Dronesoccer Rule Book

Surface of the Skyfence

• The floor must be flat and free of any obstacles.
• The floor should preferably avoid hard surfaces.
• The floor must be flat and stable enough for the drone ball to remain upright.

Markings on the Skyfence

• A Skyfence must be a rectangle, and a Center Line parallel to the short sides shall divide the playing area into two equal halves.
• The Starting Positions shall be marked either with a line or five dots, placed 1.5 m from the short side of the Skyfence.
• The Pilot Area shall be installed along the short side of the Skyfence, and its length may not exceed the width of the short side.
• The Pilot Area must be 2 m wide, and a boundary marker should be placed behind it to clearly separate it from the Technical Area.

Size of the Skyfence

• The Skyfence should be rectangular, with the short side between 5 m and 10 m, and the long side between 10 m and 20 m. The ratio should be 1:2 or close to it.
• The height should be between 4 m and 5 m.
• A 2 m wide Pilot Area must be installed on both short sides of the Skyfence frame.
• FIDA recommends using standard size (16 m × 7 m × 4.5 m) for newly constructed Skyfences.

Walls of the Skyfence

• Walls must be enclosed with netting or wires to allow visibility from outside.
• If netting: must not deflect more than 20 cm when a drone ball at 5 m/s hits it.
• If wires: must be installed vertically, 2.3–3.2 mm thick, spaced 10 cm apart.
• Under no circumstances should the drone ball exit the Skyfence during a match.

Specification and Position of the Goal Ring

• Circular, inner diameter 60 cm ± 1 cm, outer diameter 100 cm ± 1 cm.
• Each Goal Ring must weigh 10–15 kg (excluding cables).
• Both Goal Rings must always be identical in size and weight.
• Positioned 1.5 m inward from the center of the short side of the Skyfence, toward the Center Line.
• Height: center of the Goal Ring must be 3–3.5 m above the Skyfence floor. Suspended from ceiling using wires on both sides.
• The Goal Ring must face the center and must not sway side to side.
• The Goal Ring must be securely installed to prevent falling and must not change shape during the game.

Material, Structure and Advertisements on the Goal Ring

• The Goal Ring must not be damaged during the game.
• The Goal Ring must have white and red LED lights, manually operable from outside the Skyfence.
• Advertisements on the outside of the Goal Ring must not interfere with LED recognition. Text only; images/logos must not cover more than 1/4 of the Goal Ring surface.
• In official competitions, no commercial advertisements are permitted except the official event emblem. Commercial advertising may be allowed by the organizing committee with restrictions.
• No participating team may place any advertisement inside the Skyfence.

Quality and Specifications

• Must be enclosed in a rounded exoskeleton.
• Diameter: 40 cm ± 2 cm.
• Weight during play: must not exceed 1,100 g.
• Open area of any single surface: must not exceed 150 cm².
• The exoskeleton must not be easily damaged during gameplay.

Ball Marking and Color

• Teams must use red or blue LED strips to distinguish their drone ball. The LED strip must be circular, diameter 20–40 cm, at least 6 LED elements per 10 cm.
• Striker and Guide must attach tags to distinguish them from other players.
• If the Striker's tag becomes detached, any score made after detachment shall be ruled No Score.

Radio Frequency Use

• Frequency range and strength must comply with the radio wave laws of the relevant country and region.
• It is not allowed to use frequency ranges or equipment that may affect other players' drone ball control.

Players

• Team members participating are limited to 10, including no more than 3 coaches.
• Each match is played with 5 players per team and 5 drone balls.
• A match can proceed with a minimum of 3 players.
• Team composition: No.1 Striker · No.2 Guide · No.3 Libero · No.4 Sweeper · No.5 Keeper. No position may be duplicated.
• If at least 3 players, including the Striker, are not in the Pilot Area before the match starts, the team receives a Match Loss.

Player Substitution

• Substitutions are allowed only before the start of a set. No substitutions during a set.
• No limits on the number of substitutions within the registered player list.
• A coach listed on the roster is allowed to participate as a player.
• Substitution must be notified to the referee before the drone ball enters the Skyfence.

In-Match Striker Change

• If the Striker withdraws from the set during play, the Guide may assume the role of Striker by touching the withdrawing Striker's drone ball.
• The Guide may touch the Striker's drone ball only after the Striker has declared a Set Withdrawal and placed the controller on the floor.
• When the Striker Change is validly completed, the Head Referee signals that the change was successful.

Basic Equipment

• Clothing: Free attire or team uniforms. If free attire, must wear identifiable accessories (hat, vest, or A4+ marker).
• Drone Ball: Must comply with official regulations.
• Controller: One controller bound to the player's designated drone ball.
• Batteries: Spare batteries necessary for the game.

Prohibited Equipment

• Equipment with lighting features that could interfere with the opponent's play.
• Radio-transmitting devices that could disrupt the opponent's control.
• Audio devices that may interfere with the game.
• Any equipment that has been modified or altered to enhance performance.

