The League
policy regarding postponing matches is intended to be fair
to all parties whilst avoiding potential fixture backlogs
causing problems at the end of the season.
All Teams
entering the competition have an obligation to maintain a
viable squad which is capable of fulfilling all its
fixtures.
Matches that
cannot be fulfilled for reasons of unsuitable pitches shall
always be postponed and rearranged for the first
free fixture date available for both Teams.
To determine
the number of available players, Teams shall draw upon the
full number of players that are registered with the League
for that Team.
The minimum
number of players for starting a match is
Mini-Soccer
and Mini-Soccer Girls 5v5 football
Four (4)
is the minimum number of players required to constitute
a Team for a Competition match at the time of the kick
off.
Mini-Soccer
and Mini-Soccer Girls 7v7 football
five (5)
is the minimum number of players required to constitute
a Team for a Competition match at the time of the kick
off.
Youth and
Youth Girls 9v9 football
Seven (7)
is the minimum number of players required to constitute
a Team for a Competition match at the time of the kick
off.
Youth and
Youth Girls 11v11 football
Seven (7)
is the minimum number of players required to constitute
a Team for a Competition match at the time of the kick
off.
For reasons of
child welfare it is at the manager’s discretion to play with
a Team of less than
5 players for
Mini-Soccer and Mini-Soccer Girls 5v5 Football
7 players for
Mini-Soccer and Mini-Soccer Girls 7v7 Football
9 players for
Youth and Youth Girls 9v9 Football
11 players for
Youth and Youth Girls 11v11 Football
No Team shall
be obliged to a play a match if the size of the Team at the
start of the match would comprise less than 7 players
(Mini-Soccer and Mini-Soccer Girls) and 11 players (Youth
and Youth Girls).
Although the
Team is not obliged to play the match it is not necessarily
entitled to postpone the match.
For
Mini-Soccer 5v5 and 7v7 matches if 3 or more players are
unavailable due to school activities then a Team is entitled
to postpone a match. If only 1 or 2 players are unavailable
due to school activities then the Team is not entitled to
postpone a match. All players that are unavailable due to
school activities shall be backed up by written evidence
from the school head teacher. Failure to provide such
evidence before the original scheduled date of the match
shall result in the match being awarded to the opposition as
a 0 – 0 win.
For Youth
matches if 4 or more players are unavailable due to school
activities then a Team is entitled to postpone a match. If
only 1, 2, or 3 players are unavailable due to
school activities then the Team is not entitled to postpone
a match. All players that are unavailable due to school
activities shall be backed up by written evidence from the
school head teacher. Failure to provide such evidence before
the original scheduled date of the match shall result in the
match being awarded to the opposition as a 3 – 0 win.
For Youth
matches if 5 or more players are unavailable due to school
activities then a Team is entitled to postpone a match. If
only 1, 2, 3 or 4 players are unavailable due to
school activities then the Team is not entitled to postpone
a match. All players that are unavailable due to school
activities shall be backed up by written evidence from the
school head teacher. Failure to provide such evidence before
the original scheduled date of the match shall result in the
match being awarded to the opposition as a 3 – 0 win.
If the size of
a Team is reduced below the above limits because players are
unavailable due to injury, illness, holidays, other sporting
event or shopping etc then the match can only be postponed
with the agreement of both the opposition manager and the
Divisional Secretary. If the opposition manager or the
Divisional Secretary, do not agree to a postponement then
the match is awarded as a 0 – 0 win to the opposition.
A Team cannot
elect to concede a match. If the opposition agrees to a
postponement then the fixture shall be fulfilled on the
first free fixture date available for both Teams.
If a match is
postponed then the rearranged match shall be scheduled for
the next free fixture date that is available to both Teams.
Any further postponement regarding the rearranged fixture
shall be decided without taking any of the circumstances of
the original fixture postponement into consideration.
Opposition managers shall consider this point when agreeing
to postpone a match and if there is any doubt then they
shall not agree to the original postponement.
An available
fixture date is any date in the League calendar designated
for League or cup matches.
To accommodate
rearranged fixtures the Teams shall keep all future fixture
dates to the end of the season available.
No match shall
be postponed if there are no available fixture dates for a
rearranged match before the end of the season.
