Indoor Football

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Rules of Play

 

 

 

 It is the responsibility of each captain to ensure that his players are fully aware of the following rules and regulations. It is also his responsibility to ensure that the referee their teams appoints is fully aware of the rules.

 

These rules are not designed to cover all aspects of football, only where they might be different from assosiation football, or where the circumstances are different for us. Any situations that might arise which are not covered by these rules should be looked at on merit, with the referee making a final decision based on fair play, safety and practical issues.

 

Players

    (i)          The match shall be played by two teams consisting of not more than 5 players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper. The AU stipulates that no UNIVERSITY PLAYERS shall play in this competition.

   (ii)          All players must be members of the AU and registered in the indoor football league. All players must also bring their NUS card to every game. ID cards must be bought to all games and the committee will be checking before all games, any teams attempting to field ineligible players will have points deducted

 (iii)          Rolling subs will be in effect. Play will not be stopped for substitutions to take place. The substitute must not enter the playing area until the player he is replacing has left it.

  (iv)          Teams must field a minimum of 3 players at all times. Failure to do so will result in the team forfeiting the match 5-0. The same forfeit will apply if a team is reduced to fewer than 3 players during the match for either disciplinary or injury reasons.

 

Duration of the Game

Matches will consist of two halves of 13 minutes. Each game has a 30 minute slot to fit in this 26 minute match. Because of the shortage of hall time, team will switch ends at half-time and begin the second half immediately. 

IF THE MATCH KICK-OFF IS LATE THEN THE REFEREE MUST STILL BRING THE GAME TO AN END AT THE SCHEDULED TIME, AS THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MATCH WAITING TO START IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS!  Teams are expected to arrive 10 minutes prior to their scheduled game. If a team is more than 5 minutes late to a game then a 5-0 score win is awarded in favour of their opposition.  

It is in your interest to get the games started quickly and changed around quickly at half time. This gives you the most playing time.

 

Kit 

The first team in the fixture will wear coloured tops; the second team will wear white tops. The correct colours to wear will appear on the fixture list.

It is recommended that all outfield players wear shin pads.

The home team (Colours) should provide the match ball, although BOTH teams should take their ball to a match to make sure there is a ball for the fixture. If necessary an indoor football can be hired from the reception in the main sports hall for £1.25 per hour (student card needed).

If your ball is lost, stolen the team will be responsible for replacing there ball to allow them to continue in the league.

 

 

Referees 

Each fixture will have a referee provided for by one of the teams in the match before or after. The team required to provide a referee will be shown alongside the fixture. The referee may be a player from any team in the league, or a neutral outsider. Referees should turn up at the same time as the players for the match they are refereeing. FAILING TO PROVIDE A REFEREE WHEN ASKED WILL RESULT IN THAT TEAM BEING DEDUCTED 2 POINTS. It is each captain’s responsibility to ensure that their team provides a competent referee on time. A whistle is provided for each team and should be brought to each match. IF A TEAM IS PERSISTENT IN NOT PROVIDING A REFEREE FOR MATCHES, THEY WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO  PLAY  IN THE TOURNAMENT.

 

If a referee does not turn up for a fixture, then any person agreed by both teams may officiate the match. Alternatively the match may be completed without a referee.  Further, if the committee member on duty is available to referee then he will do so, however the team who failed to provide the referee will still lose 2 points. If there is no referee then play as fairly as possible.  

ALL REFEREE’S DECISIONS ARE FINAL. Any problems with referees should be taken up with the committee. Likewise, any complaints from referees should be brought to the committee’s attention. Any player who shows aggression towards any referee will have his team ejected from the tournament.  The disciplinary action taken by the committee is final.

 

 

Discipline 

Referees may take action as they deem fit to enforce the laws of the game. In extreme situations, referees can enforce a persistently, or seriously offending player to leave the field of play, this includes the use of abusive language. That person can be replaced and the team can continue the game with the same amount of players, but the offending player will not be allowed to return to the field of play.  The referee must report the dismissed player and the situation to a committee member as soon as possible. Further action may be taken. A player must provide his name to the referee on demand.

Any problems will be resolved by committee members, with their decision being final.

Note: There were no serious problems last year, and there is no reason there should be any this year.   The game should be played in a light hearted fun manner, therefore there is no reason for any arguing on the pitch between team members, the referee and especially members of other teams.

 

The Area of Play 

The goal line is the red line. If the ball goes behind the goal, or goal line, then a corner kick will be awarded if the ball came off the defending team and taken from the corner of the two red lines.  If an attacker shoots wide, play will be restarted by the goalkeeper from inside his penalty area in the normal way.

 

The penalty area is the red half-circle that arcs around the goal, not the blue one (it is too big). The penalty spot is the green line. Try to place it as central as possible. 

