Format:

• Goalkeepers and 4 or 5 field players
• Goals 3 to 5 metres wide and 1.5 to 2 metres high
• Goals can only be scored from your attacking half of the field
• 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw

Rules

• Running is forbidden at all times when the ball is in play, both on and off the ball. If it looks like a run it probably is! The decision is at the referee’s discretion and is made if both feet are off the ground. 

• An In-direct free kick will be conceded if a player runs. 

• If the ball is out of play, running to retrieve the ball or get into position is acceptable. 

• Each player will be allowed unlimited of the ball.

• The ball will not be allowed to go over crossbar height. This is determined by the Referee. 

• No heading of the ball is allowed at all, this is to prevent head collisions.

• If the ball is deflected high by the keeper and stays in play it is returned to the goalkeeper to roll/kick out.

• If the keeper deflects the ball high and behind a corner is awarded.

• No heading of the ball is allowed at all, this is to prevent head collisions. 

• Walking Football is a Minimal-Contact sport. 

• Whilst tackling is allowed, no tackling from behind or the side is allowed. 

• Front on tackling with any contact is a foul. 

• Any painful or preventable contact will be punished.

• Excessive force in tackling will be punished with at least a sinbin. Serious foul play will be a red card with no return allowed. No slide tackles or sliding will be permitted. 

• Players cannot play the ball whilst on the floor.

• Teams will be allowed to register 10 players on the day, 5-6 players per team on the pitch at any one time, 4-5 outfield players and a goalkeeper. 

• Men and women are allowed to play in the appropriate age categories.

• Players must be the age of the age category they play in, no underage players are allowed without specific approval of the league organisers. 

• 15-20 minutes one way.

• 5 Minutes between games.

• There is no limit to the amount of substitutes allowed during a game and rolling substitutions will be permitted, a player who has been replaced may return to the pitch as a substitute for another player. 

• Substitutions can be made at any time as long as the referee is made aware and the substitute does not enter until the player they are replacing has left the field of play. 

• Any outfield player may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that the referee is informed before the change is made and that the change is made when there is a stoppage in the game. 

• If the referee deems a side is wasting time by asking for subs or taking too long no more substitutions will be allowed.

• Play will be within the lined or coned pitch area. 

• If the ball crosses the side line a ‘kick-in’ is conceded and the ball is kicked back into play from the floor. 

• Goal kicks will be rolled or kicked out by the keeper.

• During a game the outfield players of both teams are NOT allowed inside the penalty area.

• Goalkeepers are NOT allowed out of the penalty area.

• If defenders deliberately go in and gain an advantage or the keeper gains an advantage by exiting the area a penalty kick is awarded.

• If a forward deliberately enters or gains an advantage by entering the area the keeper restarts the game

• A forward following a shot into the area endangers the keeper so is penalised, whether his shot has gone in the goal or not. 

• The goalkeeper is allowed to pick up the ball following a back pass from a team mate.

• Keepers cannot receive the ball back directly from a team mate to whom they have just passed the ball without the ball having made contact with any other player. 

• A freekick 3 yards outside the area is awarded.

• The goalkeeper will not be allowed to dropkick the ball out of their hands.

• The ball must be released by under arm throw outs or dropped to the floor and kicked out.

• Goal kicks may be kicked or thrown out to restart play

• There is NO offside during a game. 

• All free kicks, except for a Penalty, will be IN-DIRECT and shall be taken at the place as indicated by the referee. 

• Players from the opposing team shall NOT stand any closer than 3 METRES to the ball. Freekicks shot at goal and deflected in will restart as a goal kick with no goal being scored.

• The Keeper cannot allow the ball to stop in a stationary position in the penalty area without touching it or be in possession of the ball for more than 6 seconds or a freekick 3 yards outside the area is awarded.

• Running or contact to deny an obvious goalscoring opportunity will will give the opposition a penalty kick

• Four (4) team contact offences will give the opposition a penalty kick

• Once a penalty kick has been awarded under this rule, every two (2) offences thereafter will give the opposition another penalty kick

• Four (4) team running offences will give the opposition a penalty kick

• Once a penalty kick has been awarded under this rule, every two (2) offences thereafter will give the opposition another penalty kick

• Persistent offenders (3) of any infringement will be blue carded/sin-binned for 3 minutes at the referee’s discretion. 

• Running/contact to deny an obvious goalscoring opportunity or excessive contact will receive an immediate sinbin or a red card at the referee’s discretion. 

• A replacement substitute will not be allowed for blue or red cards.

• The referee’s decision is final. Please show due respect towards all match officials.

See below for Football Australia Walking Football Laws of the Game

See below for Walking Football Association Laws of the Game.