TORSO Soccer League is governed by a constitution and bylaws document. The document is available for viewing and downloading.
The constitution and bylaws is updated periodically after an amendment proposal and adoption process is completed. Please refer to this area for the latest version of the document.
TORSO adheres to the Laws of The Game. Click below to review.
TORSO Exceptions To The Laws of The Game
TORSO is an affiliated league that abides by the Laws of the Game as published by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). TORSO is an adult recreational league that encourages fair and competitive play because men and women across a wide age span compete together.
TORSO has adopted the following exceptions to the Laws of the Game:
Law 1: The Field of Play
TORSO Fall and Spring Exception: None.
TORSO Summer Exception: 70 to 80 yards long and 45 to 55 yards wide.
Law 2: The Ball
TORSO Exception: None.
Law 3: The Players
TORSO Fall and Spring Exception: The ten (10) field players may consist of more than five women, but no more than five (5) men. The goalkeeper may be a man or a woman.
Unlimited substitutions are allowed. A player for whom a substitution has been made can return to the field in the same game. A female player may only be substituted by another female player. A male player may be substituted by a male or female player. A team short of women players must play short.
Seven players must be present to field a team and at least 1 must be a woman. A match will not be considered valid if there are fewer than seven (7) players on either of the teams. Failure to have the minimum number of eligible male and female players 15 minutes after scheduled game time will result in a forfeit for the team that is unable to field.
TORSO Summer Exception: The seven (7) field players may consist of more than three women, but no more than four (4) men. The goalkeeper may be a man or a woman. Unlimited substitutions are allowed. A player for whom a substitution has been made can return to the field in the same game. A female player may only be substituted by another female player. A male player may be substituted by a male or female player. A team short of women players must play short. A match will not be considered valid if there are fewer than five (5) players on either of the teams. Failure to have the minimum number of eligible male and female players 10 minutes after scheduled game time will result in a forfeit for the team that is unable to field.
Substitutes are allowed at any stoppage of play, per the LOTG.
Law 4: The Players’ Equipment
TORSO Exception: Resolving color conflicts is the responsibility of the HOME team. Failure to change when teams do not have contrasting colors, in the judgment of the Referee, shall result in forfeiture of the game by the HOME team. Uniforms are mandatory and must have numbers corresponding to the number on game roster, affixed to back of the jersey. At no time may jerseys be switched from player to player, except for the goalkeeper switching to their field jersey. Each player shall wear the same number throughout the game. Failure to comply will result in that person(s) being regarded as an ineligible player for that game. “Sliding pants,” bicycle shorts, or similar equipment worn to reduce risk of injury are allowed without regard to visibility or color match. The uniform shorts must, however, be worn over such pants.
Law 5: The Referee
TORSO Exception: None.
Law 6: The Other Match Officials
TORSO Fall and Spring Exceptions: If certified Assistant Referee officials are not available, the referee may appoint two “club” linesmen to assist only by indicating when the ball goes out-of-bounds.
TORSO Summer Exception: There are no Assistant Referees in Summer.
Law 7: The Duration of the Match
TORSO Fall and Spring Exception: None.
TORSO Summer Exception: Two equal 35-minute halves.
Law 8: The Start and Restart of Play
TORSO Exception: Competing teams shall present a roster of their players to the game official before the game starts with jersey numbers beside the players’ names. To be eligible to play, all players must be listed as eligible on the official game sheet.;
Law 9: The Ball In and Out of Play
TORSO Exception: None.
Law 10: Determining the Outcome of a Match
TORSO Exception: Men’s goals, and goals scored as a result of a defensive player in control of the ball misplaying the ball into his or her own goal count as one (1) goal.
Offensive women’s scores will count as two (2) goals. In the case of deflection, the last offensive player to touch the ball will be credited with the score, counting as one or two goals according to whether the last offensive touch was by a man or woman. An own goal will always count as one point. Any male player in a single game may score a maximum of two (2) goals. A ball played into the goal by a man who has already scored twice will result in a goal-kick for the opposing team. Women may score an unlimited number of goals in a single game.
Law 11: Offside
TORSO Fall and Spring Exceptions: None.
TORSO Summer Exception: There is no offside in the Summer.
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
TORSO Exception: NO SLIDE TACKLING IS ALLOWED. A slide tackle shall be penalized by an automatic Caution to the offending player, and an indirect free-kick (dangerous play) shall be awarded to the opposing team, unless a more serious infringement of the Laws of the Game has occurred. A man should use skill, not physical size to win a ball from a woman. To do otherwise may be considered a Cautionable offense. The goalkeeper may not be charged at any time, nor may the goalkeeper charge other players. This also may be considered a Cautionable offense. The Goalkeeper may slide inside the penalty area to challenge for the ball provided that the challenge is not careless, reckless or with excessive force. If the challenge is careless, reckless or with excessive force the goalkeeper will be penalized and the foul and misconduct issued according to the LOTG and the TORSO exceptions to the LOTG. Any player receiving a Caution (yellow card) must leave the field for a ten (10) minute “cooling-off” period, and may be substituted.
Law 13: Free Kicks
TORSO Exception: None.
Law 14: The Penalty-Kick
TORSO Exception: A Penalty-Kick may be taken by either a man or woman player, and will count as one (1) or two (2) goals accordingly, if successful.
Law 15: The Throw-In
TORSO Fall and Spring Exceptions: None.
TORSO Summer Exception: All out-of-bounds balls are put back in to play with an indirect kick. A goal cannot be scored from a kick-in.
Law 16: The Goal Kick
TORSO Fall and Spring Exception: None.
TORSO Summer Exception: No free kicks, punts or thrown balls from the keeper’s box may cross the half line without having bounced first. Violation results in a free kick at midfield for the offended team.
Law 17: The Corner Kick
TORSO Exception: None.
Summer Season 8v8 rules
Playing Rules All TORSO rules are in effect, with exceptions noted below:
Game shall consist of two 35 minute halves.
Maximum of 4 men on the field at any time; excluding the goal keeper.
There is no offside.
A ball out of bounds is brought in with a kick, not a throw. All kicks are indirect, except penalty kicks.
No free kicks, punts or thrown balls from the keeper’s box may cross the half line without having bounced or touched another player first. Violation results in a free kick at midfield for the offended team.
Five players must be present to field a team and at least 1 must be a woman.
You have 10 minutes past game time start to field the team or forfeit the match.