Section Topic

1 Registration of Players
1.1 Trialists
1.2 Junior & Ex-Professional Players

2 Match Rules (with a link to the FIFA Laws of the Game)
2.1 Cup/Playoff specific rules

3 Disciplinary Rules

4 Reporting of Results

5 League Commitee
5.1 Method of Raising An Issue/Appeal
5.2 Committee Members
5.3 Appeals Committee Members

6 League Funding
6.1 Treasury
6.2 Match Fees

7 League Placing
7.1 Promotion & Relegation

8 Organising Games
8.1 Home Team Responsibilities
8.2 Away Team Responsibilities
8.3 Responsibilities of Both Teams

9 Postponement of Games

10 Forfeit of Games

11 Withdrawal from GDSFC

12 Referees Fees

13 Online Conduct

14 Appealing Referee's Decisions or Suspensions

15 Additional Rulings

16 Violation of League Rules

17 Cup-Tied Players added 10/08/2011
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1 Registration of Players

Players can only play for the team they are registered with. If a player wishes to play for another team, he must first be unregistered by his team before joining another team. Registrations maybe blocked if the committee feels teams are employing tactics not in the spirit of the league. Players may only move teams once per season.

Any player who has previously played in a GDSFC competition will not be permitted to join another side after 31 March 2013.

All players must be registered to the league with a photograph of sufficient quality.

Any player released by a team or not registered for any other team in the league is a free agent. Free agents can be registered by any team at anytime.

A maximum of 35 players may be registered over the season. Initial squads must be registered by 1 September, 2012, though if teams do not fill their 35-man quota, additional players may be added after this date, up to the maximum 35. At the winter break, teams may choose to replace 5 of those registered with new players. 5 out, 5 in maximum.

1.1 Trialists

Teams may field a maximum of 1 trialist goalkeeper and 1 trialist outfielder at any point in a game.
Each position can be replaced by a different trialist, but 2 trialist outfield players are not permitted at the same time.

There is no limit to how many triaists may be part of the match-day squad.

Any individual trialist must be named on the teamsheet and may only be used for a maximum of 3 matches before full registration is required.

A team must not play a trialist during a cup final.

You may not register or play any player whom is currently registered to play for a professional or junior football team.

1.2 Junior & Ex-Professional Players

GDSFC does not permit the use of any players currently registered with Junior or Senior Clubs, whether on Professional or Amateur contracts. Nor does the GDSFC permit the use of ex-Professional players who have participated in a professional match within the last two years.

Effective from November 7th 2011, all players joining a GDSFC team from a Junior team must have a clear 4-week period between their last match for the Junior team and their first match for the GDSFC team.


2 Match Rules

The referee’s decision is final, and must be shown respect during the game.

Match rules will adhere to the laws of game, with the exception of substitution laws – all GDSFC League and Cup matches permit the use of rolling substitutes.

When making a substitution, the ball must be out of play, and the referee must have granted permission for the team to make a substitution. If the referee feels a team is not playing within the spirit of the league, with regards to the frequency and timing of substitutions, he may choose to not allow the substitution to take place. This is entirely at the referee’s discretion.

League matches use only one match official, the referee.

2.1 Cup/Playoff specific rules

All matches tied after 90 minutes will go straight to penalty kicks. Only players on the park at full time may hit a penalty. Usual penalty shootout rules otherwise apply.

Three officials will only be used for finals. If both teams agree, three officials may also be used for semi-finals.

All semi finals, finals, and playoffs must be played on a 3G/4G or a good quality grass park, with a booking time that will ensure two halves of 45 minutes, and penalties are achievable.


3 Disciplinary Rules

Disciplinary procedures and sanctions are detailed in the Discipline section of the Committee Rulings board.


4 Reporting of results

Match details (cards, goals, teamsheet) must be reported by 12pm (midday) on the Tuesday following a weekend match, or within 36 hours of full-time of a match staged on another day of the week.

All teams are required to take the time to report results. Clearly stating:-
• The final score
• Yellow cards
• Red cards
• Goal scorers
• The match squad

Results will posted using the websites online team sheet, if you require help in using this, please ask a committee member.

Persistent failure to report results correctly may cause the offending team to incur point sanctions or for individual results to become void.


