RULES OF DOUBLE FOOTBALL

(1) PLAYING FIELDS

The field may be 100 meters square,75 meters square or 65 meters square, with four goal posts, one on each side of the field.

(2) PLAYERS

Two teams compete in each double football match.

On the 100m field, each team has 14 on field players and six substitutes. Only one ball is used .The players are numbered from the centre of the field; numbers:1,2 , 3 and 4 are strikers; numbers:5,6,7,8 are midfield players; numbers:9,10,11,12 are defenders;

numbers: 13 and 14 are the two goalkeepers.

On the 65m field and 75m field, each team has a maximum of 10 and minimum of 8 on field players. In either case, players: 1 and 2 are strikers; numbers: 3 and 4 are midfield players. The difference is that, with 10 players, players numbers:5,6,7 and 8 are defenders, and numbers:9 and 10 are goalkeepers, whereas with 8 players the defenders are number 5 and 6,and numbers 7 and 8 are goalkeepers.

(3) KICK-OFF

To determine the team which starts the game, the referee throws, the ball in the air for the two

captain to touch. This is done in the centre spot in front of the linesman. The first of the two captains to touch the ball takes the kick-off and chooses. the direction in which to face when kicking off the game; the other chooses the sides,

(4) THROW-IN

There are no touch lines in Double football, only goal lines. This means that there are no throw-ins.

consequently, if the ball crosses the goal line, it is either a goal kick, a corner kick or a scored goal.

(5) INDIRECT KICK

In Double Football (unlike standard Association Football) a goal may only be scored from an indirect free kick, if the indirect kick goes straight into the goalmouth without being touched by any player other than the kicker and perhaps, the goalkeeper.

If the kick is near the danger zone (goal area),a defending wall is allowed at a distance of 5 meters from the spot where the offence was committed.

(6) PENALTY KICK

A penalty kick is awarded only if an opposing player is brought down or fouled in the goal/penalty area by a defending player. When a penalty kick is being taken both Goalkeepers of the defending team must be in the same goalmouth to try to save the ball. If the penalty kick itself is not converted into a goal, the ball cannot be played. It is deemed a dead ball and a go-kick is taken.

A penalty kick is not awarded to opposing team for a handball by a defending player in the penalty area. Instead the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick and the player who handled the ball is given a red card.

(7) OFFSIDE

A player can be ruled offside, if and only if, he/she receives the ball from the back and he /she is alone near the opponents goalmouth and then plays the ball towards the nearest goal.

A player may receive the ball near the opponents'goal, dribble with it and score in the other goal.

(8) HEADING

Heading is allowed in Double Football.

(9) ARM-BALL

Arm-ball is allowed in Double Football, but cannot be allowed to score a goal.

(10) HANDBALL

Handball is not allowed in Double Football.(see also rule number 6.)

(11) PUSHING

Tackling (charging) pushing is allowed, but intentional pushing and fouling of players is not allowed.

(12) PULLING

Pulling is not allowed in Double Football.

(13) SUBSTITUTES

When 14 players start the game, only 6 substitutes are allowed. Only 2 substitutes can come on (singly)to replace players who

have received red cards. The remaining 4 come in two at a time. At least 20 minutes must elapse before the next pair of substitutes come on. When 8 or 10 players start the game, only 2 substitutes are allowed to replace players who have received red cards. The remaining 2 come in at the same time.

(14) CORNER KICK

When 28 players are playing, only 18 players are allowed to participate in a one-way corner kick. When 16 or 20 players are playing, all players are allowed to participate in a one-way corner kick. All corner kicks are taken from corner spots corresponding to the side of the goal line where the ball passed.

(15) LINESMEN

There are two linesmen in Double Football, each covering opposite corners of the field and two goal areas, one goal area/goal line for each team.

Each linesman has two differently colored cards (not red or yellow), one card for each side. These cards, which the referee is responsible for showing to the captains before the game kicks off, are shown in case a rule of the game has been broken. Each linesman has a flag, a notebook to record the goals scored, the number of corner kicks taken and the name of the team which forces the first corner kick.

(16) REFEREES

Double Football is officiated by two referees, each taking the field for one half of the game. However, the first referee may be retained if the captains of the competing teams so request at half time. This request is made to the commissioner of the match. The referee must carry a whistle, a stop watch, two cards (one red, one yellow),a notebook and a pen.

(17) RED CARD

The referee can show a red card to a player whose conduct on the field has, in the opinion of the referee, threatened the game. A player shown the red card is sent off the field. He will miss the remainder of the match in which he played, plus the following match in its entirety and the first half of the subsequent match. If the same player is shown a red card during his "probationery" second-half appearance in the second match, he is sent off again and misses the following three matches. A player sent off is replaced by a substitute.(see also rule number (13).

(18) YELLOW CARD

The referee may, at his discretion, show a yellow card to a player who is guilty of rough play or ungentlemanly conduct. If the same player is shown a yellow card three times in one and the same game he misses one half of the next match.

(19) DRAWS

There are no drawn matches in Double Football. The game lasts 80 minutes, divided into two halves of 40 minutes each with a 15 minute half-time break.

If the two teams are equal on goals after 80 minutes, then the team with the most corner kicks is deemed the winner. However, if both teams have an equal amount of goals and an equal amount of corner kicks, the team which forced the first corner kick of the match is deemed the winner.

If the teams are equal on goals and no corner kicks have been awarded, a replay of the match at a later time has to be arranged.

A replay is also to be effected in the event of abandonment.

(20) EXTRA AND INJURY TIME

There is no extra time in Double Football.