Kickboards will normally line both sides of the pitch, in which case play continues if the ball rebounds off the board/wall. If the ball goes over the kickboard, then play will be restarted with a defensive in-direct freekick against the team that touched the ball last.

If the kickboards are not up, then the large curtains may be drawn to separate the pitches. In this case the area between the orange line running along the side and the curtain is deemed to be a dead area. If the ball goes in this area then the first player to the ball must bring or pass the ball out in a defensive manner. IT IS NOT A STOP IN PLAY. Hands should not be used. No challenges may be made inside this area. Players may not run the ball down the line between the orange line and the curtain. This rule is for safety reasons to prevent players from different pitches colliding, and to prevent damage to the curtain.

 

Consistent or serious infringement of these rules should result in an in-direct freekick to the opponent.

If the ball goes under the curtain then the first person there may use his hands to bring the ball back to the dead zone before commencing play as detailed above.

                                                                                                       

If the ball goes above head-height, an in-direct free kick is awarded to the opponents of the last player to touch the ball. Head-height is NOT the height of the kickboards and is at the referees discretion. The free-kick is taken from where the ball was kicked. The exception to this is if the ball goes above head height after a save from a goalkeeper. In this case the ball returns to the keeper.

Headers are not allowed for safety reasons, punishable by an indirect freekick.

 

Sliding tackles are not allowed for safety reasons, punishable by an indirect freekick (unless a player is fouled in which case the kick is direct). Sliding blocks are legal but at a safe distance. A safe distance is at the referees discretion.

There is no offside.

 

Starting Play


Each half should be started with a centre ball, where one team member passes the ball backwards into his own half. The home team should kick off in the first half, the away in the second.

 After a goal, the conceding team should restart play in the same way as above.

 

The Goalkeeper and Penalty Area 

The goalkeeper must release the ball with an under-arm throw or a kick, he may not half volley the ball or drop kick from hands.  The ball must be kicked from the floor, although it may be rolling at the time of kicking. The ball must not go above head height, otherwise an in-direct freekick will be awarded to the opposition, taken from the penalty spot. This does not apply if done in the process of saving the ball, in which case the ball must be returned to the keeper if saved into the field of play. 

 

The goalkeeper may pick up the ball even if it is passed back to them from a team-mate. 

The goalkeeper must not be seen to be holding onto the ball in his area for any longer than necessary.
Penalty for infringement - INDIRECT FREE-KICK from the penalty-spot.

 

Only the goalkeeper is allowed in the goal area.

If a defender gains an advantage by going into the penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded to the opposing team.

If an attacker gains an advantage by going into the penalty area, the goalkeeper will restart play with an under-arm throw or kick from ground.

If the goalkeeper gains an advantage by leaving the penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Note that an accidental infringement of the area does not necessarily warrant action. In particular, a goalkeeper sliding out of his area after he makes a save is not an offence, but saving or obstructing a player whilst out of the area is.

  

The Pass-Back Rule

 

To prevent unsportsmanlike play, a player receiving the ball from his goalkeeper by whatever means, cannot pass it straight back to his goalkeeper or out of play behind the goal. It must first be played by another player (on his team or the opponents). Failure to observe this will result in an INDIRECT FREE-KICK to the opposing side from the penalty spot.  If the ball is kicked out by the defending team behind the goal a corner will be awarded to the opposition.

Note, that passing the ball to your keeper and receiving it straight back is a different situation to the one above and is perfectly legal.

  

Free Kicks and Penalties

 

Opposing players must stand at least 2 paces from the ball when a freekick or a corner is being taken. The exception to this is when a freekick is closer to the penalty area than 2 paces. In this case the defending players may stand on the edge of the penalty area.

Players do not necessarily have to wait for the defence to be ready before taking a freekick (as long as the referee is ready). 

During a penalty, the goalkeeper must remain as close to the goal line as possible until the kick is taken. The shooter may have no more than one step before taking the penalty.

The shooter should wait for the referee’s signal before taking the penalty.

Players not taking the penalty should wait behind the penalty taker at a respectful distance. Distracting the penalty taker may lead to the penalty being re-taken.

 

Penalty Shoot-out

 

A penalty shoot-out is only necessary after a tie in a cup or knock-out match. In this case the game goes straight to penalties. In the penalty shoot-out three penalties will be taken by each team and if the penalties are level after three then sudden death penalties will be taken. Only five from each team including the goalkeeper can take them.

 

League Standings

When a two or more teams have the same amount of points then the placing in the league are decided by:

1. Highest Goal Difference

2. Most Goals Scored

If these are the same then a toss of a coin/pulling lots will decide who finishes what position.

 

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