Summer Fives Rules & Regulations

Player registration

The registration of players participating in Play On Football is mandatory and must be undertaken prior to a player being considered eligible to participate.

By the act of registration, a player agrees to abide by the club’s and FQ’s Regulations, as well as Football Federation Australia (FFA) Statutes, and if applicable, FIFA Statutes and AFC Statutes.

As per FQ requirements, all players participating in Play On Football must be registered to a Play On Football Club online through Squadi.

Fees

All players participating in Play On Football are required to have paid club registration fees and have paid the Football Queensland Play On Player Registration Fee. $35 (Incl GST).

The player registration fees must be paid prior to the player being considered eligible to compete in Play On Football.
A refund of FQ’s registration fees will only be issued to a player if a request for refund is received by Football Queensland prior to the first round of matches or at the discretion of FQ.
If approved the refund will be provided by FQ directly to the player via original payment method.
Club Registration fees are generally non-refundable. Any request for a refund must be received prior to the first round of matches and will only be considered at the discretion of The Gap FC Board Committee, in accordance with the applicable refund policies.

Insurance

A component of every player’s registration fee contributes to both that player’s Personal Injury Insurance and the General Liability (Public and Products Liability), Professional Indemnity; and Management Liability insurance of the Club delivering Play On Football.

Provided by Football Australia’s National Insurance Programme, Personal Injury Insurance provides basic levels of cover for players and others participating in Football for:

permanent injury or death cover
non-Medicare medical expense cover
income replacement cover

It is not all encompassing (this is necessary to keep the cost of insurance affordable for players) and does not seek to replace the need for private health and other insurances.
Football Australia strongly recommend that all players and officials take out separate Private Health Insurance and/or Personal Income Protection, Life Insurance and Trauma cover to
meet their individual needs.

The field of play

The field of play shall be rectangular in shape. FQ’s preferred field sizes is approximately 40m long x 30m wide.

Goals

A goal consists of two upright posts equidistant from the corner flag posts and joined at the top by a horizontal cross bar. They must be square, rectangular, round, or elliptical in shape and must not be dangerous.
The distance between the posts is 3m and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground (at the highest point) is 2m.
The goals must be properly supported and must not interfere with the goalkeeper. If the crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play is stopped until it has been repaired.
Goals (including portable goals) must be firmly secured to the ground.
Players must maintain at a safe distance from the designated Goal Keeper at all times during play.

Match ball

Size 4 for ages 10 to 12 years.
Size 5 for ages 13 and over.

Number of players

A match is played by two teams, each consisting of no more than five players based on the size of the field being used, one of whom is the goalkeeper.
A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than three players. If one of the teams has fewer than three players on the field of play, a forfeit is awarded to the
opposing team.
Each team will have the opportunity for unlimited interchange during a match. A player interchange may be made at any time, whether the ball is in play or not, provided the referee has been informed. The interchange of a goalkeeper may only occur during a stoppage in play.

Equipment/uniform

A player must not use any equipment, or wear anything (including all jewellery) that could be dangerous to him or herself or another player. Using tape to cover jewellery is not permitted.
The wearing of shin guards is compulsory.
Football boots must be worn.
Players in a team must wear the same colour shirts. In the event of a colour clash, the team listed second on the fixtures draw, must wear an alternate shirt or bib.
Goalkeepers are to be identified by wearing a different coloured shirt or bib.

Referees

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection to the match to which they have been appointed. The
decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether a goal is scored or not and the result of a match, are final.

Match duration

Two 20-minute halves with a 5 minute half time break.
A team not ready to start within 5 minutes of the designated match time will forfeit the match and the fixture will be awarded to the opposing team, as a forfeit.
Referees will adhere to the published match schedules and no extra time will be given for any delays to match start or restarts.

Start/restart of play

A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play at the start of the match, the start of the second half of the match and after a goal has been scored.
A goal may be scored directly against the opponents from the kick-off.
For a kick-off, all players must be in their own half of the field of play with the opponents of the team taking the kick off at least 5m from the ball until it is in play.
The ball must be stationary on the centre mark of the halfway line and cannot be kicked until the referee gives a signal. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
After a team scores a goal, provided that the period has not ended, the other team takes the kick-off.

Ball in/out of play

The ball is considered out of play when it has crossed the goal line or touchline, whether on the ground or in the air, or when the referee stops play.
The ball is considered in play at all other times.

Scoring

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goal posts and under the cross bar, provided that no infringement has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.
Goals can be scored directly off free kicks, penalty kicks and corner kicks.
The team scoring the greater number of goals during a match is the winner. If both teams score an equal number of goals, or if no goals are scored, the match is drawn.

