1. Start and End of Match
   1. The match will start with the referee selecting a team to kick off in the centre circle. The other team will kick off the second half.
   2. Game duration is 13 minutes each way (26 minutes total)
   3. All matches will begin and end with the referees whistle.
   4. There shall be 8 players maximum per squad in one night

2. Squad
   1. You are allowed an unlimited squad. You can have however many people in your squad as long as you only turn up with 8 players (ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE EITHER A SIGNED CONSENT OR REGISTRATION FORM) on the night and as long as your players do not play for any other teams in the league. Players caught playing for more than 1 team will be banned from the league and points deducted from all teams involved.

3. Penalties
   1. In the event of a penalty being awarded, time shall be added at the end of either half.
   2. The penalty taker is allowed no more than two steps before striking the ball.
   3. Goalkeepers must remain on there line and not move until the ball is struck.
   4. It is the responsibility of teams to clarify to the referee who is taking the penalty kick. Teams will be penalised and the penalty disallowed if the referee feels the goalkeeper was placed at a disadvantage by the opposing teams not making it clear who was taking the penalty kick.

4. The Goalkeeper/The Area
   1. Goalkeepers must always roll the ball out with an underarm action within 6 seconds of receiving the ball.
   2. Goalkeepers must not leave there area at any time
   3. If the goalkeeper makes a save and part of his body slides out of the area, then the referee shall use his discretion.
   4. If a defensive side has a free-kick near to the goalkeepers area, then the referee may elect to continue play with an underarm roll-out by the goalkeeper.
   5. If a team makes a change of goalkeeper during the match then the referee must be notified before the change is made.
   6. If an attacker kicks the ball near the area then the action of the kick must have started and finished outside the area, however, the momentum of the kick is allowed to travel in the area.
   7. Attacking players may also enter the opposing area through momentum only however, the referee shall be the sole judge of momentum and the attacker should make every reasonable effort not to enter the area.
   8. No player shall be penalised if, through no fault of their own, they enter the area when they have made a reasonable attempt not to enter the area. This particularly applies to attacking players who may push defending players into the area.
   9. In all matters relating to the area, the referee's decision is final.
   10. Goalkeeper may not kick the ball under any circumstances except in the course of making a save.
   11. Players who run through the area and in doing so gain an advantage, will be penalised.

5. Back passes
   1. When an outfield player receives the ball from the goalkeeper, another player must touch the ball before being passed back to the goalkeeper.

6. Missed Matches
   1. If your team fail to show for a match without informing us (At least 24 hours before your match), you will be immediately removed from the league. Your team will still be liable for the match fees for the remainder of the season.

7. Substitutes
   1. Teams are allowed three substitutes who must stand behind the goal that is occupied by their goalkeeper or in the viewing area.
   2. More than one substitution is allowed at any one time however, if there are more than the allotted players on court at any one time the team shall be penalised with a penalty kick.
   3. Substitutes can only enter play when waved on by the match referee.
   4. Substitutes can be used as often and whenever the team wishes.

8. The Head-Height Rule
   1. There is no under head height ruling. The ball can go any height.

9. Free Kicks
   1. Defending players should be two yards from the ball, on all free kicks.

10. General Rules
    1. The referee will be the sole judge of whether a tackle is dangerous or not in the best interests of the spirit of the game.
    2. Teams must not alter or move equipment to gain an advantage.
    3. Teams who arrive more than 5 minutes late for their kick off time or teams who are not ready to start within 5 minutes of the kick off time may be subject to a 2-0 deficit from the kick off, at the referees discretion.
    4. The match referee has sole discretion to alter the timings for games as may be necessary.
    5. All players must wear shin pads.
    6. All players must be over the age of 11 years.
    7. The scoring system is 3 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and 1 point for a loss.

11. The Sin Bin
    1. There is a disciplinary procedure in place for all leagues and it is the responsibility of all teams captains to adhere to this. However, if a player is shown the yellow card then he is sin-binned for two minutes and must wait behind his own goal until the referee instructs him to come back onto the field of play. If the player refuses to leave the pitch immediately then a red card and dismissal will occur. The referee shall be the sole timekeeper in cases of sin-bin.

12. Dismissal
    1. If a player is dismissed then he should leave the pitch immediately. Failure to do so will result in the referee automatically awarding the match to his opponents.

