CFL General Rules
The Christian Football League is governed by all FIFA rules. These rules can be found at the www.fifa.com web site.
In addition to the laws of football as governed by FIFA, the CFL has the following additional rules and guidelines.
Captains Responsibilities
Captains are responsible for setting and maintaining the “spirit” of excellence that has seen us successfully through to this point. Refer to our “Code Of Conduct” form.
- Captains/Managers must ensure that all subs are handed in on time and that the Registration Form has been filled out correctly in conjunction with the Code of Conduct Form.
- Endeavouring to have their teams ready to kick off at designated times of 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Refer to “Location”
- To stamp out the language (swearing) in their own teams, particularly taking the Lords name in vain.
- Captains are encouraged to have team members wearing team uniforms, e.g. socks, shorts shirts etc. “Refer to Dress Code”
- All Team Captains are required to wear a C (Captain’s) – Armband
Location
All games are to be held at Riversdale Park, Avondale.
Game Duration And Kick-Off Times
Games are to commence on time 10:30am, 12:30pm & 2:30pm kick off sharp. Game durations are: 45 min halves with a max 15 min half time break.
(7) Players constitutes a team. If a team does not have (7) players to commence play on time, the opposing team wins the game by default. See points.
Health & Safety
Personal Injury
All persons participating in the CFL do so at their own risk and the CFL will not be responsible for any injury or property loss or damage sustained while participating in CFL events.
1st Aid
We have a comprehensive 1st Aid kit available during the day for any injuries sustained. It contains splints, strapping tape as well as ice packs.
1st Aid supplies are available to all people from any of the committee members.
Pregnant Players
The CFL does not permit any pregnant woman playing. Any woman playing either knowingly or unknowingly while pregnant, does so at her own risk. All responsibility for the safety of the woman and unborn child are that of the individual player. The CFL does not want any woman to risk the health and safety of her unborn child by playing.
Age Restrictions
For safety reasons all players taking the field in an CFL match must be a minimum of 15 years old or with agreed permission from the referee and both teams.
Gender
Women can play in the Premier Division, First Division & Second Division Leagues (at their own risk i.e.)
Dress Code
Please ensures that ALL PLAYERS ARE WEARING THE CORRECT SAFETY GEAR. SHIN PADS & BOOTS ARE COMPULSARY.
Remember that A.C.C requires all sporting bodies take proper and reasonable precautions.
The CFL requests ALL TEAMS to wear the appropriate soccer uniform [matching shirt (shirts to be numbered), shorts and socks].
ALL Team Captains are to wear a Captain’s Arm Band which is COMPULSORY.
Referees are entitled to ask for a uniform change should there be a clash of colours (see below).
Baseball caps (except for Goalkeepers), bandanners, ear rings or any jewelry are not part of the uniform and not permissible to wear during games.
From time to time during the season, we would suggest that sprigs are checked, obviously for safety reasons.
Uniform Clash
Where two teams have a colour clash then the team who is classed as the HOME TEAM or that has been wearing that colour for the longest time do not have to change.
If you are obtaining a new strip and the colour clashes with another team then it is your responsibility to change your outfit.
There are also “red, green or yellow” bibs available to use if need be. See one of the committie members or the referees co-ordinator who will have access to the storage area for the required bibs.
**ALL BIBS ARE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR AND RETURNED TO THE REFEREE ON COMPLETION OF YOUR GAME (NB)** THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TEAM CAPTAIN.
Referees
The CFL will assign a referee to all games where possible, unless otherwise advised.
Linesmen
A team is required to supply ONE linesman only. If one team has 15 players and the other team the bare 11, then the team with 15 players does not have to provide a second linesman. In this case there is no linesman ruling the offside for the team with 15 players (the referees discretion would therefore apply. NB.).
Field Use
Team’s who play games on a closed field e.g. a rained out game, will forfeit that game and be penalised four (4) points. We have a good relationship with the council and we would like to keep it that way!
The fields at Riversdale Park are not to be used outside of the specified times without consent from the nominated committee member in charge of the fields.
Games that have been cancelled or postponed due to bad weather or other unforseen circumstances outside of the CFL’s control, will be replayed at the earliest time where possible as scheduled by the CFL Committee, unless otherwise advised.
Substitutions
Rolling substitutions may be made at any time during the game but only when the ball is out of play and the referee has been informed (via the CAPTAINS), HOWEVER players entering the field must only do so on their own “free kick”, “throw in”, “goal kick” or if there has been an injury.
At the REFEREES DISCRETION there may be times when it’s permissible for the opposing side to sub a player e.g. if the ball is been retrieved, an injury break etc, but ONLY if and when the referee permits.
THIS RULE IS MAINLY ENFORCED TO PREVENT A DEFENDING SIDE FROM SLOWING DOWN THE GAME and ALSO ALLOWS THE REFEREE TO MONITOR THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE FIELD.
Remember an illegal substitution is a cautionable offense in which the player entering the field can receive a yellow card.
Substitutions cannot be made during the process of a corner kick.
Players may leave the field at any position on the field, however players coming onto the field must do so at the halfway point.
The number of substitutions are as follows:
- Premier League – Unlimited Substitutes
- First Division – Unlimited Substitutes
- Second Division – Unlimited Substitutes
Players
All teams are required to submit a list of full player names (up to 20 names including captain and vice-captain).
