Lair Athletics Keeper Wars Rules

Each match lasts 3 minutes + Stoppage Time.
The clock runs continuously, except for injuries or an official stoppage.
Goalkeepers compete one-on-one, defending their own goal and attacking the opposite goal.
The goalkeeper with the most goals at the final whistle wins.

A coin toss determines who starts with the ball.
The starting goalkeeper begins inside their own goal area.
After every goal, the goalkeeper who conceded restarts with the ball.
The referee may use an alternating restart if the ball leaves the field without a clear last touch.

Goalkeepers may score by:

The ball must leave the goalkeeper’s hands within six seconds once they have clear possession.

A goalkeeper cannot:

Run across midfield while carrying the ball.
Hold the ball to waste time.
Take a shot after stepping outside the designated release area with the ball in their hands.
Intentionally kick or throw the ball directly at an opponent’s head from close range.

Goalkeepers may use their hands inside their designated goalkeeper area.
Players must remain on their own half while defending.
Goalkeepers may move forward to close space, block shots, and challenge loose balls.
Sliding challenges must remain controlled and directed toward the ball.
Dangerous contact, kicking through an opponent, or reckless collisions are not allowed.

The ball remains live after a save, post, or crossbar.
Either goalkeeper may play a rebound that stays within the field.
A goalkeeper may score from a rebound if they legally control or strike the ball.
Once the referee calls possession, the opposing goalkeeper must retreat and allow the restart.

When the ball goes out along the sideline, possession goes to the goalkeeper who did not touch it last.
When an attacking goalkeeper sends the ball beyond the opponent’s end line without scoring, the defending goalkeeper receives possession.
Restarts must happen quickly from inside the goalkeeper’s own area.
If the ball hits fencing, netting, or any other non-field equipment or object, the ball is awarded as out-of-bounds and goes to the opposite opponent.

The referee may award possession, disallow a goal, issue a warning (Yellow Card), or remove (Red Card) a player for:

Serious misconduct may result in immediate disqualification. Referee has ultimate discretion.

For pool or round-robin play:

Standings are determined by:

If the championship match ends tied:

The match moves to sudden death.
Each goalkeeper receives one alternating attack.
The first goalkeeper to score while the opponent fails to score wins.
The referee may use a timed sudden-death period when needed to keep the event on schedule.

Players must wear:

No jewelry, metal cleats, casts, or unsafe equipment are permitted.

Shake hands before and after each match.
Respect the referee’s decision.
No trash talk directed at an opponent.
Celebrate without taunting.
Parents and spectators must remain outside the competition area.
Coaches and parents may encourage players, but they may not argue calls or coach from behind the goals.