5 a side football rules

what to wear

• You must wear suitable footwear.

Artificial pitches: No blades or long-studded boots.

Indoor pitches: Use appropriate indoor shoes with non-marking soles.

• All players must wear a shirt. Teams should ensure outfield players wear similar colours.
• Players must wear bibs if the referee instructs them to do so.
• For safety, players must remove all jewellery (including watches) before play.
• Shin guards are a must.
• The referee has the final say on the kit and can ask players to step off if it's not right.

kick-off

• The referee decides the first kick-off (coin toss or schedule). If teams play halves, the other team kicks off the second half.
• All players must be in their own half; non-kickers must stay 2m from the ball.
• The taker must move the ball forward and cannot touch it again until another player touches it.
• Players can score directly from the kick-off.
• After a goal, the opposing team restarts from the centre spot.

goalkeeper rules

• Only the goalkeeper may handle the ball, and only inside their area.
• Leaving the area to gain an advantage results in a penalty to the opposition.
• Goalkeepers can only kick the ball when making a save. If they break this rule, the other team gets an indirect free kick 2 meters outside the area.
• Distribution must be underarm bowling. Overhead throws or incorrect actions result in an indirect free kick 2m outside the area.

pass backs

• A player who receives the ball from their goalkeeper may not pass it straight back without another player touching it first.
• Violation results in an indirect free kick for the attacking team.

penalties

• Taken from the centre of the pitch, 1 yard back from the edge of the area if no penalty spot exists.
• The goalkeeper must be on the goal line.
• The team must choose the penalty taker before the kick. The penalty taker can take only one step before kicking the ball.
• If either team breaches the rules to gain an advantage, the officials retake the penalty.

penalty area rules

• Outfield players may not enter either area.
• If an attacker enters the opponent’s area to gain an advantage, play restarts with the goalkeeper.
• Players must start and finish their shots outside the area. They can enter because of momentum, but not if they interfere with play.
• Defenders entering their own area to gain an advantage concede a penalty.

substitutions

• Referee must be notified for all substitutions; changes occur only during stoppages.
• The incoming player must wait until the outgoing player leaves.
• The referee must approve goalkeeper changes, and teams may make them only once unless an injury occurs.
• Substitutes must wait outside the field near the access gate or behind goals.

head height rule

• The ball must not exceed head height (as judged by the referee).
• Violations result in an indirect free kick from the point of contact.
• Exceptions: rebounds from posts or goalkeeper saves.
• You can use headers if you follow the above rules.

use of barriers

• Players may not hold barriers to gain an advantage.
• The rules allow minimal contact against barriers.
• Players must take the ball from a corner within 5 seconds without facing interruptions. If they break this rule, the other team gets a direct free kick.

ball out of play

• The ball is in play within the court perimeter.
• If the ball goes out of bounds (except by going over head height), restart with an indirect kick for the right team.
• Opponents must stand at least 2m from the ball.

sportsmanship

• Sliding tackles are prohibited.
• The officials will penalise violent, aggressive, or unsporting behaviour and foul language.
• Yellow card = 2-minute sin bin (no replacement allowed). The player may return only when authorised by the referee.
• Red card = immediate dismissal (no replacement).
• Extreme misconduct may result in game abandonment and team disqualification.

free kicks

• Opponents must be 2m from the ball.
• If awarded within 2m of the area, move the ball back to allow a wall.
• Failure to retreat or dissent can move the ball forward by 2 yards, repeatedly if needed. If moving forward places it inside the area, the referee may award a penalty.
• All free kicks are direct unless otherwise stated (over head height, goalkeeper underarm violation, direct return to goalkeeper).

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