Playing Rules

Competition

The Football Sixes competition usually involves 10 rounds plus finals. Semi final and final draw will be notified to participants following completion of the rounds. Trophies/medals awarded to winning team and participants.

Points and finals
Win: 3 points, Draw: 1 point, Loss: 0 points. No bonus points, ranking will be based on goal difference, followed by most goals scored. Top 4 format semi finals, no extra time or penalty shoot if drawn after full time. Grand final will go to penalty shoot out if drawn after extra time.

Evening play/Kick off times
Each evening of competition will commence about 5.30pm for juniors and 6.00pm for seniors. Earlier time slots will be allocated to the younger age groups.
Please note that depending on the number of teams and competitions allotted times may vary. Teams cannot not request to play a particular time slot as this effects all other teams. Times will be randomly allocated and spread as evenly as possible.Teams must start play at the scheduled kick off times notified to them.

P&D (Yellow cards, red cards blue cards)
Players will receive yellow and red cards as per regular FIFA rules (including dangerous or reckless tackling, foul and abusive language, professional fouls, persistent fouls or any violence directed at any other player or official)
If a player accumulates more than 5 yellow cards, they miss the next game. This includes semis and finals.
If a player receives a red card- Football Sixes disciplinary committee will notify player of suspension length depending on the report and the nature of the incident. (All red card recipients will have a 1 week min suspension)
Teams accumulating more than 10 yellow cards or 3 red cards will be deducted 2 points and entry into future Football Sixes competitions may not be permitted.

Pitch
Size of pitch is approximately 42m x 22m. (Smaller goals will be provided for U6 and U7 teams.)

Referees
Official referees will be provided. Verbal or physical abuse of a referee will not be tolerated. Any player abusing a referee will be sent off and suspended.  That player’s team may, at the competition manager’s discretion, get points deducted for the behavior. Team’s spectators who verbally abuse or threaten a referee will result in a 3-point deduction for the team.

Registration Checks
Teams are required to submit a team sheet and give to referee before the start of each game. The team sheet will list the name of player (printed), his or her shirt number next to their name and photo of the player next to their name. This is now compulsory.Only registered players may enter the field of play.

Unregistered Players / players used from other teams / transfers
Teams playing a disqualified, unregistered player or a player from another team automatically forfeit the game and may be fined $100. If it happens twice teams will be banned from the competition. Teams must not interchange players. If teams use players from another team and found guilty risk losing any points received for that game. If it happens twice they may be expelled from the competition. You can register new players up until the 4th round, so don’t risk it.  Teams can only borrow players from other teams once they declare a forfeit so a friendly can be played. Please note players can register for more than 2 teams but must pay the additional registration fee.
Players that have registered for a team but have not completed payment will not be allowed to play until full registration fee is paid.
Player registrations are not transferable. If a player can no longer play for any reason their registration fee cannot be transferred to a new player.

Forfeit
Forfeited games result in 3 points being credited to the non-forfeiting team. The forfeiting team may be fined $60 for the forfeit (if Football Sixes is not notified 24 hours before kick-off); failure to pay may result in expulsion from the competition, without refund.
Teams forfeiting 3 times will be expelled from the competition, without refund. So if your players are unreliable, register more! Football Sixes may expel any team that forfeits 3 games without valid cause.  No refunds will be paid to teams expelled or withdraw from the competition.

Expulsion/withdrawal
Football Sixes reserves the right to expel or suspend Players or Teams involved in any sort of on or off field violence, including verbal abuse or assault of officials- without any refund. Serious violence will be reported to the police. Players or teams expelled will not be allowed back into the competition.

Team Withdrawal
If a team withdraws from a competition, all previous games played against this team will be nullified (win, lose or draw).  No refunds will be paid to teams expelled or withdrawn from the competition.

Wet Weather 
Due to the nature of the artificial pitch, games will rarely be cancelled due to wet weather.  Only in extreme conditions will games not proceed.

Cancelled rounds
If any of the junior rounds are cancelled due to wet weather the round will be replayed.

Lightning
In spring and summer we sometimes have thunderstorms and lightning. If lighting is too close while games are on we will stop all games and ask all players and spectators to take cover. It’s happened before and will more than likely happen again. When it does we usually wait till it passes and make an assessment or recommence or suspend all remaining games for that round. We ask people to take cover in the dressing rooms or in their cars. If play is suspended for more than 30 minutes, all remaining games will be called off.

Player Numbers
Each squad is to comprise at least 8 players and a maximum of 12.  Teams to field 6 players including a goalkeeper for each game (Under 8 – Senior Teams). Goalkeeper is to wear a shirt coloured different to outfield players. Teams will be permitted to commence play with not less than 4 players and bring on any late arriving players after kick off. Games will not be delayed for teams short of players waiting for their players to turn up. Under 6 and 7 teams will comprise of 6 players, with 4 permitted on the field (no goal keepers)

Substitutes
Unlimited provided replacement does not enter play until player being replaced has left field.  To be taken from halfway at orange flag

Footwear
Boots with moulded studs only; players bladed studs or with screw-ins or metal studs will not be allowed to play.  Touch football trainers or “grass cats” are acceptable. Officials will check footwear before every game

Shin pads
Shin pads must be worn; this is not negotiable. Players will be asked to leave the field if they are found not to be wearing shin pads

Uniform/Kit
Teams to field players wearing same colour shirts and must be numbered. Numbers must match the numbers provided in original team registration form. Teams will not be allowed to play unless shirts are numbered. Bibs provided when colours of opposing teams similar. Teams must provide an updated registration sheet if shirt numbers and their allocations change.

Balls
Teams are required to provide a game ball

Bibs
Teams are required to provide their own bibs for use if colour clashes occur

Goals
Goals are erected and weighted to the ground on each field by Football Sixes staff.

Game duration
The timekeeper or referee starts and finishes play in all matches.  Teams must be on the field on time as the match will commence on time

• Seniors • Each game will start simultaneously at the scheduled time, any delays will result in a shortened game length.• Each game 40 minutes in duration with 20 minutes played in each half. • 2-minute half time break
• Junior teamsU6-U7• Each game will start at the scheduled time, any delays will result in a shortened game length.• Each game 30 minutes in duration with 15 minutes played in each half.• 2 minute half time break
• U8-U15• Each game will start at the scheduled time, any delays will result in a shortened game length.• Each game 34 minutes in duration with 17 minutes played in each half.• 2 minute half time break

Entering the playing Field Spectators, coaches, substitutes or suspended players are not allowed to enter the field of play under any other circumstances other than described below. We take this very seriously and may throw teams out if this happens!A substitute can come onto field to replace another player and must only come on from the centre where the orange flag is placed.A substitute or coach can attend to an injured player.

Bad Language
We do not tolerate bad language used in our competitions and teams and their spectators who have continued to use excessive bad language have not been accepted back into the competition.  Referees will caution players for using excessive bad language. Referees will report on team’s spectators who continue to use bad language. Teams will lose points if they or their spectators use inappropriate or bad language.

Code of Conduct
All players coaches and spectators associated with a team must read and at all times conduct themselves in line with Football Sixes code of conduct. If teams are guilty conducting themselves in a manner that contravenes the code of conduct- the team could get suspended or expelled from the competition.

Rubbish
Please put all your rubbish in the bins provided, especially tape and empty drink bottles.

Artificial playing surface rules
• No Metal Spikes
• No smoking
• No chemicals
• No chewing gum