League Rules

CONSTITUTIONAL RULES

1.1Prior to entering a Goals league the league application form must be completed and signed by the team manager. In addition the team registration fee must be paid in full. 1.2Most league seasons last 14 weeks and each team will play the other teams in their division twice during the season. At the end of each season the top 2 teams from each division will promoted and the bottom 2 teams will be relegated (may vary) and a new season will start the following week. 1.3The team registration fee for each new season and any arrears that have accrued must be paid before the last day of the current season. Teams who have failed to pay these fees will risk losing their place in the league. 1.4Teams will receive 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and zero for a loss. League standings will be decided by points earned, followed by goal differential, followed by goals scored, followed by the aggregate result between the two teams in question. 1.5All players must be registered by completing the necessary forms prior to competing for any team. Teams may register up to 20 players and no player can be registered to more than one team in the same league division. Players may not transfer their registration to a team in the same division during the course of a season. 1.6For Five-A-Side Leagues a maximum of eight players per game may be used. All players must be named on the team sheet prior to kick off. (For 6 a side add one player, for 7 a side add two players). 1.7Any team playing an unregistered or suspended player will automatically lose the match 10 - 0 and may have further points deducted. Players playing while suspended will have a further three match ban added to the end of their current suspension. 1.8Teams are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled kick off times. 1.9Teams must be on the park and ready to begin the game at the appointed kick-off time. If a team is more than 10 minutes late their opponents may claim a 10-0 win. 1.10The appropriate match fees must be paid prior to each fixture. The game will not start until the Referee has received game receipts from both teams. 1.11Teams may be replaced at any stage of the season. Replacement teams inherit the scores and points of their predecessors. No team joining after the halfway point can be awarded first or second place at the end of the season. 1.12Teams failing to appear for their designated fixture or not giving 48 hours notice of cancellation will be liable for the game fee, will have the game awarded to their opponents 10 – 0 and, for repeated absence, may be ejected from the League. 1.13All scheduled games are to be played unless adverse weather conditions make the fields unplayable. Any decision to cancel a game can only be made by Goals management. Postponements are not allowed, except in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of Goals management. 1.14Any player or team suspended by any local soccer Association, other governing body or by Goals may not participate in any Leagues or Tournaments held at Goals centers. 1.15A schedule will be issued at the start of each season and will be displayed on the Company’s website www.goals-soccer.com. All league results will be displayed on the branch notice boards and the website.

