Basic rules

Under 6-7 age group

Start of play and restart after a goal – Pass forward to a teammate from the middle of the halfway line. All players must be in their own half of the field of play. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball until it is in play. The ball must touch a teammate before a goal can be scored.

Ball crossing the touch line – There is no throw in. A player from the opposing team to the player that touched the ball last before crossing the touch line will place the ball on the touch line and pass or dribble the ball into play. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball until it is in play. The ball must touch a teammate before a goal can be scored.

Ball crossing the goal line – There is no corner kick. Regardless of which team touched the ball last, a player from the team whose goal line the ball has crossed will place the ball anywhere along the goal line and pass or dribble the ball into play. Opponents must retreat to the halfway line and can move once the ball is in play. The ball must touch a teammate before a goal can be scored.

Fouls and misconduct – Indirect free kicks are awarded for all acts of handball or fouls and misconduct. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball when the indirect free kick is taken. (An indirect free kick is where a goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal).

Under 8-11 age group

Start of play and re-start after a goal – Pass forward to a teammate from the middle of the halfway line. All players must be in their own half of the field of play. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball until it is in play. The ball must touch a teammate before a goal can be scored.

Ball crossing the touch line – Throw in. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball until it is in play. Ball crossing the goal line after touching the defending team last – Corner kick. Opponents must be at least 5m away from the ball until it is in play.

Ball crossing the goal line after touching the attacking team last – Goal kick from anywhere within the penalty area. Opponents remain at least 5m outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. The ball is in play once it is kicked directly out of the penalty area

Goalkeepers – The goalkeeper can handle the ball anywhere in the penalty area. To restart play after a save or gathering the ball with their hands, the ball must be thrown or rolled from the hands or played from the ground with their feet, within 6 seconds. The goalkeeper is not allowed to kick or drop kick the ball directly from their hands. Opponents must be at least 5m outside the penalty area and cannot move inside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

Under 8 & 9 – The ball is in play once it moves out of the penalty area.

Under 10 & 11 –The ball is in play once it moves out of the penalty area or when the goalkeeper places the ball on the ground.

Fouls and misconduct – Indirect free kicks are awarded for all acts of handball or fouls and misconduct with opponents at least 5m away from the ball. (An indirect free kick is where a goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal). For deliberate or serious acts of handball or fouls and misconduct in the penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded from an 8m penalty mark with only a goalkeeper in position. All other players must be outside the penalty area and be at least 5m behind the penalty mark.