Teams play small-sided games in a format known as Mini Roos. The intention is that teams should mainly play for fun, rather than playing to win. Scores and league tables are not published.
Some details are shown below. Click HERE to read the complete game format and playing rules for Mini Roos.
For teams from U7 to U11, if teams are always being heavily beaten or are always winning by large margins then the MWFA may move them to a division that is more suited to their playing level.
Ball size
U6 to U9 use a size 3 ball and U10 and U11 use a size 4 ball.
Match Duration
6,7 20 minutes each way
8,9 20 minutes each way
10,11 25 minutes each way
Recommended minimum number of players on the field **
** These minimums are a recommendation only. There are no official numbers defined.
W8-W11 Girls
During July and August the MWFA runs Gala Days for all W8-W11 Girls teams. These days replace the scheduled round of matches for the weekend on which they are held.
Youth and Senior teams play using the FIFA Laws of the Game (LoTG).
The MWFA have also defined many local rules that govern how the game is administered and managed and played. These are known as the MWFA Playing Rules.
The main “Local Laws” affecting play that you may need to be aware of are:
There are descriptions of the three “local Laws” listed above in the next section.
Click HERE to read the FIFA Laws of the Game. In a following section on this page you will also see a summary of major changes made to the LoTG in recent years that you should be aware of.
Click HERE to read the full version of the MWFA Playing Rules.
Competition Structure
Teams play a round robin ‘home and away’ style points-based competition against teams from other clubs in the MWFA. Scores and league tables are published on the CompMan website.
At the end of the season, the team in each division with the most points is awarded the Major Premiership and becomes the MWFA Champion of the division for that year.
Where a division has greater than 8 teams, once all teams have played each other once the MWFA may split that division into two halves for the remainder of the season’s matches.
Ball Size
U12 to U13 use a size 4 ball and U14 and above use a size 5 ball.
Match Duration
12 25 minutes each way
13,14 30 minutes each way
15,16 35 minutes each way
18 up 45 minutes each way
Due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the start of the competition, the MWFA has issued several rule changes to apply for the 2020 season only.
The main changes affect player borrowing, how final standings are calculated, how the knockout competition will be played.
For borrowing, teams will be able to borrow up to 6 players per match (previously a maximum of 4) and borrowed players will be able to play for the team up to 6 times (previously a maximum of 4).
To read the full description of the changes click HERE.
Goal Kicks and Free Kicks in Penalty Area
Goal kicks will be taken from an area enclosed by imaginary lines drawn through the penalty spot, parallel to the goal line, and the side lines of the goal area if they were extended to meet the imaginary line.
Free kicks awarded to a defending team for an infringement in the penalty area between the goal line and the imaginary line drawn through the penalty spot and parallel with the goal line, shall be brought forward, parallel to the touch line, and taken from an imaginary line drawn through the penalty spot.
Corner Kick (W12/U12)
Corner Kicks shall be taken from an imaginary 1 metre arc drawn from a point 7 metres out towards the corner from where the boundary of the penalty area meets the goal line.
25 Metre Rule (W12/U12-W14/U14)
The purpose of the “25m Rule” is to facilitate younger age groups playing out from the back with reduced pressure when they are awarded a goal kick or free kick in their penalty area.
The Clearance Zone is a rectangular area bounded by the touchlines, the goal line and an imaginary line parallel to and 25m from the goal line. This line must be indicated by cones, poles or other marking to assist the referee.
The 25m Rule applies to the W12/U12 through W14/U14 age groups and is in operation for goal kicks and also for free kicks awarded to the defending team in the penalty area.
For clarity,
2020 CHANGES
A summary of some of the changes made in 2020 are:
Click HERE for a full summary of the 2020 LoTG changes prepared by the MWFRA.
2019 CHANGES
Some of the changes made in 2019 are:
Click HERE for a full summary of the 2019 LoTG changes prepared by the MWFRA.
2018 CHANGES
Changes made in 2018:
2016 CHANGES
Changes made in 2016:
W12-W16 Girls
During July and August the MWFA runs Gala Days for all W10-W16 Girls teams. These days replace the scheduled round of matches for the weekend on which they are held.
MWFA Grand Finals
When the Finals competition is a knockout format, only the top four teams in each division are involved and the matches are played as semi-finals (1v4 & 2v3) and a grand final. Teams finishing 5th or below play no “finals” matches.
When the Finals competition is a round robin points-based format, each division is divided into two halves and the teams in each half compete against each of the other teams from that same half or group. At the end of the “top half” round robin competition the top two teams progress to the grand final. At the end of the “bottom half” round robin competition the top two teams play off with the winner awarded the “Pennant Trophy”.
Champion of Champions
Competition teams that win the MWFA Division 1 Major Premiership in each age group are eligible to play in the Football NSW Champion of Champions knockout competition against winners from other associations.
The exceptions to this are the WU13 age groups for which FNSW does not run a competition.