Socca Rules

A team consists of five outfield players and one goalkeeper. A maximum of 12 players may be listed in the squad on a match day, including six substitutes. A match may only start if at least four outfield players and one goalkeeper are present. If the number of outfield players drops below four due to injuries or red cards, the match is abandoned and recorded as a 0:6 defeat.

Every player must wear numbered shirts, shorts, and matching socks. Shin guards are mandatory and must be worn underneath the socks. Long trousers may only be worn underneath the shorts and socks. Jewelry of any kind is not allowed. Simple hats are permitted in cold weather, while baseball caps are only allowed for goalkeepers. The entire team must wear a uniform outfit in terms of colors and design.

Socca Federation pitches are adapted to local conditions and may vary. Pitch length ranges from 44 to 50 meters, while width ranges from 24 to 30 meters.

Goals are 5 meters wide and 2 meters high.

A match consists of two halves of 25 minutes each. Stoppage time is added by the referee as needed.

The ball must be size 5 and suitable for small-sided football.

Substitutions may be made at any time during the match as a flying substitution. The player being substituted must leave the field within the substitution zone before the new player enters. The incoming player must take over the bib from the outgoing player and pass it on to the substitute before entering the field. A full block substitution or multiple substitutions may only be made during a stoppage in play and while in possession.

Only substitutes, the coach, and official substitute players may remain in the substitution zone. Any other persons must leave the playing area. The coach must be entered in the system before kick-off and must always carry the official coach pass.

The goalkeeper may not handle a deliberate pass played with the foot by a teammate. Throws from teammates may also not be handled. An infringement results in an indirect free kick. Deceptive back-passes, where the ball was first controlled with the foot, are also prohibited.

The minimum distance for the wall at a free kick is 5 meters. For an indirect free kick in the opponent's penalty area, the wall must stand on the goal line.

Penalties are taken from the penalty mark. The goalkeeper must remain on the line until the kick is taken. If the goalkeeper breaks this rule and saves the ball, the penalty is retaken. All other players must remain at least 5 meters away and outside the penalty area.

The offside rule does not apply in small-sided football; the game is played without offside.

Yellow card: warning for unsporting behavior. A second yellow card leads to a yellow-red card; the player is sent off and must leave the pitch. The team plays five minutes short-handed. A suspension for the next match follows automatically. Red card: the player must leave the pitch immediately, and the team also plays five minutes short-handed. The player is suspended for at least the next match; the disciplinary senate may extend the suspension.

A match may be abandoned if it can no longer continue. Reasons may include bad weather, an unplayable surface, fewer than three outfield players, missing balls, or attacks on officials. An interruption occurs when the match is stopped only briefly, for example due to injuries. If a match is abandoned, the federation decides how to proceed.

All further football rules not covered in this regulation apply in accordance with the regulations of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB).