Rules & Regulations

Except where other provisions in these Rules are made, the Laws of Association Football apply. Each Rule is numbered to correspond with the appropriate Law of the Game. These Rules are mandatory.

1. PLAYING AREA

Small Side Football may be played with or without barriers. The following dimensions are recommended but the playing area must be rectangular.

• Maximum Length:- 140' (42.65 metres)
• Minimum Length:- 85' (25.91 metres)
• Maximum Width:- 85' (25.91 metres)
• Minimum Width:- 55' (16.76 metres)

(a) Centre Mark

A suitable mark should be made in the exact centre of the playing area on which the ball is dropped to commence a game. The centre mark should be surrounded by a circle 3' (0.91 metre) in radius. A half-way line may be marked across the playing area.

(b) Penalty Area

A semi-circle of 25' (7.62 metres) radius shall be drawn from the centre of each goal line. The extremities of these semi-circles should reach the wall, touch-lines or barricades regardless of whether or not the goal posts encroach on to the playing area.

(c) Penalty Mark

A penalty mark should be placed at a point 20' (6.09 metres) from the centre of each goal.

(d) Goal

The goals shall be 16' (4.89 metres) long by 4' (1.21 metres) high or 12' (3.65 metres) long by 6' (1.82 metres) high.

(e) Substitution Area

Where barricades are not in use two substitution areas shall be marked 9' (2.74 metres) on each side of the half-way line (if one is marked) from which substitutions must be made. Each area will be 3' (0.91 metre) long and marked on the side line and will be 3' (0.91 metre) deep.

Any amendments to the above dimensions must be approved by the appropriate sanctioning Association.

WARNING:

In view of a number of accidents that have occurred it is necessary to ensure that portable goals of any size are either pinned or weighted to prevent them from toppling forward.

2. THE BALL

The ball used shall be a standard ball, size four (4) or size five (5).

3. NUMBER OF PLAYERS

(a) The match shall be played by two (2) teams. One (1) player of each team shall be the goalkeeper, who must wear distinguishing colours.
(b) Three (3) substitutes per team shall be permitted at any time during a game from a maximum of three (3) nominated substitutes.
(c) Rolling substitutes can be used. The number of "rolling" substitutions is unlimited except in the case of the goalkeeper (see clause d).

A player who has been replaced may return to the playing area as a substitute for another player. A "rolling" substitution is one which is made when the ball is still in play and is subject to the following conditions:-

(i) the player leaving the playing area shall do so from the sideline crossing over at the substitution area.

(ii) The player entering the playing area shall do so from the substitution area but not until the player leaving the playing area has passed completely over the sideline.

(iii) Where barricades are used a player must use the opening onto the playing area.

(d) Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that the referee is informed before the change is made, and provided also that the change is made during a stoppage in the game.

(e) A match should not be considered valid if the playing strength of either team is reduced by more than two players.

4. PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT

(a) Footwear shall be worn in accordance with the Laws of the Game, and subject to any local regulations.

(b) The wearing of shinguards, which must be covered by stockings, in accordance with the Laws of the Game is compulsory. Any player who fails to wear shinguards do so at their own risk. Pitch Invasion accepts no responsibility for any injury to players due to missing or incorrect equipment.

5. REFEREES

A referee shall be appointed to officiate in each game. He shall have the same powers and duties as laid down in the Laws of the Game.

6. TIMEKEEPER/SCORER

An independent timekeeper/scorer may be appointed to assist the referee.

This official shall:-

(a) record goals scored;
(b) act as timekeeper and signify half-time and full-time by an agreed signal;
(c) suspend time on the referee's instructions for all stoppages and add that time to the end of each half.
(d) supervise the use of "rolling" substitutes if permitted by the Rules of a competition.

If an independent timekeeper/scorer is not appointed the above duties is the responsibility of the referee.

7. DURATION OF THE GAME

The duration of the game shall be divided into two equal periods of a 13 minutes each way.

(a) allowance shall be made in either period for time lost through stoppages as decided by the referee and recorded by the timekeeper if appointed;
(b) the duration of either half shall be extended to enable a penalty kick to be taken. At half time the interval shall not exceed two (2) minutes except by consent of the referee,

8. START OF PLAY

(a) At the beginning of a game the home team will kick off and the away team may choose which end to start.
(b) The game shall be re-started in like manner after a goal has been scored.
(c) After any other stoppage the game shall be re-started by the referee dropping the ball at a point nearest to where it was when play was suspended, unless it was in the goalkeeper's possession, when the player shall, at the referee's signal, roll the ball out, if a height restriction is in operation, to re-start the game.

The referee shall not drop the ball within 6' (2 steps) of the lines marking the goal areas or within 6' (2 steps) of surrounding walls, side-lines or barricades, if in use.

9. BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

The ball shall be in play at all times from the start of the game unless:-

(a) the ball rises above 4' (1.21 metres) in the event of a height restriction being imposed;
(b) the ball has crossed the goal-line, side-lines or the barricades surrounding the playing area;
(c) the timekeeper, if appointed, has given the signal for half or full-time;
(d) the game has been stopped by the referee;

For a breach of any height restriction (ball's height above the tallest person on the pitch) the penalty will be a free-kick at the place where the ball was last played (unless the ball was last played by the defending goalkeeper in the penalty area, in which case the indirect free-kick shall be taken from a point not less than 6' (1.82 metres) outside the penalty area nearest to where the offence occurred).

