3v3 Rules
Laws/Rules are same as would be in a full sided competition, unless modified in the rules below
PLAYER REGISTRATION: All players must be listed on their teams' roster form before the
tournament begins. Any team or player determined by the event director to have falsified age or
skill level will be dismissed from the tournament and will not be eligible for a refund.
ROSTERS: No changes or substitutions to rosters after the start of a team's first game. All
rosters are final at the start of the team's first game.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Five (5) is the maximum number of players on a team; THREE (3)
field players at one time. Players may only play on one team in the tournament. There are no
goalkeepers in 3v3 soccer. Substitutes may occur at any dead ball situation, but players must get
referees attention and enter and exit at the half-field mark only
COACHES: There is no coach necessary for this tournament. A team may choose to have
anyone as a coach if they want. If a coach is present, they (coaches) may not cross beyond the
midline and shall remain in close proximity to the team's sideline area.
TEAM UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT: All players must wear jerseys/shirts during play and
each team must bring both a light and a dark colored jersey/shirt (PENNIES will be provided).
In playoffs the higher seed will have the option. All players must wear shin guards. Any player
without shin guards will not be allowed to play. A player must not use equipment or wear
anything that is dangerous to them or another player (including any kind of jewelry). Teams are
responsible for providing game balls. Here are the following sizes for each group: U8-U12 =
Size 4; and U13 & up = Size 5.
FIELD DIMENSIONS: Fields are Length 25-30 yards, Width 15-20 yards. GOALS & GOAL
BOX: The goals are a maximum of four feet high by six feet wide. The goal box, 8 feet wide and
6 feet deep, is directly in front of the goal. No player may touch the ball within the goal box,
however any player may move through the goal box. If any part of the ball or player's body is on
or across the line it is considered in the goal box; the player is an extension of the box. If a
defender touches the ball in the goal box, a goal is awarded to the offensive team. If the defender
OR the ball is in the box and contact is made, a goal is awarded. If an offensive player touches
the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. If the ball comes to a
complete stop in the goal box, regardless of which team touched it last, a goal kick is awarded to
the defensive team.
GAME DURATION: The game shall consist of two 10 minutes halves separated by a two (2)
minute halftime period OR the first team to reach 12 goals, whichever comes first. Games tied
after regulation play shall end in a tie except in playoffs. A team, at the discretion of the referee
and the tournament director will be forfeited at game time if they are not present. Teams are responsible for waiting until their seed for playoffs has been determined. There are no time outs
in 3v3 soccer.
GOAL SCORING: Goals can be scored from anywhere on the offensive half of the field of
play. The ball must last be touched (either by offense or defense) within the attacking team's
offensive half of the field. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick off. For a goal to be
awarded during a kick-off, the ball must first be kicked completely off of the halfway line, into
the offensive half of the field (If the entire ball is not completely within the offense half of the
field when last touched during kick off, no goal will be awarded and a goal kick will be given).
SCORING (IN QUALIFYING PLAY): Games will be scored according to the following: 3
points for a win; 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss.
TIEBREAKERS: (after qualifying play) Ties in standings between two teams will be broken by;
1) head to head results between tied teams; 2) goal difference in qualifying play; 3) most goals
scored in qualifying play; 4) least goals allowed, 5) if both teams agree, a coin toss; if not a
shootout. Ties between three or more teams will be broken by; 1) goal difference in qualifying
play; 2) most goals scored in qualifying play, 3) least goals allowed, 4) shootout with 1 team
receiving a first round bye by random draw. If the criteria for 3 or more teams eliminates all but
2 teams, the criteria for a tie between two teams (above) will be used to determine the rank of the
two teams. A forfeit will be entered as a score of 5-0.
PLAYOFF OVERTIME: Shall consist of sudden death overtime period, maximum length of
three minutes, with a coin toss to decide kick-off direction. The first team to score in overtime is
the winner. If no team has scored in the three minute-overtime period, the winner shall be
decided by shootout. A coin flip will decide which team starts the penalty kick round. The three
players from each team remaining on the field at the end of overtime will alternate with each
penalty kick, with the higher scoring team winning after the first round. If the score remains tied
after the first round of penalty kicks the same field players will rotate in a sudden death penalty
kick format until one team scores unanswered.
NO OFFSIDES and NO SLIDE TACKLING IN VIC’S 3V3 SOCCER – Sliding for a ball without
tackling another player is permitted.
FIVE YARD RULE: In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards
(15 feet) away from the ball. If the defensive player's goal area is closer than five yards, the ball
shall be placed five yards from the goal area in line with the place of the infraction.
KICK-INS: The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead of throw in.
RESTARTS: All dead ball kicks to restart play (kick-ins, free kicks, kick-offs), with exception
corner and penalty kicks are considered to be indirect free kicks. The rule defining when a
kicked ball is in play after the first touch in a restart is from full sided soccer. Our rules do not
alter that rule in any way. In the full sided game of soccer, the ball is considered in play when it
is kicked and moved. The distance to be moved is minimal and the kick need only be a touch of the ball with the foot in a kicking motion or being dragged with the top or bottom of the foot.
Simply tapping the top of the ball with the foot or stepping on the ball is not sufficient.
GOAL KICKS: May be taken from any point on the end line, and not in the goal box area.
KICK OFF: May be taken in any direction. For a goal to be awarded during a kick-off, the ball
must first be kicked completely off of the halfway line, into the offensive half of the field (If the
entire ball is not completely within the offense half of the field when last touched, no goal will
be awarded).
PENALTY KICKS: Shall be awarded if, in the referee's opinion, a scoring opportunity was
nullified by the infraction. It is a direct kick taken from the middle of the halfway line with all
players behind the halfway line. If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a
goal kick. Penalty kicks are not live balls.
PLAYER EJECTION (RED CARD): Referees have the right to eject a player from the game for
continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants sending the player off. The team
may then continue with the remaining players on their team. If the ejected player was on the
field, he may be replaced by an eligible rostered player on the team. The tournament director will
decide the number of games in the suspension.
FORFEITS: Any team forfeiting two consecutive games in qualifying play or forfeiting a game
in the playoffs will be removed from VIC’S 3V3 tournament.
PROTESTS: There will be no protests.
SPORTSMANSHIP: Players, coaches and spectators are expected to act in the nature of good
sportsmanship at all times. Abuse of the referees will not be tolerated. Spectators are prohibited
from entering the field of play at any time during the match. Any instance of such conduct will
disqualify the responsible team from the event.
GENERAL: VIC’S 3V3 will not be responsible for any expenses
incurred by any team due to the cancellation in part or whole of any Division or any part of this
tournament.
CASTS: Orthopedic casts of any kind are not permitted; however, soft braces can be worn with
written approval from a doctor, and judgment as to safety is at the discretion of the referee. The
referee has the final say at each game for soft braces.
MECHANICAL AND ARTIFICIAL NOISE MAKERS ARE PROHIBITED.
SITUATIONS OR OCCURRENCES THAT THESE RULES OR STANDARD RULES OF
PLAY DO NOT ADDRESS SHALL BE LEFT TO THE SOLE DISCRETION OF
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.