Rules

A            YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE STRUCTURE

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Rules of the association being Youth Football League

A1          Competition Regulations for Clubs and Players

Any academy/club representing is subject to these Rules.

Appeals relating to decisions or defiance within Youth Football League, shall be dealt with in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations and will be received via email (football@yfldubai.com) no later than 48 hours after the game week in question. Youth Football League cannot officially consider appeals via any other communication channels.

A2          Cancelation of games and/or Changes of fixtures (once officially released)

Cancellations will result in a 3-0 defeat to the team cancelling. All correspondence regarding cancellations to be submitted via email to (football@yfldubai.com).

League fixtures shall take priority over events/tournaments not associated with Youth Football League. If a team selects to enter an alternative tournament/league that clashes with Youth Football League’s confirmed season schedule without prior written approval, the affected fixture will be forfeited, and a 3-0 result is awarded to the opposition.

A2          Youth Football League System

A2.1       There shall be a league system comprising of participating academies. The leagues will consist of a tiered system that includes Division A & Division B options in some age categories, subject to there being sufficient registrations.

A2.2      The playing format will either be 5v5, 7v7, 9v9 or 11v11 format. The number of squad players is subject to the academy/club’s discretion.

A2.3 The duration of the league is determined by format and the number of teams registered.

A3          The Closure of a Season

               A presentation ceremony will occur for each league at the conclusion of each season.

               Trophies and medals will be distributed to the relevant academies following the outcome of the season.

A4          Eligibility of players

A4.1       Players that represent the appropriate age category in reference to D.O.B and age-related cut offs stipulated by Youth Football League.

A4.2       Youth Football League will not interfere with which academy/club a player chooses to join.

A player cannot be registered for more than one academy in the same division/league at the same time.

A player can transfer from one academy to another during the season, however, must register the change with YFL prior to participating with new club.

A4.3       Players are eligible to play in the league that they are signed up for at the start of the season.

Dispensation may be provided via written consent regarding any players eligible to ‘play-up’ an age group.

A player can be transferred from Division B to Division A with formal written request and acceptance by the league. Once a player has been transferred to a higher division, he/she can no longer drop down a division under any circumstances. 

If a player is incorrectly registered in the A division but should be in the B division, a written request needs to be emailed to football@yfldubai.com and this will either be accepted or rejected based on the validity of the reason. The player cannot participate in both divisions.  

A4.4       If an academy/club has more than one team in the same league, players can only represent one of those teams and not both teams.  

If a club/academy wants to transfer the player from e.g., team Red to team Blue in the same league, written notice must be provided to football@yfldubai.com and this will either be accepted or rejected based on the validity of the reason.

A4.4       All squad sizes need to be sufficient in numbers to cope with the full fixture schedule throughout the season. If there is a risk of the squad being short of players at any point during the season, we recommend that they do not participate in YFL.

A5          First Aid & Pitch Side Assistance

A5.1       All Academy coaches are required to hold a valid First Aid certificate, and carry with them a fully completed medical first aid kit.

A5.2       Academy coaches are expected to act as first responder to any minor injuries or ailments. If the incident requires further assistance, medical provision will be administered via the resident medical team or a YFL member of staff.

B             AGE GROUPS AND PROVISIONS

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B1          Children registered as academy players.

All matches must be played in accordance with the correct version of the Laws of the Game appropriate for the format specified – See section L.

B2          Children 5 Years Old and Over – Age Groups, Formats and Related Provisions

For the purposes of (a) and (b) below,

(a) The relevant age for each player is determined by his or her age as at midnight on 31 August of the relevant playing season.

Example: Children who are aged 7 as at midnight on 31 August in a playing season (together with those who attain the age of 7 during the playing season) will be classed as Under 8 players for that playing season. Children who are aged 8 as at midnight on 31 August in a playing season will be classed as Under 9 players for that playing season, and so on.

(b) Notwithstanding the above, a child is permitted to “play up” in the age group above his or her chronological age group, irrespective of any difference in format or competition structure, a child who attains the age of 6 after 31 August is permitted to play only in the Under 7 age group and may not play in the Under 8 age group for that playing season.

The age groups that children are eligible to play in are set out in the table below, along with the permitted football formats for each of those age groups. Children shall not play, and shall not be permitted or encouraged to play, in a match between sides of more than the stated number of players, according to their age group (please see following page):

(c) A child under the age of 15 as at midnight on 31 August in a playing season, shall not be permitted to play in a match during that playing season where any other player is older or younger than that child by two years or more.