If the ball rebounds above head-height from a wall, barricade, goalpost, crossbar, from a player who has made no attempt to play the ball, or other obstructions then the referee will re-start the play by dropping the ball at the point where the rebound occurred. (If this point is within the penalty area the ball shall be dropped at a point not less than 6' (2 steps) outside the penalty area nearest to where the rebound occurred).

Ball out of Play

When the ball goes out of play where a height restriction is applicable a member of the opposing team shall start play with a dead ball kick in. When a member of the defending team puts the ball out of play over the barricade on that player's own goal-line where a height restriction is applicable, the opposing team shall be awarded a free-kick due to head-height. When a member of the attacking team puts the ball out of play over the barricade on the opponent's goal-line where a height restriction is applicable, the goalkeeper shall roll the ball out. (If the ball drops on the back of the net behind the goal it shall be regarded as out of play and the game shall be re-started with a roll-out by the goalkeeper).

10. SCORING

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball crosses the goal-line between the goal posts and under the crossbar, provided it has not been thrown, carried or propelled by hand or arm by a player of the attacking side, except in the case of a goalkeeper who is within his own penalty area. A goal is not allowed if the ball was last played by a player of the attacking side whilst within either penalty area. (If the ball is last played by a defending player whilst within either penalty area, unless taking a penalty, a goal shall be allowed, unless that player entered the penalty area accidentally).

11. OFFSIDE

There is no offside. Players may place themselves in any part of the playing area outside the penalty areas.

12. FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

(a) Charging/sliding tackles are forbidden and shall be penalised by the awarding of a free kick.
(b) A player who unfairly impedes the progress of an opponent when not playing the ball shall be penalised by the awarding of a free kick.

A player who receives a red card shall not be allowed to take any further part in the competition on that day. No substitute is allowed for a player dismissed for misconduct during the game in which the offence occurred. If a player is dismissed then he should leave the pitch immediately. Failure to do so will result in the referee automatically awarding the match to his opponents.
A Yellow card will result in a 'sin-bin' for a period of 2 minutes.
A Red card will result in a £5 charge for the corresponding player.

13. FREE KICK

All free kicks are indirect. When a player is taking a direct or indirect free kick all of the opposing players shall be at least 6' (2 steps) from the ball until it is in play. All free kicks given against the defending side for infringements committed in or near the penalty area shall be taken from a distance not less than 6' (2 steps) outside the penalty area at the nearest point to where the offence occurred.

14. PENALTY KICK

A penalty kick shall be taken from the penalty mark and, except for the defending goalkeeper, only the player taking the kick can enter the penalty area and for that purpose only. Whether or not a goal is scored from the kick the player concerned must leave the penalty area immediately after taking the kick and before taking any further part in play.

15. GOALKEEPER RETURNING THE BALL INTO PLAY

After holding the ball the goalkeeper must immediately return the ball into play with an under-arm bowling action. It must not be thrown nor kicked if a height restriction is in operation.

Punishment for Infringement

A free kick shall be taken by a player of the opposing team from a point 6' (2 steps) outside the penalty area nearest to where the infringement occurred.

16. PLAY WITHIN THE PENALTY AREA - WHERE APPLICABLE

Only the defending goalkeeper is allowed within the penalty area except when a penalty kick has been awarded, and then only the player taking the kick can enter the goal area. If a goalkeeper leaves the penalty area he is then treated as any other player.

Punishment for Infringement

(i) by the attack - Goalkeepers ball.
(ii) by the defence - a penalty kick.

(Note: Referees should distinguish between accidental and intentional entry into, or exit from, the penalty area. Only deliberate actions where the player either plays the ball or tries to play the ball should be penalised. Accidental entry or exit that has no effect on the play should be ignored.)

17. PASSBACK

When an outfield player receives the ball from the goalkeeper, the ball must be touched by another player before being passed back to the goalkeeper (if there is netting behind the goal, the ball must be touched by another player before it is passed into or hits the netting).

18. GUEST PLAYERS

A team is allowed no more than two guest players per match and all guest players MUST be agreed before kick-off with the opposing captain.
If this is not done a 4-0 result will apply. The referee reserves the right to refuse guest players if, in his opinion, the outcome of the match would be considerably altered.
Teams may not use guest players as substitutes.
If a team uses a guest player, that team is still liable to pay their full match fee.
If a guest player is disciplined during the game then the team captain is responsible for any fine incurred.
A player cannot change teams more than once during the season and also cannot change at all if the season is more than halfway through. Players may only play for one team in any cup competition.

19. MISSED MATCHES

If any team fails to show for a match without informing us the team will be immediately removed from the league. Teams will still be liable for payment of match fees for the remainder of the season.

20. GENERAL RULES

The referee will be the sole judge of whether a tackle is dangerous or not in the best interests of the spirit of the game.
Teams must not alter or move equipment to gain an advantage.
Teams should make every attempt to play in similar colours or use the coloured bibs provided.
Teams who arrive more than 5 minutes late for their kick off time or teams who are not ready to start within 5 minutes of the kick off time may be subject to a 2-0 deficit from the kick off, at the referees discretion.
The completion of the entry form indemnifies Twilight League from any responsibility for personal injury or lost property whilst participating in the organised leagues. Teams are responsible for arranging their own personal insurance cover at venues where this is not automatically applicable.
The match referee has sole discretion to alter the timings for games as may be necessary.
If a team leaves one of our organised leagues without giving us 2 weeks notice, they will be liable for the cost of the 2 matches in full.
When a team joins a league during the season, they simply take over the points and remaining fixtures of the team who they are replacing.
Players must be aged 16 or over to participate in Twilight League competitions.