VICTORIAN CHURCHES SOCCER
ASSOCIATION INC.
(No.
A0040444S)
MATCH RULES
(Revised April 2004)
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Participation
Home Grounds
Ground Markings and Equipment
Match Play
Players
Substitutes
Interchange
Referees and Assistant Referees
Match Result Reporting
Discipline
Under 9 Competition
Match Rules
Promotion and Relegation
Addendum A - Advice to Players
Addendum B - Penalties
1. PARTICIPATION: All
participants in matches organised by the Victorian Churches Soccer Association
Inc. (hereafter referred to as the
“Association”) shall conduct themselves in a gentlemanly manner on and off the
field of play, observing the spirit and intent of the Laws of Association
Football as authorised by the International Football Association Board and
published annually by Pan Books.
Particular emphases within those laws shall be made in these Match
Rules, and may be varied from time to time by agreement at Association
Meetings. All
matches should be played in the spirit of Christian sportsmanship.
2. HOME GROUNDS:
Each Club is expected to
secure the use of a suitable soccer ground for play in the competition, unless
satisfactory arrangements can be made to share a ground with another Club. The Clubs are responsible for the payment of
any fees associated with their use of the ground.
The VCSA recommends that
each club should have at least one pitch for every six junior teams requiring a
full-sized pitch (in the case of UNDER 9s, two of their teams EQUALS one team
for the purposes of this rule) and one for up to four senior teams.
3. GROUND MARKINGS AND EQUIPMENT: The
ground markings and goal-posts shall comply with the requirements of the Laws
of the game. Portable goalposts should be firmly and
safely fixed to the ground.
At
games, Spectators are expected to leave clear a “Passageway” one metre wide
along the touchline. Clubs are to mark
this “Passageway”. Similarly, Spectators
are expected to leave a clear “Passageway”, four metres behind the goal line.
It is not expected that participating Clubs purchase
Goal Nets in their first year in the Competition, but the purchase of Nets is
expected by the start of the second year.
Each home team is to provide a suitable
Match Ball: Under 9 grades size
3
Under
10/13 grades size 4
Older
grades size 5
Each Home Club must provide a First Aid kit (available
to treat injured players of either Team) at each match. The minimum requirements for the contents of
the First Aid box shall be determined by the Executive, and shall be shown on
the official VCSA Web Site.
Refer to Addendum B for penalties applied for
non-compliance with the above requirements.
4. MATCH PLAY:
4.1 Match
Duration: Prior to the
commencement of each year's competition, the Association will determine the
competition draw and the match playing times.
As a general rule, match duration for eleven-a-side games on full-sized
pitches will be:
Seniors' games - 45 minute halves
Under 16/17
games (eleven a side) - 35
minute halves
Under 14/15
games - 30 minute halves
Under 12/13 games - 25 minute halves
Under 10/11 games - 20 minute halves
Under 9 games
(six a side) - 15
minute halves.
When
an earlier scheduled match starts late, the Referee shall divide the remaining
time into halves with a five minute break to enable the game to finish on time,
thus enabling a later scheduled match to start on time.
4.2 Match Commencement: The two teams competing
are encouraged to congregate at the centre circle, shake hands and a home team
representative to pray before starting the game. Upon completion the referee will conduct an
inspection of player equipment.
Matches must begin at the scheduled times. However, in senior matches if there are
double-headers on one ground, the first match shall commence at
4.3 Concessions: Goal Kicks for Under 10, 11,12 and Under 13 grades should be taken in front of the goal
area and level with the penalty spot.
Opposing players shall stand a minimum of 10 yards clear.
Corner Kicks for Under
10,11,12 and Under 13 grades shall be taken from
midway between the corner and the penalty area, on the goal line. Opposing players shall stand a minimum of 10
yards (9.15 metres) clear.
4.4 Forfeit: When one of the teams
scheduled to play is not on the ground and ready to play ten minutes after play
was due to start, three goals and winning points will be awarded to the team
ready to play.
Teams which forfeit any
Association game (including catch up games) will, subject to the discretion of
the Executive, be fined (refer Addendum B).
4.5 Extreme
Weather and Ground conditions: Teams must go to the ground in anticipation of
play. The Referee will then decide if
play is possible. Rain in itself does
not necessarily constitute a hazard.
Correct and proper inspection of pitches MUST be made.
In extreme weather conditions, the Association or the
appointed Referee reserves the right to postpone, delay or abandon any fixture.
If the temperature is 32O or above, water
bottles should be made available and placed along the sidelines to enable any
player to take a drink during the course of the game. If conditions are considered extreme by the
Referee, he or she has discretion to allow a 2 minute break during the course
of each half.
Referees are recommended to
suspend play when the time between a lightning flash and its thunder clap is
less than 15 seconds. In such cases
players are encouraged to seek shelter as soon as possible, preferably in a
nearby building.
Where
the Referee has indicated that a match should be called off, even if both team
coaches/managers agree to play, then that match shall not be played, and the
appointed Referee shall inform the Association Secretary. Where the Referee decides the match may
proceed, but only one team is prepared to play, then the forfeiture rule shall
apply.
The Association will endeavour to reschedule cancelled
games. The Association Secretary must be
advised on the day a match is cancelled so that rescheduling can be given due
consideration.
The Referee shall cancel or call off only one Match at
a time, namely, the one to which the Referee has been appointed. If the Referee’s appointments require that
he/she Referee two or more matches at the one ground, the Referee may call off
the first but must remain at the ground until the second match is due to start
and then again inspect the pitch and go through the same procedures.
