Overriding Principles, Core Values & Game Rules

PLEASE READ TO THE END OF THIS THREAD. YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR GAMES IS PREMISED ON IT.

We play each game without a referee.

Our games, and the playing rules set out in the post below are geared towards (i) keeping the game flowing (ii) while reducing the risk of injury and (iii) are intended to accommodate different styles of play.  These are Overriding Principles.  All Game Rules should be interpreted and applied in this light. 

Further, our Core Values are:

• Maintaining health, fitness and/or interests even as we get older through sustainable participation in sports and other activity.
  
• Facilitating a work-life balance.
  
• Voluntary participation with maturity and in good spirits.
  
• Achieving a balanced and healthy perspective on sport and competition.
• Enhancing appreciation and understanding of teamwork and co-operation.
  
• Developing friendships and finding enjoyment through participation.
  

All games are expected to be played, and all Game Rules interpreted and applied, in accordance with the Core Values. 

The Game Rules are set out below.  The two team selectors/captains for any game can, between themselves, agree to modify the Game Rules for that particular game, as they think necessary or desirable. 

During a game, the two team selectors/captains also have the final say on the application of the Overriding Principles, Core Values & Game Rules.  If the team selectors/captains cannot agree, the issue should be discussed on the report thread after the game, and may be followed up on the appropriate announcements and developments thread. Any residual dissatisfaction after the game can also be discussed on the report thread for the game.

Everyone who plays by the Core Values and Game Rules is welcome. The converse is that anyone who does not play by the rules and core values is not welcome.

 I rely on information provided to me. To this end:

• Information from a team selector/captain relating to a particular player on that player's team carries the greatest weight.
• Information from the opposing team selector/captain carries significant weight.
  
• Information from players who are not team selectors or captains will carry such weight as may be appropriate, taking into account how many games the player has played in the current 6 month period or current 3 year period, the number of players providing the same, similar or related information, and the manner in which the information is provided.   

Possible sanctions include being excluded from the whole of, or aspects of, our games or system for a period or time, or indefinitely, or being required to post on the forum giving a commitment as to his future conduct.

^{The above rules and principles may be revised from time to time. Originally posted on 21 November 2010. Last revised on 4 February 2016.}

Game Rules:

• Everyone is required to be at the game at the time stipulated, that is, 10 minutes before the hour.

• Please remove all hard, sharp or dangerous objects from your person before the game starts.  If you do not wish to remove a wedding band or any religious or sentimental object that you wear which although hard, has no sharp edges, please ensure it is safely taped up. Team selectors/captains should exclude a player with such object from the game until this is done.
  

• If one team is a player short due to uneven numbers, a late withdrawal or no show, a player arriving late, fatigue, injury, illness or a player leaving the game, we try to find a replacement at the venue itself. If a replacement cannot be found, we continue with one team a player short. The team with the extra player is restricted in its scoring to within an imaginary line running through the penalty spot for the opposing goal. The same if one team is short due to a player being late. If the team that is a player short is losing badly in the second half of the game, a player from the side with the extra player should switch to the team with a player short. The scoring restriction is also switched.
  

• Unless a player has an injury or physical impediment that prevents him from playing in goal, the players in each team take turns in goal. It’s the only break you get! Unless a player volunteers to spend more time in goal, everyone should spend a similar amount of time in goal. The goalkeeper can come out of the "D" but can only handle the ball within the "D". Other players can enter the D. There is no backpass rule, so the goalkeeper can pick up the ball even if the ball was passed back to him by a team mate.

• Our regular games are played for an hour flat out, without substitutes. If you haven’t played for a while, pace yourself, and spend more time in goal if necessary. It is disruptive to the game if you need to leave the pitch to rest.  Arrive early to warm up properly and meet your team-mates and opponents.

• We play to the goal lines, so if the ball crosses the goal-line on either side of the goal, it’s either a goal kick or corner. As the corner angle of every pitch is very close to the netting/wall, the ball may be moved in, up to a foot in from the goal-line and 2 feet from the side line. A goal-kick can be taken from anywhere in the D.  When a corner is taken, the opposing players must be at least 5 paces away for games on a big pitch and at least 3 paces away for games on a small pitch.

• Currently, all our regular games are played to the side lines.  When a kick in is taken, the opposing players must be at least 3 paces away for games on a big pitch and at least 2 pace away for games on a small pitch.  Where we play off the side walls/nets, the side wall/net cannot be used to shield the ball for any length of time. The ball should be brought away from the wall/net as soon as possible. While holding the net/ball to shield the ball is not allowed, touching the net/wall with one’s hands to maintain balance is okay.

• We continue to play off the overhead netting. However, if a ball goes in directly off the overhead netting, it is not a goal.

• We can score from anywhere on the pitch. A team can score direct from a free kick, goal kick or kick in. There are no indirect free kicks in our game. A goalkeeper who catches the ball in play can throw it directly into the opposing goal. Of course, the goalkeeper cannot handle the ball outside the "D".

• If a goal is scored or disallowed, we usually re-start with a goal kick, although those playing in the game may agree to start from the centre spot after a goal is scored.

• If you use blades/studs, the onus is on you to exercise greater care not to accidentally catch other players with the blades/studs. The converse is that using astro shoes is not an excuse for being more careless or reckless in your tackling.

• Sliding tackles are not allowed. 

