Laws of
the Game & Sanctions & Discipline continued.......
LINKS
LAW
VII - THE START AND RESTART OF THE GAME
1.
Before the game starts, the referee will toss a coin between the team
captains to decide which team will choose their side of the court
and
which one will
take the kick to commence the game.
2. The
game will start by order of the referee, by a player of the team kicking
off putting the ball in forward movement towards the opposing
teams half. A goal can be scored from a kickoff.
3.
At the beginning of the game, each team will occupy half of the court
of play. The team in the opposing half, not taking the opening kick
off,
should be no less than 3 metres from the ball until it is in play
or has been moved by the opposition team the distance equal to it’s
circumference.
4.
The player who makes the initial kick cannot touch the ball a second
time until it has been touched by another player. Breaking this rule
will lead to repeating
the initial kick off and a disciplinary sanction for that player (yellow
card).
5. After a goal has been scored
the kick off is taken by the opposing team.
6.
After the regulation break the teams will change court sides and the
kick will be taken by the team that did not start the game.
7.
In case of overtime a new coin toss will be made, just like the one
at the beginning of the game.
8. After
an interruption of the game, and the ball still being in the court
of play, due to excep- tional reasons not mentioned in these laws,
the referee will
instruct the continuation of the game through a dropped ball in the
same spot where the ball was when the play was
interrupted. No player may be situated within 1 metre from the contact
point of the ball on the floor. If these rules are not followed the
referee will repeat
the action.
9. The ball is out when;
- it passes completely over a sideline or
goal line, be it by air or floor,
- the game
stops by order of the referee,
- the ball
hits the ceiling.
10. The ball will be in play at
all times including if;
- it bounces back
from the goalposts or the crossbar and it stays in the court,
- it bounces off any of the referees inside the court.
If the game
is played under roof and the ball is thrown or kicked by a player,
accidentally hitting the ceiling or any other obstacle in the court,
the game will continue with a lateral throw, closest to the sideline
from where the event occurred, by a player of the opposite team.
LAW
VIII - A GOAL
It is considered a goal when the ball has entirely crossed
the goal line between the goalposts and below the crossbar, as long
as it has not been carried, projected or hit intentionally by the
hand or arm of any player in the opposing team, including the goalkeeper.
A goalkeeper cannot score a goal by rolling the ball the full length
of the field. The team that has made the most number of goals during
the match will be the winner. If both teams should have the same number
of goals or if no goal was scored by either team, the match will result
in a draw.
The points scores to be used in all official tournaments
of each club or association affiliated to FFAO will be : 2 (two) points
for the winning team, 1 (one) point in case of a draw and 0 (zero)
points for the losing team.
LAW IX - VIOLATIONS
The violations defined
in this Law are divided into:
Personal Violations
Technical Violations
Personal
Violations
All personal fouls are cumulative and will be penalised
as follows:
Direct Free Kick
A team player will be punished for breaking
a rule when causing one of the following fouls.
The opposing team
(to that of the violator) will be given a direct free kick if a player
causes one of the
following fouls in such a manner that the referee
judges it imprudent, dangerous or made with excessive force:-
1.
Kicks or attemps to kick a player on the opposing team.
2.
Places himself in the way deliberately so as to make the opposing
player trip, be it by means of legs or by stopping in front or behind
the
player.
3.
Jumps on or throws himself upon the opposing player.
4.
Contacts the opposing player from behind, unless the opposing
player was blocking or obstructing the way.
5.
Contacts the player in a violent manner. Ie charging
6.
Harms or attempts to harm, spits on or assaults an opponent.
7. Holds the opponent by grabbing him/her
by the hand or obstructs the player’s action with any part of the
arm, legs or by holding the
uniform.
8. Pushes the opponent with
the hands or arms.
9. Slides for the
ball with the opponent, by placing the foot directly upwards with
one or both soles of the feet, either frontally or laterally, to
obstruct the path of the player.