4.6 No Referee: When the Referee
assigned to the Match has not arrived five minutes prior to the scheduled
starting time, and no other qualified Referee is available at that time, a
substitute Referee acceptable to representatives of both teams shall be chosen. Should another qualified Referee be available
in the absence of the Referee assigned to the game, the qualified Referee
available shall, if the Referee’s own commitments permit, take charge of the
game as substitute Referee to enable the match to start on time, and continue
to officiate until the assigned Referee arrives, or for the full term of the
game should the assigned Referee not arrive before half-time.
Should the assigned Referee arrive within ten minutes
of the game having been started under control of the substitute Referee,
changeover shall take place at a suitable break in play. Should the substitute Referee proceed to
complete the game in the absence or excessively late arrival of the appointed Referee,
payment of the appropriate fee will be made at half-time by the Home Club,
with reimbursement to the Home Club
arranged through the Referees'
Co-ordinator. Whenever a match is played without the official Referee,
the two coaches, or captains, whichever is applicable, shall meet with the
person who refereed the match and consult about the awarding of the ‘best and
fairest’ votes, and that any dispute should be resolved by giving preference to
the opinion of the referee. The Match
Report should be sent-in by a representative from the home team to the Match
Secretary as to the final voting.
4.7 Abandonment of
matches: Matches which are abandoned must be reported via the
Referee Report, with relevant details attached in a more detailed report. The Association will then determine the
appropriate action and will advise the clubs involved of any penalty. Yellow and Red Cards issued during the match
will remain, although they can be appealed against under procedures already
contained in these Rules.
As a guide: If a game is
abandoned due to causes beyond the control of either team, then the game will
be replayed at a suitable time determined by the Association. If a game is abandoned due to causes
attributable to either or both clubs e.g.
behaviour of players, officials, spectators or any other influence at
the time, then the result, points allocation and whether the game is replayed
will be at the discretion of the Association.
4.8 Match Official:
At each Association match, the home team must
provide a Match Official. This Match
Official will wear a special Association vest and has the authority to ensure
that ground marking rules and other Match Rules (eg: alcohol consumption bans
etc) are enforced. Any players or
spectators who do not co-operate with the Match Official can be reported via
the Referee to the Association for further action.
5. PLAYERS:
The minimum number of players
per team in an eleven a side match shall be seven.
The
minimum number of players per team in an eight a side match shall be five.
The
minimum number of players per team in a six a side match shall be four.
5.1 Player
Transfer: Any player wishing to
transfer from one club to another during the season must first obtain the
approval of both clubs, then obtain permission from the Association
Secretary. If the original club with
which the player registered refuses clearance, the player may appeal to the
Association through the Association Secretary.
The Association has the discretion to approve or not approve the
clearance.
5.2 Player
Registration: All intending
Players must be registered with the Association. Each Player must supply their name, date of
birth, address and phone number details when registering. The cut-off date for team registrations and
insurance payments are 19 days prior to the Knockout Carnival at the start of
the winter season for existing clubs and 12 days for new clubs. Registrations of both senior and junior
players must be made on the official VCSA form.
Forms can be submitted by e-mail.
All Players intending to play in Seniors matches must be registered and
have Passports before playing any games (see para. 5.7.1). Refer to Addendum B for penalty applied to a
team playing an unregistered or ineligible player.
Registration of additional
teams after official closure dates have passed is discouraged by the
Association. They will only be
accommodated if positions are available.
Refer Addendum B for late submission fee.
Clubs wanting new players registered during the season
must submit insurance payments and player details as stated above, to the
appropriate Association Representative by Tuesday night. This to enable registration for play on the
ensuing Saturday.
5.3 Match Cards and Team Lists: Blank Match Cards will be forwarded to each club by
mail and Team Lists will be e-mailed. It
is the responsibility of the individual clubs to print-off the Team List, and
affix it to the Match Card. In every instance
it is the latest Team List which must be used.
Both sides of the Match Card must be completed (game details, shirt
numbers, cross off non-participating players etc). Each Team will present a correctly completed
Match Card (with the official Association printed team list attached) to the
Referee before the start of each Match.
Refer Addendum B for penalties for Match Card irregularities or
unauthorised modifications. Match Cards shall also be used in the Ladies
Competition.
5.4 Player
attire: Each Club is responsible to ensure that their players are correctly
attired within the requirements of the
Laws of the game. Shirts and Shorts
colours shall be consistent within the one Team. A Player in one Team shall not wear colours
(Shorts or Shirt) that are the same as or can be confused with the colours of
the opponents' Team Shorts or Shirt Colours.
In such cases of clash, any player, including the Goal Keeper, whose
colours clash, shall change or not play.
5.4.1 Team
Shirts: Each player shall have a
distinguishing and exclusive number upon the shirt (or shorts) which shall
agree with the player's number on the Match Card prepared for reference and for
the Referee's use during the Match.
5.4.2 Team
Shirt Colours:
(a) New Shirt Colours must have the prior approval of
the Association.
(b)
Away Team must change shirt colour when there is
a potentially confusing similarity of shirt colours.
(c) The Goalkeepers shall wear colours which distinguish
them from the field Players and the Referee.
5.4.3 Shin
Guards: Each
player shall wear football socks in Team Colours, with shin guards under the
socks.
5.4.4
Jewellery: In the interest of players’ safety, the Referee shall request players to remove all
jewellery (including body-piercing jewellery) prior to entering the field of
play. If any player refuses to do so,
the Referee will exclude that player from
participating in the match until such jewellery is removed. The only item of jewellery exempted is a flat
wedding band, which, if adequately covered by tape, will be deemed safe to
wear.
5.5 Blood Rule:
In the event that a player
suffers an injury which results in the loss of blood, the Referee will request
that the player receive attention outside the field of play. The injured player will only be permitted to
rejoin the game when the Referee is satisfied that the injury has been safely
covered and contained. If the player’s
attire is splattered with blood, he will only be permitted to rejoin the game
when he has changed his attire.
