February 2026 Version 2.0

GENERAL PRINCIPLE

Except where otherwise stated, the IFAB Laws of Association Football (Feb 2025) apply; it should be noted that there is no offside in Walking Football. The rules cover all competition and social formats of the game.

BARRIERS

Walking Football may be played with or without barriers.

DIMENSIONS

The playing area must be rectangular; the length of the touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line.

For 5-a-side and 6-a-side football the following dimensions are recommended:

• Length: minimum 25m / maximum 50m

• Width: minimum 16m / maximum 35m

For 7-a-side football the following dimensions are recommended:

• Length: minimum 50m / maximum 60m

• Width: minimum 30m / maximum 40m

Competitions may determine the length of the goal line and touchline within the above dimensions.

MARKINGS

The playing area is marked with lines. The two longer boundary lines are called touchlines. The two shorter lines are called goal lines.

The playing area is divided into two halves by the halfway line.

All lines must be of the same width which must not be more than 12cms.

The centre mark is at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of 3m is marked around it.

THE PENALTY AREA

• A penalty area is defined at each end of the playing area as follows: A semi-circle of 6m radius is drawn from the centre of each goal line. The extremities of these semi-circles should reach the goal line, barrier or wall, regardless of whether or not the goal posts encroach onto the playing area

• Within each penalty area, a penalty mark is made 6.5m from the midpoint between the goal posts

THE CORNER ARC

Where barriers do not surround the playing area, a quarter circle with a radius of 25cm from each corner is drawn inside the playing area in each corner

GOALS

A goal must be placed on the centre of each goal line.

A goal consists of two vertical posts equidistant from each corner and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar.

The distance (inside measurement) between the posts is 5m (maximum) – 3m (minimum); the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2m (maximum) – 1.20m (minimum).

The goal posts and the crossbars have the same width and depth as the lines. Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal; they must be properly supported and must not interfere with the goalkeeper.

SAFETY

The goals may be portable, must meet Australian Standards and be anchored securely to the ground during play as per Health and Safety requirements. Where there are no barriers a suitable run off should be provided around the playing area. Football Australia recommends a minimum of 3m; if this distance cannot be met a suitable run off should be provided subject to a risk assessment.

PLAYING SURFACE

Where natural turf is not used the surface must be smooth, flat and non-abrasive; the use of wood or artificial material is recommended

QUALITIES AND MEASUREMENTS

The ball is:

• •  Spherical

• •  Made of leather or other suitable material

• •  Appropriate in size to the group playing

REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE BALL

If the ball becomes defective:

• •  Play is stopped and;

• •  Restarted by dropping the replacement ballwhere the original ball became defective

If the ball becomes defective at a restart, the re-start is retaken.

If the ball becomes defective during a penalty kick or kicks from the penalty mark as it moves forward and before it touches a player, crossbar or goalposts the penalty kick is retaken.

The ball may not be changed during the match without the referee’s permission.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than the following number of players and substitutes for each format:

• •  5-a-side = 5 players per team and 5 substitutes (total of 10 players)

• •  6-a-side = 6 players per team and 5 substitutes (total of 11 players)

• •  7-a-side = 7 players per team and 5 substitutes

(total of 12 players)

A match should not be considered valid if a team is permanently reduced by: • More than two players for 5–a-side

• •  More than two players for 6–a-side

• •  More than three players for 7–a-side

• •  However, this should only apply when playersare sent off (not temporarily dismissed) and/or unable to continue through injury, illness etc…

NUMBER OF SUBSTITUTES

The number of substitutions made during a match is unlimited. A player who has been substituted may return as a substitute for another player.

SUBSTITUTION PROCEDURE

Substitutions should take place when play is stopped or during play if an additional official is involved in refereeing the match; this will be determined by the competition rules.

The substitution procedure is as follows:

• •  The player being substituted should leave by thenearest point on the boundary line (where barriers are not used) unless the referee gives permission otherwise because of safety, injury etc

• •  The player entering the playing area may not do sountil the player leaving the playing area has passed completely over the boundary line

• •  Where barricades are used the players must use theopening onto the playing area

• •  The substitution is complete when the substituteenters the playing area from which moment the replaced player becomes a substituted player and the substitute becomes a player and can take any restart

All substituted players and subtitutes are subject to the referee’s authority whether they play or not.

