CONSTITUTIONAL RULES

Prior to entering a Goals league the league application form must be completed and signed by the team organizer. In addition the team registration fee must be paid in full. Most league season lasts 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. The 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. Teams will receive 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and zero for a loss. League placings will be decided by points gained, followed by goal difference, followed by goals scored, followed by the aggregate result between the two teams in question. All 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. For 5 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). Any team playing an unregistered or suspended player will automatically lose the match 10 - 0 and may have further points deducted. Players playing whilst suspended will have a further three match ban added to the end of their current suspension. Teams are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled kick off times. Teams must be on the park and ready to begin the match at the appointed kick-off time. If a team is more than 10 minutes late their opponents may claim a 10 – 0 win. The appropriate match fees must be paid prior to each fixture. The match will not start until the Referee has received match receipts from both teams. Teams 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. Teams failing to appear for their designated fixture or not giving 48 hours notice of cancellation will be liable for the match fee, will have the match awarded to their opponents 10 – 0 and, for repeated absence, may be ejected from the League. All fixtures are to be played unless adverse weather conditions make the pitches 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 Any player or team suspended by any local Football Association, other governing body or by Goals may not participate in any Leagues or Tournaments held at Goals centres. All Goals Soccer Centres Leagues are affiliated to the FA or the SFA. A fixture list will be issued at the start of each season and will be displayed on the Company’s website www.goalsfootball.co.uk. All league results will be displayed on the branch notice boards and the website.

PLAYING RULES

For 5 a side leagues each team may field four outfield players and a goalkeeper on the pitch at any one time. (for 6 a side add one player, for 7 a side add two players) Substitutions 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 pitch perimeter and spectators must not enter the field of play under any circumstances. Teams may not change their goalkeeper more than once during the course of the game. A change of goalkeeper must be authorized by the referee. NO screw in studded footwear or blades are permitted to be worn by any player. Only training shoes, moulded soles and astro boots may be worn. All Players must wear shin pads. The wearing of any form of jewellery is not permitted during play. The match will consist of two equal halves. The length of half will be determined by each branch. Each half will begin with one team taking a centre. After a goal has been scored the game will be re-started in a similar manner. Only the defending goalkeeper is allowed to play the ball inside the goal area and only he may handle the ball in this area. An outfield player gaining or seeking to gain an advantage by entering his own goal area will have a penalty kick awarded against his team. An outfield player entering his opponent’s penalty area will be penalized. The game will be re-started from the goalkeeper. A 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. The 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 meters 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. The 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. The ball must never be played with the head even if it is below board height. A free kick will be awarded for infringement. If the ball goes out of play off the goalkeeper, the game will be restarted by indirect free kick by the same goalkeeper. A 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). No slide tackles are allowed. Infringement of this rule will lead to a free kick being awarded against the offending players team. Professional fouls will be penalized with a penalty and the guilty player may face disciplinary action. All free kicks will be direct with the exception of over board height which is deemed in-direct. Opposition players must be at least two meters from where any free-kick is taken. If opposing players do not retreat the required two meters 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 meters backwards to allow defenders to be two meters from the ball. The Goal keeper must be on the goal line when a penalty is being taken. Players may only take one step whilst taking a penalty. Shin Pads must be worn by all players during the game. Referees may refuse to allow players to play without shin pads. The League rules are not exhaustive and may be added to or amended at any time. The 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 changing rooms. Players repeatedly disputing decisions may have further disciplinary action taken against them. Teams with a valid complaint against a match official must be put in writing within 48 hours of the match taking place. The complaint should be addressed to Goals General Manager who will forward it on the appropriate County Football Association. The County FA will take the appropriate action necessary.

DISCIPLINARY RULES

Goals leagues are sanction by the FA and the SFA and will be run strictly in accordance with the disciplinary regime required of these bodies. Goals and the local FA will take all steps necessary to ensure that teams participating within leagues comply with this approach in the spirit of competitive participation and fair play.

Players may be sent to the ‘sin bin’ at the referee’s discretion. Depending on the offence, the duration of the sin bin will vary at the referee’s discretion. A player may only be sin binned once per game as a second offence would involve a sending off. A player sent off for a second cautionable offence 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 local FA disciplinary action. If a player is given a red card whilst off the field of play (for unacceptable conduct on the sideline), the team must correspondingly reduce the number of players on the field. If a team is permanently reduced to three players the game will end. The match 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. If a match 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. Violent conduct on or off the pitch will result in the immediate suspension of the individual and could result in a ban from all Goals premises. Goals reserve the right to ban an individual or team from further participation in all competitions. All leagues are affiliated to the local County FA to whom all such matters will be reported. This may result in the individual concerned being banned from all affiliated competitions if the Referee’s report deems this necessary. To ensure that Goals remain aware of all suspensions and bans imposed by the County FA all correspondence will be issued to teams via Goals. Teams not cooperating with Goals or the County FA will be removed from the league programme. Referees must be treated with respect from all teams. Teams found guilty of abusing Referees will be removed from the Leagues. The decision of Goals management in all matters pertaining to the administration of the league is final. Goals management may overturn any rule if they feel a team is deliberately using an interpretation of the rules to gain an unfair advantage.