Authority and Duties

• Enforces the rules of Dronesoccer.
• Coordinates with assistant referees to control the match.
• Ensures drone balls and player equipment meet requirements.
• Has discretion to stop the game in case of any rule violation or external interference.
• May adjust inter-set break times, but must ensure a minimum of 5 minutes.
• The Head Referee may overturn or correct a decision with the assistance of VAR in matches where VAR is in operation. Revised Oct 2025

Referee Signals

Classification and Role

• Two assistant referees shall be appointed per match. Up to four may be appointed.
• Score Referee: Judges whether a Score has been made and identifies Striker violations.
• Penalty Referee: Identifies defensive penalties near the Goal Ring.
• Must be positioned between the Pilot Areas and the spectator seating, able to observe the Goal Ring and the scoreboard simultaneously.

Assistant Referee Signals

Number of Sets and Set Duration

• A match consists of 3 sets, each lasting 3 minutes.
• The number of sets and duration may be modified per competition regulations.

Preparation and Start

• The team that wins the coin toss chooses left or right Pilot Area. The selection remains fixed for all three sets, unless the Head Referee judges the left/right positions unfair.
• A "ready" signal must be given at least 10 seconds before the "start" signal.
• Time-outs are not permitted during a set.

Maintenance and Suspension

• After each set, the Head Referee may grant 5 minutes of maintenance time. The period begins when all players have retrieved their drone balls and exited the Skyfence.
• Minimum 5 minutes of maintenance time is guaranteed. May be extended if necessary.
• Repair time shall not be extended solely because a team is not ready.
• If the match is suspended due to safety concerns or arena issues, score and remaining time at the point of suspension shall be recorded and applied upon resumption.

Scoring

• A Score is awarded when the Striker's drone ball passes completely through the opposing team's Goal Ring from front to back.
• No Score shall be awarded if the team was offside, or if the drone ball fails to pass completely through the Goal Ring and bounces back out.
• If the Striker passes through the opposing team's Goal Ring in the reverse direction (back to front), no Score is awarded, and the team is considered offside.

Offside

• When the Striker passes through the opponent's Goal Ring in any direction, the team enters an offside state and cannot attempt to score while offside.
• To clear offside: all players on the team must return behind the Center Line into their own half.
• If a drone ball becomes uncontrollable and cannot be returned, offside remains until the player declares a Set Withdrawal and puts down their controller.

Defense

• Players may pass through their own Goal Ring from front to back (intentionally or not).
• Reverse entry into the Goal Ring (back to front) is NOT permitted under any circumstance.
• If more than half of the drone ball enters from the front and comes back out, it is considered a reverse entry.
• If a defender enters the Goal Ring from the back side, even slightly, it is also a reverse entry.

Penalty Award Conditions

• Scoring consecutively in disregard of the offside rule.
• Passing through one's own Goal Ring in the reverse direction.
• When a team receives two or more accumulated warnings. Warnings reset for the next match.

Penalty Kick Method

• When: After the completion of each set.
• Format: One-on-one between the Striker and Keeper.
• Duration: 5 seconds per penalty.
• The Striker starts from the Center Line; the Keeper starts from the Starting Position.
• Multiple Scores may be made within the time limit.
• Group Stage: Penalty kicks must be taken in all cases to calculate score difference.
• Knockout Stage: The team awarded the penalty kick may choose to forgo it. Revised Oct 2025

Winning Team

• The team that scores more points in a set wins that set. Equal points = draw.
• After up to three sets, the team that has won two sets first or has won more sets shall be declared the winner. Revised Oct 2025
• A team with 1 win and 2 draws is recognized as the winner.

Draw and Shootout

• If no team has won two sets after three sets, an Overtime Set may be conducted.
• If the Overtime Set also ends without a winner, a Shootout is conducted.
• Shootout: 3 players from each team. The Keeper may be freely designated.
• If the Shootout ends in a draw, one additional player is added until a winner is determined.
• If the match allows for a draw, neither an Overtime Set nor a Shootout is conducted.

Warning

• When a person who is not a player remains in the Pilot Area.
• Minor unsportsmanlike behavior toward referees, opposing players, or spectators.
• When a player modifies or moves arena equipment without permission.
• When the drone ball is moved before the start signal.
• When a player fails to comply with a legitimate referee instruction.

Set Loss

• Deleted Oct 2025 Rule 11-3-a removed (conflict with Rule 3-5-b).
• When a player commits a serious act of unsportsmanlike behavior toward referees, opposing players, or spectators during the game.
• When a team intentionally alters the color of its drone ball.
• When a drone ball in play is moved using physical force instead of radio control, to gain an advantage.
• When the same warning is received more than once with intent to delay or protest.

Match Loss

• When a player intentionally uses a drone ball to threaten or endanger others.
• When a player commits a serious act of unsportsmanlike behavior.
• When a player not on the official participant list is unlawfully included in the match.