Laws of the Game

This page has been updated as of October 17th, 2026, and some information is subject to change at the discretion of Legends Sevens.

(Previous update was on October 15th, 2026)

Recent updates include Goalkeeper-Specific Laws, and an addition to Law 9 - Goals, where a player CANNOT score directly from a kick-off.

LAWS OF THE GAME & REFEREE RESPONSIBILITES
It is each team manager’s responsibility to ensure that his players know the laws. Every player should familiarize themselves with these laws.

Health & Safety
Please refrain from spitting on the playing surface or anywhere on the turf. There is no drainage system in sports domes. If you must spit, please use a waste receptacle or go outside.

Responsibilities of the Referee

Pre-Match

Must be present in the dome a minimum of 10 minutes before kickoff.
Collect two (2) game sheets from each team manager (or designated representative)
Ensure that competitors are properly equipped (shin guards, footwear, jewelry, etc.)

Match-in-Progress

Enforce the Laws of the Game, including league-specific rules, consistently and impartially.
Ensure the health and safety of participants; such as stopping play for serious injuries (i.e. head), address dangerous/reckless play, ensure injured players are removed and replaced from the pitch.
Referees shall be the official timekeeper and scorekeeper of each match.
Manage misconduct from players, team officials, and spectators.

Post-Match

Record the final score and ensure relevant statistics (goals, yellow cards, red cards) appear on every game sheet.
Return one (1) game sheet to each team manager or designated representative.
Complete match report and submit it to league officials within 24 hours of the final whistle via Ref Centre.
Report any other incidents or unusual events to league officials.

Goalkeeper-Specific Laws

If a goalkeeper controls the ball with the hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight (8) seconds before releasing it, and the referee has visually counted down the final five (5) seconds, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

A goalkeeper may slide feet-first, or hands-first, ONLY within their penalty area to challenge an opponent and defend their goal, as long as the attempt does not deliberately endanger the safety of the attacking player.
- If the slide, in the referee’s opinion, results in a foul by the goalkeeper against the attacking team, a penalty shall be awarded to the opposing team.
- Additionally, the goalkeeper may be cautioned (yellow card) or dismissed (red card) if the action is deemed to be reckless, careless, or excessive in the opinion of the referee.

A goalkeeper may not attempt a slide tackle outside of their penalty area. Once on the outside, a goalkeeper is considered to be an outfield player and is subjected to the same regulations as other outfield players.
- A slide that begins inside the goalkeeper’s penalty area and ends outside the penalty area, is considered to be outside.
  - If illegal contact resulting in a foul was made within the penalty area, a penalty will be awarded to the opposing team.
  - If the slide tackle occurs outside of the penalty area, the opposing team will be awarded an indirect free-kick.
  - Sliding to keep a ball from going out of play, or in the goal, is permitted as it does not constitute a “tackle” nor endangers an opposing player.

If a goalkeeper is cautioned (yellow card) for an offence, a designated player of their team currently on the pitch must serve the two-minute penalty on the goalkeeper’s behalf. The team will play shorthanded for the full two minutes, or if a goal is conceded, whichever comes first.

If a goalkeeper is dismissed (red card) for an offence, they must immediately leave the field of play and promptly exit the facility.
- The affected team must designate a new goalkeeper from any of the players on its roster to replace the dismissed goalkeeper
- A designated player of their team on the pitch must serve the full 5-minute penalty on the goalkeeper’s behalf, regardless of the number of goals conceded.

Law 1. Equipment

Shin guards are mandatory and must be worn by all players, with socks covering the entire shin guard.
Only flat-soled indoor or turf boots, or multi-studded outdoor boots may be worn by players participating in Legends Sevens.
Screw-in studded boots are not permitted on the artificial turf field. Any players wearing this type of boot, will be instructed by the referee to leave the game.
All outfield players must wear a numbered league-provided jersey. If none are available, a like-coloured shirt that does not clash with the opponent may be used.
The goalkeeper’s jersey must be of a different colour to all other players in the game.
Each team has been issued an official match ball and must present it to the referee prior to kickoff.
Any player who has a hard wrist or arm cast will not be permitted to play.
Knee braces will be permitted provided they appear safe, stable, and meet the referee’s approval.
Players may not wear watches or jewelry. Goalkeepers may wear a soft brim hat, but outfield players may not wear a hat.

