League Rules

1. Only 5 players per team will be permitted on the pitch at any one time, one of whom will be the goalkeeper.
2. Up to 9 team players only may be named for a match, who must be available for inspection by the referee prior to the match starting if the referee requests. Players may only play for one team during the league season. Any players found playing for more than one team shall be banned from the rest of the league. Teams playing with more than 9 players will forfeit the fixture 5-0.
3. Players must be attired in proper kit and footwear including shin pads. Jewellery must be removed or taped up.
4. The entire team must be behind the ball at kick off.
5. League games will be 40 minutes in total, 20 minutes each way.
6. Teams arriving more than 5 minutes late for a fixture will start the game 2-0 down. Arriving over 15 minutes late results in a 5-0 forfeit.
7. The game will begin with one team taking the kick off from the centre. A centre kick may be played in any direction but a goal may not be scored direct from the centre.
8. Only the defending goal keeper is allowed to play the ball inside the goal area.
9. A goal may be scored from any point outside the goal area and within the field of play.
10. The goalkeeper must return the ball into play by rolling it out of his area with an under arm bowling action. Any goalkeeper failing to do this will be penalised with a direct freekick being awarded against them 1m outside the area.
11. The ball may not be returned to the goalkeeper until at least 2 other players have touched it. A direct free kick will be awarded against the goalkeeper 1m outside the area where a defender returns the ball directly back to him.
12. A keeper who deliberately leaves the area in an attempt to gain an advantage, or plays the ball outside the area under any circumstance, will be penalised with the awarding of a penalty against him.
13. A defender who enters the area attempting to gain an advantage, or who plays the ball when the ball is in the area, will be penalised by the awarding of a penalty.
14. Teams may not change their keeper more than once per half during a match and must gain the referees permission to do so.
15. Four substitutes per team are allowed and can be used as often as required. All substitutions must first be authorised by the referee and only made when the ball is out of play.
16. If any team is reduced to 3 players due to misconduct, the game will be awarded to their opponents with a score of 5-0, or the result at the time the game ended should the goal difference be greater.
17. The ball may not be played above head height. Head height is 2 metres, and where the ball clearly travels over 2 metres.
18. The ball will remain in play after rebounding off the keeper, posts, crossbar or kick boards.
19. The award of a direct free kick will be given for the following offences:
    • Ball played over head height
    • Handball
    • Goal keeper not returning the ball underarm inside of 6 seconds
    • Obstructing an opponent
    • Heading the ball
    • Player returning the ball directly back to the keeper after receiving the ball from him.
    • Charging an opponent
    • Playing the ball whilst on the floor, including slide tackles, slips, blocks, shooting and 1 knee down.
    • Holding the fences
    • Any contact that forces players into the kick boards (players must be allowed to play the ball out from the corners of the pitch)
    • Unsporting behavior
20. A player may not stand closer than 2M from the ball when defending a free kick. Contravention of this rule will result in the kick being taken again from the place where the defending player stood at the time the kick was taken. Free kicks must be taken 1M from the boards / goal area.
21. Penalty kicks will be taken with a one step rule.
22. Violent conduct on or off the pitch will result in immediate suspension of the individual concerned. Ultimate Soccer reserves the right to ban any individual or whole team from all future participation in leagues or tournaments.
23. Yellow cards result in the player being sin binned for 2 minutes, teams must play with 4 players during this time. A second yellow will result in a red card, players receiving a red card are not be permitted to play any further part in the game and will receive a mandatory ban of between 1 week and a permanent ban depending on the offence and the league disciplinary procedure. One game bans are automatically imposed, bans of more than one week require notification by the Ultimate Soccer management team via email to the said team captain. All bans are subject to the managements teams discretion.
24. When the ball is played into the corners of the pitch, the player who retrieves the ball will be allowed to take the ball out unhindered by the opposition. A defending player who makes contact with the ball player will have a direct free kick awarded against him. The ball player will have no more than 5 seconds to bring the ball back into play. NB Referee’s have been instructed to allow only minimal contact on all other areas of the kick boards.

League terms and conditions

1. Teams must pay for each fixture before the start of play, you will receive a token from reception that must be handed to the referee to start the match.
2. Each team has 1 postponement per season but 48 hour’s notice must be given.
3. Ultimate Soccer reserve the right to expel any individual or team from its competitions, which may result in full fees being charged.
4. During the period between registration and the season starting we securely store your credit card details on our server as no payment is due until the first game of the season. This gives you a chance to pay the $180 deposit (which covers the final 2 games of the season) and the first match fee via card or cash between the team on the first match day if you wish. Non-payment of fees results in stored details being charged. All fixtures across the season must be paid for whether played forfeited or cancelled. Teams are not liable for fixtures cancelled or forfeited by the opposition.
5. Cancelling or forfeiting a fixture results in liability of the match fee along with 50% of the oppositions match fee. Forfeiting is used to determine teams that do not turn up for their fixture without prior notice. Ultimate Soccer can reduce the 50% fee if 48 hours notice of cancelation is given or prompt payment of outstanding fees are made. Fees must be paid prior to the following league game.
6. Ultimate Soccer management reserve the right to amend or change rules as they see necessary depending upon each individual case. Managements ruling is final.

Full T’s and C’s are available within the terms and conditions page of the website and have been agreed to via the registration process.