DISC 7-a-side Playing Rules

DISC 7-a-side Rules Interpretation and Common Player Misunderstandings

A full set of rules is available below this note.

Balls – Teams are required to bring their own match balls to games. Both teams should present their match ball to the referee prior to the start of the game. In the event that a ball is kicked over the fence, the team that kicked it is required to go fetch. Referees have been instructed not to re-start the game until such time as a player is actively recovering the ball.

Slide tackles, playing the ball on the ground. There are no rules against slide tackling or playing the ball on the ground.  If, however, a player puts himself or an opponent in a dangerous situation because of his actions he will be called for dangerous play and an indirect free-kick awarded to referee.

“I got the ball ref!” For some reason, many players and commentators believe incorrectly that simply playing the ball precludes a player from fouling an opponent or engaging in dangerous play. This is wrong.  If in the process of playing the ball, a player endangers himself or an opponent or fouls an opponent, the offence is committed regardless of whether the ball is touched or not.

Goalkeepers are players and receive no special treatment. Goalkeepers do not receive special treatment or latitude in tackling or challenging for the ball other than being able to use their hands. If a goalkeeper jumps into an opponent or makes a dangerous challenge, he will be treated the same as if

Distance from ball at free kick is 6m for members of team that caused the infraction. It is not the referee’s job to get players back those 6 metres, it is the responsibility of the players. Referees are instructed to sin bin players who deliberately delay the re-start of the game by not actively retreating the 6 metres or entering this area. DISC encourages quick re-starts. The ref’s whistle is for stopping the game not for re-starting it. Teams may re-start as quickly as they like. If the re-start is hindered because opponents have not retreated the necessary 6 metres the attacking team will be permitted to restart the game. If a wall is formed and not 6 metres from the ball and the opponent shoots and misses or hits the wall, the referee can allow the kick to be retaken.

Direct and Indirect free kicks are both used at DISC. Direct free kicks are awarded for fouls and handballs and indirect for technical breaches such as dangerous play, unsporting conduct etc. Indirect free kicks are indicated by the referee holding his arm aloft.

Ball in or out of play. The whole of the ball has to be over the whole of the line for a ball to be out of play. Often the curvature of the ball will allow for grass to be seen between the ball and the white line when the ball is still in play. In the interests of fluid play, referees are instructed to give the ball as out only when they are certain it is out

Calling the game. It has become common for players to call the game themselves in order to influence the referee. DISC deems such behaviour to be unsporting conduct. This is punishable by an indirect free kick and possible sin bin.

DISC Indoor House League Soccer Rules

The Ball

The ball is:

  • spherical
  • made of leather or other suitable material

Size 5 for adults and U13 (Gr 7) and up and Size 4 for Youth U9 (Gr 3) and up.

The ball may not be changed during the match without the authority

of the referee.

The Number of Players

Two teams, each consisting of not more than:

Men & Ladies’ Div A: 7 Players, Minimum 6 players required to start a game. A match may not continue if either team consists of fewer than five players.

Ladies’ Divs B, C & D, Youth (Full Field) 8 Players Minimum 7 players required to start a game. A match may not continue if either team consists of fewer than six players.

A team cannot play without a designated Goalkeeper and the Goalkeeper must wear a different color uniform than the field players.

A substitute only enters the field of play after the player being replaced has left the field of play. Players must leave and enter the field at the designated position Referee does not need to be notified of a substitution.  In the event of an illegal substitution, the referee may “sin bin” both players for 5 minutes

 

Forfeit Games

 

Games are scheduled to begin on the hour or half hour. Teams must have a minimum of the required number of players above less one player to begin the game.

 

In the event that one or other team does not have the required number of players by 5 minutes after the scheduled start time, the team will forfeit the game and a 3-0 default loss will be recorded in the standings.

 

If both teams are short players at kick off + 5 minutes, the teams may agree with the referee a time to allow players to arrive. In this event, the game playing time will be shortened by the amount of time delayed and the score will be recorded in the standings, provided that both teams achieve the required number of players before the agreed new start time. If both teams are short at five minutes past the scheduled kick off time and agree to delay the start to wait for players, but only one team is able to field the required number of players less 1, an exhibition game may be played but the score of the game will be recorded as a 0-0 default tie.

 

 

Players’ Age

 

Players in the youth and child leagues must be born in the year of the age group that they are playing in or later.

 

Adult players must be 14 years of age or older to register and participate in the adult league.

 

The Players’ Equipment

The basic compulsory equipment of a player is:

  • a jersey or shirt (with sleeves – exception is a bib over shirt)
  • shorts – if thermal undershorts are worn, they are of the same main color as the shorts
  • stockings
  • shinguards
  • footwear

each goalkeeper wears colors which distinguish him from the other players, the referee and the assistant referees

A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery) (exception medic alert).

 

The Referee

 

  • enforces the Laws of the Game
  • acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match
  • allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time
  • takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may at his discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds

The authority of the Referee starts when he arrives at the field of play and lasts until he has departed after the game.

The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play (including whether a goal has been scored or not) are final.

The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect provided that he has not restarted play.

