League Handbook
The information provided here does not contain the official Rules of the League but are provide as a Guideline for Managers and Coaches to run their teams effectively. Click on a section for more detail or see our printable version for more details.
· The League
· Codes of Conduct
· Match Arrangements
· Match Results & Cards
· Postponement of Matches
· Re- Arranged Matches
· Awarding of points
· League Rules in Brief
· Games Format / Cup
· Refereeing Guide
· Guide to marking Referees
· Goal Post Safety
The league
"Norfolk Women's & Girls Football League" is open to any Club registered with the FA. It will provide competitive opportunities for Girls at U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15,U16 and Ladies 7 & 11 aside in a League and Cup format. A Committee will be elected each year to run the league. They will meet at various times of the year to discuss the management of the League, fixtures, discipline and to promote and develop the league. The primary aim of the League is to increase participation in the League whilst providing a safe enjoyable programme of fixtures for Clubs.
Codes of Conduct
Please Code of Conduct for Coaches www.nwgfl.co.uk/codeofconduct Codes of conduct for Players and Parents are available from the FA, these must be adhered to at all times during league matches, training and friendly fixtures.
The League would encourage the home teams to designate one side of the pitch for players / coaches and one side for parents and supporters. This will ensure a positive coaching environment for players and coaches.
It is the responsibility of each team to provide their own refreshments during after the game.
It is the responsibility of the referee to organise a handshake (Champions League Style) before and after the game to encourage Fair Play.
Match Arrangements
It is the responsibility of the Home team to inform all visiting Teams of the date, kick off times, colour of kit and their home venue/ground by Monday night prior to the match.
Match Results & Cards
All results must be telephoned, to the divisional secretary no later than 6.30pm Sunday evening of the weekend of the match, and match cards must be sent to reach the League Secretary no later than Wednesday following the match.
Postponement of Matches
Matches should only be re-scheduled due to bad weather. Please try and give your visiting team/s as much notice as possible if a postponement occur.
The Divisional Secretary must be informed of all postponed matches but it is necessary to submit a match postponement form within 3 days of the match not being played
Re-arranged Matches
To re-arrange postponed matches it is the responsibility of the home team to contact the Divisional Secretary to agree a date for the match to be played normally this will be set for the next available date or the first date after the fixtures have been finished, and to give the away team suitable notice to ensure a suitable date is set.
Awarding Points
The following points will be awarded for league games:
3 Points Win
1 Point Draw
0 Points Loss
Please note Goal Difference does not apply
Rules in Brief
1. Age Group Deadlines
The age group deadline is midnight 31st August. For example U16 players must have their birthday after the above date.
All players under 14’s years old must be within the two year age band.
2. Matchday Squads
Teams may have up to 8 for 5 aside 10 for 7 aside 12 for 9 aside & 16 for 11 aside registered players within each squad for each game.
3. Laws of the Game
All matches at 5 aside, 7 aside, 9 aside and 11 a side shall be played in accordance with the laws of the game as determined by FA (see Guide to Refereeing small sided games further in the book)
4. Duration of matches
Please see game format for duration of matches for normal League matches and cup matches.
5. Kick Off Times
U10's - U16's: No later than 12.00pm
Saturdays
Ladies 7 / 11: 12.00pm - 2.00pm Sundays
6. Match Balls
The home team shall provide the match ball.
U10, U11, U12, U13 & U14 Size 4
U15 U16, Ladies 7 & 11 Size 5
7. Substitutes
All teams may use a maximum of 3 substitutes per match at all age groups. Players may "roll on roll off" with the referees permission with the exception of the Ladies 11 aside League (3 from 5 Substitutes).
8. Kit Colour
If teams have a colour clash teams that are the away team will where possible change their kit however the use of bibs is acceptable for the away team.
9. Referees / Assistant Referees
The Home team is responsible for supplying referees for all League/Cup matches.
For Ladies 11 a side matches it is recommended that qualified referees are supplied.
For 11 aside and 9 aside Assistant Referees are required.
It is the responsibility of the Home team to pay referees where appropriate.
