Rules and regulations

Purpose

This serves to provide:

  • The current general rules of the Amateur football league.
  • The current play rules of the Amateur football league.

Note: Please refer to the Disciplinary Committee minutes on the judgement of specific cases, this shall shed more light on the certain rules that may not have been explained in detail.

Preamble

Whereas Left Foot Sports 8 Aside league is an Amateur League seeking to bring together Corporates and Social football teams in a great game of football.

Underscoring the need to bring order and decency during the games.

Guided by the greater principles of sportsmanship.

Realizing the negative effects of unregulated sporting activities.

Therefore, issue the following General Rules as a basic guide for producing fun, quality, injury free, controversy free football atmosphere

COVID 19

COVID 19 Protocols as guided by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of sports shall be strictly observed, monitored and enforced and that shall include but not limited to the following:

  1. Washing hands and Sanitising before and after the games
  2. Temperature check
  3. Social distancing for Team officials- LFS will ensure that there will be no crowding at all times
  4. Continuous wearing of masks by officials and technical bench
  5. STRICTLY no spectators and supporters allowed at the football venue
  6. LFS will have personnel continuously carrying surveillance to ensure STRICT observance of these protocols

General Rules

  1. Team captains must fill in all the team details In CAPITAL LETTERS with all the players’ names (Minimum 2 names required) and National Identity or Passport Number, at the beginning of every match. A squad consists of a maximum of 25 players.
  2. The Information Memorandum (IM) is a list of all the players along with their details – This MUST be filled in and handed over before the start of the season, failure to do so results in a walkover from the team’s 3rd match, and thereinafter till the MOI is filled. Each player’s Identification Copy and Color photograph with his/her name at the back to be provided as well. This can be a hard copy or digital.
  3. No new players can be added mid-season unless the management of the League permits otherwise. For the management to permit a player, his/her name is to be submitted in writing a week prior to the forthcoming weekend’s fixture along with the reason for his/her addition.
  4. A corporate team must have a minimum of 50% of the players working in the corporate and evidence of the same is required.
  5. A player playing for the Corporate League cannot play for a team in the Social League or vice Versa in any one season. The Player has to pick one League to play in.
  6. Random checks will be made on teams should suspicion arise on:-
    1. The addition of new players into the team without any communication to league officials.
    2. The Addition of PROFESSIONAL or SEMI PROFESSIONAL players into the team (termed in-eligible players)
    3. Fielding new players using the names of existing ones.
  7. The penalty for the offense in “V” above are; banning of that particular player and the deduction of 3 points from the respective team for all the matches the in- player/s have played, irrespective of the team’s win /lose or draw for those matches.
  8. No smoking/drinking or consumption of harmful or illegal products is allowed at the match venue and littering is strictly prohibited.
  1. General rules relating to the use of the respective football ground shall apply. The venues may change from time to time and due notice will be provided for the venue change.
  2. All teams will play once every weekend and fixtures will be sent by e-mail to all team captains. Kindly note, matches will only be played on Saturday or Sunday between 1230pm and 630pm. Catch-up games will be required to be played should teams lag behind schedule due to postponed games be it on the team’s side / their opponent’s side of the organizer’s side or for any other reason e.g. weather.
  3. All league games should be concluded within the 8-month period and may warrant “catch up” games to be squeezed in at the discretion of the organizers to complete the games before the league closure dates.
  4. Teams are advised to be changed and ready to play 10 minutes before kick-off. A team needs a minimum of 5 players to start the game.
  5. If a team does not arrive or does not have 5 players on the pitch at the time of kick off then the following rules apply:
    1. 15 minutes or more from kick-off – a walk-over is given.
    2. A walkover is a loss of 2 – 0
    3. The Goals for the walk-over are not awarded to any individual player.
    4. After the 15 minute waiting period is over, if a team still has not arrived, the organizers will need to be informed of the reason for the delay(which should be legitimate) who will then consult with the opponents on the field and the referee and a mutual decision will then be taken.
  6. 8 players on the pitch at any given time and 4 rotational substitutes allowed. Minimum of 5 players to play a match.
  7. Substitutes can be made when players inform the Referee’s assistant and he/she gives the go-ahead.
  8. A match is 80 minutes long with 7 minutes half-time break.
  9. No offside.
  10. Back pass is allowed and the keeper can hold the ball for a maximum of 6 seconds only.
  11. If the keeper holds the ball longer than 6 seconds an indirect free kick will be awarded from the spot where the goalkeeper was the last stationery. The Defending team should back away 8 steps.
  12. Every team must have 2 sets of uniforms to avoid clashing and must carry them on every game.
  13. 2 consecutive yellow cards to result in the suspension for 1 forth-coming match.
  14. 1 red card results in suspension for 2 fourth-coming matches.
  15. A win is 3 points, draw 1 point, and lose nil points.
  16. If the keeper handles the ball outside the box, it’s a straight penalty – Penalties being FREE TAKEN – ALWAYS at 8 steps from the goal line.
  17. Spitting on another player and or Game Official will be a Straight Red- Introduced during the Covid – 19 era.
  18. Spitting on the pitch prohibited and carries a Yellow card- Introduced during Covid -19 Era
  19. All other FIFA rules are to apply.
  20. The referee’s decision is final.

A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play at the start of a match, after a goal has been scored, or at the start of the second half of the match. A goal may be scored directly from a kick-off.

