5-A Side Rules NEW SEASON

SOCCER (5 A-SIDE) RULES

ALL TEAMS MUST BE AVAILABLE TO PLAY BETWEEN

6.30pm - 10.15pm

TEAM:An official team shall consist of five (5) players including goalkeeper, with unlimited substitute players. No team can start with less than four (4) players.

Match fees are $75 per match/per team for Seniors, and $65 per match/per team for Youth (under 17 years).

GAME DURATION: 40 minutes / 2 x 20-minute halves with a two-minute break, for both Seniors and Youth.

SHIN PADS: are compulsory. Any player without shin pads will NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY.

UNIFORM: (no jeans) Team members, with the exception of the goalkeeper, must have identical soccer shirts or identical tops of the same colour. If this is not done by the start of the team's 2^rd competition game, teams will be penalized One (1) goal per shirt. Goalkeepers must wear a different color shirt.

Items such as earrings, chains, rings, watches, hats etc. are not allowed to be worn during the game.

BALLS: We are not responsible for supplying a training ball. The match ball will not be given out.

PAYMENT:Under no circumstances will the game commence if full payment has not been made.

ATTENTION - ALL PLAYERS must print their name on the Player Registration & Scorecard at reception upon arrival. These MUST be legible and accompanied by the player's signature. The last player to sign the form is responsible for giving the Scorecard to the referee in order for the game to start. If all players' names are not listed on the scorecard for each match, the team will be penalized one (1) goal per name. All players must know and understand the rules of the game and the conditions of the Centre. All new players are responsible to ensure that their name is entered on the original Team Registration Form held by the Centre. All teams are responsible for their friends and spectators behavior, as this will affect your team being allowed to continue in the competition.

CAPTAIN / VICE CAPTAIN is responsible to pay the match fee prior to the commencement of the game and ensure all players are listed correctly on the scorecard for that match. The Captain must ensure that all new players are entered on the Team Registration Form prior to playing, which is held by the Centre. It is the Captains responsibility to ensure that the Team Registration Form is always up to date. Management and the referee reserve the right to ask for ID if required. The Captain is to ensure that all players are aware of the game rules. The Captain must make himself known to the referee prior to the game. The Captain will be held responsible for the actions of its players and spectators.

BEING ON TIME: Punctuality is crucial!! Teams are advised to arrive at least 15 minutes before the game time. A team will be penalized one (1) goal for lateness. The referee will start the electronic clock at the scheduled game time.

Please ensure all valuables are taken care of, as the Centre will not accept any responsibility for loss of property.

FORFEITS: If teams are unable to play a match, a minimum of one-week notice is required. If a team has to cancel, they will lose 5 points. If a team fails to show up without telling the management, they will lose 10 points.

The team that forfeits, is required to pay for that game the following week in order to continue on in the competition.

The team playing opposite a team who has forfeited will be offered a friendly game. It is up to your captain to pay the match fee before the friendly game starts. You will get a 5-point win for a friendly game. If the match fee is not paid you will not receive any points and a game will not be provided.

FOUL RULES & CONDITIONS:

After a team has been awarded five (5) fouls the 6^th foul & onwards will be a penalty. These penalties are taken from the halfway point between the base & service lines of the tennis court. The player taking the penalty may take as many steps as they wish provided that they start the run up from within the above mentioned area (in front of the service line). No one can join in play until the ball has been kicked. All other players must be outside the perimeter of the tennis court (the singles court) & not forward of the base line.
No sliding tackles are allowed.
Players cannot play the ball while they are on the ground.
No player is allowed to jump into or on another player.
No player is allowed to obstruct or hold back a player.
Fouls are reset to zero after the halftime break.

TACKLING: Tackling from the side or behind and slide tackling from all angles is not allowed. Slide tackling will be punished with an automatic Yellow Card. However, you may clearly play the ball from the side as long as no contact is made during or after the challenge: a foul will be given at the referee's discretion. Under no circumstances may you reach through a player's legs from behind.

FREE KICKS all free kicks are direct. Players must wait for the referee's all clear/whistle to restart the game. Free kicks must be taken within 5 seconds of the whistle. The referee will award a free kick for the following:

Touching the nets with any part of your body in a contested situation;
Touching the nets with your hands at any time;
Touching the nets in a dangerous manner (referee's discretion);

Tackling from behind or between a players legs and slide tackling from any angle;
Unfairly tackling a player and not playing the ball;
Handball (when the ball makes contact with the arm, from the shoulder down to the hand);
Rough/Dangerous play;
Foot above waist height in a contested situation (players lifting legs above hip height in an attempt to kick the ball). A drop ball will be called if two players lift their leg at the same time.
Verbal abuse or yelling at the opposing player when going for the ball.

At free-kicks the wall must stand at least 3 metres from the ball. If an offence occurs within 3 metres of the penalty area, the free-kick will be moved back to 3 metres outside the area.

If an offence occurs close to the side-netting, the free-kick will be taken from the outside tram line of the tennis court.

Players cannot make contact with the net at any time of the game. This will result in a free kick to the opposition.

GOALS: A goal is only counted when the whole ball has passed over the whole of the white goal line.

