PAASL Adjusted FIFA Laws

Purpose: Single reference for PAASL rules—FIFA/IFAB principles and laws adopted and adjusted for PAASL as a recreational-first league.

Sources:

Note: These rules apply to normal PAASL games. Tournament-specific variations apply to PAASL Tournament games.

PAASL rules were updated in 2019 to align with FIFA/IFAB Law changes (e.g. dropped ball, handball, free kicks, penalty kicks, goal kicks). The summary below reflects those updates; for the current official Laws, see the References section.

1. Guiding Principles

These principles underpin how PAASL applies the Laws of the Game as a recreational-first league.

From IFAB / FIFA

  • Respect for match officials: Players must respect all decisions made by the referee and other match officials.
  • Respect for the Laws: Respect for the Laws of the Game and the match officials who apply them is paramount to the fairness and image of football.

PAASL Recreational-First

  • Referee support: PAASL supports referee decisions on safety and equipment; do not argue with referees on the field.
  • Fair play and tolerance: Referees make decisions in real time; aim to reduce dissent and keep play moving.
  • Feedback off the field: Use the PAASL Referee Feedback Form for feedback (positive or negative) rather than disputing calls during play.

2. FIFA/IFAB Laws Adopted by PAASL

PAASL follows the IFAB Laws of the Game unless explicitly varied below. Key adopted laws and IFAB updates are summarized here. PAASL adopted the 2019 FIFA/IFAB rule changes on August 4, 2019 (e.g. Law 8 dropped ball, Law 12 handball, Laws 13–16 restarts); subsequent IFAB updates are followed as adopted by the league.

Law 8 – Start and Restart of Play

  • Winner of coin toss may choose direction or possession.
  • Dropped ball: Only one player (from the team last in possession) is present; others must be at least 4.5 yards away. Ball is dropped to the team last in possession when play was stopped.
  • Dropped ball in the penalty area goes to the defending goalkeeper.
  • If the ball hits the referee and impacts play, restart with a dropped ball (not play on).

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct (Handball)

  • Goal cannot be scored from an attacker's hand/arm, including when the touch comes from another player who is close.
  • Handball is usually given if the hand/arm has made the body unnaturally bigger (deliberate/incidental no longer the only test).
  • Handball is usually given if the hand/arm is above or beyond the shoulder, unless the player deliberately plays the ball and it then touches their hand/arm.
  • Usually not handball: ball from the player's own head, body, or foot; from the head/body/foot of another player who is close; or when a player is falling and the hand/arm is between body and ground.
  • After a throw-in or deliberate pass from a teammate, if the goalkeeper unsuccessfully kicks or attempts to kick the ball into play, the goalkeeper may then handle the ball.

Law 13 – Free Kicks

  • Defensive free kick in own penalty area is in play when the ball is kicked and clearly moves (ball need not leave the penalty area).
  • When there is a defensive wall of 3 or more players, attackers must be at least 1 meter from the wall.

Law 14 – Penalty Kick

  • Goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on the goal line (or in line with the goal posts) when the ball is kicked.

Law 16 – Goal Kick

  • Ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves (ball need not leave the penalty area).

Laws With No PAASL-Specific Summary

No PAASL variations are documented for Laws 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 15; standard IFAB laws apply.

3. PAASL Variations (Recreational-First Adjustments)

These are modifications to FIFA/IFAB laws for PAASL's recreational-first environment.

3.1 Equipment Permitted During Play

  • A referee may require a player to remove any non-equipment wear they deem dangerous, even if covered with tape or other clothing. PAASL supports all referee decisions in this regard.
  • Jewelry: If the referee deems it safe, facial and finger jewelry may be worn only if completely covered with opaque tape. Necklaces and bracelets (including watches and fitness trackers) are not permitted. Medical alert jewelry must be taped down without obscuring the medical alert symbol.
  • Hats: Padded headgear, sweatbands, bandannas, knit caps, and beanies are permitted. Hats with brims or visors (e.g. sun hats, floppy hats, ball caps) are not permitted. Goalkeepers may wear a hat with a soft visor.

3.2 Slide Tackling

  • Women: Slide tackling is not permitted.
  • Men: Slide tackling is permitted except from behind.

3.3 Substitutions

  • Substitution follows FIFA-style unlimited substitution of eligible players at any stoppage, subject to the referee's discretion (game flow and momentum).
  • At a stoppage near the midpoint of each half, the referee will pause the restart to allow substitution of the goalkeeper if either team requests it.

3.4 Yellow Card (Caution)

  • The cautioned player must leave the field but may re-enter at the next substitution opportunity.
  • Immediate substitution is allowed (team does not play short).

3.5 Red Card (Send-off)

  • The player is ejected, must leave the area, and is suspended from PAASL play for a minimum of one week.
  • Immediate substitution is allowed; the game continues 11 v 11.

3.6 Balanced Number of Players

  • When one or both teams cannot field a full side, no team may have more than one extra field player.
  • If one team has two or more additional players, players must change sides to restore this balance.

4. FIFA Laws – Cautions and Send-offs (Reference)

PAASL applies FIFA's criteria for cautions and send-offs, with the PAASL variations in §3.4 and §3.5 above.

Caution (Yellow Card)

  • Unsporting behavior (see below).
  • Dissent by word or action.
  • Persistent infringement.
  • Delaying the restart of play.
  • Failure to respect the required distance at a restart.
  • Entering or leaving the field without the referee's permission.

Send-off (Red Card)

  • Serious foul play (see below).
  • Violent conduct (see below).
  • Spitting at an opponent or any other person.
  • Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by handling the ball or an offence punishable by a free kick or penalty kick.
  • Using offensive, insulting, or abusive language or gesture.

Unsporting Behavior (Examples)

  • Committing a foul in a reckless manner (charging, pushing, tripping). "Reckless" means acting with complete disregard for danger to, or consequences for, an opponent.
  • Tackling for the ball in a reckless manner from any direction.
  • Committing a tactical foul to interfere with or impede the opposing team (pushing, holding, screening, handling the ball).
  • Deliberately handling the ball to score a goal.
  • Showing lack of respect for the game (aggressive attitude, inflammatory behavior, or taunting).

Serious Foul Play

  • A player commits serious foul play if they use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball in play.
  • "Excessive force" means the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring the opponent.
  • Lunging at an opponent when challenging for the ball from the front, side, or behind with one or both legs, with excessive force and endangering the opponent's safety, is serious foul play.

Violent Conduct

  • A player commits violent conduct if they use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.
  • It may occur on the field or outside it, whether the ball is in play or not. It also includes excessive force or brutality against a teammate, spectator, match official, or any other person.

5. Referee Feedback

For any feedback on PAASL refereeing (positive or negative), use the PAASL Referee Feedback Form.

References