SHAFTESBURY LEAGUE INFO

If a team pulls out before the end of a season they are liable to pay for all of theirs and their opponents remaining match fees – Please see SoccerPitch’s Terms and Conditions.

DISCIPLINE – A Zero Tolerance Policy is in place at all SoccerPitch Leagues.

BEHAVIOUR – The behaviour of all players at all times must be excellent. This includes travelling in the vicinity of the venue and whilst in the facility itself. SoccerPitch will have no hesitation in banning anyone who jeopardises the success of the Shaftesbury League.

DRIVING – All drivers must adhere to the strict speed limits while on the facility and whilst driving through the nearby housing estates. CCTV will be watching you at all times.

CCTV – There are a number of state of the art CCTV cameras throughout the facility. SoccerPitch will have no hesitation in permanently banning speeding drivers, abusive players, any player being rude to any member of SoccerPitch and Shaftesbury Town FC staff and general bad behaviour.

PREMIERSHIP:

• The division consists of six teams
• Each team plays each other twice = TEN GAMES – Each team is committed to playing for a season at a time
• At the end of the season two teams are relegated

CHAMPIONSHIP:

• The division consists of six teams
• Each team plays each other twice = TEN GAMES – Each team is committed to playing for a season at a time
• At the end of the season two teams are promoted and two are relegated

LEAGUE ONE:

• The division consists of six teams
• Each team plays each other twice = TEN GAMES – Each team is committed to playing for a season at a time
• At the end of the season two teams are promoted

LEAGUE TWO:

• The division consists of four teams
• Each team plays each other three times (regular season) – then a final playoff game = TEN GAMES – Each team is committed to playing for a season at a time
• Playoff games – 1st v 2nd and 3rd v 4th. At the end of the ninth game (regular season), for every three points a team is ahead of their opponents, this equates to a one goal head start in the Playoff Game
• So for example – team 1 finishes on 20 points and team 2 finishes on 17 points at the of the ninth matchday – team 1 will start 1-0 up in the Playoff Game

League Statistics and Match Reports are updated every Tuesday by midday with the latest tables, results and top scorers.

To view the tables, results, fixtures and top scorers select Shaftesbury Monday from the Leagues menu. Will your name be mentioned in the world famous SoccerPitch Match Reports?

To view upcoming fixtures, click on a team name from the fixture list that is above the league table. Alternatively, click on next Matchday to toggle through the weeks. You can also view a team’s fixtures by selecting Match Schedule and then selecting your team from the menu on the left.

To view all your registered players and their goals tally select “TOP SCORERS & SQUADS” above the league table. If a player’s name is not there, then they are not registered and their goals will not be credited on the scorers chart. They are still eligible to play. To register players select Register Players link from the menu.

Scroll down for using unregistered players and player shortages on match day.

1. SoccerPitch will try to assist teams in cases of extreme difficulty when at least three days notice is given of problems in making a match commitment.
2. If a team cancel their match they will lose 5-0 and be charged the following: Full match fee plus the match fee of the opposing team will be charged.

To ensure all payments are made and all matches can go ahead on time without any delay, team managers must collect all fees from their players and pay the organiser in one whole sum prior to kick off. The referee will only allow the match to kick off once both teams have paid their match fees.

If the referee is ready to start the game and one team has paid but their opponents haven’t, the team who haven’t will automatically go one goal down. The referee will then start his watch.

If payment hasn’t been received by three minutes into the game, the opposition will be given a 5-0 head start. This punishment is severe so please ensure we don’t have to use it. If the following week the money owed has not been paid then the opponents will be given a 5-0 head start.

SoccerPitch will have no hesitation in removing a team and replacing them with immediate effect if payments are not kept up to date.

LATE SHOW – We operate a Late Show System at all of our Leagues. If the referee is ready to start and kick off time is reached – one team has paid their fees and are ready – and one hasn’t – the ref will start his clock and the team that isn’t ready will go one goal down. For every further two minutes they are not ready, the ref will award a further goal.