13. Time Wasting
    1. If a player is guilty of time wasting at any point then the referee has full discretion to award a free kick.
    2. Players do not need to be warned about time wasting, they will be penalised immediately.

Penalties for Infringement of the Rules

14. a: ALL FREE KICKS ARE INDIRECT AND SHALL BE AWARDED WHEN:
    1. A player attempts to play or plays the ball or is on the court with his shirt off.
    2. Intentional handball occurs (and the player gains an advantage by so doing).
    3. Players time waste.
    4. At a drop ball situation, a player does not allow the ball to touch the surface before striking it.
    5. An attacker enters the opposition area. (the ball may be given to the goalkeeper at the referees discretion)
    6. A player does not retreat two yards from the ball or shows dissent (this may also result in a penalty, see earlier rules).
    7. The goalkeeper makes a foul throw. In this instance the free kick should be taken two yards outside the area where the ball left the area from the goalkeeper.
    8. If a player commits a slide tackle (players are allowed to slide in the course of making a pass, however, they are not allowed to slide when making a tackle and this is for the players' own safety).
    9. Kicking the ball away. This may also result in the referee yellow carding the offending player.
    10. A foul takes place.

14. b: A PENALTY SHALL BE AWARDED WHEN:
    1. The goalkeeper comes out of the area and, at the referees discretion (see previous ruling) has gained an advantage in doing so.
    2. A defender enters his own area and by doing so gains an advantage.
    3. A defender enters his own area when he could reasonably have made an attempt not to enter the area.

15. When the ball leaves the pitch, play shall be restarted with a kick in, played off the floor as a dead ball.

16. ALL TEAM CAPTAINS AND PLAYERS SHOULD NOTE,
    Coventry City Council will take all necessary steps to ensure that these leagues will run in a professional manner; however we may not always take responsibility for any accidents, injuries or losses sustained through participants not following instructions or guidance from our staff.

DISCIPLINE SYSTEM

YELLOW CARD = 2 minute sin bin
RED CARD = Sent off for the game.

If the referee feels the red card is not of a serious nature the player receiving a red card will only miss the remainder of the match. If the offence is serious, the offence will be sent to the FA to deal with, the fine and ban will then be sent out from the FA and this will affect 11aside football also.

FIXTURE LIST RULINGS

Your fixture list should be referred to at all times as you will not be contacted every week regarding your match. The fixture list, or match times will not be changed at anytime throughout the season. This is so teams can be confident that there fixture list and match times are accurate and no changes will be made.

Please note that we do not allow teams to cancel fixtures.

Our flexible squad system allows you to bring in extra players when regular players are injured or not available, as long as the new players have either a signed consent form (Under 16s) or a registration form (Over 17s). You are therefore able to utilise as many players as you like during the season. The only thing you cannot do is use a player from another team in the same division as your team. In view of our flexible squad system, no teams should have to cancel a match during the season.

Your team is guaranteed a game every week. If your opponents do not turn up (which does not happen very often due to our strict rules) you will be arranged a friendly by our League Manager on site. You will still have to pay the full match fee but will get an automatic 5-0 win regardless of the score in the friendly game.

Please note the following two important points:

1. You must pay your £8 match fee BEFORE you play your match, the referee will not kick-off until you have paid your match fee.
   
   
2. If you cannot make a fixture, your team will still have to pay the FULL match fee the following week for the game you missed. If you do not turn up for a game without informing us (which lets down the other team) your team will be dismissed from the league. Your match fee of £8 should be paid before your match every week. This is the captain's responsibility.

You will be able to checkout weekly match reports on our website and there will be regular coverage in the local papers. Team photos, top goal scorers and star man awards can also be viewed on the website. Goal scorers names will go in the match reports automatically if you let the referee know your names, however, if your goalkeeper has a particularly good game or one of your players does something a bit special, you can make a note with your referee onsite and it will be included in the match report.

All information including up to date league tables, fixtures, match reports, team profiles, team photos and league news is available for you to view online at www.socialsoccer.org the website is constantly up to date.

We have strict rulings in place to ensure smooth operation of the league and ask that all teams abide by the rules.

If at anytime throughout the season you have any queries feel free to contact our office on 07846 175562, or email us at info@socialsoccer.org

Good luck for the season.