JSFA Rules for the Coca League and Greenfields Cup Competitions – 2009

1. Both competitions will be run for the following Age Groups:
   1. Under 8 – no players allowed to play if born before 1st of September 2000
      (Coaches should only enrol children below 8 that are physically able to compete at this age group – special attention should be given to the younger aged players)
   2. Under 10 – no players allowed to play if born before 1st of September 1998
   3. Under 12 – no players allowed to play if born before 1st of September 1996
   4. Under 14 – no players allowed to play if born before 1st of September 1994
   5. Under 16 – no players allowed to play if born before 1st of September 1992
2. The Rules of Association Football as sanctioned by FIFA will apply except in the following circumstances:
   1. Offside Rule will not be applied to the Under 8 & 10 Age Groups though “goal-hanging” will be discouraged by Referees and Coaches
   2. The Goalkeeper Pass Back Rule will not apply to the Under 8 & 10 Age Groups
   3. A Referee will supervise all Under 8 & 10 matches
   4. 1 Referee and 2 Assistant Referees will supervise all Under 12, 14 and 16 matches
   5. Each team will consist of the following number of players provided each player is registered with the JSFA and his/her team prior to the match
      1. Under 8 - 7 a side with rolling substitutes (minimum number to start = 5) – Maximum Squad Number = 14
      2. Under 10  – 9 a side with rolling substitutes (minimum number to start = 6) – Maximum Squad Number = 16
      3. Under 12, 14 & 16  – 11 a side with rolling substitutes (minimum number to start  = 7) – Maximum Squad Number = 18
   6. Duration of each match will be:
      1. Under 8/10 – 4 Quarters of 10 minutes
      2. Under 12  – 4 Quarters of 12 minutes
      3. Under 14 – 2 Halves of 30 minutes
      4. Under 16  – 2 Halves of 30 minutes
   7. There will be adequate rest period in between each quarter/half
   8. Players cannot move between teams, either up or down or in different age groups. Players must ONLY play in their registered team unless a move is sanctioned by the JSFA Committee
   9. All players must be registered and carry JSFA identification to play, the coach may hold a copy of such information for all players and this will suffice
   10. All teams MUST wear sequentially numbered shirts and be registered with the JSFA prior to participating in all competitions
   11. All players MUST wear shin-pads. Referees will be instructed to bar players from entering the field of play without shin-pads
   12. Metal studs are not allowed.
   13. Slide Tackling/Going to Ground: Under 8/U10 Leagues and Cup Matches: Referees will be instructed to caution U8 & U10 players from attempting slide tackles BEFORE each game. In the event of a slide tackle a warning will be given to the player. A 2nd offence will result in that player being removed for the field of play for the remainder of the quarter irrespective of time played. Repeated offences will result in the Referee requesting the Coach of the team to remove the player from the rest of the match. Slide Tackling/Going To Ground – U12, 14 & 16 Leagues and Cup Matches:  This will be left to the Referees’ discretion in accordance with current FIFA Rule. In the event a player is sent off, that player will not be allowed to play in the next match (League or Cup). If a player is sent off twice during one season the player and coach will be requested to present themselves to the JSFA disciplinary committee.
3. Coca Cola League
   1. Each team in each league will play each team once at a venue and date shown on the JSFA website.
   2. The winning team will be awarded 3 points
   3. The losing team will not be awarded any points
   4. In the event of a drawn game, each team will be awarded 1 point each
   5. All positions in each league will be determined by the Total Points secured during the season
   6. For teams securing the same number of Total Points, the league position will be determined by:
      1. Under 14 & 16 Leagues:
         1. Goal Difference – the team with the greater positive Goal Difference will be placed higher in the league
         2. If Total Points and Goal Difference is the same, the team with the highest Goals Scored will be placed higher
         3. If all the above are the same, the “head to head” score will determine the positions of the teams – if this game was a draw the league position will be determined by a play off to be organised by the JSFA Committee
      2. Under 8, 10 & 12 Leagues: ONLY the “head to head” score will determine the positions of the teams finishing first or second – if this game was a draw the league position will be determined by a play off to be organised by the JSFA Committee
4. Greenfields Cup
   1. An un-seeded draw supervised by the JSFA Committee will be held to determine the Preliminary Round and First Round matches
   2. After the First Round, future rounds will be pre-determined by a free draw
   3. Each match will be of the same duration as the league matches see item 2(f)
   4. If a Cup game is drawn, there will be a “penalty shoot-out” on the following basis:
