In General principle....
Except where otherwise stated, the IFAB Laws of Association Football
apply; it should be noted that there is no offside in Walking Football.

 

LAW 1
THE FIELD OF PLAY (PLAYING AREA)
Barriers
Walking Football may be played with or without barriers.
Dimensions
The playing area must be rectangular; the length of the
touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line.
For 5-a-side and 6-a-side football the following dimensions
are recommended:
Length: minimum 25 m
maximum 50 m
Width: minimum 16 m
maximum 35 m
For 7-a-side football the following dimensions
are recommended:
Length: minimum 50m
maximum 60m
Width; minimum 30m
maximum 40m
Markings
The playing area is marked with lines. The two longer
boundary lines are called touchlines. The two shorter lines
are called goal lines.
The playing area is divided into two halves by the
halfway line.
All lines must be of the same width which must not be more
than 12cms.
The centre mark is at the midpoint of the halfway line. A
circle with a radius of 3m is marked around it.
The penalty area
A penalty area is defined at each end of the playing area
as follows:
A semi-circle of 6m radius is drawn from the centre of each
goal line. The extremities of these semi-circles should reach
the goal line, barrier or wall, regardless of whether or not the
goal posts encroach onto the playing area.
Within each penalty area, a penalty mark is made 6m from
the midpoint between the goal posts.
The corner arc
Where barriers do not surround the playing area, a quarter
circle with a radius of 25cm from each corner is drawn inside
the playing area in each corner.
Goals
A goal must be placed on the centre of each goal line.
A goal consists of two vertical posts equidistant from each
corner and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar.
The distance (inside measurement) between the posts is
5m (maximum) – 3m (minimum); the distance from the
lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2m (maximum) –
1.20m (minimum).
The goal posts and the crossbars have the same width
and depth as the lines. Nets may be attached to the goals
and the ground behind the goal; they must be properly
supported and must not interfere with the goalkeeper.
Safety
The goals may be portable and must meet British Standards
and be anchored securely to the ground during play as per
Health and Safety requirements. Where there are no barriers
a suitable run off should be provided around the playing
area. The FA recommends a minimum of 3m; if this distance
cannot be met a suitable run off should be provided subject
to a risk assessment.
Playing surface
Where natural turf is not used the surface must be smooth,
flat and non-abrasive; the use of wood or artificial material
is recommended.
4 | Walking Football: Laws of the Game

LAW 2
THE BALL
Qualities and measurements
The ball is:
• spherical
• made of leather or other suitable material
• appropriate in size to the group playing
Replacement of a defective ball
If the ball becomes defective:
• play is stopped and
• restarted by dropping the replacement ball where
the original ball became defective
If the ball becomes defective at a restart, the re-start is retaken.
If the ball becomes defective during a penalty kick or
kicks from the penalty mark as it moves forward and before
it touches a player, crossbar or goalposts the penalty kick
is retaken.
The ball may not be changed during the match without the
referee’s permission.
Walking Football: Laws of the Game | 5

