Rules updated October 3, 2024, and are subject to change at the discretion of Legends Sevens.
LEAGUE FORMAT
For the 2024-2025 season, Legends Sevens will be comprised of 24 teams divided into three (3) divisions.
Each division will play a Fall season (Oct 6 – Jan 19) and a Spring season (Jan 26 – May 11). Divisional formats differ and are explained below; however champions will be crowned at the conclusion of each season on January 19, 2025, and on May 11, 2025 respectively.
Division 1&2
This is a combined division that will consist of twelve (12) teams, each one playing its divisional opponent once for a total of 11 games. The top four teams will qualify for the Division 1 playoffs and teams ranked 5th through 8th will qualify for the Division 2 playoffs. The bottom four teams will be eliminated from the playoffs and assigned one consolation match.
Playoff format for Division 1&2 will be as follows. The semi-finals will consist of one-game with the winners advancing to the championship final. In Division 1, the semi-final matchups will consist of 1st vs 4th, and 2nd vs 3rd. In Division 2, the semi-final will consist of 5th vs 8th, and 6th vs 7th.
Extra-time (and penalties, if necessary) will be used to break ties in the playoffs. Extra-time will consist of a full 5-minute period with penalty kicks following the traditional FIFA model of five shooters per team. If still tied, teams will assign a new kick taker until a winner is determined. All eligible players, including goalkeepers, must attempt a shot before a player may take his second attempt.
Divisions 3 and 45+
Each division consists of six (6) teams, with each one playing its divisional opponents twice in the regular season for a total of 10 games. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs and will follow the playoff format listed further below.
The top 4 teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs and enter the semifinal round. The semifinals will consist of a two-game total goals (aggregate) series with the winners advancing to a one-game championship final.
If the aggregate score is tied at the end of the second semifinal match (or if teams are tied at the final whistle of the championship game), the teams will immediately play a full 5-minute extra-time period. If still tied after the extra-time period, a 5-man penalty shootout will ensue immediately. If still tied, teams will assign a new kick taker until a winner is determined. All eligible players, including goalkeepers, must attempt a shot before a player may take his second attempt.
League Tie-Breaking Procedures
Victories are worth three (3) points, Draws are worth one (1) point, and losses are worth zero (0) points.
If two or more teams have an equal number of points at the end of the regular season, the following terms will be used to break the tie:
Forfeited matches will result in a 3 – 0 victory for the non-offending team. Teams forfeiting matches without notifying the league by 12-noon on the Sunday of the game will be subjected to $100 team fine payable before its next match. Every instance will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and considerations may be taken to nullify the fine (i.e., extreme weather).
Subsequent forfeits may result in further sanctions at the league’s discretion.
ROSTERS & ELIGIBILITY
Legends Sevens Roster Rules for Divisions 1, 2, and 3
Note that the Division 45+ will have slightly different rules than the other divisions. For D45+ specific rules, see further below.
1. Maximum roster size per team is 18 registered players.
a. A registered player is any player signed to a roster at least 24 hours before the team’s next match.
b. Teams are not to exceed the roster limit. Legends Sevens encourages the borrowing of player(s) if they meet the necessary criteria for that specific team and division. Borrowing (aka Loaning) rules listed further below.
2. Unregistered players are ineligible to play, and if caught playing illegally, both the player(s) and the team will face disciplinary action ranging from fines, suspensions, up to permanent expulsion from Legends Sevens.
3. All players must be at minimum, 35 years of age by May 11th, 2025.
4. Teams must have a minimum of five (5) players dressed for its games to avoid forfeit. Teams may borrow players from other teams if they meet the divisional requirements. Please see section below for the full borrowing rules.
5. During the playoffs, qualified teams MUST play strictly with players registered to its team. There will be no borrowing of players, except for goalkeepers.
Legends Sevens Roster Rules for 45+ Division
1. Maximum roster size is 18 registered players.
a. A registered player is any player signed to a roster at least 24 hours before the team’s next match.
b. Teams are not to exceed the roster limit. Legends Sevens encourages the borrowing of player(s) if they meet the necessary criteria for that specific team and division. Teams in this division may borrow externally from other teams, regardless of division, if the player is 45 years of age.
i) Opposing manager may request proof of age of borrowed player to ensure compliancy.
2. Players who are unregistered with Legends Sevens are ineligible to play (in any division), and if caught playing illegally, both the player(s) and the team will face disciplinary action ranging from a fine, a suspension, up to perhaps permanent expulsion from Legends Sevens.
3. All players must be at minimum, 45 years of age by May 11th, 2025, with the following exceptions:
a. In the 2023/24 season, teams were allowed to register a maximum of two players who were under 45 years of age, but at least 40 years of age by the first game of the season (October 15, 2023). ONLY these same players are eligible to play underage in this division.
b. Teams cannot dress more than two underage players, this includes borrowed players (goalkeepers are an exception).
c. Legends Sevens reserve the right to disallow any underage player from participating in the 45+ division if it is believed that the player gives his team an unfair advantage over other teams.
d. No underage players can be borrowed from teams outside of the 45+ division, regardless of their age or ability.
e. The only exception is the borrowing of goalkeepers. Goalkeepers are considered fluid and may be borrowed from any team in any division, if necessary. Goalkeepers MUST be registered with Legends Sevens to be eligible.
f. We STRONGLY recommend that if your team needs to borrow a player(s), that you first focus on players who are 45+ and avoid borrowing the underage players from other teams in the division.
LOANED/BORROWED PLAYERS RULE
At times, teams will be shorthanded due to injuries, illnesses, or other factors. As such, we allow teams to borrow players from other teams. Many of the rules associated with the loaned players are division specific. Please read carefully and if you require clarification, ask.
