1. Number of Players - 7

· Minimum number of players to start match: 5, one of which should be the goalkeeper.

· Substitution limit: none.

· Substitution method: “flying substitution” - Players can substitute after notifying the referee and he/she prevents the game from restarting. Players must always leave and enter the pitch from the same place.

2. Main Referee Duties

Enforce the laws, apply the advantage rule, keep a record of all incidents before, during and after game, stop game when deemed necessary, caution or expel players guilty of misconduct, violent conduct or other ungentlemanly behavior, allow no others to enter the pitch, stop game to have injured players removed, signal for game to be restarted after every stoppage, decide that the ball meets with the stipulated requirements.

3. Duration of the Game

· Duration: 30 minute games with two equal periods of 15 minutes.

· Half-time: 2 minutes.

4. The Start of Play Procedure

Coin toss followed by kickoff.

· Opposing team waits outside center circle until the ball has been played

· The ball is deemed in play once it has been touched by the kicker

· The kicker cannot touch ball until someone else touches it

· Ensuing kick-offs taken after goals scored and at start of second half

· The ball can be played forward, but the kicker cannot score directly from kickoff

5. Ball in and out of Play

Ball out of play:

· When it has fully crossed the goal line or touchline;

· When the game has been stopped by a referee.

Lines: touchlines and goal lines are considered inside the playing area.

6. Fouls and Misconduct

Direct free kicks are awarded when a player intentionally commits any of the following offenses (penalty kick awarded when infringement takes place in penalty area):

· Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent player;

· Tripping an opponent player;

· Jumping on an opponent player;

· Charging an opponent player in a violent or dangerous manner;

· Charging an opponent player from behind;

· Striking, attempting to strike, or spitting at an opponent player;

· Holding an opponent player;

· Pushing an opponent player;

· Charging an opponent player with shoulder (i.e., shoulder charge);

· Handling the ball (except goalkeeper);

An indirect free kick is awarded when any of the following offenses is committed (kick taken from the 8-meter line when infringement takes place in penalty area):

· Dangerous play (e.g. sliding tackle / attempting to kick ball held by goalkeeper);

· Obstruction;

· Charging the goalkeeper in the penalty area (i.e., goalkeeper charge);

· Back pass - goalkeeper picks up or touches the ball with his hands after a pass from his teammate;

   A yellow card will be given when:

· a substituting player enters the pitch from an incorrect position or before the player he is substituting has entirely left the pitch;

· he/she persistently infringes the Laws of the Game;

· he/she shows dissent with any decision of the referee;

· he/she is guilty of ungentlemanly conduct.

  Players shall be sent off (i.e., shown the red card) for:

· (a) Serious foul play;

 ·(b) Violent conduct;

· (c) Abusive language;

· (d) Second instance of cautionable offense (i.e., second yellow card);

· (e) Intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity (e.g. through a “professional foul”);

· (f) Intentionally impeding a clear goal opportunity in the penalty area by handling the ball;

Direct free kicks (or penalty kicks) accompany the expulsion for (a), (b), (e) and (f); indirect free kicks, for (c) and (d) (from the penalty point when the infringement takes place in the penalty area).  

Rules of Expulsion:

· The player sent off (shown a red card) is out for the rest of the game;

· The player sent off (shown a red card) cannot be substitued.

7. Disciplinary Regulations
· If a player receives three yellow cards in three different matches he/she will be suspended from his team's one subsequent match;
· If a player receives a direct or indirect red card he/she will be suspended from his team's one subsequent match;
· Cards and bans do not carry over to other divisions.
8. Free Kick

Types: direct free kicks and indirect free kicks.

Wall: at least 7 meters away until the ball is in play.

Ball in play: after it has traveled the distance of its own circumference.

Time limit: kick must be taken within 5 seconds of being ready to do so, if it is not, an indirect free-kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Restriction: kicker cannot touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player.

9. Penalty Kick

To be taken from the 9m penalty spot.

The player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward; backheeling is permitted provided the ball moves forward.

The defending goalkeeper must remain on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked.

All players must be out of the penalty area, and the players of the opposing team must also be at least 7 m from the penalty spot.

The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

10. Kick-in

At the moment of delivering the ball, the kicker:

· Kicks the ball, which must be stationary, either from the point where it left the pitch or on the ground outside it at a distance no greater than 25cm from that point;

· cannot score directly from a kick-in;  

· delivers the ball within 5 seconds of being ready to do so;

· cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player; infringement of this rule entail an indirect free kick to the opposing from the point of infringement.

