SoccerFit Rules - The SoccerFit non-contact Game Experience

The Golden Rules (strictly enforced)

• NO FOOTBALL BOOTS : Please use soft sole and uppers footwear only. If in doubt, just ask the instructor.
  
• NON-CONTACT: The SoccerFit™ game experience is exclusively a non-contact adapted format of soccer.
• NO TACKLING: When someone is in possession of the ball, you must NOT attempt to retrieve the ball from them. You may shield or 'jockey'. This ensures the ball moves quickly and assists in maintaining the game’s non-contact approach. The instructor will demonstrate as required how the no-tackling game condition operates. 
  
• TWO TOUCH: This rule limits the player in possession of the ball at any time to two contacts of the ball. Note that this restriction is highly effective as a means of improving soccer technique - it develops competency in receiving and passing the ball rapidly – a key to successful soccer.
• TWO SECONDS on the ball only: This rule stipulates that a participant, when in possession of the ball, must release (or pass) the ball within 2 seconds of receiving it. The benefits of this are that the game does not slow down unnecessarily and is more exciting. The rule may seem unfair to inexperienced players in that their skill level may be such that they find this difficult, however, it has commonly been observed, that it can in fact accelerate development of a very basic and effective game skill. The instructors may, at their discretion, occasionally allow inexperienced players an extra second in possession of the ball.
• ARMS-LENGTH: In addition to the no tackling rule, players must not encroach within an arms-length distance of an opposing player. This helps to maintain the non-contact SoccerFit approach which aids in injury avoidance and encourages fast-moving exciting football.
• WAIST-HEIGHT ONLY: Any contact with the ball, whether intentional or not, which results in it travelling ‘above waist height’ (as determined by the Instructor) will result in a free kick to the opposing team.
• NO SLAMMING (Power shots) – place shots only : There is a temptation when within striking distance of goal for players to strike the ball as hard as they can in attempting to score. This is not appropriate in SoccerFit as it poses a safety risk (the ball may strike another participants head with force or other parts of the body). Instead players are required to 'place' shots, thereby emphasising accuracy and good teamwork over power.

General Rules and Guidelines

• Twenty Minutes target playing time (approximately) : The game experience is generally divided into 2 x 10 minute halves with a scheduled rest and rehydration break at half-time.
  

• Sprint Speed 80% Guideline : It is advised that participants avoid full sprint speed during the game experience. By avoiding these short intense bursts of activity, participants may perform more consistently throughout the course of the game experience, and in this way, a more thorough workout can be enjoyed. A target 80% sprint 'cap' is suggested towards achieving this.
• The 'Anti-Football' Rule: Goals may not be scored from your own half of the pitch area. This is to eliminate the 'lazy' practice of making long-range shooting attempts at goal.
• Keep moving at all times: To maximise the fitness benefits, participants are encouraged to move continuously during the course of the game experience. This can include times when the ball goes out of play over the sideline – while it is being retrieved, players should stay active by jogging or moving about the play area or engaging in a favourite fitness activity.
  
• No Throw-ins: During the game, when the ball goes out of play over the sideline, play is NOT restarted by a throw (as occurs in a conventional game). To restart the player in question must place the ball on or near the sideline, and then proceed to kick the ball back into play.
• All free kicks are indirect. This means that a goal cannot be scored directly from a free-kick
  

• No Off-side rule: There is no off-side rule in small-sided games.