Goldfields Soccer Association
Rule Amendments

Rule Amendments for 2005-2006

The following amendments will apply to all Football West games pre-season and regular season as of 1st January 2006.

• Law 3 – The Number of Players - A summary of the new text that will apply is as follows: ‘In National A team international matches, up to a maximum of 6 substitutes may be used. In all other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be used provided that the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number and the referee is informed before the match.’

• Law 3 – The Number of Players -Bullet Point 3: Substitution Procedure ‘Play is restarted with an indirect free kick at the place the ball was located when play was stopped. (This amendment applies to a substitute player entering the FOP without permission).’

• Law 5 – The Referee - Addition to current text: ‘The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advise of an assistant referee, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.’

• Law 11 - Offside Amendment to definition:

• Interfering with play: means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team mate.

• Interfering with an opponent: means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponents line of vision or movements or making gestures or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.

• Gaining an advantage by being in a offside position: means playing the ball that rebounds to him off a crossbar or an opponent having been in an offside position.

• Law 12 Fouls & Misconduct - Addition to current text: ‘The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions, as from the moment he enters the FOP until he leaves the FOP after the final whistle.’

• Law 12 Fouls & Misconduct - Addition to current text: ‘A tackle, which endangers the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play. ( The text previously referred specifically to a tackle from behind).’

• Law 14 The Penalty Kick - Bullet Point 3: - Addition to current text: ‘If the ball does not enter the goal, the referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick to the defending team. (This applies to a team-mate of the player taking a penalty kick entering the penalty area or moving in front of or within 9.15m ( 10 yards ) of the penalty mark).’

• Law 15 – The Throw In - Addition to current text: ‘All opponents must stand no less than 2 metres from the point at which the throw-in is taken.’

• FFA Directives – Wearing of Jewellery

• All items of jewellery are potentially dangerous. The term “dangerous” can sometimes be ambiguous and controversial, therefore in order to be uniform and consistent any kind of jewellery has to be forbidden.

• Players are NOT allowed to use tape to cover jewellery. Taping jewellery is not adequate protection.

• In order to avoid “last minute” problems, team managers should inform their players in advance and prior to the start of the match.

• WA State Directives - Dissent by word or action, & encroachment at free kicks will be a priority for the referees this season. This means:

• Players who verbally dissent the referees decision will receive a yellow card.

• Players who kick the ball away in order to delay the restart of the match will receive a yellow card.

• Players who encroach at the taken of a free kick (stand over the ball, or do not retreat the required 9.15 metres ) will receive a yellow card.

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