  • All players must be in their own half of the field
  • The opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 1m from the ball until it is played.
  • The ball is stationary on the center mark
  • The ball is in play when it is kicked forward
  • The kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.
  1. Direct and indirect free kicks will be awarded at the discretion of the referee.
  2. A direct free kick allows the kick taker to make a scoring attempt from the free-kick.
  3. An indirect free kick must touch another player before attempting to score.
  4. A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following
    1. Kicks the ball above “head height”
    2. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
    3. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
    4. Jumps at an opponent
    5. Charges at an opponent, even with the shoulder
    6. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
    7. Pushes an opponent
    8. Holds an opponent
    9. Spits at an opponent
    10. Makes a dangerous sliding tackle
    11. A tackle from behind
    12. Careless/Excessive contact
    13. Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper)
  5. All opposing players must be 3m(10Ft) from the ball on direct and indirect free.

Both Team Captains and the Referee shall sign the Game Sheet which shall clearly indicate the scores and scorers. The results indicated on the signed Game Sheet shall be the official Results that will be used. If by any chance a team refuses to sign the result the signatures of the match referee and the Overall Operations Manager in charge shall suffice to verify the result of the game.

  1. A team will be allowed to postpone games further only 4 times in a given season and hereinafter if a postponement is required then it is up to the discretion of the organizers to approve the same and the reasons for the postponement have to be valid and genuine. Consultations with the disciplinary committee will be made if deemed necessary and thereinafter the necessary course of action to be taken.
  2. A team will need to inform the organizers by a minimum of 4 working days for a request to push a game before that particular game. If a match is requested to be postponed after the required notice period, the organizers will then discuss the same and consult with the respective team’s opponents to approve the postponement. Once approved the organizers will then inform all concerned. A decision will be made in consensus to all.
  3. If 2 teams who are opponents on a given day do not show up a draw is awarded – this being 0-0 and points will be shared.
  4. If a team abandons a match during play on their own accord for whatever reason, then the opposing team will be awarded victory of the match by 2-0 irrespective of the score before the incident (abandonment). The goals are not being allocated to any one team member.

 

Note: Time will not be increased for that game and the match will end as scheduled.

  1. Referees have the right to warn, ask to leave, or eject from the field, any player or spectator whom they feel is bringing the game into disrepute.
  2. Referees may play an advantage should a team not be negatively affected by a technicality or foul immediately to improve the flow of the game.
  3. The referee’s decision is final.

COVID 19 Protocols forbid any spectators/supporters—this rule shall apply up to such a time when spectators or supporters are allowed to league games.

  1. Each Team is responsible for the behavior of its spectators, and strict disciplinary action will be taken on that team if its spectators are out of line, this includes:
    • Violence – its a criminal offense
    • Verbal abuse
    • Racism
    • Any other similar offense.
  2. The Penalty for the above mentioned in point 1, with sufficient supporting evidence, is:
    1. Violence – Monetary fine of Kshs 10,000.00 + 6 points deducted from the respective team + banning of the player/s and/or fan/s for half the duration of the league. In addition, the same can be reported to the police for prosecution.
    2. Verbal abuse – Depending on gravity – a monetary fine of Kshs 7,000.00 + banning of the player/s and/or fan/s for 5 games for the duration of the league.
    3. Racism – Monetary fine of Kshs 7,000.00 + 3 points deducted + banning of the player/s and/or fan/s for half the duration of the league.

Every new Season a Disciplinary Committee will be set up which will comprise of either participating Team Management, Captains, Coaches, or any other person who the organizers of the league deem fit to take any corrective action on various disciplinary issues. The Disciplinary Committee will only consist of 20 members and they too shall be vetted for their participation once a new season commences should they be chosen again to remain as Disciplinary Committee members.
The Disciplinary Committee does not participate in the management or organization of the league.

A Panel of Seven (7) shall sit, deliberate, and decide on all the complaints raised for that year. The names of Panelists shall be circulated within 1 month of the commencement of the League.

2021 Shall be a base year and hence the basis for all precedence going forward, however, the Disciplinary Committee has the discretion to use the precedence cases from prior years and draw experience from them (All past Disciplinary Cases and their minutes can be found on the LFS website www.leftfootsports.com).
We must note and understand that past precedence cannot affirm a judgment for a current case even though the facts are similar.

Complaints shall be raised as follows:

  1. A complaint shall be lodged during the actual game by the aggrieved team
  2. A complaint shall be entered into the game sheet which is signed by both Team Captains and the Referee
  3. Head Referee passes the complaint to the Management and Disciplinary Committee for deliberation, and final decision.
  4. Disciplinary Committee shall make its decision within two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of the complaint and inform the Teams concerned immediately
  5. Upon receipt of the Disciplinary Committee decision, the teams shall within Five (5) Days, give their response which shall be – Agreement, Disagreement, and Appeal
  6. Teams shall issue their Appeal immediately and not later than two (2) weeks from the date of the Disciplinary Committee decision. Any Appeal brought after the expiration of 30days from the date of the said game in question shall be considered null and void.
  7. Special Disciplinary cases such as discovering late in the League that a Team Fielded a Professional/Semi-Professional or ineligible Player shall be handled, however, this must be brought when at least the teams concerned have a minimum of five (5) games to play.

The Organizers are not to be held liable for any injury or loss or theft to any team, its players, or its spectators, The Indemnity must be signed within 3 weeks of the commencement of the league.