RULE 5 - TEAM COMPOSITION AND SUBSTITUTION

Number of Players. A Team consists of fourteen (14) players, no more than six (6) of whom are allowed on the field at any time.

RULING - A penalty awarded to the non-offending team at the position of the ball at the time the offence is identified.
Mixed Competition. In mixed competitions, the maximum number of males allowed on the field of play is three (3). The minimum male requirement on the field of play is one (1).

RULING - A penalty awarded to the non-offending team at the position of the ball at the time the offence is identified.
Substitution. Players may substitute at any time in accordance with the interchange procedure. There is no limit to the number of times a player may interchange.
Interchange Procedure. Substitute players must remain in their interchange area for the duration of the match. All interchanges must occur at or within the team's Interchange Area, and only after the substituted player has crossed the boundaries and entered the Interchange Area. All interchanges must be made on the one side of the field and without delay.

Physical contact does not have to be made between interchanging players, and players leaving or entering the field shall not hinder or obstruct play and must enter from an onside position. Following the scoring of a touchdown, players may interchange at will without having to wait for the substituted player to enter the interchange area.

RULING - A penalty awarded to the non-offending team five (5) metres infield from where the substituted player left the field or where the substituting player entered the field, whichever is the greater advantage.

PLAYER NOTES

Although a team consists of fourteen (14) players, a minimum of four (4) is required for the match to continue. All players who are involved in the match both on and off the field of play are under the direct control of the referee.

Female players in mixed competition may play in any team positions. Male players may interchange with female players providing Rule 5.2 applies.
Attacking and defending players must interchange in accordance with Rule 5.4. Intending substitutes must not voluntarily remain off the field.

REFEREE NOTES

Should the number of players on the field from one team fall below four (4), the match is finished and the non-offending team is declared the winner. This applies if players have been dismissed for the remainder of the match, but not for injuries or dismissals for a period of time.
Players who arrive late may enter the field immediately, providing their team does not already have six (6) players on the field.

SITUATION 5:1

A team has a player sent off for a period of time. The player moves to a position beyond his team's attacking scoreline. After a period of time, the referee signals to the dismissed player that he can return to the game. Instead, another player joins the team (irrespective of field position). Is such a substitution allowable?

DECISION

Yes. The dismissed player is not in the field of play and may be replaced at any time after being recalled to the game by the referee. Usual interchange procedures do not apply except with respect to replacing from an onside position.

SITUATION 5:2

A player in possession running downfield is touched with no team mate close by. The player effects a Rollball and is substituted as per the interchange rule. The substitute player takes the field and moves directly into the half position. Is such an interchange allowed and can the new player take on the role of half.

DECISION

Provided the interchange procedure is in accordance with the rules, the player taking the filed can assume any position they like, including the half role. Although the substituting player is replacing the player who performed the Rollball (and the person performing the Rollball cannot pick up the ball), they are not the same person so the new player is entitled to go into half.

SITUATION 5:3

In a drop off when there are only three players per team, can a player in possession after being touched (with no team mate close by) effect a quick Rollball and immediately be substituted? Can the substitute player take the field and move directly into the half position?

DECISION

The fact that this action happens in the Drop Off has no differing effect to the decision in 5:2. Provided the interchange procedure is in accordance with the rules, the player taking the field can assume any position they like, including the half.