Bosco Summer Soccer Rules

PART 1: GAME FORMAT

1.1 COMPETITION FORMAT

The Bosco Summer Soccer Competition is a 5-a-side soccer competition with unlimited interchange. Up to 5 interchange players are permitted in any game (maximum number of players on the day = 10).

1.2 GRADING AND REGRADING

Age Group Coordinators from the Committee will grade teams within Age Groups into Divisions, where sufficient numbers of teams have registered to enable more than one Division to be played within the Age Group. The initial grading will be based on the team's requested grade and the players' combined average playing standard indicated on the Team Registration Form. Teams returning from previous seasons also have their application reviewed against their past performance in Bosco Summer Soccer.

Following the first three roundsplayed in the Competition the Committee will review the grading of all teams. Where the Committee considers that the initial grading was inappropriate it will regrade teams to ensure that the Competition becomes more even and that the fairest outcome is achieved for all players, for the enjoyment of the game.

The Committee may however regrade teams at other times where it deems it necessary to correct any further significant imbalances. Such regrading will generally only be made where two teams can exchange grades to benefit both teams. Regrading of just one team that would result in divisions with odd numbers of teams, which would create byes in each round, will generally not be made.

Any regrading will become immediately effective. A regraded team will retain its point scores when it enters the new division. Half the ‘For-and-Against’ differential will be carried forward. This applies to teams being regraded up and down.

1.3 FIELD OF PLAY
  • The field shall be approximately 50 metres long and 25 metres wide. Bosco Summer Soccer reserves the right to amend playing field dimensions as required.
  • A 6-metre radius semicircle shall be marked on the field from the centre of the goal line at each end of the field.
  • A kick-off spot in the centre of the field is not marked. The kick-off spot shall be nominated by the referee.
  • The goalposts shall be approximately 1.5 metres high and approximately 5 metres wide and contain a net.
1.4 EQUIPMENT

A size 3 soccer ball shall be used in the ML6 and ML8 age groups. A size 4 soccer ball shall be used in age groups ML10, JW10, ML12 and JW12. All other age groups shall use a size 5 soccer ball.

1.5 ATTIRE
  • All players in a Team must have matching shirts.
  • No team is permitted to wear fluoro yellow coloured shirts.
  • A player shall wear a correctly and uniformly numbered shirt (or jersey), shorts, long socks, shin guards and appropriate footwear.
  • Players are allowed to wear sleeveless shirts.
  • If a hat or visor is used then the brim or visor must be of soft material.
  • It is recommended that watches, prescription glasses, jewellery or similar items that may cause injury to the wearer or another player are not worn. The referee may ask the player to remove such items. Alternatively, the referee may ask the player to cover such items to ensure the safety of the wearer and other players.
  • Boots with metal studs are not permitted. Plastic / moulded studs must be free of sharp edges.
1.6 START TIMES
  • 5pm – 6pm timeslot:Approximate kick-off: 5:05pm
  • 6pm – 7pm timeslot:Approximate kick-off: 6:05pm
  • 7pm – 8pm timeslot:On the hour
  • 8pm – 9pm timeslot:On the hour
1.7 MATCH DURATION
  • All junior team competitions(excluding U18’s): 2 x 20 minute halves with a 5-minute break.
  • All Opens and Older (including U18’s):2 x 25 minute halves with a 5-minute break.
1.8 REFEREES

A Referee Coordinator appointed by the Committee will allocate referees to each match. Referees are provided to ensure that the Rules of the Game are upheld and that matches are played in the Spirit of the Game. By participating in a match all players acknowledge that the referee is provided for the players’ benefit and agree to treat the referee in a courteous and respectful manner. Failure to adhere to this rule by players, team contacts, coaches or spectators constitutes misconduct and will be dealt with in accordance with Part 3: Code of Conduct.

1.9 BORROWING PLAYERS

Teams may not borrow players. Teams may recruit and register additional players if required, subject to the eligibility rules and the requirements for registration. Offending teams playing unregistered or ineligible players will have the match treated as a forfeit. A second offence will result in the team being banned from the remainder of the competition.