LAW 3
THE PLAYERS
Number of players
A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more
than the following number of players and substitutes for
each format:
• 5-a-side = 5 players per team and 3 substitutes (total
of 8 players)
• 6-a-side = 6 players per team and 3 substitutes (total
of 9 players)
• 7-a-side = 7 players per team and 3 substitutes (total
of 10 players)
A match should not be considered valid if a team is
permanently reduced by:
• more than two players for 5–a-side,
• more than two players for 6–a-side
• more than three players for 7–a-side.
• However this should only apply when players are
sent off (not temporarily dismissed) and/or unable
to continue through injury, illness etc…
Number of Substitutes
The number of substitutions made during a match is
unlimited. A player who has been substituted may return as
a substitute for another player.
Substitution procedure
Substitutions should take place when play is stopped or
during play if an additional official is involved in refereeing
the match; this will be determined by the competition rules.
The substitution procedure is as follows:
• the player being substituted should leave by the
nearest point on the boundary line (where barriers
are not used) unless the referee gives permission
otherwise because of safety, injury etc
• the player entering the playing area may not do so
until the player leaving the playing area has passed
completely over the boundary line
• where barricades are used the players must use the
opening onto the playing area
• the substitution is complete when the substitute
enters the playing area from which moment the
replaced player becomes a substituted player and
the substitute becomes a player and can take
any restart
All substituted players and substitutes are subject to the
referee’s authority whether they play or not.
Changing the goalkeeper
Any of the players or substitutes, may change places with
the goalkeeper if:
• the referee is informed before the change is made
• the change is made during a stoppage in play
Offences and sanctions
If, while a substitution is being made, a substitute enters
the playing area before the player being replaced has
completely left:
• play is stopped
• the player being replaced is instructed to leave the
playing area
• the substitute is temporarily dismissed for the
agreed period.
• play is restarted by an indirect free kick to be taken
by the opposing team from the place where the ball
was situated when the match was stopped. However,
if the ball was inside the penalty area, the indirect
free kick is taken 3m from the penalty area line, at
the place nearest to the position of the ball when
play was stopped.
Where barricades are used if, while a substitution is being
made, a substitute enters the playing area or a player being
replaced leaves the playing area from a place other than the
recognised opening in the barricades:
• play is stopped
• the substitute/player is temporarily dismissed for the
agreed period.
• play is restarted by an indirect free kick to be taken
by the opposing team from the place where the
ball was situated when the match was stopped.
However, if the ball was inside the penalty area, the
indirect free kick is taken 3m from the penalty area
line, at the place nearest to the position of the ball
when play was stopped
6 | Walking Football: Laws of the Game

LAW 4
THE PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT
Safety
A player must not use equipment or wear anything that
is dangerous.
All items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings,
leather bands, rubber bands etc…) are forbidden and must
be removed. Using tape to cover jewellery is not permitted.
Compulsory equipment
The compulsory equipment of a player is:
• a shirt with sleeves
• shorts or track suit trousers
• socks
• shinguards – these must be of suitable material
to provide reasonable protection and covered by
the socks
• footwear –appropriate to local conditions and
surface type
Colours
• The two teams must wear colours that distinguish
them from each other and the referee
• Each goalkeeper wears colours which are
distinguishable from the other players and
the referee
Other equipment
Non-dangerous protective equipment for example headgear,
facemasks and knee and arm protectors made of soft,
lightweight padded material is permitted as are goalkeepers’
caps and sports spectacles.
Offences and sanctions
For any Offences of this Law:
• the player at fault is instructed by the referee to
leave the playing area to correct their equipment
or to obtain any missing item of equipment. The
player may not return to the playing area without
first reporting to the referee, who then checks that
the player’s equipment is correct. The player is only
allowed to re-enter the playing area when the ball is
out of play.
• players can return to play whilst the ball is in play
if a second official has checked the equipment. If
no second official is present the player must wait
for play to stop in order for the referee to check the
faulty equipment.
Walking Football: Laws of the Game | 7

LAW 5
THE REFEREE
The authority of the referee
Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to
enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match.
Decisions of the referee
Decisions will be made to the best of the referee’s
ability according to the Laws of the Game and the ‘spirit
of the game’.
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with
play are final. The decisions of the referee, and all other
match officials, must always be respected.
Powers and duties
The referee:
• enforces the Laws of the Game
• controls the match in cooperation with the other
match official
• acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match
and provides the appropriate authorities with a
match report which includes information on any
disciplinary action taken against players, and/or
team officials and any other incidents which occur
before, during or after the match
• supervises and/or indicates the restart of play
Advantage
• allows play to continue when the team against
which an offence has been committed will benefit
from such an advantage and penalises the original
offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue
at that time
Disciplinary action
• punishes the more serious offence in terms of
sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical
impact when more than one offence occurs at
the same time
• takes disciplinary action against players guilty of
cautionable, sin-bin (temporary dismissal) and
sending-off offences
• takes action against team officials who fail to
conduct themselves in a responsible manner and
may, at their discretion, issue a caution (yellow card)
or a sending off (red card) from the playing area and
its immediate surrounds
• make use of timed suspensions to exclude
temporarily players guilty of offences of the Laws.
• in the absence of a second official, the referee
should make excluded players aware of the end of
their period of suspension
Injuries
• allows play to continue until there is a stoppage in
play if a player is, in their opinion, only slightly injured
• stops the match if a player is seriously injured
and ensures that the player is removed from the
playing area
• ensures any player bleeding leaves the playing area
• allows a team’s penalty taker, if injured, to stay on
the field of play to be treated (quickly) and then take
the kick
Outside interference
• stops, suspends or terminates the match for any
offence of the Laws or due to any kind of outside
interference
• allows no unauthorised persons to enter the
playing area
8 | Walking Football: Laws of the Game

