves the right to discipline the team, manager or player without any financial reimbursement with suspension
• All players, managers, and spectators will adhere to all rules and regulations and will refrain from inappropriate behavior that would detract from a positive image of any person, the FA league, the town of Florham Park, participant, etc. or be detrimental to its objectives of community and growing the sport of soccer
• All league participants are to:
  • Maintain a high level of sportsmanship, professionalism, and integrity both on and off the field
  • Maintain respect for the game as well as the referees and the opposing team. Do not harass, abuse, or berate anyone during or after the game
  • Use positive reinforcement when dealing with players, never use foul or abusive language, and never abuse a player physically, verbally, or mentally
  • Make sure the fields are left clean when you leave and report any damage caused by play, before, during, or after games
  • Display self-control in all situations and do not use foul or abusive language at any time before, during, or after a game
  • Be accepting of changing conditions throughout the season with respect to, but not limited to: game cancellations, time changes, field changes, rule changes, team adjustments, etc.
• Players must reply for attendance before each game in the TeamSnap app

REFEREE JUDGMENT/DISCRETION

• Referees are provided by the Football Academy and are actively involved in the game to clearly communicate all of the rules to the players
• Referees will discipline players who act up, play aggressively or show signs of insubordination to referees or any players with YELLOW or RED cards
• The referee has the authority to penalize players for ANY infraction
• This includes verbal insubordination, rough play, aggressive play, charging, sliding, grabbing, pushing, holding, kicking, or any non-permissible contact
• Players will be given warnings and may be carded on offenses

• Any player who receives a YELLOW CARD must take a mandatory 3-minute cool down off the field
  • Substitutions for the penalized player are allowed
• If a player is shown a RED CARD by the referee for committing a serious infraction, the player must exit the field and the team must play a man down for the rest of the game
  • The referee may tell the RED CARDED player to leave the facility

• The referee is responsible for:
  • Time management (including stoppages of play)
  • Enforcement of LFC and FA rules
  • Cautions to players including those at the field on the sidelines
  • Exercising judgment and communication
• INSUBORDINATION WILL LEAD TO ON FIELD DISCIPLINARY ACTION, AT REFEREE'S DISCRETION, INCLUDING A YELLOW CARD

PENALTIES AND "PLAYING ADVANTAGE"

• Players must understand that not all fouls will cause a stoppage in play
• If directly after a foul, the offended team gains possession (AKA "Advantage") of the ball, the referee will not stop play

NO SLIDE TACKLING

• There is NO SLIDE TACKLING allowed of any kind, stay on your feet!
• If the slide tackle is an aggressive foul, the player may be given a YELLOW or RED CARD
• Goalkeepers may slide when making a save in the box but should not contact players
• Goalkeepers outside the box are considered field players and will be penalized for sliding
• A player may slide to save possession of a ball when no opposing players are around

PLAYERS

• Only paid registered players, who signed all waivers, assigned to their specific teams, may join the field of play
• Teams consist of 7 active players per side on the field including the goalie
• There must be a minimum of 5 players from each team on the field of play including the goalkeeper at all times to avoid a forfeit where the game will be recorded as a 1-0 victory for the opposing team
• If neither team can supply 5 players, the match will be considered a 0-0 draw
• A friendly will be played if an official game is not possible
• There are NO field player substitutions allowed from bystanders

DURATION OF PLAY

• Referees are instructed to begin play on time
• Official time is kept by the referee
• 2 Halves @ 30 Minutes each, +3 min halftime = 63 Minutes
• The halftime break may be shortened or removed
• There is no added time to be played during the game (within reason at discretion of the referee)
• A game is considered official when one half or more has been completed
• In the case of a tie during a “playoff” or “finals” game, the game will commence a penalty kick shootout will occur following FIFA rules. There is only one step allowed for PKs and the goalie must have at least 1 foot on the line
• If a winner cannot be determined the league committee will make a decision

PLAYER ATTIRE

• Players should wear their own LFC DARK GREEN or WHITE jerseys if they purchased them in 2025
  • New players can wear their own DARK GREEN or WHITE jerseys
• Please do not wear other colors as a field player (no black, blue, red or gray)
• Team jersey colors are indicated for each game on the schedule in TeamSnap
• Players are encouraged to bring both DARK GREEN and WHITE jerseys to all games
• Managers are suggested to bring extra DARK GREEN and WHITE jerseys
• Goalkeepers must wear a color that is NOT DARK GREEN or WHITE!

PLAYER EQUIPMENT

• Adult sized shin guards are REQUIRED and MUST be worn UNDER the socks
  • Players will NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY without shin guards
• Rubber turf cleats or turf sneakers are HIGHLY SUGGESTED
  • Molded plastic outdoor grass cleats are not recommended due to potential for injury
  • Metal, baseball or football cleats are PROHIBITED
• Metal/hard jewelry is FORBIDDEN to be worn by players during games with the exception of a medical alert bracelet
• Sport watches, FitBits, Whoop Bands, etc. MUST BE REMOVED
• Jewelry MUST be REMOVED prior to the start of the game
  • Earrings, necklaces, chains, rings, bracelets, rings, anklets, etc.
• Long hair MUST be tied back so it is not in player’s face any time during the game
• Knit skull caps and bandannas are allowed but must not contain any sharp or hard edges
• Hard casts of any kind are NOT ALLOWED

IN-GAME SUBSTITUTIONS

• Teams may make an UNLIMITED number of in-game player substitutions on the fly
• The referee may DECLINE a substitution if it deemed confusing, unsportsmanlike, or inappropriate
• If time is needed for a substitution (such as a goalkeeper change), it should be requested to the referee

FREE KICKS AND OUT OF BOUNDS

• All out of bounds "kick-ins" are INDIRECT free kicks (no throw-ins)
• The ball must be STATIONARY before it is kicked
• All free kicks are INDIRECT
• The kicking team may request 3 yards of space from any location, including sidelines

FIELD NUMBERS

Fields are numbered in a clockwise rotation from 1 to 4 when entering the FP Dome playing area. Field numbers are indicated on team schedules for all games

     2         3
     1         4

GOALIE RULES

• Goalies are allowed to take stationary goal kicks full length of the field
• When retrieving the ball with their hands in the goalie may throw the ball the full length of the field
• Goalies are NOT ALLOWED to punt or drop kick the ball past the center line after retrieving the ball with their hands. The ball must touch the ground before the halfway mark
• If the goalie has possession of the ball in their hands and drops the ball to their feet, it must be rolling flat on the ground for them to kick it past the center line (not bouncing, aka, drop kick)

THE DOME

• If at any point the ball hits the lights or the ceiling of the dome, a free kick is awarded to the other team directly below where it touched or on the nearest sideline

PENALTY KICKS

• Any penalty within the goalie box area will result in a DIRECT penalty kick
• Teams are allowed to swap goalies for the PK with any player on their roster
• One step is allowed by the kicker and the goalie must have at least 1 foot on the line

FIELD CLOSURES

• Field closures are at the discretion of The Football Academy and FP Sports Dome and must be followed
• If game cancellations happen, every attempt will be made to notify all players ASAP
• If the lights turn off or the FP Dome closes for an emergency during a game, and it is past halftime, the score is final
• Please leave fields cleaner than when you arrived!