RULES

1. Each team consists of no more than 5 players on the field at one time including the goalkeeper. A maximum of 5 interchangeable substitutes may be used. 

2. All substitutions are to take place at side of the field, near half-way line. All substitutions may take place whilst the game is in play without the referees permission, with the condition that the substituting player is off the field before the replacement player enters the field. 

3. All players of a team must wear the same colour shirt nominated before the season. The goalkeeper must wear a different coloured shirt or bib that distinguishes them from the other players.

4. Games will consist of two 20 minute halves, with a brief 1 minute half time. The direction of play will change after the half time period. Late starts will result in playing time being reduced accordingly. Teams must be ready at the exact start of the game, failure to do so may result in a goal penalty.

5. Goalkeepers can play the ball outside of the goal circle but can only handle the ball inside the goal circle. 

6. Outfield players may play the ball inside the goal circle. 

7. Penalty kicks are to be taken from the top of the goal circle, central to the goal and no more than two steps away from the ball. All players other than kicker and defending goalkeeper must be at least 3 metres behind the line of the ball. In younger age groups the distance from the goal may vary due to referee discretion. 

8. Ball out of play and over sideline will result in a kick-in being awarded to opposing team. 

9. Ball out of play and over backline will result in either a corner for the attacking team or a goal kick for the defending team. A goal kick means the goal keeper throws in the ball. In the Under 7, 8 and 9’s the goal keeper can also kick in the ball from the ground and players from opposing team have to retract past the half way line. 

10. For all free kicks, kick-offs and kick-ins, opposing players must be a minimum of 4 metres from the ball. 

11. There is no offside. 

12. No slide tackles are permitted or playing off the ground when near other players. 

13. Cautions (Yellow Card) will result in player being sent from the field for a period ranging from 2 minutes to the remainder of the match at the discretion of the Referee. Suspended player can be replaced. 

14. Send-offs (Red Cards) are the result of a serious altercation or after the event of 2 Yellow Cards being nominated to one player. The player that has incurred a red card will be automatically sent off for the remainder of the match and will incur an automatic suspension from next game. The team of which has had a player incur a red card will not be allowed to replace the suspended player with a substitute for a period of 2-5 minutes (at the referees discretion), or until a goal has been scored.

15. In Men’s and possibly Youth games only: After 4 fouls in every half, each foul will result in a straight penalty. This resets at half time.

16. All refereeing decisions will be final and binding. Arguing with the referee may result in a caution (Yellow Card) or a Send Off (Red Card) at the referees discretion.

17. When two teams have the same or similar colour shirt, the team second on the fixture list is required to change shirts or wear a bib. It is best if you organise an alternative shirt/bib yourself although we have spare bibs if you really need them.

18. In the case of a draw at full time in the quarter and semi finals, there will be an automatic penalty shoot out to determine the winner. In the Grand Final after a draw at full time, there will be an extra 5 minutes of game time added in the style of “sudden death”, in which in the event of a goal being scored the game automatically ends and the scoring team wins the game. If no goal is scored in the 5 minutes, a penalty shoot out will occur.

19. A Penalty shoot out consists of 3 penalties per team with the winning team determined after the 6 penalties have been taken. If the score is still even at the end of the 6 penalties, a “sudden death” style of penalties will occur, where each team takes 1 round of penalties and the final score will be determined after each round until there is a winner.

20. Players are to play within their designated age groups unless prior consent has been given by Fremantle 5 A Side. Teams may be penalised from playing a player outside the designated age group without prior consent.

21. Players in the Masters League have to be born in 1987 or older. In the Womens Masters comp a team can have 1 younger player. In case of shortage of players a team can bring in a younger player, however they need to clear this first with the opposition team.

22. In the Mixed competition only: After a Male has scored, the next goal scorer has to be a Female. Females may score consecutively. This will be reset at half time.