LAW 6
THE ADDITIONAL MATCH OFFICIAL
Duties
The duties of the additional match official are to assist the
referee in controlling the match in accordance with the Laws
of the Game in the following areas:
• assist the referee in identifying offences in relation to
Law 18, especially offences that occur off the ball
• control of the substitution procedure, ensuring
that the player to be replaced has left the playing
area before the substitute is allowed to enter the
playing area
• check the equipment of all the substitutes entering
the playing area
• ensure that a player sent from the playing area by
the referee, to replace any missing or defective
equipment is checked before being allowed back on
to the playing area
• if a player who is bleeding has been removed from
the playing area by the referee, the match official
must ensure that the bleeding has stopped before
the player is allowed to re-enter the playing area
• keep a full record of the match details
• act as the timekeeper for any player who has been
given a temporary suspension from the match
• report to the referee any misconduct by any of the
team players or officials in the technical / bench /
substitute area
• carry out any other duties as requested by
the referee

LAW 7
THE DURATION OF THE MATCH
The duration of the match shall be divided into between two
and four equal periods of between 5 to 30 minutes each,
subject to the following:
• allowance shall be made in each period for time lost
through stoppages
• the duration of any period shall be extended to
enable a penalty kick to be taken
• the interval between periods shall not exceed five
minutes, except with the referee’s permission
Competition rules may allow for a match to be played in its
entirety without any interval or requirement to change ends.
Walking Football: Laws of the Game | 9

LAW 8
THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY
A kick-off starts each half/period of a match and restarts play
after a goal has been scored. Free kicks (direct or indirect),
penalty kicks, kick/roll-ins, goal clearances and corner kicks
are other ways of restarting play (see Laws 13 – 17). A
dropped ball is the restart when the referee stops play and
the Law does not require one of the above restarts.
If an offence occurs when the ball is not in play this does not
change how the play is restarted.
Kick-off
Procedure
• the team that wins the toss of a coin decides which
goal to attack in the first half or to take the kick off
• depending on the above, their opponents take the
kick off or decide which goal to attack in the first half
• for the second half/period (and subsequent periods)
the teams change ends and attack the opposite
goals: kick-offs continue to alternate between the
two teams
For every kick-off:
• all players, except the player taking the kick-off, must
be in their own half of the field of play
• the opponents of the team taking the kick-off must
be at least 3m from the ball until it is in play
• the ball must be stationary on the centre mark
• the referee gives a signal
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves
• a goal may not be scored directly against the
opponents from the kick-off; if the ball directly enters
the kicker’s goal, a corner kick is awarded to the
opponent. If the ball directly enters the opponents
goal, a goal kick is awarded to the opponents
Offences and sanctions
If the player taking the kick-off touches the ball again before
it has touched another player an indirect free kick is awarded.
In the event of any other kick-off procedure offence, the
kick-off is retaken.
Drop ball
Procedure
The referee drops the ball for one player of the team that
last touched the ball at the position where play was stopped.
All other players of both teams must remain at least 3
metres from the ball until it is in play
If the ball was in the goalkeeper’s possession then the
goalkeeper shall, at the referee’s signal, return the ball into
play by dropping the ball from any point within the penalty
area. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground
Where barricades are in use the referee shall drop the ball
2m from the barricade.
Offences and sanctions
The ball is dropped again if it:
• touches a player before it touches the ground
• leaves the playing area after it touches the ground,
without touching a player
If a dropped ball enters the goal without touching at least
two players play is restarted with;
• a goal kick if it enters the opponents’ goal
• a corner kick if it enters the team’s goal
10 | Walking Football: Laws of the Game

