Please note that these rules may evolve over time.
- Each game requires 2 referees, and it lasts 80 minutes (unless it started late, in this case the final duration needs to be agreed between the teams and referees). If only one referee pitches for reasons beyond the home team control, any arrangement (switch to a friendly, choosing to not play, or keep playing if both teams are happy), needs to be discussed beforehand between the teams.
- The home team organizes the referees. Currently the advised rate is ZAR 300 per referee, or ZAR 400 for one referee is there is no other choice
- Yellow card means 10 minute sin-bin. If the player refused to leave the field, the referee can decide to suspend the game and give a 3-0 win to the opposite team.
- Players to have ID or Drivers available for inspection if requested
- If player fails to produce #4, he may not continue to play
- If guilty of fielding under aged players will result in immediate expulsion. The team that played an under 35 player will be investigated, with possible points deducted or expelled from the league
- A player turning 35 in the current year qualifies (eg: whoever is born before 1988 for the 2023 season. In January 2024 players born in 1989 are allowed to play)
- The home team organizes the fields. The fields need be to in good playing condition i.e. lights, nets, lines and corner flags. Lines need to be marked and visible to the referees and players.
We play on grass, not jungles. Failure to do so will result in the away team being awarded the points. - Cancellation or request for postponement needs to be agreed before Wednesday. *Tuesday 5pm is the cut off time. *
- Any cancellations that happens on Wednesday WITHOUT any agreement between the two teams in place, will result in the team that cancelled losing 3-0.
- Any “gentlemens” agreement between the two teams supersede rules 9 and 10. If two teams cannot play, or a postponement has been requested and granted, as long as they honour their agreement will be acceptable.
- After the seasons reached the half-point, any game that includes two teams that did not manage to play in the first half will be a 6 pointer (unless rule 11 gets triggered). Whatever the final score is, in this particular event, will also be confirmed as the final score of the first game
- If an away team cancels the game and agrees on a 6 pointers, the 6 pointers will still be played in the original venue.
- Cup games don’t have extra-time, straight to penalties in case of a draw.
- A maximum amount of 8 players is allowed on the bench.
- If a team wants to lodge an official complaint, an email has been made available in order to funnel all the requests in one spot (and not spread them across voice messages on whatsapp): vets.complaints@gmail.com
- Referees can approach the committee with reports, requests and complaints by using vets.referees.rclfa@gmail.com. Both emails are available to each member of the commitee.
- An external disciplinary committe will be created in order to discuss the valid complaints, and avoid biased solutions. Their decision will be final for both committee and teams involved
- A fines system will be introduced if the external disciplanary decides that a monetary punishment is better than a disqualification. The money will be accumulated and they will go to a charity (TBD).
- If the team penalized with a fine won’t pay in time, they won’t be allowed to play and lost their games 3-0 until the fine has been paid
- If one of referees is attacked by a team (keep your hands off the referees!) the referee can suspend the game, and assign a 3-0 win to the other team, with the offending team going to the disciplinary
- If a team cancels after Tuesday 5pm, the game will be forfeited and a 3-0 win will be given to the other team. Also, if the team cancelling the game was the away team, the return leg will STILL be played at the same venue, with the fields / referees feed being paid by the team who cancelled. Agreements between teams need to be made BEFORE Tuesday 5pm.
- If a game starts later for any reason (traffic, load shedding, storms), please arrange with the referees the new duration, since they cannot stay on the fields too long and lose the chance to get home later. If a game starts 10 minutes later, then it’s suggested to play 35 per half and not 40. If the teams still want to play the full 80 minutes and the referees are ok with it, please after the game check with them if they need a lift somewhere. Don’t left the referees stranded.
- All players MUST WEAR SHIN GUARDS. The league will not accept responsibility should there be any consequences as a result. Referees have the right to refuse a player game time as a result however we are all adults and need to act responsibly.
- In general the home teams are always responsible for fields and referees. It’s up to them to have an alternative plan or arrangement in case something goes awry. Failure to do so will result in a 3-0 loss.
- Shin pads are compulsory, any player without shin pads will be asked to leave the field until protection will be added
- The Vets Masters have a zero tolerance approach towards racial comments, insults or slurs on the field. Any sort of racial insults will be taken very seriously, game may be ended and could lead up to an expulsion from the league for the player and the team involved. The same applies to individuals brandishing harmful weapons and threatening lives or violence whereby the intervention of SAPS will be sought after and the team subject to a fine in excess of R10000 for misbehaviour and bringing the league into disrepute.
- If 2 or more teams a group or a league with the same amount of points, the following will be taken into consideration: 1) head-to-head result 2) goal difference 3) goal scored
Latest revision: 06 September 2023