(d) To play in an Under 18 competition, a child should have attained the age of 15 as at midnight on 31 August of the relevant playing season. 

Table 1.1             Age Groups 2023-24 Season

B3          Children 5 Years Old and Over – Competition Structure

Each season will be dependent on the age group and number of league participants. Youth Football League will collect the results and compile league tables via our website (www.yfldubai.com)

B4          Gender of Players in Under 5 to Under 18 Matches

A child in the age groups Under 6 to Under 14 inclusive may play in a match involving boys and girls. Ages Under 15 and above will remain within gender specific competitions. Girls can play as a team in a boys’ league up to 1 year down if it is considered appropriate for their development and to ensure the right level of competition.

C             MISCONDUCT

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Set out in these rules, procedural matters concerning misconduct shall be dealt with in accordance with The Youth Football League regulations.

C1          The Association may act against a Participant in respect of any Misconduct, which is defined as being a breach of the following:

               The Laws of the Game

               The Rules and regulations of The Youth Football League

D            GENERAL BEHAVIOUR

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D1          D1.1       Any Coach, Parent or Participant shall always act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use anyone, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent, or insulting words or behaviour.

D1.2       A breach of rule D1.1 will result in and not limited to the following disciplinary actions against the represented academy; A deduction of points; 3-0 win issued to the opposing team; Expulsion from the league.

E             INTEGRITY MATTERS IN RELATION TO MATCHES AND COMPETITIONS

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E1          E1.1       A participant or academy/club shall not, directly, or indirectly, seek to influence for an improper purpose the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in or in connection with, a football match or competition.

               E1.2       A breach of rule E1.1 will result in and not limited to the following disciplinary actions against the represented academy; a 3-0 win issued to the opposing team.

               E1.3       An academy/club shall not, seek to take advantage by entering a team in a lower division than they should truthfully be taking part in.

               E1.4       A breach of rule E1.3 may result in expulsion from the league.

F             REPORTING MISCONDUCT

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F1           F1.1        A participant, or coach shall report to Youth Football League, facts or matters which may constitute misconduct. This shall be conducted via email (football@yfldubai.com) no later than 48 hours of the misconduct in question. Any requests thereafter will be classified as null and void. Youth Football League will only officially consider appeals that have been sent to the dedicated email address and cannot consider appeals raised via any other communication channels.

F1.2       A report to The Youth Football League of any incidents, facts or matters shall not be made for vexatious or frivolous reasons.

F1.3       Referees must submit a report to Youth Football League within two days of the Match, stating the caution-able, sending-off offences and/or extraordinary incidents.

G            ATTENDANCE AT MATCHES

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G1          G1.1       Spectators may attend any match on the condition that all Rules & Guidelines are observed.

Each affiliated Stakeholder shall be responsible for ensuring:

G1.2       That its players, officials, employees, representatives, spectators, and all persons purporting to be its supporters or followers, conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and refrain from any one or combination of the following: improper, violent, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting, or provocative words or behaviour whilst attending.

G1.3       Spectators or unauthorised persons are not permitted to encroach onto the pitch area at any given time.

G1.4       Any individual referred to in Rule G1.3 above may be removed from the ground and the game could be abandoned.

G1.5       All active participants abide by any regulations for safeguarding children as determined by Youth Football League.

 H           DOCUMENTATION COMPLIANCE

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H1          I1.1        Each academy/club shall respect the demands for such documentation and submit the requested prior to the season commencing. The non-negotiable documentation to meet compliance is:

a) Squad List & Player ID’s

b) Agreed to Rules & Regulations

c) Agreed & Signed Terms & Conditions (automatically applied during sign-up)

I              PAYMENT OF FEES

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I1            J1.1        Payment of any league fee shall be made to Youth Football League by the deadline stated within the issued invoice and/or in accordance with agreed payment terms.

J              FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN DETERMINING SANCTION

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J1           K1.1       Youth Football League will have due regard to the circumstances and seriousness of the incident when determining the appropriate sanction and whether (and to what extent) to depart from the sanction range.

In doing so, the Youth Football League shall consider any aggravating and mitigating factors, to include but not limited to:

Aggravating factors

•             Repeated use of discriminatory language or conduct during commission of the offence.

•             The public nature of the offence (e.g., the commission of the offence in a public place, via broadcast media or a social media platform (particularly via an account on a social media platform with a high number of followers in relative terms).

•             The profile of the Participant, including where they hold a position of responsibility within their Academy or organisation (e.g., Club captain, Chairman, member of senior management).