The kick-in must be taken within 5 seconds; if it is not, the kick-in is given to the opposing team.

The ball in is play when it enters the pitch.

Players on opposing team must be at least 7 m away from point of kick-in.

11. Goal Kick

Procedure

· The ball must be stationary and is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team;

· The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves;

· Opponent players must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

If, when a goal kick is taken, any opponent players are inside the penalty area because they did not have time to leave, the referee can allow play to continue. If an opponent player is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken, or enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, touches or challenges for the ball before it is in play, the goal kick is retaken.

If a player enters the penalty area before the ball is in play and fouls or is fouled by an opponent, the goal kick is retaken and the offender may be cautioned or sent off depending on the offence.

For any other offence the kick is retaken.

The goal-kick must be taken within 5 seconds of being ready to do so; if it is not, an indirect free-kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the penalty area line at the place nearest to where the infringement occured.

12. Corner Kick

· Ball placed on the corner. If the ball is misplaced and the corner kick is taken, a kick in will be awarded to the opposing team.

· Corner kicks must be taken within 5 seconds; failure to do so entails indirect free kick to the opposing team from the corner mark.

· The kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been played by another player; infringement of this rule entail an indirect free kick to the opposing from the point of infringement.

· Players on opposing team must be at least 7 m away from point of the corner kick.

· Kickers can score directly from a corner kick.

13. Sliding tackles

Sliding tackles are forbidden. Players are only allowed to slide to block the ball as long as they are at least 1 meter away from opponent player. Sliding within 1 meter of an opponent player to be deemed dangerous play and an indirect free kick to be awarded.

CIFL 7-a-side CODEX

Organization of the Competition

The season is starting in May and there will be 8 teams in each division. Each team will play the other teams in their division twice during the season. The last 8^th week is Cup week.

Schedule

Matches must be played according to the schedule determined by the CIFL officials. Results from the preceding matchday's fixtures will be posted on the CIFL website.

Rankings

Final rankings will be determined by the number of points each team has at the end of the season. In the event of teams having equal number of points then ranking will be determined in the following priority order:

1. The higher goal difference.

2. The league result between the two teams.

3. Goals scored

“No-Show” of Team

Any team not appearing for a scheduled match without the prior agreement (48 hours in advance) of CIFL officials also will be deemed to have lost the match 0:6.

Organization of friendlies

In case of a no-show of a CIFL team we will organize a friendly match for their opponents when possible. The CIFL team which showed up must play the friendly game and pay 50% of the matchday fee. Regardless of the friendly match result the team that showed up gets 3 points and the 5-0 score in their table. In case of a no-show for the friendly the team receives 0 points and a 0-5 result in the table.

Inclement Weather

If due to inclement weather there is doubt as to whether a match is to be played, both teams must check with the CIFL officials to see if the ground they are scheduled to use is officially closed. Weather related decisions will be taken 4 hours prior to a match. Pollution Policy If the pollution level is higher than 250 two hours before the game is scheduled to kick off, the game will be canceled. Four hours before the game kicks off CIFL officials will check the level of pollution. Only CIFL officials can decide if the game is cancelled or not and it is the team leaders’ responsibility to inform their players.     

Disputes with Officials

The decisions of the Referee and match officials during the match are final. Dissent will be considered a serious breach of discipline. If a team wishes retrospectively to dispute the decisions of the officials or to report on their conduct, it must submit a written report to the CIFL officials within 48 hours of the scheduled start of the match. 

Disciplinary Guidelines

The following guidelines constitute an indication of the action that may be taken by CIFL officials or the disciplinary committee in respect of breaches of discipline These guidelines and rules are subject to regular review by the CIFL officials, and may be updated or amended before the new season without consulting to the member clubs. Any changes will be communicated to members and clubs via the CIFL website. The CIFL official reserves the right to set the levels of punishment for any player or team for any breach of the rules at levels beyond those of the Disciplinary Guidelines. This includes the suspension or banning of players and also the suspension of teams. The CIFL officials also reserves the right to vary a punishment in cases that have a direct bearing on promotion, relegation or prizes by taking into consideration whether or not the rules were broken for the purposes of obtaining an unfair advantage.