3sided football principles of play

 

The basic 3sided football rules shall apply:

A - There will only be three teams on the pitch at any one time
B - The winning team will be the team to have conceded the fewest goals
C - The ball will be spherical.

 

‘Guidelines for Play’ specific to the Luther Blissett Football League

1. Pitch

A 27m sided hexagon. The only areas marked out within the hexagon are 10m diameter goal zones with the centre of the semi circle located on the centre of the goalmouth. Goals will be 3.6m x 1.8m.

2. Duration

Each game will comprise three 20 minute periods, separated by a five minute rest. Each period is known as a rotation. After each rotation the teams will move to defend the next goalmouth in a clockwise direction.

3. Teams

Each team will field five players during play (a goalkeeper, two defenders & two forwards). No team will have more than five players on the field at any one time.

4. Substitutes

There will be a maximum of three substitutes – who will act autonomously; they will be able to swap with players on the field whenever they wish.

5. Goalkeepers

One player is a designated goalkeeper. Only the goalkeeper can handle the ball and the goalkeeper can only handle the ball within the 10m diameter semi circular goal zone. Teams are able to change the designated goalkeeper whenever they wish.

6. Officiating

Each game is self-officiated by the players of the game. A referee – known as the Match Official – will be present on each match day to keep tally of scores and to arbitrate if players cannot agree on an officiating decision. There will be one Official for each match day. The Official will blow a whistle to stop or (re)start play. The decision of the Official is final. The Official does not enter the field of play.

7. Kick-off

At the commencement of each rotation the team playing from the designated goal will kick the ball into the air. The rotation will be commenced by the blowing of a long whistle by the match official. The end of each rotation will be similarly designated by the official.

8. Throw-ins

A throw-in is awarded to the team of the opposing/collaborating player closest to the point where the ball leaves the field of play. The throw in must occur with one metre of the position from which the ball left the field of play.

9. Corners

A corner kick is awarded to the team in the goal closest to the point where the ball leaves the field of play. A corner must be kicked into play within one metre of the corner marker.

10. Off-side

There are no principles against off-side play.

11. Time-wasting

There are no principles against time-wasting play.

12. Fouls

A foul is awarded to the team whose player was fouled. A penalty is awarded to the team whose player was fouled if the foul occurs with the 10m diameter goal zone.

Offences will comprise:

A - handling of the ball by a player other than the goalkeeper (from elbow down);
B - dangerous or violent play;
C - abusive language or demeanour.

13. Cards

Only one type of card exists, which shall be red, and the player who receives the card is sent off the field of play for ten minutes without the possibility of being substituted. The only offence to receive the card is dangerous or violent play. A sending off must be confirmed by the Official.

14. Scoring

A goal is determined to have been conceded once the ball crosses the goal-line.

15. Ranking

In keeping with 3sided football’s principle of allocating victory to the team which concedes the fewest goals, there will be no points for a win, one point for coming second and two points for conceding the most. If a game is fully drawn (e.g. all teams conceded an equal amount of goals), a single point will be allocated to each. If there is a winning draw (e.g. two teams concede the same amount and the third concedes more) then a single point will be awarded to the drawn teams and two to the one which conceded the most. If there is a losing draw (e.g. two teams concede the same amount and the third concedes fewer) then two points will be awarded to the drawn teams and no points to the team which conceded the fewest and thus won the game.

Points allocated on the basis of the above will form the principal method of ranking the teams. Total goals conceded will form the secondary method of ranking the teams. In case these two ranking methods are unable to separate teams, a goal difference – determined by subtracting goals conceded (plus own goals) from goals scored – will form the third and final method of ranking.