10. Touches, deflects,
holds or projects the ball with the hand or arm intentionally, except
for the goalkeeper within the limits of the goal area.
11.
Hinders or stops the goalkeeper’s free movement within the limits
of his/her goal area.
12. A goalkeeper using his/her
hands to make a save outside their goal area.
13.
A double footed tackle.
14. A goalkeeper passing
over the halfway line except for a penalty shootout.
15.
A player rudely blocks the way between the ball and an opposing player
to stop his normal movement (shepherding) or intentionally
obstructs
the vision of an opponent to hinder progress of their play.
Penalty Kick
A penalty kick will be given if a
player makes any of the above mentioned violations (with the exeption
of 14) within the limits of the goal area, regardless of the position
of the ball and as long as it is in play.
Technical Violation
The
following events will be sanctioned with a side line throw from the
place closest to the area where the violation occurred.
1.
The goalkeeper delays putting the ball back into play more than
5 seconds, once it has been thoroughly controlled and is ready to
be put into play.
2. A player bars a
move by restraining or holding the ball with the feet, leg or body
against the floor stopping it from play for more than 5 seconds, except
for the
goalkeeper,
being on the floor in his/her own area to defend his/her goal.
3.
In the event of a direct free kick or penalty shot hitting the
upright or crossbar and deflecting on to the referee, it cannot be
played again by the same player. If it is it
becmes a sideline throw.
4. A player
delays the motion of the ball for more than 5 seconds in any way (penalties,
free kicks, throws etc), the ball is given to the other team.
5.
A player uses expressesions to trick the opponent, pretending
to be a member of their team, or retains the ball with his/her hands
in order to delay restoring the ball
into play, thereby gaining an advantage from this delay.
6.
A goalkeeper lets go of the ball intentionally and the ball
hits the floor. Whether the ball is still or in motion, it will be
considered a ball in play, free to be kicked by any
player, except f or the goal keeper.
7. The
team delays more than 15 seconds in restoring the motion of the ball
(not international).
8. The goalkeeper
throws the ball beyond the half way line, without first having the
ball touch the floor or another player.
9.
A goalkeeper overreaching their goal line area with the ball
in their hands or slidingwith the ball in their hands outside the
goal area .
Applying the Rule of Advantage
In the event of a violation,
if the ball remains in the possession of the opposing player in any
place within the court, the referee will allow the game to continue
without any further consequences.
Disciplinary Sanctions
Violations
Worth One Warning (Yellow Card)
Players and officials will be warned
and shown a yellow card if incurring one of the following faults:
1. Persists in breaking the rules.
2.
Shows disagreement with the referee’s decisions, be it with
words or by gestures.
3. Displays non-sportsmanship
conduct.
4. Deliberately delays restarting
play.
5. Deliberately leaves the court,
not through the substitutions area, and without permission of the
referee.
6. Does not respect the required
3 metre distance from a direct kick, a lateral throw or a corner.
7. Touches the ball with his/her hands
(except the goalkeeper in their area).
8.
The goalkeeper venturing beyond their half way line.
9.
A player kicks or throws the ball away so as to waste time.
10. Enters the court to instruct or rebuke players,
or even assistants, without permission of the referee.
11.
Addressing the following people inappropriately:- referees,
timekeepers, opposing team members or the public.
12.
Openly encouraging illegal or non sportsmanlike play.
13.
Dressing inappropriately, according to the rules.
14 .
Double footed tackle—general rough play—pushing—shirt pulling.
15.
Illegal slide tackle—high elbow– high foot– general hacking
and charging.
16. Bad language (undirected).
Note
The delegates will have the following tasks:-
- prepare and present the team sheets with
all the appropriate documentation
- be the
technical and administrative nexus between the bench and the control
table.
Any other action may be sanctioned in accordance to these laws.
