Hudson Valley Thanksgiving Classic Indoor Tournament Rules

Revised 8/1/2025

ALL GAMES WILL BE PLAYED ACCORDING TO MODIFIED FIFA LAWS WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS:

*All players must be familiar with the boundaries of the playing field, walk-off area, goals on and off the field, netting, bleachers, spectators, exit doors, and the dome perimeter. All players play at their own risk.

NO CLEATS ALLOWED IN THE FACILITY: players wearing cleats will receive an automatic RED CARD.

• GAMES WILL BE 25-MINUTES (running time – no halftime).

• NO SLIDE TACKLING: Slide tackling is defined as leaving your feet and going to the playing surface in order to play the ball with an opponent within playing distance of the ball. Penalty is a direct free kick at the spot of the infraction (If the infraction occurs within the penalty box, a penalty kick is awarded), and a Yellow Card will be issued. The goalkeeper may slide tackle within the penalty area only.
• NO SPITTING ON THE FIELD: Spitting is unsanitary, unsightly, and potentially dangerous. Please refrain from spitting into trash cans on the side of the field. Spitting on the field will be penalized with a YELLOW CARD.
• OUT OF PLAY: If the ball hits the roof and falls into the field of play, it is considered to be in play.

• YELLOW & RED CARDS:
• A player, coach, or spectator may receive a yellow or red card before, during, and after the game.

• A warning (Yellow Card) or an Ejection (Red Card) may be issued by an official to any player or coach, at any time, who conducts himself in an unsportsmanlike manner or is involved in unnecessary roughness.

• Cautions and send-offs will be monitored. Any player receiving a caution must leave the field of play for a minimum of 2 minutes. Teams must play a man down. No Substitutions are allowed.
• Two warnings/Two Yellow Cards = a Red Card. A Red Card will result in an immediate ejection from the game and a one-game suspension. Any player or coach receiving a Red Card for violent conduct, serious foul play, foul or abusive language, will be immediately ejected from the game and must immediately leave the property. Receiving a Red Card may result in further game/season suspension based on the violation. Hudson Valley Sportsdome management will make the final decision; the coach/captain will be contacted on the suspension duration. A Team cannot substitute a player for the suspended player; the team must play a man down. Failure to act as prescribed will result in your removal as coach. If your sideline empties out onto the field, the game may be ended. Bench-clearing may result in a player or team expulsion for the session. Teammates fighting with each other may be suspended. No refunds will be issued.

• Equipment:
• In case of color conflict, the home team must change to an alternate color.
• Goalie jersey must be a different color than both participating teams
• Shin guards, indoor soccer shoes, or sneakers are mandatory
• Goalkeepers may wear long pants.
• No jewelry, hard headbands, watches, or other objects deemed unsafe by the referee are permitted.
• Each team must wear numbered, issued jerseys/team shirts.

• ROSTERS: Each team roster will be frozen at the beginning of the first (1st) game.

• GAME TIME: All games will start at the appointed time, regardless of the teams’ readiness, and end at the appointed time. A team will be given a 5-minute grace period before a game is forfeited; however, the clock will start and run for the 5-minute grace period. In the event of a serious injury requiring substantial time for treatment, the game clock will be stopped.

• FORFEITS: In the case of a forfeit, the forfeiting team takes a 0-1 loss.

• PLAYER PER LEAGUE: A player may NOT be rostered on multiple teams in the same division.

• PLAYERS: A minimum of 4 players are needed to start the game. The team that has the correct amount of players may ask for an immediate forfeit, or they may give the opposing team five (5) minutes to reach the 4-player minimum. The clock will start and run for the five (5) minute grace period.

• FREE KICKS: Opponents are to remain 5 yards from the ball on all free kicks.

• SUBS: can be made on the “controlled fly” (during the run of play), provided they exit and enter within (7) yards of the halfway line. The exiting or entering player may not play the ball until the exiting player is off the field. Penalty is a direct free kick at the point where the player touched the ball. The only guaranteed sub opportunity (where the restart is delayed until the substitutions are completed) is after a goal is scored.

• OFFSIDE: No offside calls will be made.

• THROW-INS, GOAL KICKS, and CORNER KICKS will be played as usual.

• GOALKEEPER: The goalkeeper must throw or play the ball from the ground. The Goalkeeper must release the ball from possession within 6 seconds, while in the penalty box.

• Penalty Kicks: All penalty kicks will be taken from the top of the box.

• Standings: Standings and scores will be posted after each game. Standings are based on wins (3 points), losses, & ties (1 point). Tiebreaker: Goal differential, head-to-head, then a coin flip. A forfeit will be scored as 1-0.

• Goal Differential: A maximum of a 5-goal spread will be recorded per game; a goal spread greater than 5 will not be recorded.

COMMENTS OF THE RULES:
These rules are intended to create a balance of play; to create an atmosphere of sportsmanship and fair play; and to emphasize cleverness and skill without limiting freedom of individuals or team play. It is important to know the intent and purpose of a rule so that it may be intelligently applied in each play situation. A player or team should not be permitted an advantage that is not intended by a rule. Play will not be permitted to develop which may lead to placing a player at a disadvantage not intended by a rule.