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Kick It 3v3 Rules on Airpitch

The rules on this web page override rules printed elsewhere, and the tournament director has the right to change rules before the tournament starts and provide proper notification.​

  • Main Differences Between AirPitch 3v3 and Old 3v3:

    • Playing Pitch: Games are played on our unique 10 X 15 Yards AirPitch system which keeps the ball in play more.

    • Kick off: Game starts with all players touching their Goal line or AirPitch Goal Line. On whistle it is a race to the ball on the center spot.

    • Substitutions: Made on fly from the sidelines. Player leaving the field must be close enough to be able to tag the player who is coming on.

    • Penalty Kick (PK): Awarded if a scoring opportunity was nullified by an infraction (the infraction does not automatically result in a red card). A PK is a DIRECT kick from 10 feet from midfield on the defensive half (on both teams) behind the shooter. PKs are dead ball infractions. If goal is not scored, goal kick awarded.

    • Game Length: Games are only 10 minutes long with no halftime, however, since the ball rarely goes out of bounds, it is more intense than our traditional games with nearly 100% more touches on the ball.

    • Penalty Box: any serious foul play will result in a 3 minute sin bin. The player must leave the pitch and only return once the referee confirms it is ok to do so.

    • Restart After Goal is Scored: After a goal is scored the defensive team must run back and touch their own defensive endline pitch before they can play again. Team that is scored against must wait for the referee to write down the score and then blow the whistle. Then play is restarted with a goal kick.

    • Ball is not out if it hits the AirPitch.

  • Rosters: Teams can have 3-6 players, sometimes an event may allow more at the directors discretion

  • Number of players on field:  Maximum 3, Minimum of 2. If it is adult COED then 1 Female must be on the field at all times.

  • DIRECT & INDIRECT KICKS: All dead-ball kicks (kick-ins, kick-offs, free kicks) are indirect with the exception of corner kicks and penalty kicks. Indirect kicks must only change position before the ball will be considered in play. Opposing team must give 10 feet of space from the ball if requested by a player or the referee. If a free kick is awarded within 5 feet of the opposing goal box, the ball will be moved back to 10 feet from the box. It is the referee’s discretion where the ball will be placed.

  • Goal Kick: Indirect kick; kicked from within 3 feet of the goal.

  • Corner Kick: Direct kick from within 3 feet of the corner.

  • Throw-in? : Kick ins are used, not throw-ins or dribble-ins. Indirect kick 

  • 10 Feet Rule: All restarts: defending players must be at least 10 Feet away from ball. 

  • 5 second rule: Play must be restarted within 5 seconds of the “all ready to play signal” from the referee, or it becomes a turnover to the opposing team at that same spot. 
    If a 5 second rule violation occurs on a goal kick, a corner kick is awarded.

  • 6 Goal differential rule: Team that is down by 6 goals or more may add a “4th player” to the field. 
    When goal differential drops to 5, play returns to 3v3 

  • Heading: Per US Soccer, no intentional heading for teams U11 or younger.  Indirect kick

  • Goal Scoring: A goal may only be scored from a touch (offensive or defensive) within the half of the field that the goal is located. The ball must be completely in that half of the field and cannot be touching the midline when it is last touched. If there is no midline marked on the field this is up to the referee's discretion.

  • If a player in their defensive half kicks the ball across the midline and the ball then hits any another player, and then the ball goes in the goal, a goal is awarded.

  • If a ball is kicked from the defensive half of the field and is not touched before entering the goal, a goal kick is awarded.

  • The Goal Box: There is no ball contact allowed within the goal box, which includes its lines.

  • A goal is awarded if the defensive team touches the ball while either any part of the player or the ball is within the goal box.

  • A goal kick is awarded if the offensive team touches the ball while either any part of the player or the ball is within the goal box.

  • A goal kick is awarded if the ball stops within the goal box.

  • Note: Any player may enter/pass through the goal box as long as they do not touch the ball while in the box.

  • Plane of the Goal / Net Interference    A goal is awarded if the ball strikes the goal’s netting and is then returned back into the field of play without completely crossing the goal line. In simple terms, the net should not prohibit a shot from fully entering the goal.

  • Misc.    no goalkeepers, no off-side, no slide tackling; ​

  • If the ball does go out of play, then the opposition has a kick in from where the ball went out.

  • You can not score from your own half unless it touches someone oin the offensive half before it goes in.

  • Red cards may be given by referees which will result in a minimum 2 game ban for the individual player.

Please review our tournament rules (link here) regarding tiebreakers and inclement weather, rosters and more.

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