ACFF SENIOR COMPETITION LAWS

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1. Duration of game

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• A game shall consist of two 17-minute halves. Teams will change ends at half time.

• There will be a maximum one-minute break at half time.

• A game is started and finished by the referee’s whistle once he/she hears the siren sound.

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2. Area of Play

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• Players may score goals from anywhere on the court including the goalkeeper's “D”.

• There are no restricted areas. 

• You cannot score directly from a side ball kick in. 

• Team benches: Only 5 team members including the coach are permitted court side including the outer perimeters of the court.

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3. Substitutions

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1. The referee must be notified if the goal keeper is substituted. 

2. Failure to do so will result in a yellow card to the player or captain. 

3. Players may substitute at any time. The player subbing off must cross the sideline before the substitute comes on. 

4. Substitutions must be made between the substitution lines in front of their own bench. 

5. Failure to do substitute in a correct manner will result in a yellow card to the substitute.

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4. Fouls

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Fouls will be awarded to the opposition team for any of the following:

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1. Illegal tackling

2. Kicking a player

3. Pushing a player

4. Striking a player

5. Tripping a player

6. Pushing from behind is illegal and is a red card offence.

7. Intentional handball will result in a yellow card.

8. Unintentional handball will result in a free kick.

9. Shirt pulling, or undue aggressive play is a yellow card offence and will result in a free kick.

10. Time wasting will be determined by the referee and will result in a yellow card and a free kick. 

11. Kicking the ball away from the designated play position after the whistle has gone will result in a yellow card. 

12. If a player receives a red card, he or she must vacate the court immediately and is suspended from playing in the competition for a minimum of one round. 

13. Should a red card player continue to abuse a referee after being sent off, the player will be suspended for more than the standard one week. 

14. Two yellow cards in one match denotes a red card. 

15. Any player who receives 3 red cards in one season will be suspended from the competition for the rest of the season. Any player who receives a red card will be automatically suspended from winning any Best & Fairest Award.

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5. Fouls, Tackling, Slide tackles & the 6th foul penalty

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Protection of players is of paramount importance to the Australian Churches Futsal Federation.

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1. Tackles are to be clean and eyes must only be for the ball.

2. Players cannot tackle their opponent from behind, even if the tackle is 100% clean.

3. Every foul after the 5th in foul in a half will result in a long penalty. 

4. Sliding along the floor to reach the ball or to tackle a player increases the risk of player injury - sliding is a red card offence.

5. Only a goalkeeper may slide outside of the goalkeeper’s area, provided he or she begins the slide inside the goalkeeper’s area. 

6. If a goalkeeper’s slide continues outside the D, the goalkeeper must not contact an opponent. 

7. A goalkeeper’s slide must not be reckless, careless or made in a manner that uses excessive force.

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6. Unacceptable behavior RED CARD offences

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1. Swearing,

2. Offensive language.

3. Racist/discriminatory comments.

4. Overt dissent regarding a referee’s decision are all considered unacceptable by the Australian Churches Futsal Federation and are considered red card offences.

5. A player who uses unacceptable language will not be warned and will be asked immediately to leave the court and will not be allowed back on the court for the rest of the game.

6. Staff will ask spectators (including any players, coaches and managers) who use unacceptable language or abuse to leave the premises. 

7. Failure to do so will result in the game being abandoned and the offending team forfeiting the match. A ban may also result.

8. Red-carded players cannot take any further part in the game and must leave the playing area and not come back on the field. Their team will play for 2 minutes with one player short until the two-minute penalty lapses or a goal is scored only by the advantaged team. If a goal is scored by the red-carded player’s team, they still cannot bring a player on until the two-minute penalty has lapsed.

9. Yellow cards – two yellow card offences will result in a red card and the player will be sent off for the remainder of the match. This will attract an automatic one-match suspension.

10. 5 yellow cards in one season will result in an automatic one-match suspension. 

11. All red cards are an automatic one-match suspension (next fixtured match), and depending on the incident may attract a longer suspension.

12. Blue Cards –  are the lowest level of punishment in the book. There are a number of offenses that can warrant a blue card, but it is ultimately a penalty timeout that allows the other team a timed, two-minute power play advantage. 

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Blue Card offenses can include:

• Spitting on the court surface

• Persistent minor infringements

• Dissent by word or action

• Persistent encroachment

• Too many players on the field/illegal substitution

• Violations of house safety rules: chewing gum, leaving field exits ajar, etc.

