Intramural Sports

11v11 SOCCER RULES Updated: January 6, 2026

OVERVIEW:

Three weeks of pool play on the day and time that a team signed up for, followed by two weeks of single elimination playoffs at varying days and times in the evenings. All games will be played Sunday through Wednesday on Student Rec Field. It is expected that all players will wear athletic shoes and activewear. It is recommended that you bring two different colored shirts, one light and one dark. Please arrive 15 minutes before scheduled game time to check in with the supervisor using UNH ID. You MUST bring your UNH ID.

PLAYER AND ROSTER REQUIREMENTS:

This is a 11 v 11 league (10 players and a goalie). You may start the game with only 7 players and a goalie if you do not have enough of your team in attendance. If a team is unable to meet gender requirements, they may play down, but there can be no more than 7 of the same gender on the field at a time.

Mixed Gender Ratio

If playing with a full 11-player roster, no more than 7 players of the same gender are able to play on the field at a time.
Goalies are part of the gender ratio.

You may add players to your roster on site and on Fusion Play all season until playoffs. They just need to bring their UNH student ID to be added at check in. If your team does not have enough players, you may temporarily borrow players from another team or bring temporary players for that night. This is ONLY during regular season. Rosters become locked at the start of playoffs.

Club and Division 1 Athlete Eligibility

Division 1 soccer athletes are not eligible to play intramural soccer. Division 1 athletes from other sports may play intramural soccer.
Club soccer athletes are eligible to play. However, there may be no more than 2 club players (men or women) on their intramural team roster. Street/dress clothes (i.e. jeans or dress shoes)
Bare feet, sandals, work-boots, or five-finger shoes
Metal cleats and screw-ins of any kind

EQUIPTMENT:

All teams are required to bring two different colored shirts to every game, one light and one dark. Proper athletic attire must be worn, including closed-toed running or sport-specific sneakers or cleats. Religious medallions and medical identifications may be worn with prior approval from the Intramural staff and must be secured/taped down.

Prohibited Apparel Updated: January 6, 2026

Dangling jewelry of any kind (dangling or hoop earrings, bulky bracelets, long necklaces, etc.)

Goalie gloves are available if needed on a first-come, first-served basis.

RULES:

GAME

Games consist of two twenty (20) minute halves with a 3-minute half-time. Teams are not allotted for any time-outs.
A single game of rock-paper-scissors shall occur before the game. The team winning the toss shall choose which end they defend.
The game shall be started by a player taking a place-kick (i.e. a kick at the ball while it is stationary on the ground in the center of the field of play) into his opponent’s half of the field of play.
Every player shall be in their own half of the field, and every player of the team opposing that of the kicker shall remain not less than 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked off.
The kicker shall not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.
A goal can be scored directly from a kickoff.
After a goal is scored, the kickoff shall be taken by a player of the opposite team that scored.
After half-time, the kickoff shall go to the team who did not have the first kickoff
When restarting the game after a temporary suspension of play from any cause not mentioned elsewhere, the team in possession of the ball at the time the suspension was called shall receive an indirect kick from the spot of last possession, provided that immediately prior to the suspension, the ball has not passed over the touch or goal lines. If neither team was in possession of the ball, the referee shall perform a drop ball at possession of the ball at the place the ball was located when play was suspended.
When any kick is used to begin play, opposing players must stand at least 10 yards from the ball. During a goal kick, the ball is not regarded as in play until it leaves the penalty area. The goalie may not touch the ball until it has been touched by another player, and the ball may not be touched until it leaves the penalty area.

GOAL SCORING

A goal is scored when the entire ball has passed over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the cross bar, provided it has not been thrown, carried or intentionally propelled by hand or arm, by a player of the attacking team, except in the case of a goalkeeper, who is within his own penalty area.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Games should be played with eleven (11) players. A minimum of 8 players (7 players and a goalie) is needed to start.
Substitutes must report to and be recognized by the referee before entering the game. Substitutions may be made between halves, on a goal, throw-in or any goal kick. If one team subs, the other team may as well.
There is no limit to the number of substitutions.
Any player may change places with the goalkeeper, provided the referee is informed before the change is made and that the change is made during a stoppage of the game.

MERCY RULE

If a team is leading by 5 or more goals with 5 or less minutes remaining in the second half, the game will end.

BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

The ball is out of play: When it has completely crossed the goal line or touchline (sideline), whether on the ground or in the air.
When the game has been stopped by the referee.
The ball is in play all other times from the start of the match to the finish including: If it rebounds from a goal post, crossbar or corner flag post into the field of play.
On the goal lines and touchlines (sidelines)
If the defending team has touched the ball last when it crosses the goal line (end line), then the attacking team is awarded a corner kick. The ball is placed in the corner of the field and kicked into play. If the attacking team touched the ball last when it crossed the goal-line, then the defending team is awarded a goal kick. The ball is placed on the 6-yard box (small box) and kicked by any defending player.
When the ball passes over the touchline, the team that did not touch it last will be awarded a throw-in. The ball is put into play by using both hands simultaneously and with equal force. The ball shall be delivered from behind and over his/her head, while keeping both feet in contact with the ground.

OFFSIDES

Offside calls will result in an indirect kick by the opposing team from the spot of the infraction.
- A player is ruled offside if they fulfill three requirements when the ball is played: Are on the opposing team’s side of the field
- Are in front of the ball
- Do not have a player from the other team(excluding the goalie) between them and the goal.
- A player that is involved in the play includes: Touching the ball
- Interfering with a defender
- Gaining a specific advantage on a rebound from a teammate, opponent, or opposing goalie
- Offside is judged from the moment the ball is played up the field, not when the offside player touches the ball.