LAW 9
THE BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
Ball out of play
The ball is out of play when:
• it has wholly passed over the goal line or touchline
on the ground or in the air
• play has been stopped by the referee
• when playing indoors, it hits the ceiling
• it touches a match official, remains on the field of
play, and:
− a team starts a promising attack or
− the ball goes directly into the goal or
− the team in possession of the ball changes
In all of these cases, play is restarted with a dropped ball
Ball in play
The ball is in play at all other times when it touches a match
official and when it rebounds off a goal post, crossbar, corner
flag post or the barricades and remains in the playing area.
Offences and sanctions
When a match is played indoors and the ball hits the ceiling,
an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team to the
one which last touched the ball.
The indirect free kick should be taken from the point at
which the ball hit the ceiling.
Height of ball restrictions
A height restriction must apply, which cannot be less than
the height of the crossbar and not greater than 2 metres.
If a height offence occurs within the penalty area and is
committed by the goalkeeper an indirect free kick should
be awarded 3m from the penalty area line nearest to where
the offence took place. The exception to this rule shall be
when the ball rises above the designated height restriction
resulting from a save or block performed by a goalkeeper.
In this case the goalkeeper gains possession of the ball and
must restart play with a goal clearance.
Walking Football: Laws of the Game | 11

LAW 10
DETERMINING THE OUTCOME OF A MATCH
Goal scored
A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the
goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar,
provided that no offence has been committed by the team
scoring the goal.
The goalkeeper from the attacking side is not allowed
to score. The exception to this is during kicks from the
penalty mark. If the goalkeeper does play the ball in to the
opponents’ goal, play is restarted with a goal kick.
Winning team
The team scoring the greater number of goals during a
match is the winner. If both teams score an equal number of
goals or if no goals are scored, the match is drawn.
When competition rules require a winning team after a
drawn match or home-and-away tie, the only permitted
procedures to determine the winning team are:
• away goals rule
• two equal periods of extra time
• kicks from the penalty mark
Kicks from the penalty mark procedure
Kicks from the penalty mark are taken after the match has
ended and, unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the
game apply.
Procedure
• unless there are other considerations (e.g. ground
conditions, safety etc.), the referee tosses a coin
to choose the goal at which the kicks will be taken
which may only be changed for safety reasons or if
the goal or playing surface becomes unusable
• the referee tosses a coin and the team that wins the
toss decides whether to take the first or second kick.
• the referee keeps a record of the kicks being taken
• competition rules will determine the number of kicks
with the kicks taken as described hereafter.
• the kicks are taken alternately
• only players who are on the playing area or are
temporarily off the playing area (injured, adjusting
equipment, in the sin bin etc.) at the end of the
match are eligible to take kicks
• if, before or during the kicks from the penalty mark,
one team has a greater number of players than its
opponents, it must reduce to the same number as
the opponents and the referee must be informed of
the name and number of each player excluded.
• if, before both teams have taken their designated
number of kicks, one has scored more goals than
the other could score, even if it were to complete its
designated number of kicks, no more kicks are taken
• if, after both teams have taken the designated
number of kicks, both have scored the same number
of goals, kicks continue to be taken in the same
order, until one team has scored one goal more than
the other from the same number of kicks
• any eligible player may change places with the
goalkeeper
• only the eligible players and match officials are
permitted to remain on the playing area when kicks
from the penalty mark are taken
• all players, except the player taking the kick and the
two goalkeepers, must remain in the opposite half to
that where the kicks are being taken
• a goalkeeper who is unable to continue before or
during the may be replaced by a player excluded to
equalise the numbers or, if their team has not used
its maximum permitted number of substitutes, a
named substitute but the replaced goalkeeper takes
no further part and may not take a kick
12 | Walking Football: Laws of the Game

LAW 11
OFFSIDE
There is no offside in Walking Football.