Violation That Merits a Removal (Red Card)
The referee will report
the causes and circumstances in an impartial presentation of the facts,
avoiding personal opinions.
A player, official or spectator will be
issued a red card and removed if:-
1. They
are found guilty of violent tackles, violent conduct, threatening
or fighting with any player.
2. They
spit at or on a player, official or spectator.
3. They
use loud, foul, offensive and obscene language directed at players
and officials.
4. A player throws or
kicks the ball at an official in an aggressive or dangerous manner
or threatens, strikes or attempts to strike an official.
5.
A player deliberately stops the ball from entering the goal with his/her
hand with the exception of the goalkeeper.
6.
A player receives a second yellow card during the game.
Nb:
A player receiving a red card may be substituted immediately.
Complimentary
Rulings
1. Any player who accumulates
five personal fouls will be shown a blue card unless another colour
is warranted. They will be substituted, being unable to return to
the
game but may
remain on the bench.
2. A player who
receives a second yellow card in the same game may be substituted
by another player and may remain on the bench.
3.
Any player or member of the team receiving a direct red card
and removal from the game cannot remain on the bench.
4.
The referees may rule, without previous warning, a player’s,
coach’s or spectator’s removal via a red card due to repeatedly breaking
any of the rules.
LAW X - ACCUMULATIVE FOULS AND FREE KICKS
All the
actions mentioned in Law IX are considered personal fouls and accumulative
fouls.
1. During a free kick all the
team members from the opposing team must be at least 3 metres from
the ball until the ball is in play and they will not obstruct or interrupt
the
player who is
taking the kick.
2. Each team will be
permitted to have 5 accumulative fouls in each half of the match,
without losing their right to form a wall when the opposing team is
given a free kick. 3. From the sixth
accumulative foul onwards, personal fouls will be sanctioned with
a 9 metre penalty kick. The team will not be permitted to form a wall
nor will they be
allowed to have a player between the goal and the ball, except the
defending goalkeeper. The penalty kick will be taken from the second
penalty mark (9 metres). The
defending goalkeeper must be a minimum of 3 metres from the ball.
4. The timekeeper will have numbered signs
from 1 upwards and will make them visible as the teams commit accumulative
fouls.
5. If the fifth accumulative
foul is carded the timekeeper will notify the referees and once the
card is given a red flag, or a visible indicator, will be placed on
the control
table
towards the team that committed the foul.
6.
In case of overtime, overtime will be a continuation of the
second half, maintaining the technical conditions in which the second
half ended regarding the individual
fouls, and the accumulative fouls in each team, the timeouts granted
and the cards shown.
LAW
XI - THE PENALTY KICK
1. A penalty kick
will be given against the defending team when a foul is committed
inside the penalty area.
2. A goal may
be scored directly from a penalty kick.
3.
Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at
the end of each half, or at the end of periods of overtime.
4.
The ball will be placed on the penalty mark.
5.
The player taking the penalty kick must be clearly identified.
6. The defending goalkeeper must remain
on his own goal line, facing the kicker and in between the goal posts,
until the ball is in play.
7. The players
other than the kicker must be located inside the playing area, outside
the penalty area, behind or to the side of the penalty mark, at least
3 metres away
from
the penalty mark.
8. The penalty will
be taken on the referee’s whistle. (The player will be given 5 seconds
to kick the ball).
Procedure
1. The
player taking the penalty kicks the ball forward and he cannot play
the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.
2. The ball is in play when it is kicked
and moves forward.
3. When a penalty
kick is taken during the normal course of play, or time has been extended
at half time or full time, a goal will be awarded if; the ball touches
one or
both
goal posts, the crossbar or the goalkeeper before passing between
the goal posts into the net or is kicked directly into the back of
the net.
4. The defending team players
must be behind the line of the ball and 3 metres away from the ball.
Infringements/Sanctions
If a defending player infringes Procedure
Law 4 and no goal was achieved the kick will be taken again, but if
there was a goal it will stand.