Each team must mark the referee on their performance (See Marking Guide Appendices 3), less than 50 requires a written report on the Referees Written Report (Appendices 4)
To assist Referees please show them the Guide to Refereeing small sided matches prior to kick off. (Appendices 2)
10. Pitch Dimensions
Please adhere to the following dimensions for each age group:
U10- U13 & Ladies 7 Max 60yds x 40yds Min 50yds x 30yds
U14-U16 9 aside Max 80yds x 60yds
Min 60yds x 45yds
Ladies 11 aside Max 130yds x 100yds
Min 100yds x 50yds
11. Child Protection
All Teams/Clubs must adhere to the guidelines for Child Protection as determined by the FA and ensure that players, parents and coaches are aware of the Child Protection Officer for their Centre. NSPCC Help Line 0800 800 5000
12. Misconduct and Appeals
All complaints and appeals must be made in writing to the League Secretary within 7 days of the match with a £15 cheque ( the fee is returnable if appeal is upheld).
Game Format
Under 10's, U11's
· 7 v 7
· Normal mini soccer rules apply
· Two equal halves of 20 minutes
· Max 3 Substitutes Roll on, roll off substitutes
Under 12's, U13's
· 7 v 7
· Normal mini soccer rules apply
· Two equal halves of 25 minutes
· Max 3 Substitutes Roll on, roll off substitutes
Under 14's, U15's 16's
· 9 v 9
· FA 9 v 9 rules apply
· Two equal halves of 30 minutes
· Max 3 Substitutes Roll on, roll off substitutes
Ladies 7 aside
· 7 v 7
· Normal mini soccer rules apply
· Two equal halves of 35 minutes
· Max 3 Substitutes Roll on, roll off substitutes
Ladies 11 aside
· 11 v 11
· FA 11 aside rules apply
· Two equal halves of 45 minutes
· Max 3 Substitutes from 5, No Roll on, roll off substitutes
A Guide to Refereeing Small Sided Matches
The Referee - The Authority of the Referee
Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed, from the moment he enters the locality where the pitch is situated until he leaves.
Powers and Duties The Referee:
· Enforces the Laws of the Game
· Allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time
· Keeps a record of the match and provides the appropriate authorities with a match report which includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players, and/or team officials and any other incidents which occur before, during or after the match
· Acts as timekeeper
· Stops, suspends or terminates the match for any infringement of the Laws or due to any kind of outside interference
· Takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences
· Takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them from the playing area and its immediate surrounds
· Ensures that no unauthorised persons enter the pitch
· Stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the pitch
· Ensures any player bleeding from a wound leaves the playing area
· Allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in his opinion, only slightly injured
· Ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2
Decisions of the Referee
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final.
A Guide to Refereeing Small Sided Matches
A free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offences:
· Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent.
· Jumps at an opponent. Charges an opponent, strikes or attempts to strike an opponent.
· Pushes an opponent. Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball. Holds an opponent. Spits at an opponent.
· Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within her own penalty area)
· Plays in a dangerous manner. Impedes the progress of an opponent.
· Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from her hands.
· Opponents must retreat 5 yards from the place the free kick is to be taken.
Goalkeepers
· Goal kicks. To be taken in the penalty area anywhere behind the penalty spot
· Cannot pick up a back pass
· Must throw the ball out, or place the ball on the ground and kick it, the ball is then live and can be
· Kicked by any other player including the opponents, if the ball is drop kicked a warning is given first time it occurs but thereafter a indirect free kick to be given to the opponents.
Substitutes
· Up to 3 can be used on a roll on roll off situation with the referees permission.
Kick off
· A goal can be scored direct from a kick off.
A Guide to Marking Referees
The mark awarded by a club must be based on the referee’s overall performance, It is most important that the mark is awarded fairly and not based upon isolated incidents or previous games. The referee’s performance should be determined by the table below which should act as a guide for the overall mark which should fall within the mark range for each standard of performance.
91-100 = The referee was extremely accurate in decision making and very successfully controlled the game using management and communication skills to create an environment of fair play, adding real value to the game.
81-90 = The referee was very accurate in decision making and successfully controlled the game using management and communication skills to create an environment of fair play.
71-80 = The referee was accurate in decision making and controlled the game well, communicating with the players, making a positive contribution towards fair play.
61-70 = The referee was reasonably accurate in decision making, controlled the game quite well and communicated with players, establishing a reasonable degree of fair play.
