SJL Championship Rules SJ LEAGUE RULES CONSTITUTIONAL RULES 1.1 Stanmore Jafferys SJ League seasons last 18 weeks and each team will play the other teams in their division twice during the season. 1.2 At the end of each season the top 2 teams from Championship division will be promoted and the bottom 2 teams of Premiership will be relegated. 1.3 Teams will receive 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and zero for a loss. League placing 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. 1.4 All players must be registered member of Stanmore Jafferys and paid their membership in full and by completing the necessary forms prior to competing for any team. Teams may register up to 10 players and no player can be registered to more than one team. Players may only transfer their registration to another team on one occasion in the transfer window during the course of a season. Stanmore Jafferys will notify Captains of transfer window. 1.5 For 5 a side Leagues a maximum of five players per game may be used on the pitch at any given time. All players must be named on the team sheet prior to kick off. 1.6 Any team playing an unregistered or suspended player will automatically lose the match 10 – 0 and be deducted 3 points. Players playing whilst suspended will have a further three match ban added to the end of their then current suspension. 1.7 Teams are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled kick off times. Late kick-off will result in 3 goals head start for every 10-minute delay. 1.8 Teams must be on the pitch 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 3 – 0 head start (for every 10 min delay), and at the referees discretion a 10 - 0 win (and deduction of 3 points to the losers for not tuning up). 1.9 Teams failing to appear for their designated fixture or NOT giving notice the day before to the SJ League Coordinators of cancellation, will have the match awarded to their opponents 10 – 0, will be deducted 3 points and, for repeated absence, may be ejected from the League. If you have given notice 24 hours or earlier, your result will be reduced to a 5 – 0 loss. 1.10 In the event that a team refuses to play another team the match will be awarded to the other team 10 - 0 and the team refusing to play will be deducted 3 points 1.11 In the event that a team refuses to complete a match which has already started, the match will be awarded to the other team 10 - 0 and the team refusing to complete the match will be deducted 3 points. If the score at the time produces a goal difference greater than 5-0 then that score will stand. 1.12 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 Stanmore Jafferys Sports Secretary or Assistant Sports Secretary. Postponements are NOT allowed, except in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of Stanmore Jafferys management. 1.13 Any player or team suspended by any local Football Association, other governing body or by any Goals Centre nationwide may not participate in any Leagues or Tournaments held at Goals centers. This is a rule by the ground. 1.14 All Referee’s judging the game and results are Middlesex Count FA Officials and appointed by Goals Soccer Centers Leagues are affiliated to the FA or the SFA. 1.15 A fixture list will be issued at the start of each season and will be displayed on the Stanmore Jafferys website www.jafferys.org . All league results will be displayed on the Jafferys website and on the Hujjat notice boards, but Stanmore Jafferys will not accept any responsibility for any omissions from or inaccuracies in any such fixture lists and/or results. PLAYING RULES 2.1 For 5 a side leagues each team may field four outfield players and a goalkeeper on the pitch at any one time. A team can play with a minimum of four players to commence the game and if the opponent captain agrees with referee. 2.2 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. 2.3 Teams may not change their goalkeeper more than four times during the course of the game. The referee must authorize a change of goalkeeper. 2.4 Footwear, NO screw in studded footwear or blades are permitted to be worn by any player. Only training shoes, molded soles and astro boots may be worn. All Players MUST wear shin pads. The wearing of any form of jewellery (including, without limitation, watches) is not permitted during play. Players should refer to the footwear guidelines available from their local Goals Centre. Referees may refuse to allow players to play with inappropriate footwear, without shin pads and/or are wearing any form of jewellery. 2.5 The match will consist of two equal halves. The length of half will be determined by referee in accordance to kick-off time. 2.6 The first half will begin with one team taking a centre. The second half will begin with the other team taking a centre. After a goal has been scored the game will be re-started by the team who conceded the goal taking a centre. 2.7 Only the defending goalkeeper is allowed to play the ball inside the goal area and only he may handle the ball in this area. 2.8 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. 