Rules

Knowledge of Rules

1. The laws of indoor soccer that apply at a venue operated by Laurus Sports are those of FIFA unless a rule of the Centre provides otherwise. In those cases where there is conflict between a general law and a rule of the Centre the Centre’s rule will prevail. It is the responsibility of each player to be familiar with these rules.

Duration of a Game

2. A game shall consist of two eighteen minute halves. Teams will change ends at half time. There will be a maximum two minute break at half time.
3. A game is started and finished by the referee’s whistle. Kick off is decided by the toss of a coin.
4. Unless Laurus Sports determines otherwise a competition will be scheduled over a 15 week season. Finals will be played in the final week.

Fees Payment

5. LAURUS SPORTS shall determine the game fees that it shall receive from time to time. The fee must be paid in full prior to the start of a match.
6. LAURUS SPORTS can deduct 2 premiership points from a team’s total points if it does not pay its game fees in full on the day of a game. Points will continue to be deducted at LAURUS SPORTS’s discretion until full payment is received.

7. Match fees apply any time a team plays a fixtured match or plays a scratch match.

Outstanding Money

8. Any team with outstanding money owing to LAURUS SPORTS is not eligible for finals.

Times of Games

9. The times at which games are fixtured shall be determined by LAURUS SPORTS and it may vary them without notice in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
10. Teams are to be on court at the time fixtured for the start of their game. The clock will be started at the fixtured time to ensure that all teams can play their full game from their fixtured time. Failure to be on court at the fixtured time will result in a one goal penalty. Thereafter teams will lose one goal at three minutes and six minutes for lateness with the game being abandoned after nine minutes has elapsed. Teams who have members running late must take the court when they have the minimum of three players so that the referee can start the game.
11. An automatic forfeit will apply if a team is not on court within nine minutes of the fixtured start time.

Points

12. Teams shall be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 points for a draw and 1 points for s bye.

13. Teams having a win on forfeit will only receive 3 points if they play an organised scratch match. No points shall be awarded if a team does not participate in a scratch match organised by LAURUS SPORTS. If Centre management cannot organise a scratch match, the non forfeiting team shall receive four points.

Forfeit

14. A team will be regarded as forfeiting a match if, of its own volition, it does not play a match that LAURUS SPORTS has scheduled for it in a competition. Forfeiting teams forfeit their last game bond. In addition, teams that forfeit on the day of scheduled play will have to pay a penalty equal to a team’s game fees if a “scratch match” cannot be organized for their opponents. A forfeiting team will have four premiership points deducted and will be required to reinstate its last game bond.

Finals

15. The total points that it has received during the course of the competition will determine a team’s position on the ladder. If two or more teams are on the same points at the end of the season, the position on the ladder will be determined by a team’s number of wins at the end of the season. If teams have the same number of wins the ladder position will be determined by the goal difference (amount of goals scored by a team through a season less the goals scored against the team).
16. In finals, if there is a draw at full time, teams will play until a goal is scored with an extra 3 minutes at each end. When a goal is scored the scoring team shall be the winner. If after the six minutes extra time the score is still level, the result will be determined by a goal shoot out of five nominated team members.

Teams

17. A team must have three players for a game to start. No more than five players will be allowed on court at any time. A team may have up to five substitutes.
18. Mixed teams must not have more than 3 males on the court.

Injuries

19. The need to minimise disruption for subsequent games means that, except in finals, there is no extra time for time out in this competition. An injured player must leave the court as soon as reasonably possible so that play may continue. Once an injured player leaves the court his or her position may be filled with a substituted player.
20. If a player is bleeding he or she must vacate the court immediately and cannot return until the bleeding has stopped.