•             The relative ages of the Participant and the victim(s) at the time of the offence, particularly where the victim was a minor and the Participant was not.

•             Failure to co-operate with Youth Football League.

•             Previous disciplinary record of the Participant.

•             Any attempt to conceal the breach.

•             The extent of any premeditation.

Mitigating Factors

•             Admission at the earliest opportunity where the factual conduct forming the basis for the charge would be capable of being disputed.

•             Demonstration of genuine remorse.

•             Co-operation with The Youth Football League.

•             Where it is accepted that the Participant had a legitimate expectation of privacy.

•             Inexperience of the Participant by reference to their age or background at the time of the offence.

•             In respect of social media posts, the age of the post and the Participant’s age at the time of the post. For example, depending on the other circumstances and characteristics of the offence, it may be considered a mitigating factor where the post was made a considerable time ago and/or where it was made at a time when the Participant was a minor.

K             WRITTEN DECISIONS

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K1           L1.1       Youth Football League shall provide a written statement of its decision and reasons via email regarding any outcomes of misconduct.

L             LAWS OF THE GAME

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L1           1. The players equipment

2. The Referee

3. Duration of play

4. Playing the match

5. Making Substitutions and Changes

6. Fouls and free kicks

7. Discipline Process

The Normal Laws of Association Football apply with exceptions:

1. The Players’ Equipment – A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to themselves or another player. All Jewellery must be removed. Shin guards must be worn by all players.

Goalkeepers are permitted to wear colours, which easily distinguish them from the other players and the Referees.

• The Authority of the Referee – Each match is controlled by a Referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which they have been appointed, from the moment they enter the locality where the playing area is situated until they leave.

• The Duration of the Game – the game shall be divided into either two or four equal periods subject to the following:

• Allowance shall be made in either period for time lost through stoppages as decided by the Referee.

• The duration of either period shall be extended to enable a penalty kick to be taken.

• The Half Time interval shall not exceed 10 minutes except by consent of the Referee.

• Kick-off – A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off. All players must be in their own half of the playing area; the opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 3m from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward. The kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

Offsides – Offsides for the following age groups and divisions will not apply:

• U6, U7, U8, U9, U10

Offsides for the following age groups and divisions will apply:

• U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U18

• Substitution Procedure – Substitutions will be unlimited, based on a roll on, roll off scenario.

• Fouls and Misconduct– Fouls and misconduct are penalised as follows:

A Direct Free-kick – A direct free-kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred and can be kicked directly into the opponent’s goal to score a goal. A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offences in a manner considered by the Referee to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force:

• Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent.
• Trips or attempts to trip an opponent.
• Jumps at, pushes, or charges an opponent (even with the shoulder).
• Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent.
• Tackles an opponent (the key words are doing it carelessly, recklessly or with excessive force).

In addition, direct free kicks will also be awarded if a player:

• Spits at an opponent.
• Slides in an attempt to play the ball when it is being played or attempted to be played by an opponent (sliding tackle).
• Handles the ball deliberately, except for the goalkeeper, who can handle the ball in their own penalty area holds an opponent.

Indirect Free-kicks – An indirect free-kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred, unless this was in the penalty area, in which case the indirect free-kick is taken from the penalty area line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. An indirect free kick is awarded for the following offences.

• A Goalkeeper touches or controls the ball with their hands after it has been deliberately kicked or thrown to them by a team-mate.
• A Goalkeeper Touches or controls the ball with their hands or feet, in the penalty area, for more than four seconds.
• If in the opinion of the Referee, a player plays in a dangerous manner, deliberately impedes the progress of an opponent when the ball is not being played, prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from their hands,
• commits any other offence, not previously mentioned for which play is stopped to administer a temporary timed suspension or dismiss a player.

From an Indirect Free-kick a goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal.

• Disciplinary Actions – Any players deemed to have committed actions against the laws of the game, may be subjected to a yellow or red card.

M           REGISTRATION

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YFL will allow sufficient time for registration in advance of the start of the season.  

Although there has been flexibility in previous seasons once the deadline closes there will be no further opportunity for registration.

If both A&B division leagues are full, a team may be added to a waiting list for an additional league, however this will only operate if sufficient teams register.

Appendix A:

MATCH DURATION

Notes:

1. Half time will last no longer than 5 minutes.
2. In the hotter months, and with the safety of the players in mind, 1 minute water breaks will be in place at intervals during the game.  

Appendix B:

PITCHES