CHANGING THE GOALKEEPER

Any of the players or substitutes, may change places with the goalkeeper if:

•  The referee is informed before the change is made

•  The change is made during a stoppage in play

OFFENCES AND SANCTIONS

If, while a substitution is being made, a substitute enters the playing area before the player being replaced has completely left:

•  Play is stopped

•  The player being replaced is instructed to leave theplaying area

•  The substitute is temporarily dismissed for theagreed period

•  Play is restarted by an indirect free kick to be takenby the opposing team from the place where the ball was situated when the match was stopped. However, if the ball was inside the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken 3m from the penalty area

line, at the place nearest to the position of the ball when play was stopped

Where barricades are used if, while a substitution is being made, a substitute enters the playing area or a player being replaced leaves the playing area from a place other than the recognised opening in the barricades:

•  Play is stopped

•  The substitute/player is temporarily dismissed forthe agreed period

•  Play is restarted by an indirect free kick to be takenby the opposing team from the place where the ball was situated when the match was stopped. However, if the ball was inside the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken 3m from the penalty area line, at the place nearest to the position of the ball when play was stopped

SAFETY

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous.

All items considered dangerous such as:

(necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands etc…) are forbidden and must be removed. Using tape to cover jewellery is permitted. The referee will consider what is and what is not dangerous.

COMPULSORY EQUIPMENT

The compulsory equipment of a player is:

•   A shirt with sleeves

•   Shorts or track suit trousers

•   Socks

•   Shin guards – these must be of suitable material to provide reasonable protection and covered by the socks.

•   Footwear – appropriate to local conditions andsurface type, i.e. indoor court shoes, turf shoes (grass cats), running shoes.

COLOURS

•   The two teams must wear colours that distinguishthem from each other and the referee

•   Each goalkeeper wears colours which aredistinguishable from the other players and the referee

OTHER EQUIPMENT

Non-dangerous protective equipment for example headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight padded material is permitted as are goalkeepers’ caps and sports spectacles.

HEAD COVERS

Where head covers (excluding goalkeepers’ caps) are worn, they must:

•  Be black or the same main colour as the shirt(provided that the players of the same team wear the same colour)

•  Be in keeping with the professional appearance of the player’s equipment

•  Not be attached to the shirt

•  Not be dangerous to the player wearing it or any other player (e.g. opening/ closing mechanism around neck)

•  Not have any part(s) extending out from the surface (protruding elements)

OFFENCES AND SANCTIONS

For any offences of this law:

•  The player at fault is instructed by the referee to leave the playing area to correct their equipment or to obtain any missing item of equipment. The player may not return to the playing area without first reporting to the referee, who then checks that the player’s equipment is correct. The player is only allowed to re-enter the playing area when the ball is out of play

•  Players can return to play whilst the ball is in play if a second official has checked the equipment. If no second official is present the player must wait for play to stop in order for the referee to check the faulty equipment

THE AUTHORITY OF THE REFEREE

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match.

DECISIONS OF THE REFEREE

Decisions will be made to the best of the referee’s ability according to the Laws of the Game and the ‘spirit of the game’.

The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The decisions of the referee, and all other match officials, must always be respected.

POWERS AND DUTIES

The referee:

•  Enforces the Laws of the Game

•  Controls the match in cooperation with the othermatch official

•  Acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of thematch and provides the appropriate authorities with a match report which includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players, and/ or team officials and any other incidents which occur before, during or after the match

•  Supervises and/or indicates the restart of play

ADVANTAGE

• Allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

•  Punishes the more serious offence in terms ofsanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact when more than one offence occurs at the same time

•  Takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable, sin-bin (temporary dismissal) and sending-off offences

•  Takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may, at their discretion, issue a caution (yellow card) or a sending off (red card) from the playing area and its immediate surrounds

•  Make use of timed suspensions to exclude players guilty of offences of the Laws

•  In the absence of a second official, the referee should make excluded players aware of the end of their period of suspension