FOULS:

DIRECT KICK PENALTIES

Sliding – automatic yellow
Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent.
Tripping an opponent.
Jumping at an opponent.
Charging an opponent
Striking, attempting to strike
Spitting at an opponent.
Holding an opponent.
Pushing an opponent.
Handling the ball.

**NOTE: If a player of the defending team commits one of the above (1-9) offenses within the penalty area, they shall be penalized by a penalty kick.

INDIRECT KICK PENALTIES

Dangerous play
When not playing the ball, intentionally obstructing an opponent, i.e. Obstruction.
Restrictions on the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper has 6 seconds to release the ball back into play. Cannot pick up the ball after putting it down.
On any occasion when a player deliberately kicks the ball to his/her own goalkeeper, the goalkeeper is not permitted to touch it with his/her hands.
As the kicker on a kick-off, free kick, corner kick playing the ball again before it has been touched or played by another player.
Intentionally obstructing the opposing goalkeeper in an attempt to prevent him/her from putting the ball into play
Any infringement by the attacking team during a penalty kick.
If, during a throw-in, the thrower plays the ball a second time before it has been touched by another player.

YELLOW CARD PENALTIES

Leaving or entering the field of play without first getting the signal from the referee.
Persistently infringing the rules of the game.
Showing word or action dissent from any decision given by the referee.
Being guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct. **NOTE: For 2-4, an indirect free kick from the spot closest to the offense should be awarded in addition to the caution.
Delaying the restart.
Failure to respect distance.

RED CARD PENALTIES

Being guilty of violent or serious foul play.
Using foul or abusive language.
Being guilty of misconduct after having received a caution.
Conduct which warrants ejection in the judgment of the referee.
Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Advantage clause: The referee shall refrain from penalizing when it would be an advantage to the offending team. It is recommended that the referee raise both arms and give a verbal indication of “advantage, play on”.

PLAYOFFS:

Games will be scheduled at different times than regular season to accommodate seeding and facility schedule. Single elimination bracket. Schedule is subject to change. Check Fusion Play daily. ROSTERS ARE LOCKED. Champion teams will be awarded shirts and a Domino's pizza party. Only players who have played in the final game will get shirts.

OVERTIME

NOTE: There is no overtime during regular season.
Five minutes of golden goal overtime will be played.
If still tied, the teams will go into kicks from the penalty mark. Each team designates one player to play in goal
Penalty kicks consist of 5 rounds, with each team shooting once per round. Goalies are allowed to take a penalty shot.
In mixed league playoffs, players are required to alternate genders between each shot.
If still tied after 5 rounds, the shootout changes to golden goal. Once the team of fewer players has used all eligible members to kick, both teams may begin reusing players.
A coin flip will be held with the winner deciding whether to shoot first or last. The shootout will alternate genders in mixed leagues.

FORFEITS:

If a team forfeits in week 1, they will be removed from the league. Week 1 is considered commitment week.

When a team forfeits a game, they will be emailed by the intramural staff. It is required that the team captain replies to the email within 24 hours. If intramural staff does not receive a reply within 24 hours, the team will be removed from the league and replaced by a team on the waitlist.

A team that forfeits twice will be automatically removed from the league.

If your team is unable to play and must forfeit, please email unh.intramurals@unh.edu by noon on game day so we can try to find another team to fill your spot.

Teams with any number of forfeits ARE NOT ELLIGIBLE FOR PLAYOFFS.

Don’t have enough players? There are options! You can play down players, bring new players on the night of your game, and/or borrow players from another team when you get to your game. New players should check in like any other player would with intramural staff.

If a team fails to have the required number of participants at the scheduled game time, the opposing team who is present will have the following options:

Choose to wait 10 minutes until the opponent arrives to compete with the official game running as scheduled. The waiting team has the option to lead the game 3-0.
If the opposing team is still not ready to play 10 minutes after the scheduled game time, the intramural staff will declare a forfeit win for the waiting team. No game will be played.
If both teams do not have the minimum number of players at game time and/or arrive late but get enough players within ten minutes of the scheduled game-time, the game shall commence with a starting score of 0-0

SPORTSMANSHIP:

Following each game, the intramural staff will rate each team on their sportsmanship with a 0-5 score. The default score for all teams successfully completing a game is 4. Teams receiving a 0, 1, or 2 rating twice in the same season, will be removed from the league or playoffs. Depending on the severity of the incident, a team may be removed from the league and/or face additional sanctions for only one unacceptable rating (0-2).

Teams will receive a 0 rating for a game that is forfeited. This includes for reasons of no-show, disqualification, or misconduct.
Teams are required to have an average sportsmanship of 3 or higher to be considered for playoffs.
Scores are given based on the discretion of intramural staff and cannot be contested.

Good sportsmanship is required of all participants. Players and spectators are always to conduct themselves respectfully. UNH Campus Recreation reserves the right to suspend or disqualify groups or individuals for unsportsmanlike conduct at any time. Unsportsmanlike conduct before, during, and/or after a game will not be tolerated.

By participating in intramural sports, players agree to follow all Campus Recreation policies and those outlined in the UNH Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities. Prohibited behavior includes but is not limited to: consuming or being in possession of alcohol, nicotine, and other prohibited substances, physical or verbal altercations, vandalism, theft, or unauthorized participation.

The decision of an official or intramural staff member to eject a player or spectator for any unsportsmanlike conduct (be it verbal or physical) will be firmly upheld by UNH Campus Recreation. All ejected players must leave the playing area/facility. Individual players’ conduct may impact team eligibility to remain in the league.

If you have any questions regarding intramural policies or rules, please contact unh.intramurals@unh.edu or Gabby Merrill (Intramural Sports Coordinator) Phone: (603) 862-2038 or email: gabby.merrill@unh.edu