      1. 5 penalties each team (players on the pitch at full time are only allowed to take the penalties). The team with most goals scored will be declared the winning team
      2. If teams are equal after 5 penalties, a sudden death shoot out will take place (only players in the team for the game excluding those taking the first 5 penalties may participate). After an equal number of penalties are taken the team to score more goals will be declared the winning team
      3. If all players have taken one penalty kick, the players taking the first 5 penalties may then continue until one team scores more goals after an equal number of penalty kicks have been taken.
      4. After an equal number of penalties are taken the team to score more goals will be declared the winning team.
   5. In the Final, if the teams are drawn at the end of normal time – see item 2 (f), there will be extra time as follows:
      1. Under 8/10 – 10 minutes no break
      2. Under 12 – 10 minutes no break
      3. Under 14 – 15 minutes no break
      4. Under 16 – 15 minutes no break
   6. If the teams are still tied after Extra Time as shown above, a penalty shoot-out will be undertaken in accordance with item 4(d) above
5. Fixture Schedule – Postponements and Late Arrivals
   1. The Fixture Schedule for League games and the Preliminary Round Cup games will be posted on the JSFA website which must be checked by each team on the proceeding Wednesday for match confirmation. The JSFA Committee has taken into account each school’s commitments for other activities as best it can before scheduling games.
   2. The following rules will apply:
   3. If a team is not able to play a scheduled game, this may be re-arranged with prior agreement with the Fixtures Committee at least 2 weeks in advance of the scheduled game.
   4. A new date will be agreed upon between both coaches and the Fixtures Secretary
   5. If a new date is not agreed upon either team may refer the matter to the JSFA Committee for a decision.  The JSFA committee decision on whether the match should be played is final in all respects.
   6. All teams must arrive at the designated location at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game
   7. If any team arrives later than the scheduled start of the game, the game will be forfeited 3-0 to the opposition UNLESS a representative of the delayed team calls the Venue Co-ordinator in advance of the scheduled start and venue coordinator has approved a delay.
   8. A maximum delay of 10 minutes will be allowed. If the team fails to arrive with sufficient players (see Rule 2e), the game will be forfeited and the opposition will be awarded a 3-0 victory. If both teams are late the game score will be 0-3 against each team.
   9. If the same team are late on more than 3 occasions, the JSFA reserves the right to suspend the team from all competitions organised by the JSFA
   10. In the event of extreme weather conditions (lightning and heavy rain) or pitch flooding, games will be suspended and new dates arranged by the Fixtures Secretary
   11. If the pitches contain surface water the game will not commence and play will be suspended until the water clears to the satisfaction of either the VC or the match referee. If lightning is in the area, the VC will suspend all games immediately. If a game has commenced, the Referee or the VC has the authority to stop the game.
   12. If a game is suspended at half time, the half time score will be the final score if the game does not resume within 15 minutes. Any games suspended prior to half time will be replayed at a re-arranged date.
   13. In the event of extreme weather conditions prior to each weekend’s schedule, the JSFA may decide to postpone all games at a specific location or all locations. The Fixtures Secretary will alert coaches though IT IS THE DUTY OF THE COACHES TO CONTACT THE FIXTURES SECRETARY IF IN DOUBT. Games postponed will be re-arranged.

Under 8 Division Only

1. It is strongly encouraged that coaches provide equal playing time for all players regardless of ability – minimum of 2 quarters for each player. This will be left to the coaches to apply.
2. The “Mercy Goals” rule will apply to all games – as soon as a team is 6 goals ahead the game is temporarily stopped with remaining time to be played only be weaker players in the winning team.
3. Whilst winning teams will receive 3 points for a win, goals scored and conceded will not be used for determining league positions (see Rule Coca Cola League 3f) or recorded on the league web-site.
4. In some situations where it is clear that even the weakest players from one team will still dominate the other sides team, the referee and/or VC has the right to request one side play with 1 less player for the remainder of the game or make other mutually agreeable modifications to assure an equal playing field (one player switch sides, etc).
5. Players and parents from both teams are expected to be supportive of all players participating and emphasise a positive experience for all concerned. Avoid openly blaming the coaches, referees, players or parents for success on the field.
6. The league committee will on receipt of an adverse referees or a venue coordinators report take disciplinary steps towards any team/coach not honoring the U8 division code of conduct.