5.6 Junior Players:
5.6.1
Team lists:
5.6.1.1 Where
there are sufficient teams in any junior age group to form two or more
divisions then grading will take place based on ability. Each club having more than one team in a
junior age group will nominate on their team form which of their teams should
be in the higher and which should be in the lower division.
5.6.1.2 Clubs with more than one Team in a Junior age-group
are expected to maintain a fixed allotment of Players to a Team, rather than
moving Players from Team to Team to benefit from the extra numbers of Players
available. However, a player may be added
to another team list of the player’s club by having the player’s name written
on to that team’s list. Only two players
can be added in this way at any time. A
player can only be added on to another list for a maximum of seven times, and
then it has to be decided whether the
player is to be transferred permanently on to that team list. Refer to Addendum B for the penalty for
playing an un-registered or over-age Juniors Player in a Team.
5.6.2 Age
Groups: Except with the
permission of the Association, no Juniors player shall play in an age group
lower than their own age. Any player who
has been granted this dispensation must have ‘EX’ after his name. Such players are ineligible for best and
fairest votes. Excluding girls, no team
shall have more than two such players in their team. Referees are encouraged to notify the
Association if they feel that any such player should not continue to be granted
this age dispensation. This dispensation
shall be rescinded if the player returns to playing at his/her own age level or
above. Each case will be dealt with on
its own merits. Players in Clubs which
have more than one Team in an age-group shall play in the Team in which they
have been Registered.
When determining which age group a girl qualifies to play
in, one year may be deducted from her age, thereby allowing her to play in a
younger age group. No further age
exemption can be granted for that season.
However if exemption from this rule is required then a club must
complete the exemption form. The
exemption will be rescinded if the player reverts in the future to playing in
her own age group or above.
A player may transfer to a higher "age
group" team within his/her Club at any time. A Juniors player who in one Season plays
seven games in a higher "age group" shall not be eligible to continue
to play in the lower "age group".
5.7 Seniors
Players:
5.7.1
Passports: “Passports"
are used for Senior matches, including those in the
Ladies Competition. For a
Seniors' Player to be registered, two identified Passport-sized
photographs for each Player, plus lists of Players' names, date of birth,
addresses, and telephone numbers and appropriate fee must be sent as soon as
possible to the Association Representative for the preparation of the Association
Passports. All registrations must be on
the official VCSA form. This form can be
submitted by e-mail. Registered Juniors
Players included in Seniors' Teams require Passports. No Passport = No Game.
In all Senior games, the Passports System will facilitate
the transfer of Players between various Teams within the same Club without
disciplinary penalty, but each intending Player (whether Seniors player or
Juniors player) must present a valid Association Passport to the Referee before
being eligible to play.
Passports for Players in
the Team will be handed to the Referee before the start of the Match. See Addendum B for penalty for non-compliance
with this requirement. When the Referee
checks the Player's boots, the Player gives the Referee the Passport. The Referee will check that the number of
Passports received matches the number of Players on the Ground. The Referee will send-in to the Match
Secretary the Passports of those Players "given" Red Cards during the
Match. The
Match Secretary will notify the appropriate clubs of any suspensions applicable
after the issue of yellow cards. The
Match Secretary will also notify each week the Referees’ Co-ordinator of the
names of all ineligible players for that
round of matches. The requirement for Match Cards Listing players' names
will not be replaced by "Passports".
Team managers will be responsible for looking-after the Team's Passports
through the Season, and making the Passports available for presentation to the
Referee before each Match.
5.7.2 Team
Lists: Team Lists will be
enforced for all Association Competitions.
A club must register team lists for each of its teams. A player can play with another team in
his/her club (if eligible) by having their name written on to that team’s
list. Only two players can be added in
this way for any game (Junior players are not counted as part of the two
players added for Senior games, but must have Passports). A player may only be added on to a particular
team’s list this way a maximum of eleven times a season. After the eleventh time the player’s name can
either be formally transferred to that team list or else he/she is not allowed
to play for that team again during that season.
Any junior player added to
a senior team list must have ‘JNR’ after his name.
5.7.3 Divisions: The Association should endeavour to have at least 8
teams in Divisions One and Two, if the overall numbers permit.
5.7.4 Matches on Same Day: No player shall be permitted to play in
more than one officially sanctioned senior league match on the same day, other
than at the Knockout Carnival, or events run under Knockout / Round Robin
competition rules.
6. SUBSTITUTES:
The Laws of the Game provide
for Substitution of Players rather than Interchange. When Substitution as a process was in place
in the Association, it was agreed that up to three registered players may be
substituted during a Match, from a maximum of five possible substitutes. In Juniors' and Seniors' Teams, all Players'
and Substitutes' Names were required to be shown on the Match Card. In Seniors' Teams, all Passports of
registered Players available on the day had to be presented to the Referee
before the start of the Match. A player
once replaced by a substitute could not take any further part in the match; however,
over a period of years, starting with Juniors' Matches, "Interchange"
was progressively accepted to displace Substitution in our Association Matches.
7. INTERCHANGE: Interchange has been agreed at all levels of play in
the Association. Effective control of
Interchange shall be managed through the co-operation of team officials and the
match officials. (Only Registered
Players, whether Seniors or Juniors, shall
be Players, Interchange Players, or Substitutes.) The intentions behind the adoption of
Interchange are (a) to give more Players
the opportunity to play, on the day, (b)
to minimise the detrimental effect on the Team when injury is unfortunately
suffered by one or more Players on the day,
and (c) to give Players the
opportunity to have a break from Play and return to Play later if considered
necessary, in deference to their age and capability. Interchange introduces a flexibility absent
from the process of Substitution. It is
not intended that the facility of Interchange be abused.
