Rules

1. Equipment

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player. All jewellery should be removed. Plain wedding bands must be taped if they cannot be removed. Shin guards must be covered entirely by socks made of a suitable material (rubber, plastic or similar substances) and provide a reasonable degree of protection. Goalkeepers are permitted to wear long trousers and must wear colours, which easily distinguish him from the other players on the field and the referee.

2. The Referee

Each match is controlled by a match official (referee) who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the game to which he has been appointed, from the moment he enters the playing area until he leaves.

3. Duration of Play

The game shall be divided into two equal periods of 15-25 minutes – each period is subject to the following:

  • (a) Allowance shall be made in either period for time lost through stoppages as decided by the referee.
  • (b) The duration of either period shall be extended to enable a penalty kick to be taken. The half-time interval shall not exceed five minutes except by consent of the referee.
  • (c) Competition rules may allow for a game to be played in its entirety without a half time interval or requirement to change ends.

4.General Game Rules

Kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play: at the start of the game, after a goal has been scored, at the start of the second half of the game, and at the start of each period of extra time, where applicable. A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off. All players must be in their own half of the field; the opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 3m from the ball until it is in play. The ball must be stationary on the centre mark until the referee gives a signal. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward. The kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

Drop Ball is a way of restarting the game after a temporary stoppage. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.

Ball Out of Play
The ball is out of play when: it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline, whether on the ground or in the air or when the referee has stopped play.

Ball In Play
The ball is in play at all other times including when: it rebounds from a goal post, the crossbar or if it rebounds from the referee when on the playing area.

Height of Ball Restrictions

The height restriction has now been lifted and over head height rules no longer apply.

Slide Tackling

NO slide tackling this WILL result in a card and a caution and a fine.

 

Offside
There is no offside.

Areas of Play
All players, both attackers and defenders, are not permitted to play within the penalty areas. Goals can not be scored within the penalty area.

5. Making Substitutions

The maximum number of substitutes permitted is two. The number of substitutions made during a game is unlimited. A player who has been replaced may return to the playing area as a substitute for another player. Substitutions should take place when there is a break in play and does not need the referees consent.

Changing Places with the Goalkeeper
Any of the other players, or substitutes, may change places with the goalkeeper. The following conditions must be observed: the referee must be informed before the change is made; a change may only be made during a stoppage in play, the replacement goalkeeper must wear a jersey, which distinguishes him from all other players and the referee.

Viability of a Game – Playing Numbers
If a team loses at any time more than two members of their team the game should be abandoned.

6. Fouls and Free Kicks

Fouls and misconduct are penalised as follows:

A Direct Free Kick
A direct free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred and can be kicked directly into the opponent’s goal to score a goal. The referee keeps one arm horizontal pointing in the direction the kick has to be taken. A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

  • attempts to kick or trip an opponent
  • jumps at, pushes, holds or charges an opponent (even with the shoulder)
  • strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
  • spits at an opponent,
  • slides in an attempt to play the ball when it is being played or attempted to be played by an opponent (sliding tackle), except when the match is being played on a natural or artificial grass playing surface
  • handles the ball deliberately, except for the goalkeeper in his penalty area

Position of the Ball and the Players for a Penalty Kick
The ball is placed on the penalty mark; the player taking the penalty kick is properly identified. The defending goalkeeper must remain on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts, until the ball has been kicked. The players other than the kicker are located: inside the pitch, outside the penalty area, behind or to the side of the penalty mark, at least 5m from the ball. The player taking the penalty is permitted to take only one step before striking the ball.The player taking the penalty must kick the ball forward; they may not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward.

Indirect Free Kicks
An indirect free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred, unless this was in the penalty area, in which case the indirect free kick is taken from the penalty area line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. An indirect free kick is awarded for the following offences:

  • a Goalkeeper touches or controls the ball with his hands after it has been kicked to him by a team-mate he just distributed the ball to, without it touching another player
  • a Goalkeeper retains the ball in the penalty area, for more than six seconds
  • the ball exceeds the height of ball restrictions (optional modification)

if, in the opinion of the referee, a player: plays in a dangerous manner, deliberately impedes the progress of an opponent when the ball is not being played, prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands, commits any other offence, not previously mentioned for which play is stopped to dismiss a player.

From an Indirect Free Kick a goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal. The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm above his head. He maintains his arm in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.

Position of Free Kick
All opponents must be at least 1m from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play after it has been touched or played.

7. Disciplinary Sanctions

Players will be issued with a yellow card when commiting what is deemed to be a cautionable offence. Players will be issued with a red card when they commit an offence that is deemed to be severely reckless endangering the either the oppositionn the referee or themselves. The issuing of either of these sanctions is at the referees discretion and referees decision is binding. The options for a match official imposing disciplinary sanctions are therefore:

  • player issued with a red card and permanently excluded from play the direction of the Referee or a Match Official if one is available.
  • Yellow Card (Cautionable) Offences
    A player is shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following offences: is guilty of unsporting behaviour, shows dissent by word or action, persistently infringes the Laws of the Game, delays the restart of play, fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, kick-in, free kick or goal clearance. Enters or re-enters the pitch without the referee’s permission or infringes the substitution procedure, deliberately leaves the pitch without the referee’s permission. For any of these offences, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. If the offence was committed within the penalty area the indirect free kick is taken from the penalty area line at the place nearest to where the infringement occurred.
  • Red Card (Sending-Off) Offences
    A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following offences: is guilty of serious foul play, is guilty of violent conduct, spits at an opponent or any other person, denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area). Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick. Uses offensive, insulting or abusive language. Or if a player receives a second yellow card in the same match.

Decisions
A player who has been sent off may not take any further part in the match nor may he sit on the substitutes’ bench, where provided.

Yellow and red cards also result in a £5 and £10 fines respectively payable by the team.

8. Returning the Ball into Play

The roll-in is a method of restarting play. A goal cannot be scored directly from a roll-in. A roll-in is awarded if, the whole of the ball passes over a touch line, either on the ground or in the air. A roll-in is taken from the place where it crossed the touchline. The roll-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball. The player taking the roll-in may not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player. The ball is in play immediately after it is rolled. The players of the defending team must be at least 1m from the place where the roll-in is taken. The feet of the player taking the roll-in must not cross the line.

The Corner Kick
When the ball goes over the goal line either side of the goal and the last touch is from the defending team it results in a corner kick. The same rules apply to corners as roll-ins with the exception that it is kicked in rather than rolled and a goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.

Game rules will vary through different seasons and are subject to changes and alterations.

5 a side · 5 aside · 5aside · 5-aside · 5-a-side · five a side · five aside · fiveaside · five-aside · five-a-side · 6 a side · 6 aside · 6aside · 6-aside · 6-a-side · six a side · six aside · sixaside · six-aside · six-a-side · 7 a side · 7 aside · 7aside · 7-aside · 7-a-side · seven a side · seven aside · sevenaside · seven-aside · seven-a-side · football leagues · football league · football event · football events · league · Ballerz League · ballerzleague · ballerz · league · play football