Winter League Rules & Regulations

24. GAME RULES

REFEREE – ROLE OF CAPTAINS – DURATION OF THE MATCH

The Referee is the game’s leader. He is the sole timekeeper and is responsible for all decisions of the match. Teams are requested to respect his decisions and to help with their behavior to conduct a proper and fair match.

The role of the captain-manager of each team is of great importance. The Referee and the team captains-managers must have impeccable and harmonious cooperation between them. The captain-manager has absolute responsibility for the behavior of the players on his team. He must be a model of behavior, respect all the referee’s decisions and guide his players to compete cleanly, honestly, with respect and sportsmanship towards the opponents and the referee. The success of the championship is largely based on the role of the captain.

The duration of the game is 2 halves of 25 minutes plus delays. The break between halves is 3 minutes. Also, 3 minutes will be given for the teams to prepare and warm up. It is recommended that players warm up outside the field.

Each team is entitled to a 1-minute time-out (per half) in each match when the ball is out of play and in the possession of the team requesting the time-out. It must inform the referee in time before the ball goes out, for the smooth conduct of the match.

During fouls, corners, free kicks and throw-ins, the ball must be played in 5 seconds. If not played within 5 seconds, possession of the ball passes to the opposing team

The distance to the wall for all kicks, direct or indirect, is 5 meters.

YELLOW AND RED CARDS- VIOLATIONS

A player who receives a yellow card is also punished with a 1-minute suspension and his team continues with 4 players. If the opposing team scores a goal during the 1-minute period, then the team playing with fewer players is entitled to add a player. Yellow cards are counted ONLY for the specific game. (Two yellow cards = one red).

A player who receives two yellow cards or a direct red card is expelled from the game and his team continues with 4 players, for 3 minutes. If the opposing team scores a goal during the 3 minutes, then the team playing with fewer players is entitled to add a player, but not the one who was sent off. The Organizing Authority will review the violation and decide on the punishment to be imposed on the player. This can range from a 1-match suspension to a full suspension from the league and even from all future leagues.

When a player is sent off 2 times in different games, then he will automatically be ineligible to participate in the next 2 games of his team.

It is considered a violation only in the case where a player slides (tackles) trying to play the ball and kicks the opponent, in other cases it is not considered a violation.

After the 5th team foul in each half, each subsequent foul by the same team is punished with a 10-meter penalty.

The penalty kick is taken from the height of the goalkeeper’s penalty area.

Fouls will be indirect or direct in accordance with the official football regulations and at the referee’s discretion.

BALL – BALL RETURN – GOAL 

The type of ball will be will be number 4. All teams will be given 2 identical balls. It is recommended that they play the match with these balls, unless the two teams agree to play with a different one.

The ball should be placed on the line when the throw-in is taken and should be taken with the feet and not with the hands.

A goal directly from an indirect kick and from a throw-in is not valid, unless the ball contacts any player from both teams. In such a case, possession of the ball will go to the opposing team.

4 If the throw-in is taken incorrectly, a substitution is given and possession of the ball passes to the opposing team. If the ball goes directly out without ever entering the field of play, a replay is given. If the player taking the throw-in is found to have been deliberately delaying the play, the referee may penalise him with a yellow card.

A goal resulting from a direct corner kick and a direct foul are valid.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions are unlimited. In order for a substitution to be made correctly, the following must be done:

1. The referee must be informed first.
2. The ball must be out of the field of play or the match must be stopped.
3. The player entering must enter from the centre of the field of play after his teammate has left the field of play. The player leaving may do so from any point on the field.

The substituted player may re-enter the same match.

GOALKEEPER

The throw-in of the ball, when it has gone out of bounds the boundaries of the goal line, is only allowed by the goalkeeper and only with his hands towards a teammate, within 5 seconds. The goalkeeper may have contact with the ball again after it has been touched by a teammate or opponent. In the event that the goalkeeper makes contact with the ball before a teammate or opponent, a replay will be held. If he does it again, he will be punished with a yellow card and if he does it again, a red card.

2. The goalkeeper is not allowed to catch the ball with his hand, when it has been returned to him by a teammate, with intention. This infringement will be punished with an indirect kick from the point where the goalkeeper caught the ball with his hand. If the goalkeeper catches the ball with his hand inside the penalty area, then the ball will be placed, for the execution of the violation, at the nearest point on the penalty area line.

GENERAL RULES

Offside does not apply.

In each match, the substitutes, the team manager and those listed on the match sheet are entitled to sit on the bench, without smoking inside the field.

In general, the official regulations of regular 11X11 football apply and are applied, in cases not mentioned above.