INJURIES

•  Allows play to continue until there is a stoppage inplay if a player is, in their opinion, only slightly injured

•  Stops the match if a player is seriously injured andensures that the player is removed from the playing area

•  Ensures any player bleeding leaves theplaying area

•  Allows a team’s penalty taker, if injured, to stay onthe field of play to be treated (quickly) and then take the kick

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE

•  Stops, suspends or terminates the match for anyoffence of the Laws or due to any kind of outside interference

•  Allows no unauthorised persons to enter theplaying area

DUTIES

The duties of the additional match official are to assist the referee in controlling the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game in the following areas:

•  Assist the referee in identifying offences in relationto Law 18, especially offences that occur off the ball

•  Control of the substitution procedure, ensuring thatthe player to be replaced has left the playing area before the substitute is allowed to enter the playing area

•  Check the equipment of all the substitutes enteringthe playing area

•  Ensure that a player sent from the playing area

by the referee, to replace any missing or defective equipment is checked before being allowed back on to the playing area

•  If a player who is bleeding has been removed fromthe playing area by the referee, the match official must ensure that the bleeding has stopped before the player is allowed to re-enter the playing area

•  Keep a full record of the match details

•  Act as the timekeeper for any player who has beengiven a temporary suspension from the match

•  Report to the referee any misconduct by any of theteam players or officials in the technical /bench / substitute area

Carry out any other duties as requested bythe referee

The duration of the match shall be divided into between two and four equal periods of between 5 to 30 minutes each, subject to the following:

•  Allowance shall be made in each period for playing time lost through stoppages

•  The duration of any period shall be extended toenable a penalty kick to be taken

•  The interval between periods shall not exceed five minutes, except with the referee’s permission

Competition rules may allow for a match to be played in its entirety without any interval or requirement to change ends.

A kick-off starts each half/period of a match and restarts play after a goal has been scored. Free kicks, penalty kicks, kick/roll-ins, goal clearances and corner kicks are other ways of restarting play (see Laws 13 – 17). A dropped ball is the restart when the referee stops play and the Law does not require one of the above restarts.

If an offence occurs when the ball is not in play this does not change how the play is restarted.

KICK-OFF

Procedure

•  The team that wins the toss of a coin decideswhich goal to attack in the first half or to take the kick off

•  Depending on the above, their opponents takethe kick off or decide which goal to attack in the first half

•  For the second half/period (and subsequentperiods) the teams change ends and attack the opposite goals: kick-offs continue to alternate between the two teams

For every Kick-off:

•  All players, except the player taking the kick-off, mustbe in their own half of the field of play

•  The opponents of the team taking the kick-off must be at least 3m from the ball until it is in play

•  The ball must be stationary on the centre mark

•  the referee gives a signal

•  The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves

•  A goal may not be scored directly against the opponents from the kick-off; if the ball directly enters the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponent. If the ball directly enters the opponents goal, a goal kick is awarded to the opponents

Offences and sanctions

If the player taking the kick-off touches the ball again before it has touched another player an indirect free kick is awarded.

In the event of any other kick-off procedure offence the kick- off is retaken.

DROP BALL

Procedure

The referee drops the ball for one player of the team that last touched the ball at the position where play was stopped. All other players of both teams must remain at least 3 metres from the ball until it is in play. If the ball was in the goalkeeper’s possession, then the goalkeeper shall, at the referee’s signal, return the ball into play by dropping the ball from any point within the penalty area. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.

The ball is in play when it touches the ground.

Where barricades are in use the referee shall drop the ball 2m from the barricade.

Offences and sanctions

The ball is dropped again if it:

•  Touches a player before it touches the ground

•  Leaves the playing area after it touches theground, without touching a player

If a dropped ball enters the goal without touching at least two players play is restarted with;

•  A goal kick if it enters the opponents’ goal

•  a corner kick if it enters the team’s goal

BALL OUT OF PLAY

The ball is out of play when:

• •It has wholly passed over the goal line or touchline on the ground or in the air

• •Play has been stopped by the referee

• •When it rises above  the designated height restriction

• •it touches a match official, remains on the field of play, and:

• •a team starts a promising attack or

• •the ball goes directly into the goal or

• •the team in possession of the ball changes

In all cases  play is restarted with a dropped ball

BALL IN PLAY

The ball is in play at all other times when it touches a match official and when it rebounds off a goal post, crossbar, corner flag post or the barricades and remains in the playing area.

