2007/2008 FIXTURES AND CUP DRAWS

The fixtures for the Secondary Leagues and Cup Competitions are now online.  The Primary league and cup fixtures will be published as soon as possible.

2007/2008 DISTRICT TRIALS

Arrangements for the trials for the Under 13 and Under 14 Representative teams have now been published and can be found online. All nominated players will receive a letter to confirm the arrangements. Arrangements for other age groups will be confirmed as soon as possible.

2007-2008 DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES

The fixture programme for the Association’s representative sides are now online

GOALPOSTS

The Football Foundation have now amended the criteria for funding new goalposts.  The requirement for goalposts to be damaged and dangerous to qualify for a grant of up to 50% of the cost no longer applies and the FF will allocate grants of up to 50% for those schools who require additional goalposts either for 11 v. 11 pitches or goalposts for small-sided/mini-soccer – Details on www.footballfoundation.org.uk

SHIRTS

PLEASE NOTE – that BLACK shirts are not permissible in schools’ football.

MIXED FOOTBALL

You may have seen media coverage of a pilot scheme to allow girls to play in boys’ teams during the course of the 2007/2008 season. Please note that this does not apply to Schools’ Football.  Mixed teams are allowed up to and including Year 6

MINI SOCCER CLARIFICATION: Under 7 – Under 8

• Under 6  (Year 1) pupils may not play in a match of any kind
• Under 7  (Year 2) pupils are not permitted to play
• In leagues where results are collected, recorded and/or published.
• In a Cup Competition whether one-day or over a period

Under 7 (Year 2) pupils may play

• In a league where results are not collected, recorded and/or published

Under 8  (Year 3) pupils are not permitted to play

• In a Cup Competition whether one-day or over a period

Under 8 (Year 3) pupils may play

• In a league where results are collated and published

AGE BANDINGS

FA Rules permit players to participate in a 2-year age banding and therefore an Under 7 player can play with an Under 8 player, and an Under 8 player with Under 9 and Under 9 with Under 10 ** It is possible the F.A. may change this Rule

NB – there is an Association Rule, which does not allow pupils to play in more than one age group in a season. 

Amendments to the Laws of the Game

Players Equipment

• A jersey or shirt – if undergarments are worn, the colour of the sleeve should be the same main colour as the sleeve as the sleeve of the jersey or shirt
• Shorts – if undershorts are worn, they are of the same main colour as the shorts.
• Players must not revel undershirts that contain slogans or advertising. The basic compulsory equipment must not contain any political, religious or personal statements
• A player removing his jersey to reveal slogans or advertising will be sanctioned by the competition organizer. The team of a player whose basic compulsory equipment contains political, religious or personal slogans or statements will be sanctioned by the competition organizer or by FIFA.
• Jersey must have sleeves

Additional Instructions to Match Officials

• A player must be cautioned when:
  • In the opinion of the referee, he makes gestures which are provocative, derisory or inflammatory
  • He climbs on to a perimeter fence to celebrate a goal being scored
  • He removes his shirt over his head or covers his head with his shirt
  • He covers his head or face with a mask or other similar item to celebrate a goal
• Leaving the field of play to celebrate a goal is not a cautionable offence  in itself but it is essential that players return to the field of play as soon as possible