YalaSports League handbook

1Page

Page2 Contents 1 Welcome & Mission Statement…………… 3 2 Preface………………………………………… 4 3 Name and Purpose …….…………………… 4 4 League Website …………………………….. 5 5 The Venue ……………………….…………… 5-6 6 League Organization…………...…………… 6-10 7 Scheduling Games …………………..……… 10-11 8 Game Procedures …………………………… 12-13 9 Laws of the Game ……………...……………. 13-15 10 Officiating Referees……………..…………… 15 11 Determining Championship………………… 16 00

Page3 1. Welcome & Mission Statement YalaSports thanks you for becoming a part of the YalaSports Outdoor Soccer League. Your involvement enables your team to experience the pleasure of playing soccer and encourages their teamwork in a fun competitive environment. Our intention is to provide a high quality soccer experience for all players residing generally in UAE and specifically to Dubai communities. YalaSports emphasizes participation over winning. We expect you to place emphasis on team participation, fun, and tempering your competitive spirit.

Page4 2. Preface YalaSports sets & declare its commitment and aim to run Outdoor Soccer League to the maximum possible standards in a professional manner and with the ultimate integrity. With that aim YalaSports determined:  To behave with our respective teams in the greatest good faith and honesty.  To maintain a comprehensive handbook, relevant and up-to-date for all players, coaches & teams.  To develop disciplinary procedures which are professional, fair and objective that ensures a smooth league operation.  To submit a fair and realistic penalties. This handbook applies to all league divisions and is provided to help everyone better enjoy the league provided by the YalaSports that sets out procedures, operations, attitudes and courtesies to be observed. It is our goal to promote good sportsmanship among players and spectators. All questions, comments and inquiries must be addressed to YalaSports as league official committee. 3. Name and Purpose The name of the league is ―YalaSports Outdoor Soccer League‖. The purpose is to provide an opportunity for Individuals, Corporate & above 35 years teams to participate in an organized outdoor Soccer league organized by YalaSports.

Page5 4. League Website General information regarding the league, registration procedure, Galleries, scores and statistics, league handbook, and League contact information, can be found at http://www.yalasports.com 5. The Venue a. Location League will be played at New World Private School located at Al Tawar 1, Opposite to Dubai Airport Free Zone. b. General Facility Rules  No smoking & tobacco.  No profanity or negative comments to officials, players, coaches or spectators.  No running, playing ball or use of sports equipment anywhere else but the field.  No spitting.  Be a role model—exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. The Pitch  Dimensions: The field of play is rectangular, its length being 46 meters, and its width 26 meters.  Markings:

Page6 o Distinctive lines, sidelines and goal lines. o Penalty Area – 6 meters from each goal post. o A halfway line marked out across the field. o A center circle. c. Dressing Rooms The facility provides dressing rooms for Players including showers, baths and toilets. 6. League Organization a. Dates ―YalaSports Outdoor Soccer League‖ season will run from the 24th of March till May 27th of May. YalaSports shall use its best endeavors to ensure that each League Match takes place on the date and at the time fixed for it. b. League Divisions Competitive divisions will be structured according to the playing level of teams as determined by YalaSports, which has final authority on all placement issues. YalaSports Leagues shall be divided into;  A – Division (Elite League)  B - Division (High Player Skills)  C- Division (Mid Player Skills)  D- Division (Amateur Level)  E- Division (Amateur Level)  + 35 Years Division. They can also play in the above 5 divisions

Page7 c. League Competition/Standing Each team shall play 2 League matches against each other team each Season, being the Home Club in respect of one such League Match and the Visiting Club in respect of the other. Official standings of teams, the keeping of which is the responsibility of YalaSports, are tabulated on a regular basis and displayed on YalaSports website. Standings will be kept in each competitive division. A team‘s standings in its division will be determined by the number of points it receives based on its win/loss record during the league season. YalaSports league shall operate under a point system. The point system shall award three points for a win, one point for a tie and no points for a loss. The results of League Matches shall be recorded by YalaSports in a table containing in respect of each team the following information:  The number of League Matches played in that Season;  The number of League Matches won, drawn and lost in that Season;  The number of goals scored in League Matches by and against other teams in that Season;  The number of points scored in that Season.  The position of team in the table shall be determined by the number of points scored in that Season, the team having scored the highest number of points being at the top of the table and the team having scored the lowest number of points is being at the bottom.

Page8 d. Tie Breakers In case of a tie in the standings within a league the following will be used as tie breakers:  ―Head to head‖ points (win/loose/ draw) between teams  ―Head to head‖ Goal Differential between teams  Overall Goal Differential  Goals for  Goals against  Least red cards  Coin toss e. Team Eligibility ―YalaSports Outdoor Football League‖ is open to all individuals & corporate teams fielded by Outdoor football that have correctly entered the league, paid the league fees, and are in good sportsmanship. f. Team Captain‘s Role Team Captains are a vital link in the communication process between YalaSports and the team members. Team captains are responsible for obtaining and understanding all league information, passing it on to team members, and regularly checking ongoing activities. Specific duties of the Team Captain (or team designate) are:

Page9 Pre-Season Duties:  Submit completed team roster and registration fee.  Attend the mandatory captains meeting or ensure that a designated team representative is present.  Read the league‘s Rules & Regulations Handbook and ensure that all team members understand and abide by the rules and regulations contained within. In-Season Duties:  Inform team members of league game schedules.  To ensure enough team members are present at each game to avoid defaulting.  Make sure that all members of the team are eligible to participate.  Control team behavior and accept the responsibility for the conduct of all team members and spectators.  Maintain a cooperative attitude with referees and the YalaSports. Set an example of good sportsmanship for others to follow. Post-Game Duties:  Each captain/team representative must sign the game sheet verifying the information is correct and provide a Fair Play Point Score for the opposing team at the completion of the match.  Signing the game sheet acknowledges that the person signing has verified the information is correct. g. Team Registration Fees The team registration fee is AED 3,500 per team due by 15th of March. All player data should be entered 20th of March and the team must show a viable roster by this date to be included in the schedule.

