Only 5 players per team (6 for 6-a-side comps) will be permitted on the pitch at any one time, one of whom will be the goalkeeper.
Up to 8 team players (10 for 6-a-side comps) only may be named for a match, who must be available for inspection by the referee prior to the match starting if the referee requests. Players may only play for one team during the league season. Any players found playing for more than one team shall be banned from the rest of the league. Teams playing with more than the allowed number of players will forfeit the fixture 5-0.
Players must be attired in proper kit and footwear including shin pads. Jewellery must be removed or taped up.
The entire team must be behind the ball at kick off.
League games will be 40 minutes in total, 20 minutes each way.
Teams arriving more than 5 minutes late for a fixture will start the game 2-0 down. Arriving over 15 minutes late results in a 5-0 forfeit.
Boundaries: The ball is always in play and can be played off the walls in 5-a-side. In 6-aside comps regular football rules will take precedent when the ball leaves the area of play.
All players can enter the goal areas, only the goalkeeper can handle the ball in this area. The goalkeeper may not handle the ball in this area if it is played to him by a teammate.
The game will begin with one team taking the kick off from the centre. A centre kick may be played in any direction but a goal may not be scored direct from the centre.
A goal may be scored from any point within the field of play.
The goalkeeper must return the ball into play by rolling it out of his area with an under arm bowling action. Any goalkeeper failing to do this will be penalised with a direct freekick being awarded against them 1m outside the area.
Teams may not change their keeper more than once per half during a match and must gain the referees permission to do so.
Substitutions are unlimited during the game, and can be made at anypoint. Outgoing substitutes must leave the field of play before th ereplacement enters the playing area. The oncoming players are active immediately and can receive the ball. Substitutes must stand outside the pitch perimeter and spectators must not enter the field of play under any circumstances.
If any team is reduced to 3 players due to misconduct, the game will be awarded to their opponents with a score of 5-0, or the result at the time the game ended should the goal difference be greater.
The ball will remain in play after rebounding off the keeper, posts, crossbar or kick boards.
The award of a direct free kick will be given for the following offences:
Handball
Goal keeper not returning the ball underarm inside of 6 seconds
Obstructing an opponent
Heading the ball
Player returning the ball directly back to the keeper after receiving the ball from him.
Charging an opponent
Playing the ball whilst on the floor, including slide tackles, slips, blocks, shooting and 1 knee down.
Holding the fences
Any contact that forces players into the kick boards (players must be allowed to play the ball out from the corners of the pitch)
Unsporting behavior
All restarts must be made within 5 seconds. Teams defending the restart must retreat the specified distance first otherwise rule 21 will apply.
Professional fouls will be penalized with a penalty and the guilty player may face disciplinary action.
All free kicks will be direct.
If the ball becomes stuck behind the goalposts, play will be restarted by the goalkeeper
A player may not stand closer than 2M from the ball when defending a free kick. Contravention of this rule will result in the kick being taken again from the place where the defending player stood at the time the kick was taken. Free kicks must be taken 1M from the boards / goal area.
Penalty kicks will be taken with a one step rule.
Violent conduct on or off the pitch will result in immediate suspension of the individual concerned. Ultimate Soccer reserves the right to ban any individual or whole team from all future participation in leagues or tournaments.
Yellow cards result in the player being sin binned for 2 minutes, teams must play with 4 players during this time. A second yellow will result in a red card, players receiving a red card are not be permitted to play any further part in the game and will receive a mandatory ban of between 1 week and a permanent ban depending on the offence and the league disciplinary procedure. One game bans are automatically imposed, bans of more than one week require notification by the Ultimate Soccer management team via email to the said team captain. All bans are subject to the managements teams discretion.
When the ball is played into the corners of the pitch, the player who retrieves the ball will be allowed to take the ball out unhindered by the opposition. A defending player who makes contact with the ball player will have a direct free kick awarded against him. The ball player will have no more than 5 seconds to bring the ball back into play. NB Referee’s have been instructed to allow only minimal contact on all other areas of the kick boards.
