5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL RULES

1. All matches will be played according to the playing rules of Association Football, with the exceptions as below. 2. Opponents must stand at least 1 metre away from the thrower at throw-ins or behind the nearest opponent. Failure to do this will result in an indirect free kick. 3. Back passes to the goalkeeper are allowed (with one exception; see point 4). However, if the goalkeeper picks the ball up they must then throw or roll it out, instead of kicking it. 4. The ball may not be passed directly back to the goalkeeper after they distribute it, but must be touched by at least one other player (i.e. 2 players total, of either side) before it can be passed back. If it is passed straight back, a penalty will be awarded. 5. NO player is allowed within the goal area or on the goal line, with the exception of the goal keeper. In the case of a defensive offence, a penalty kick will be given. For an attacker offence, a goal kick will be awarded. The goalkeeper is not allowed to leave the penalty area (other than where their momentum carries them outside unintentionally); if they play the ball outside the area a penalty will be awarded. 7. The goalkeeper is allowed to swap with another player if he/she wishes (subject to the same constraints as substitutions see point 16). 8. NO sliding tackles will be permitted whatsoever, due to the surface and for safety reasons. 9. NO studded footwear AT ALL may be worn on the synthetic pitches. Indoor football boots or trainers are recommended, as are tracksuit bottoms for goalkeepers. 10. If a penalty is awarded, the player taking the penalty may only take two steps before striking the ball. 11. When a free kick or corner is taken, opponents MUST stand 2 metres away from the ball unless it is less than 2 metres of the defending sides goal area, when the defenders may stand just outside the goal area. The attacking team may then, if they wish, move the ball away from the goal area in a direct line with where the offence took place up to a distance of 2 metres away from the goal area. 12. No offside laws will be applied. 13. Matches will be 9 minutes in total, with no half-time. Referees are responsible for timekeeping. 14. All players within a team must wear the same colour strip, and if a clash occurs the second named team must wear bibs as available from the table. It is the responsibility of the captains to check this information before all matches. 15. Teams may have up to 8 team players within their squad. 16. Rolling substitutions will be allowed. However, they must be made when the ball is in the possession of the goalkeeper, or out of play, and the referee should be informed. 17. The referees word is final. It is the captains responsibility to state the rules to all players before the start of the match. 18. There must be a minimum of 4 players (per team) on the pitch in order for the match to go ahead. 19. Points in the group stages will be awarded as follows: Win = 3 points Draw = 1 point Lose = 0 points [Walk-overs awarded scoreline of 4-0.] 20. Where teams are level on points at the conclusion of a group, the order will be decided firstly on goal difference, and secondly on goals scored. If all three criteria are equal (points, goal difference and goals scored) then we will play a sudden-death penalty competition between the teams in question, using a neutral goalkeeper.

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.

From: - Navin Jaiswal. Tushit Satya Tushar Dasgupta.