1.10 ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY

To be eligible to play all players need to be registered and the team must be validated by the Age Group Coordinators following registration, which includes supply of the details required on the registration form, supply of a photo and full payment of fees. The cut-off for registration is at the completion of round 5, after which time registrations will only be accepted under adverse circumstances by application to the Executive Committee and the Age Coordinator. To be able to play, players must also observe the pre-match procedures. Players serving a suspension set by the judiciary must not play. Failure to comply constitutes misconduct and will be dealt with in accordance with Part 3: Code of Conduct.

A player may register to play in more than one team as long as the teams do not belong to the same age group.

1.11 PRE-MATCH PROCEDURE
  • Players, team contacts and/or coaches shall check on the draw board which team they are to play and the field that they have been allocated.
  • Teams with similar coloured shirts shall approached the Age Group Coordinator or a Committee member at least 10 minutes before kick-off to arrange one team to play in bibs of a different colour to avoid confusion.
1.12 POST-MATCH PROCEDURE
  • The Team Contact, or designated representative, shall sign the Referee’s Match Card immediately upon completion of the match to verify the score.
  • The Team Contact, or designated representative, must return any borrowed bibs to the Age Coordinator or Committee member on duty.
  • When requested, the team must assist with duties as directed by the referee or a Committee Member. This includes the placement of all litter into the rubbish bins provided.
1.13 INCLEMENT WEATHER AND SPECIAL SITUATIONS

A game or timeslot of games cannot be called off by an individual (A referee can stop any game he/she deems as unsafe.) A Subcommittee is to be formed using any available Committee members, Age Group Coordinators andReferee Coordinators. This Subcommittee will assess the condition of the fields based on:

  • Safety of all persons concerned.
  • Incidents beyond our controle.g. bushfires etc.
  • Lightning in close proximity to the fields: immediate stopping or deferral of the game, pending Subcommittee approval.
  • Water pooling on the playing surface deemed unsafe.
  • Dangerous or slippery grounds.
  • The Subcommittee can call off, relocate to a safer field, defer or delay the commencement of any game for a time deemed suitable by the Subcommittee (e.g. 10 minutes) After deferring or delaying a game the following games can be shortened as seen fit. BUT both teams must be informed prior to starting their game.
  • Unless the Subcommittee notifies Team Contacts that play will not take place, teams shall attend in order to avoid the possibility of being considered as having forfeited.
1.14 STOPPED MATCHES

Where a match is stopped by the referee on the grounds of safety, or other valid reason, and it is not clear if or when the match can be resumed and completed the following rules will apply:

