Competition
Rules
As at 16th September 2017
In this competition the emphasis
is on enjoyment, social atmosphere and skill development /
maintenance. While
competitiveness is not discouraged, it should be remembered that novice
players need some encouragement
and the "win at all costs" philosophy is not appropriate. All
rules are open to the
interpretation of the Referee and their decision is final.
Clarification
of Common Misinterpretations
Hand-ball – the ball
touching the hand of a player will not necessarily constitute a free-kick. The
Referee will call a hand-ball if
a player intentionally makes contact with the ball by a hand or arm
(not shoulder or chest). Usually
this is by moving the hand or arm towards the ball, but it could
also be holding the arm
stationary in position where contact would advantage the player’s team.
Free Kicks – if a free
kick is called, the team awarded the kick can take this kick straight away
without the need for a whistle
from the Referee, unless the Referee asks the kicking team to wait.
The Referee will do this if they
need to caution or discuss an issue with a player or move
defensive players back the
minimum distance of 5 metres. Players should assume that all free
kicks are direct free-kicks, unless
the Referee holds one hand straight up above their head to
signal an indirect free kick.
Dangerous Play – a Referee can
award an indirect free kick against a player at any time if in the
opinion of the Referee the
player performs a dangerous act even if contact is not made with any
other player. Examples of
dangerous play include raising your foot above waist height to kick a
ball and raising your studs at a
player to challenge for the ball.
1.
Responsibility of Players
All players are responsible for
reading and understanding the rules contained herein. Players and
their associated spectators are
not permitted to be under the influence of, alcohol (or other banned
substances), during the games.
If there are any rules that are
not clear please discuss these with the Referee prior to the
commencement of the game or at
half time. Because of time constraints the Referees will not
discuss rules or rulings during
the game.
Should any player be found to
consistently damage equipment, venue apparatuses or other
associated materials, despite
warnings, they shall be suspended from the competition and be
required to pay for damages
incurred.
2.
Responsibility of Officials
Referee
The Referee is directly
responsible for the game and ensuring the described rules are adhered to.
They are responsible for the
timing and conduct of the games. They have a duty to be respectful
and considerate to teams, act in
an unbiased manner and ensure the game remains social and
enjoyable for everyone involved.
Convenor
The convenor is responsible for
the management of all the games, teams, venue, equipment and
administration. Please contact
the volunteers in the canteen should First Aid treatment be
required.
3. Conduct of
Players
It is the responsibility of all
the players to conduct themselves in a way that is respectful and
considerate to team members,
opposing teams, the officials and any other person concerned. Any
behaviour, act or language that
is considered inappropriate by the officials will not be tolerated.
Poor conduct either on or off
the field will be determined by the officials and action will be taken
based upon the offence. This can
include cautions or the removal of a player, or team from the
competition, should they be
deemed dangerous or offensive to players or officials.
4. Game
Commencement
(a) Teams should
arrive 10 minutes prior to the commencement of their match to allow for
smooth transition of games. All
players must sign in on the registration form before taking
the field. The
sign-on sheets will be located in the clubhouse.
(b) Any teams that
have not registered ineligible players and are not ready to commence play
with a minimum of 5 appropriate
players (see Rule 5) 5 minutes after the Referee has signalled
the game can start will incur a
0-5 loss.
(c) A game may go
ahead after 10 minutes; however the 0-5 loss will stand regardless of the
actual score.
In all circumstances the game
must finish at the scheduled time.
5. Number of
Players & Substitutions
A team can register a maximum of
10 players. Should injuries or other circumstances reduce the
number of available players in
any team they may apply to have additional players added to their
team lists.
(a) A team is
allowed a maximum of seven (7) registered/eligible players (including a
goalkeeper) on the field. Five
(5) registered/eligible players is the minimum number of players
that a team can have without a
forfeit resulting.
(b) Teams are
allowed unlimited substitutions, which may only be made once the ball is out of
play, however, to avoid wasting
time, the Referee will not necessarily stop play from restarting.
Substitutions may not be made
when the ball is not out of play. The substitute player must enter
the field from the same location
as the substituted player exits.
(c) Teams may
commence games with five (5) players.
6. Required
Uniform and Jewellery
ALL player wear shin guards
(covered by long socks) and it is highly recommended that
mouthguards are used at all
times, however if players do not wish to wear mouthguards, they do
so at their own risk.
Shin pads must
be worn = no shin pads, no play.
Tarragindi Tigers advises that
players in a team should all wear the same colour shirt. If there is a
clash between teams, coloured
bibs will be provided by the Referee/Convenor. If they are
distributed, it is the
responsibility of the team captain to ensure that they are all returned to the
Referee after the game.
No player can take the field
with bare feet or while wearing jewellery of any kind. All watches,
necklaces, dangling earrings,
bracelets, rings which are not bands MUST be removed prior to the
game.
The Referee will ask any player
breaking this rule to remove the piece of jewellery. Players must wear covered
footwear and are not permitted to wear any type of screw-in studs, work boots
or hiking boots. The Referee, prior to the commencement of the game, shall
inspect players footwear to ensure that they are appropriate. If they are
deemed not to be appropriate, the player will not be able to take the field
without the appropriate footwear.
7. Game Length
Games consist of two (2) equal
halves of no more than twenty-five (25) minutes with players
entitled to a five-minute half
time break. No clock stoppages will be made except under
exceptional circumstances. Such
circumstances will be at the sole discretion of the Referee. No
time outs are allowed.
Intentionally delaying the restart of play will result in a caution (yellow
card).
If a game commences late then it
still must finish at the scheduled time. If such a circumstance
arises, the halves may be
shortened. This is up to the discretion of the Referee. If a drink break is
required, all players must stay
on the field while they quickly have a drink; the Referee will not
delay the restart for players
not returning to the field.
8. Start &
Restart of Play
To either start play, or restart
play (after a goal) a kick-off is used. Note that a goal cannot scored
directly from a kick-off.
The ball must be placed on the
half-way line and the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
forward. The kicking player may
not touch the ball again until it has been touched by another
player.
9. The Playing
and Goal Areas
Attacking players are NOT permitted
to touch the ball when it is in the goal box ‘D’ and no
offside rule is in play.
Goal Kicks
A goal kick is awarded when the
whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground
or in the air, having last
touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored. A player
of the defending team must place
the ball on the ground inside the Goal Box ‘D' marked out on
the field, and then kick it to a
team mate. The player cannot "kick it to themselves" nor have a
team-mate pass the ball back to
the keeper to pick up (see rule 11).
If the player taking the goal
kick touches the ball a second time before another player, the goal
kick is retaken. If this rule is
broken again, an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the attacking
team from where the player
touched the ball a second time. A goal can be scored directly from a
goal-kick. However, when a goal
kick is taken and the ball crosses the half way line without
being touched by any player or
bouncing before it crosses the half way line an indirect free kick
is awarded to the other team.
The free kick is taken from the half way line.
Corner Kicks
A corner kick is awarded when
the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the
air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored.
A player of the attacking team must place the ball on the
ground in the corner of the
field which the Referee indicates, where the goal line and the sideline
intersect (the corner of the
field), and then kick it to another player. This player cannot ‘kick it to
themselves'. If the player
taking the corner kick touches the ball a second time before another
player, the corner is then
retaken. If this rule is broken again, an indirect free kick shall be
awarded to the defending team
from where the player touched the ball a second time. A goal can
be scored directly from a corner
kick.
Kick-in
A kick-in is awarded to the
opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of
the ball crosses the touch line,
either on the ground or in the air. A goal cannot be scored directly from a
kick-in.
The player taking the kick-in
must kick it to another player before he/she can touch the ball again.
If he/she touches the ball again
before another player, the kick in is retaken. If this rule is broken
again, an indirect kick shall be
awarded to the opposing team to be taken from where the
infringement occurred.
10. Goals
A goal is scored when the whole
of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the
crossbar. Goals can be scored from anywhere on the field (except from inside
the Goal Box ‘D’ by an attacker). A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick
off or directly from a kick-in, without another player touching it first. A
goal can be scored directly from a corner kick.