• The ball is allowed over head height (six foot)
• Kick ins replace throw ins – they must not go over head height (six foot)
• All Gk distribution must not go over head height (six foot) – This includes distribution by the GK using both their hands and feet. Legitimate saves by the GK are allowed to go over head height
• Corners are allowed over head height
• Over head height infringements are punished by an INDIRECT FREE KICK – from where the player kicked the ball. For GK infringements the ball is placed three yards outside of the area and the defending team must stand on the edge of the area.
• Players must stand at least three yards from the ball for all free kicks, corners, kick-offs, kick ins and penalties – for penalties only the goalkeeper and penalty taker can be inside the penalty area
• Slide tackles are not permitted but sliding blocks are allowed – SoccerPitch can accept no liability from injuries sustained from legal or illegal sliding
• Shinpads must be worn by all players at all times – if you don’t wear them, you can’t play
• Each team are allowed to field a maximum of six players on the pitch
• Penalty areas are in bounds for all players except for penalty kicks
• The goalkeeper may leave the area as long as he does not use his hands
• There is no offside rule
• The back pass rule applies – the goalkeeper may not use his hands when the ball is passed to him by a team mate

• The following are allowed only: ALL FOOTBALL BOOTS – including: plastic moulds, blades and studs—– NO TRAINERS OR ASTRO TRAINERS OR ANY OTHER FLAT SOLED FOOTWEAR

• Any player wearing the incorrect footwear will not be allowed onto the pitch and must stay outside the enclosure

• There are no limits on the amount of substitutes a team can use
• Substitutes are roll on, roll off
• Substitutes must only come on in a break of play
• They can only enter the field of play from behind their defending goal
• They can only enter the playing area once the player they are replacing has left the field of play

• Slide tackles are not permitted but sliding blocks are allowed – SoccerPitch can accept no liability from injuries sustained from legal or illegal sliding
• Offenders of successful (cleanly winning the ball) slide tackles are penalised by an indirect free kick being awarded to the opposition – If the referee feels it is a block (blocker is five or more yards away) instead of a tackle, they can allow play to continue at their discretion
• Offenders of unsuccessful (not cleanly winning the ball) are penalised in the same way as any foul tackle and a direct free kick is awarded – the referee may play advantage at their discretion and return to discipline the player after the next stoppage if required
• Players must stand at least three yards from the ball for all free kicks, corners, kick-offs, kick ins and penalties – for penalties only the goalkeeper and penalty taker can be inside the penalty area
• Penalty takers are only allowed to take one step before striking the ball

FRIENDLY

If a team does not notify SoccerPitch by 5pm on the day of their game or does not turn up at the venue on the night and makes no contact at all, SoccerPitch can and will try to arrange a friendly to fulfil the fixture. Soccerpitch also reserve the right to pair two teams, whose fixtures have been cancelled due to non show of the opposition, in a friendly match. Please note SoccerPitch can replace any non-showing team with a replacement team at any time. £5 is discounted off a team’s match fees for a friendly game.

In all friendly matches, the team who cancelled will lose the match by however many goals their opposition scores in the friendly. Eg, a friendly game finishes 10-10 between the original opponents and a fill in team, the original opponents win 10-0. N.B.The maximum a team will ever be allowed to win by in any friendly is 10-0 and the first 10 scoring players will be credited with their goals. If the attending team fails to score in a friendly they will still win the match 5-0 This is all done to ensure those teams in the league are not overly affected by any teams non appearance.

• Zero Tolerance Policy – View our strict rules via Info – Zero Tolerance
• There are no yellow cards, a blue card sin bin system is followed instead
• A blue card is shown for minor infringements that warrant more than a free kick
• A player shown a blue card must leave the pitch for 3 minutes, which will be timed by the referee – the player may only return to the pitch with permission from the referee
• Any player going off for a blue card cannot be replaced by a substitute – the team MUST play with one less player for the duration of the blue card time
• A player receiving a second blue card in a single match will be shown a red card and will receive a one week ban
• Red cards are the responsibility of SoccerPitch and not the FA – Suspensions are considered on a case by case basis and range from one week to life time bans
• A player receiving a red card cannot be replaced by a substitute – the team MUST play with one less player for the remainder of the game

• As per FA requirements, all players must be a minimum age of 16 years
• As per FA requirements, all players must be male
• Players are not allowed to play for two different teams on the same night – a player may volunteer to play for another team if they are short