2.9 An outfield player entering his opponent’s penalty area will be penalized. The game will be re-started from the goalkeeper. 2.10 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. 2.11 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, an opponent or sideboards. 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 Goalkeeper is gaining an advantage then a penalty will be awarded. 2.12 The ball must not be played above kick board height/shoulder height (at referee’s discretion). 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. 2.13 The ball must never be played with the head or chest even if it is below board height. A free kick will be awarded for infringement. 2.14 If the ball goes out of play off the goalkeeper, the game will be restarted by indirect free kick by the same goalkeeper. 2.15 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 (except in penalty shoot-outs). Goalkeepers are not permitted to take penalties (except in penalty shoot-outs). 2.16 No slide tackles are allowed. Infringement of this rule will lead to a free kick being awarded against the offending players’ team. 2.17 Professional fouls will be penalized with a penalty and the guilty player may face disciplinary action. 2.18 All free kicks will be direct with the exception of over board height (see 2.12), 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. 2.19 The Goalkeeper must be on the goal line when a penalty is being taken. Players may only take one step whilst taking a penalty. 2.20 These League Rules are not exhaustive and may be added to or amended at any time without notice. 2.21 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. 2.22 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 Stanmore Jafferys Sports Secretary who will forward it on the appropriate Disciplinary Committee. If the Referee decides to pursue a matter with a player, they have the authority to report the issue to The Middlesex County FA who will take the appropriate action necessary. DISCIPLINARY RULES Stanmore Jafferys are associated to Goals Soccer Centers who are sanctioned by the FA and the SFA and will be run strictly in accordance with the disciplinary regime required of these bodies. Stanmore Jafferys and Middlesex County FA Referee’s will take all steps necessary to ensure that teams participating within leagues comply with this approach in the spirit of Islam and competitive participation and fair play. 3.1 Players may be sent to the ‘sin bin’ at the referee’s discretion depending on the offence. The duration of the sin bin will be 2 or 3 mins for which the referee has the discretion to call. A player may only be sin binned once per game as a second offence would involve a second sin bin, which would automatically be followed by a red card and a sending off. 3.2 A player sent off for a second 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 Stanmore Jafferys deem this necessary. The player concerned may also face disciplinary action by the committee and you maybe called to a hearing. 3.3 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. 3.4 If a team is permanently reduced by 2 players, or temporarily reduced by 3 players the game will end. The match will be awarded 10-0 to their opponents and they will be deducted 3 points. If the score at the time produces a goal difference greater than 10-0 then that score will stand. 3.5 If a match is abandoned for any reason the team at fault will receive a 10-0 defeat and be deducted 3 points 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 or goals will be awarded. 3.6 Violent conduct on or off the pitch will result in the immediate suspension and the individual and could result in a ban from all Goals premises. Stanmore Jafferys reserve the right to ban an individual or team from further participation in all competitions in relation to Stanmore Jafferys. SJ League is affiliated to the Middlesex County Referee Association and any violent conduct will be reported to Stanmore Jafferys. Stanmore Jafferys will conduct there own investigation. This may result in the individual concerned being banned from all affiliated competitions held by Stanmore Jafferys if the Referee’s report deems this necessary. To ensure that Stanmore Jafferys remain aware of all suspensions and bans imposed, all correspondence will be issued to Sport Coordinators. Teams not cooperating with Stanmore Jafferys or the referee’s will be removed from the SJ League. 3.7 Referees must be treated with respect from all teams. Teams found guilty of abusing Referees will be removed from the Leagues, as will Teams in material or persistent breach of these Rules. 3.8 The decision of Stanmore Jafferys League management in all matters pertaining to the administration of the league is final. 3.9 Stanmore Jafferys management may overturn any rule if they feel a team is deliberately using an interpretation of the rules to gain an unfair advantage. 3.10 Stanmore Jafferys Disciplinary committee are made of 3 natural bodies who do not play in the SJ League. This is to make a fair decisions. If there is a need to involve disciplinary committee, this will be overlooked by Stanmore Jafferys Sports Secretary.