• Minor physical foul that the referee must punish to control the game

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Referees in indoor soccer have discretion to determine where misconduct falls between a blue or yellow card. The referee will determine the mandatory penalties for misconduct, which are sometimes referred to as timed penalties. A blue card is a two-minute minor penalty where the offender sits in a penalty box and their team plays short until a goal is scored against them or the penalty timer runs out. If a goal is scored after two minutes, the penalty is cancelled.

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7. Stadium

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1. If the ball hits the roof or a light, the game will be restarted by a kick-in from the sideline by the non-offending team, or by an indirect free kick if the impact occurred because of an indiscriminate kick.

2. If in the opinion of the referee a ball is kicked indiscriminately an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the non-offending team.

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8. Officials

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1. There shall be at least one referee per match. 

2. The match referee is responsible for all events on and surrounding a court between the end of one game and the start of another. 

3. Referees are independent service providers employed by the teams. However, the Australian Churches Futsal Federation expects that referees will not act in a manner contrary to the Federation's interests. 

4. When, in the opinion of the Federation acting reasonably, a referee is acting contrary to the Federation's interests, the Federation may intervene and do all that is necessary to preserve the Federation’s interests. 

5. If a player abuses or shows dissent from a referee on court, the offending player will be asked to leave the court and will not be allowed back on the court for the rest of the game. 

6. If a player persists in abusive behavior after being asked to leave the court, the player will be asked to leave the premises entirely.

7. Any queries that players may have about rules and their interpretations are only to be asked of the referee at half time or full time. This must be done politely and respectfully.

8. During the course of play, a referee’s decision is final.

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9. Advantage

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1. At the referee’s discretion he or she may wave advantage and penalize an offence immediately after the ball is out of play.

2. Once the referee has blown the whistle, no advantage can be awarded.

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10. Four-second rule

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1. This rule applies for all kick-ins, free kicks and when the ball is in possession of the goalkeeper.

2. A defending player must be 3 meters back from where the kick is taken. 

3. The four-second count only begins when the defending player is 3 meters back.

4. Any infringing player will receive one warning before a yellow card is shown. 

5. If a quick free kick is taken, no defending player who is within 3 meters from the spot can obstruct the kick. This is a yellow card offence (if the player is not retreating) and a 3-meter advance free kick.

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11. Out of Play

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1. When the ball goes out of the court boundaries, a player must kick the ball back into play, by placing the ball on or behind the sideline. 

2. The player taking the kick must be outside the court. 

3. Failure to do so or placing the ball within the sideline will result in a turnover to the opposition. 

4. No goal can be scored with a direct kick from the outside line - unless the ball is deflected on route to goal. 

5. A player has 4 seconds to kick the ball back into the court - failure to do so within 4 seconds will result in a turnover to the opposition.

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12. Penalties

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1. There are two penalty spots - one is at close range just on the edge of the keeper’s area (also known as the ‘D’) and is generally awarded if a foul is committed in the keepers ‘D’.

2. The other is a long penalty at approx. 10 meters back and is awarded for every foul committed in the same half after 5 fouls. This is known as the 10-meter penalty spot. 

3. A penalty shot, awarded on the siren (marking the end of the half or game) must be played. 

4. In a mixed game where the goalkeeper is female, only an opposition female player may take the penalty shot. 

5. No restrictions apply for run-ups to penalty shots.

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13. Goalkeeper’s area

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1. In order for the goalkeeper to handle the ball, both the ball and the goalkeeper must be inside the goalkeepers ‘D’. 

2. The goalkeeper cannot kick the ball from his or her hands, nor may he or she drop kick the ball from a stoppage - this offence will result in a free kick outside the ‘D’.

3. The goalkeeper has 4 seconds to get rid of the ball from the goalkeeper’s area. Failure to do so will result in an indirect free kick outside the ‘D’.

4. The goalkeeper will be treated as on field player once outside the ‘D’ .

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14. Point system

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1. Teams shall be awarded 3 points for a win, 2 points for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. 

2. Teams who forfeit will be recorded as losing the match 3-0. 

3. Teams recording a win on forfeit shall receive 3 points and 3 goals if they play a scratch match arranged by the Australian Churches Futsal Federation.

4. Otherwise, if the Federation organizes a scratch match and the non-forfeiting team refuses to play, the team shall receive 0 points and 0 goals.