LAW 12
FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
The ethos of Walking Football is one that expects a minimal
contact match, with the players, match officials and other
participants all understanding the spirit of the match.
Fouls and misconduct are penalised with an indirect free kick
as follows:
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a
player commits any of the following offences against an
opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be
careless, reckless or using excessive force:
• charges
• jumps at
• kicks or attempts to kick
• pushes
• strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt)
• tackles or challenges
• trips or attempts to trip
An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a
player commits any of the following offences:
• running
• deliberately heading the ball
• holds an opponent
• bites or spits at someone
• slides in an attempt to play the ball when it is being
played or attempted to be played by an opponent
(sliding tackle). Additionally no playing from the floor
is permitted.
• deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm,
including moving the hand or arm towards the ball
• gains possession/control of the ball after it has
touched their hand or arm and then either scores
in their opponent’s goal or creates a goal scoring
opportunity
• touches the ball with the hand/arm when the hand/
arm has made the body unnaturally bigger
• handles the ball deliberately, except for the
goalkeeper in their own penalty area
• throws or kicks an object at the ball, opponent or
match official or makes contact with the ball with a
held object
• where barriers are in place, holding onto the barrier
to shield the ball; players are permitted to hold the
barriers to correct their balance.
An indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper commits one
of the following offences:
• touches or controls the ball with their hands/arm or
feet, in the penalty area, for more than six seconds
• receives the ball back directly from a team mate to
whom they have just passed the ball without the ball
having made contact with any other player
• allows the ball to stop in a stationary position in the
penalty area without touching it for more than six
seconds
• if a height offence occurs within the penalty area
and is committed by the goalkeeper an indirect free
kick should be awarded 3m from the penalty area
line nearest to where the offence took place.
• the exception to this rule shall be when the ball rises
above the designated height restriction resulting
from a save or block performed by a goalkeeper. In
this case the goalkeeper gains possession of the ball
and must restart play with a goal clearance.
Walking Football: Laws of the Game | 13

An indirect free kick is also awarded if, in the opinion of the
referee, a player:
• plays in a dangerous manner
• impedes the progress of an opponent without any
contact being made
• Is guilty of dissent, offensive, insulting or abusive
language and/or gestures or other verbal offences
• prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from
their hands
• commits any other offence, not mentioned in the Laws,
for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player
Disciplinary action
The use of temporary time suspensions (sin bins) and the
exclusion of a player arising from the issuing of a red card are
the recommended disciplinary sanctions for use in walking
football. Match officials should employ the use of temporary
timed suspensions (blue cards) in all cases traditionally
regarded as cautionable offences.
The options for a match official imposing disciplinary sanctions
are therefore:
• player issued with a blue card and temporarily
suspended from play
• player issued with a red card and permanently
excluded from play
A blue card offence should always be accompanied by a
temporary suspension from play.
The period of timed suspension in walking football shall be
between two and five minutes. The release of players from a
temporary suspension should be at the direction of the referee
or additional match official.
Temporary Timed Suspensions – Procedures
A player temporarily suspended from play will be shown a
blue card by the match official and informed that they share
suspended from play for between two and five minutes.
The length of the temporary suspension must be set by the
competition prior to matches.
The player is obliged to leave the playing area and remain in
a designated ‘sin bin’ area for the required suspension time.
Separate ‘sin bin’ areas should be identified for each team. If no
designated ‘sin bin’ areas are provided then suspended players
should remain in the area where they can be seen by the
referee and adjacent to team officials and substitutes.
A player will be informed as to the end of a period of suspension
by the referee or match official and invited to re-join the match.
Where barricades are used the players must use return through
the opening onto the playing area.
Temporary dismissals
A player is shown the blue card and temporarily excluded from
play if they commit any of the following offences:
• C1 – unsporting behaviour
• C2 – shows dissent by word or action
• C3 – persistently offends the Laws of the Game,
with exception to that covered under Law 17
• C4 – delays the restart of play
• C5 – fails to respect the required distance when
play is restarted with a corner kick, kick-in, free kick
or goal clearance.
• C6 – enters or re-enters the playing area without
the referee’s permission or commits a substitution
procedure offence
• C7 – deliberately leaves the playing area without the
referee’s permission outside of a substitution
Exception to the use of ‘blue cards’ and temporary dismissals
The only exception to the use of ‘Blue Cards’ and Temporary
Timed Suspensions is in facilities where if a player is excluded
for between two and five minutes, they are unable to take up a
position which is still in the eye line of the referee but outside
the boundaries of the playing area. This might be the case in an
enclosed sports hall or in a complex of caged playing areas. In
such circumstances safety considerations requires the referee
to employ the use of yellow cards, with all players remaining on
the playing area unless excluded permanently. In this situation
normal disciplinary sanctions will apply after the match as per
the competition rules. If 2 yellow cards are given to an individual
the player will be shown a red card and dismissed.
Sending-off offences
A player is sent off and shown the red card if he/she commits
any of the following offences:
• S1 – serious foul play
• S2 – violent conduct
• S3 – spits at or bites someone
• S4 – denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious
goal-scoring opportunity by a handball offence (this
does not apply to a goalkeeper within their own
penalty area)
• S5 – denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to
an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an
offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
• S6 – uses offensive, insulting or abusive language
• S7 – receives a second blue/yellow card in the
same match
If play is stopped for a player to be sent from the playing area
without having committed any additional offence of the
Laws, the match is restarted by an indirect free kick,
awarded to the opposing team, to be taken at the place
where the offence occurred. However, if the offence is
committed in the penalty area, the indirect free kick is taken
3m from the penalty area line at the place nearest to where
the offence occurred.
Decisions
A player who has been sent off may not take any further
part in the match nor may they sit on the substitutes’ bench,
where provided.

