1. The 2009/10 season will proceed in the following structure:
   1. The regular season will consist of a round-robin phase. The round robin section of the competition has been split into two groups of four teams. Within each group, the teams will play each other twice. Across the groups, each each will meet once.
   2. In the unlikely event of a Saturday cancellation we will first attempt to reschedule cancelled games to mid-week before reducing the number of games.
   3. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, with 1st in each group meeting 2nd in the other.
   4. The bottom two teams from each group will go into the minor semi-finals to compete for 5th place and to avoid the wooden spoon.
2. Teams are requested to be ready to start games on time. A 1:45pm kick-off means a 1:45pm kick-off, not wander on to the field at 1:50pm and start at 2.05pm.
3. Games will only be cancelled if WCC closes the ground.
4. Games will be 80 minutes duration with two 40 minute halves. There will be a short drinks/subs break at the mid-point of each half. Referees will play NO stoppage time unless they consider there has been a considerable stoppage at some point during the game that requires making up. If time-keeping proves to be an issue, the game lengths will be reviewed and shortened.
5. The half-time/full-time whistle will only be blown when the ball is out of play.
6. In addition to the designated subs and half-time break, each team can call one additional "time-out" subs break at any point during the game when there is a stop in play. Both teams can make subs changes at that point. "Time-out" sub breaks are NOT drinks breaks.
7. A player can be replaced at any time if he sustains an injury. No feigning injuries please - or pay the penalty.
8. For free kicks (direct & indirect) and the opposition are required to be 7 yards from the ball.
9. Normal rules of football apply except for:
   1. Throw-ins: Throw-ins can be replaced with kick-ins but the ball must be kicked along the ground. Referees will be lenient on foul-throws. Anything vaguely resembling a correct throw-in will be permitted.
   2. Tackles: Slide tackles are not permitted. Players may slide for the ball when it is not in the possession of an opposing player but cannot slide-tackle a player in possession of the ball. Slide-tackles will be penalised with a direct free-kick (or penalty if inside the penalty area).
   3. Goal-kicks and goal-keeper kicks: Goal-kicks can be taken from anywhere inside the penalty area. Goalkeepers cannot kick the ball from a goal kick or from the hand (drop-kick or punt kick) directly into the opposing penalty area on the full. If they do, a goal-kick is awarded to the defending team.
   4. The referee is not required to send-off a player for a professional foul in a goal-scoring situation, but has the discretion to do so if he wishes.
   5. Dangerous play: As in the normal laws, referees have the right to award indirect free-kicks for all acts of play they consider dangerous. Referees can use this interpretation to ensure the level of physical play is kept at an appropriate level for the competition. This interpretation may lead to the award of an indirect free kick even though, technically, a foul may not have been committed in the 11-a-side sense of "dangerous" play.
10. All rules are subject to interpretation by the referee and the referee's decisions should be accepted and respected.
11. Undoubtedly,  games will be played in an extremely competitive manner again this season. After a bit of a rough start last season we settled down into a situation where games were played hard but fair, almost without exception. It seems inevitable that the odd spur-of-the-moment whinge to the ref or verbal abuse of an opponent will occur, but that aside, there is no room for any unsporting conduct. It is expected that team captains will take responsibility for ensuring the on field (and sideline) behaviour of their players is of the highest standard, regardless of the circumstances.
12. Referees will be within their rights to take whatever action they consider necessary to deal with anything they deem to be unsporting conduct. This includes asking players to leave the field for a 'cool-down' period, or sending them off for the match. When this occurs, players sent from the field can be replaced with a substitute.
13. Whilst the hope and expectation is that no such action will be necessary, summer league officials have the right to ban any player temporarily, indefinitely or permanently from the summer league. In such event, no appeals will be entered into and no subs will be refunded.
14. The standard player numbers this season will be 9-aside. This means that a team with 9 players can field 9 players even if the opposition has less than 9. Teams may have as many substitute players as they want and there is no limit on the number of substitutions that can be made - but they must be made during the designated subs breaks.
15. There will be no hard and fast rules about player eligibility, but teams are asked to respect the spirit of the competition and do the best they can to use their regular squad members.
16. Team captains will be required to fill-out team sheets and goal-scorer details and hand these to an official (Peter or Reido) immediately after the game. These are to make it as easy as possible for Michael to keep the stats updated on the website. Please check your squads on the website and advise Michael of any additional players you expect to use regularly in your team. We will pre-print names from the website on to the team sheets so that you will only need to enter a "x" alongside those that play on the day.
17. There will be some player eligibility restrictions in place for the play-offs. For a player to be eligible to play in the play-offs they must have played at least 3 games during the round robin (or else they will need a dispensation from the Commissioner).
18. Volunteers from the club may be available to referee games, but be aware that your team may be required to provide a referee as per the roster. Referees are expected show a reasonable level of enthusiasm when refereeing. It is not acceptable to stand passively on half-way and avoid making any but the most obvious decisions.
19. Teams are expected to make every reasonable effort to wear complete kit i.e. shirt, shorts and socks as you would during the winter league. Shin-pads are compulsory and there will be NO exceptions.
20. The points system for this season is as follows
    1. Win by 2 or more goals: 5 points
    2. Win by 1 goal: 4 points
    3. Draw: 2 points
    4. Lose by 1 goal: 1 point
    5. Lose by 2 or more goals: 0 points
21. The League Table will be calculated on the following basis:
    1. Points
    2. Total goal difference
    3. Total goals scored
    4. Points in games between tied teams
    5. Goal difference in games between tied teams
    6. Goals scored in games between tied teams
    7. Number of wins
    8. If we get this far, there'll be some kind of arbitrary selection process
22. Referees have the discretion to “sin-bin” players. This will work as follows:
    1. A sin-binned player must leave the field for a period of up to 10 minutes and will not be replaced by another player for this period. A sin-binning will most typically occur in situations where a serious foul occurs or a foul that denies a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Ultimately, the match referee will have 100% discretion when to sin-bin a player. If the team with the sin-binned player concedes a goal during this period, the sin-bin period will end at that point - unless the goal is conceded from a penalty kick awarded for the sin-bin offence.
    2. Note. This does not replace the referee’s discretion to eject any player for any reason for a longer period or for the remainder of the match (i.e. for serious foul play or misconduct). However, in these situations the “sent-off” player can be replaced with a substitute. Examples of application:
       1. Player handles the ball on the goal-line (as per last Saturday): Offending player is sin-binned for 10 minutes regardless of whether attacking team scores from resulting penalty. If a further goal is scored during the 10 minute sin-bin period, the sin-binned player is allowed back on at that point. If not, offending player returns when 10 minutes have elapsed.
       2. Player is guilty of a grossly dangerous & reckless tackle: Offending player is sin-binned for 10 minutes. At the end of the 10 minutes or when a goal is scored by the sinned against team, whichever occurs sooner, the referee allows the sin-binned player to return. However, if the referee rules that the sin-binned player may not return for the remainder of the match due to the seriousness of the offence, the sin-binned player can be replaced by another player at the conclusion of the sin-bin.
       3. Two players (one from each team) involved in unsporting conduct: Referee sends off both players for a period or for the remainder of the match. As there is one from each team, both players can be immediately replaced with substitutes.
           

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