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15. Finals

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1. In finals play, if the match is drawn at full time, teams will play an extra 5 minute period until a goal is scored - also referred to as golden goal.

2. The team scoring a golden goal is declared the winner. 

3. If after the 5 minutes of extra time the scores are still level, the result will be determined by a best out of three penalty shootout. 

4. If a team is short of field players an exception can be made at the Federation’s discretion. A team who requires to field an ineligible player shall be penalized as follows: 

• *Players during fixtures are eligible to play in the Finals providing names have been sufficiently marked off during the season competition. Playing an ineligible player in the finals will result in a penalty decided on a case-by-case basis by the Federation - for example:

• i. -3 goals per ineligible player from the same division, lower division or as a guest

• ii. -5 goals per ineligible player from a higher division

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16. Player Insurance

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1. Players understand that the nature of sporting activity means that there are inherent risks of injury in both training and matches. 

2. Australian Churches Futsal Federation, its officers and game officials do not accept any liability for any injury that a player should suffer during a game or training session. 

3. Players and members of teams play and train at their own risk. 

4. Players are advised to make their own individual insurance arrangements.

5. Players should consider taking out personal cover, both medical and paramedical (AMBULANCE), as well as cover for their own financial position if they are unable to work for an extended period as a result of any injury sustained.

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ACFF JUNIOR COMPETITION LAWS

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1. Duration of game

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1. A game shall consist of two 17-minute halves. Teams will change ends at half time.

2. There will be a maximum one-minute break at half time.

3. A game is started and finished by the referee’s whistle once he/she hears the siren sound.

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2. Point system

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1. Teams shall be awarded 3 points for a win, 2 points for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. 

2. Teams who forfeit will be recorded as losing the match 3-0. 

3. Teams recording a win on forfeit shall receive 3 points and 3 goals if they play a scratch match arranged by the Australian Churches Futsal Federation.

4.  Otherwise, if the Federation organizes a scratch match and the non-forfeiting team refuses to play, the team shall receive 0 points and 0 goals.

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3. Uniforms and equipment regulations

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1. Shin pads are compulsory for all junior players. 

2. All team members except the goalkeeper must wear the same top (color and design must be the same).

3. Players must have a visible number on the back of their shirt, either printed or ironed on. Numbers cannot be drawn or taped on to shirts. 

4. For each uniform violation, teams will lose 1 (one) goal to a maximum of 3 (three) goals for a game.

5. Teams will be given 3 (three) weeks to organize their uniforms before penalties apply.

6. Jewelry is not to be worn during a game.

7. All players must wear non-marking rubber soled shoes.

8. Girls and children with special needs (defined as an individual with a mental or physical disability) are permitted to play in a lower age group competition.

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4. Ball sizes

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1. U8, U10, U12 age groups will play with size 3 Futsal balls. 

2. U14, U16, U21 age groups and open Men/Women will play with size 4 Futsal balls. 

3. Futsal Balls are the only balls allowed on futsal courts. Please do not bring outdoor balls into the playing venue.

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5. Finals

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1. In finals play, if the match is drawn at full time, teams will play an extra 5 minute period until a goal is scored - also referred to as golden goal.

2. The team scoring a golden goal is declared the winner. 

3. If after the 5 minutes of extra time the scores are still level, the result will be determined by a best out of three penalty shootout. 

4. If a team is short of field players an exception can be made at the Federation’s discretion. A team who requires to field an ineligible player shall be penalized as follows: 

• *Players during fixtures are eligible to play in the Finals providing names have been sufficiently marked off during the season competition. Playing an ineligible player in the finals will result in a penalty decided on a case-by-case basis by the Federation - for example:

•  i. -3 goals per ineligible player from the same division, lower division or as a guest

•  ii. -5 goals per ineligible player from a higher division

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6. Player Insurance

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1. Players understand that the nature of sporting activity means that there are inherent risks of injury in both training and matches. 

2. Australian Churches Futsal Federation, its officers and game officials do not accept any liability for any injury that a player should suffer during a game or training session. 

3. Players and members of teams play and train at their own risk. 

4. Players are advised to make their own individual insurance arrangements.

5. Players should consider taking out personal cover, both medical and paramedical (AMBULANCE), as well as cover for their own financial position if they are unable to work for an extended period as a result of any injury sustained.