51-60 = The referee had some shortcomings in the level of accuracy of decision making and control, with only limited success in communicating with the players resulting in variable fair play.
50 and below = The referee had significant shortcomings in the level of accuracy of decision making and control with poor communication with the players which resulted in low levels of fair play.
Notes
Using a scale of up to 100 allows greater flexibility for clubs to distinguish between different refereeing performances more accurately. A mark within each mark range can be given to reflect the referee’s performance e.g. a mark of 79 indicates a somewhat better performance than a mark of 71. A mark between 71 and 80 represents the standard of refereeing expected.
• When a mark of 50 or less is awarded, an explanation must be provided to the League or Competition by completing the appropriate box on the marking form. It must include comments which could help improve the referee’s future performances. Even where a referee has significant shortcomings there will have been some positive aspects which should be given credit; extremely low marks (below 20) should be very rare.
HOW TO DECIDE ON THE REFEREE’S MARK
The following questions focus on the key areas of a referee’s performance. They are intended as
an “aide memoire”, are not necessarily comprehensive and need not be answered individually. It
is, however, worth considering them before committing yourself to a mark for the referee.
CONTROL AND DECISION MAKING
• How well did the referee control the game?
• Were the players’ actions recognized correctly?
• Were the Laws applied correctly?
• Were all incidents dealt with efficiently/effectively?
• Were all the appropriate sanctions applied correctly?
• Was the referee always within reasonable distance of incidents?
• Was the referee well positioned to make critical decisions, especially in and around the penalty area?
•Did the referee understand the players’ positional intentions and keep out of the way accordingly?
•Did the referee demonstrate alertness and concentration throughout the game?
•Did the referee apply the use of the advantage to suit the mood and temperature of the game?
•Was the referee aware of the players’ attitude to advantage?
•Did the referee use the assistants effectively?
•Did the officials work as a team, and did the referee lead and manage them to the benefit of the game?
COMMUNICATION AND PLAYER MANAGEMENT
• How well did the referee communicate with the players during the game?
• Did the referee’s level of involvement/profile suit this particular game?
• Did the referee understand the players’ problems on the day – e.g. difficult ground/weather conditions?
• Did the referee respond to the changing pattern of play/mood of players?
• Did the referee demonstrate empathy for the game, allowing it to develop in accordance with the tempo of the game?
• Was the referee pro-active in controlling of the game?
• Was the referee’s authority asserted firmly without being officious
• Was the referee confident and quick thinking?
• Did the referee appear unflustered and unhurried when making critical decisions?
• Did the referee permit undue questioning of decisions?
• Did the referee deal effectively with players crowding around after decisions/incidents?
• Was effective player management in evidence?
• Was the referee’s body language confident and open at all times?
• Did the pace of the game, the crowd or player pressure affect the referee negatively?
FINAL THOUGHTS
• Always try to be objective when marking. You may not obtain the most objective view by marking immediately after the game.
• Judge the performance over the whole game. Don’t be too influenced by one particular incident.
• Don’t mark the referee down unfairly because your team was unlucky and lost the game or some disciplinary action was taken against your players.
Goalpost Safety
The Football Association and the British Standards Institution would like to draw your attention to the following guidelines for the safe use of goalposts. Too many serious injuries and fatalities have occurred in recent years as a result of unsafe or incorrect use of goalposts. Safety is always of paramount importance and everyone in football must play their part to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.
1. For safety reasons goalposts of any size (including those which are portable and not installed permanently at a pitch or practice field) must always be anchored securely to the ground. Portable goalposts must be secured by the use of chain anchors or appropriate anchor weights to prevent them from toppling forward. It is essential that under no circumstances should children or adults be allowed to climb, swing on or play with the structures of the goalposts. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that if not properly assembled and secured, portable goalposts may topple over.
2. Portable goalposts should not be left in place after use. They should be dismantled and removed to a place of secure storage.
3. It is strongly recommended that nets should only be secured by plastic hooks or tape and not by metal cup hooks. Any metal cup hooks should if possible be removed and replaced. New goalposts should not be purchased if they include metal cup hooks which cannot be replaced.
4. Goalposts which are "home made" or which have been altered from their original size or construction should not be used. These have been the cause of a number of deaths and injuries.
