Ladies Soccer Rules

Rules & Regulations

  • The referee’s ruling on a play is final.
  • The Al-Wahda Tournament Committee Officials reserve the right to modify these rules at any time.
  • All players registered in the Al-Wahda Sports Festival must be of the Shia Ithn’Asheri Faith. Any individual found to be in violation of this rule, will be immediately disqualified from the festival. In the event, the individual is part of a team, the entire team will be disqualified from the competition.

Law 1: The Field of Play

Matches will be played outdoors on a half regulation size field.

Law 2: The Ball

The ball is of size 5 for women games and size 4 for youth games.

Law 3: The Number of Players

A match is played between two teams, each consisting of no more than 7 players on the field (including the goalie)

  • A match will not start if either team consists of fewer than 5 players. Each team will have a 5-minute grace period to present the minimum number of players for their allocated game. Failure to do so will be considered as a forfeit and award an automatic win for the opposing team with a score of 1-0
  • Maximum of 10 players is allowed per roster
  • Unlimited number of substitutions can be made at any stoppage with the permission of the referee.

Law 4: The Player’s Equipment

A player shall not wear anything that is harmful to her or other players (including any kind of jewelry).

  • Full hijab is mandatory (long sleeves, long pants, and head scarf)
  • Players of the same team must wear similar jersey colors, with the exception of the goalkeeper who shall wear a different color
  • Each player shall have a number at the back of their jersey

Law 5 and 6: The referee

The referee has full authority to enforce the laws of the game and their decisions are final. There will be no assistant referees.

Law 7: The Duration of the Match

All round robin matches will be played in one 25-minute period (no half time) while the semi-finals and finals will be played in one 30-minute period. All games will be run-time.

Youth games will be played in two 10-min halves with a 5min half time.

Law 8: The Start and Restart of Play

A kick off is the method of starting or restarting play at the start of a half as well as after a goal is scored.
  • A goal can be scored directly from a kick off

Law 9: The Ball In and Out of Play

The ball is out of play when the whole of the ball has crossed the goal-line or touch line, whether on the ground or in the air.

Law 10: The Method of Scoring

A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the goal post and under the crossbar.

Law 11: Offside

There will be no offside in this tournament.

Law 12: Fouls and Misconducts

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team of the violating team that commits any of the following offenses. A penalty kick is awarded if any of the offenses are committed by a player inside their own penalty area.
  • Trips, kicks, strikes or attempt to trip, kick, or strike an opponent
  • Jump, charge, push, hold, tackle, or spit at an opponent
  • Handle the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within her own penalty area)

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, touches the ball with her hands inside her own penalty area, after it has been kicked to her by a teammate.

Yellow Card- Unsporting behavior, dissent by word or action, persistent infringement Red Card- Violent Conduct, abusive language or gestures

Law 13: Free Kicks

  • A goal can be scored directly from a direct free kick
  • A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick
  • All opponents must be at least 5 yards away from the ball until it is in play

Law 14: The Penalty Kick

  • The ball must be placed on the penalty mark (8 yards away from the goal line)
  • All players must be behind the ball (outside the penalty area)
  • Goalkeeper must remain on the goal line until the ball is in play

Law 15: The Throw In

When the whole ball crosses the touchline, play will resume with a throw in by the team who did not last touch the ball.

Law 16: The Goal Kick

A goal kick is awarded to the defending team when the ball passes over the goal line, having last touched a player of the attacking team and crossing the goal line without entering the net.

Law 17: The Corner Kick

A corner kick is awarded to the attacking team when the ball passes over the goal line, having last touched a player of the defending team and crossing the goal line without entering the net. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick

Tournament Specifications

  • 3 points will be awarded for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss
  • If a team forfeits the game the score is 1-0 for the opposing team
  • In the event of a tie, there will be no overtime or shootout in round robin games. In the semi finals and finals, there will be a 5-minute overtime. In the event of a tie after the overtime, there will be a 3-goal shootout
  • In the event of a tie, there will be no overtime or shootout in round robin games. In the semi finals and finals, there will be a 5-minute overtime. In the event of a tie after the overtime, there will be a 3-goal shootout.
  • In the event of a tie in points after round robin, team rankings will be decided in the following manner:
    • Winner of head on game
    • Team with a greater goal differential (Goals forward-goals against)
    • Team with the least goals against
    • Team with the most goals forward
    • Team with the least amount of cards (Sum of Red and Yellow cards)
    • 3 goal shoot out
  • All yellow and red cards reset after round robin. Red card means 1 game suspension.
  • For any rule not outlined in this document, follow the Fifa Laws of Game.
Last updated: Sept. 3rd, 2015