BALL IN PLAY

The ball is in play at all other times when it touches a match official and when it rebounds off a goal post, crossbar, corner flag post or the barricades and remains in the playing area.

OFFENCES AND SANCTIONS

When a match is played indoors and the ball hits the ceiling, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team to the one which last touched the ball. The indirect free kick should be taken from the point at which the ball hit the ceiling.

HEIGHT OF BALL RESTRICTIONS

A height  restriction must apply, which cannot be less than the height of the crossbar and not greater than 2 metres.  

If the ball rises above the designated height restriction, an indirect free kick is awarded from where the offence took place.

If a height offence occurs within the penalty area and is committed by the goalkeeper an indirect free kick should be awarded 3m from the penalty area line nearest to where the offence took place.

Any save or block from a goalkeeper that rises above the designated height restriction, before leaving the field of play, will result in a side line restart (kick-in or roll-in) for the opposing team, in line where the offence took place.

GOAL SCORED

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offence has been committed by the team scoring the goal.

The goalkeeper from the attacking side is not allowed to score. The exception to this is during kicks from the penalty mark. If the goalkeeper does play the ball in to the opponents’ goal, play is restarted with a goal kick.

WINNING TEAM

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.

When competition rules require a winning team after a drawn match or home-and-away tie, the only permitted procedures to determine the winning team are:

•  Away goals rule

•  Two equal periods of extra time

•  Kicks from the penalty mark

KICK PROCEDURE

Kicks from the penalty mark are taken after the match has ended and, unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the game apply.

Procedure

• •  Unless there are other considerations(e.g. ground conditions, safety etc.), the referee tosses a coin to choose the goal at which the kicks will be taken which  may only be changed for safety reasons or if the goal or playing surface becomes unusable

• •  The referee tosses a coin and the team that wins the toss decides whether to take the first or second kick

• •  The referee keeps a record of the kicksbeing taken

• •  Competition rules will determine the number ofkicks with the kicks taken as described hereafter.

• •  The kicks are taken alternately

• •  Only players who are on the playing area or are temporarily off the playing area (injured, adjusting equipment, in the sin bin etc.) at the end of the match are eligible to take kicks

• •  If, before or during the kicks from the penalty mark, one team has a greater number of players than its opponents, it must reduce to the same number as the opponents and the referee must be informed of the name and number of each player excluded

• •  If, before both teams have taken their designated number of kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could score, even if it were to complete its designated number of kicks, no more kicks are taken

• •  If, after both teams have taken the designated number of kicks, both have scored the same number of goals, kicks continue to be taken in the same order, until one team has scored one goal more than the other from the same number of kicks

• •  Any eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper

• •  Only the eligible players and match officials are permitted to remain on the playing area when kicks from the penalty mark are taken

• •  All players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain in the opposite half to that where the kicks are being taken

• •  A goalkeeper who is unable to continue before or during  the penalty kicks may be replaced by a player excluded from the game, or a named substitute, to equalise the numbers, the replaced goalkeeper can take no further part and may not take a kick

There is no offside in Walking Football.

Walking football is a non-contact version of the game.

Particular caution should be taken to avoid accidental contact from behind or alongside opponents, where their awareness is reduced.

Fouls and misconduct are penalised with an indirect free kick as follows:

 An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offences against an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

• •   Charges

• •   Jumps at

• •   Kicks or attempts to kick

• •   Pushes

• •   Strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt)

• •   Tackles or challenges

• •   Trips or attempts to trip

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offences:

• •   does not walk

• •   heads the ball

• •   hold an opponent

• •   bites or spits at someone

• •   slides in an attempt to play the ball when it is being played or attempted to be played by an opponent

• (sliding tackle)

• •   plays the ball whilst on the floor

• •   deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm, for example moving the hand or arm towards the ball

• •   touches the ball with the hand/arm when it has made the body unnaturally bigger

• •   scores in the opponent’s goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental or immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental

• •   Scores i             n the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper  immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental

• •   Throws or kicks an object at the ball, opponent ormatch official or makes contact with the ball with a held object

• •   Where barriers are in place, holding onto thebarrier to shield the ball; players are permitted to hold the barriers to correct their balance

An indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper commits one of the following offences:

• •   touches or controls the ball with their hands/arm or feet, in the penalty area, for more than six seconds

• •   receives the ball back directly from a team mate to whom they have just passed the ball without the ball having made contact with any other player

• •   allows the ball to stop in a stationary position in the penalty area without touching it for more than six seconds

• •   if a height offence occurs within the penalty area and is committed by the goalkeeper an indirect free kick should be awarded 3m from the penalty area line nearest to where the offence took place

An indirect free kick is also awarded if, in the opinion of the referee, a player:

• •   plays in a dangerous manner

• •   impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being made

• •   is guilty of dissent, offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or action(s) or other verbal offences

• •   prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from their hands.

• •   commits any other offence, not mentioned in the Laws, for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

The use of temporary timed suspensions (sin bins) and the exclusion of a player arising from the issuing of a red card are the recommended disciplinary sanctions for use in walking football. Match officials should employ the use of temporary timed suspensions (yellow cards) in all cases traditionally regarded as cautionable offences.

The options for a match official imposing disciplinary sanctions are therefore:

•   player issued with a yellow card and temporarily suspended from play

•   player, substitute or team official issued with a red card and permanently excluded from play

A yellow card offence should always be accompanied by a temporary suspension when issued to a player. The period of a temporary suspension in walking football shall be between two and five minutes. The release of players from a temporary suspension should be at the direction of the referee or additional match official.

TEMPORARY TIMED SUSPENSIONS PROCEDURES

A player temporarily suspended from play will be shown a yellow card by the match official and informed that they are suspended from play for between two and five minutes.

The length of the temporary suspension must be set by the competition prior to matches.

The player is obliged to leave the playing area and remain in a designated ‘sin bin’ area for the required time. Separate ‘sin bin’ areas should be identified for each team. If no designated ‘sin bin’ areas are provided, then suspended players should remain in the area where they can be seen by the referee and adjacent to team officials and substitutes.

A player will be informed as to the end of a period of a suspension by the referee or match

official and invited to re-join the match. Where barricades are used the players must use return through the opening onto the playing area.

TEMPORARY DISMISSALS

A player is shown the yellow card and temporarily

excluded from play if they commit any of the following offences:

• •  C1 – unsporting behaviour

• •  C2 – shows dissent by word or action

• •  C3 – persistently offends the Laws of the Game, with   exception to that covered under Law 17

• •  C4 – delays the restart of play by:

• •  Appearing to take a throw in (kick in for walking football), but suddenly leave it to a team mate to take

• Delaying leaving the Field of Play when being substituted

• •  Excessively delaying the restart of play

• •  Kicking or carrying the ball away or deliberately touching the ball when the referee has stopped  play

• •  Taking a kick-in or roll-in from the wrong position to force a retake

• •  C5 – fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, kick-in, free kick or goal clearance

• •  C6 – enters or re-enters the playing area without the referee’s permission or commits a substitution procedure offence

• •  C7 – deliberately leaves the playing area without the referee’s permission outside of a substitution

• •  C8 – denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a handball offence (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within their own penalty area)

• •  C9 – denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick and that particular offence is not deemed to be reckless or using excessive force

C8 and C9 are also sanctioned with the award of a penalty kick to the opposition

Exception to the use of ‘yellow cards’ and temporary timed suspensions

The only exception to the use of ‘Yellow Cards’ and Temporary Timed Suspensions is in facilities where if a player is excluded for between two and five minutes, they are unable to take up a position which is still in the eye line of the referee but outside the boundaries of the playing area. This might be the case in an enclosed sports hall or in a complex of caged playing areas. In such circumstances safety considerations requires the referee to employ the use of yellow cards, with all players remaining on the playing area unless excluded permanently. In this situation normal disciplinary sanctions will apply after the match as per the competition rules. If 2 yellow cards are given to an individual the player will be shown a red card and dismissed

SENDING-OFF OFFENCES

A player is sent off and shown the red card if he/ she commits any of the following offences:

• • S1 – serious foul play

• • S2 – violent conduct

• • S3 – spits at or bites someone

• • S4 – uses offensive, insulting or abusive language

• • S5 – receives a second yellow card in the same match

If play is stopped for a player to be sent from the playing area without having committed any additional offence of the Laws, the match is restarted by an indirect free kick, awarded to the opposing team, to be taken at the place where the offence occurred. However, if the offence is committed in the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken 3m from the penalty area line at the place nearest to where the offence occurred.