Interchange is not intended to give a Player the
opportunity to avoid being disciplined by the Referee, once the Referee has
called the Player aside for counselling, explanation, or discipline. A Player who leaves the field or is
"interchanged" solely to avoid being spoken to immediately by the
Referee, shall be considered to be expressing dissent from the Referee's
decision (Law 12 "Cautionable Offences" Item 2, (2004)) and to
have left the field without the Referee's permission (Law 12, "Cautionable
Offences" Item 6, (2004)) and be considered to have been sent off the
field of play (Law 12, "Sending-off Offences" Item 7, (2004)). The Player cannot be replaced by another
Player during that Match.
When the process of Substitution was in force, and a Player
had received a Yellow Card, a perceptive and pro-active Coach or Manager would
appropriately call the Player off and put on a Substitute, rather than run the
risk of losing a player from the Team in view of the probability that the
Player may continue the style of play and receive a second Yellow Card, be sent
off, and leave the Team one Player short.
If Interchange is used in the same manner, it should be put into effect
at a time when the Player about to be "protected" is not involved in
the immediate play; not at the moment
the Referee is about to counsel or discipline the Player.
The flexibility of player interchange would place
intolerable burdens on the Referee were each interchange to be recorded. To avoid this necessity, interchange shall only
be effected during normal breaks in play, such as at a throw-in or at the time
a free-kick is about to be taken, and then only with the Referee's assent.
Interchange must not proceed without the Referee's
assent in any circumstances. At all
matches, (Juniors and Seniors) the player being rested shall leave the field of
play before the interchange player enters the field of play, and this shall
take place only after the Referee has acknowledged the team official's and
Assistant Referee's signal that an interchange is required. All Interchanges shall take place beside an
Assistant Referee and under the Assistant Referee's supervision so the on-going
Player's boots can be checked. At no
time shall more than the permissible number of players in a team be allowed on
the field during play.
In all Juniors' Matches and in Seniors' Matches, the
Referee and Assistant Referees will be co-operating in match control through
the diagonal system of control. In most
circumstances of breaks in play therefore, one of the two Assistant Referees
will not be closely involved in supervising the break in play. Co-ordination of the interchange of players
shall therefore be arranged through that Assistant Referee, (on that side of
the ground on which that particular Assistant Referee is officiating) only
after the Referee has acknowledged and approved the request for an Interchange.
With the unanimous consent of the Referee and a
representative from both the participating teams, in eight- and eleven-a-side
Matches, a maximum of thirteen players for eight-a-side matches and sixteen
players for eleven-a-side matches can be nominated as available to be selected
to play on the day; eight and eleven
initially as Players, plus five for Interchange. If the consent is not unanimous, in eight a
side matches, a maximum of eleven players can be nominated as available to be
selected to play on the day; eight initially as Players, plus three for
Interchange, and in eleven-a-side matches, a maximum of fourteen players can
nominate as available to be selected to play on the day; eleven initially as
players, plus three for interchange. All
players on the list will be deemed to have played for eligibility purposes. In Junior Matches up to three interchange
players can be used. When both Teams
have more than three "spare" Players, or Managers are prepared to
"share" Players to enable more to play on the day, more than three
Players for each Team can take part in Interchange, provided there is agreement
between the Team Managers and the Referee before commencement of the Match.
If an Interchange is made without the authority of the
Referee, or if an Interchange player enters the field of play before the player
being rested has left the field of play, the play shall, if necessary, be stopped,
and the offending player cautioned and removed from the field, or sent off,
according to the circumstances as decided by the Referee. In such circumstances, if play has been
stopped to deliver a match discipline, play shall be restarted by the Referee
dropping the ball at the place where it was when play was stopped.
8. REFEREES and ASSISTANT REFEREES: Clubs shall provide a Referee to the panel of
Referees, for every two teams (or part thereof) the Club has entered in the
respective age group (Juniors or Seniors) competition. At least one Referee from each Club shall be
free of other team commitments on Saturdays,
for ease of administration of Referees' appointments. Clubs which do not supply their Referee quota
shall be billed the difference on each occasion for the cost of providing Supernumerary Referees if available
from another source versus the fees payable to our Association's Referees. Supernumerary Referees will not necessarily
be assigned to matches of Clubs required to make such penalty payment. Home Team officials will be responsible to
advise substitute and supernumerary Referees of the duration of match playing
times and other pertinent matters from the Association Match Rules.
The Home Team shall be responsible for payment of a
supernumerary Referee's fee before the match can commence. Reimbursement of such payments will be
arranged with the Association Treasurer by the Referees' Co-ordinator.
Reimbursement of expenses incurred by the clubs for such payments within our Association
is paid at the end of the season from funds provided by registration fees paid
by the Clubs.
Referees within our Association are expected to
qualify through completion of the Association's Referees' Course, a VSF
Referees' Course, or through a course of similar standard.
Referees should only
communicate with spectators via a Club Official and, if deemed worthy, comments
on spectator behaviour should be made in the Referee’s match report.
Each
team will provide a reasonably capable Assistant Referee for each match before
play can commence. The Assistant Referee
will assist the Referee in control of the Match, and must be prepared to accept
direction from the Referee as to how the Assistant Referee role is to be
performed. An Assistant Referee is
expected to concentrate on the Game without favouring or coaching one side
rather than the other. Before the start
of a Match, the Referee shall provide Assistant Referee's flags and instruct
Assistant Referees in the duties to be observed in assisting the Referee. During the match, the Referee shall watch for
and acknowledge an Assistant Referee's signals.
At all times the Referee has the discretion to judge the game situation
irrespective of an Assistant Referee's signal, and this should be made clear in
the instructions given before the start of the Match. An Assistant Referee who proves unsuitable to
the Referee through lack of attention or other reason shall be replaced. If a suitable Assistant Referee is not
available the Referee may abandon the match and report the circumstances to the
Referees' Co-ordinator. Refer to
Addendum B for penalty imposed for non compliance with this requirement.
