Rules and regulations for the Sassco Sunderland Football League.

Rules and regulations

There are some important new Rules and Regulations. To all existing teams, please read carefully. You will note some changes which add a little flexibility in player transfers as well as fines. All rules must be abided by. There will be no written or verbal warnings. It is your duty to inform your Players of all the Rules and Regulations of the League.

If a manager/organiser leaves a team during the course of the season, the team is immediately suspended until a new Entrance Form is signed by the new manager/organiser.

The important new rules are summarised as follows:

From now, £14 MUST be paid before the game starts. You as manager/organiser are always responsible to pay the amount and it's your choice to get the money off players. If you are having problems, then we can implement a "Pay before you play" method where each player must pay me directly before the game. If they don't then they are ineligible to play.
Any team owing outstanding money is fined immediately suspended. For example a team pays £12 and is £2 short, this means BEFORE their next game, they must pay the £2 as well as a £1 fine for late payment.
Kit fines. All teams tend to be good with kits, but teams with problems in the past will not be given a one match leniency period. A team with incorrect kit is fined £5. The next time, they are fined £10 and so on. The team is suspended until they pay the amount.
Red and Yellow card offences could go to Durham FA. This is down to the choice of the referee.
Any team cancelling a game on the day will result in a £20 fine. It will also result in the match being awarded 3-0 to their opponents. The offending team is suspended until they pay the £20.
Team line up and goalscorers have to be handed in within 1 hour of your game finishing. If this is NOT done, then the team can be fined £5 or have 1 point deducted for persistent failure to hand in the details.
All players have to be registered. Name, Address, Date of Birth, Telephone and Email (if available) must be handed in BEFORE a player plays for you. Players can be registered before kick off. An easy way of doing this is to ask the player to text the details to 07780 972630.
Player Transfers have been modified. Please check further down for details.

All players must now be registered for Durham FA purposes (click here to see the Affiliation Certificate). The information required is the name, full address (inc. post code) and any contact numbers or email addresses.

Payment

From Season 11, any team owing money for fines or match fees will be immediately suspended. Any late payments must have £1 added to them. If a team doesn’t pay before their next game, then the team is suspended and the result will be awarded to their opponents. Also, the team could be fined £20 as turning up on a match day still owing money means the team is not eligible to play.
From now, £14 MUST be paid before the game starts. You as manager/organiser are always responsible to pay the amount and it's your choice to get the money off players. If you are having problems, then we can implement a "Pay before you play" method where each player must pay me directly before the game. If they don't then they are ineligible to play.
Any team owing outstanding match fee money is fined immediately suspended. For example a team pays £12 and is £2 short, this means BEFORE their next game, they must pay the £2 as well as a £1 fine for late payment.

Player Registration and Transfers

All players have to be registered. Name, Address, Date of Birth, Telephone and Email (if available) must be handed in BEFORE a player plays for you. Players can be registered before kick off. An easy way of doing this is to ask the player to text the details to 07780 972630.
If a player has not played for your team for 5 consecutive games, then he is available to play for any other team in the League without permission. If a player wants to move to another team, for example, playing this Tuesday, then wanting to play for another team next Tuesday, the following must be adhered to.

The player must make a request to his new manager to transfer
The manager must then contact the League.
The League will then contact his former manager.
If the former manager agrees to the move then he is eligible to play.
If the former manager disagrees, then the player must wait one game before moving.

All players can only move once within the League. If the player wants to move more than once, then the League will decide if this is possible.
The most important thing is to contact the League if you are concerned that you may be playing in ineligible player. Player such a player will lead to fines, points deduction and results awarded against.
The cup competitions are open in that players can move to new teams without permission. But the cup tie rule applies so a player cannot move to a new team within that cup. If your team plays an ineligible player, then the game could be awarded or replayed depending on the circumstances (i.e. no one, apart from the player, was aware that he had played for another team).

Match reporting and results

Team line up and goalscorers have to be handed in within 1 hour of your game finishing. If this is NOT done, then the team can be fined £5 or have 1 point deducted for persistent failure to hand in the details. An easy way of doing this is to text to 07780 972630, email or using the message board on the website.

Team Wear

Generally, all the teams are good with kits, but teams with problems in the past will not be given a one match leniency period.