No player may be listed on more than one team list.
Any changes to a team list are to be submitted, with explanation, to the CFL committee for approval.
No team may play any person not written on their team list in an CFL match unless they are short of players. In such a case the agreement of the opposing captain, as witnessed by the match referee, must be obtained and agreed upon before the match begins. The CFL committee would expect a level of understanding and tolerance by captains agreeing to outside players for a team that is short of players.
These rules rely on the honesty and good character of CFL captains.
Failure to adhere to the above rules can result in the deduction of competition points (at the discretion of the CFL committee).
DISCIPLINE
Lifting the discipline this season to raise and to improve the standard of the league. It is in line with the FIFA rules and accomodates a level of responsibility of captains to advise players of the fine system. A red card is automatically followed by a one week / match suspention, two red cards for two weeks, and or three yellow cards received during the season will also hold an automatic one week suspension.
At the end of each season all CFL teams disciplinary stats will be reviewed by the CFL Committee. Any team obtaining an excess of 3 Red Cards & 10 Yellow Cards for the entire season run the risk of having a fine imposed on them (at the discretion of the CFL Committee) for having a poor disciplinary record. This will be in the form of an internet bank deposit with the CFL Committee to advise of the fine amount being imposed.
Although if a team accumulates this amount of fines, their discipline will be looked into to see further outcomes for the teams future. Exceptional cases of poor discipline could see a further fine or suspensions up to the discretion of the CFL Committee.
The advantages of this system are that each card actually carries more weight and may be somewhat of a deterrent. The disadvantages are the possibility of additional money required from teams up front for their poor disciplinary record.
Referees will be given the use (at their discretion) of two (2) coloured cards. They will be used to warn or send players off in the following manner:
Yellow and red cards will be used for the regulation offenses stated in the FIFA rule book.
A player receiving a red card will be expelled from that game and is required to leave the game / field area by at least 1 field.
A player who receives one red card will automatically be suspended for the next match.
Remember referees decision is final. Complaints about refereeing decisions or other teams behaviour should be submitted in writing to the CFL Committee members only.
Yellow cards can be issued for the following offences:
Unsporting behaviour
Showing dissent by word or action
Persistent infringement of the laws of the game
Delays the restart of play
Fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick
Enters or re-enters the field of play without the referees permission
Reckless challenge (whether you connect with another player or not)
Red Cards can be issued for the following offences:
Using blasphemous language
Serious foul play
Violent conduct
Spitting at any other person (player, ref, spectator)
Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (keepers in their own area excluded)
Denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the players goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
Uses offensive, insulting or abusive language
Receives a 2nd caution (yellow card) in the same match
Please remember that a referee’s decision is final. Do not argue with referees (this is showing dissent).
Players who try to influence referees decisions i.e. tell refs a player should be carded, may find themselves being carded!
Card Suspensions
One red card automatically has a 1 match suspension.
The second red card in one season means a 2 match suspension.
The third red card removes the player from the competition for that year.
Three yellow cards in one season receives a one match ban.
Points
Teams are awarded:
3 points for a win
1 points for a draw
0 points for a loss
* Team No Show = default win for the opposing team*
Teams who default games (i.e. by notice or by a no show) will earn 0 points for that game and the game will be recorded as a loss to the defaulting team.
The team that can’t play will be awarded 0 points, the opposition will rewarded 3 points.
The team that ‘wins’ a defaulted game is given a score of 4-0 and awarded 3 points.
Grading System – Promotion & Relegation.
The NZ Christian Football Association Consists Of three divisions.
Premier League
Division 1
Division 2
The League Table
The league table will be calculated as follows:
- Team with the most points at the top
- Team with the best goal difference -GD- (if teams are even on points)
- Team with the most goals scored (if teams are even on Points and GD)
The final league table will be calculated as follows-
- Team with the most points at the top
- Team with the best goal difference -GD- (if teams are even on points)
- Team with the most goals scored (if teams are even on Points and GD)
- Team with the most wins (if teams are even on points, GD & Goals scored)
- Team with the least “default” points (if teams are even after criteria 4)
- Team with the most bonus points (if teams are still even after criteria 5!!)
- If teams are still even then an aggregate of the scores between the two teams will decide the outcome.
- If the teams are still even then a special playoff game (with penalty shoot-out if needed) will decide the teams positions.
League Knockout Round
Towards the end of the season there will be the League knockout rounds, which will consist of that division playing knockout games within that league. All teams will participate and matches will be drawn at random within that division. In the case of 7 teams in a division the top team currently automatically advances to the semi-finals. In the case of 9 teams the bottom team does not participate in the League knockout rounds. Where there are less that 7 teams or more than 9 in a division the committee team will decide how this will play out.
All rules for the knockout rounds are the same as the above for the league.
In the result of a draw at the end of the game, teams will go straight to penalties and will be the best out of 5 shots which will decide the winner.
Disputes/Complaints
Committee members are occasionally called upon to settle disputes. Where a member is not available, disputes/complaints will only be heard by the committee after receiving a written statement.
Complaints or disputes are to be forwarded to the committee via the teams captain.
In an event of a dispute or complaint written statements will only be received within 7 days of any incident.