LAW 13
FREE KICKS
Types of free kicks
Indirect free kicks are awarded to the opposing team of a
player, substitute, substituted or sent off player, or team
official guilty of an offence.
Signals
The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising their arm
above their head. They maintain their arm in that position
until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched
another player goes out of play or it is clear that a goal
cannot be scored directly.
An indirect free kick must be retaken if the referee fails to
signal that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly
into the goal.
Ball enters the goal
• if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the
opponent’s goal, a goal kick is awarded
• if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the
team’s goal, a corner kick is awarded
Procedure
All free kicks are taken from the place where the offence
occurred, except:
• free kicks to the attacking team are taken 3m from
the penalty area line at the point nearest to where
the offence occurred
• free kicks to the defending team in their penalty area
may be taken anywhere in that area
The ball:
• must be stationary and the kicker must not touch the
ball again until it has touched another player
• Is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves
Until the ball is in play all opponents must remain:
• at least 3m from the ball
• Outside the penalty area for free kick inside the
opponents’ penalty area
Offences and sanctions
If, when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball
than the required distance the kick is retaken unless the
advantage can be applied.
If, after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball again
before it has touched another player an indirect free kick
is awarded.
Walking Football: Laws of the Game | 15

LAW 14
THE PENALTY KICK
The penalty kick
A penalty kick is awarded for the following offences:
• a defending player deliberately enters their own
penalty area
• a goalkeeper committing any of the seven sending
off offences within their penalty area
• a goalkeeper deliberately exits their own penalty area
A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.
Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the
end of each period or at the end of each period of extra time.
Procedure
The ball must be stationary on the penalty mark and the
goalposts, crossbar and goal nets must not be moving
The player taking the penalty kick must be clearly identified.
The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line,
facing the kicker, between the goalposts, without touching the
goalposts, crossbar or goal net until the ball has been kicked.
When the kick is taken the goalkeeper must have at least part
of one foot on (or, if it in the air, in line with) the goal line.
The players other than the kicker and the goalkeeper must be:
• at least 3m from the ball
• behind or to the side of the penalty mark
• inside the playing area
• outside the penalty area
The player taking the penalty kick:
• must kick the ball forward
• must not play the ball again until it has touched
another player
• must take a maximum of one step before taking the
penalty kick
The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves
The penalty kick is completed when the ball stops moving,
goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence.
Offences and sanctions
Once the referee has signalled for the penalty kick to be
taken, then kick must be taken. If, before the ball is in play,
one of the following occurs
A player of the defending team commits an offence:
• the kick is retaken, if a goal is not scored
• the kick is not retaken if a goal is scored
A team-mate of the player taking the kick commits an offence:
• the kick is retaken if a goal is scored
• the kick is not retaken if a goal is not scored
The player taking the kick commits an offence after the ball is
in play an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team.
Outcome of the Penalty Kick
Goal No Goal
Encroachment by attacking player Penalty is retaken Indirect free kick
Encroachment by defending player Goal Penalty is retaken
Offence by goalkeeper Goal Penalty is retaken and caution
for goalkeeper
Ball kicked backwards Indirect free kick Indirect free kick
Illegal feinting Indirect free kick and caution for kicker Indirect free kick and caution for kicker
Wrong kicker Indirect free kick and caution for
wrong kicker
Indirect free kick and caution for
wrong kicker
Kick taken with more than one step Penalty is retaken Indirect free kick
16 | Walking Football: Laws of the Game