A team with incorrect kit is fined £5. The next time, they are fined £10 and so on. The team is suspended until they pay the amount.
Shorts must be the same colour as worn by the rest of the team and socks must be the same colour.
For example, if your team has white shorts and red socks and one player turns up in white shorts and black socks, then it’s a £5 fine. Same goes if someone turns up in the wrong colour shorts as well. Please not it’s the colour which should be identical – if one player wears white Adidas shorts with green stripes and another wears white Diadora SAFC shorts then that’s acceptable.
Team kits should be controlled and kept by the Team Manager.
Any offending player can also be banned from taking part in the League until he has paid the fine if the manager so wishes – this only applies to individual players who control their own kit and fail to bring it with them for a game.

Team Commitment and Organisation

Each team, MUST have an assistant who can be contacted for team info, letting them know about fixtures etc. I send fixtures by email or fax. I wont be contacting via text message unless there are changes and cancellations, etc. So if I don’t contact you, turn up as per the fixtures.
Teams must be there on time. It's the referee's choice when to kick off a game. If there are, for example, four players then they must kick off. If they don’t then it’s classed as not being there for a game which means 3 points deducted and a £20 fine. If a team turns up late – regardless of the reason. A £5 fine is administered. If a team consistently turns up late, then they will be ejected from the League.

Cancelling Games

Do not cancel games without good reason. If the organisers are notified at least a week before then it isn’t a problem at all and we are happy to oblige. If someone contacts us on a Sunday evening, then it is still reasonable and allows us enough time to re-arrange fixtures. The rules are summarised below.
Cancellations due to exceptional circumstances must be confirmed no later than Sunday night.
Cancellations a day before kick off will result in a £14 fine.
Cancellations on the day of a game will result in a £20 fine and 3 points deducted (or possible ejection from a Cup Competition). Valid reasons may be accepted, but the fine would still apply as it covers pitch and referee costs.
We will accept cancellations due to 11-a-side games but in some cases I’ll have to award wins or points. We have our own League’s interest to look after. 11-a-side won’t cancel for us. Ideally you could play a game after an 11-a-side fixture has taken place – for example at around 8:30 or 9:00.
Make sure you contact all your team members and make them aware of what happens if they don’t turn up and you are forced to cancel. Ideally you should contact all your team players on Sunday to confirm. If most of them aren’t available, then it’s easier for yourselves (and ourselves) to re-arrange the game.
If you cancel games on a regular basis, because your key players are unavailable then it’s likely that we will award a win for the opposition team.
If you decide to quit the league for any reason, then a £25 release fee is due. If this isn’t paid, then we will hand over all the information to Durham FA, who will ban all your players from any involvement in football until their share is paid. Durham also double the fine to £50 for their own admin fees.
On rare occasions, games can be cancelled by the Community North Sport Complex due to adverse weather conditions such as flooding and snow. We will inform Managers/Players if this occurs so it is vital that you have your mobile switched on at all times. Please also feel free to contact the Complex if you think the games could be abandoned. 0191 5536915.

Basic six-a-side Rules

Rules are almost identical to an 11-a-side game, but with some minor adaptations. All the games last 30 minutes (15 minutes each way).

