Twilight 5-a-side Competition Rules
 

Number of Players

• Teams should have not more than 5 players on the pitch, one of which should be the goalkeeper.
• Number of rolling substitutions made is unlimited, except for the goalkeeper who can only be replaced while the ball is out of play - and the referee notified of the change.
• The new player entering the field can only do so once the player coming off has completely left the pitch.

Kick off

• The player kicking off cannot touch the ball again until it has been touched by any other player.

The ball DOES NOT have to go forward.

• Opposing players must be in their own half of the pitch, and outside the centre circle until the ball has been touched by the team kicking off.
• You cannot score direct from the kick off.

Fouls

• A player who commits any of the following offences shall be penalised with a direct free kick being awarded to the other team.
• Kicks, trips, holds, pushes, obstructs, shoulder charges, or slide tackles an opponent.
• Handles the ball.

Slide Tackles and shoulder charges are NOT permitted.

Free Kicks

• Opposing players must be 5 metres from the ball, or on goal line, at all free kicks.
• If the team taking the free kick takes longer than 5 seconds to do so, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Kick In (Throw In)

• If the ball goes over the sidelines, a kick in is awarded to the other team. Ball should be kicked in from the line, where ball went out of play, and the ball should not be moving.
• A goal cannot be scored direct from a kick in; ball must touch another player before the "kicker" can retouch the ball.
• If the kick is not taken within 5 seconds, of the player taking the kick receiving the ball, the kick will be awarded to the other team.

Corner Kick

• If the ball goes over the back line (goal line) - a corner is awarded if the ball was last played by a defender - or a goal throw is awarded if the ball was last played by an attacker.
• A goal can be scored direct from a corner.
• If the kick is not taken within 5 seconds, of the player taking the kick receiving the ball, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the other team.

Goalkeepers.

• If the ball goes over the back line (goal line) - a corner is awarded if the ball was last played by a defender - or a goal throw is awarded if the ball was last played by an attacker.
• All Goal Throws must be taken by the goalkeeper, from within their penalty area, and the ball must be thrown back into play. Goalkeeper has 5 seconds to throw the ball out - or an indirect free kick is awarded to other team.
• Goalkeeper must NOT throw the Ball over the halfway line, - or an indirect free kick is awarded to the other team.
• The goalkeeper may not play the ball a second time until it has been played by an opponent or crossed the halfway line.
• When making a save, once the goalkeeper has handled the ball he must throw it back into play, following the rules in 2, 3, and 4 above.
• The goalkeeper cannot pick up a back pass from any member of his or her own team; otherwise an indirect free kick is awarded.
• If the goalkeeper makes a save without handling the ball, he is free to play the ball with his feet if he so wishes.
• The goalkeeper cannot handle the ball outside the penalty area; or a direct free kick will be awarded.

General

• All games will be 20 minutes each way, teams change ends at half time.