Goal difference mercy rule

To benefit our social and mixed level competition, a mercy rule will be introduced to prevent games becoming overly one-sided and ensure the spirit of the game is upheld.

If a team falls 5 goals behind, they may add one additional player to the field.
If the team falls 7 goals behind, they may add a second additional player.
The maximum number of players on the field for the trailing team is 7.
Once the goal difference drops below the relevant threshold, the additional player(s) must leave the field.
The referee has final discretion over when the additional player enters/leaves.
Coaches and Team Managers of the leading team should use this opportunity to work on their teams technical skills (for example “weak foot only scoring”)

Offside

There is no offside rule in Play On Football.

Fouls and misconduct

Fouls and misconduct are infringements of the FIFA Laws of the Game. Fouls are penalised with a direct free kick or penalty kick. Misconduct is penalized with a caution, timeout or a sending off.
A yellow card is used to communicate that a player has been cautioned. A player is sent off if he/she receives a second caution in the same match. A red card is used to communicate that a player has been sent off. A player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area immediately and receives an automatic one match suspension.
A player who has been sent off for serious foul play or violent conduct receives an automatic one match suspension and will be subject to further disciplinary action as deemed necessary by the club administrator.
All disciplinary matters must be dealt with in accordance with the National Disciplinary Regulations. An infringement incurred attracting a suspension that will exceed four weeks, must be referred to Football Queensland to deal with in the first instance via competitions@footballqueensland.com.au.

Slide tackles

Slide tackles are not permitted at any time during a match.

Free kick

A free kick is awarded to the opposing team, if a player commits an offence as outlined in the FIFA Laws of the Game. All free kicks will be deemed direct free kicks and a goal may be scored directly from a free kick.
The free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred or from the position of the ball when the infringement occurred.
When a free kick is being taken, the ball must be stationary, and all opponents must be at least 5m from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward.

Penalty kick

A penalty kick is awarded against a team that commits an offence inside its own penalty area (for the purposes of Play On Football the Penalty area is to be no less than 5 metres from the centre point of the goal posts) and while the ball is in play. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.
The penalty kick is taken from the penalty mark at the top of the goal circle (or where no goal circle is marked, 5 metres from the goal line). When a penalty kick is being taken, the ball must be stationary on the penalty mark. The defending goalkeeper must remain on their goal line facing the kicker, between the goalposts, until the ball has been kicked and all other players, discounting the kicker, must be located on the field of play, outside the penalty area and at least 5m behind the penalty mark.
The player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward and may not take more than two steps before kicking the ball. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.

Throw in

A throw-in is a method of restarting play and is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball crosses the touchline, either on the ground or in the air.
A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
A throw-in is taken from the point where it left the field of play. When a throw-in is being taken, all opponents must be at least 5m from the point at which the throw- in is being taken.
At the point of delivery of the ball, the thrower must be facing the field of play with part of each foot either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline. The
ball must be held with both hands and be delivered from behind and over the thrower’s head.
After delivering the ball, the thrower must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. The ball is in play when it enters the field of play.

Goal kick

A goal kick is awarded to the defending team when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the
attacking team, and a goal is not scored.
A goal kick is taken by the goalkeeper of the defending team from any point inside the goal area. The ball is in play when it leaves the penalty area. When a goal kick is
being taken, all opponents must be in the field of play and outside of the penalty area of the team taking the goal kick until the ball is in play.
A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick but only against the opposing team.
After delivering the ball, the goalkeeper must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
Goalkeepers can handle the ball inside the designated goal area only.
When the ball goes over the goal line a GK can restart with either a goal kick or throw. The ball must not cross over the halfway line on the full. If it does, this will result in a free kick to the opposition from halfway.

Corner kick

The corner kick is a method of restarting play and is awarded to the attacking team when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored.
Opponents must remain at least 5 metres from the corner arc until the ball is in play.

Fixtures, cancellations and forfeits

Weekly fixtures will be published on Saturday afternoons in Majestri for the upcoming week.
In the event of the cancellation of a fixture due to inclement weather, all teams will be notified by the competition administrator via the club website no later than 4:30 pm.
In the event of the cancellation of a fixture due to unavailability of a team, the unavailable team must notify the club administrator at least 24 hours prior to the fixtures published time. The competition administrator will then notify the other team.
If a team forfeits two fixtures during a Play On Football program, it may be removed from the program at the discretion of the competition administrator, with no refund given.

Other information

The club administrator, in consultation with Football Queensland, has the authority to make decisions and act on any matter not catered for, specifically within the regulations.

Field Status