Decisions

A player who has been sent off may not take any further part in the match nor may they sit on the substitutes’ bench, where provided.

Team Officials

Team Officials, including managers, coaches, physios, and staff are also subject to all misconducts mentioned above and can be removed from the technical area, if and when an offence has been made. Where an offence is committed and the offender cannot be identified, the senior team coach present in the technical area will receive the sanction

Indirect free kicks are awarded to the opposing team of a player, substitute, sent off player, or team official guilty of an offence.

SIGNALS

The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising their arm above their head. They maintain their arm in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player goes out of play or it is clear that a goal cannot be scored directly. An indirect free kick must be retaken if the referee fails to signal that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly into the goal.

BALL ENTERS THE GOAL

• •  If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into theopponent’s goal, a goal kick is awarded

• •  If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into theteam’s goal, a corner kick is awarded

• All free kicks are taken from the place where the offence occurred, except:

• •  Free kicks to the attacking team are taken 3m

• from the penalty area line at the point nearest to where the offence occurred

• •  Free kicks to the defending team in their penaltyarea may be taken anywhere in that area

THE BALL

• •  Must be stationary and the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player

• •  Is in play when it is kicked and clearly movesUntil the ball is in play all opponents must remain:

• •  at least 3m from the ball

• •  Outside the penalty area for free kick inside theopponents’ penalty area

OFFENCES AND SANCTIONS

A goal cannot be scored where a players attempts  to circumvent the laws of the game by deliberately attempting to play the ball against an opponent or opposing player in order to score a goal at the taking of an indirect free kick. This is regarded as ‘unsporting behaviour' (see Law 12) and will be sanctioned with a blue card and a temporary timed dismissal.

If, when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance the kick is retaken unless the advantage can be applied.

If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player an indirect free kick is awarded.

A penalty kick is awarded for the following offences:

• • a defending player deliberately enters their own penalty area • a goalkeeper committing any of the five sending off offences within their penalty area

• • a goalkeeper deliberately exits their own penalty area

• • denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a handball offence (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within their own penalty area)

• • denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick

• • the opposition accumulating a fourth team ‘not walking’ count

The following must be considered when determining whether the offence is denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity:

• • the distance between the offence and the goal

• • the general direction of the play

• • the likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball

• • the location and number of defending outfield players, as well as the goalkeeper

A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of each period or at the end of each period of extra time.

Procedure

The ball must be stationary on the penalty mark and the goalposts, crossbar and goal net must not be moving.

The player taking the penalty kick must be clearly identified. The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts, without touching the goalposts, crossbar or goal net until the ball has been kicked.

When the kick is taken the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on (or, if it in the air, in line with) the goal line.

The players other than the kicker and the goalkeeper must be:

• • at least 3m from the ball • behind or to the side of the penalty mark • inside the playing area • outside the penalty area The player taking the penalty kick:

• • must kick the ball forward • must not play the ball again until it has touched another player

• • must start their approach with both feet on the ground no more than two metres from the ball

The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves The penalty kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence.

A kick-in is a method of restarting play.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in.

A kick-in is awarded:

• •  when the whole of the ball passes over a touch line, either on the ground or in the air.

• •  from the place where it crossed the touch line

• •  to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball

• •  where the playing area is surrounded by barricades, there are no kick ins. When the ball leaves the field of play, play is restarted with a goal clearance, by the goalkeeper whose half of the field the ball was in when leaving the field of play

POSITION OF THE BALL AND THE PLAYERS

The ball:

• •  must be stationary on the touch line; or 2m into the playing area from the barrier where barricades are in use

• •  may be kicked in any direction

• The player taking the kick-in/roll-in::

• •  must have part of each foot on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line at the moment of kicking/rolling the ball

• •  must stand between the ball and the barricade where in use

• •  must use an underarm action when rolling the ball in

The players of the defending team must be at least 3m from the place where the kick-in is taken.

