Rules and venues

Teams and squads

1. 8-a-side. Teams can be mixed.
   1. A team can have up to 11 players on the day: 8 on the pitch and up to 3 subs.
   2. Subs are rolling and happen when there's a break in play. Only the team with the ball can call for subs, but once they have, both teams can make changes. That stops a team forcing a break in play just as the other side is on the attack.
   3. Keepers get up to a minute to swap, within reason. No time-wasting.
   4. There's no limit on the number of subs.
   5. Current and former employees of the studio only. No ringers.
   6. Every player must be 18 or over.
2. One team per season.
   1. You play for the studio you work at when the season starts.
   2. If you're out of work, freelance, or your studio doesn't have a team, pick a team before the season starts. Teams can also bring back players who played for them last season.
   3. Once you've picked, you can't change teams during the season.
   4. When the season is over, you're free to move to another team for the next one.
3. Mixed teams. Men and women can both play in the league. It's up to each team to pick its line-up for each game, within the rules above.

Equipment

1. Each team brings at least one ball, ideally two. A pump is handy but not required.
2. Astroturf boots only. No moulds, blades or metal studs.
3. Shin pads and keeper gloves are a good idea. Play without them at your own risk.
4. We advise every team to have someone with some first aid training. The league isn't responsible for injuries: everyone plays at their own risk.

League matches

1. These rules are enforced by both teams as well as the referee. If there's no referee, the captains agree before kick-off how they'll handle things like offside (rule 3.4 j).
2. If there's a disputed decision and no referee, the two captains get one minute to talk it through and must agree an outcome within that time.
3. Matches last 60 minutes, including a 2-minute half-time for water, a breather and swapping ends. Half-time starts around the 28th minute.
4. Most standard adult (11-a-side) rules apply, plus these:
   1. Players can go into the area and shoot from inside it.
   2. No height restriction: the ball can go overhead.
   3. Throw-ins and corners restart play when the ball goes out. A foul throw gives the throw to the other team.
   4. Goal kicks are taken from inside the area.
   5. Keepers can only handle the ball in their area, but can come out of it.
   6. Keepers can't pick up back-passes. If they do, it's an indirect free kick on the edge of the area.
   7. No slide tackles. Sliding to block a shot or stop the ball going out for a corner is fine. A slide tackle in the area is an indirect free kick, not a penalty.
   8. Fouls and handballs in the area are penalties.
   9. All free kicks are indirect, and the other team must stand at least 2 metres away.
   10. The referee enforces offside. If there's no referee, agree how you'll handle it before kick-off. If there's a dispute, the captains step aside and have one minute to settle it.
   11. The referee's word is final, and there's no arguing with them. Only a team's rep and captain can talk to the referee to ask about a decision.
   12. A player who keeps hassling the referee can be booked.
5. Yellow and red cards follow standard adult rules: unsporting behaviour, dissent, time-wasting, persistent fouling and so on. The only differences: a slide tackle (rule 3.4 g) or arguing with the referee (rule 3.4 k) is an automatic yellow card.

Cup matches

All the league match rules apply, except:

1. Matches last 50 minutes.
2. If it's a draw at full time, the rest of the slot is used for a penalty shoot-out.
3. Teams take penalties alternately: A, B, A, B.
4. The taker can have any length of run-up, as long as it's inside the area.
5. Once the taker has started their run-up, they can't stop.

Postponements and forfeits

1. Need to move a game? With 7 or more days' notice, we'll try to swap fixtures with another team so the pitch still gets used, and move your game to another date.
   1. That means swapping with other teams, so it isn't guaranteed: it depends on their plans too.
   2. If you're worried about fielding a team, tell the board as early as you can, before the week of the game. We'd much rather move a fixture than have a team unable to play.
2. With less than 7 days' notice, the team (not the studio) is fined £50 per game, to cover the referee.
3. Games can be postponed for reasons outside anyone's control, such as transport strikes or the weather. The league decides these case by case, and there's no fine, however short the notice.
4. A team that can't field at least 6 players within 10 minutes of the kick-off time forfeits the game.
   1. They lose 3–0 in the league.
   2. Both teams can still use the pitch for a friendly.
5. A team with 6 or more players must play, even without a full squad.

Injuries and stopped games

1. If a player is seriously injured and needs medical attention straight away, play stops. If their team can't carry on, the match ends and the score at that point stands.
2. Always get the injured player treated first. Ideally someone goes with them.
3. Once that's done, both teams should try to carry on. As with disputes (rule 3.2), the captains, reps and referee step aside to decide whether to carry on, call it a forfeit or reschedule.

Player of the match

1. At the end of each match, both teams pick a player of the match for their own side and for the opposition. The winning team's player of the match gets 2 points and the losing team's gets 1. In a draw, both get 1. The points count towards player of the season, along with goals and the rest.
2. After the match, both teams send their goalscorers, assists and player of the match to the league's social media and Sofascore reps. Use names as they appear on the team sheet, no nicknames.