For any match
that is defaulted and awarded to the opposition as a 3 - 0
win then the defaulting Team may be fined in accordance with
our rules.
Examples
(7v7 Mini-Soccer and 7v7 Mini-Soccer Girls)
1. A Team has
10 registered players and 3 players are on holiday.
The Team
has 7 available players and shall fulfil their fixture.
2. A Team has
10 registered players and 4 players are on holiday.
The Team
has 6 available players. The Team can elect to play the
fixture but the match can only be postponed with the
agreement of the opposition manager and the Divisional
secretary. If the opposition manager or the Divisional
secretary do not agree to a postponement then the match
is awarded to the opposition as a 3 – 0 win.
3. A Team has
10 registered players and 3 players are unavailable due to
school activities.
The Team
can elect to play the fixture or can request that the
match be postponed and played at the next fixture date
available for both Teams.
4. A Team has
12 registered players and 3 players are unavailable due to
school activities.
The Team
can elect to play the fixture or can request that the
match be postponed and played at the next fixture date
available for both Teams.
5. A Team has
10 registered players and 2 players are unavailable due to
school activities and 2 players are on holiday.
The Team
has 6 available players. The Team can elect to play the
fixture but the match can only be postponed with the
agreement of the opposition manager and the Divisional
secretary. If the opposition manager or the Divisional
secretary do not agree to a postponement then the match
is awarded to the opposition as a 3 – 0 win.
6. A Team has
8 registered players and 2 players are unavailable due to
school activities.
The Team
has 6 available players. The Team can elect to play the
fixture but the match can only be postponed with the
agreement of the opposition manager and the Divisional
secretary. If the opposition manager or the Divisional
secretary do not agree to a postponement then the match
is awarded to the opposition as a 3 – 0 win.
7. A Team has
10 registered players and 5 players are on holiday.
Only 5
players are available. The Team does not have enough
players to play the fixture but the match can only be
postponed with the agreement of the opposition manager
and the Divisional secretary. If the opposition manager
or the Divisional secretary do not agree to a
postponement then the match is awarded to the opposition
as a 3 – 0 win.
Examples
(Youth 11v11 and Youth 11v11 Girls)
1. A Team has
14 registered players and 3 players are on holiday.
The Team
has 11 available players and shall fulfil their fixture.
2. A Team has
14 registered players and 4 players are on holiday.
The Team
has 10 available players. The Team can elect to play the
fixture but the match can only be postponed with the
agreement of the opposition manager and the Divisional
secretary. If the opposition manager or the Divisional
secretary do not agree to a postponement then the match
is awarded to the opposition as a 3 – 0 win.
3. A Team has
16 registered players and 5 players are unavailable due to
school activities.
The Team
can elect to play the fixture or can request that the
match be postponed and played at the next fixture date
available for both Teams.
4. A Team has
20 registered players and 5 players are unavailable due to
school activities.
The Team
can elect to play the fixture or can request that the
match be postponed and played at the next fixture date
available for both Teams.
5. A Team has
16 registered players and 4 players are unavailable due to
school activities and 2 players are on holiday.
The Team
has 10 available players. The Team can elect to play the
fixture with 10 players but the match can only be
postponed with the agreement of the opposition manager
and the Divisional secretary. If the opposition manager
or the Divisional secretary do not agree to a
postponement then the defaulting Team shall not be
compelled to play with less than 11 players and if the
match is not played then the match shall be awarded to
the opposition as a 3 – 0 win.
6. A Team has
14 registered players and 4 players are unavailable due to
school activities.
The Team
has 10 available players. The Team can elect to play the
fixture with 10 players but the match can only be
postponed with the agreement of the opposition manager
and the Divisional secretary. If the opposition manager
or the Divisional secretary do not agree to a
postponement then the defaulting Team shall not be
compelled to play with less than 11 players and if the
match is not played then the match shall be awarded to
the opposition as a 3 – 0 win.
7. A Team has
12 registered players and 4 players are on holiday.
Only 8
players are available. The Team does not have enough
players to play the fixture but the match can only be
postponed with the agreement of the opposition manager
and the Divisional secretary. If the opposition manager
or the Divisional secretary do not agree to a
postponement then the match shall be awarded to the
opposition as a 3 – 0 win.