Playing Rules

2.1For Five-A-Side leagues each team may field four outfield players and a goalkeeper on the field at any one time. (For 6 a side add one player, for 7 a side add two players) 2.2Substitutions are unlimited during the game, can only be made when the ball is dead and only with the Referees consent. Outgoing substitutes must leave the field of play before the replacement enters the playing area. The oncoming players are active immediately and can receive the ball. Substitutes must stand outside the field perimeter and spectators must not enter the field of play under any circumstances. 2.3Teams may not change their goalkeeper more than once during the course of the game. A change of goalkeeper must be authorized by the referee. 2.4NO screw in studded footwear or metal cleats are permitted to be worn by any player. Only training shoes and molded soles may be worn. All Players must wear shin guards. The wearing of any form of jewelry is not permitted during play. 2.5The game will consist of two equal halves. The length of half will be determined by each branch. 2.6Each half will begin with one team taking a center. After a goal has been scored the game will be re-started in a similar manner. 2.7Only the defending goalkeeper is allowed to play the ball inside the goal area and only he may handle the ball in this area. 2.8An outfield player gaining or seeking to gain an advantage by entering his own goal area will have a penalty kick awarded against his team. 2.9An outfield player entering his opponent’s penalty area will be penalized. The game will be re-started from the goalkeeper. 2.10A goalkeeper gaining or seeking to gain an advantage by leaving his area or by playing the ball when it is outside the area will have a penalty awarded against his team. 2.11The goalkeeper must return the ball into play by rolling it out of his area with an under-arm bowling action. If the ball is returned any other way a free-kick will be given to the opposition two yards outside the area. A teammate receiving the ball from the ‘keeper may not return the ball directly to him - the ball must first be touched by another teammate or an opponent. A free kick will be awarded against the offending team from the place where the defending player returned the ball unless it is deemed by the Referee that a player returning the ball to the Goal-Keeper is gaining an advantage then a penalty will be awarded. 2.12The ball must not be played above kick board height. An indirect free kick will be awarded against the last player to touch the ball before it goes above kick board height, regardless of intent. 2.13The ball must never be played with the head even if it is below board height. A free kick will be awarded for infringement. 2.14If the ball goes out of play off the goalkeeper, the game will be restarted by indirect free kick by the same goalkeeper. 2.15A goal may be scored from any point within the field of play. The only exception is that goalkeepers may not score against their opponents. Goal keepers are not permitted to take penalties (except penalty shoot-outs). 2.16No slide tackles are allowed. Infringement of this rule will lead to a free kick being awarded against the offending players team. 2.17Flagrant fouls will be penalized with a penalty and the guilty player may face disciplinary action. 2.18All free kicks will be direct with the exception of over board height which is deemed in-direct. 2.19Opposition players must be at least two yards from where any free-kick is taken. If opposing players do not retreat the required two yards the kick may be moved forward one meter. If a free kick is awarded on or near the goal area it can be moved up to two yards backwards to allow defenders to be two yards from the ball. 2.20The Goal keeper must be on the goal line when a penalty is being taken. Players may only take one step while taking a penalty. 2.21Shin Guards must be worn by all players during the game. Referees may refuse to allow players to play without shin guards. 2.22The League rules are not exhaustive and may be added to or amended at any time. 2.23The Referees' decision on all on-field matters is final and no discussions will be entered into either on or off the field with him about any decision. The Referees' jurisdiction on disciplinary matters will apply until players have entered the locker rooms. Players repeatedly disputing decisions may have further disciplinary action taken against them. 2.24Teams with a valid complaint against a referee must be put in writing within 48 hours of the game taking place. The complaint should be addressed to Goals General Manager who will forward it on the appropriate state soccer Association. The County FA will take the appropriate action necessary.

Disciplinary Rules

Goals will take all steps necessary to ensure that teams participating within leagues do so in the spirit of competitive participation and fair play.

3.1Players may be sent to the ‘penalty box’ at the referee’s discretion. Depending on the offense, the duration of the penalty box will vary at the referee’s discretion. A player may only be sent to the penalty box once per game as a second offense would involve a sending off. 3.2A player sent off for a second cautionable offense will be suspended for a minimum of 1 WEEK.
In the case serious foul play, foul or abusive language the suspension will be extended to 2 WEEKS or longer should Goals deem this necessary. The player concerned may also face state Association disciplinary action. 3.3If a player is given a red card while off the field of play (for unacceptable conduct on the sideline), the team must correspondingly reduce the number of players on the field. 3.4If a team is permanently reduced to three players the game will end. The game will be awarded 10-0 to their opponents. If the score at the time produces a goal difference greater than 10-0 then that score will stand. 3.5If a game is abandoned for any reason the team at fault will receive a 10-0 defeat unless the opposing team already has a greater advantage in which case the score will stand. If both teams are judged to be at fault the game will be void and no points will be awarded. 3.6Violent conduct on or off the field will result in the immediate suspension of the individual and could result in a ban from all Goals premises. Goals reserves the right to ban an individual or team from further participation in all competitions. This may result in the individual concerned being banned from all affiliated competitions if the Referee’s report deems this necessary. 3.7Referees must be treated with respect from all teams. Teams found guilty of abusing Referees will be removed from the Leagues. 3.8The decision of Goals management in all matters pertaining to the administration of the league is final. 3.9Goals management may overturn any rule if they feel a team is deliberately using an interpretation of the rules to gain an unfair advantage.