Mid Ulster Games Development Centre 2013/14 League Rules 1. The league shall be known as the Mid Ulster Games Development Centre and will be referred to as the Centre from here on. The Centre will be run by the Mid Ulster Youth League, under the auspices of the Northern Ireland Boys Football Association, who shall be referred to as the organising committee from here on. 2. Application to enter the Centre will be open for all teams (including teams from community or youth clubs). 3. Clubs are permitted to apply to enter multiple teams into each age group. 4. The organising committee will determine from all completed applications which clubs/teams will be invited to take part in the Centre. 5. The cost of entry will be free. Fees will be on a Pay As You Play basis. 6. The organising committee will set a match fee which must be paid monthly during the season. 7. Any club whose match fees are overdue (more than 30 days) will not receive any fixtures until their account is paid up to date. If any club/team is suspended for any reason they are still responsible for match fees for any fixtures up to and including 14 days after the start of the suspension. 8. Insurance is mandatory and the NIBFA Affiliation Form must accompany each club s Application Form. 9. Incomplete applications, forms without the relevant documentation will be returned to the club(s) in question for completion. 10. All teams will need to provide the organising committee with the details of all team managers and coaches. Those details will include contact information, qualifications and Access NI details. A passport photograph is also to be supplied to allow the organising committee to supply each team official with an ID badge. This ID is to be worn by all officials whilst taking part in the Centre 11. Only team officials wearing an official Mid Ulster GDC ID badge will be permitted pitchside of the perimeter fence. Centre Format 12. The Centre will follow the IFA s Small Sided Games Strategy and play Mini Soccer. Under 7 s & Under 8 s will play 5-a-side football. Under 9 s & 10 s will play 7-a-side football. 13. The Centre programme is TROPHY FREE and therefore no results are to be recorded or published. Registration In line with this rule the Centre does not forbid reporting of any matches in local newspapers, club websites or on social networking sites so long as the report refrains mentioning any scores from any matches. The Centre would advise the any reporting should follow the guidelines below; comments of how the game played out refrain from making any statements that could lead to ill feelings between teams. Follow the premise that if you have nothing good to say then say nothing at all. 14. Teams will not be required to register a list of players. 15. For the 2013/14 Centre the age groups will fall into the following range; Under 7 Children born on or after January 1 st 2007 Under 8 Children born on or after January 1 st 2006 Under 9 Children born on or after January 1 st 2005 Under 10 Children born on or after January 1 st 2004 16. Special Circumstances Girls can play for a year longer and where it would assist a young player s development to play a year below their age group, this should be accommodated.
To play a player under Special Circumstances the team must first receive the permission of the organising committee. 17. Under no circumstances will children under the age of SIX years old be permitted to play in the Games Development Centre. Proof of Age 18. Generally all players must conform to the age group that applies to the Centre. However, to aid player development, the organising committee can permit an older team (by one year only) to participate in the Under 10 section of the Centre on the strict basis that the team; has fully informed the organising committee that some or all of the players in the said team are overage, and; is of a standard whereas they would be unable to compete in the league of their correct age group. 19. Each club will be held responsible for making sure that all their players are of the correct age. 20. Each team must be able to provide proof of identity and age for each player if requested by Centre staff or the Irish Football Association. 21. Acceptable forms of identification will be a valid passport or an original birth certificate (no photocopies). 22. Failure to provide proof of identity or age will deem the said player ineligible to take part in any Centre activities until proof has been received by the organising committee. 23. Any protests concerning a player s eligibility must be communicated to the organising committee immediately to allow a prompt resolution of the matter. All decisions taken by the organising committee will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. Fixtures 24. Weekly fixtures will be posted on the Centre website which each club is responsible for retrieving. Each club should check the Centre website on Friday evenings to check for changes to any venue or fixtures. 25. When a venue is being used for two or more sessions all teams must have vacated the venue prior to the starting time of the next session. Each session must start and finish at the allocated time and all match kick off times should be adhered to. This is to stop a knock on effect for all the others using the same venue. 