Uniforms

21. All team members except the goal-keeper must wear the same colour tops. Shorts must be sports or soccer shorts and have no outside pockets. Teams will be given 3 weeks to organise their uniforms before any penalties apply.
22. Jewellery is not part of the uniform and is not to be worn during a game. In addition to the penalties attached to the wearing of incorrectly coloured or inappropriate items teams which commence play with a member wearing jewellery will not be permitted to continue play until the team member sheds the item. The penalties that apply to a late start will apply from the moment that the jewellery item is detected until the moment that the game recommences.
23. The wearing of peaked hats or caps in the course of play shall be treated as the wearing of jewellery.
24. Except for the goalkeeper, track suit pants are not allowed except by prior written arrangement with LAURUS SPORTS management.
25. All players must wear non-marking rubber soled shoes. Shoes with raised eyelets are not

Unacceptable Language

26. Swearing, bad language, racist comments are unacceptable at LAURUS SPORTS and are treated as red card offences.
27. A player who uses unacceptable language will not be warned, but will concede a penalty to the opposition and will be asked to leave the court immediately and will not be allowed back on to the court for the rest of the game.
28. The position of offending player’s sent off court cannot be filled unless the offending player was a goal keeper. One on field player only may change to goal keeper in this instance, but the remaining players may not change position.
29. The referee will ask spectators (including players not on the pitch) who use unacceptable language to leave the premises. Failure to do so will result in the game being abandoned and the offending team deemed to have lost on forfeit.

Red Card

30. Two yellow cards in one match denote a red card.
31. If a player receives a red card, he or she must vacate the court immediately and is suspended from playing in the competition for one week. He or she can only be replaced after 2 minutes or a goal is scored by the opposition.
32. Should a red card player continue to abuse a referee after being sent off the player will be suspended for two weeks.
33. If a captain allows a suspended player to play the folowing week, the team will lose 6 premiership points and the captain will be suspended for 2 games.
34. Any player who receives 3 red cards will be suspended from the competition for the rest of the season.

GAME RULES

Referee

35. There shall be one referee per match. The match referee is responsible for all events on and surrounding a court between the end of one game and the start of another.
36. Referees are independent service providers employed by the teams. However, the Centre expects that referees will not act in a manner contrary to the Centre’s interests. When, in the opinion of Centre management acting reasonably, a referee is acting contrary to the Centre’s interest, management may intervene and do all that is necessary to preserve the Centre’s interest.
37. If a player abuses or shows dissent towards a referee the offending player will be asked to leave the court and will not be allowed back on the court for the rest of the game. An offending player’s position cannot be filled unless the offending player was goal keeper. One player only may change to goal keeper in this instance, but the remaining players may not change position.
38. If a player persists in abusive behaviour after being asked to leave the court the player will be asked to leave the premises.
39. Any queries that players may have about rules and their interpretations are only to be asked of the referee at half or full time. In the course of play a referee’s decision is final.
40. If a player becomes too aggressive on court, at the referee’s discretion and in lieu of a red or yellow card, he or she may be sent from the court for a cooling off period of 5 minutes. The team will be penalised by playing 4 players only until the cooling off period is finished. The player may retake the court immediately after this cooling off period.

Fighting

41. Should a fight occur between teams during a game, the game will automatically be stopped. No points will be awarded. There will be no appeal and both teams may be asked to leave the competition.

Kick Off

42. At the kick off the ball must go forward.
43. A goal can not be scored directly from kick off.

Area of Play

44. Players may score goals from anywhere on the court including the goalkeepers D. There are no restricted areas.

Local Playing Conditions

45. If the ball hits the roof or a light, the game will be restarted by a kick in from the sideline by the non-offending team or by an indirect free kick if the impact occurred as a result of an indiscriminate kick.
46. If in the opinion of the referee a ball is kicked indiscriminately an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the non-offending team.

Substitution

47. An on court player may substitute at any time, provided the substitution occurs at the centre line of the court. The on-coming player may not enter the playing court until the on-court player is over the side-line. Goalie substitution can only occur if the goalie has the ball and the referee is notified.

Slide Tackles

48. Sliding in order to reach the ball to stop it or to tackle a player increases the risk of player injury, sliding is a yellow card offence. A free-kick will be awarded to the opposition.
49. A goalkeeper may slide in the defence of the goal if he or she begins the slide inside the goalkeeper’s D. If a goalkeeper’s slide continues outside the D the goalkeeper must not make contact with an opponent.
50. A goalkeeper’s slide must not be reckless, careless or made in a manner that uses excessive force.

