FOOTBALL LEAGUE RULES
1 Absenteeism & arriving late to your games
a) If your team are unable to make their fixtures, please contact the Fixtures Secretary as soon as possible confirming you are unable to make your fixtures. Forfeiting your games will result in and a 3-0 score goal line being awarded to opponents. Where possible the fixtures secretary will schedule a friendly
b) Contact: Stacey Cruse – 07715-452-446
c) If a team is more than five minutes late for their game, a goal will be awarded to the opposition team. An extra goal is awarded for every five minutes they are late. e.g. 15 minutes late equates to a team being 3-0 down. Please try and arrive in kit to avoid delays.
d) Game times – Fixtures are given ahead of your games. Your game must be played within the designated time you have been given. If your game is scheduled for 30 minutes, play time will be 28 minutes. If your game is scheduled for 40 minutes, play time will be 38 minutes. Referees need 2 minutes between each game to turn the teams over. Where possible the referee will give a break if you have back-to-back games however on these days, we would highly recommend having a larger squad.
e) Unfortunately, injuries do occur and the referee may need stop the game completely. The safety of the player is our upmost priority therefore if there is a serious injury a decision will be made whether the game is postponed, abandoned or a mutual agreement on score line is agreed.
2 Results & Fixtures
Super Liga is affiliated to the Amateur Football Alliance.
Results and fixtures will be available via the full-time website and these results will be sent to all team captains on a weekly basis. The referees will record the goal scorer’s names and result after each game. Please try to use the same name throughout the league when you score a goal. If you share the same name with a team member, please use the first letter of your initial or shorten your name to avoid goals being mistakenly given to the wrong player.
a) The basic compulsory equipment of a player is a) shirt b) shorts c) socks d) shin pads e) footwear: Trainers, Astroturf or Plastic Blades. No metal studs
b) Astroturf Boots are the recommended footwear for grassroots football.
c) The wearing of shin pads is compulsory and must be covered by the socks. Any player failing to comply with this rule will be instructed by the referee to leave the field of play until such time the player applies shin pads.
d) In the event of two teams wearing the same colour shirts, alternative bibs will be supplied by the league organiser or be provided by the team themselves.
3 Players Kit
a) The ball used shall be a size 5
b) A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off. All players must be in their own half of the playing area; the opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 3m from the ball until it is in play.
c) Both teams shall be in their own half of the playing area for the start of play and restarting the same way when a goal has been scored.
d) Subs – Teams should try and sub every 10 minutes. If teams require to sub more, please discuss this further with the referee.
e) If you are helping a team because of player shortage, the goals scored for this team, will not be added to the cumulative total for the goals scored in your own team. It is also a requirement to let the opposition team know you are helping a team out.
f) A Team should have a minimum of 3 players for 5-a-side league and 4/5 players for 7 & 8-a-side leagues. If you are borrowing players, please let the opposition team know. This is to ensure fairness across the league.
4 Playing Rules
5 The Goalkeeper- 7-a-side & 8-a-side leagues only
a) When the ball goes behind for a goal kick, the goalkeeper or player must place the ball on the floor within their area and take a spot kick to get the ball back into play. The opposition team needs to be out of area when the spot kick is taken.
b) If a player passes back to their own goalkeeper in the game, the goalkeeper cannot pick up the ball and must kick it out.
c) If the goalkeeper has the ball in their hands during play, they can kick the ball back into play straight from their hands.
d) The Goalkeeper is allowed outside of the area.
a) The Goalkeeper cannot kick out the ball in the 5-a-side league. If a Goalkeeper deliberately kicks the balls into play, a free kick will be awarded to the opposing team 3 meters outside of the goal area.
b) The Goalkeeper must throw the ball out in an underarm/side throw. The ball must be played by another player (of either team) before being passed back to the goalkeeper. A straight pass back from the player to the goalkeeper will result in a free kick 3 meters outside of the goal area.
6 The Goalkeeper – 5-a-side league only
Laws of the game
a) Throw ins –There will be throw ins for our 7 & 8-a-side leagues from the sidelines, there will be no fail throws. There are no throw ins at our 5-a-side leagues.
b) Drop Ball – is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.
c) Ball Out of Play – The ball is out of play when: it has wholly crossed the goal line or touchline, whether on the ground or in the air, when the Referee has stopped play.
d) Ball in Play – the ball is in play at all other times including when: it rebounds from a goal post, the crossbar, or the barricades onto the pitch where applicable, or if it rebounds from the Referee when on the playing area.
e) Height of ball restrictions – overhead is allowed in the 7-a-side & 8-a-side leagues only. No overhead height will be allowed in the 5-a-side league. A direct free kick will be given for overhead height our 5-a-side league.
f) There is no offsides in all leagues.
g) The Corner Kick – a goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.
h) Penalty Kick – 7-a-side / 8-a-side the ball to be placed on the penalty spot. Player can run up from the edge of box line directly behind the penalty spot.