ONLY during the regular season are players allowed to be borrowed amongst teams. During the playoffs, all qualified teams are required to play with their registered players ONLY. Goalkeepers are the exception to this rule.
Note: Teams playing consolation matches are exempt from this requirement.
Regular Season Borrowing Rules:
All teams, regardless of division;
If your team has less than 10 players dressed for a given game (i.e., you have less than 3 substitutes) you are permitted to borrow players. (Goalkeepers are the ONLY exception. They can be borrowed between all teams regardless of roster size, or divisional age/skill requirements).
At any point of a match, if you’ve borrowed player(s), and your registered regulars arrive, you must remove the same number of borrowed player(s) from the game by the time your regulars have put on their jersey on the sidelines.
i.e., Your team arrives with 8 registered players for kickoff. You are allowed to borrow two (2) players from other teams, as long as they satisfy the division-specific borrowing rules outlined further below. During the match, if one of your players arrives late, one of the borrowed players must exit immediately once the late player puts his jersey on.
If two or more players arrive, both borrowed players are required to exit the match once the late players are dressed.
Borrowing Restrictions
- There are NO restrictions on goalkeepers. They are considered fluid and can be borrowed between teams in different divisions regardless of skill level or age restriction.
- Players registered to Division 1&2 teams can only be borrowed between other teams within the same division with the following two exceptions.
- Players registered to Division 3 team can be borrowed to any team within its division or to any Division 1&2 team with the following exception;
- Players registered to Division 45+ teams can be borrowed to any team across all divisions.
MATCHES
1. All matches will be 50-minute contests consisting of two 25-minute halves with a two-minute to five-minute halftime break.
2. Managers (or team representative) must provide a game sheet to the referee before kickoff. Game sheets MUST include the names of ALL players participating in the game and their correct jersey number. This also includes any borrowed players.
3. Teams must be ready to kick-off no later than five (5) minutes after their scheduled start or will forfeit the match to their opponent.
4. All teams must have a minimum of 5 players (4 players and a goalkeeper) to be eligible to play or else will forfeit the match 3-0 to their opponent and be subjected to a fine. A team may borrow players from other teams (see Player Loans for eligibility)
5. All players must wear their league-provided jersey for all matches. Borrowed players will be provided a jersey from the manager of the team borrowing them.
6. Legends Sevens will provide match balls to referees for each contest.
DISCIPLINE
In an effort to further curb unsporting behavior, we are implementing a tighter discipline. Yellow and red cards will accumulate aggregately, over the fall season (October – January) and the spring season (January -May) and players reaching the thresholds as indicated in the table below will be subjected to its corresponding penalty. To clarify, any cards received by a player will accumulate from October to May, including any playoffs and consolation matches.
Please Note: Yellow cards cannot be appealed. A red card consisting of two yellows cannot be appealed. A straight red card can be appealed subject to the guidelines in the Appeal’s Process listed below the disciplinary action table.
Players must serve the full suspension and have their fine paid in full before being eligible to return to action.
For players who are registered to more than one team, if a suspension is given to the player for one team, they are also ineligible to play for their other team(s) until the fine has been paid in full, and the suspension has been fully served with the offending team.
If the player is on loan to another team and is given a yellow or red card, the cards will continue to accumulate on that player’s record, and the player will be subject to penalties in the table below.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION TABLE
(All fines payable to LegendsSevens@gmail.com)
| ACCUMULATION | PENALTY |
| 3 Yellow Cards | One Game Suspension and a $50.00 fine |
| 5 Yellow Cards | Three Game Suspension and a $50.00 fine |
| 7 Yellow Cards | Expulsion for remainder of the season and possible further action. |
| 1 Red Card (2 YC) | One Game Suspension and a $50.00 fine |
| 1 Red Card (straight) | Minimum Three Game Suspension and a $50.00 fine (pending league review, suspension could be extended per disciplinary committee's judgement) |
| 2 Red Cards | Expulsion for remainder of the season and possibly further action. |
| Inciting violent conduct towards opponents, referees, league officials, MegaDome staff, or spectators is strictly forbidden. Violators will be severely punished. | |
It is each player’s responsibility to monitor his behavior, and for team managers to keep his players in check.
Appealing a Red Card
Only straight red cards may be appealed. Within 48 hours of the incident, the manager of the offending player must submit in writing to LegendsSevens@gmail.com the reason for the appeal, including any accompanying documentation to support the appeal (i.e. witness statement), and submit a $50.00 appeal fee payable via e-transfer to the same email address.
The appeal will be brought before a disciplinary committee consisting of three neutral team managers, each given the task to consult with one another with the aim to resolve the issue within 72-96 hours from receiving the appeal. If the appeal is successful and the result is overturned, the $50.00 appeal fee will be returned to the sender, and the modified resolution will be applied.
The Disciplinary Committee’s decision will be final, and no further appeal will be permitted.
Disciplinary Committee
We have not yet selected our committee members for the 2024-2025 however will update this shortly. The aim of the committee is to have representation from each division.
For incidents, the members will be tasked to review, assess, and address the issue brought to their attention. To reduce any chance of bias, the names of the players and teams involved in any issue will be withheld in an effort for the committee to focus strictly on the incident itself and to come to a credible resolution that will satisfy all parties. Any incidents that are directly tied to one or more of the committee members, an alternate member will be asked to fill in.
The Committee’s focus will be to uphold the Legends Sevens’ commitment to offer a higher standard of recreational soccer league than any other.
Examples of issues that the committee may address include red card appeals, unsporting or unsavory behavior on the pitch, on the sidelines, or on the MegaDome property, violations relating to roster and player eligibility, or anything else we feel may require the committee’s assistance.
In all cases where the Disciplinary Committee is involved, their decision will be final.
