December 4, 2024
Game Rules - Overview Format
Format: 9v9
Match Length: 30 mins each way.
Half time should not be more than five minutes.
Player Game Time
60 Minutes Maximum, 40 Minutes Minimum
Pitch Size
80 yd x 50 yd or 40 yd x 70 yd (Guided by current layout)
Ball Size
Size 4
Goal Size
9v9 Goals or Similar
Substitutions
Roll-off roll-on substitutions can be made at any time during the game with permission from the referee, including players who have already been substituted.
Competition
League Format & Concluding Finals
Playing Equipment
Children cannot play in the South West Academy League without shin pads. These should be covered entirely by knee- length socks.
Goalkeepers should wear a different coloured shirt to the rest of the team.
Footwear should be appropriate for the playing surface. Trainers are not allowed. Hats permitted for Goalkeepers only.
Deliberate Header Restart:
Deliberately heading the ball is an offence punishable by an indirect free kick
The indirect free kick is taken at the point where the ball was deliberately headed, except:
Where a player deliberately heads the ball within their own penalty area, the referee will stop the game and restart with an indirect free kick to the opposition from the nearest side line of the penalty area where the offence took place
Touchline Restart:
Kick-ins and dribble-ins will be introduced instead of throw-ins to create more technical opportunities for players with the ball at their feet, allow for more effective playing time, and to help reduce the amount of time the ball is in the air during a match.
- When the whole of the ball passes over the whole of the touchline, on the ground or in the air, instead of a throw-in, a pass-in / dribble-in is awarded
- The kicker that takes the pass-in / dribble-in may touch the ball again before it is touched by another player
- At the moment of delivering the ball:
- The ball must be stationary on the touchline at the point where it left the pitch; only the kicker may be off the pitch
- All opponents must stand at least 5 yards from the point on the touchline where the pass-in or /dribble-in is to be taken from
- A goal cannot be scored directly from a pass-in
- The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves
