The competition shall be held in accordance with the General Rules of the Games and those of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), except in regard to the duration of the matches, and the number of players as specified hereafter.
- Each team shall consist of a minimum of 7 players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper, and a recommended maximum of five substitutes. The goalkeeper shall wear colours which distinguish her from the other players and the referee. Four maximum substitutes are permitted per match. The minimum number of players required to start a match is 6. Teams with less than the required number forfeit the match. At the start of the Games each team will present the host organization with a list of its players, indicating which number each player shall wear during the entire competition. All substitutes will remain at the halfway line in the designated technical area until they are required to enter the field of play. Any substituted player, unless injured and is in need of treatment, shall also remain at the halfway line in the technical area. In the case of inclement weather, however, if the technical area is not covered then the designated technical area may be located to another location which will be suitably covered but does not interfere with play. No substitute may enter the field of play until the referee instructs her to enter, in any case this would be after the substituted player has left the field of play. No player substituted may re-enter the field of play during the specific match, this includes extra time and if necessary during any penalty decider.
- The playing field will be rectangular and measure between 50 and 75 metres long and 40 to 55 metres wide. The dimensions of the goal shall be 6 metres by 2m 10, with the goal area at 13 metres wide and 13 metres deep. A penalty spot should be marked 9 meters from the centre of the goal line. A line shall be drawn across the length of the pitch at the half way position. A circle of 7 metres shall be drawn from the centre point for the start and for the restart of play after a goal is scored. No opposition player may position herself within 7 metres of a free kick or corner kick or goal kick etc. unless there is an indirect free kick in the penalty area less than 7 meters from the goal line. A goal kick shall be taken from any place within an area between the goal posts and not exceeding 9 metres into the pitch. Care should be taken not to damage the penalty spot when taking a goal kick. One player from each team will be named captain who will be responsible for the discipline of his team.
- At the beginning of the Games the captains shall appoint a jury, composed of one representative from each team, to settle any dispute that might arise concerning the discipline and the eligibility of the players to participate in the Games according to paragraph 15 of the General Rules of the Games. The jury members shall be present during the entire competition, and the jury’s decisions, by simple majority vote, shall be final.
- The host organization shall provide the services of official referees. On the field, the referee´s decision shall be final and therefore cannot be appealed to the aforementioned jury nor to the Control Commission. In the 7-a-side football, it is recommended that linesmen should be players not taking part in the match.
- If the referee sends a player off the field, he/she shall report the matter to the jury at the end of the match. According to the gravity of the offence, the jury may take whatever measure it considers necessary (e.g. excluding the offender from playing the next match).
- Each team shall bring to the Games two sets of numbered jerseys; each set of a different colour, and shall provide one regulation-size football before the start of each match.
- The host organization shall draw up the schedule of matches in accordance with paragraph 11 of the General Rules of the Games:
- If there are seven teams or less participating in the competition, each team shall play against all other teams. The team gaining the most match points (see para. 11) shall win the competition, and the final ranking of the other teams shall be ac-cording to their total of match points.
- If there are eight teams or more participating in the competition, the teams shall be divided into two or three groups, within each group, each team shall play against every other team, and the ranking of the teams within the groups shall be as described in paragraph 9(a). There shall then be a final round for all teams.
- Each match shall consist of two 25-minute periods, with a 5-minute interval between them. However, in the case of the final round (cf. para. 9b), the matches shall consist of two 30-minute periods, with a 5-minute interval between them.
- Points awarded for the matches are as follows: the winning team: 3 points; the loser: 0 point; a draw: one point each.
- If a team refuses to play or if a match is stopped by the referee through the fault of one of the teams, the other team shall be considered to have won 2-0 and shall be attributed three match points.
- At the end of each match, the referee shall communicate the results in writing to the discipline coordinator, together with the match records duly signed by the team captains.
- In determining the final ranking of teams in a single group (cf. para. 9(a) or 9(b)), if two or more teams have obtained the same number of match points, they shall be ranked on the basis of their respective goal difference (number of goals scored less the number of goals conceded). If there is still a tie, the teams concerned shall be ranked according to the total number of goals each one has scored and, if necessary, according to the results of the direct matches between them. If there is still a tie, the ranking of the teams concerned shall be determined by the drawing of lots.
- In the case of the final matches between teams in different groups (cf. 9b), if the score is tied at the end of regular time, two 5-minute periods of extra time shall be played. If the score is tied at the end of the extra time, each player actually playing at the end of the extra time will take a penalty, leading to an initial series of 7 penalties. In the case of a draw after the first series of 7 penalties, a new series is started with the same players, until a result is obtained with a difference of goals for the same number of kicks.
- Correct footwear shall be worn for all games. Boots with studs in them shall only be worn on natural earth pitches. For games played on artificial surfaces then boots with studs in them shall not be permitted. On such surfaces normal sports shoes should be worn. Players, in the case of games being played on both types of surface, should bring both types of footwear.