Sliding

There is no sliding in intramural indoor soccer. Sliding will result in an automatic yellow card. The penalty is increased to a red card if the player slid into the ball handler or if the play was particularly dangerous.

Players may not slide if there is no one around or to take or stop a shot. Sliding in the box will result in a penalty kick plus the card.

Goal Keeper Slides
The keeper may slide with their hands in an attempt to play the ball. This is the only permissible way they may come out at a player. If the keeper comes out feet first, the regular penalty must be enforced.

Warnings
At the captains meeting, both sides should be advised about the sliding rule and the exception for keepers. The assistant officials should also remind both teams of the rule and the penalties involved. During the match, if any play resembles a slide (ex. a "lunge" or "slip") then the player should be reminded and warned again. This prevents unnecessary cards and fouls.

Restart
After a slide, the player is cautioned and the ball is put back into play with a direct free kick. The kick cannot be taken till the player has left the field for the 2 minute penalty.

Advantage
If a player slides, but fails to stop an advancing offensive player, declare advantage and let the play continue. When play halts or the advantage dies out, stop the match and card the sliding player.

Handling the Ball

Player's may not make deliberately contact the ball with their hand or arm.

"Deliberate Contact" includes:
• not avoiding contact with the hand
• movement of the arm to an unnormal position
• grabbing or reaching for the ball

Moving hands or arms instinctively to protect the body when suddenly faced with a fast approaching ball does not constitute deliberate contact. Likewise, placing hands or arms to protect the body at a free kick or similar restart is not likely to produce an infringement of the rules.

Accidental contact that results in an advantage does not change the nature of the play.

The referee should only punish the deliberate actions of a player that grabs, strikes, or pushes the ball to gain an unfair advantage.

General Rule:
The ball can "play" the hand, but it is a foul if the hand "plays" the ball.

The Shoulder and Arm:
The "hand" is considered to be any part of the arm-hand from fingertip to shoulder. Using the top of the shoulder is not considered as using the hand

Restarting Play:
The ball will be restarted with a direct kick at the spot of the foul.

Defensive handling of the ball in the box will result in a penalty kick.