11. The
Goalkeeper
A goalkeeper is not permitted to
keep control of the ball in his/her hands for more than 5 seconds or an
indirect free kick to the opposition team will be awarded. A goalkeeper is not
permitted to touch the ball with his/her hand inside his own Goal Box ‘D’ in
the following circumstances:
•
If he/she handles the ball again after it has been released
from his/her possession and has not touched any other player:
–
The goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball by
touching
it with any
part of his/her hands or arms except if the ball rebounds
accidentally
from him/her, e.g. after he/she has made a save
–
Possession of the ball includes the goalkeeper deliberately
parrying the ball.
•
if he/she touches the ball with his/her hands after it has
been deliberately kicked to
him/her by a
team-mate.
•
if he/she touches the ball with his/her hands after he/she
has received it directly from a kick-in taken by a team-mate.
Otherwise an indirect free kick
to the opposition team will be awarded
The goal keeper can throw or
kick the ball after securing the ball. However, the ball cannot cross
the half-way line without being
touched by any player or bouncing before it crosses the half way
line after being thrown or
kicked from within the Goal Box ’D’. An indirect free kick is awarded
to the other team. The free kick
is taken from the half way line.
When a goal kick is taken and
the ball crosses the half way line without being touched by any
player or bouncing before it
crosses the half way line an indirect free kick is awarded to the other
team. The free kick is taken
from the half way line.
When substitutions occur, the
player coming onto the field may assume any position on the field
including the goal keeper
position. If an outfield player or substitute assumes the goalkeeper
position, then the player who
was goalkeeper must either immediately remove themselves from
the field (if they are the
player being substituted off) or immediately assume another position on
the field (if another outfield
player is being substituted off). Changing the goal keeper may only
be done when the ball is out of
play, and the Referee must be notified of this change.
12. Restart of
Play.
Players must be five metres (5m)
from the ball for all restart of play (free kicks, kick-offs, goal
kicks, kick-ins & corner
kicks etc).
For a direct penalty the ball is
placed six metres (6m) from the goal line. A goal may be scored
directly from a penalty kick.
All players must be at least 5m from the penalty spot and behind the
ball.
13. Slide
Tackles
Due to safety concerns, NO slide
tackles will be tolerated. If a player loses their footing in order
to make a tackle and as a result
ends up with even part of their body on the ground, a direct free
kick shall be awarded to the
other team. A warning may be given to the offending player upon
their first offence if adjudged
inadvertent. If they commit the same offence again, the Referee will
issue a Yellow Card If, in the
opinion of the Referee, a player intentionally makes a slide tackle a
Yellow Card may be issued. If
the player commits a slide tackle after already receiving the
Yellow Card, they may be issued
2nd Yellow Card and then a Red Card and immediately sent
from the field without a
replacement.
14. The Sin Bin
This competition is social. Any
rough play, abusive language, back-chat or challenge to the
Referees’ authority by word or
action will not be tolerated. Rough play includes but is not limited
to any form of aggressive slide
tackle, tackling a player from behind, shoulder charging and any
other act or omission that, in
the Referee’s opinion, places the safety of players at risk.
In most instances the following
process will apply for the above infringements; however the
Referee is perfectly entitled to
send off any player at any stage for any reason for any period of
time if they feel it necessary
to do so for player safety or their ability to effectively control the
game:
First offence
Verbal warning may administered
by the Referee. Yellow Card may be issued by the Referee.
Second offence
Yellow Card will be given by the
Referee for the 2nd offence. Time of 5 minutes in the sin bin for
a second infringement or a
single incident that the Referee feels is sufficiently dangerous to
warrant its award. The Referee
will signal this by issuing a Blue Card (or by showing a Red Card
and signalling 5 with an open
hand). No substitute player is allowed to replace a player who is sin
binned.
Third offence
The player is sent off for the
remainder of the game. Should the behaviour be deemed excessive,
then the player may be asked to
leave the venue and suspended from the next round. Should the
player remain or play in the
next round, then the team will forfeit the game. This can be awarded
for a third infringement or a
single incident that a Referee feels is sufficiently violent, anti-social
or dangerous enough to warrant
its award. The Referee will signal this by issuing a Red Card. No
substitute is allowed to replace
a player who is sent off.