Page10 h. Team Withdrawal Team may withdraw prior to 15th of March and receive a full refund of the entry fee. Any team withdrawn from the League after 15th of March will forfeits the full team entry fee. 7. Scheduling Games a. Scheduling YalaSports Committee will create the League schedule based on the team entries submitted. Schedules& Fixtures will be posted on the YalaSports website. b. League Games: League games are predominately scheduled for Fridays & Sundays. c. Cancelling Games Unforeseen Circumstances, If severe weather or extenuating circumstances would prevent a game from being played safely, and if the game must be postponed, YalaSports is responsible for informing the opponent and the referees. YalaSports is responsible for attempting to find a suitable time to reschedule the game. d. Communication Policy Communication between teams is vitally important for all YalaSports events. Each team must have at least 2 different contacts listed with YalaSports, and

Page11 ensure that the contact information is up to date. Team contacts must respond to communication within 48 hours. Listing the wrong email or phone number will not be a valid excuse for not responding to communication. e. Forfeited Games: Teams are required to play all games assigned by YalaSports. In the event a team does not arrive at the venue (a ‗no show‘) at the scheduled start time, the game is considered forfeited and recorded as 0-3. f. Terminating Games Once a referee has jurisdiction over a game, the game may only be terminated by the referee as provided for in the FIFA Laws of the Game. If a game is terminated before the end of the game, and the termination is not due to the conduct of one of the teams, the game shall be played in its entirety. g. Protests Protests regarding the match conditions (ie: field condition, etc) must be made prior to the start of the match and be clearly written on the official game card. Protests regarding the use of illegal players may be made prior to or following the match and be clearly written on the game card. Specific referee decisions cannot be protested. All protests must be sent to [email protected]

Page12 8. Game Procedures a. General All League games played as per scheduled games are considered YalaSports sanctioned games and subject to application of all rules and conditions set forth in this handbook and all other YalaSports Policies, Procedures and Rules. b. Game Ball YalaSports shall provide official game ball. c. Jersey Colors When the colors of two competing teams are similar, the home team must change to a different numbered jersey. Alternatively, the entire home team may wear numbered \"Pinnies\" or mesh ―Pinnies‖ of a different color that allow the number on the player‘s jersey to show through. Goalkeepers must wear colors that distinguish them from the other players. Uniforms must consist of numbered shirts (minimum of 6\" numbers), shorts, socks and footwear, which may be sneakers or soccer shoes. No metal cleats are allowed. No team shall play without shirts. d. Number of Players  A. Maximum number of players on the field at any one time: six. One of these players must be designated as the goalkeeper.  B. Maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed twelve.

Page13 e. Illegal Players Any player who does not appear on the official roaster issued to YalaSports at the time of the match shall be considered an illegal player. Any team using an illegal player shall forfeit the game. f. In Season Transfers Players may only play for one team during League. No transfer is allowed within the league schedule. 9. Laws of the Game Except as otherwise provided for in these rules; FIFA‘s ―Laws of the Game‖ apply to all matches within the League. The Start of play, Ball in and Out of Play, Method of Scoring, Penalty Kicks, Goal Kick, Corner Kick, as conformed by FIFA a. Duration of the Game:  The game shall consist of two equal halves of 15 minutes each.  The half time break shall be 2 minutes.  If the game is ‗tied‘ at the conclusion of the second half, the match is deemed complete and a ―tie‖ is awarded to both teams. b. Offside: There shall be no offside.

Page14 c. Throwing: Throwing shall be by Leg. d. Sliding: Sliding is not allowed. e. Fouls and Misconduct: As conformed by FIFA with the exception that all fouls will result in an INDIRECT FREE KICK with the opponents three yards away from the ball. A goal may not be scored until the ball has been played or touched by a second player on either team. g. Substitutions: A maximum of 6 players substitutes are allowed on each team bench. Substitutions shall be unlimited, and be made at mid-field:  Prior to a throw-in -either team  Prior to a goal kick –either team  After a goal -either team  After an injury when the referee stops the game –either team  At half time –either team h. Goalkeeper Any of the other players or substitutes may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that the change is made during a stoppage in the match.

Pass back to goalkeeper is not allowed. Goal keeper can score from anywhere except half volley. 10. OFFICIATING / REFEREES Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the league rules. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with the game, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match are final. The referee may change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect, provided that he has not restarted play or ended the game. The referee may allow play to continue when a foul or infraction has occurred but stopping play would be at the benefit of the team who had committed the foul or infraction. The referee may allow play to continue when a foul or infraction has occurred but not affected play to either team‘s advantage, to help maintain a better flow of the game.Page15

11. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP The team which is at the top of the table at the end of the Season shall be the League Champions. The League Champions shall receive a trophy which it shall return to YalaSports in good order and condition not later than 3 weeks before the final League Matches of the next Season. The champion team name will be etched to the trophy. The League Champions in the first three divisions will receive AED 5,000 in cash. The Champions in the fourth & fifth divisions will entitle for free entry in the coming season. The League winners and runner ups players will receive 15 commemorative medals to be presented by YalaSports to its Manager and Players. Any team earn the championship under the same team name will retain the championship trophy forever.Page16