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ADG Laws

In Conformity with the Laws of the Game

Procedure

Attacker Defender Goalkeeper (ADG) occurs after the second half has ended and unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game apply. Any warnings and cautions that have been issued during the match are carried forward into ADG.

The ADG Recovery Interval

Following the conclusion of the second half, a mandatory ten‑minute Recovery Interval shall take place. During this time, and always under the authority of the referee, substitutions may occur, players may hydrate, receive medical treatment, and conduct an active re-warm-up, while coaching staff may provide tactical instructions.
  1. Unless there are other considerations (e.g. ground conditions, safety etc.), the referee tosses a coin, and the team that wins the coin toss chooses either the half of the field in which ADG will occur or whether to attack or defend in the first contest.
  2. If the team that wins the coin toss chooses the half of the field, the opposing team decides whether to attack or defend in the first contest, and if the team that wins the coin toss chooses whether to attack or defend in the first contest, the opposing team chooses the half of the field in which ADG will occur.
  3. The referee applies the ADG mark to the surface of the field, or if ground staff are available, they will apply the mark under the referee’s supervision.
  4. If one team has more players on the field than the other, they maintain the numerical advantage.
  5. The referee and the centre circle assistant referee meet with each team and record the team’s five attackers and their playing order on the score sheets.
  6. A goalkeeper is ineligible as an attacker.

During ADG

  1. Only the eligible players and match officials are permitted to remain on the field of play.
  2. The players currently not competing must remain within the centre circle in the disused half of the field and will be supervised by an assistant referee.
  3. The centre circle assistant referee is responsible for organising the non-competing players and, together with the referee, ensuring that the correct players compete in the correct contest.
  4. The attacking team’s goalkeeper must remain a safe distance behind the assistant referee who is positioned on the goal line.
  5. If a team is unable to field their designated attacker or an eligible substitute, the team will forfeit that contest.
  6. Once the attacker has begun their approach to the ADG mark, the opposing team is required to field their defender.
  7. Players designated as an attacker are ineligible as a defender.
  8. If a team is unable to field a defender or an eligible substitute, the attacker will compete one-on-one against the goalkeeper.
  9. The defender and goalkeeper must be at least 9.15m (10 yards) from the ball until it is in play.
  10. Half of the field is in play.
  11. The attacker kicks off from the ADG mark, which is 29.26m (32 yards) from the goal line.
  12. The attacker may touch the ball an unlimited number of times.
  1. If a goal is scored, the contest is over.
  2. If the ball goes out of play, the contest is over.
  3. If the goalkeeper controls the ball with their hands inside the penalty area, the contest is over.
  4. If fifteen seconds elapse, the contest is over.
  5. If the attacker commits a foul, the contest is over.
  6. If the defender or goalkeeper commits a foul, the attacker is awarded a penalty kick, and the fifteen-second time limit is disregarded for the remainder of that contest.
  7. If before the penalty kick has been taken, the attacker commits an offence that would normally result in the defending team receiving an indirect free kick, the contest is over.
  8. If after the penalty kick has been taken, the attacker touches the ball again (with any part of the body), before it has touched another player, the contest is over.
  9. If an incident occurs that would normally require play to be restarted by a dropped ball, the fifteen-second time limit is reset and the contest is restarted.
  10. The referee keeps the official record of the contests, while the centre circle assistant referee keeps a parallel record to verify player order, identity and the scoreline.
  11. An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper.
  12. With the exception of the condition explained above, players may not change places.

Subject to the conditions below, the teams play a total of ten contests

  1. Teams take turns attacking and defending.
  2. With the exception of each team’s goalkeeper, a player is not allowed to compete in a second contest until all eligible players on both teams have competed in a contest.
  3. If before the completion of the ten contests, one team has scored more goals than the other could score, even if the contests were to be completed, no more contests will occur.
  4. If at the completion of the ten contests, the scores are level, then the contests continue with the same order of players, until one team has scored one more goal than the other from the same number of contests.

Substitutions, cautions & sending-offs during ADG

Substitutions, cautions & sending-offs

  1. Teams receive an additional substitute and substitution opportunity.
  2. If a team has not used the maximum number of substitutes and/or substitution opportunities, any unused substitutes and substitution opportunities may be used.
  3. Substitutions may also be made in the ten‑minute Recovery Interval, and these do not count as used substitution opportunities.
  4. A defender or goalkeeper who commits an offence which denies a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity is not cautioned or sent off unless:
  • The offence is holding, pulling or pushing, or there is no attempt to play the ball or challenge for the ball, in which case the player is cautioned.
  • The offence is one which is always punishable by a yellow or red card. (e.g. reckless or excessive force challenge)
  • The offence is deliberate handball, in which case the player is sent off.
  • The offence is non-deliberate handball, in which case the player is cautioned.
  1. The referee must not abandon the match if a team is reduced to fewer than seven players.
ADG Starting Positions
  • One assistant referee stands in the centre circle of the disused half of the field and organises the players currently not competing.
  • The other assistant referee stands on the goal line.
  • The attacking team’s goalkeeper remains behind the goal line assistant referee.
  • The referee is positioned in a similar manner to a kick-off.
  • The attacker kicks off from the ADG mark, which is 29.26m (32 yards) from the goal line.
  • The defender and goalkeeper must be at least 9.15m (10 yards) from the ball until it is in play.