9. Match Result
Reporting: The Referee should advise the team managers of the
official match result before leaving the ground.
It is the responsibility of a home team to phone-in
scores to the Association Representative by the set time each Saturday: 2 pm Juniors Matches, 7 pm Seniors and Ladies
Matches. A fine will be imposed on
non-compliance (refer Addendum B).
In the Seniors Competition, Referees are asked to
pay particular attention to posting the Match Cards, Match Report and any
Passports withheld for the purpose of discipline as soon as possible after the Match,
preferably by Sunday evening's Mail Clearance.
In the Ladies Competition, the home team is responsible for
sending to the Senior Match Secretary
the official match cards and referee report with the results on them, as well
as the votes for ‘Best and Fairest’ and any Passports withheld for the purpose
of discipline,.
In the Juniors Competition, the home team is responsible for
sending to the Junior Match Secretary the official match cards and referee
report, with the results on them, as well as the votes for ‘Best and Fairest’.
9.1 Ground markings / equipment reporting:
Referees are required to note whether:
·
Team Match Card completed correctly
·
Home Team
provides the Match Ball
·
All Pitch
facilities and markings correct (this requirement includes individually and
severally: whether Goal Posts are
correctly set up, Corner Flags are
provided, Goal Nets are provided, and
Ground / Line Markings are correct.
·
Home Team
provides an adequate First Aid kit
·
Rule 5.4 (player
attire) is being adhered to, with notation, if necessary, of any individual
breaches.
See Addendum B for penalty for non compliance of the above.
10. DISCIPLINE: The Association affirms that the following behaviour
at matches will not be tolerated -- Blatant foul play, blasphemy, swearing, or
abuse of other players or of the Referee.
(See Addendum A – Advice to Players).
Physical violence and the consumption of alcoholic liquor are prohibited
in the vicinity of the ground during the conduct of a Match. Clubs should specifically advise their
players to avoid undue harassment of goal-keepers, deliberate tripping, jumping
into other players, or tackling from behind.
10.1 Suspension of Players:
(a) When a player is
cautioned or sent-off during a match, the Referee will make a note of the
incident in the Match Record Booklet, and in a brief Report, notify the Match
Secretary of the circumstances of the incident.
A player who is sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play
and the ‘technical area’ (defined as where the match officials, reserve
players, coaches etc. are located).
(b) Players who are sent off are ineligible to play until
after the next official match sanctioned by the VCSA in which their team
plays. (A bye game is not considered a
match week, also ref 10.1.k.).
(c) The Match Secretary will advise the club delegate of the
penalty imposed on the offender by Wednesday following the incident. If the club delegate has not received
notification of the penalty by Thursday then the club delegate must contact the
Match Secretary to confirm the status of the player.
(d) Any notice of appeal must be rung through to the
Association Secretary by Thursday evening, with the official letter, plus
appropriate fee, being sent by the club and received by the Association
Secretary by the following Monday.
A club will be fined an additional $50 if an appeal is
withdrawn subsequent to plans being made for the Tribunal to sit.
Decisions of the Tribunal must be made and conveyed to the
club of the offender before the ensuing match.
(e) A suspended Player
shall not play in any Match within the Association's competition or other Match
during the period of the suspension. (A Bye game is not considered a match week)
(f) A suspended Player
who is reported for any misconduct at Association Matches during the period of
suspension, whether as a relieving Match Official, or as a Spectator, will have
the suspension increased at the discretion of the Judiciary Tribunal or the
Association, whichever decision process is the earlier, in the interest of players, Clubs, and the Association.
(g) Three notations of
cautions having been given to the same player during the season (or two during a game) shall be
followed by suspension for one match/week from the competition. Such player is ineligible to play until after
the next official match sanctioned by the VCSA in which their team plays. (A Bye game is not considered a match week,
also ref 10.1.k.)
(h) Any suspension
or compounded suspension imposed through the Season for any reason of
misconduct will be doubled in the next instance. Suspensions for successive pairs of Cautions
through the Season will be progressively doubled, as in the case of each Red
Card Suspension.
(i) The Judicial
Tribunal and the Association have the authority to moderate or to increase
suspension penalties in the interest of
players, Clubs, and the Association.
(j) In straightforward
cases in which the Referee substantiates a sending-off, the player sent-off
shall be suspended in accordance with the guidelines in the following table: (this table is not an exhaustive list.)
|
Item |
Red Card
Offence: |
V.C.S.A.
Discipline
|
|
1 |
Assaulting Referee |
Association discretion |
|
2 |
Serious foul play |
Min 2 match/weeks |
|
3 |
Offensive, insulting or
abusive language or gestures |
Min 2 match/weeks |
|
4A |
Racist remarks
exchanged between Players |
After a sincere apology is made, Min 2,
Max. 6, match/weeks suspension from
play. |
|
4B |
Racist comments or
remarks made by a Player, and directed at a Match Official, Team Official, or
towards a Spectator. |
After a sincere apology is made, Min. 3, Max.
