Rules and expectations agreed upon for the upcoming season for the New Zealand Christian Football Association. The NZCFA 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 NZCFA 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.

1. 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.
2. Endeavouring to have their teams ready to kick off at designated times of 11.00am, 12.30p.m. and 2.30p.m. Refer to "Location"
3. To stamp out the language (swearing) in their own teams, particularly taking the Lords name in vain.
4. Captains are encouraged to have team members wearing team uniforms, e.g. socks, shorts shirts etc. "Refer to Dress Code"
5. To ensure when your team is rostered on to referee a game that
a) The person nominated is there at least 10 min's before kick-off
b) That the team cards are completed and accurately filled out.
c) That the team cards are signed by the team captains after the game.
d) That the person allocated to referee is capable of refereeing the game and has a good knowledge of the rules and regulations adhered to by the NZCFA.
e) These are available on our web site under "Rules and Objectives"

Location

  • All games are to be held at Riversdale Park, Avondale.
  • Games are to commence on time 11.00am 12.30pm & 2.30pm kick off sharp.
  • 45 min. halves with a max 15 min 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 NZCFA do so at thier own risk and the NZCFA will not be responsible for any injury or property loss or damage sustained while participating in NZCFA 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 NZCFA 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 NZCFA 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 NZCFA match must be a minimum of 10 years old. There may only be up to 3 players under 16 on the field for one team at any one time during a match.


    Gender

    No men are able to play in the Women's League. Women can play in the Premier, Super and Power Leagues but there may only be one woman per team on the field at any time.


    Dress Code

  • Please ensures that ALL PLAYERS ARE WEARING CORRECT SAFETY
    GEAR. SHIN PADS & BOOTS ARE COMPULSARY.
    Remember that A.C.C requires all sporting bodies take proper and reasonable precautions.
  • The NZCFA would request all teams (especially the PREMIER division teams) wear an appropriate soccer uniform (matching shirt, shorts and socks).
  • Referees are entitled to ask for a uniform change should there be a clash of colours (see below).
  • Baseball caps (except for Goalkeepers) and watches 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 that has been wearing that colour for the longest time do not have to change.
  • If you are getting a new strip and it clashes with another team then it is your responsibility to change your outfit.
  • There are also "red or yellow" bibs avaiable. See one of the committie members who have access to the storage area.

    Referees

    Teams who do not supply a referee when they are designated to do so will lose 4 points.

    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 (so the team with the bare 11 is penalised).

    Field Use

  • Teams 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, will be replayed at the earliest time possible as scheduled by the NZCFA.

    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 TO SLOW 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 (and a 10 minute sin bin).

  • 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 - up to 3 substitutes
    Super League - unlimited substitutes
    Power League - unlimited substitutes
    Women's League - 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 NZCFA committee for approval.
  • No team may play any person not written on their team list in an NZCFA match unless they are short of players. In such a case the agreement of the opposing captain, as witnessed by the match referee, must obtained be before the match begins. The NZCFA 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 NZCFA captains.
  • Failure to adhere to the above rules can result in the deduction of competition points (at the discretion of the NZCFA committee).

    DISCIPLINE

    NZCFA Discipline Fine System
    Mens Bond $100
    Womens Bond $50
    Red Card $40 Fine

    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, two red cards for two weeks, and or three yellow cards during the season will still also hold a one week suspension.

    All teams pay a $100 bond at the start of the season with their fees. At the end of the season all teams would get the bond back, less any fines. This will be in the form of an internet bank deposit.

    If a team accumulates fines of more than $100 during the season, a further $100 bond would be required before that team would receive any competition points. Although if a team accumulates this amount of fines their discpline 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 Committee.

    The fines are automatically deducted from the $100 bond. Each red card is worth a fine to the team ($40 for every red card).

    The advantages of this system are that each card actually carries more weight and may be somewhat of a deterrent. The disadvantages are the additional money required from teams up front.

    It should be noted that any money from fines received will not go back into the NZCFA but be given to help the mission work of SoccerPlusNZ, so as to clarify that the fines system is not a revenue collector for the NZCFA.


    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 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:
  • 6 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 0 points for a loss
  • 1 bonus point for scoring 4 or more goals (win, lose or draw).

  • Teams who default games will have 6 points deducted from their tally (a default = no show on the day.
  • If you inform your opposition before game day i.e. at least 3 days prior to kick-off this equates to a 4-0 loss not a default.
  • The team that can't play will be awarded 0 points, the opposition will rewarded 7 points.
  • The team that 'wins' a defaulted game is given a score of 4-0 and awarded 7 points.

    Grading System - Promotion & Relegation.

    The NZ Christian Football Association consists of four divisions.

    8 Teams Division 1 - Premier League
    8 Teams Division 2 - Super League
    8 Teams Division 3 - Power League
    8 Teams Women's League

  • To make the competition as fair as possible, we will be continuing with the relegation/promotion system.
  • This will ensure every team is playing other sides of the same potential.
  • This system can mean that a team starting in the third division can win the second division title.
  • Bottom placed teams have no choice in whether they want to be relegated.

    Promotion & Relegation Guidelines

    We believe this system will help our competition to become more enjoyable for every team and to create a level playing field for all teams.

    After 1 full round
    Premier League - Bottom team is relegated to the Super League
    Super League - Top team is promoted to the Premier League
    Super League - Bottom 2 teams are relegated to the Power League
    Power League - Top 2 teams are promoted to the Super League

  • Other circumstances may arise that will make the competition run more fairly and effectively. The NZCFA committee has the final decision at their discretion to place teams positions to ensure that a fair level of competition is upheld.
  • Just because a team wins a promotion race and expresses an interest in being promoted does not automatically give that team a right to be promoted. All promotion relegation issues are subject to the discretion of the committee and they look at the overall big picture that surrounds each team.

    When the relegated or promoted team enter their new division they will commence the second round on "0" points. Every game thereafter will be worth "Double Points", while the existing teams continue with the standard points system. If teams have equal points at the end of the 1st round, then the standard system will apply to determine who advances or is relegated.


    See The League Table under Rules & Objectives
    1. Team with the most points at the top
    2. Team with the best goal difference - GD- (if teams are even on points)
    3. Team with the most goals scored (if teams are even on Points and GD)
    4. Team with the most wins (if teams are even on points, GD & Goals scored)
    5. Team with the least "default" points (if teams are even after criteria 4)
    6. Team with the most bonus points (if teams are still even after criteria 5!!)

    The League Table

    The league table will be calculated as follows:
    1. Team with the most points at the top
    2. Team with the best goal difference -GD- (if teams are even on points)
    3. Team with the most goals scored (if teams are even on Points and GD)


    The final league table will be calculated as follows-
    1. Team with the most points at the top
    2. Team with the best goal difference -GD- (if teams are even on points)
    3. Team with the most goals scored (if teams are even on Points and GD)
    4. Team with the most wins (if teams are even on points, GD & Goals scored)
    5. Team with the least "default" points (if teams are even after criteria 4)
    6. Team with the most bonus points (if teams are still even after criteria 5!!)
    7. If teams are still even then an aggregate of the scores between the two teams will decide the outcome.
    8. If the teams are still even then a special playoff game (with penalty shoot-out if needed) will decide the teams positions.

    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.