Game Rules

1. The referee is in sole charge of the game and his/her interpretation of the following will be upheld by the management of Astro Soccer Sixes.
2. Teams must make themselves available to kick off a game at the scheduled time. If a team is not ready to start it’s game within 5 minutes of the starting time, this may result in forfeiture of the match and, depending upon circumstances, teams turning up late may be unable to play their game.
3. Goalkeepers are not allowed outside the area. They must not touch the ball in any way outside of their area. Breach of rule – Penalty.
4. The ball can be played above head height, however no heading of the ball is allowed. Breach of Rule – Direct Free Kick.
5. Goalkeepers may only hold the ball for up to 5 seconds. Breach of Rule – Direct Free Kick two yards from area.
6. Goalkeepers must not throw the ball into opposing half without it bouncing in his own half first. Breach of Rule – Direct Free Kick two yards from area.
7. The ball, when thrown by the goalkeeper, must be played by a minimum of two players before it can be returned to the keeper. Breach of Rule – Direct Free Kick two yards from area.
8. No slide tackles. Breach of Rule – Direct Free Kick. Constant Breach of Rule – Dismissal from game.
9. No outfield player is allowed in the goal area. Breach of Rule – Defenders encroaching – Penalty. Forwards encroaching – Goalkeepers ball.
10. All goals restart from Goalkeeper’s hands.
11. All free kicks are direct. Players are required to retreat 3 yards from the ball. Failure to retreat 3 yards may result in a loss of 3 yards to defending team.
12. Throw-ins must be underarm, below head height.
13. Corner kicks to be taken within 2 yards of the corner marking. i.e. junction of touch-line and by-line.
14. Each team should have their own colour strip. Bibs will be provided should team colours clash.
15. The game lasts 12 ½ minutes each way.
16. Two substitutes are allowed per team and may enter field of play at any time during the game without permission of the referee.
17. Substitutes must be tagged by the player they are replacing behind the line before entering the field of play.
18. Substitutes will enter the field of play from the corner marker. i.e. junction of touch-line and by-line.
19. Player may be substituted and return to the field of play any number of times.
20. Only six players per team are permitted on the field of play at any one time with a maximum of two substitutes allowed in any one game.
21. All misdemeanours or misconduct (i.e. red and yellow cards) will be reported to Cumbria Football Association.
22. If the last outfield defender commits a deliberate foul in order to deny the opposing team a goal scoring opportunity, the referee shall award a penalty kick and sin bin the offending player for five minutes.
23. SIN-BINNING. At their discretion, the referee may sin-bin instead of issuing yellow cards. A player may be sent to the side-lines for three minutes and may not be substituted until this time has lapsed.
24. Players may only play for one team in each division in the league throughout the season unless they have prior permission from the Organizer and the opposition.