Three Metre Rule

51. This rule applies for all kick ins and free kicks. A defending player must be 3 metres back from where the kick is taken. Any infringing player will receive one warning, then a yellow card. If a quick free kick is taken no defending player who is within 3 metres from the spot can obstruct the kick. This is a yellow card offence and a 3 metre advance free kick.
52. Players must stand back 3 metres from the ball when it is brought back into play from:
1. a Kick in, or a Kick off
2. a corner kick
3. by the goalie
4. a free kick

Failure to do so will result in a free kick.

Out of Court

53. When the ball goes out of court a player must kick the ball back into play by placing the ball on the outside line. The player taking the kick in must be outside the court. Failure to do so will result in the decision being reversed
54. No goal can be scored with a direct kick from the outside line.
55. A player has 4 seconds to kick the ball back into the court. Failure to do so will result in a free kick to the opposition.

Penalty Shot on Siren

56. A penalty shot, awarded on the siren (marking the end of the half or the game) must be played.

Goalkeeper

57. In order for the goalkeeper to handle the ball, the ball and the goalkeeper must be inside the goalkeepers D. The goalkeeper may roll or throw the ball out of the goalkeepers D , or place the ball on the ground before kicking it. The goalkeeper may throw or kick the ball in over half way. If the goalkeeper kicks the ball from his or her hands or drop-kicks the ball, a free kick outside the “D” will be paid against them.
58. The goalkeeper has 4 seconds to get rid of the ball from the goalkeeper’s area. Failure to do so will result in a free kick outside the “D”. The goalkeeper, once outside the “D”, will be treated as an on field player.
59. If the goal keeper steps outside the “D” while handling the ball, the opposition will be awarded a penalty kick.
60. Once the goalkeeper has thrown or kicked the ball back into play they may only touch the ball with their hands if there is a shot on goal by the opposition or the ball has gone over half way.

Fouls

61. Red cards will be given and a penalty awarded to the non offending team for:
* Second yellow card offence
* Serious foul play
* Swearing, foul or racist language
* Kicking or charging the goalie
* Striking
62. Yellow cards will be rewarded for:
* Shirt pulling
* Tackling from behind
* Pushing
* Pushing from behind.
* Professional foul
* Deliberate handball

63. Yellow cards shall be given if the umpire deems that a player commits any of the above offences and a warning is appropriate. A free kick shall be awarded to the non offending team

Five Direct Free Fouls

64. Teams may only accumulate five free fouls per half. After and including a sixth foul occurs within a half, a direct free kick shall be awarded outside the D with no wall allowed. If the offence occurs within the Goalie’s D the free kick will be given two metres outside the D.
65. The player taking the free kick must have a shot at goal. No other players are permitted to touch the ball other than the goalie and the person taking the free kick during this passage of play. Other players may touch the ball once the goalie has returned the ball to the field of play or the ball has rebounded off the goal posts.

Time Wasting

66. Time wasting will be determined by the referee and will result in a yellow card and a free kick.
67. Kicking the ball away from the designated play position after the whistle has gone will result in a yellow card and a free kick to the opposition.

Advantage

68. An advantage may be played at the referee’s discretion even though a prior foul may have occurred.

Equipment

69. deliberate Interference with the goal in any way shall result in an automatic goal against the offending players team. Additionally, a player hanging on the goal shall be warned and then sent off for the duration of the game if the behaviour persists.
70. If equipment is damaged through vandalism the player responsible shall bear the cost of repair or replacement.

Miscellaneous

71. No pets are allowed in the building. No bicycles or roller blades are allowed on the courts.
72. Strictly no smoking in the area of the courts.
73. Teams are to provide a minimum of three team contacts with home, work and mobile telephone numbers and e-mail address.
74. It is the responsibility of team captains to make sure that all players know the time of their games and that team members arrive on time.
75. Players play at their own risk. LAURUS SPORTS accepts no liability for any injury that a player might receive in the course of a game.
76. Persons who have been asked to leave the Centre and who do not do so immediately will be treated as trespassers.
77. A game will not be stopped for a player to do up his or her shoelaces.
78. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse.
79. Management has the final discretion on any matter connected with the conduct of the Centre.
80. Goalkeepers cannot pick up intentional back passes