N.B.

AI assisted with drafting the final text.

The topic is written here in two styles of writing:

The first writing style uses simple, easy-to-understand language (for lay people—the usual blog readers).

It is then rewritten in a professional or technical style, which better suits bodies or parties that are in real executive concern, as FIFA, unions and Football Experts. 

1. (Easy English Version)

Why do we modify traditional football rules or create new versions?

The reason is that modern football, because of its high randomness and many unexpected or surprising results, has become a source of frustration and disappointment — especially for fans — instead of being a source of satisfaction, excitement, and enjoyment.

This happens because match results are frequently not fair.

When designing any game, the game design should allow the better performing team to be the winner most often.

Therefore, the main goal of this game version is fairness, meaning that the better performing team should win.
The second goal is excitement and enjoyment.

We should not accept a game system that produces matches with very few goals, where excellent teams are treated unfairly with results like (0–0), or where a weak team wins due to randomness, coincidence, or luck.

Also, it is not acceptable for a game system to produce boring matches (for example, too many easy goals), even if it achieves high fairness.

The game design must therefore, include both:

• Fairness — by allowing more goals so the better team wins.

• Excitement and enjoyment — by making the game depend on skill performance, not easy scoring.

We noticed in traditional football that the large number of players on the field (22 players) reduces space and increases randomness, which leads to frustrating and reversed results.

Therefore, this new game design reduces the number of players to create more space, highlight skills, and reduce randomness.

Through testing and experiments, we will evaluate how suitable this new design is in achieving the two main goals: fairness and enjoyment.

We introduce here an initial version of the game, followed by an appendix with many ideas for possible future modifications to create sub-versions of the game if any problems appear after testing, in order to make the system more integrated and closer to achieving fairness and enjoyment.

THE INITIAL VERSION

GAME SYSTEM:

The game is played on standard football fields and according to football laws, with the following modifications:

First:

Each team plays with 7 players only, including the goalkeeper.

Second:

The clock stops whenever play stops, to compensate for time used in substitutions, cooling breaks, timeouts, and any stoppage.

Third:

Because playing with 7 players on a full-size field is physically demanding, unlimited substitutions are allowed, and substituted players may return again.

The substitution must be completed within 20 seconds (the clock stops).
If the player delays leaving the field beyond this time, the substitution is cancelled for the next 3 minutes.

Fourth:

Because the number of players is small, a red card means the player is suspended for 15 minutes only, after which he may return or be substituted.

Fifth:

Play stops twice in each half (every 15 minutes) for 2–3 minutes, with the clock stopped, for water, cooling, and quick coaching instructions.

Sixth:

Each coach is allowed one timeout of 2 minutes per half, with the clock stopped.

Seventh:

To encourage skillful play, goals are counted using a points system:

• 1 point for a goal scored from inside the penalty area.

• 2 points for a goal scored from outside the penalty area.

• 3 points for a goal scored from behind the halfway line.

Eighth:

To prevent time wasting and negative play, each team is allowed a maximum of 5 passes in their own half, starting from a goal kick or gaining possession.
The 6th pass must go to the opponent’s half.

Also, the 8-second rule applies to the goalkeeper when holding the ball.

If either rule is violated, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opponent from their half at the back edge of the center circle.

Ninth:

To prevent time wasting and encourage skill goals, free kicks are taken without a defensive wall, and defending players must stay at least 5 meters away from the ball.

Appendix – Possible Future Modifications

Based on real-life testing and experiments, additional sub-versions of the game may be developed to ensure the two main goals:

• Fairness (the better team wins)

• Excitement and enjoyment

For example:

If the game becomes like basketball or handball (every possession results in a goal, too many easy goals), then new rules can be introduced to reduce easy goals, such as:

• Prohibiting shooting from inside the six-yard box or even from inside the penalty area.

• Preventing long passes directly from goalkeeper to a forward for scoring; requiring at least 2–3 passes before a shot.

On the other hand, if scoring becomes too difficult (which reduces fairness), new versions may:

• Cancel, reduce, or modify the offside rule,

• Or apply offside only to the player who shoots,

• Or reduce the number of defenders inside the penalty area or six-yard box.

It is also possible to replace throw-ins with an indirect free kick by foot, which would encourage assists, more attacks, and reduce time wasting.

It may also be necessary to reduce match time to 60 minutes instead of 90 minutes, if there is a logical reason after testing.

There are many possibilities and ideas, and real-world testing will determine the best versions derived from this initial version to achieve a fair and enjoyable game.

2. Professional Version (For FIFA & Football Experts)

-- BY GEMINI AI --

Subject: Technical Proposal for "Football 7 (Hard Version)" – A Performance-Based Tactical Model

Executive Summary: The current 11-a-side format frequently yields "unjust" results where tactical negation outweighs technical superiority. This proposal introduces Football 7, a variant designed to maximize point-scoring opportunities, reward technical proficiency, and eliminate the element of chance (stochasticity) through structural modifications.

Core Philosophy: The primary KPI of this model is Competitive Integrity. By optimizing the "player-to-space" ratio, we reduce congested play and high-variance outcomes (e.g., the 0-0 draw), ensuring that victory is a direct correlation of superior athletic and skillful performance.

Technical Regulations:

1. Squad Composition: 7 players per side on a standard FIFA-regulation pitch to maximize transitions and 1v1 situations.

2. Effective Playing Time: Implementation of a "stop-clock" system to neutralize gamesmanship and time-wasting.

3. Unlimited/Rolling Substitutions: To maintain high-intensity pressing and physical output, rolling substitutions are permitted. A 20-second limit applies to the transition; failure to comply results in a 3-minute "substitution freeze."

4. Temporary Dismissals: Red cards are replaced by a 15-minute "Sin Bin" penalty, after which the player or a substitute may re-enter, maintaining the tactical balance of the match.

5. Technical Time-Outs & Intervals: Scheduled breaks at 15-minute intervals for hydration and tactical adjustments, plus one discretionary 2-minute time-out per coach per half.

6. Weighted Scoring System: * Intra-Penalty Area: 1 Point

   • Extra-Penalty Area: 2 Points

   • Ultra-Long Range (Post-Halfway): 3 Points

7. Transition Pressure Rules: To prevent "negative" possession, a maximum of 5 passes is permitted in the defensive half. The 6th pass must penetrate the attacking half. Goalkeepers are restricted to an 8-second distribution rule. Failure to comply with either rule results in a free kick awarded to the opposing team, taken from their half of the field at the back edge of the center circle.

8. Dead-Ball Optimization: Defensive walls are prohibited during free kicks to increase the Expected Goals (xG) of set pieces, and to minimize time wasting. A 5-meter exclusion zone is enforced.

Iterative Development (The Appendix): 

This model is designed to be adaptive. Post-trial data may lead to further sub-variants, such as:

• Anti-Saturation Measures: Restricting long end-to-end shots to advanced attackers, and/or shots from within the pealty area or the 6-yard box, if scoring frequency becomes too high.

• Offside Calibration: Modifying or abolishing offside lines to facilitate attacking flow, if games become too defensive.

• Match Duration: Potential reduction to 60 minutes of effective play.

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