5 League Committee

The GDSFC Committee, as of August 7th 2012, has 11 members. The committee is there to make decisions on any issue arising throughout the season, through a simple majority. League wide issues will be voted on by all division representatives, while committee members are obliged to abstain from votes on issues pertaining to their own side.

5.1 Method of raising an issue/appeal

Team managers should raise issues or appeals by posting on the League Managers board a thread titled “FAO Committee”. One committee member will respond on the thread with a note of acknowledgement, at which point committee members will not offer any further comment on the thread until a decision has been reached, and a post made on the Committee Rulings board.

Any appeals connected to red cards or match forfeits will be decided upon by an 'appeals committee'. All information related to the original decision will be passed from the Committee to the Appeals Committee.

Neither committee have access to each other's forum.

Further detail in Section 14

5.2 Committee Members

Tocker1982
Dario
Dougie@F.C.S.U.
Glasgow Corinthians
MisterC
GSC United FC
Silent
Nim
FF Rusty
strathclydeunitedchris
Badger

5.3 Appeals Committee Members

ramsayRMFC
stevielang77
Lancers Captain

6 League Funding

Teams are required to pay a League registration fee of £50 plus two individual payments of £25 prior to the start of competitive football on August 12th 2012.

Teams who fail to pay League fees will be subject to sanctions, ranging from forfeit of matches to expulsion from the league, at the Committee’s discretion.

6.1 Treasury

A League Treasury has been established, there are two members, all of whom are part of the Committee. Dougie@F.C.S.U. and MisterC. All financial outlays must be sanctioned by all members.

Should and teams have any enquiries over league funding, please contact one of these members.

6.2 Match Fees

Referees cost £40 for their services, to cover a 90 minute match, half-time break and any necessary penalty kicks in cup games, and should be split equally between both teams.

Pitch hire shall be split equally between both teams up to a maximum of £45 cost to the away team.


7 League Placing

Final League Placing will be decided by points gained; teams tied on points will be separated by their head-to-head results. If teams cannot be separated on this basis, then goal-difference will be used to separate the teams, with precedence given to the highest goal-difference, or, in case of tied goal-difference, the team to have scored the most goals.

7.1 Promotion & Relegation

Season 2012/13 has 36 teams split in to 3 divisions of 12. There is no relegation from Division 3.

Automatic promotion for: Teams finishing 1st in Divisions 2 and 3.
Automatic relegation for: Teams finishing 12th in Division 1 and 12th in Division 2.

In addition, the team finishing second-bottom of the higher divisions with enter a play-off against the teams placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the lower divisions. Fixtures are in the format:

Higher division team -v- 4th placed lower division team & 2nd place -v- 3rd place. Each game is a one-off following GDSFC play-off rules, with the winners meeting in the Final. The winner of the Final will take the place in the higher division.


8 Organising Games

It is the Home team’s discretion to book any park they choose, within the specified region of Glasgow district (detailed at the bottom of this post and in the attached map file ) provided it is 2G or higher standard artificial or grass in a playable, safe condition – and with the following stipulations in mind.

8.1 Home team responsibilities:
• Book a pitch between the hours of 10am and 8pm (extra consideration must be given to the away team’s transport needs when booking a 10am or 8pm slot, in the spirit of fair play and a desire to fulfil all fixtures).
• Notify the League of this booking in the Fixture Confirmation section of the Forum, in order that a referee may be allocated. This must be posted by the Tuesday prior to any match taking place on a Sunday. Allowances for games arranged at shorter notice are at the discretion of the Referee Organiser, userID Silent.
• Make the opposition aware of the costs involved, up to a maximum of £45 pitch hire cost to the away team, plus the referee. That is, a £90 maximum pitch let plus £40 referee fee. Any excess is the home team’s responsibility unless expressly agreed by the away team.
• Make opposition aware of the type of surface the match will be played on.

8.2 Away team responsibilities:
• Ensure there will be no kit clash

8.3 Both teams:
• Ensure the referee and park have been paid for
• Complete online teamsheets
• Report goal scorers and bookings online
• Ensure the game is fulfilled by turning up, with a match squad
• Ensure the correct equipment is used

Failure of either team to fulfil its responsibilities will be referred to the Committee for sanctions.


