Twighlight 2010 Rules



General
  1. Every player will pay an $8 deposit at their first match.
  2. Every player must register to play in a team unless permitted by the organisers (for fill in players for example)
  3. The deposit is non-refundable and will be used in accordance with the below points.
    1. Should a team forfeit a match this deposit will be forfeited by all players in the forfeiting team regardless of them being at the match or not.
    2. Where a player pays their weekly fee and the match is a forfeit that player is entitled to a refund of that week’s fee regardless of which side they are on.
    3. If a team forfeits a match they must pay a new deposit as well as their weekly fee the week after.
    4. Where a team does not forfeit any matches the deposit will be used in lieu of the weekly registration fee for the last match.
  4. Each player will pay a weekly registration fee of $8 before the commencement of their match.
    1. Payment should be received at least 15 minutes prior to kick-off.
    2. Teams that play with player(s) who have not paid prior to the kickoff will risk forfeiting the teams points for that week.
    3. Teams that play with player(s) that are not registered to that team (unless prior consent has been give by the organisers) will forfeit that weeks game.
  5. A team must have at least 3 players on the pitch before the game can start. A team with 2 or less players will be subject to late start penalties (rule 6).
  6. Teams that are not ready at kick off time will be penalised 1 goal per two minutes and the game will be shortened to finish on time. If the team does not have 3 players after 10 minutes they forfeit the game. A friendly game may be played in lieu of the match.
  7. A forfeit game will be considered a 5-0 loss.
  8. If both teams forfeit it will be considered a 5-0 loss to both teams.

Playing Rules

  1. Clothing
    1. All players must wear shin pads.
    2. Teams must have distinguishable tops. Bibs will be available if required.
    3. The goal keeper must be identifiable by the referee. Bibs will be available if required.
  2. No offside.
  3. Balls out of play
    1. You can NOT score directly from a ball out of play.
    2. Throw-ins will be taken by placing the ball on the ground where the ball first went out and kicking it in. All opposition players must be at least 2m from the ball. There are no restrictions on the kick from a throw in EXCEPT rule (a)
    3. Corners will be taken as per normal soccer rules.
    4. Goal kicks. See rule 14.
  4. Goalkeeper cannot touch the ball from a back pass with their hands.
  5. Goalkeeper cannot receive a ball from a back pass played twice from the same player in consecutive plays. Eg Player A passes to the goal keeper, goal keeper whilst inside the circle passes to Player A who then passes it back to the goal keeper whilst they are in the circle.
  6. No field player is allowed to enter either goal area.
    1. If a defending player enters the goal circle at any time a penalty kick is awarded. See point 16(b).
    2. If an attacking player enters the goal circle a free kick is awarded and the keeper gains possession of the ball. Any goal scored will be disallowed. (This includes a striker following through from a shot even if the ball has entered the net.)
  7. Goal kicks. A goal kick is taken as a goal keepers possession.
  8. Goal Keepers possession. The goal keeper may bring the ball into play by:
    1. The keeper can either kick or throw the ball back into play.
    2. The keeper can dribble the ball out of the circle but can not re-enter the circle with the ball until someone else has touched it. (See rule 12 and 13)
    3. Once the ball has entered the goal circle it must leave the circle within 6 seconds or an indirect free kick is awarded at the penalty mark. (this includes goal kicks)
    4. The ball released by the keeper whilst inside the circle must land or be touched by a player before it passes the halfway line, or a free kick is awarded at the half way line. If the keeper dribbles the ball out of the circle this rule does not apply.
  9. No slide tackles or tackles from behind.
  10. Free Kicks
    1. All free kicks are indirect with the opposition player’s wall at least 2m away. (Except for a penalty kick which is direct.)
    2. A Penalty Kick is a direct kick at goal. The ball is placed on the penalty kick mark. The kicker is identified. All players must remain at least 2m away from the penalty spot and behind the penalty spot until the ball is kicked. The goal keeper must remain on the goal line until the kick is taken. (A penalty kick can only be awarded by a defensive player entering the goal circle)
  11. No substitutions are to be made without the referee’s approval. Substitutions are made on an interchange system.
  12. The substituted player must leave the field at the touch line of their defensive end before their replacement is allowed to enter the field from their defensive touch line.
  13. Maximum of 5 players on the field per team at any one time.
  14. Yellow card = 5 minute send off.
  15. Red card or 2 Yellow Cards = send off for the rest of the game and minimum 1 match suspension.
  16. The game will consist of 2 * 20 minutes halves, with a short break for half time.
  17. Where a team has only 3 players, they may use players from other team(s) provided that:
    1. The other player(s) have paid their weekly registration fee.
    2. The opposing team agrees to the additional players.
  18. Any team that forfeits a match also forfeit their deposits.
  19. Teams will be awarded the following points for a:
      1. Win – 3
      2. Draw – 1
      3. Loss – 0
  20. The format will be two divisions with eight teams in each division. Each team in each division will play each other once in a round robin competition. The winners and runners up from each division will play each in the grand final.
  21. The pitch shall be mark as per Figure 1.
  22. The referee’s decision is final.
  23. These rules are subject to change by the competition committee without notice. All players will be informed of any rule changes prior to any games.

Figure 1 - 5 a-side pitch markings.