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The Viking Challenge Rules - 2009

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Six-a-Side Rules.

The normal FIFA rules of football will apply except in the following situations:

Teams

  • Each team may nominate no more than eleven (11) players.
  • A team cannot take the field with less than four (4) players.
  • A team may not have more than six (6) players on the field at any one time during a game, however an additional five (5) players are allowed as substitutes during a game.

Player Eligibility

  • A player must be a member of the club he represents, and a letter sanctioning his/her entry from their home association must be presented, or they must pay for separate insurance prior to them taking part in the competition.
  • A player may be entered in one team only.
  • Male players must be at least 15 years of age.
  • Female players must be of 14 years of age.
  • Replacement players may be added to the team only with the permission of the organising committee.

Team Sheets

  • Each team will hand in a signed team sheet prior to the release of the draw. No name changes will then be allowed.

Player Identification

  • Each player must wear a strip numbered to correspond with the player’s number on the team sheet.
  • The colours and markings of individual player’s strips shall be the same for any one nominated team.

Clash of Colours

  • In the event of a clash of colours the second team on the draw will change strips.
  • If team strips clash in semis or finals then both teams will change to avoid any advantage to either team.

Footwear and Shin Pads

  • All players must wear approved shin pads and footwear, i.e. football boots, joggers or sandshoes.

Jewellery

  • As per FIFA rules jewellery is NOT to be worn.

Duration of Games

  • Games will be played in thirteen (13) minute halves with no half time break, with the exception of the Final, which will be played over twenty (20) minute halves with a three (3) minute half time break.
  • NO injury time will be played EXCEPT in the final, and then only at the referee’s discretion. This time will be recorded by an appointed timekeeper and added to the match at the completion of normal time.
  • Teams not ready to start at the designated time will forfeit the match and the opposing team, if they were ready to play, will receive full match points, with a two (2)-goal tally.

Substitutions

  • Substitutions may be made at any time during a game, and as often as required. Substitutes do not have to wait for a stoppage in play, or notify the referee of the change, except in the case of the goalkeeper, who must notify the referee and wait for a stoppage in play before making the change.
  • Breach of this rule will result in a direct free kick being awarded against the offending side.
  • Substitutes may only enter the field of play at the halfway line, and only when the player being substituted has left the field of play.
  • Breach of this rule will result in a direct free kick being awarded against the offending side, at the point the ball was at the time of the offence.
  • Players are to enter the field of play from the area between fields.
  • Players in uniform other than the five substitutes and spectators are to stay well away from this area.

Free Kicks

  • All free kicks will be direct free kicks.
  • Direct free kicks will be taken in accordance with FIFA rules except that the offending side will be no nearer the ball than five (5) metres at the time of the kick.
  • Where a free kick is awarded to the defending side, and where the offence occurs within the penalty area, the free kick will be taken from the goal arc of the penalty area nearest to where the offence occurred.

Goal Scoring

  • A goal may be scored from any position on the field.

Goal Kicks

  • Goal kicks must be taken from the goal line (FIFA Ruling).

Corner Kicks

  • Corner kicks will be taken.
  • A goal can be scored direct from a corner kick (FIFA Ruling).

Goal Keepers

  • In addition to the rule regarding substitution of goal keepers, teams must nominate a goal keeper prior to the commencement of play and this player must wear a strip to distinguish them from all the other players on the field of play. This strip must be worn by the goal keeper at all times, as well as any substitute goal keeper.
  • When a goal keeper comes into possession of the ball (as per FIFA Rules) in his/her hands, he/she may only release the ball into play by throwing it, and he/she cannot touch the ball a second time without the ball having first been played by either one of his/her players or an opposing player.
  • Breach of this rule will result in the awarding of a direct free kick.
  • A goal keeper cannot punt or drop kick the ball from the penalty area once he has held the ball. Normal rules with regard to back passes to goal keepers (FIFA Ruling) will apply.