8, match/weeks suspension from play. |
|
5 |
Blasphemy |
Min 3 match/weeks |
|
6 |
Punching or attempting
to punch (includes active Retaliation
beyond warding-off blows) |
Min 2, Max 4, match/weeks |
|
7 |
Spitting at anyone ( or similar unseemly behaviour =
assault ) |
Min 3 match/weeks |
|
8 |
Violent conduct (
including kicking or jumping into contact with an opponent ) |
Min 3 match/weeks |
|
9 |
Denies the opposing
team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling
the ball (this does not apply to the goalkeeper within his own penalty area) |
Min 1 match/week |
|
10 |
Denies an obvious
goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by
an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick |
Min 1 match/week |
|
11 |
Receiving a second
caution in the same match |
Min 1 match/week |
|
12 |
Any Other Red Card Offence * |
One Match/week suspension |
|
|
( * Tripping
or attempting to Trip, Jumping at an opponent
(without contact), Charging
violently or dangerously, Charging an opponent from behind, Holding or
Pushing an opponent, Handling the ball,
"Sending-off Offences" Items 4 & 5.) |
Repeated substantiated sending-off of the same player through the season shall be complemented by
progressive doubling of match/week suspensions. |
(k) Outstanding
suspensions at the end of the winter competition will be carried over to the
next winter competition and any from the summer competition shall be carried
over to the next summer competition. One
day of knockout competition (or any competition played on the same day) counts
as one match/week of a player’s suspension.
Each week missed by a suspended player in a shield or cup competition
(which is played over a number of weeks) will count as one week of their
suspension. Yellow and Red Cards gained
during the knockout, shields, cups and representative competitions will be
treated as if issued during the home and away competition. Any Red Cards or two Yellow Cards issued
during the knockout competition will make the offending player ineligible for
the remainder of the competition and the usual penalties, under other sections
of the Match Rules, will apply.
10.2 Behaviour
of Players, Spectators: The
Association or the Judicial Tribunal (whichever has the earlier opportunity to
meet and consider a matter) shall decide what are considered to be appropriate
penalties dependent upon particular circumstances.
Referees or Assistant Referees are not expected to
accept dissenting or abusive remarks from Players. Players who dissent from a Referee's decision
during a Match are entitled to be Cautioned.
Players who address abusive remarks to other Players, to the Referee, or
to Assistant Referees or Spectators during a Match are entitled to be Sent-off. Refer to Addendum B for penalties imposed on
Players who make disparaging or abusive remarks to Referees during or after a
Match.
Home Clubs are responsible for spectators'
behaviour. Referees, Linesmen, and
Visiting Players and Supporters should
be protected from undue harassment.
Any participant guilty of misconduct towards the
Referee or an Assistant Referee must be requested to leave the ground
immediately. Refer to Addendum B for
penalty imposed on Spectators who are registered Players or Officials of
Affiliated Clubs and are reported by a Referee as being guilty of misconduct
towards the Referee or an Assistant Referee.
Refer to Addendum B for penalty imposed on Spectators who are not
registered Players and are reported by a Referee as being guilty of misconduct
towards the Referee or an Assistant Referee.
It should be noted that no person is allowed to enter
the field of play during a match, without the specific permission of the
Referee. Should the Referee consider an
injured player requires assistance, the Referee will clearly signal for such
assistance from club or team officials.
The Association may impose penalties for contravention of this
requirement, taking into account the Referee's report of the incident.
10.3 Racist
remarks at Matches: Association
Matches are held in public places.
Members of the public are generally free to attend and view Matches,
whether casually or as supporters of playing Teams. Offensive racist remarks made and overheard
in public are unlawful under the provisions of the Racial Discrimination Act
1975. The term "offensive racist
remarks" includes remarks that are reasonably likely in the circumstances
to offend, insult, humiliate, or intimidate another person or group of people
on the basis of race, colour, or national or ethnic origin. Any person aggrieved by racist remarks or
racist acts may make official complaint to the Race Discrimination
Commissioner, or to the Equal Opportunity Commission. The Association firmly states that offensive
racist remarks are not acceptable at Association Matches, and advises Clubs
that every opportunity should be taken to make all of their participants aware
that offensive racist remarks and racial vilification have no place in the
Association's competition or its environs.
The Association has therefore adopted disciplinary procedures to make
clear to all participants the Association's attitude towards offensive racist
remarks or behaviour.
Racist remarks made by
Players and directed at another Player, a Match Official, a Team Official, or
towards a Spectator are addressed in the Table of agreed Match Disciplines
(refer paragraph 10.1). A Referee may
report such incident to the Match Secretary, or a report may be made to the
Association Secretary by an aggrieved party, or a concerned Club Official on
behalf of a Club.
Racist remarks directed
by Spectators, Club Officials, Match Officials towards other Spectators, Club
Officials, Match Officials and/or Players, are considered to be Foul and
Abusive Language. A report may be made by
the Referee to the Match Secretary, or a report may be made to the Association
Secretary by an aggrieved party, or a concerned Club Official on behalf of a
Club.
Racist remarks made by a
Match Official, directed at a Spectator, Club Official, Match Official, or
Player, will be disciplined by a penalty
(up to $200-00) imposed on the offending Match Official, who will be expected
to write a sincere letter of apology to the offended person or persons
(directed through the Association Secretary) and pay the penalty, before being
accepted to officiate at any further Association Matches.
Racist remarks made by a
Club Official, directed at a Spectator, Club Official, Match Official, or
Player, will be disciplined by a penalty (up to $200-00) imposed on the
offending Club Official (by letter to the Club with which that person is
associated). The offending Club Official
will be expected to write a sincere letter of apology to the offended person or
persons (directed through the Club and the Association Secretary) and the Club
must ensure the penalty is paid, before the Club Official is accepted as a
participant at any further Association Matches.
Racist remarks made by a
Spectator, directed at a Spectator, Club Official, Match Official, or Player,
will be disciplined by a penalty (up to
$200-00) imposed on the Club with which the offending Spectator is identified
as a supporter. The Offender will be
expected to write a sincere letter of apology to the offended person or persons
(directed through the Club and the Association Secretary) and the Club must
ensure the penalty is paid, before the
offender is welcome as a spectator at any further Association Matches.
