INTRODUCTION
This guide has been developed to help all clubs, coaches, club
based referees, parents and players, who are participating in
football games utilising the Retreating line. You will find the
rules and regulations as well as the pitch set-up required to
successfully organize a game day for players participating in
either 7v7 or 9v9 formats. This development tool has been
successfully implemented in Junior Football throughout the
world. It has also been used successfully by Federations in
New Zealand and at the prestigious Weir Rose Bowl 12th grade
tournament for the past 3 years.
The Retreating line rule enables and encourages our young
footballers to start to develop and enjoy a style of play in
keeping with best practice from around the world and within
New Zealand.
FOOTBALL’S PLAYING PHILOSOPHY
“A proactive, effective, controlled and incisive possession
based style of attacking play using individual and combination
play to create and score goals. Underpinned by a quick
transition mentality and defending through aggressive,
collective, intelligent pressing. The point of difference is our
superior team culture and traditional Kiwi strengths combined
with astute tactical cohesion.”
TECHNICAL OVERVIEW
The rule will create more opportunities for:
I. GK’s to choose when to build attacking play from the back,
by playing out through defenders
II. Defenders to recognise opportunities to play through the
thirds
III. Midfielders to move to receive and play between opponent
units
IV. Forwards to learn to drop off first and then press from the
front effectively
The Retreating Line rule has met with fantastic feedback from
players, coaches, spectators and parents alike. It helps create
a game that is enjoyable to play, watch and coach. WaiBOP
Football Federation in partnership with New Zealand Football are
delighted to work with you in helping to shape and develop both
the fantastic sport that we call football, and the potential future All
Whites and Football Ferns.
When a team’s goalkeeper catches/picks up
the ball or is taking a goal kick, the attacking
players (blue) must drop back behind the
retreating line.
Only after the goalkeeper plays the ball out
and one of the goalkeeper’s team-mates
touches the ball, can the attacking player
advance over the retreating line.
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Remember the GK does not always have to
wait until the opposition players have retreat
behind the line to distribute the ball.
DEFENDERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED
TO TAKE THEIR FIRST TOUCH AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
Ken Cresswell
Football Development Manager
WaiBOP Football
RETREATING
LINE
If an attacking player advances beyond the
retreating line before the opposition has
touched the ball, or fails to drop behind the
line, the match referee will award an indirect
free kick on the retreating line.
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RETREATING LINE
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TECHNICAL OVERVIEW cont...
RETREATING LINE: 7v7 FORMAT
The retreating line is the offside line on
attack.
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The attacking player (blue) is OFFSIDE
when receiving a pass from a team-mate
in a position between the defending team’s
retreating line and goal line, at the moment
the ball touches or is played by one of his
team.
The attacking player (blue) is ONSIDE
when receiving a pass from a team-mate
in a position before the defending team’s
retreating line even if he is beyond the last
defenders, at the moment the ball touches
or is played by one of his team.
7v7 FORMAT
Pitch Dimensions:
Maximum: 55m x 35m
Minimum: 45m x 30m
Goal Box Dimensions:
16m x 8m
Retreating Line distance from Goal:
30% of the pitch
Note: Retreating Line distance changes
with field length
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RETREATING LINE: RULES & REGULATIONS
1. REFERENCE TO WAIBOP FOOTBALL FEDERATION REGULATIONS
i) The player leaves the field completely before the substitute goes on
These regulations are specific competition regulations governing aspects
of play and procedure as allowed under the WaiBOP Football Federation.
The WaiBOP Junior Regulations 2017 shall apply to these grades as well
as these specific competition regulations.
ii) Substitutions are made during a break in play
2A. NUMBER OF PLAYERS PER SIDE - 7v7 FORMAT
iii) Players always enter and leave from the half-way line.
In the third instance: Where neither team can provide a qualified
“Community Referee” the coach (or a substitute of their choosing) will
share the refereeing duties between them. Each team will be responsible
for refereeing one half each.
5. MATCH BALLS - 7v7 & 9v9
10A. GOALS AND MARKINGS - 7v7
A size 4 FIFA-approved match ball shall be provided by the home team.
The approved goals, and marked grounds with corner flags, cones or
other markers to mark the corner of the pitch must be supplied by the
home team and must be in place before the scheduled kick-off time. Nets
are recommended for all goals where possible.
Teams shall be 7 a side, with one player designated as the Goalkeeper.
6. SHIN GUARDS
2B. NUMBER OF PLAYERS PER SIDE - 9v9 FORMAT
Shin guards must be worn at all times, and must not be exposed.
Teams shall be 9 a side, with one player designated as the Goalkeeper.
7A. GOAL KICKS - 7v7
It is recommended, but is not obligatory, that clubs indicate, by cones or
other suitable markers, on the side lines and goal lines not on the field of
play, a goalkeepers area approx. 16 metres wide and 8 metres deep.
