Bend FC co-ed leagues shall be governed by FIFA laws with the following modifications: 

General 

All decisions of the Referee are final and binding. The league reserves the right to decide on all matters relative to the league and its decisions are final. In the event of inclement weather, the league coordinator may reschedule a match, change the division structure, reduce match duration, or cancel a match. While the league will make every effort to reschedule, no refunds will be available in the event of any cancellations.

Fighting 

Any player who engages in fighting of any kind, retaliatory or otherwise, will be automatically dismissed from the league without a refund. Not only will that player be removed from the league, but the team may also be banned indefinitely. Fighting may result in criminal charges. Any fighting or ejections will be turned over to the Bend FC  Timbers Disciplinary Committee. The term "fighting" generally refers to engaging in physical or verbal confrontation with the intent to overpower or defeat an opponent or an adversary. It can involve the use of physical force, such as punches, kicks, or wrestling,  or it can be a verbal altercation, where individuals exchange heated and often aggressive words or arguments. 

Registration 

• Players must be 18 years old or older or age 16 or 17 with parental consent. 
• Recommended Roster size of 17. A minimum of three (3) female players and four (4) male players must be included on each coed team roster. 
• Players must be listed on the official Bend FC roster to be eligible to play;  additions will only be permitted for injuries, emergency situations, or by approval of the league director. Player interchange from one match to the next is not authorized and will result in a forfeit. 

Bend FC Adult 7v7 League Uses USSF Rules with Modifications.

The Field 

• Field dimensions are as marked on the field and are ~ 35 by 70 yards for all divisions. 
• The League will be played on East 1 and East 2 at the Bend FC Timbers  Soccer Complex. 

Equipment 

• It is strictly forbidden to wear metal cleats on the synthetic turf field. 
• Jerseys: The home team will wear dark tops and the visitors will wear white tops.  The season’s schedule will designate Home and Visitors for each match. If a  team has custom jerseys, they must be a contrasting color with the scheduled opponent’s dark or white Jerseys. If not the team with the custom jerseys must change. 
• Ball Size: Matches will be played using a size five (5) soccer ball. All teams are required to bring a size five (5) ball to each match. 

Jewelry 

SAFETY
The referee must inspect the players and their equipment to ensure that there is nothing dangerous to any player. Players may not wear anything that the referee considers dangerous to themselves or to their teammates or opponents. The referee may delegate all or part of this responsibility to one or both of the assistant referees.

JEWELRY
All items of jewelry are normally considered dangerous; however, referees should consider carefully any item of clothing or jewelry that is clearly religious or medical in nature and permit it to be worn if it is not dangerous and not likely to provide the player with an unfair advantage.

Players may not tape, cover up, or otherwise hide prohibited items. The player must still be prevented from participating in the match if the prohibited item continues to be worn.

The willful refusal by a player to remove illegal equipment (including items of jewelry), having been previously warned that such equipment cannot be worn on the field yet continuing to do so, is considered unsporting behavior. 

Pre-Match 

• Team managers shall ensure that all players are at the field ten (10) minutes before the scheduled match. 
• The team manager shall bring a copy of her/his roster to each match and make it available to the referee at the start of the match. The referee will note any missing rosters on the score card which is turned in to the League Director. The  League Director will take action on missing rosters as deemed appropriate.
• A team, that cannot field six (6) players five (5) minutes after the scheduled start time which includes two (2) females and four (4) males, or three (3) females and three (3) males, shall forfeit the match. This includes reductions in eligible players due to send-offs. 
• The team forfeiting shall be declared the loser by a score of two (2) goals to (0)  zero. 
• A referee will be assigned to each match. The referee will keep the official time and may shorten the game at their discretion and be the scorekeeper. The referee is part of the field of play and their calls are final. 
• All Players, Coaches, and Bench personnel must have valid US CLUB Adult Player cards. 

Player cards

As we have limited time between games, it will be easier for you (captains) to keep the cards with you rather than provide them to the referees before the match begins. As the captain, if someone on your team receives a yellow or red card, the referee or Bend FC may need to take the card or write down information from the card. Our trust in you as captains is that you will ensure that all of your players are equipped with cards at the game.