If a player of the team kicking the
penalty infringes Procedure Law 4 and a goal is achieved, the kick
will be taken again, but if no goal was achieved, there will be no
retake.
If the player who is taking the penalty plays the ball twice
without it touching another player, a sideline throw will be awarded
to the opposing team from the closest site where the fault happened.
LAW XII - GOAL LINE THROW
1. It is the
only way to restart the game once the ball has gone past the goal
line, either by air or floor, after having touched an opposing team
member and no goal was
achieved, according to Law VIII.
2. It
will be performed only by the goalkeeper, who will make it by throwing
the ball with his/her hands and it will be repeated if the ball does
not leave the goal area
before being touched by another player.
3.
If the ball is thrown directly into the other half of the court
a side line throw to the other side will be awarded unless the referee
allows the advantage rule to apply.
4. A
goal cannot be scored directly from a goal line throw unless the ball
touches one of the players (with the exception of the opposing goalkeeper).
5. The opposing team’s players must
remain outside the goal area while the goal line throw is made.
6.
If a goalkeeper persists in throwing the ball over the halfway line
ie 3 times, a yellow card will be issued and a personal foul for time
wasting.
LAW XIII - THROWS
Side line throws will be made to restart
the game when the ball goes out through any of the sidelines.
Procedure
1.
The player who is to throw the ball (with the exception of the
goalkeeper) will stand behind the side line at the same point through
which the ball left the court, with
both feet joined or apart, perpendicular to the line towards the court,
without any part of the sole or heel leaving contact with the floor.
2. The ball will be thrown with both
hands, with the movement beginning from behind the head and making
an arch above the head towards the court.
3.
The ball will be in play from the moment it leaves the hands
of the thrower.
4. No goals can be scored
directly from a side line throw, even if the ball touches the goal
keeper.
5. If the thrower doesn’t comply
with these procedures, the referee will order a new side line throw
by the opposite team.
Corner Throw
It will
be made when the ball leaves the court through the same team’s goal
line outside the goal posts, pushed or touched by one of the players
defending the goal. No goals can be scored directly from a corner
throw, the ball must touch a player other than the goalkeeper for
a goal to be scored.
Procedure
1. It
will be performed by an opposing team member from the corner on the
same side of the goal through which the ball left the court.
2.
If the ball left the court above the crossbar of the goal the
referee will decide the side of the goal from which the corner throw
will be made.
3. It will be made in
the same way as a lateral throw, with the exception of the feet of
the thrower, which will be located on the right angle formed by the
goal line with the
side line, meeting at the corresponding corner, both feet out of the
game court, but otherwise subject to the same limitations as the side
line throw.
4. If the thrower doesn’t
comply with these procedures the referee will order the restart of
the game with a goal line throw by the opposing team’s goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper Throw
It will be the only way of returning the ball into
play by the goalkeeper.
Procedure
1 It will be done with the hands
exclusively. The goalkeeper cannot drop the ball and then play it
with his feet. The goalkeeper will have five seconds to put the ball
back into play.
2 The goalkeeper can use the feet to participate in
kicking the ball during the game to antici pate or kick back or clear
the ball.
3 The goalkeeper’s throw will be under Laws IX and XII.
A goal will be validated if the ball touches one of the players, with
the exception of the opposing team’s goalkeeper.
Every player will
have five seconds to throw the ball, starting from the moment the
ball is ready to be thrown or the referee gives the order to do so.
LAW XIV - BACK PASS
1. The goalkeeper
is allowed to pick up the ball or play it with his/her feet from a
back pass whilst inside the goal area twice. This cannot be repeated
a third time until the
ball has been touched by the opposing team. A breach of this procedure
will incur a sideline throw and an accumulative foul for the player
and team.
2. However, the goalkeeper
is allowed to receive the ball from his/her team at anytime during
the game and play it with his/her feet. Provided he/she is outside
the goal
area this
is not considered to be a back pass and no sanction can be imposed.