PROCEDURE

• •  the player taking the kick-in must not play the ball again until it has touched another player

• •  the ball is in play when it is kicked / rolled and clearly moves

OFFENCES AND SANCTIONS

The kick-in is retaken by a player of the opposing team if:

• •  The kick-in is taken incorrectly

• •  The kick-in is taken from a position other than theplace where the ball passed over the touch line or where indicated by the referee where barricades are in use

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposition if the player taking the kick in plays the ball again before it has touched another player.

THE GOAL KICK

A goal kick is a method of restarting play.

A goal may not be scored directly from a goal kick.

The goal kick is awarded when:

• •  the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10

• •  a player enters the opposing penalty area

PROCEDURE

• •  The opponents must remain outside thepenalty area

• •  The goalkeeper must not play the ball again until ithas touched another player

• •  The ball is in play when the ball is thrown underarmor kicked from any stationary point within the penalty area by the goalkeeper of the defending team

OFFENCES AND SANCTIONS

If the ball is not thrown or kicked directly beyond the penalty area the goal kick is retaken.

If, after releasing the ball, the goalkeeper touches the ball again, before it has touched another player an indirect free kick is awarded 3m from the penalty area line from the place nearest to where the offence occurred.

If the goalkeeper receives the ball from a team mate in open play the goalkeeper is permitted to touch the ball and to pick the ball up.

If, after releasing the ball, the goalkeeper touches the ball again before it has either touched an opponent or has been touched by at least two players of the goalkeeper’s team, an indirect free kick is awarded 3m from the penalty area line from the place nearest to where the offence occurred.

THE CORNER KICK

A corner kick is a method of restarting play.

A goal may NOT BE scored directly from a corner kick.

A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

PROCEDURE

• •  the ball is placed inside the corner arc at the nearestcorner

• •  opponents must remain at least 3m from the balluntil it is in play

• •  the ball is kicked by a player from the attacking team

• •  the ball is in play when it is kicked or touched

• •  the kicker must not touch the ball again until ithas been played by or touched another player

OFFENCES AND SANCTIONS

An indirect free kick is awarded if the player taking the corner kick touches the ball again before it has been played by or touched another player.

For any other offence the corner kick is retaken.

Where the playing area is surrounded by barricades, there are no corner kicks. When the ball leaves the field of play, play is restarted with a goal clearance, by the goalkeeper whose half of the field the ball was in when leaving the field of play.

WALKING

Walking is defined as ‘always having at least one foot in contact with the ground’.

A walking action will generally be determined as the progression of steps throughout which there is constantly at least one foot in contact with the ground; both are momentarily grounded with the advancing leg straightened i.e. heel to toe action.

A goalkeeper is exempt from this rule whilst in the action of making a save, for example diving or jumping with both feet off the ground.

OFFENCES AND SANCTIONS

The referee will award an indirect free kick against any player who is not walking, unless there is a clear attacking opportunity for the team in possession. Where advantage can be played, the offending teams should be sanctioned once play has stopped, or the advantage has not accrued.

A penalty kick is awarded to the opposition on the fourth accumulated not walking offence committed by a team. This team count is then reset to zero and the not walking offences will accumulate again.

NOTES ON THE LAWS FOR WALKING FOOTBALL – MODIFICATIONS

Provided the principles of these laws are maintained, the Laws may be modified in their application for matches, including for players with disabilities as outlined below. Any or all of the following modifications are permissible:

• • Number of designated penalties to be taken when deciding the outcome of a match

• • Appointment of an additional match official

• • The process for deciding the outcome of a match, that ends in a draw

• • Size of the playing area

• • Size, weight and material of ball

• • Width between the goalposts and height of the crossbar from the ground

• • The durations of the periods of play

• • Substitutions

• • The durations of timed suspensions

• • A restriction on the number of touches per player

• • A competition can determine whether numbered shirts are compulsory