23. Only players named on the team’s nomination form can play in the Finals. Unless prior consent is given to play another player by Fremantle 5 A Side.

24. Failure to comply with Rule 21. and 23. may result in the loss of the game. 

25. A team failing to be ready to kick off will be penalised 1 goal every 3 minutes or forfeit the match after 10 minutes. (A forfeit will result in a final score of 3-0 to the opposition team). 

26. In the event of a ‘No-Show’ or late forfeit (within three hours prior to kick-off) the team that fails to notify Fremantle 5 A Side of their forfeit will be penalised -2 points

27. Our goals are not gym equipment and can’t handle swing of them, please keep players from doing so. A yellow card will be issue if they do.

28. Other than the rules stated above (sections 1-27), all other rules governing the game of football will apply.

Competition Format

1. Fremantle 5 A Side has the ability to move teams or players up or down age groups depending on strength.

2. Fremantle 5 A Side will endeavour to provide each team with 10 games including finals rounds, however at times teams will be subject to one Bye round.  

3. Fremantle 5 A Side reserves the right to combine 2 age groups.

4. A Bye or Forfeit will count as a game. Teams are allowed no more than 1 Bye a season that will need to be arranged at minimum 7 days in advance. If a forfeit is required, the forfeiting team will lose the match by 3-0 and Fremantle 5 A Side must be notified prior to three hours before your scheduled kick-off. Failure to provide adequate notice (Notice within three hours of kick-off) or in the event of a no-show a -2 penalty from your overall standings will be incurred.

5. If necessary, Fremantle 5 A Side has the ability to vary the format of the finals round to ensure the best possible season for the players involved. Ideally most teams will experience playing in the Finals format. We also look at which teams you have not played or if when you played them, therefore goal difference has little affect on your standings.

6. For leagues U12 and under only a win, lose or draw will be recorded instead of exact scores to avoid high final scores at the end of the season.

7. For leagues U12 and under, to ensure a fun and evenly matched game, referees have the ability to place certain conditions on the game (i.e. allowing an extra player) to improve the quality of the game for the players and to avoid the domination of one team.

8. No scores higher than a 10 goal difference will be recorded.

9. Fremantle 5 A Side can change fixtures up to 1 day before the game fixture as long as they notify the affected teams and it is not an unusual time slot.

EXAMPLES

Depending on the number of teams in each league, the format of the competition will vary slightly, below is the competition outline for the 6, 8 team leagues and the Dynamic league format.

6 Team League: All teams play one round against all other teams, followed by two rounds against closely matched competitors, followed by  Quarter, Semi and Grand Finals.

8 Team League: All teams play one round against all other teams, followed by Quarter, Semi and Grand Final.

10 Team League: All teams play one round against all other teams, followed by Semi and Grand Final. The Semi Finals could either be played in Round 9 or if no distinct Top 4 can be found in Round 9, will be played on the same day as the Grand Final.

Dynamic League: This count for most Leagues: As there is no pre season grading, the grading is taken into consideration as the season is played. For the first part of the season, teams will verse other teams that are close to them on the results table to establish the strength of the team. In the second part of the season, the league will be split into an Premier and Plate categories which is determined by the results from the first part of the season. This to give the Top 16 teams the chance to play finals, or if a group has 24 teams or more, the Top 24.

ETHOS AND CODE OF CONDUCT

Fremantle 5 A Side prides itself on providing a fun and inclusive competition for all players, spectators, referees and staff. We expect all participating parties are expected to conduct themselves appropriately and respectively. Any form of discrimination (Racism, Homophobia, Transphobia, Misogyny, Ableism, Body Shaming, etc.) as well as any form of abuse, Verbal or Physical will not be tolerated. We take seriously allegations of this nature and we reserve the right to suspend or ban parties that do not meet our ethos and code of conduct. If you have any concerns that any party is not behaving appropriately, we encourage you to contact us so we can ensure we continue to provide a safe and fun environment for all.