The Match/Rules 

All matches will be played in accordance with FIFA, Federation International de  Football Association (FIFA) “Laws of the Game,” found on FIFA website, with the  following modifications: 

• Duration of Match: Matches have two twenty-five (25) minute halves and a five  (5) minute halftime. 
• Equipment: Jewelry/Casts: See the above exceptions. 
• The referee will obtain a roster from the team manager and will check players for appropriate equipment. 
• There will be a 5-minute grace period, and if the team cannot then be started, the referee may abandon the game. The referee will keep the official time and may shorten the game at his discretion. 
•  A tied score at the end of regulation time during the regular season remains a tied score. There are no overtime periods. 
• Each team plays with 7 players (minimum of 3 females). A team must have a  minimum of 4 players to start and finish a game. If a team has less than 3  females, they may start the game with 2, in this case, they must also play down a  male so it is 7 v 5 unless arrangements are made with the other team and referee,  and everyone agrees to those arrangements prior to kickoff 
• Unlimited substitution is allowed with the referee's permission. Subs with the permission of the referee may enter at any stoppage of play except free kicks. 
• Substitutions: There are unlimited substitutions. Substitutions can only occur when the ball leaves the field of play and the referee waves you on immediately. Substitutions occur on the sidelines with the players entering and exiting the field at approximately the same location near mid-field. The substitute can sub on the fly during a dead ball and does not need to wait to enter the field until the player subbed out leaves the field. An unfair substitution shall result in an indirect free kick for the opponent at a point determined by the referee.
• There is no “Slide tackling” allowed by field players. Only the goalie may go to the ground to play a ball. The restart is an indirect free kick, or, at the referee's discretion, a direct free kick and possible sanction. Repeated offenses by the team may result in further disciplinary action. 
• During the regular season either a male or female may take a PK shot.
• Offside law is NOT in effect 

Conduct

The referee may show a yellow or red card to the player or players who commit fouls. 

• Sportsmanship Policy: No game is important enough to warrant physical or verbal abuse of officials or participants. Each team is responsible for the actions of its members at all times during a competition. Unsportsmanlike conduct, including intimidation, infliction, or threat of bodily harm, will not be tolerated and could subject an entire team to disqualification. 
• The team manager or captain is the only player allowed to approach the referee with questions or concerns. Team captains are responsible for the behavior of their players. 
• Any participant who is ejected from a game must leave the facility immediately.  Failure to leave within 2 minutes will result in forfeiture of the game. Any ejected player must sit out his/her team’s next scheduled game. 
• Any participant who receives a red card for violent conduct will be suspended for the remainder of the season. 
• Any participant who accumulates 3 yellow cards during the season will be suspended for his/her team’s next game. 
• Any participant found to be disrespectful to the facilities or grounds will be suspended for 30 days or more. 
• League Standings 
• Teams receive 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss.  Should there be a tie: the tiebreaker will be as follows: 

1. Head-to-head result 
2. Least number of forfeits 
3. Least number of goals against 
4. Most goals for 
5. Least amount of Red Cards 

• The top four teams will play in a semi / final match on the last day of the season.  Consolation games for other teams may be scheduled if time and space allow. 

Mercy Rule

• The game is over when a team leads by 10 goals. Both teams may continue playing and players may mix if they wish to continue playing. However, if the time has expired, play will end five minutes before the next scheduled game. As a result of the mercy rule, the referee is not required to continue refereeing after the game is over.
• When the other team is ahead by six goals, you may add a player to the field either male or female during a coed match. The added player will leave the field when the score differential is less than 6.

Playoffs 

The only rule change for playoffs is that a playoff match cannot end in a tie and  “Kicks from the Mark” will be used to determine a winner. 3 refs may be used for playoff games. 

During playoffs, if a game ends in a tie, a minimum of two females will be required to take part in the PK shootout. The rest can be males.

Field Usage Policies 

All participants and spectators must adhere to the Bend FC Soccer Complex rules as well as following usage policies. 