  • A match will be declared if a minimum of 20 minutes of play has been completed for junior divisions and 25 minutes for senior divisions.
  • In the Competition Series, where a match is stopped, whether or not it could later be resumed within the allocated time, the final score shall be that at the time of stoppage or that at the end of the match if the match could be resumed and played to the regular end.
  • In the Grand Final the same rule will apply, except that if a match that is stopped in the first half and not resumed before the regular end, it shall be replayed subject to availability of time on the games calendar. Where there is no suitable time left on the calendar to replay the match then the final score shall be that at the time of the stoppage.
1.15 POINT SCORING AND THE COMPETITION TABLE
  • The Committee will record all match scores and maintain a Competition Table.
  • Ranking will be based on points earned.
  • Where teams have the same points the ranking will be determined on the highest ‘For-and-Against’ differential.
  • Where teams have the same points and the same ‘For-and-Against” differential’ the ranking will be based on the higher ‘For’ goals.
  • If all these criteria are still equal the head-to-head game/s between the two teams from the Competition will be used.
  • In the unlikely event that teams are still equal Dual or Co-Premiers will be awarded
  • A win will score 2 points.
  • A draw will score 1 point.
  • A loss will score 0 points.
  • A bye will earn 1 point, butthe ‘for and against’ figures will remain unaltered.
  • Forfeiture will be considered as a 3-0 win to the non-forfeiting side.
  • A notified forfeit (i.e. more than 24 hours before kick-off) will be 0 points.
  • A non-notified forfeit (i.e. less than 24 hours before kick-off) will result in a penalty of 1 competition point deducted from that team’s tally. Exceptions to this rule will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Use of an unregistered or ineligible player, or failure to take the field with at least 4 players, will be treated as a non-notified forfeit by the offending side, resulting in the loss of 1 competition point. Please refer to Rule 3.3.
1.16 FINALS SERIES
  • At the end of the Competition rounds: two elimination Semifinals will be played as follows: 1stvs 4thand 2ndvs 3rd. The winners of the two Semifinals will qualify for the Grand Final. On Semifinals/Grand Final days, additional rounds of friendly games will be organised for all teams not involved in a Semifinal and/or Grand Final only if the teams confirm participation in the friendly games prior to the Semifinals.
  • In the event of a draw being the result at full-time, the ‘Golden Goal’ rule will apply for a period of 5 minutes each way (total maximum extra time = 10 minutes).
  • Where the score remains equal after the ‘Golden Goal’ period, the team that finished higher in the Competition Table will be declared the winner of the match.
  • If a Semifinal or Grand Final cannot be played due to inclement weather, the Bosco Summer Soccer Committee will endeavour to organise an alternative date for the match. If this is not possible, then the team that finished higher in the Competition Table will be declared the winner of the match.
  • Teams may not register new players in theFinal Series. Where a team is found to have played an unregistered player, or an ineligible player, or a player that has been suspended by the Judiciary, will be considered to have forfeited the match (Also see Rule 1.17 point 5.)
1.17 FORFEITURES
  • When a team knows in advance that it will be unable to field a team it is required to advise that it is forfeiting the round. Notification of forfeits shall be made to the relevant Age Group Coordinator immediately it becomes known that the team will forfeit.
  • If a team is aware that it will not be available for a game due to a legitimate reason (e.g. school event, representative trials, etc.) then it is required to notify the Age Coordinator by Round 3. Every effort will be made to make alternative arrangements within reason (e.g. different timeslot or day).
  • See Rule1.15 for the impact of forfeits on Competition Points.
  • Teams forfeiting matches without justifiable reason and/or adequate notice, as deemed by the Committee, may jeopardise their invitational standing for future competitions.

1.18 INJURIES

In the event of an injury the player, Team Contact or designated contact shall notify the Age Group Coordinator and the details of the incident shall be recorded in the Incident Log Book on the day of the incident. Where an injury insurance claim is contemplated a claim form shall be obtained from the Committee for completion and lodgement by the injured party. Players making insurance claims are urged to make themselves aware of the terms and conditions of the policy relating to the notification and lodgement of a claim.

1.19 JUDICIARY

  • Any Player who receives a Red Card, or the 3rd Yellow Card for the season, or who otherwise brings the Game into disrepute shall be required to attend a Judiciary Panel unless otherwise confirmed by the Executive Committee of Bosco Summer Soccer.
  • Any Team Contact, coach or parent of a minor who brings the Game into disrepute shall be required to attend a Judiciary Panel unless otherwise confirmed by the Executive Committee of Bosco Summer Soccer.
  • The Judiciary Panel shall consist of the affected Age Group Coordinator, one other committee member and the President or Vice-President. Junior players shall also be accompanied by a parent or nominated Child Protection Officer of the team.
  • The Judiciary Panel will conduct a hearing and make a ruling based on information and details presented, and the severity of the sentence will be commensurate with the severity of the offence and the related circumstances.
  • The ruling of the Judiciary Panel shall be final with no rights to appeal.
  • A player before the Judiciary Panel may not resume playing until so advised by the same panel.

1.20 PLAYER IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS

  • Photographs of all players shall be lodged with the relevant Age Group Coordinator before the start of the competition series. The photographs will be available at the Camp Store for inspection by Team Contacts, Bosco Summer Soccer Committee members, or Referee Coordinators should they query the eligibility of a player. If an Age Group Coordinator decides to permit a team, or player from a team, to play for not more than the first 3 rounds without that team’s or individual’s photograph then no competition points may be earned by that team in that period, i.e. until the full team photos are submitted.
  • At any game the relevant Age Group Coordinators may bring the photographs to the field on request to allow Team Contacts to identify eligible players in the opposing team.
  • The Team Contact shall be responsible to ensure that the photographs are up to date in the event that there are additional players registered during the season.
  • A maximum of 12 players can be registered in a team during the season.

Part 1: Game FormatPage 1 of 5Revision: 2015-1