26. Any team(s) who does not adhere to the rules regarding vacating the pitches at the end of their allocated time slot will be suspended from the Centre for a period of one week. 27. At each venue each team (not club) is required to bring one goal from the storage area to the pitch and each team is responsible for returning one goal to the storage area at the end of the session. 28. If a team(s) arrives late for their first scheduled match they must adjust the timing of the first match to ensure that the second match of the session kicks off at the scheduled time or if so late the first match should be scrubbed. 29. If two teams are late (not at the venue) we would advise their opponents in the first match to play each other rather than having them standing about waiting. 30. Any team wishing to have a free weekend MUST request one at least FOURTEEN DAYS prior to the fixture date. Notice should be given to the Centre Co-ordinator or Fixtures Secretary. Contact details will be provided to all participating clubs. 31. If notice is given less than fourteen days prior to the fixture the pitch fees for the date is question will still be charged. 32. If a team(s) fails to inform us of non-appearance, or informs us later than 6pm on the Wednesday before a set of fixtures, they will be billed double pitch fees. 33. The organising committee reserves the right to change the fixtures at any time for any reason to try and keep the Centre running as smoothly as possible.
Matches 34. For matches using 3G pitches, any person wearing boots with metal studs or metal blades will not be permitted onto the pitch. Water only will be allowed (no sports drinks, chewing gum, snacks or smoking). 35. All parents & spectators are required to stay behind the perimeter fence at all venues. 36. If any Game Supervisor abandons any match for any reason they will report the matter to the organising committee. The organising committee will have the power to issue suspensions, fines or disqualification. The organising committee also reserves the right to report the matter to the Northern Ireland Boys Football Association and/or the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Discipline & Behaviour 37. The Centre will operate a ZERO TOLERANCE policy with regards to behaviour towards Game Supervisors by all players, coaches, team officials and supporters. The organising committee reserves the right to impose any sanction, including exclusion, to any team that breaks this rule. If the offence is deemed serious enough the organising committee may also report the offence to the Northern Ireland Boys Football Association for further action. 38. The Game Supervisor can ask a manager to substitute a player (for the remainder of the game) who they believe to be a danger to others or acting outside the spirit of the game. If a manager refuses this request the player will be red carded and will miss the remainder of the match and be suspended for the team s next match. The incident and the manager will be reported to the organising committee and the organising committee will determine any further sanctions. 39. The Organising Committee reserves the right to impose a fine and/or increase the suspension of any player, coach, team official that the referee informs the organising committee of improper conduct. 40. Any player sent off will be suspended for the team s next match. 41. The organising committee would like to see players, coaches, club officials & supporters offer encouragement to ALL players, not just players from their team, and applaud sporting acts and good play. 42. All players, coaches, club officials & supporters must act in a respectful manner towards their opponents and visitors to all venues. The Game Supervisor & the organising committee will also have the right to remove any person from the surrounds of the pitches who they deem to be abusive or a danger to others. 43. Each club will be held responsible for the behaviour & actions of their players, coaches, club officials & supporters within the confines of all venues (this includes any council or club owned property such as playing area and it s immediate surroundings, changing facilities, club rooms and car park) and any club found to be in breach of this rule may be reported to the Northern Ireland Boys Football Association or the relevant authority for further action. 44. If any person(s) is found to be causing wilful or criminal damage to property the club to which the person(s) is attached will be held fully responsible and a bill for restitution will be sent to the said club. The offending person(s) will be reported to the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Boys Football Association. Laws of the Game The basic rules are listed below. Game leaders are encouraged to be flexible with their interpretation and implementation of the rules, especially with the younger age groups. 45. PITCHES All pitch sizes & markings will be determined by the local Council Authority or the venue owners to try to ensure the safety of each person present at the venue. 46. THE BALL The ball must be no larger than a size 4, it should be made of leather and be of either of match ball or training ball standard. For Under 7 & 8 age groups the ball must be a size 3 For Under 9 & 10 age groups the ball must be a size 4
