Rulebook

By paying and participating in the Indoor Invitational, you hereby accept all of the rules below:
Attire:
  1. Pinnies will be provided and must be worn as they include your player number.
  2. Sport shirt and shorts are recommended, but you're welcome to play in a jumper/long sleeve and trackies if you like.
  3. Shinpads are a must, and some way of keeping them on (soccer socks recommended).
Match rules:
  1. No offsides.
  2. No sliding tackles (lunges to block the ball are ok). Slide tackle = free kick.
  3. Goalkeeper can't pick up the ball from a backpass, doing so will result in an indirect free kick from where the ball was picked up.
  4. Yellow card = 2 minute sin bin, Red card = off for the game.
  5. Penalties are from just inside the blue line of the penalty box (no longer a penalty shot).
  6. Goalkeeper is not required to stay in box, but they can only use their hands there.
  7. If the ball goes out of play, it will be a throw-in or a corner kick.
  8. Violent and aggressive play; unsporting behaviour; and foul and abusive language will not be tolerated. Players exhibiting such behaviour will be penalized by the referee.
  9. Players must retreat at least 2m away from where the ball is kicked, for any free-kick. If a free-kick is awarded within 2m of the edge of the area, it should be moved back so that it is 2m from the edge of the area, allowing a defensive wall to form in front.
General information:
  1. Kickoff will be decided by the team labelled as 'Home' they can choose the side, or if they start with the ball. The other team gets to choose the other.
  2. Captains must ensure their teams are in the waiting location (the red benches downstairs) 5 minutes before their game starts.
  3. Regular season games will last 15-16 minutes, this will be continuous and the timer will not be stopped. Games should last 16 minutes, but the referee has the discretion to go past the 16 minute mark for last moment attacks, or if they felt a stoppage such as an injury went a long time. There will be no half-time and no switching sides.
  4. Playoff matches will all last 16 minutes each if time suffices, if we're running late we will reduce the time with the finals being longer.
  5. Referees must use the HORN at the end of the game to signal the next teams. This must only be used when both games are finished.
  6. There will be a 5 minute switchover time between each game, if both teams and the referee are at the field, they should start play immediately.
  7. Win is 3 points, a draw is 1 point and there is a bonus point for every clean sheet and scoring the first 3 goals (both teams can get this one)
  8. Players will referee other teams games based on the referee schedule
  9. Each team should play 3 playoff games with everyone going through to the playoffs, then the tournament splitting into the Winners/Consolation brackets.
  10. In the event a player does not show, is injured or cannot continue playing for any other reason, a replacement will be called up. If no new players can play, John will pick a player or two of similar standard to play for both teams.
  11. Goals scored by a player only count when scored on their own team. Filling in for injuries do not count towards your goal tally.