USINDOOR RELEASES OFFICIAL RULES

2004 Edition now available via USIndoor.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 4, 2004) – The United State Indoor Soccer Association has released The Official Rules of Indoor Soccer (second edition), covering rules of the game for youth and amateur play.

For the last several years, the first edition of the Official Rules, published in 2001, served a vital role by helping define indoor soccer (where play is bounded by a perimeter wall) and providing standards where none had previously existed. This second edition, created under the auspices of USIndoor’s National Rules Committee, further refines the rules of the game applicable to all amateur competitions – youth and adult, men, women and coed.

“Four years ago USIndoor first devised generally accepted rules of indoor soccer. This year’s National Committee, chaired by National Indoor Championship president Tom Mura, believed it was important to focus on the distinctions that make indoor soccer special, compared to other forms of soccer,” said Don Shapero, USIndoor president.

Some of the rules, modified by the Committee, concern Penalty Card violations, Powerplays, Goalkeeper Distributions and Shootouts. Effective immediately, the 2004 Official Rules become an integral part of USIndoor’s Referee Certification Program, the only one in the country by which indoor soccer referees receive specialized training and a national badge for youth and amateur play.

Aside from Chairman Mura, National Rules Commission members included Jeff Doyle (Plymouth Sports Dome, MA), Jim Cline (The Goals Group, Columbus, OH), Chris Thomas (Oklahoma City Indoor Soccer Arenas, OK), David Simmons (USIndoor National Instructor, Sacramento, CA) and Said Sanhoury (USIndoor Director of Officials, San Diego, CA).

USIndoor estimates there are approximately 700 recreational facilities that play indoor soccer in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Copies of the Official Rules and information about referee certification are available via USIndoor’s Website at www.usindoor.com.

The United States Indoor Soccer Association is dedicated to promoting the interests of indoor soccer.