47. NUMBER OF PLAYERS Under 7 & 8-5v5 A maximum of three substitutes (Squad size - 8 players max) may rotate during the entire game. The coach is allowed to make substitutions while the ball is still in play, but must wait until the substituted player has left the field. Under 9 & 10-7v7 A maximum of three substitutes (Squad size - 10 players max) may rotate during the entire game. The coach is allowed to make substitutions while the ball is still in play, but must wait until the substituted player has left the field. Coaches must ensure equal playing time for all players. Any number of substitutes may be used at any time with the permission of the Game Supervisor. A player who has been replaced may return to the playing area as a substitute for another player. 48. PLAYING EQUIPMENT All players must wear shin guards and goalkeepers must wear a distinguishing playing kit. Shin guards must be fully covered by the player s socks and all jewellery must be removed. Where the team s kits colour clash the team listed as the second named (away) team will be required to change. The change should be either a different coloured top or different coloured bibs. Each team must bring some sort of change to the Centre. We would encourage young children to wear moulded football boots. Children s muscles/joints are still developing and this type of footwear allows easier distribution of their body weight over the moulded boot area, thus giving the child greater balance 49. GAME SUPERVISOR Referees will not normally be provided by the organising committee, therefore a team official, decided by a toss of a coin, shall take on the role of Game Supervisor. Game Supervisors must be respected, without them there would be no matches. Parents or coaches must not be approaching or shouting at the Game Supervisor. The organising committee reserves the right to appoint a referee to officiate at any match. Responsibilities of the Game Supervisor/Referee: Enforces the Laws of the Game but also uses common sense to ensure the game flows as much as possible. Controls the game. Ensures that the correct ball, size of goal, and number of players related to age band is being adhered to. Ensure that the players are wearing shin pads and are wearing the correct footwear. Stops the match, if in their opinion a player is seriously injured and ensures the player is removed from the field of play. Ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play. Allows play to continue when possible when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage, and penalizes the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at the time. Take action against players who continually commit serious fouls, use abusive/bad language (including racist or sectarian comments), spitting or persistent bad behaviour and permanently remove that player from the game to be replaced by another player by the team coach Stops, suspends or terminates the game because of outside interference.
Restarts the game after it has been stopped. The decisions of the Game Supervisor are final. The Game Supervisor may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his/her discretion provided that play has not restarted. 50. DURATION OF GAME Under 7 & Under 8 matches will be of 15 minutes duration. Under 9 & Under 10 matches will be of 24 minutes duration. To stop teams wasting time any players requiring treatment must be removed from the playing area as soon as it is practical and safe to do so and replaced by a substitute until their treatment is completed. 51. THE START OF PLAY A kick-off is taken from the centre of the playing area to start the game and after a goal has been scored. Opponents must be a minimum of 5 metres away from the ball and in their own half of the field. The ball must be played forward. 52. BALL IN & OUT OF PLAY The ball is out of play when; It has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air Play has been stopped by the referee The ball is in play at all times, including when; It rebounds from a goal or a post, crossbar or corner flag post and remains in the field of play It rebounds from either the referee or an assistant referee when they are on the field of play 53. METHOD OF SCORING A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, providing that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal. 54. OFFSIDE There is no offside. 55. FOULS & MISCONDUCT All free kicks are direct. Fouls and misconduct are when a player: Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent. Jumps at an opponent. Charges at an opponent. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent. Pushes an opponent. Tackles an opponent from behind before touching the ball. Holds an opponent. Handles the ball deliberately. Plays in a dangerous manner. Impedes the progress of a player. No player is allowed to deliberately handle the ball with his or her hand and/or arm, anywhere on the field. Only the goalkeeper inside the penalty area is allowed to handle the ball. Please note that from under 7 to Under 9 most fouls and hand balls at this level are committed through lack of co-ordination. There is rarely any intent. Try to give advantage to the attacking team when you can. Be fair to both sides.
