Terms and Conditions
Quick Rules
Pitch, the field in is rectangular in size approximately 100 metres by 50 metres and divided into three zones - Forward, Midfield and Defensive zones. At the start and restart of play, the nine players on each team must be divided so that three players of each team are in each zone of the field. After each start/restart of play there are no restrictions on player movement around the field.
Players: our flexible squad system means that the captains do not have to register the players, teams may use guest players. Guest Players can only be used to make up your basic squad of 9 players. They cannot be used as substitutes. Guest players can be used from any team within the league and you must let the umpire and the opposing team know prior to kick off about your guest players.
Substitutions, each team is permitted to bring three substitutions for one match. Substitutions are roll on and roll off. They may only be used at a suitable break in play.
The substitutes must stand behind the team's goal.
Clothing: players may not wear jeans, hats or unsuitable footwear. However, there is an exception to the goalkeeper who may wear a cap if it's sunny. Please refer to the league page for footwear guidance. Players may not play without a shirt on. Teams who are not wearing the same colour must wear the bibs provided from league officials.
Captain: the captain is responsible for all of his players, including the guest players. This includes conduct, financial and any discipline.
Pre-game: if a team fails to attend a fixture, they will lose the game 15-0. If a team is playing against a points match, they automatically win the game 15-0. If a team is late for the fixture, they may be subject to forfeiting the game. However, this is at the referee's discretion.
The umpire provides the match night supervisor with the score, player of the match and any discipline offenses in all games that they have umpired. This is done at the end of the night.
In Play: Play begins with a ball up. After a goal, play is restarted in the centre of the field via a ball up.
If a behind (1 point) is scored the ball is required to be kicked back into play from between the goals by a defender.
Out Of Bounds: When the ball goes out of bounds (ball completely over the line) by hand or foot, the nearest opponent shall kick the ball back into play.
If there is any doubt as to which team last touched the ball before it went out of bounds, the umpire shall call a ball-up 5 metres in from the boundary line.
Gaining Possession Of The Ball: A turnover occurs when the ball touches the ground as a result of a kick, handball or marking attempt and when the ball goes out of bounds.
If a turnover occurs the game stops and the opposing team gains possession of the ball from where the ball went out of bounds.
Players may attempt to intercept the ball in flight, however must not make contact with an opposing player.
Possession: A player may stay in possession of the ball for a maximum distance of 30 metres involving one bounce, unless the player is touched with one or two hands (touch) or directed to dispose of the football by the umpire.
Marking: A Mark is awarded if, in the opinion of the umpire, a player catches or takes control of the football after it has been kicked by another player irrespective of the distance travelled.
No player (except for the player on the mark) may be closer than 2 metres away in any direction.
It is not a mark if the ball touches the ground or has been touched by another player during the period when the ball was kicked until it was caught or controlled by the player.
When a player is awarded a Mark or Free Kick, an opposing player may stand at the position on the playing surface where the mark or free kick was awarded, known as 'the mark'.
There is to be no contact in a marking contest. The player in the position where the ball is expected to drop is given every opportunity to mark the ball.
The player taking the mark will have a reasonable opportunity to dispose of the ball or play on. If he/she delays, the umpire will place a 5 second count for play to resume.
Scoring: Only designated forwards can kick for goal within their forward scoring zone. This can be during general play by receiving a kick or handball; or upon marking the ball and taking a set shot for goal. A designated forward may kick for goal from a from a Free Kick (initiating contact, holding the ball etc. but not from a turnover from either the ball hitting the ground or going out of bounds. To be eligible to shoot from a set shot, the player kicking for goal must be inside the scoring zone.
In mixed competitions, a goal scored by the female forward is worth 9 points
The field umpire will be the sole judge of whether the kick for goal was successful.
Ball Touching The Ground: A turnover occurs anytime the ball touches the ground, with possession being given to the opposing team of whoever touched the ball last.
The exceptions to this rule are:
1. From a ball up, this rule does not apply until one team has taken clean possession of the ball. This means that a tap from a ball up can touch the ground.
2. If shooting for goal, you can intentionally kick / dribble the ball along the ground. However, should the ball be touched prior to scoring, the usual turnover of possession will apply.