Fouls, Cautions and Send Off’s

  • A player who is sent from the field of play for serious foul play, violent conduct, foul or abusive language or persistent misconduct after having received a caution (ie offences that warrant a referee issuing a red card), shall immediately leave the field of play, and take no further part in the match.
  • A player sent from the field of play CANNOT be substituted by another player. Players receiving a red card will also receive an automatic one (1) match suspension, that suspension being the next game the team was drawn to play. In addition if directed to appear before the Disciplinary Committee, the said player will incur any further penalty as determined by that committee.
  • The referee may use the “Sin Bin” at his discretion. The referee will not nominate the period of time the offending player will spend off the field, and will call the player back onto the field when the period of time has elapsed. A player in the “Sin Bin” cannot be substituted.
  • Teams, which substitute a sinbinned or red carded player, will forfeit the match.
  • A player can be sin binned any number of times during a game.

Forfeits

  • If a team forfeits a match the team they where drawn to play will receive 3 points and 5 goals for pool games.
  • Once the knockout stage has been reached the team receiving the forfeit will progress to the next round.

Determining Winners

  • Corners count (i.e. first corner) in divisional games, semi finals and all finals except for the Men’s and Lady’s A Division Finals and all Pool games.

  • Pool Games: 3 points are awarded for a win, 2 points for a score draw, and 1 point for a scoreless draw. A bonus point will be awarded to sides that win with a clear five goal advantage.

    Finishing order in each pool will be determined by the team with the most points. In the event of a tie:

    Tie Breaks: If teams have equal points at the finish of the round:-

    1. The team with the better goal difference will take top position.
      If equal then,
    2. The team with the most goals for will take the top position.
      If equal then,
    3. A coin toss will occur with the winner taking the top position.

  • Division Games: All games must have a result. If a match is drawn, the following will determine the winners:-

    1. If score draw, the first goal scorer will be the winner.
    2. If scoreless draw, the first corner scorer will be the winner.
    3. If still drawn then coin toss will determine the winner.

  • Semi Finals: All games must have a result.

    1. If score draw, the first goal scorer will be the winner.
    2. If scoreless draw the first corner will determine the winner.
    3. If still drawn, 6 minutes extra time (3 minutes each way) to be played, after which goals, then first corner, then coin toss will determine the winner.

  • Finals: Same as semi finals, for A Consolation, B Division, B Consolation and Ladies B.

  • Major Finals: (Men’s and Ladies A) No corners are counted. In the event of a draw, teams will change ends and continue to play extra time of 10 minutes (5 minutes each way)

    • The first team to score a goal will be the winner (Golden Goal).
    • If after the extra time, no team has scored, “Drop Off” will take place. Every two minutes a player from each team will leave the field to a minimum of three players, until a result occurs. The player to leave the field will be nominated by the captain, or manager, of that team.
    • Once drop off begins there are no further substitutions allowed.

Authority

  • In all cases the referee’s decision is final, and the only appeal that may be considered will be for a case of mistaken identity.
  • Dissension to rulings will not be tolerated and an automatic “Sin Bin” will result.
  • Where no specific rule is given here, then the referee will use the latest “Referee’s Chart and Players Guide to Laws”, such as:
    1. Goal kicks
    2. Corner kicks
    3. Time wasting
    4. Rule XII, back pass to goal keeper
    5. Sin Bin for breach of any law of the game

Responsibility

  • Each player who undertakes to play in a six-a-side competition organised by the Great Lakes United Football Club Inc. acknowledges by their signature on the nomination form, that they will abide by the rules of play as set out above.
  • Teams shall supply GLUSC with a letter from their home association agreeing to them participating in this competition, for the purposes of insurance coverage, by the closing date for entries.

Organisation

  • The overall authority is the committee of the Great Lakes United Football Club Inc. The Disciplinary Committee will consist of members of the Viking Challenge Organising Committee.
  • Refereeing is under the authority of registered referees.
  • It is the responsibility of each team to be at the ground whilst games are being played to be aware of any changes that may occur.
  • Each team is to provide its own CLEARLY marked Match Ball.
  • Each team should supply its players with an individual drink bottle (remember it can be very hot).
  • Each team should have a supply of sunscreen, and hats.
  • NO GLASS bottles or containers are allowed on Boronia Park.