11. UNDER-9
COMPETITION:
Pitch - 54 metres x 38 metres (180 feet x 125 feet)
Centre
Circle - 5 metres radius (17 feet)
Penalty/Goal
Area - 6 metre radius semi-circle
from centre of goal.
Goal
kicks - taken from within the
semi-circle.
Goals - 1.83 metres high x 5 metres wide (6ft x 16ft 5") no goal nets necessary.
Portable goalposts should be firmly and
safely fixed to the ground.
Penalty Spot - 6 metres
from goal line (26 feet). Only the
goalkeeper and the kick-taker to be within
the semi-circle when a penalty kick is being taken.
Ball - size 3. Each
team to provide a ball at the match.
Off-side - there is no off side rule.
Players - 6 per side, one of who must be goal-keeper. 3 reserves, with Interchange allowed. Minimum of 4 players.
Clearance - 5 metres from all free kicks.
Corner posts
- minimum 1.52 metres high (5 feet).
Duration of
Play - 2 x 15 minute halves with 5
minute half-time break.
Referee - one Referee to each ground, who may Referee two or
more games in succession. No linesmen required.
Attire - Referee and players to be suitably attired for ease of
identification. Goalkeepers to wear colours distinct from those of the other players. Players to wear shin-guards under their
football socks.
Ground
Markings - to be completed before
match may start.
Playing
schedule - 9 am to 9.35 am, 9.40 am
to 10.15 am, etc.
Goal scoring – If a team is leading by 3 goals, it cannot score
further goals from shots taken inside the 12 metre semi-circle.
12. MATCH RULES:
Match
Rules may not be changed after the commencement of the premiership season to
which they relate.
If the Match Rules do not cover a situation which
arises then either the Association or the Tribunal shall determine the
appropriate response and penalties in line with existing responses and
penalties for other offences, and can make recommendations to have the Match
Rules changed.
13. PROMOTION AND RELEGATION: In the senior competition the top two teams in the
second division and in subsequent divisions, if any, be promoted to the higher
division, and the bottom two teams from the top division and in any division
higher than the bottom division be relegated to the division below it for the
following season. For the purposes of
promotion and relegation between divisions, previous years’ positions on the
league ladders take precedence over the possibility of a club having two teams
in any division. Teams which consider
themselves adversely affected by this rule and wish to remain in the division
they were in during the previous season may lodge an application stating sound
reasons why they consider they should remain in the previous year’s division.
ADDENDUM A
- ADVICE TO PLAYERS:
These additions to the Match Rules are intended to
give Players and other participants an understanding of some of the contentious
issues that may be encountered as they play the Game, and a more informed view
of the impression their conduct bears to the Association and in turn to its
impression on the wider community. The
Association affirms that the following conduct at Matches will not be
tolerated: blatant foul play, blasphemy, swearing, or abuse of other Players,
or the Referee, or Linesmen.
A Player sent-off for any of these offences will be
expected to proceed to the shower-block if such facilities are available, and
change out of the playing uniform of the player’s Team, and take no further
part in the game, even as a silent spectator on the sideline, as the player’s
continued presence could be a distraction to the player’s own and opposing
team, and to the Referee and the Linesmen.
A player sent-off during the game may after the game
wish to approach the Referee and offer an apology for the conduct which led to
the player’s dismissal. Such an approach
should be made discreetly, perhaps through a Team Manager or Captain on the
Player's behalf, as the Player's approach may be readily misinterpreted as an
opportunity or intention to attack the Referee, Linesmen, or another Player,
and thereby cause more trouble than intended.
Such apology will be recorded in the Referee's report of the incident,
but will not of itself absolve the Player from the Association's nominal
penalty of certain mandatory match/week suspensions from play, although it may
be viewed in the Player's favour should a disciplinary Tribunal be formed to
review the incident.
The Referee may be sufficiently distracted in administering
the outcome of the incident(s) which caused the Send-off discipline to be
imposed, as to omit inadvertently to show the Red Card expected in such
circumstances. Such omission will not
annul the Sending-off, nor will it annul the Association's mandatory
suspension(s) associated with a Send-Off discipline if the Referee's Match
Report substantiates the Sending-off, nor will it be perceived as an
opportunity to criticise the Referee.
Some Players have claimed that they do not understand
the term "blasphemy", and that words they use every day in normal
speech have been construed by the Referee as "swearing". For the benefit of such Players, this
explanation is given:
"Blasphemy" is the term given to the use of the Name of God or
of His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in an irreverent way, or as an expletive or
a profanity in an expression of rage or hurt instead of being used as a means
of worship, adoration, or prayer. Some
people with whom we may have contact day to day do not recognise the Name of God
or His Son Jesus Christ as sacred, but use the name habitually as a mannerism
of speech, to shock others, or to insult a particular person's religious
beliefs. This Association has agreed
that a Player's use of blasphemy is a "Send-off" offence.
"Cursing" and "Swearing" are
general terms for coarse language that may include calling down misfortune on
someone, or invoking a deity to carry out the wish expressed; cursing and swearing may include blasphemy.
"Obscenity" refers to that element in coarse
language that is lewd or suggestive in reference to sexual matters. "Vulgarity" has the connotation of
reference to bodily processes not normally mentioned in polite speech, and may
include blunt, tasteless, or crude language.
Any of these reprehensible forms of speech, if used
loudly enough by Players as to be heard by the Referee, should be expediently
disciplined by the offending Player being sent-off the field of play, under the
provisions of Law 12 (p) ... "foul
or abusive language".
A degree of lenience has been included in the
Association's "Guidelines for Match Officials (and other
participants)" whereby a player, suffering some misfortune in the run of
play, swears QUIETLY at him/herself, without using blasphemy, not directing the
player’s remarks towards another participant, but swears nonetheless, should be
disciplined by the Referee administering a Caution for “Unsporting Behaviour”
when the ball next goes out of play.