Law 2. Kick off

Each team must be ready to play at least 5 minutes before kick-off.
If a team is not ready by 5 minutes into its scheduled playing time, the game will be abandoned, and the non-offending team will be issued a 5-0 win via forfeit.
The designated home team will kick off in the first half, and the designated away team will kick off in the second half.
Teams are not required to change ends at halftime, however if one team requests to do so, then both teams must switch.

Law 3. Duration of game

Games will consist of 2 x 25-minute halves.

(Referees may shorten the halves, or halftime to maintain scheduling requirements)

Time cannot be stopped for any reason; it is running time.
The half-time break will be 2 - 5 minutes in duration.
Due to scheduling restrictions, stoppage time will not be permitted.
Extra-time and Penalties will be allowed for playoff games and will be communicated to referees by league officials prior to kickoff of relevant games.

Law 4. Number of players

Each game will be 7 aside (6 outfield players and 1 goalkeeper).
- Extra-Attacker: In rare instances, a team may substitute their goalkeeper (from a dead ball or ‘on-the-fly’) for a skilled outfield player in an attempt to score a late goal. No player will be permitted to handle the ball until the goalkeeper is substituted back into the match.
Teams are required to have a minimum of 5 players (including goalkeeper) on the field to start or continue the game.
If a team has too many players on the field during play, then the referee can caution any player on the offending team.

Law 5. Substitutions

Substitutions are unlimited and may take place at any time, including "on the fly".
A player being substituted must leave the field of play within 5 yards (15 feet) of their own team bench. Exceptions will be made for injured players when play has stopped, but ONLY at the referee’s discretion.
Substitutes must ONLY enter the game from their own team’s bench area and cannot enter the game until the player they are substituting is within 5 yards (15 feet) of their own team bench.
An illegal substitution will result in an indirect free kick to the opponents where the ball was last played.
Disregard of the substitution process may result in a caution (yellow card) to the offending player(s).

Law 6. Kick-Ins

When the ball fully crosses the touchline, the game will restart with a kick-in to the opponents of the team who last touched the ball when it was in play.
The kick in will be taken from the location where the ball exited the field of play. The ball must be stationary and on the touchline.
All opposing players must be a minimum of 5 yards from the ball on kick-ins.
Failure to give an opponent the proper distance at a kick in can result in a caution.
A goalkeeper may not handle a ball that is deliberately passed to them by a teammate from a kick in.
The player taking the kick in cannot touch the ball a second time before another player has played the ball. If they do, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opponents.

Law 7. Goal Kicks

When the attacking team plays the ball over the goal line and a goal is not scored then the game is restarted with a goal kick.
Goal kicks are to be taken anywhere within the penalty area and the ball must be stationary.
The ball is in play when it has been kicked and moves.
If the goalkeeper or a defending player takes the goal kick before all attackers are obviously retreating outside of the penalty area, the ball is considered in play.
If the goalkeeper or a defending player takes the goal kick, and any attacker(s) are obviously not retreating outside of the penalty area, and the ball is touched first by an attacking player, play will be stopped and the goal kick shall be retaken.
The kicker cannot touch the ball a second time before another player has touched the ball. If they do, the attacking team is awarded an indirect free kick from the spot of the second touch.
A goal can be scored directly from a goal kick but only against the opposing team.