The goalkeeper is not allowed outside his own semi-circle and outfield Players are not allowed in. If an outfield Player enters the opposition’s area then a goalkeeper’s throw out is given.
If any outfield Player enters his own area then a penalty is given. If the Player was pushed in the area then a penalty does not apply. It is the referees’ own interpretation if he wishes to give a penalty when a Player accidentally enters his own area. If the Player is clearing a ball then a penalty will apply. If the goalkeeper steps outside the area or his momentum takes him out of the area when he is making a save then a penalty will apply.
Goalkeepers cannot kick the ball when they receive it, although they will be allowed to make a save using their legs. In theory if an opponent player hits a weak shot, the goalkeeper can actually kick the ball out as it’s still classed as a save. But generally, they can only throw the ball out. If they kick a ball out then they should be ordered to retake it.
Deliberate back passes are not allowed - even headers. If a Player deliberately passes back to the goalkeeper then a free kick is awarded from the position of where the Player passed back to the goalkeeper. Free kicks for fouls near the goal area are taken approx. 6 yards from the goal area. For example if a back pass or an offence is made on the edge of the area then a free kick will be awarded - but not on the edge of the area but 6 yards away from the edge - this allows the defending Team to make a wall. A goalkeeper can stop or move the ball around his area using his feet. He cannot kick the ball out at all. If he makes a save with his feet and the ball comes out of the area then no free kick will be awarded.
Goals can be scored direct from free kicks, corner kicks and any other dead ball situation - even centre balls.
Six Yards for any free kick.
Sliding tackles are not allowed. There is no strict caution for this but all dangerous tackles will be penalised. Cautions will be dealt with by Durham FA.
All Players must wear shin pads. The referee may prevent a Player from playing if he does not comply. This is for Player safety.
Penalties are taken on the edge of the semi circle and one step is allowed. If a Player takes more than one step then the ball is awarded to the goalkeeper for a free kick and the penalty will not count.
Throw in, corner kick or goalkeepers throw out for any ball out of play.
Red card sending off will apply in the same way as in an 11-Player game.
Unlimited substitutes are allowed - referee must be informed of any changes and you must make a note in your match details (to be handed in after the game). It’s now roll-on-roll-off substitutes.
Obvious time wasting (i.e. kicking the ball over the fence to delay play) is not allowed and will be penalised.
Teams should play until they hear the referee’s whistle.
Team captains are responsible for their Team’s behaviour during the game.
Games cannot be abandoned if a player is seriously injured and has to be taken to hospital. This rule is similar to 11-a-side rulings. Players should have substitutes to replace the injured player. First Aid can be administered by a suitably qualified person.
Teams must not argue with the referees. The referees decision is final. Dissent will result in a caution and possibly a sending off. Any swearing towards the referee will result in an immediate sending off. Discipline must be maintained at all times. On pitch fighting (if any occurs) will result in a sending off. If after match intimidation occurs in the complex or outside the complex then Durham FA will deal with that as a Club Charge. It’s very expensive if a Player is sent off. An automatic fine of around £30 and a 1 month ban is given. If the fine is not paid to Durham FA then the Team is banned and ejected from the League.
Players on a Team must wear identical shirts, shorts and socks. Tracksuit bottoms worn underneath the Team kit are not permitted.
The League has no control or influence over any refereeing decision. If there are any major complaints these should be directed to Durham County FA.
On occasions, wins and points will be awarded if teams cancel games. This usually occurs near the end of the season.
Teams tend to play each other twice, but due to fixture backlogs, games might be classed as "Double results". This means that the single game and the result is duplicated. This is agreed before the fixture and only occurs if there are no slots near the end of the season to fulfill the fixture.
Cup competitions tend to overlap the end of the League season. Sometimes Cup games can also double as League games. Also, players can play for different teams in the Cup competitions (they'll still be Cup Tied) and the League if both competitions take place at the same time (and same day). Example would be Chris Cromack playing for Southwick in a League game against Redhouse Youth, then for Sporting Redhouse in a Cup game against BunkerUK straight afterwards (on 29th May 2007).
Goal difference doesn't count for the top positions in the League. If teams are equal on points, then it's a Play Off Decider. This is due to the long drawn out competition and also the fact that goals might have to be awarded and teams deleted.
Where possible, we will use DCFA Affiliated Referee's. On occasions, when they are unavailable, we will nominate a person to officiate the game. The full rules will always apply and the person in charge can caution and dismiss players as well as reporting the offending players to Durham County FA.
During the Cup competitions, if a team pulls out then their place will be taken by the team they knocked out in the previous round. If this is not possible, then the opponents will get a bye to the next round. The records will be adjusted to show different rounds (i.e. a game classed as a Semi Final instead of a Quarter Final).

Fines and Cautions

5 Cautions in the League and Cup Competitions.
1 Match Ban and £5.00 Fine payable to Sassco.

Yellow Card in a game.
£5.00 Fine payable to Sassco.

Red Card in a game.
Sending off and £5.00 Fine payable to Sassco. The player is also banned from his team’s next fixture.

Use of Offensive and Insulting Language/Gestures.
Yellow Card or Red Card and £5.00 Fine payable to Sassco.

Offensive and Insulting Behaviour towards Referees and any violent conduct will be dealt with by Durham FA who will be far more strict in these matters. Managers must pay all fines, but if they are not reimbursed by their players, then the League is authorised to ban the player until payment is made.