adultover35rules

Our Rules of Competition are to be read in conjunction with FIFA Laws of the Game and any relevant Football Federation Australia Codes of Conduct or associated policies. 

Our Rules are designed to differentiate Over 35s Football Competitions from open age football, with a distinct emphasis on social football, community, mate ship, sportsmanship, participant safety and welfare. 

Alterations to FIFA rules are incorporated into our Rules to create a point of difference, particularly in relation to dangerous play / violent conduct. Including slide tackling and body contact, but also length of the games (to promote player safety above all other aspects of our Competition) 

These rules are reviewed annually by Over 35’s Football and administered by our Rules & Disciplinary Committee to aid Over 35's Football to deliver fair and safe Masters’ Football competitions to its member Clubs. The Rules & Disciplinary Committee assists to independently manage and interpret Over 35s Football Competition Rules and Policy on behalf of the Over 35’s Football. 2 

RULES OF THE GAME ALTERATIONS 

As per FIFA Laws of the Game, with the following amendments: 

Length of games 

2 x 40 minute halves, with a 5 minute half-time break. If, in the opinion of the Referee there is a safety benefit to players to shorten the length of a half, or to insert a drinks break, they are able to use their discretion to do so. 

Dangerous Play 

To promote the highest standards of player safety, all players must stay on their feet whilst challenging for the ball (in both attack and defense). 

It will be considered “Careless Play” where a player has failed to do so, and an opposing player is adjudged by the referee to be within playing distance of the ball. For this offence the opposition team will be awarded an indirect free kick. 

It will be considered “Reckless Play” where a player has failed to do so, and the player makes contact with an opposition player. The opposition team will be awarded a direct free kick, and the offending player issued a blue card. 

Fouls and Misconduct 

A direct free kick is awarded if a player charges an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force: 

A player will be cautioned if the Referee considers the play Reckless i.e. a player acts with disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, an opponent. 

A player will be sent off if the Referee considers the player used excessive force i.e. when a player exceeds the necessary use of force and/or endangers the safety of an opponent. 

For further clarity, a player cannot charge an opponent without penalty. 

Blue Card 

A Blue Card is issued for all “reckless play” and at the discretion of the Referee where, in their opinion, the player needs time off the field in order to “cool down”, 10 minutes in the "sin bin" (sideline), with a replacement player not permitted to take the field. 

Reckless play is defined that a player has acted with disregard of the safety of their opponent. 

Multiple Blue / Yellow Cards in the same game 

A red card is issued if the same player in the same game, receives two (2) blue cards, two (2) yellow cards, or one (1) yellow and one (1) blue card, in any order. The player must leave the field of play and take no further part in the game. NO REPLACEMENT PLAYER IS ALLOWED. A mandatory one (1) week suspension applies. 

FIXTURES 3 

COMPETITION STRUCTURE 

Over 35’s Football will arrange age restricted competitions for players in Men’s and Women’s Competitions. 

The composition of each division will be determined annually by the outcome of the previous season’s fixture games, and confirmed at the post-season Club Co-ordinator’s meeting. 

Over 35’s Football will take feedback from each Club who nominate a preference for a Division, however compulsory promotion and relegation from the final placings of the previous year's fixtures will be the standard. 

To assist with the efficient management of competitions, Over 35s Football reserves the right to amend the size and structure and composition of any Division.

TEAM PLAYER AGE REQUIRMENTS 

Over 30’s Womens 

To be determined annually. 

Over 35’s 

Only players turning 35 or older in the year of competition are eligible to play in Over 35’s Divisions, other than a Goalkeeper, who turns 31 or more in the year of competition. This player can only play in goals. 

Over 45’s 

Only players turning 45 or older in the year of competition are eligible to play in Over 45’s Divisions, other than a Goalkeeper who turns 41 or more in the year of competition. This player can only play in goals. 

In the event of a player or team breaching these rules the player in question will be considered ineligible to play under rule 12 Player Registration. 

Over 50s 

Over 35s Football in combination with the relevant Team Managers will continue to manage the composition of the Over 50s teams. Allowances for players aged under 50 will be considered and allowed where the players do not disaffect the overall integrity of the Over 50s division. 

INTERCHANGE OF PLAYERS DURING A GAME 

In all Divisions, unlimited interchange will be permitted during a game. Only player’s names that appear on the team sheet are permitted to take part in the match. A player who has been interchanged may return to the field for another player. All interchanges can only occur at a break in play with the approval of the Referee and must take place at the halfway line. 