7 v 7 Format – 2 x 25 minute halves plus 5 minutes half time 9 v 9 Format – 2 x 30 minutes halves plus 5 minutes half time
A restart after the ball has crossed the goal line for a goal kick may be
taken from the goalkeeper’s hands (kicked, thrown or rolled) OR from
a place kick on the ground. Where the ball has been received by a
goalkeeper in the normal course of play FIFA Laws of the Game will apply.
4A. SUBSTITUTIONS - 7v7 FORMAT
7B. GOAL KICKS - 9v9
10B. GOALS AND MARKINGS - 9v9
The recommended squad size in 7 a side grades is 8-10 players, with
only 7 players to be on the field at any one time. One player must be the
goalkeeper.
A restart after the ball has crossed the goal line for a goal kick shall be
from a place kick on the ground. Where the ball has been received by a
goalkeeper in the normal course of play, FIFA Laws of the Game will apply.
The approved goals, and marked grounds with corner flags, cones or
other markers to mark the corner of the pitch must be supplied by the
home team and must be in place before the scheduled kick-off time. Nets
are recommended for all goals where possible.
3. DURATION OF MATCHES
There is no limit on the number of substitutions. Unlimited interchange
of players is allowed without requiring the permission of the referee,
provided that:
i) The player leaves the field completely before the substitute goes on
ii) Substitutions are made during a break in play
Referees in these grades should award penalty kicks (to be taken from 8
metres) for foul play clearly inside this area, whether or not the markings
are in place.
8. CORNER KICKS
Goal size should be minimum 4m x 2m or maximum 5m x 2m
If the game is being played on a marked small pitch the corner shall be
taken from within 1 metre of the flag, cone or other marker marking the
corners of the pitch.
It is recommended, but is not obligatory, that clubs indicate, by cones or
other suitable markers, on the side lines and goal lines not on the field of
play, a goalkeepers area approx. 16 metres wide and 8 metres deep.
9. REFEREES
Referees in these grades should award penalty kicks (to be taken from 8
metres) for foul play clearly inside this area, whether or not the markings
are in place.
iii) Players always enter and leave from the half-way line.
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Goal size should be minimum 3.8m x 1.9 or maximum 4m x 2m.
4B. SUBSTITUTIONS - 9v9 FORMAT
If there is no appointed official, the following applies:
The recommended squad size in 9 a side grades is 10-12, with only
9 players to be on the field at any one time. One player must be the
goalkeeper.
In the first instance: It is anticipated that the ‘home team’ should supply/
allocate a qualified “Community Referee” (CR), and if so this trained
referee will control the whole game.
There is no limit on the number of substitutions. Unlimited interchange
of players is allowed without requiring the permission of the referee,
provided that:
In the second instance: If the home team is unable to provide a suitably
trained Referee but the ‘away team’ is able to provide a qualified
“Community Referee” and as such this trained Referee will control the
whole game.
The Referee is the sole judge of whether to halt play and award a freekick or penalty.
11A. OFFSIDE - 7V7
The offside law will be applied between the retreating line and goal line
Players should only be penalised for blatant offside (including goaltending) and referees and/or coaches should utilise any opportunity to
give instruction to players who are blatantly offside. An indirect free kick
is only awarded to the opposing team if a player continues to deliberately
remain in an offside position (persistent infringement) after being given
instructions.
11B. OFFSIDE - 9V9
The offside law WILL be applied.
The offside law will be applied between the retreating line and goal line only.
12. RETREATING LINE
When a team’s goalkeeper catches/picks up the ball or is taking a goal
kick, the opposition MUST drop back behind the retreating line. Only after
the goalkeeper plays the ball out and one of the goalkeeper’s team-mates
touches the ball, can the attacking player advance over the retreating line.
Coaches are asked to encourage all players to play the ball as quickly as
possible from the goal keeper and not to allow the ball to continue to roll
towards the retreating line.
NB: The GK doesn’t have to wait until the opposition players have retreat
behind the line to distribute the ball
13. INFRINGEMENT
If a player advances beyond the retreating line before the opposition
has touched the ball, or fails to drop behind the line, the Retreating Line
regulation has been infringed.
On the first occasion each team infringes the referee will stop the game and;
i) Advise all players the reason for the stoppage and re-emphasise the rule
ii) Play is restarted with either a goal kick or the ball in the goalkeeper’s
hands to play the ball out
For the second or subsequent infringements by the team the referee will
award an indirect free kick on the retreating line to the opposition.
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RETREATING LINE: 9 v 9 FORMAT
30%
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40%
NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL COACH EDUCATION PATHWAY
RETREATING
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30%
9v9 FORMAT
Pitch Dimensions:
Maximum: 70m x 50m
Minimum: 60m x 45m
Goal Box Dimensions:
16m x 8m
Retreating Line distance from Goal:
30% of the pitch
Note: Retreating Line distance changes
with field length
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The framework provides coaches with a wide range of development opportunities that prepare them to effectively meet
the age related and development needs of the players they work with.
If you would like to register your interest in any of the courses above or would like more information please visit
www.waibopfootball.co.nz/
Printed March 2017. Design by Sidekick Creative Ltd.
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