GOALKEEPER RULES OF WARFARE
FIELD OF PLAY
- Minimum Length 18 yards, Maximum Length 24 yards
- Minimum Width 12 yards, Maximum Width 24 yards
AGES / GOAL SIZES
Age Groups: Players register by birth year. Birth year bracketing is based on the soccer calendar turning over on August 1st each year.
9U-11U Boys / 9U-11U Girls - 6.5 x 18.5 Goals
12U-13U Boys / 12U-13U Girls - 7' x 21' Goals
14U-15U Boys / 14U-15U Girls - 8' x 24' Goals
16U-17U Boys / 16U-17U Girls - 8' x 24' Goals
18U-19U Boys / 18U-19U Girls - 8' x 24' Goals
20U and Over Men - 8' x 24' Goals
20U and Over Women - 8' x 24' Goals
*Younger age groups may use either 6.5' x 18.5' or 7' x 21' goals depending on location/facility
SOCCER BALLS (WEAPONS)
- Only one ball is permitted on the field of play during match play.
- If two or more balls are on the field during match play, the referee, at his/her discretion may stop the game until the excess balls are removed. (There will be 8 balls at each field.)
- Size 4 balls = 13U and under
- Size 5 balls = 14U and older
GAME PROCEDURES
- Each goalkeeper must report to the referee/field marshal 5 minutes prior to their scheduled match and provide their name. The referee/field marshal will oversee "rock, paper, scissors, shoot" in lieu of a coin toss. The winner will choose if they want to start with the ball or decide which side they want to start on.
- All other bracket participants will be required to act as ball retrievers and feeders. (We request that each keeper bring 1-2 ball boys/girls to shag.)
REFEREE / FIELD MARSHAL / DIRECTOR
Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the rules of the tournament director including but not limited to the following:
- Ensures that the ball meets size and inflation requirements
- Ensures player equipment requirements
- Shin guards are not required for our event
- Acts as timekeeper and scorekeeper for each match
- Stops, suspends, or terminates the match, at his/her discretion for any rule infringements, safety precautions, player injuries, unsportsmanlike conduct from participants, parents and/or fans
- All match related decisions are determined by the referee and are considered final once a match has ended.
- The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify the tournament rules should he/she deem it necessary.
- All decisions are final, no protests will be accepted.
TIME LIMIT
- The match duration is 2 halves of 3 minutes with keepers changing goals during 1-minute half-time.
EVENT FORMAT
Each goalie is guaranteed a minimum of 3-7 games, dependent on the event.
3 points are awarded for a win / 1 point for a tie / 0 points for a loss
Tiebreaker for playoffs:
- Points
- Head to Head
- In the event of a 3 way tie, head to head is taken out of consideration.
- Forfeits
- Least Goals Conceded (Goals Against)
- Goal Differential
- Sudden death PK Shootout
Games during match play (round robin) can end in a tie.
All Playoff games (Wildcard, Champ & Finals) will not be allowed to end in a tie. In the event of a draw during playoff competition, an overtime period will be played with 3 minutes of extra time, and sudden death.
Overtime: Overtime wins are scored with 1 more goal being given to the winner. (Actual goals scored during overtime will be documented in the public notes of that game.)
ShootOut: If after 3 minutes of Overtime, the game is still tied then the players go to PK sudden death.
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution is the method by which a goalkeeper starts or restarts play and scores goals.
A goalkeeper may distribute the ball in the following ways from their hands or the ground:
- Throw
- Volley
- Dropkick
- Stationary kick
- Roll and kick
SIX-SECOND SHOOTING RULES
- Goalkeepers must distribute the ball within 6 seconds of taking possession of the ball. Possession means that said goalkeeper firmly maintains control of the ball by catching it, stopping it, or receiving it from the sideline.
- In the event that the ball is not distributed within 6 seconds the designated goalkeeper will be called for a delay of game. A delay of game violation results in a change of ball possession.
- *Younger groups can go all the way to the first line on their fields and shoot within 6 seconds.
- All small KW Fields will have a center section (dead zone) that neither keeper can go into during gameplay to shoot or save the ball.
- *Older groups have 6 seconds and 4 yards from their own goal line to try and score.
STARTS / RESTARTS
- The referee will oversee "rock, paper, scissors, shoot" in lieu of a coin toss. Whoever wins will decide if they want the ball first or pick which side of the field they start the game on.
- Keepers switch sides at the half.
- The keeper that did not start with the ball at the beginning of the match starts with the ball in the second half.