PLAYER REGISTRATION 

Players are permitted to be registered at any time prior to the commencement of the Final Series. Players must be registered both with Over 35’s Football and with FQ (their Club). Players cannot be registered with two different teams within Over 35s Football, concurrently. Unless cancelled earlier, registration is effective from date of registration until 31 December of that year. 4 

Other Competitions 

Players registered in other football competitions (e.g., Football Queensland, Church Leagues, Commercial leagues or similar), should notify Over 35’s Football Competition in advance of registration with Over 35’s Football. 

For the Women’s Competition – in 2025 players can register to assist with Over 30s Women’s teams from FQ Metro 3 Divisions and below. 

Protest - Playing Ineligible Player 

Any team is permitted to lodge a letter of protest regarding the alleged fielding of an ineligible player. The protest must be in writing and be forwarded to Over 35’s Football’s Competition Manager. Such protests will be accepted from the Club Secretary ONLY (or a registered Company Director) - any protests from persons other than the Club Secretary/Company Director will be disregarded. An investigation of the circumstances surrounding the incident will be undertaken immediately. Over 35’s Football’s Competition Manager decision in regard to the protest will be final. 

In the event that the protest is upheld, Over 35’s Football’s Competition Manager will determine an appropriate penalty. A penalty may include a warning, a suspension, forfeiture of points or reversal of result to be recorded as 3 – 0 to the appellant. The decision of the Over 35’s Football’s Competition Manager will be final. 

FIXTURES 

Scheduling 

Over 35’s Football’s Competition Manager will arrange the dates, times and venues of all fixtures, in consultation with the Clubs/teams concerned. Over 35’s Football’s Competition Manager reserves the right to schedule or re-schedule a fixture or fixtures on any day, time and place as deemed necessary for the efficient flow of the competition. 

Points 

In all fixtures, match points will be awarded as 3 points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss. 

Team Sheets / Footsy App 

On match day, both teams are required to complete the Over 35’s Football Official Team Sheet or electronic application entry prior to the commencement of any match. The team sheet or electronic application entry must list all players taking part in the fixture. The team sheet MUST be supplied to the Referee or electronic application entry completed at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled kick-off. 

If a team sheet is used, all players must ensure that they have signed the team sheet before it is given to the Referee. In the event a player is unable to sign the team sheet prior to the start of the fixture, it is the responsibility of the team official to ensure that player is listed on the team sheet. That player then has until the conclusion of the half time interval to sign the team sheet and must do so in front of the Referee. Non compliance will be a breach of the Rules of Competition and the team will be disciplined as determined by Over 35’s Football. 

It is the team's responsibility to ensure: 5 

• it has minimum number of seven (7) players to commence the match; 
• all players taking the field are eligible to play; 
• all players taking the field of play are correctly listed and signed on the team sheet in legible writing or in the electronic application; 
• all players are ready to commence the fixture at the scheduled kick-off time. 

Failure to adhere to these rules will lead to the team being deducted One (1) competition point by the Over 35’s Football’s Competition Manager. 

GUEST PLAYERS (Fill Ins) 

For the Men’s Competition, players “Guesting” between Divisions and Ages Groups 

• Players are only able to play “Guest” for other teams at their Club, in other Divisions where the standard is comparable or higher (see table below for Over 45s reference). There is no restriction on players playing “up” in higher divisions, however any player who plays more than 5 games for a higher division team will then be classed as a member of that team, their registration on Footsy will need to change, and they will no longer eligible to “Guest” for any other team that season; 
• Players cannot play down more than one Division without the advanced approval of the opposing team’s Manager. Players must be of a comparable playing ability to the standard of the competition they are “Guesting” in. This is to ensure as best as possible that a “Guest” player is used to assist with the number of players, not the ability of the team. 
• Where a “Guest” player has significantly impacted the outcome of the game (in the opinion of the opposition team and confirmed by the Referee) a protest may be lodged as prescribed in rule 12. 
• In Over 35s, a maximum of two players are able to play down a Division and this assistance can only take the maximum number of players on that team to 13; 
• In Over 45s, a maximum of three players are able to play down a Division, and this assistance can only take the maximum number of players on that team to 14; 
• All “Guest” players must be clearly marked on the team sheet or electronic application and a written copy of their details (name, number, regular division) must be handed to the referee prior to the start of the match. 
• Where there are two teams from the same Club in the same Division, players cannot move between those teams; 
• Players who do not meet the age criteria for Over 45s cannot fill-in for that Division.