• No glass bottles are allowed on fields. No Food allowed on fields. 
• Pick up trash after games. 
• Only Rostered players are permitted inside the fence line. All spectators must stay outside of the fence line. 
• No dogs or other animals are allowed on fields. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Co-ed Recreational Soccer Rules

1. Games will be played on Sundays 
2. Games will be played 7 on 7 with goalkeepers 
3. Games will be played using 7x21 goals on 45x60 yard fields.
4. Games will be coed, and each team must have a minimum of three women field players and three men field players 
5. Goalkeepers can be anyone player on the roster of either sex 
6. Games are recreational, designed for fun, fitness, and entertainment 
7. Games will consist of two 25-minute halves and a 5-minute halftime 
8. Games will be played on the Bend FC Timbers Turf Fields 
9. Referees will be provided as available. All USSF leagues are short on game officials and BFCT will do our best to make sure games are officiated. 
10. Home teams must wear a dark-colored shirt; Away teams must wear a white-colored 11. FIFA laws of the game will be applied 
11. Each team will play a minimum of 7 games and may or may not have a week off 

Policy – 6.7 “NO SHOW” **Policy in effect as of 7-1-2023** 

BFCT’s "No Show" policy is a set of rules or guidelines implemented by the organization, to address situations where a team fails to show up for a scheduled game, reservation, or event without providing any prior notice or cancellation. 

1. “No Show”- If a team doesn’t show up with the minimum number of players to start a game  the team forfeits the game 
2. Loss of game- The game will not be rescheduled 
3. Fines- The team that “No Shows” a game will be charged a $50 “No Show” fee that must be paid to reregister in the next Adult Coed session. TEAM MANAGERS will personally be  responsible for the team's fine 
4. Notice- Teams must give a 48-hour notice that they can NOT provide a team for the Sunday games. In this case, the game may or may not be rescheduled and NO fines will accumulate.
5. Two Game Rule- If a team “No Shows” twice, gives notice that they can NOT field a team twice, or any combination of the two, the team MAY be removed from the league for the remainder of the season. 

Policy – 6.8 Game Termination *Policy in effect as of 8-1-2023* 

Any team, any player within that team, that receives a red card during gameplay,  before or after game play or ejection, will create an immediate termination of said game. The team receiving the red card will immediately forfeit the match and the match will not be rescheduled. Any team that receives two red cards in a season will forfeit the remaining matches and be removed from the league for the remainder of the season. “The Team” or “The  Individual Player” may be permanently suspended or expelled from the league. Any team receiving a red card or ejection will need to go, in writing or in person, before the  Disciplinary Committee and the Disciplinary Committee's judgments on the matter will be final. 

Policy – 6.9 Disciplinary Committee 

Any player, parent, spectator, coach, manager, administrator, or adult player who is ejected or  asked to leave the premises during a BEND FC TIMBERS event or match due to verbal abuse,  physical abuse, or other, towards another PERSON will be suspended pending the following  processes: 

1. If a player or coach receives a RED card or two YELLOW cards and is ejected from a match,  that player or coach must miss the remainder of that match plus one more match. In addition to the suspension, the player or coach will have to abide by any league or tournament sanctions or rules. 
2. If a player or coach receives a RED card or two YELLOW cards and is ejected from a match for the second time in a club year cycle, that player or coach must miss the remainder of that match plus one more match. In addition to the suspension, the player or coach will have to abide by any league or tournament sanctions or rules. As a second offense, the suspended player or coach will have to meet with the club's Director of Coaching and a second member of the club’s management team before returning to the team. The club management can add additional match suspensions to the player or coach if the members of the management team feel a stronger suspension is warranted. 
3. If a parent or spectator is ejected or asked to leave the premises at any time during a Bend FC  event, match, or practice; the parent or spectator may NOT return to any Bend FC’s event, match,  or practice until they appear before the club’s DISCIPLINARY committee. The club’s  DISCIPLINARY committee may require additional processes including but not limited to;  sportsmanship training, writing letters, and/or additional suspensions for the removed individual. 
4. Any act of violence, referee assault, or bad sportsmanship by a BFCT player, parent, coach,  or spectator will result in a disciplinary committee hearing and may result in permanent suspension, temporary suspension, or other disciplinary actions in addition to any criminal charges or league-required disciplinary action.

The Club’s Disciplinary Committee will be composed of two club administrators, one board member, and an Executive Member of the Central Oregon Referee Committee

Please direct questions to:

General Manager, Donnie Emerson

Adult League Coordinator, Jessica Passage