LAW 15
THE KICK-IN/ROLL-IN
A kick-in/roll-in is a method of restarting play.
A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in/roll-in.
A kick-in/roll-in is awarded:
• when the whole of the ball passes over a touch line,
either on the ground or in the air, or hits the ceiling
• from the place where it crossed the touch line
• to the opponents of the player who last touched
the ball
• Where the playing area is surrounded by barricades,
there are no kick ins/roll-ins. When the ball leaves the
field of play, play is restarted with a goal clearance,
by the goalkeeper whose half of the field the ball was
in when leaving the field of play.
Position of the ball and the players
The ball:
• must be stationary on the touch line; or 2m into the
playing area from the barrier where barricades are
in use
• may be kicked in any direction
The player taking the kick-in/roll-in:
• must have part of each foot on the touch line or on
the ground outside the touch line at the moment of
kicking/rolling the ball; or
• must stand between the ball and the barricade
where in use
• must use an underarm action when rolling the ball in
The players of the defending team must be at least 3m from
the place where the kick-in is taken
Procedure
• the player taking the kick-in must not play the ball
again until it has touched another player
• the ball is in play when it is kicked/rolled and
clearly moves
Offences and sanctions
The kick-in is retaken by a player of the opposing team if:
• the kick-in is taken incorrectly
• the kick-in is taken from a position other than the
place where the ball passed over the touch line or
where indicated by the referee where barricades are
in use
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposition if the player
taking the kick in plays the ball again before it has touched
another player
Walking Football: Laws of the Game | 17

LAW 16
THE GOAL CLEARANCE
The goal clearance
A goal clearance is a method of restarting play.
A goal may not be scored directly from a goal clearance.
The goal clearance is awarded when:
• the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of
the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either
on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in
accordance with Law 10
• a player enters the opposing penalty area
Procedure
• the opponents must remain outside the penalty area
• the goalkeeper must not play the ball again until it
has touched another player
• the ball is in play when the ball is thrown underarm or
kicked from any stationary point within the penalty
area by the goalkeeper of the defending team
Offences and sanctions
If the ball is not thrown or kicked directly beyond the penalty
area the goal clearance is retaken.
If, after releasing the ball, the goalkeeper touches the ball
again, before it has touched another player an indirect free
kick is awarded 3m from the penalty area line from the place
nearest to where the offence occurred.
If the goalkeeper receives the ball from a team mate in open
play the goalkeeper is permitted to touch the ball and to pick
the ball up.
If, after releasing the ball, the goalkeeper touches the ball
again before it has either touched an opponent or has been
touched by at least two players of the goalkeeper’s team, an
indirect free kick is awarded 3m from the penalty area line
from the place nearest to where the offence occurred.

LAW 17
THE CORNER KICK
The corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play.
A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only
against the opposing team.
A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having
last touched a player of the defending team, passes over the
goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not
scored in accordance with Law 10.
Procedure
• the ball is placed inside the corner arc at the
nearest corner
• opponents must remain at least 3m from the ball
until it is in play
• the ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team
• the ball is in play when it is kicked or touched
• the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has
been played by or touched another player
Offences and sanctions
An indirect free kick is awarded if the player taking the corner
kick touches the ball again before it has been played by or
touched another player.
For any other offence the corner kick is retaken.
Where the playing area is surrounded by barricades, there
are no corner kicks. When the ball leaves the field of play,
play is restarted with a goal clearance, by the goalkeeper
whose half of the field the ball was in when leaving the field
of play.