Dispossessing The Player In Possession: When a player in possession of the ball is touched by an opponent but deemed to have ‘no prior opportunity’, the umpire will call TOUCH and the player must kick or handpass within two steps or two seconds. Failure to do so will result in a free kick being awarded to the opposing team.
When a player in possession of the ball is deemed to have had ‘prior opportunity’ to dispose of it when touched by an opposing player, the umpire will award a Free Kick to the opposing team.
Run & Bounce: When a player is moving while in possession of the ball he/she must bounce the ball or touch it on the ground after 15 metres. A player in possession may bounce the ball only once. He/she must dispose of it by hand or foot and may not touch it again until it has been touched by another player.
Disposal Of The Ball: The ball must be disposed of by a handball or kick (as per the Laws of Australian Football). Players are not permitted to throw or hand the ball to another player or a free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.
Bumping/Tackling/Barging:
There is to be no contact or spoiling, players cannot:
- Hold an opponent with their hands
- Knock the ball out of an opponent’s hands
- Push the player in the side
- Steal the ball from another player
- Deliberately bump another player
- Smother an opponent’s kick by trying to block the kicking motion at the point of impact.
- Barge, fend off or shepherd opponents
- Touch the ball while another player has possession
Playing On: The umpire shall call “Play On” in the following:
- When a player after taking a mark runs around or over the spot “the mark” where he/she caught the ball.
- When a player after a turnover has occurred runs around or over the spot “the mark” where the ball made contact with the ground due to the turn over.
- The ball after being kicked has been touched in transit.
Start and End of Match
1a) Play is started with a ball up from the umpire.
1b) Game duration is 18 minutes each way.
1c) Where applicable, the umpire's whistle overrules the hooter.
1d) There shall be 12 players maximum per squad in one night.
Guest players
2a) A team is allowed no more than two guest players per match and all guest players should be agreed before kick-off with the opposing captain and the umpire.
2b) The umpire reserves the right to refuse or accept guest players if, in their opinion, the outcome of the match would be considerably altered.
2c) Guest players can only be used to make up the basic squad of nine. Teams may not use guest players as substitutes.
2d) If a team uses a guest player, that team is still liable to pay their full match fee.
2e) If a guest player is disciplined during the game then the team captain is responsible for any fine incurred.
Flexi-squad System
2f Thanks to our unique ‘flexi-squad system’ teams do not have to register players before a game and can use any amount of players during the season, as long as they do not conflict with any other team in the same division.
Clothing
3a) Players may not play either with a cap or hat, jeans or shoes.
3b) Players may not play without a shirt on.
Substitutes
4a) Teams are allowed three substitutes who must stand behind the goal of their Defensive zone.
4b) More than one substitution is allowed at any one time however, if there are more than the allotted players on the pitch at any one time the teams shall be penalised.
4c) Substitutes can be used as often and whenever the team wishes.
4d) Substitutes are not allowed onto the playing area until the substitutes player has left.
4e) If substitutes do not stand behind the goal and the ball strikes them then the umpire shall award possession to the opposition.
General Rules
11a) If applicable, the umpires scoring overrules the scoreboard.
11b) The umpire will be the sole judge of whether unfair or unreasonable contact is made, or not in the best interests of the spirit of the game.
11c) Teams must not alter or move equipment to gain an advantage.
11d) Teams should make every attempt to play in similar colours or use the coloured bibs provided.
11e) Teams who arrive late for their kick off time may be subject to forfeiture of the match.
11f) The signing of the entry form indemnifies Social Footy 9's from any responsibility for personal injury or lost property whilst participating in the organised leagues. Teams are responsible for arranging their own personal insurance cover at centres where this is not automatically applicable.
11g) If teams wish to cancel a match, they automatically lose 15-0 (Social Footy 9's allow a flexible squad system) and their opponents will play a friendly arranged by Social Footy 9's. This includes teams cancelling their fixture due to self-isolating or testing positive for Covid-19.
11h) – If there are one or more vacancies in any league a friendly fixture will be arranged for the team(s) who are scheduled to play a ‘Points Match’ for that particular date. Teams are required to attend all scheduled Points Match fixtures, pay their full match fee and play the pre-arranged friendly as normal; the relevant team will then receive a 15-0 win and three points towards the league. If a team does not wish to play a scheduled friendly then it is the team’s responsibility to notify Social Footy 9's seven days or more in advance or they will be liable for payment of the match fees for that particular week, teams who do not attend points matches will not receive their 15-0 win for that week regardless of whether they have provided 7 days notice.
11i) If a team fails to turn up for a scheduled fixture without giving Social Footy 9's seven days’ notice, they lose the fixture 15-0 and will be charged the full match fee for the missed game. This includes teams cancelling their fixture due to self-isolating or testing positive for Covid-19. Teams who wish to withdraw from the league need to give two weeks’ notice of their intent to withdraw from the league and are required to pay for and play two full matches prior to withdrawal; failure to adhere to this will result in the Team Captain being charged their full two weeks match fees for both missed fixtures.
11j) If you are removed from the league for any reason, Leisure Leagues reserves the right to charge the 2 weeks notice period, for the games you would have played had we not removed you.
11k) If a team fails to attend two consecutive matches and fails to inform Social Footy 9's of their intention to withdraw from the league then they will be liable for both missed match fees and will also be charged their two matches withdrawal notice on top of these match fees.
11l) – Please note that teams are automatically entered into a new league season unless they provide us with the required two weeks withdrawal notice prior to the end of the season. If a team wishes to withdraw from the league and only notifies us of this at the beginning of the new season then they will be required to play the first two matches of the new season before being able to withdraw, failure to adhere to this will result in the team being charged their match fees for these two fixtures.
Dismissal
12a) If a player is deemed to be unsportsmanlike, they will be removed from the game permanently.
12b) If a player is dismissed then he/she should leave the pitch immediately. Failure to do so will result in the umpire automatically awarding the match to his/her opponents.
12c) Any player removed from the game will also automatically receive a one match ban.
12d) Any serious displays of aggressive or abusive behaviour, either towards officials or other players, will result in an immediate and permanent ban from all Social Footy 9's competitions.
THE RULE OF UMPIRE PRIMACY
The umpire is free to override any of these rules to give them much greater autonomy on the pitch and to ensure they are in sole charge of the games
Health and Safety
14a) All participants understand that these events contain risk to the person participating for which the organiser cannot be held responsible.
14b) All participants agree that we have no control over the safety of the premises we hire, or persons admitted to the venues we hire and it is the sole responsibility of the team captain to ensure their team's players do not start any game unless they are satisfied that the surface and other conditions are satisfactory and safe for the activity in question having due regard for the participants. We cannot be held responsible for any defects to the venue which may cause injury and all team captains understand this when participating.
14c) Team captains must inspect the pitch and playing conditions and must report any issues prior to their game commencing to the officials on duty otherwise it will be deemed that the team captain and their players have accepted any risks and any ensuing liability for any subsequent injury.
Other
15a) Please note that the Team Captain is responsible for the conduct of all players and all spectators connected with the team. Failure to control the conduct of players or spectators will result in the Team Captain being responsible for any resulting fines being paid in full
Female Players
In accordance with the 2010 equalities act, ladies and mixed teams are welcomed in all of our leagues.
ANY PLAYERS THAT PLAY IN LEISURE LEAGUES (Social Footy 9's) WORLDWIDE PARTICIPATE AT THEIR OWN RISK AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PLAYER TO ARRANGE EITHER THEIR OWN INSURANCE COVER OR A TEAM’S INSURANCE COVER THAT WILL COVER THEM FOR INJURY. LEISURE LEAGUES (Social Footy 9's) HOLD PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE ONLY AND CONCLUDE, TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INJURY SUSTAINED WHILST PLAYING IN THEIR LEAGUES.
What Does Your Match Fee Cover?
The match fee goes towards the pitch hiring enabling you to participate in the sport itself. When you pay this fee you agree that the majority or full amount of your fee is directly paid, via the organiser acting as the collection officer, for the following:
1 The hire cost of the pitch
2 The cost of the umpire and the match balls which are essential to the playing of the chosen competitive sport.
As our members you agree that when you make these payments you are making a commitment to participate for a minimum of ten consecutive weeks in the league, you automatically become our members along with other players in the league who are also our members, and that as part of our wider club or membership all our members have exclusivity on the pitch we have hired for the duration of hire and that non members have no right to participate on the pitch during that time.
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