The rules and regulations of indoor football at the USC

SIGNING ON A TEAM

• A team is registered by the captain. He or she acts as the contact person for the Sports Centre. The Sports Centre will communicate with this captain as the team’s representative.
• A team is to have a minimum of 5 (five) players to maximally 12 (twelve) players.
• At least 5 players must have a sports membership valid during the whole period of their competition unit. The other team participants must have a valid sports membership or they will have to buy one.
• New or extra players may be added to the list of the (basic) team. But these players may not be recruited from another team out of the same competition. In principle these players can join after purchasing a day ticket.
• Under no circumstances can the participants of a team be removed from the list. This means that when 10 players have enrolled on the list, no one else can play for this team.
• The University Sports Centre determines whether a team will actually be placed in their desired competition unit. But they will of course take the team’s (first) wishes into account.

THE TEAM

• In court the team has 5 members: 1 goalkeeper and 4 players. The team may have substitutes.
• All team members must have ‘indoor shoes’, preferably indoor soccer shoes.
• All players wear similar clothes, except for the goal keeper.
• The goal keeper clearly stands out from the rest of his team through his distinctive clothes. If a team has not got uniform clothes, they must make use of USC sports vests.

THE PITCH AND THE BALL

• The pitch consists of the walls and two goals.
• The ball can be passed on via the sides of the walls. A ball is only considered ´out´ or a ‘corner’ when it crosses the goal line or the corner arc, thereby hitting the wall behind the goal or if it hits the side net of the goal or ends up in the space between the goal and the back wall.
• A ´kick in´ will be awarded if the ball ends up in the gallery.
• Indoor football is played with an indoor ball.

GENERAL RULES

• The play starts with a ´kick off´ in the centre circle. The ball is kicked backwards into the field.
• If the ball rebounds on the wall behind the goal line of the opposing team, then the keeper gets the ball. The keeper must get the ball stationary with his feet as he is not allowed in this situation to touch the ball with his hands or pass it on with a drop kick.
• A goal has been scored if the entire ball has crossed the goal line into the goal.
• Only the keeper can touch the ball with his hands. He may only do so within the circle. When returning a ball during the game, hands are forbidden for the keeper. The keeper is allowed to trow the ball into the goals of the opposing team, unless it was an 'out' ball that led to the keeper having the ball.
• The ball may be played back to the goal keeper without restriction.
• Substitute players may only enter the field when the player to be replaced has left the field.
• With a ´kick in´ from the sideline the opposing party must keep at a distance of least 5 metres from the ball.
• The 'kick in', 'corner' or 'free ball' have to be taken in 4 seconds or less.

OFFENCES

• The players are not really supposed to touch one another. So no pulling, pushing or kicking!!
• Sliding is out of the question, including for the goal keeper
  Offencs are also penalised in the following cases:
• If a player attempts to hold or push an opponent with his hands or arms
• If a player charges an opponent from behind
• If a player touches the ball with his hand or arm on purpose
• If a player jabs an opponent on the shoulder
• If a player deliberately causes physical contact
• If a situation in the play endangers either the opponent or the player himself
• If a player deliberately hinders an opponent in a situation in which he is not playing the ball or does not have the ball within his playing range
• If a players displays unsportsmanlike behaviour
• If a player waits longer than 5 minutes to resume playing following the correct positioning of the ball to take the free kick and after the opponent has placed himself at the required distance.
  The following fouls also count:
• With an offence, a free kick is awarded to the opposing party. A goal may be scored straight from a free kick.
• For a serious offence the player may be sent from the court for a period of 2 minutes. The team will continue to play with one player less. The player will be allowed to return to the court after 2 minutes or when the opponent scores a goal.
• For a very serious offence the player may be sent from the court for a period of 5 minutes. The player will NOT be allowed to return to the court when the opponent scores a goal.
• If an extermely serious foul is committed, then the player can be sent off the pitch and his team will have to make do with one player less for the rest of the match
• If the ball hits the ceiling above the pitch, play will have to be restarted awarding the opponent a free kick. This kick has to be taken from the place where the offence occurred.

Definite SENDING OFF of a player from the pitch

A player may be definitely sent off the pitch in the event of the following:

• An excessively violent act such a kicking, hitting or spitting at an opponent or referee.
• Seriously unsportsmanlike conduct (such as deliberate and irregular behaviour preventing an opponent from playing the ball and thereby clearly preventing his team from scoring a goal).
• If the above-mentioned infringements are repeated.

ORGANISATIONAL Rules/ absence of players/team

• If a team has not succeeded in mobilising at least 5 players from its own ranks at the appointed time and place, then it will not be allowed to place players from another team there.
• If a team is unable to play at all or cannot manage to appear with sufficient players at the appointed date, the opponent and the USC front office should be informed at least 48 hours before the start of the match. By mutual agreement the opponent, the referee and the USC Coordinator of Planning can choose to reschedule the cancelled match at another date and time. If this rule is not adhered to, or a new date for the match can't be agreed upon, this team will – in line with the regulations - lose five-nil (5-0!).

N.B.: If a team has failed to appear twice in a row (after having lost 5-0), the team concerned will be removed from the competition and all results will be cancelled. No restitution of the entree fee or of membership fees will be allowed and the team will be banned from participating in the next Indoor Football Unit.

Counting the scores and the final score

The final score will be determined in the following order:

• Scores after the matches which have been played
• Goal difference
• Mutual result
• Number of goals up

PLAY OFFS

• In case of a draw both teams take 5 penalties (5 different players per team)
• If there is still no winner after the first serie of penalties, each team will take one penalty at a time until there is a winner.