The referee’s whistle is for stopping the game.  At a free kick, Players may re-start a game at any time unless the referee specifically instructs play to be held for a whistle to restart the play.

 

The Duration of the Match

 

For Youth & Ladies’ full field games, the match lasts a maximum of two equal periods of 25 minutes, For Men 1 period of 50 minutes unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two participating teams. Half-time is one minute.  Games must start within 5 minutes of the scheduled time. If games do not start on time as a result of delays due to players not being ready, the playing time will be shortened so that the game finishes no later than the scheduled time of the next game.

The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee but must not take the end of the game beyond the scheduled start time of the next game.

If a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.

 

 

The Start and Restart of Play

 

The team which wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half of the match. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match.

A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off.

Kick-Off Procedure

  • all players are in their own half of the field
  • the opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 6 m from the ball until it is in play
  • the ball is stationary on the centre mark
  • the referee gives a signal
  • the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves in any direction
  • the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

Dropped ball

A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage which becomes necessary, while the ball is in play, for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game.

 

Dropped ball Procedure

The referee drops the ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.

A dropped ball to restart the match after play has been temporarily stopped inside the goal area takes place on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped.

 

The Ball In and Out of Play

Ball out of play

The ball is out of play when:

  • it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air
  • play has been stopped by the referee

Ball in play

The ball is in play at all other times, including when:

  • it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar or corner flagpost and remains in the field of play
  • it rebounds from either the referee or an assistant referee when they are on the field of play

If the ball hits the ceiling or protective wires, the game is stopped and restarted directly underneath where the ball hit the ceiling by a member of the team opposing the player who last touched the ball.

The Method of Scoring

 

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.

Offside

There are no offsides in DISC Adult House league.

Offsides apply to DISC Youth House leagues playing on the full field.

It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

A player is in an offside position if:

  • he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent

A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

  • interfering with play

or

  • interfering with an opponent

or

  • gaining an advantage by being in that position

No offside if a player receives the ball directly from:

  • a goal kick

or

  • a throw-in

or

  • a corner kick

Fouls, Misconduct and Free-kicks

A misconduct is a foul when it has been 1) committed by a player 2) against an opponent 3) on the field of play and 4) the ball is in play.

Free-kicks, either direct or indirect, are awarded by the Referee when a misconduct or a foul has been committed.

For both direct and indirect free-kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken. The kicker cannot touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

Players from the team against whom the free-kick is awarded are required to actively retreat so that they are 6m from the ball. Referees are instructed to caution players who delay the re-start of play by not actively moving away from the dead ball at the earliest opportunity.  Players are encouraged to take quick free-kicks. In the event no advantage is gained from a quickly taken kick because the defender has not retreated the full 6m the kick should be retaken.

A free kick awarded to the defending team inside its own goal area is taken from any point within the goal area.

Direct free kick (10 penal fouls)

  • kicking or attempt to kick an opponent
  • tripping or attempt to trip an opponent
  • jumping at an opponent
  • charging an opponent
  • striking or attempting to strike an opponent
  • pushing an opponent
  • tackling an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball
  • holding an opponent
  • spitting at an opponent
  • handling the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

A direct free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.

  • If a direct free-kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded
  • If a direct free-kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team

Indirect free kick (non penal fouls and technical fouls)

  • Goalkeeper takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession
  • Goalkeeper touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player
  • Goalkeeper touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately been kicked to him by a team-mate
  • Goalkeeper touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate
  • Dangerous play
  • Impeding the progress of an opponent
  • preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
  • committing any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player

The indirect free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.

An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team in its opponents’ goal area is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.

If an indirect free-kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded

  • If an indirect free-kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner-kick is awarded to the opposing team

Cautionable offences

A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

  1. is guilty of unsporting behaviour
  2. shows dissent by word or action
  3. persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
  4. delays the restart of play
  5. fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick or does not actively retreat the required distance

 

Sending-off offences

A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

  1. is guilty of serious foul play
  2. is guilty of violent conduct
  3. spits at an opponent, any other person or on the field
  4. denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
  5. denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
  6. uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
  7. receives a second caution in the same match

In the event of a player receiving a red card, the team plays short handed for the remainder of the game.

Time Penalties

1)            A player committing any offence may be given, at the discretion of the referee, a 2 minute time penalty.

2)            A player who is cautioned shall serve a 2 minute time penalty.

The Penalty Kick

A penalty kick is awarded against a team which commits one of the ten offences for which a direct free-kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play.

  • A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.
  • Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of each half or at the end of periods of extra time.

Penalty kicks are taken from the midpoint of the edge of the goal area line parallel with the goal line.

The Throw-in

 

Awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline, either on the ground or in the air

  • from the point where it crossed the touchline
  • to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball

A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

 

A Goalkeeper, within his own penalty area, cannot handle a ball received directly from a throw-in by a teammate

The Goal Kick

 

Awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team.

The ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team

  • opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
  • the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player
  • the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area

The Corner Kick

 

Awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goalline, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10

  • the ball is placed within 1m of the point at which the sideline and goalline meet

 

  • opponents remain at least 6m from the ball until it is in play
  • the ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team
  • the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
  • the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team.