League Rules

General

The league will comprise 12 teams and will run for 22 weeks. Dates of fixtures will be on the league website by the time of commencement of the season.

League placing will be determined by points gained. In the event of tie the league will be decided on the combined score of both matches where the tied teams played each other. If this still produces a tie, both teams will play a head to head match of 25 mins each way. If required 5 mins each way of extra time and then penalties will decide the match.

Teams must be ready to play at the appointed time. If a team is more than 5 minutes late the match will start regardless of how many players are present. If the team without its full numbers refuses to play then a 10 nil result shall be recorded against that team. The team refusing to play will be responsible for the total cost of the match i.e. the match fee for both teams.

If a team fails to appear at all at the appointed time the result will be recorded as a 10 nil win against that team. The team failing to appear will be responsible for the total cost of the match i.e. the match fee for both teams.

Any team which persistently fails to appear or field the requisite number of players will be notified by email/in writing and is liable to be ejected from the league at the discretion of the Manager of the Roundwood Park Sports Centre. Any match fees due will be pursued even after the team has been ejected from the league.
Each team will be allowed 2 postponements per season which cannot be used on consecutive weeks. After those 2 postponements have been used the team who cancels the game will forfeit the result, and the opposition will be awarded the game with a 10-0 result, also the team who cancels the match will be liable for the entirety of the match fee. The league must be notified with a minimum of 24 hours notice of a postponement, otherwise the match fee and 10-0 loss will still be applied. With this in mind we will still put fixtures on around bank holidays and half terms however if you postpone your scheduled game around this time it won’t count towards your two game limit.

Any team which cancels a game within 24 hours of the allotted kick off time will be responsible for the total cost of the match i.e. the match fee for both teams. Also the result will be recorded as a 10 nil win against that team.
Once a player has played for one team he is not allowed to play for another team in the same league.

Only indoor non-marking footwear to be used inside the sports centre at any time. No watches or loose jewellery shall be worn. Other jewellery is at the discretion of the referee. Shin pads are advised but are not mandatory.

A team can only leave a league at the end of a season and this needs to be done by giving at least 2 week’s notice by email/in writing of its intention to leave to the Manager of the Roundwood Park Sports Centre.

A nominated captain for each team shall be responsible for his team’s adherence to the League Rules stated herein.

Match fees shall be paid on the day of the match prior to commencement of the match. Any team not paying their match fees in this way will not be allowed to play.

A deposit of £70 is required by all teams prior to the commencement of the league. The deposit is refundable at the end of the season.

All players shall be courteous towards each other, other team players and towards the referee at all times. Any form of foul/abusive language or behaviour shall not be allowed.

Playing Rules

A match will be started by a centre; the team starting will be at the discretion of the referee. In the second half the other team will start with a centre. Following a goal the game will be restarted by centre to the non scoring team.

Substitutions are unlimited during the game but can only be made when the ball is dead and with the referee’s consent. The player being substituted must leave the pitch before the game restarts.

Matches will be of two halves of 25 minutes separated by a five minute half time interval.

An outfield player gaining or seeking to gain an advantage by entering the opponent’s goal area will concede possession to the defending goal keeper who will restart the game

An outfield player gaining or seeking to gain an advantage by entering his own goal area will have a penalty kick awarded to the opposition.

A goalkeeper gaining or seeking to gain an advantage by leaving his goal area will have a penalty kick awarded against his team.

A goalkeeper must return the ball into play by rolling it out of his goal area with an under arm bowling action. If the ball is returned in any other way a direct free-kick will be awarded two metres outside the goal area.

A player who receives a ball from his goalkeeper cannot pass back to his goalkeeper. If he does a free kick will be awarded. However once another player has touched the ball he is allowed to pass it back to his goalkeeper.
The ball must not be played above head height, which will be determined as approximately one metre and 70 centimetres above the ground level. A direct free kick will be awarded against the last player to touch the ball before it goes over head height, regardless of intent. If a goalkeeper returns the ball into play above head height a free kick shall be awarded two metres from the goal area. If the ball comes off the goalkeeper making a save, the goal structure or the referee and goes above head height the game shall continue without penalty.

No slide tackles are allowed. A direct free kick will be awarded against a player who slide tackles. No outfield player can play the ball whilst on the ground. A direct free kick will be awarded against the offending player.

Opposition players must be at least two metres away from where the free kick is taken. If a free kick is awarded on or near the goal area the ball can be moved up to two metres backwards to allow defenders to be two metres away. Persistent failure to respect this distance will result in a 3 min sin bin.

The goalkeeper must be on the line when a penalty kick is taken. The player taking the kick may only take a one step approach to the ball. Players may take a rebound off the goalkeeper, goal or wall following a penalty shot.

The referee shall have the discretion of sin-binning any player for a tackle or any other foul or abusive language or behaviour. Such sin bin is to last a maximum of 5 minutes, the actual time is at the discretion of the referee.

The referee shall have the discretion of sending off a player for any serious or professional tackle or any other foul or abusive language or behaviour. A red card will be issued in these circumstances and will result in a 2 match ban for the player concerned. The player may not be replaced.

Any player persistently breaching these playing rules or being violent or abusive to the referee or any other players shall be liable to be suspended or banned from the sports centre and this will be at the discretion of the Manager at the Roundwood Park Sports Centre after receiving complaint from the referee or from other teams in the league.

In any match the referee’s decision regarding all on field matters is final and no discussions shall be entered with him about any decision made.

Any complaint about a referee’s decision shall be made to the Manager at Roundwood Park Sports Centre.

These rules are to be read in conjunction with the FA Laws of Small Sided Football and wherever there is a conflict then these rules shall prevail.

Herts F.A. Approved

Rules & Regulations