9 Postponement of games

Postponements, regardless of timescale, must have the agreement of both sides and the re-arranged match must take place on, or before, the next free week in the fixture list. A case can be presented to the committee if it is felt any team is being unreasonable in declining a postponement request.
Failure to play the outstanding match will result in the match being recorded as void, a 0-0 scoreline with no points awarded to either side. If, however, one side has been making an effort to play the match and evidence can be presented to the committee (forum posts, PMs, text messages or emails) a forfeit may be awarded.
Exceptions to this ruling include matches that have been postponed outwith the control of the two sides involed. IE Floodlight failure, no referee, weather conditions.
Cup matches can only be postponed if the re-arranged match takes place at least 7 days before the start of the next round.
10 Forfeit of games

A team may ask to force a forfeit if:
• A team request a postponement at unreasonably short notice (typically less than 5 days), without sufficient reason.
• The team responsible for arranging the match does not make a reasonable effort to do so, resulting in a struggle for a park to be booked.
• Any other reason where by a team feels another team has not acted appropriately

The Committe will investigate and rule appropriately.

Match Forfeit carries a 5-0 scoreline awarded in favour of/against the appropriate party.


11 Withdrawal from GDSFC

Teams who withdraw from the League after the season has begun will lose their fees. Games which have already been played will be void and removed from the results record. Cards picked up by players who then move to another GDSFC team will be carried over.


12 Referees Fees

Referees charge £40 for 2 hour sessions.

• Cancellation of a referee without payment. For a Sunday match, cancellation must be notified AND be confirmed by the Organising Referee prior to 12pm (midday) on the preceding Friday in order to not incur a fee. Matches staged on other days of the week are at the referee’s discretion, a notice period of 3 days is usually required.
• Any team wishing to cancel a match/referee at too short notice, or a team who does not appear for the match, is liable for the full referee’s fee.
• If a referee is in attendance, and calls off a game due to weather, or any other reason, he is eligible for a half fee. If the game is called off by the park due to weather or any other circumstance out with the team’s control, a referee’s fee will be waivered, provided it is within suitable time frame for the referee to be cancelled.
• If a match is abandoned due to indiscipline, the offending team is eligible for the whole referees fee.
• If a team no shows, they are eligible for the whole referees fee.


13 Online conduct

Website users are expected to be respectful to referees, other teams and players in public areas of the board.

Only team managers may make a complaint about the conduct of a referee, player, team, etc. The complaint should be made within the managers section of the GDSFC online forum, or via email to any of the committee members. Complaints should not be in anyway abusive.

Any user found to be breaching online conduct, maybe subject to a playing suspension.


14 Appealing Referee’s Decisions or Suspensions

In order to mount an appeal of any decision taken by a referee or of a suspension given to a player, teams must deposit a fee of £10 into the League's PayPal account ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) at the time of lodging the appeal. If no fee is received, the appeal will not be considered. Unsuccessful appeals will forfeit the £10 fee.

The fee has been introduced in order to deter frivolous appeals.

Appeals must be lodged by 12pm (midday) on the Tuesday after a weekend match, or within 36 hours of full-time of a midweek match in accordance with Section 5.1 of the League Rules. This is to ensure the appeal can be dealt with in time for the following weekend's matches.


15 Additional Rulings

At any point during the season, the Committee may instigate new rules. This may be due to oversight or due to issues raised by League Managers. In this event, the Committee’s ruling is binding and any alterations or additions to rules take effect immediately, unless otherwise specified.

The Committee’s decisions are final, and reached through the specified voting structure.


16 Violation of League Rules

Teams who violate any of the League Rules will be subject to sanctions. These may be: a 5-0 forfeit which will be awarded in the opposition's favour; points deductions; expulsion from the league; or whatever the Committee deem fair and appropriate punishment.

17 Cup-Tied Players

The committee has decided that Players will be cup tied when in competition.

If a player plays for a team in the "group stages" of a cup, he will be cup tied for the group stages with that team.

That player is then free to play for another team at the "knockout stages" of that tournament and would then be cup tied to that team for the remainder of the tournament.

If a player plays for a team where group stages are not available i.e. a cup that is straight knock out, he will remain cup tied to that team for the remainder of the tournament, whether that team is eliminated from the competition or not.