National FA Junior disability football rules state that players participate within 4-year bands.
Under 16’s -U13’s U14’s U15’s & U16’s.
Under 12’s – U9’s U10’s U11’s & U12’s.
Players 12 years old and over before the 1st of September, will play in the Under 16 age band group. Any player who will be 12 years old from the 1st of September, will play in the Under 12 section.
Players must be 8 years of age before the 1st of September, to be allowed to participate in the U12’s group.
Players who reach 16 years of age during or just before the start of the season, are allowed to transfer onto the adult section of the league. However, for various reasons we discourage clubs from doing that.
In exceptional cases a club may request dispensation from the National FA to allow players above 12 years of age to play in the lower age band; or vice -versa with those not 12 years old, for the U16 section. Please only do that if absolutely necessary and not by attempting to circumvent the age band rulings. That has to be done directly with the FA, but we must be informed and see the proof of permission, before approving registration(s) on the Whole Game System.
South Yorkshire Ability Counts League
Open Age 5-a-side match rules
Updated August 2022
- Matches will have a duration of 20 minutes, comprising 10 minutes per half with a 3-minute half time period.
- Substitutions are rolling and unlimited but only permitted with the permission of the referee when the ball is in the possession of the goalkeeper or if the ball is out of play.
- All free kicks are all direct and the opposition must stand a minimum of two yards away from the ball.
- No sliding tackles are permitted.
- Access to penalty areas is restricted only to goalkeepers. Any advantage gained by entry into the penalty area by a defender will result in a direct free kick from the penalty mark to the opposition.
Entry into the penalty area by an attacker will result in the goalkeeper being given possession of the ball to restart the game. Any goal scored by an attacker within the area will not be allowed.
- Goalkeepers can only distribute the ball by underarm throws and are not allowed to kick the ball deliberately, unless in the process of making a save. Goalkeepers who gain an advantage by leaving the penalty area will be penalised by a penalty awarded to the opposition.
- Clear and obvious time wasting by a goalkeeper will result in a free kick to the opposition two yards outside the penalty area.
- Goalkeepers cannot throw the ball beyond the halfway line unless it bounces on the ground first or is touched by a player of either side. A free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the halfway line if a goalkeeper distributes the ball directly over the halfway line.
- There is no overhead height rule restriction – the ball is permitted to go above head height.
- Players can only take 2 steps towards the ball to take a penalty and it must all be in one interrupted movement with no stopping or stuttering. Failure to comply during the run-up will result in the referee ordering a retake.
| Initial cautionable offences will result in a two-minute, blue card sin bin. Subsequent offences will result in yellow or red cards. Sean Wright (referees Secretary) Mike Stylianou (Chair) August 2022 |
South Yorkshire Ability Counts League
Open Age 7-a-side match rules
Updated August 2022
- Duration of the match will be 25 minutes;12.5 minutes per half with a 3-minute break.
- Substitutions are rolling and unlimited but only permitted with the permission of the referee when the ball is in the possession of the goalkeeper or if the ball is out of play.
- All free kicks – other than a back pass – are direct and opponents must be positioned a minimum of two yards away from the ball; any free kicks awarded for the back pass rule are indirect.
- There should be no sliding tackles.
- There will be no offsides.
- A corner will be awarded if the ball passes over the goal line having last been touched by a player of the defending team. Again, opponents must be positioned a minimum of two yards away from the ball at the corner kick.
- A kick in will be awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole ball passed over the touch line. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick in; if the ball enters directly into the opponent’s goal, a goal kick will be awarded.
- There will be no overhead height rule restriction – the ball is allowed overhead height.
- Goalkeepers are allowed to leave their penalty area and all players are allowed to enter the penalty areas.
- Players can only take two steps towards the ball to take a penalty and it must all be in one uninterrupted movement (without stopping or stuttering). The referee will order a re-take if the run-up does not comply.
- Goalkeepers are not allowed to distribute the ball beyond the halfway line in a dead ball situation unless;
a) It firstly bounces on the ground in their own half or b) is touched by an opposing player.
However, if the ball is still in live play the goalkeeper is allowed to distribute it over the halfway line.
- Goalkeepers are not allowed to handle the ball if passed by a teammate unless the ball is passed by a teammate’s knee, chest or head.
Otherwise, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team.
- Clear and obvious time-wasting will result in a free kick to the opposing team.
- A goal may be scored directly from a centre kick. If the ball directly enters the kicker’s goal, however, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.
- All on-field cautions will initially result in a blue card sin bin. Further caution able offences will result in a yellow or red card.
Sean Wright (Referees Secretary)
Mike Stylianou (Chair)
August 2022
South Yorkshire Ability Counts League 