DISALLOWED GOALS: No goal will be recorded when the ball comes off any net and then goes directly in for a goal.

SUBSTITUTIONS The referee must authorize all substitutions. In general, substitutions are permitted when either goalkeeper has the ball and at each stoppage of play. No substitutions are allowed after the 18-minute mark (the last 2 minutes) of each half.

YELLOW CARD - Warning / The offending team will concede a penalty.

RED CARD - Given under severe circumstances. The offending team will concede a penalty. Any player who is red-carded will be ejected from the competition by the referee, disqualified for the rest of the night and also disqualified from the game the following week. Another player may take his place on the field after three minutes or after the opposition has scored a goal (not including the penalty). If the same player receives three (3) red cards in a two (2) month period, that player will be suspended for six (6) consecutive weeks.

Players sent off for arguing with other players, the referee or staff (during or after the game) will automatically receive aminimum one (1) match suspension. Management will determine the length of the suspension, depending on the severity. Any player's penalized for fighting (striking an opponent) before, during or after a game will be banned from the Centre.

All cards as given at the referee's discretion.

GOALKEEPER AREA RULES:

All players (attackers and defenders) are allowed into the goalkeeper's area to play the ball.
If an attacker has one foot clearly outside the semi-circle white line, he can kick the ball in the goalkeeper's direction and if he scores a goal it will count.
(Attacker -Warning) Any attacker inside the goalkeeper's area cannot kick the ball in the direction of the goals. A penalty will be awarded against that player.
A penalty will be awarded for any foul committed in the goalkeeper's area by a defending player. In addition, any deliberate foul in the attacking half preventing a scoring chance may be punished by a penalty (at the referee's discretion).

GOALKEEPER RULES:

The goalkeeper is not allowed to leave his area with both feet. A penalty will be awarded against him. If he does so.
If an attacker has possession of the ball in the goalkeeper's area, the goalkeeper can only play the ball with his feet (not his hands) and not endanger himself by bending over and getting kicked in the head. A penalty will be given against the goalkeeper. The same rule applies if it is a 50/50 ball (referee's discretion).
The goalkeeper can touch or play the ball by hand outside his area, provided that one foot is clearly inside his area.WARNINGThe goalkeeper must not bend over and grab the ball from an attacker.(A penalty will be awarded against him).
The goalkeeper can only play the ball with his feet outside his area if he still has one foot clearly inside the goalkeeper's area.
The goalkeeper can handle and kick the ball inside the goalkeeper's area. A penalty will be given against the goalkeeper if he touches the ball with his hands outside the goalkeeper's area.
The goalkeeper has five (5) seconds to dispose of the ball once he has taken hold of it or after a substitution. If he fails to do so a free kick will be awarded from the center of the service court. The goalkeeper must keep in mind that if he chooses to play the ball on the ground, an attacker can take the opportunity to take the ball off him if it is not in his two hands.
The goalkeeper can kick or throw the ball up to the baseline of the opposite half. If it goes past the baseline, a penalty will be awarded against him.

A PENALTY WILL BE AWARDED FOR:

When the goalkeeper touches the ball with his hands (while both feet are outside his area);
If a foul is committed where (in the referee's mind) there is a direct chance on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat.
For any foul committed in the goalkeeper's area by a defending player.
If the goalkeeper takes the ball from an attackers feet by hand or is caught attempting to take possession by hand in a 50/50 scenario.
(Attacker - Warning)No attacker inside the goalkeeper's area may kick the ball in the direction of the goals.

PENALTY KICKS:

The goalkeeper is the only person who can defend a penalty kick.
The goalkeeper must stand on the goal line and can only move once the ball has been kicked.
All other players must stand behind the service line or outside the single court lines. They may not be e within (1) meter of the player taking the penalty.

FINALS: All players must be registered on the ?Team Registration Form? held by the Centre. All players must have played in a minimum of five (5) matches for the same team during the current seasons to be eligible to play in finals. Players are only allowed to play for one team during finals.

*WARNING *NETS: No player is allowed to place their hands or any part of their body on the nets. A free kick will be awarded against any player who is running for the ball knowing that he/she will not be able to stop in time & avoid contact with the net. Any player running into the nets while they do or do not have the ball, will be given a yellow card for running into the nets. No contact with the nets is allowed at all!!

REFEREE: All decisions by the referee are final. Do not argue with the referee, he will not change his mind. Teams have no choice in referees. If a team wishes to question or speak to the referee, only the captain may approach the referee at either half time or at the end of the game, in a calm and reasonable manner.

SPORTSMANSHIP: Sportsmanlike behavior is required at all times. Spitting, racial abuse and swearing will be considered a serious offence. Management reserves the right to ask both players and spectators to leave the Centre and not return if their behavior is considered unacceptable. Teams or players may be disqualified from the competition at the discretion of Management at any time and no refund will be given.

ALCOHOL is to be consumed upstairs only. You may not bring alcohol into our Centre.

Please ensure all valuables are taken care of, as Knox Indoor Soccer Centre will not accept any responsibility for loss of property.

All rules shall be interpreted by the Referee & Management in accordance with the Knox Indoor Soccer Rules.

Updated on 29/7/2010