5-a-side – the ball to be placed on penalty spot and player allowed to take one step to shoot the ball.
7 Laws of the Game
8 Fouls and Misconduct
Charging, players going to the floor, sliding tackles and tackles from behind are forbidden and shall be penalised by the awarding of a direct free kick. Sin bin rules will also be applied.
A Direct Free Kick – A direct free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred and can be kicked directly into the opponent’s goal to score a goal.
The referee keeps one arm horizontal pointing in the direction the kick must be taken.
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offences in a manner considered by the Referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
• Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• Jumps at, pushes or charges an opponent (even with the shoulder)
• Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• Tackles an opponent (the keywords are doing it carelessly, recklessly or with excessive force)
In addition, direct free kicks will also be awarded if a player:
• Spits at an opponent.
• Slides to play the ball when it is being played or attempted to be played by an opponent (sliding tackle).
• Swearing towards opponents/referees and organisers.
• Handles the ball deliberately, except for the goalkeeper, who can handle the ball in their own penalty area
First Sin Bin (Yellow card)
A player receiving their first caution (yellow card) will receive a 2-minute suspension from the field of play. After 2 minutes have been completed, the player is once again allowed on the field of play. The referee will tell the player when they should come back to the field of play.
Second Sin Bin (Red Card)
If a player receives a second caution (Red card) the player will automatically be suspended from the league for that day and will receive a 3-match suspension.
Players receiving Red Cards will be reported via the Amateur Football Association disciplinary team and full investigations will be initiated. Fines will be implemented by the Amateur Football Alliance accordingly therefore we ask all teams to act with respect. Players receiving red cards may also receive disciplinary points against their football club.
9 Sin Bin Rule
Dissent is the act of bad or rude language made by the player aimed at the referee or other players on or off the pitch. If the referee feels dissent has occurred, the referee will have the right to suspend the player for the rest of the league games for that day by way of a red card and if required will report any incidents to the Amateur Football Alliance.
Team Coach & Team Fans - Dissent
Dissent is the act of bad or rude language made by a coach aimed at the referee or other players/teams. The act of dissent will be reported to league organisers and will be reported to the Amateur Football Alliance or where the club has affiliated to.
Super Liga recommend that all team Coaches, Team Managers and Club Officials Code of Respect devised by the FA.
10 Dissent
No watches are to be worn during matches. The referee will be allowed to decide regarding any other items of Jewellery. Please respect the referee’s decision if they feel the item of jewellery should be removed.
11 Jewellery
Individuals who wish to use their phone or camera to take photo’s or video’s MUST ask for permission from the manager of the opposing team and from any supporters on the sidelines before they take any video’s or photo’s.
12 Filming
All teams are required to affiliate their team via the Amateur Football Alliance www.amateur-fa.com. Affiliation is an annual fee and bring benefits/opportunities to teams.
If your team require further information on this, please contact Samantha Brown directly at the Amateur Football Alliance or see the attached Affiliation Guidance for 23/24.
13 Team/League Affiliation
All participants entering and taking part in Super Liga do so entirely at their own risk and Super Liga will not be held liable for any insurance claims. Injuries should be reported immediately to the venue’s main office.
Emergency and Contact Numbers
Archbishops Park: 0203 196 8121 - St Thomas’ Hospital.
Colombo Sports Centre: 0207 261 1658
Hospital nearby: St Thomas’ Hospital: Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH
Haggerston Park: 0208 356 3000
Hospital nearby: Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Row, London, E9 6SR.
14 Insurance & First Aid
15 Conduct of League
Please see Gallery for Code of Conduct, Club Complaints Procedure and League Level Expectations.
16 General Conduct
Games will be played in a public area therefore the highest standards of behavior are expected from all participants.
All participants are expected to show appropriate respect and courtesy towards opponents, teammates and officials alike. Offensive, insulting language will not be tolerated. Players are reminded that such behavior is a sending off offence.
Smoking of any kind is not permitted on the pitch area.