Law 8. Corner Kicks

When the defending team plays the ball over the goal line and a goal is not scored, then the game will restart with a corner kick.
The player taking the corner kick cannot play the ball a second time before another player has touched the ball. If they do, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opponents.
All opposing players must be a minimum of 5 yards from the ball at a corner kick.
***Teams playing on Field 1 at the MegaDome. Due to the limited space caused by the position of the footwear racks near the dome entrance, corner kicks may be taken from the opposite corner. This must be acted on immediately and any perceived attempt at delaying the match will result in a caution to the offending team.

Law 9. Goals

A goal may be scored from anywhere on the field of play with the following exceptions:
- a kick-off
- an indirect free kick
- a kick-in
- Goalkeepers cannot score by throwing the ball into their opponent’s net.

If any of the above infractions occur, the game will restart with a goal kick from the non-offending team.

Law 10. Free kicks

Opposing players must be a minimum of 5 yards from the ball for a free kick
Outstretched legs into the 5-yard area are considered encroachment and may result in a yellow card for the offending player.
Slide tackling is not permitted. An indirect free-kick will be awarded outside the penalty area and a penalty kick will be awarded to the opposing team when a slide tackle has occurred inside the penalty area. Sliding to save a ball from going out of play or in the goal, which does not constitute a "tackle" or endangers an opposing player in any way, is permitted.
The drop ball requirement has been removed to reduce handling of the ball and has been converted to an indirect free kick. If the drop ball is inside the penalty area after hitting the Referee, the ball automatically goes to the Goalkeeper. The Referee leaves the ball on the ground, and the Goalkeeper picks it up

Law 11. Penalty kick

A penalty kick will be awarded when a player commits an offence in their own penalty area that would otherwise result in the awarding of a direct free kick.
All players except the kicker and goalkeeper, must be behind the ball and outside the penalty area and the penalty arc before the penalty kick is taken.
The ball is to be placed on the penalty spot (or on turf that has no penalty spot marker, it is 8 yards from the goal line), centered from the goal.
The kicker must wait for the referee’s whistle to put the ball in play. If they kick the ball prior to the whistle, the kick will be re-taken.
If the goalkeeper encroaches prior to the ball being kicked, the penalty kick will be re-taken regardless of the outcome.

Law 12. Cautions

A player who is cautioned will be shown a yellow card.
The player receiving a yellow card will leave the field for two (2) minutes (based on the referee’s time), forcing their team to play shorthanded for that time.
- If the opposing team scores before the two minutes has expired, the penalty is considered served and the player can return to play.
- The Referee will signal when the two-minute penalty has been served.
If a defending player performs an action, which is punishable by a penalty kick and receives a caution, they will leave the field of play to serve a 2-minute penalty.
- The two minutes will not commence until the penalty kick has been completed.
- If a goal is scored on the penalty kick, the two-minute penalty is considered served and the player can return to the field of play.
- If the penalty kick is saved or misses the goal, the two-minute penalty will commence at this time and the offender’s team will play shorthanded.
- The Referee will signal when the two-minute penalty has been served.
Opposing players who are cautioned simultaneously, will each serve the full 2-minute penalty and their respective teams will play shorthanded for the duration of the penalty regardless of how many goals are scored.
If a substitute or team official is cautioned, their team will not have to play shorthanded or serve a two-minute penalty.
A team who has a player shown the yellow card for leaving the field of play illegally will not have to serve a 2-minute penalty. The player is deemed off the field of play, and is now a substitute and will simply have a yellow card noted against their name.

Law 13. Dismissals

A player who is dismissed will be shown a red card.
- The player must immediately leave the field of play and promptly exit the facility.
- The game will not restart until the player has left the field of play.
The player's team will play shorthanded for 5 minutes and the referee will indicate when the 5-minute penalty has been served.
A coach or team official who is dismissed from the game must leave the facility for the duration of the game.
If a player, coach or team official that has been dismissed disturbs the continuation of the game, the Referee can terminate the game immediately.
If a substitute (on the bench) or a team official is dismissed, their team will not have to play shorthanded. The dismissed individual must leave the facility for the duration of the game.

Law 14. Offside

a. There is no offside in the 7 v 7 game