Cautions vs.
Warnings:
Players are expected to have some acquaintance with
the Laws of the Game, both for their better enjoyment of the strategies and
tactics of the Game, and for the avoidance of the opprobrium of suffering a Red
Card or Yellow Card Match Discipline.
Players well-acquainted with Laws 11 and 12 will better understand a
Referee's decisions, and be less likely to become contentious; an attitude which would lead to a Caution
being given, which is "a Yellow Card's width" from a Red Card.
The Referee has the responsibility to judge whether a
Player's "manner" in the event of an infringement is careless,
reckless, or involving disproportionate force, or whether a particular
infringement has been committed, and to apply the appropriate discipline to an
offending Player by the award of a free-kick, a Caution, or a Sending-off. A "free-kick offence" may also be a
Cautionable Offence -- it is sometimes a matter of degree; but it is
the Referee's prerogative to make that decision, not that of an
"offended" Player, who has no right to demand that an opponent be Cautioned
for a perceived offence.
The Referee has the discretion not to award a
free-kick or a Caution, when the Referee considers the "offence" was
not careless, or reckless, or did not involve disproportionate force, or did
not constitute a particular infringement.
For example, the ball may strike a Player's hand or arm when the player
is in fact attempting to shield him/herself from the impact, but not
perceptibly seeking to gain an unfair advantage from such contact.
It is highly unlikely that an offence which merits a
Sending-off would have been unintentional;
namely, violent conduct, serious foul play, the use of foul or abusive
language, including blasphemy, or committing a second Cautionable offence after
having received a Caution, or blatantly committing one of the ten penalty
offences in an attempt to impede an opponent and thereby deny that opponent an
otherwise certain goal-scoring opportunity.
Some confusion may exist about Players' entitlements
to "Warnings". It is not
necessary that a Player receive a Warning before a Yellow Card or a Red Card
can be imposed. For reasons of
communication and a friendly approach to Match Control, when the Referee
imposes the discipline of a free-kick but considers the offence does not in
that instance merit a Caution (Yellow Card) or a Sending-off (Red Card), the
Referee may choose to remind the offending Player that repeated offences of
that nature may merit a Caution.
However, Players should be aware that a Warning is not a requirement of
the Laws of the Game, as Players can be expected to be aware of the provisions
of Law 12. Players should not be led to believe that
they cannot be Cautioned unless they have earlier been given a Warning. A "Warning" statement is properly a
part of the procedure of administering a Caution and is therefore a statement
of serious consequence, and should not be taken lightly.
Players should expect Referees to refrain from giving
Players a "Warning" instead of a Caution when the correct procedure
is to Caution a Player, i.e, offences under Law 12, “Cautionable Offences”;
IBDs 3 and 5, and the offence of swearing at the player’s own misfortune loudly
enough to be heard by the Referee, but not so loudly as to be heard at the
sideline. Warnings given in place of
Cautions for offences which the Laws of the Game state, or that the Association
Meeting has agreed, are Cautionable Offences, lead to Players' confusion of
expectations and detract from the Referee's control of the Game. For the Referee to refrain from issuing a
Caution for what is obviously an agreed Cautionable Offence is to be unfair to
a Player who is correctly cautioned for a similar offence in the current or
another Match.
Players are advised that, at the time a Player is
being told he/she is being Cautioned, the Referee will tell the Player that if
he/she persists in misconduct after having received a Caution, he/she will be
ordered off the field of play. The
Caution should then be identified by the showing of a Yellow Card as a means of
communication to other Players and to spectators who will have observed the
Referee speaking to the Player.
A Caution is recorded by
the Referee noting the Player's name, Shirt Number, and Registration Number,
and is later reported in the Referee's Match Report. The Cautioned Player's Passport is forwarded
with the Match Report to the Match Secretary, for the purpose of retention of
the Passport if the Player has accumulated sufficient Yellow Cards to have
"earned" a suspension under the Association's Match Rules.
ADDENDUM B -
PENALTIES
|
OFFENCE |
PENALTY |
|
Team Match Card
completed incorrectly |
$50 |
|
Match Ball provided by
Home Team not suitable |
$25 |
|
Goal posts not
correctly setup |
$25 |
|
Corner and Half Way
Flags not provided or correct |
$25 |
|
Goal Nets not provided |
$25 |
|
Ground markings not
correct or legible |
$25 |
|
Incorrect player attire |
$25 |
|
Lack of suitable First
Aid kit |
$25 |
|
Late or non-submission
of match results |
$25 |
|
Forfeiting of matches |
$50 |
|
Late submissions of
team(s) |
$50 |
|
Non attendance at
Association Meetings |
$50 |
|
Unauthorised
modification of Team Lists |
$50 and loss of 3 match
points |
|
A team playing an
unregistered or ineligible player |
Loss of all goals
gained in the match in which such player has played or has been named to play
and the loss of 3 match points. The Club concerned may
also be levied a penalty up to $200. |
|
A team playing a
registered player without a passport or not presenting a passport at the
start of the game |
$50 |
|
A team not providing a
suitable Assistant Referee |
$25 |
|
Players abusing
Referees or Assistant Referees |
Subject to protracted
suspension from Play, and the imposition of a penalty up to $200 being
imposed by the Association or the Judicial Tribunal (whichever has the
earlier opportunity to meet and consider a matter). |
|
Spectators who are
registered Players or Officials of Affiliated Clubs and are reported by a
Referee as being guilty of misconduct towards the Referee or an Assistant
Referee |
Imposition of a penalty
up to $200. |
|
Spectators who are not
registered Players and are reported by a Referee as being guilty of
misconduct towards the Referee or an Assistant Referee |
Imposition of a penalty
up to $200, payable by the club. |
|
Racist remarks |
Refer heading 10.3 |