OUT OF PLAY
The ball is out of play when:
- It has entirely crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air.
- If a goalkeeper saves or deflects the ball out of bounds it remains your ball. If you are scored on the ball will restart in your hands to continue play.
- Ball shaggers are allowed to toss or roll the keeper the ball when needed.
BALL IN PLAY
- After the keeper makes a save he/she can attempt to score within the designated shooting area, using any type of distribution within 6 seconds.
- Rebound Rule: After the ball is deflected off the keeper or crossbar/post and enters the other players half they will have the chance to shoot a one time finish on any rebounds given up but ONLY if it enters their half of the field. Once the ball enters back into the original shooter's half of the field, the keeper can either shoot it one time up to the half line of the field OR bring it back to their original shooting area and not have to use one touch to score. If they bring it back to their original shooting area they have to shoot from the original shooting zone and not up to half.
- 9U-11U ages do not have a half line for their fields but must stay in their own 3rd of the field at all times (marked by cones or painted lines). These keepers also do not have to use one touch to score off of a rebound, they can stop the ball and re-kick it if it comes back into their 3rd of the field.
- Any rebound that goes into the initial shooter's goal is not counted as a goal. This is played as an out of bounds and given to the opposing keeper as a restart. The keeper must have possession and follow all other rules in order to score on their opponent.
GOAL SCORE
- A goal is scored when the entire ball passes over the goal line, between the goal posts, and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the laws of the game has been committed prior to the goalkeeper distribution.
- A goal cannot be scored from the opponent’s shooting area.
Penalty Kicks
All spectators will be behind the halfway line on the opposite side of where the kicks from the mark will take place.
All soccer balls will be at the halfway line.
Rock paper scissors, 1st win, no best of 3, one and done, to determine who will shoot first.
PK will be sudden death; each keeper will get one possession minimum to shoot against the opposing keeper.
Gk will shoot at the referee's signal; the referee’s whistle or verbal signal.
The referee will line up closer to the defending gk goal to observe for encroachment.
Encroaching the goalkeeper that makes a save will result in the kick being re-taken.
All recordings of the gk penalty shoot outs must be captured behind the halfway line no exceptions.
MATCH WINNER
The goalkeeper earning the greater number of goals by the end of the match is the winner.
OFFSIDE
A keeper is offside when he/she enters the opponent's half. After infringement, he/she loses possession of the ball. Play resumes with both keepers starting on their own goal lines.
MODIFICATIONS
Any or all rule modifications may be made at the tournament director's discretion including but not limited to:
- Field size
- Ball size
- Goal size
- Game duration
- Adjust the total number of matches
Weather related stoppage of play
If the weather stops playing during a match. For the match to count, the match must make it to half time to stand as an official match played. If a weather-related issue stops the match prior to making it to half time the match will be postponed. If the match is not able to continue due to weather, the game will not officially count as played.
If weather stops the event from completing and a minimum number of 3 games have been played, the event will be considered final. Standings will determine the winners.
If fewer than 3 games have been played, then a partial refund will be given or a transfer of the full registration fee to another event will be offered.
Injuries
- Keepers must complete the match in order to win the match. Once a serious injury takes place, an Athletic trainer must state they are safe to continue to play the game. Once this takes place, parents and injured players are able to decide if they would like to continue.
- If a player drops out leading up to finals matches (quarterfinals, semifinals, or finals) the next highest ranked player in their bracket will be moved up in the injured player's position. *We strongly advise not leaving our event early if you are close to moving on to finals games due to this possibility.
CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY
- If the Keeper Wars event or the tournament Keeper Wars Ink is partnered with, gets canceled, the participant registration fees may be transferred to another Keeper Wars Ink event. In some cases, a partial refund may be given.
- A partial refund or transfer of registration will only be given with advanced notice before the schedule is completed.
- Refunds will not be given without prior notification or if the player is a "No Show" on game day.
National Qualifying Rules & Requirements
Individual bracket winners of the City/Showcase Tour events qualify for the National Championship
If a National qualifying goalkeeper is not able to compete at the national event for any reason, the second place competitor for the specific national qualifying event may be eligible/invited to the national championship event.
If a keeper qualifies for nationals at multiple City/Showcase Tour events, he or she will only qualify once at the first event he or she took part in. In this case the following keeper wars second place winners will qualify for a national championship tour spot invitation.
Goalkeepers are able to participate in multiple events throughout the year at any location they would like to compete in.
Sanctioning Event Information
2023 KEEPER WARS INK
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