• Other than that the goalkeeper within the "D", players are not allowed to deliberately handle the ball or deliberately use their arm to change the direction of the ball.  As each of our games is played in a confined space, with a much higher player to playing area ratio than 11-a-side football, the risk of the ball deflecting or ricocheting off other players or other parts of the body and striking an arm or the hand is high. Unless it is reasonably clear that the hand or arm was moved towards the ball, or held in a position, to deliberately block, deflect or control the ball, it is not a foul.
  

• Kicking or hacking an opponent, or tripping an opponent, are not allowed and may be regarded as serious foul play or violent play.
  

• Subject to the considerations and qualifications below, the following are also not allowed during a game:

• raising of foot above knee level.
• tackle from behind
• any action where the sole of the shoe makes contact with an opposing player
• body checks
• shoulder charge
• raising of elbow
• outstretched arm
• raising of knee when jumping
• pushing
• holding

Considerations/qualifications:  If significant contact is made with an opposing player by any of the above, it is a foul (even if the ball is won), with a free kick to the opposing side if committed outside the D and a penalty if committed inside the D. The converse is that if there is no significant contact, there is no foul and the game continues.  In this context, at its simplest, "significant contact" means contact materially over and above that which is normally incidental to, or to be expected, in our games.   Football is a contact sport.  Our games are for adults.

• More generally, over-zealous, overly physical or reckless tackling or challenges are not allowed.  Players who repeatedly commit such acts may face sanctions. 
  

• If a foul is committed, the opposing side will have a free kick, or penalty, as the case may be.  When a free kick is taken, the opposing players must be at least 7 paces away for games on a big pitch and at least 5 paces away for games on a small pitch.
  

• The following will be regarded as violent conduct and will result in immediate suspension:

• Any form of violence.
  
• Committing or attempting to commit a deliberate foul or other act which carries a serious risk of injury to another player.
• Instigating another player to do either of the above. This could include calling out to a team mate to commit such a foul on an opposing player.

Selectors/captains can between themselves agree to ask any player committing the above to leave the game.

• Players are expected to play in the right spirit.  During a game, captains may agree that a disruptive player should leave the game for 5 to 10 minutes to cool down, compose himself or reflect on his conduct.  Repeated or serious instances of not playing in the right spirit may result in sanctions.  The following are examples of not playing in the right spirit:

• Committing a deliberate foul, or calling out to a team mate to commit a deliberate foul.
  
• All forms of gamesmanship, including but not limited to winding up opponents (over and above mere banter), simulation and feigning injury, repeatedly making unnecessary calls during a game or stubbornly insisting on calls going in one's favour, or calling out to an opponent to pass the ball to you in order to confuse the opponent.
  
• Excessive arguing and unnecessary displays of hostility, anger, or aggression towards other players, whether on your own team on the opposing team.
• Over-reacting or retaliating, whether in words or by overzealous tackling, or blowing up incidents to try to influence decisions.

• As we play without a referee, if a player involved in a passage of play calls a foul, unless the player committing the foul or his team captain concede the foul, continue the play until the ball goes out of play or is in the hands of a goalkeeper. When a foul is called, don’t just leave the ball for the opposing side and stop playing. Sometimes, they will continue and score.  At first instance, the matter should be left to the players involved in the passage of play. Other players not involved in the passage of play can express an opinion, but don’t press it. The final word is with the team selectors/captains. If the call is conceded, it resumes with the free kick or penalty as the case may be.   Where there is a genuine dispute, and no agreement is reached, the following rules of thumb shall be applied to expedite matters:

• If the player on the receiving end of the tackle or challenge is physically hurt or suffers greater physical impact than is a normal incident of our games, it is presumed to be a foul, resulting in a free kick or penalty.  It should not lightly be alleged that a player is feigning physical hurt. However, a player's past conduct is a relevant consideration.  Therefore, my advice to all players is do not develop a reputation for simulation or feigning physical hurt.  It will be held against you.

• If the player has committed an act that is in any event disallowed as set out above, this will weigh against him. 
  

• All genuinely 50:50 calls should be decided in favour of the team trailing by 2 goals or more. 
  

• In every other case, it is presumed not to be a foul, and the game continues from where play stopped.

• If necessary, the dispute can be resolved later, in the post-game discussions, or on the report thread for the game.
  

• If a corner is called but disputed, then it is a goal kick.

• Team selectors/captains can apply the "zip it" rule.  If any player argues excessively or too aggressively, either selector/captain can, facing the player from a reasonable distance, run an imaginary zip across his mouth.  This should be done from a reasonable distance in order not to inflame or aggravate the situation. The player concerned should not utter a word for 5 minutes thereafter.  Selectors/captains can apply the "zip it" rule to any player on his own team who he thinks is being too vocal. 
  

• When time is called, the game comes to an end when the ball goes dead. We do not play to “last goal”, although those playing in the game may agree to do so.

• Playing standards and abilities may vary. We try to take these into account in the proposed line ups. Everyone who plays is expected to have basic footballing ability. Everyone should make a reasonable effort and contribute to the best of their ability to the team they are playing for.  In particular, I will take note of the following, and may take action, if any of the following is brought to my attention:

• Persistently remaining stationary near the opposing goal waiting for the ball. If you're tired, go in goal, or stay in defence.
  
• Repeatedly not chasing back when you lose possession of the ball. There is no place for prima donnas in our games.
• Not making sufficient effort due to dissatisfaction with the line ups or any other matter, in conflict with, or without sufficient regard for, the system and the rules.
  

• Sometimes, words may be said to a player falling short of the basic standard which seem harsh. However, please no swearing or show of aggression towards your team mates or opponents.

• Ultimately, we are each responsible for our own well-being and the well-being of those we play with. Safety is a priority.