Cautionable
Offences
A player is cautioned and shown
the yellow card if he commits any of the
following seven offences:
•
Unsporting behaviour
•
Dissent by word or action
•
Persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game
•
Delaying the restart of play
•
Failure to respect the required distance when play is
restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in
•
Entering or re-entering the field of play without the
referee’s permission
•
Deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s
permission
Send Off
Offences
A player, substitute or
substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the
following seven offences:
•
Serious foul play.
•
Violent conduct.
•
spitting at an opponent or any other person.
•
Denying 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).
•
Denying an obvious goals coring opportunity to an opponent
moving towards the player’s goal
•
by an offence punishable by a free kick or a
•
penalty kick.
•
Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or
gestures.
•
Receiving a second caution in the same match.
Any player who
received a Red Card within a match will automatically be suspended for 1
match.
Any player who
accumulates 4 Yellow Cards within the tournament will automatically be
suspended for 1
match.
Poor conduct either on or off
the field will be determined by the officials and action will be taken
based upon the offence. This can
include additional suspensions to a player, removal of a player
from the competition, or removal
of team from the competition, should they be deemed
dangerous or offensive to
players or officials.
The 7aside Management
Committee’s decision are final.
15. Team Draws
It is the responsibility of the
team captain and individual team members to read the draw and
ensure players register and
arrive at the correct field in time for kick-off. All correspondence will
be forwarded via e-mail to the
team contacts and will be available through the website.
16. Scorecards
and Points
The Referees will keep score.
Three points will be awarded for a win, zero points for a loss and
one point for a draw. Teams who
lose by forfeit will receive zero points and their opposition will
receive three points. The result
shall be recorded as 5-0.
Please note that the competition
administrator reserves the right to ask a team to leave the
competition, without refund,
should they forfeit more than 2 games and do not provide a valid
reason. In this instance, what
is deemed "valid" shall be at the sole discretion of the competition
administrator(s).
17. Injury
A player may call for a stoppage
due to an injury or illness, although the decision to stop play
shall be at the sole discretion
of the Referee. If a player is injured, it is their or their team mate's
responsibility to immediately
inform the Referee. The Referee may stop the game at any time.
For a minor injury, the Referee
should send the injured player or a bystander to the canteen for
first aid treatment.
If a player has a minor injury
or blood on their clothing or their person, they have a maximum of
2 minutes to be treated and/or
remove all signs of blood on field, or they will have to be
substituted with another player.
After 2 minutes have elapsed, the Referee should immediately
restart the game. Time for
injury will not be added on. The Referee can stop a game for any
period of time to deal with an
emergency.
For a medical emergency, the
Referee is to remain with the injured player and send somebody
else to inform the canteen of
the emergency. Time for medical emergencies will not be added on.
Should a medical emergency
result in less than half the game being played, then all efforts will be
made to reschedule the game.
During time for injury, all
players must remain on the field unless involved in a substitution. In
the event that a player is
bleeding, they must leave the field immediately (for health and safety
reasons) and not return until
the wound has been cleaned and all blood and blood stained items
have been removed and covered.
If necessary, the ball and field shall be cleaned before play
resumes.
18. Field of
Play
Two fields shall be placed side
by side running across the field. A 1 metre gap between the fields
is required. A minimum of 2
metres from the goalposts (unless removed) is also required.
The goal circle is to have a six
metre radius and to be flat across the front of goal. The semi-circle
extends from the ends of the
straight 3 metre line.
No corner posts or witches hats
are to be placed on the corners. They are to be left free for corner
kicks.
19. Goals
Goals are to be the futsal size
– 3 metres wide by 2 metres high or similar.
20. Balls
Size 5 is to be used for Senior
Mens, Senior Womens and U14/16 competitions.
Size 4 is to be used for Girls,
Junior competition U8 to U13.
Size 3 is to be used for all age
groups U7 and below.
21. Wet Weather
The club will update the website
with any field closures due to wet weather by 5PM of the day of
play. Please check the website.
However a game may be called off either prior to play or during
play at the discretion of the
referee or club committee members. Games cancelled due to wet
weather may not be able to rescheduled.