56. FREE KICKS For all free kicks opponents must be 5 metres from the ball. 57. PENALTY KICKS A penalty kick is awarded when any of the offences are committed by a player inside their own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play as set out in Rule 52. All other players must stand outside the penalty area. The penalty kick is taken from edge of the penalty area line and opposite the centre of the goal with a goalkeeper in position. 58. THROW IN A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. A throw-in is awarded: When the whole of the ball passes over the touchline, either on the ground or in the air From the point where it crossed the touchline To the opponents of the player who last touched the ball Game leaders can show flexibility. PROCEDURE At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower: Faces the field of play Has part of each foot either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline Uses both hands Delivers the ball from behind and over their head If any of these requirements are not carried out (a foul throw) the Mid Ulster Games Development Centre believes in education rather than punishment so instead of awarding a throw in to the opposing team the Games Supervisor should offer a quick explanation to the player and allow the player, or a team mate, to take the throw in again. The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. If they do, a free kick will be awarded against them. The ball is in play immediately when it enters the field of play. 59. GOAL KICK The rule forbidding a back pass to the goalkeeper does not apply. A player of the defending team kicks the ball from any point within the penalty area. All games will use the keeper roll out rule. a. All players from the opposing team must draw back behind a pre-determined point on the pitch (marked by a coloured marker on the sideline) and must be at least 5m away from the ball. These players cannot become involved in play until the ball becomes active again. b. The keeper is permitted roll or kick, from the ground, the ball out to one of his/her own team s players. c. The receiving player is allowed one pass to another team player before the ball becomes active again. d. Or if the receiving player takes the ball outside the marked area the ball becomes active again. The reason for this rule is to try to teach young players how to play the out from the back rather than just hoof it up to the other end of the pitch. e. There will be a time limit with regards to how quickly the ball becomes active again. i. The goal kick or roll out should be taken as quickly as possible. ii. The receiving player from the goal kick or roll out must touch the ball within 5 seconds. iii. The receiving player from the one permitted pass must also touch the ball within 5 seconds, meaning the ball must be back in active play within 10 seconds of the kick off or roll out. iv. For an infringement of this rule the Game Supervisor will award a free kick from the spot where the ball is or has become stationary.
60. CORNER KICK The opposing players must remain at least 5m from the ball until it is in play. The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. If they do, a free kick is awarded against them. The ball is in play immediately when it enters the field of play. Miscellaneous 61. As part of coaches setting an example to young players and developing a healthy lifestyle coaches should refrain from smoking at pitch side. 62. With regards to social networking sites we would advise all coaches to be careful with what they write on their own personal pages. Whilst ultimately we cannot control what each person says on their own personal page we would advise coaches to refrain from making any comments that would bring themselves, their club or the Mid Ulster GDC into disrepute. In line with Rule 13 whereas clubs are not permitted to publish the scores from any GDC matches we would also ask all coaches to follow the same when making comments on their own personal pages. 63. The organising committee reserves the right to make changes and amend these rules to allow the smooth running of the Centre. Any rules changes or amendments will be communicated to the participating teams as soon as possible. 64. The organising committee reserves the right to report all matters to the Northern Ireland Boys Football Association for further sanctions if the organising committee deems it to be necessary. 65. The organising committee may arrange for photographers and/or videographers to attend the Centre for publicity purposes. It will be each clubs responsibility to inform the organising committee in writing if any child is not to be photographed or filmed. If no information of this type is forwarded to the organising committee the assumption will be made that all photography/filming is permitted. 66. All teams who participate in the Centre agree to co-operate fully with all publicity surrounding the Centre including any sponsors. 67. Any person(s), who the organising committee has not authorised, who takes photographs or video film is liable to all legal consequences that may arise. The organising committee will not accept responsibility for any person not authorised by the organising committee to do so. 68. By applying to enter and /or taking part in the Centre it is deemed that each club accepts, and informs all players, coaches, team officials and supporters of, all rules set by the organising committee and agree to any sanctions by the organising committee.