LAW XV - SLIDE TACKLES AND PLAYING THE BALL WHILE ON THE
GROUND
Slide tackles are allowed but with restrictions
1.
The sole of the foot must be down.
2. The
foot must not be above ball height.
3. Only
one foot must be used.
4. Players, including
the Goal Keeper, cannot slide from in front directly into the opposing
players.
5. Full contact of the ball
must be made. Contact with half ball and half player is a foul and
will be sanctioned.
6. Players are allowed
to play the ball whilst lying on the ground.
LAW XVI -
THE REFEREE, THE SECOND REFEREE AND THE TIMEKEEPER
The Referee
1.
Will protect all players by enforcing all the Laws of the Game.
2. Will permit the ball to remain in
play if a player is fouled but his/her team has a clear advantage,
or he/she will sanction the foul committed if there is no such
advantage.
3. Will take note and inform
the proper authorities of all situations that occurred before, during
and after the match, and also of the sanctions given to players or
technical
staff of
each team.
4. Will be the timekeeper,
if a timekeeper is not present.
5. Will
interrupt, stop or end the game in cases where the Laws are continually
infringed or because of any type of external interference.
6.
Will take disciplinary measures against a person who commits
fouls suitable for expelling or sanctioning.
7.
Will sanction unauthorised persons who enter the playing area.
8. Will pause the match if he/she believes
a player has suffered a serious injury and will order the removal
of the player out of the playing area and restart the game. If the
referee believes
the player does not have a serious injury he/she will permit the game
to continue until the ball is out of play.
9.
Will make sure the correct ball is being used as per Law II.
The Second Referee
1. A second referee
will be appointed to run the opposite side of the court to the senior
referee. He/she will be equipped with a whistle and cards.
2. He/she will referee
according to the laws of the game and will have discretionary power
to stop the game when the laws are infringed.
The first referee’s
decision will be final
If the first referee and the second referee
point out a foul simultaneously and there is no agreement about which
team committed the foul, the first referee’s decision will prevail.
The first referee and the second referee will be able to enforce a
sanction or an expulsion, but if they do not agree, the first referee’s
decision will prevail.
The Timekeeper
The timekeeper will be appointed
to stay outside the game court at the half way line and at the same
side as the substitute area.
The timekeeper will have a timer and
the necessary team sheets to keep a record of the game. These team
sheets will be provided by the organisers.
The Timekeeper
1.
Will start the timer after the referee gives the order to start
the game.
2. Will stop the timer when
the ball is out of play.
3. Will start
the timer again when the referee gives the order for a goal line throw,
or a side line throw, or a corner throw, a free kick, a penalty kick
from the penalty mark or
second penalty mark, a timeout, or restarting with the game ball on
the floor.
4. Will keep control of the
minute of time out.
5. Will announce
through an accoustic signal, different from the referee’s, the end
of the first half, or end of the game, or overtime, or the end of
the time out minute.
6. Will keep a
record of each team’s first five accumulative fouls as well as other
fouls, as pointed out by the referees in both halves of the game.
7. Will let the referee know the number
of the player who has committed a fourth personal foul.
8.
Will keep a record of the interruptions in the game and the
reasons for them.
9. Will register the
numbers of the players who scored the goals legally approved by the
referee and the final score of the game.
10. Will
keep a record of the numbers and names of the players warned or expelled.
In the case the first referee gets injured, he/she will be substituted
by the second referee who will in turn be substituted by the timekeeper.
In international games the participation of the second referee and
the timekeeper will be mandatory.
Complementary Rulings
1.
FFAO will decide on the participation or non-participation of two
referees in the lower categories. In this case one person can take
over the referee’s role, following
these Laws completely, and giving the responsibilities of the timekeeper
to one person.
2. In international games
it is mandatory to use an electronic scoreboard.