OFFICIAL MISL RULES

BASIC RULES

All goals are worth two points except those goals scored on shot attempts from on or beyond the 45ft arch surrounding the goal, those are worth three points.
The game is played in four 15-minute quarters. There is a three-minute interval between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth quarters and a 15-minute halftime. The clock stops when a goal is scored, when the ball leaves the playing area or when there is a penalty kick, penalty call, yellow-line violation, official timeout or any whistle by the referee. The clock restarts with the playing of the ball.
Corner kicks are taken if the ball leaves the playing area between the two flags on the goal line, having been last touched by the defending team. The goalkeeper will distribute the ball if the ball leaves the playing area between the two flags on the goal line, having been last touched by the attacking team. Kick-ins are taken when the ball leaves the field of play at any other area and will be put back in play by the opposing team at the point the ball left the field longitudinally between flags or top of arc if directly out in the defensive zone.
Each team is allotted three timeouts per game with no more than two to be used per half. A timeout is 60 seconds in length. Timeouts do not accumulate over the course of the game. Teams either use them or lose them. Official timeouts will be called following a stoppage after 8 minutes in each quarter.
Yellow Line violations are called when a forward pass crosses both yellow lines in the air without being touched by another player (except for a throw from the goalkeeper). A violation of this rule results in a change of possession and a direct kick from the offensive yellow line.

THE PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS

A goalkeeper and five field players comprise a team on the field.
Free substitution - all players, including goalkeepers, may change while the flow of the game continues. Any number of substitutions may be made during a game.
Two Referees are on the field and have total jurisdiction over the game. An Assistant Referee is stationed at the timer's bench to supervise the game clock, penalty box, team benches, keep a record of the game and to assist the referees in the control of the game.

GOALS

Goals are scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line. All goals scored are worth two points a piece, except those goals scored on shot attempts from on or beyond the 45-foot arc surrounding the goal, which will be worth three points.

INFRACTIONS AND RESULTING PENALTIES

Fouls are penalized with a free kick to the offended team, and in some cases, depending upon the severity of the foul, time in the penalty box. A goal can be scored directly from all free kicks.
Penalties are called and time served in the penalty box for Penal offenses, Misconduct and Major violations. All power play time penalties are two (2) minutes in length. Misconducts (the referee will show a yellow card) are five (5) minutes in length. The penalty call will not be made (delayed time penalty) and play stopped until the guilty team gains ball possession or play is otherwise over.
A penalty kick is awarded to a team when a Penal Time Penalty is committed by the opponent in its own penalty area (25 x 30 feet). The penalty kick is taken from the penalty spot (24 feet directly in front of the goal). All players except the designated kicker and goalkeeper must stay behind the yellow line.
Man Advantages (power play) - a team will play one (or two) men short when a power play time penalty is called by one of the game officials.
A shootout is awarded for the following fouls committed by a defending player in his defensive half of the field: 1. A foul from behind against an attacking player, having control of the ball and one or no defensive player between himself and the goal; 2. Any foul where he is the last player on his team between the attacking player with the ball and the goal. The offended team shall designate a player to attempt to score a goal in a one-on-one situation with the opposing goalkeeper. The shootout begins at the center of the defensive yellow line.
All Misconduct Time Penalties are five (5) minutes in length. The guilty player must serve this penalty.
Ejections occur when a player or non-player is guilty of any of the following: violent conduct or serious foul play; foul and/or abusive language or action; an accumulation of any three time penalties.

GLOSSARY OF INDOOR SOCCER TERMS

BOARDING: When one player intentionally pushes on an opposing player into the perimeter boards.
BREAKAWAY: When a player in the possession of the ball has a clear run to the opposite goal.
CORNER KICK: When the ball goes over the glass on the goal side of either corner flag, having been played by the defensive team. The offensive team kicks the ball back into play from the corner spot closest to where the ball left the field of play.
DROP BALL: When the play is stopped for any number of reasons and fault lies with neither team. The official then drops the ball and each team has an equal chance at gaining possession.
FREE KICK: When a foul has been committed, the opposite team restarts the game with a free kick where the infraction took place.
HALF VOLLEY: Kicking the ball just as it rebounds off the ground.
HAT TRICK: The term used to describe the scoring of three goals by one player in a single game.
HEADING: Using the head to propel the ball. The proper area of the head that should be used is the forehead, between the hairline and the eyebrows.
KICK-IN: When the ball goes out of play along the touchline. The ball is placed on the field along the dotted line for the opposing team to kick back into play.
MAN-TO-MAN: A type of defense where each defender marks a specific opponent.
MARKING: The covering or close guarding of an opponent.
OBSTRUCTION: A deliberate action of a player using his body to prevent an opponent getting to the ball when that player is himself not within playing distance of the ball.
OFF THE BALL: A term that describes the position of attacking or defensive players who are making helpful runs away from the ball.
OVERLAPPING: The attacking play of a defender going down his own touchline past a teammate to possibly receive a pass.
PENALTY KICK: When a team commits a major foul, e.g. tripping or handball, within its own penalty area, the referee awards a penalty kick to the opposition. The ball is placed on the red spot 24 feet from the goalkeeper who must stay on his goal line without moving his feet until the ball is kicked. All other players must remain behind the offensive yellow line until the kick is taken.
POWER PLAY: Similar to ice hockey in that a player guilty of an infraction is sent to the penalty box, forcing his team to playa man down.
PULLING THE GOALKEEPER: A strategy used by a team behind in the closing stages of the game. The goalkeeper on the losing team is replaced by a field player, in order to give his team an extra attacking player.
RESTART: When the game has been stopped for any reason, play commences with the appropriate restart following what put the ball out of play.
SHOOTOUT: Awarded for time penalty infractions when a player, who has a clear and unobstructed path to the goal, is fouled outside of the penalty area. The ball is placed at the center of the offensive yellow line and play is live once the whistle is blown. All players except the designated shooter and goalkeeper must start behind the midfield line.
VOLLEY: Kicking the ball while it is in the air.
WALL PASS: A pass to a teammate who gives a first-time angled return pass behind an opponent. Often called a "give and go" or a "one two."
ZONE: A type of defense where each defender marks a specific area (or zone) rather than a particular player.