KNOCKOUT COMPETITION
Each game must have a winner.
If teams are tied after normal playing time, then there will be a penalty shoot-out.
There will be no extra time.
Rules for penalty shoot-outs are listed under rules of play.

REFEREEING
Official referees will be provided.

GAMES
It is essential that all games start on time.
Teams must be on the scheduled field, ready to commence play at the correct time.
The game is divided into TWO 10 minute halves with no break in between.
There will be NO extra time.

DISPUTES & JUDICIAL MATTERS
Bearing in mind that this is meant to be a fun and fast tournament as well as competitive, teams should try and resolve their disputes themselves in the spirit of the game.
The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify any team from the competition where players, coaches or supporters of that team do not adhere to the code of conduct for fair play, or they repeatedly ignore requests from Tournament Officials to stop disruptive or unsportsmanlike behaviour. The decision of the Organiser shall be final.

SIZE OF PITCH
Pitches will generally be 40m long x 25m wide.
The Organiser reserve the right to vary this at any time.

7-A-SIDE RULES OF PLAY

 

The intention of these rules is to provide
clarification that may differ from normal
11-a-side football.  If any aspect
of the rules of the game is not mentioned here, or in doubt, then the referee
is to apply normal 11-a-side rules.

 

4 second rule

All free-kicks, kick-ins etc must
be taken within 4 seconds of the player having possession of the ball to take
the kick (to keep the game flowing). 
SANCTION:  if longer than 4 seconds a free-kick goes to the
other team.

Distance at free-kicks,

kick-ins etc

Opposition players to stand at
least 3 metres from the kicker.

Duration of game

Two halves of 10 minutes each with
NO interval between. 

Hooter sounded for start of game
& full-time.  No extra time.

Free-kicks, corners kicks, fouls.

As for regular football except:

1.       
When taking a kick,
the opposing players must be at least 3
metres away.

2.       
When awarding an
indirect free kick in the penalty box, it will be taken from the 6 metre arc
nearest to where the infringement took place.

3.       
If the team taking the
free kick takes more than 4 seconds, the referee shall award an indirect free
kick to the opposing team.

Games not started on time

If a team is not on the pitch ready to start within two minutes of the
hooter, then they will have defaulted the match.  Games started late must still finish when the hooter
sounds.

Goalkeeper- clearances

Goalie may only THROW the ball
during normal play.

When the goalie throws
the ball it must touch the ground (or touch another player) in the team’s
own half.  SANCTION if the
ball goes beyond the half-way line without bouncing:  indirect free-kick to other team from
half way line, where the ball crossed the line.

Goalkeeper – handling the
ball

Only within the penalty area arc.

Goalkeeper – pass-backs

Goalkeeper not allowed to touch
ball with hands from a pass-back from a team mate (from normal play, kick-in
or free-kick) – must always use feet.  SANCTION – indirect free kick from edge of penalty
semi-circle nearest where offence occurred.

Goal scoring allowed?

DIRECT FROM:- Corner Kick:  Yes                                                             Kick-in
from sideline:  No                                 Inside
Penalty Area:  Yes Kick-off: No                                                    
Goal Kick:  No

 

Kick-in

Replaces
throw-in for when ball goes out of play at the sideline.  Must be taken within 4 seconds- ball
must be stationary (not rolling)

Number of players

The match shall be played by two
teams, each consisting of not more than SEVEN
players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper, wearing a different colour.  Maximum of 10 players in a squad.

Offside

Does not apply to 7-A-Side tournaments.

Penalty Area

6m semi-circle in front of the
goal.  Goals can be scored from
within the penalty area.  Any
player can enter the penalty area.

Play must stop if the goalie has
the ball in their hands

Penalty kick

Awarded for foul by defender
against attacker inside the penalty area.  The penalty spot is the point on the 6m semi-circle
directly in front of the goal. 
All players except the kicker are to be at least 5 metres from the ball.

Penalty shoot-out

Penalty shootout rules.

1.             
Each team shall take 5
penalty kicks.

2.             
The team named first
on the draw will shoot first.

3.             
Each team will take
alternate shots.

4.             
If tied after the
first round then repeat until a clear winner has taken the same amount of
kicks and one team has scored one more goal than the other team.

5.             
Substitution of
goalkeeper for the penalty shoot-out is allowed at any time.

6.             
Selection of penalty
kickers and goalkeeper may only come from the full team, which was on the
pitch at full time.  Goalkeepers
are allowed to take a penalty shot. 

7.             
All other players and
coaches must wait at the half-way line while each penalty kick takes place.

Slide tackles

Not
allowed. 
SANCTION:  direct free kick

Substitutes

Three rolling substitutes may be
used at any time. Substitutes must leave and enter from half-way line.  Referee’s permission not required.

Throw-in

Replaced by kick-in (see above)

Time-wasting

SANCTION:  free-kick to the opposition if
blatant and/or persistent.  

Time wasting could be on the pitch
or in retrieving the ball.