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COMPETITION RULES

Match Format

  • U7 will play 5-a-side football.
  • U8 and U9 will play 7-a-side football.
  • U10, U11 and U12 will play 9-a-side football.

Minimum Player Numbers

  • 7-a-side teams must have a minimum of five players (including one goalkeeper) on the field at any one time.
  • 9-a-side teams must have a minimum of seven players (including one goalkeeper) on the field at any one time.

Match Points
Teams will be awarded the following points after each match based on the result;

  • 3 Points will be awarded for a Win.
  • 1 Point will be awarded for a Draw.
  • 0 Points will be awarded for a Loss. 

Forfeit
A forfeit will be recorded as a 3-0 loss.

  Standings Placing

Where teams are level on points, the following method of determining the placings of teams on the standings will be used;

  • 1.  The team with the higher goal difference across all pool matches.
  • 2. The team with more goals across all pool matches.
  • 3. The head-to-head goal difference in pool matches between the teams that are level on points.
  • 4. Toss of a Coin

Match Length

Two 13-minute halves and a 2-minute half-time

Start Time

Matches will commence at the published start time. Teams must be ready on their allocated field at the half-way line at least three minutes before the start time.

Timing Penalisation

If a team is not present at the field at the start time, or does not have the minimum required player numbers, one goal will be awarded to the opposition team. If after five minutes the team has still not arrived or still does not have the minimum required player numbers, a forfeit will be recorded.

Weather

Matches may be postponed or cancelled due to wet/hot weather. The decision regarding postponement or cancellation will be made by the organisation committee in consultation with the venue.

  Code of Conduct

Any Staff Member, Parent or Player that acts in a way that is contrary to the Code of Conduct will be subject to removal from the competition. The organisation committee has absolute discretion in regard to decisions made pertaining to bad behaviour. The organisation committee also reserves the right to withdraw entire teams and Academies from the competition.

  Laws of the Game  - FIFA laws will apply as per normal, except for the following specific Junior Academy League laws;

  • Offside – offsides will be enforced for all age groups. The offside line for all agroups matches will be the opposition’s Penalty Box (instead of half-way). 
  • Penalties – penalties will be awarded as per normal. The penalty spot will be 9 meters from the goal line for all age groups. 
  • Substitutions – teams can make unlimited interchanges during a match; however, they must obtain the referee’s permission to do so. The oncoming player cannot enter the field of play until the outgoing player has completely left the field of play. All interchanges must be made at halfway and only during a stoppage of play. The goalkeeper can only be swapped at halftime, except in the case of injury. Substitutions cannot be made in the last minute of the match unless enforced due to injury. 
  • Free Kicks – All free kicks are direct unless deemed by the referee to be indirect, which they will indicate by putting their hand up before the kick is taken. opposing players must be a minimum of 6 meters away from the ball - U12 and 8 meters away from the ball in U14. 
  • Foul Throws – foul throws are enforced for all age groups. U8 players will be given one opportunity to take the throw again following a foul throw. 
  • Re-Starts – opposition players must be a minimum of 6 meters away from the centre point of the halfway line.  A player can score directly from a kick-off.
  • Kick-offs – Goals can be scored directly from a kick off as per any other direct free kick.
  • Goal Kicks – players from the opposition team cannot enter the goal box until the goal kick has been taken. Opposition players may stand anywhere around the edge of the penalty box. 

Foul Play
Any player sent off for “Violent Conduct” will be suspended for the rest of the season. Players sent off for “Abusive, Insulting or Offensive Language” or “Serious Foul Play” cannot be replaced for the remainder of the match and will receive an automatic one-match suspension to be served during their team’s next scheduled match. The organising committee reserves the right to extend periods of suspension as it deems appropriate in each circumstance.

  Footwear

Players must wear boots with moulded studs. Boots with metal studs or screw-ins are not permitted.

  Shinpads

Shinpads are compulsory. Players cannot participate without wearing shinpads.

Balls

  • U7, U8 and U9 will play with Size 3 Balls
  • U10, U11, U12

Team Kits
All players in the team must be wearing the same kit except for the goalkeeper. If a goalkeeper does not have a different kit from the outfield players, they must wear a bib. Bibs must be supplied by academies in case there is a clash of kit colours between teams. The team listed second on the fixture must wear the bibs.
All Academy Staff (including coaches) must wear Academy uniform and appropriate footwear (closed-toe shoes).


Goals

  • 5v5 games are for U7 and will use 3mx2m goals on a 30mx20m pitch.
  • 7v7 games are for U8 and U9 and will use 3mx2m goals on a 40mx30m pitch.
  • 9 v9 games are for all other age groups and will use 5mx2m goals on a 60mx40m pitch.

Technical Area
A minimum of one and maximum of two staff members from each Academy may stand in the field’s technical area. 

Overage Players 

Female players are allowed to play for Academies, one age below their eligible year, subject to JAL approval. (eg - 2012 born female player can play in 2013 born division)

Generally, all other overage players are not permitted in the JAL, however, players who provide written authorisation from their local federation may be offered dispensation to play in a younger age group pending JAL approval. This is also the case for any U11 or below players that fall under the RAE (Relative Age Effect).

Players on multiple teams 

Players can only play for one team in a particular age group and cannot move squads once they have already played for a team in that age group.  They can however play up to assist with player numbers in older age groups.  That player MUST be registered on both team sheets to be eligible.

Pitch Dimensions

  • 5-a-side field dimensions will be 30m long and 20m wide.
  • 7-a-side field dimensions will be 40m long and 30m wide.
  • 9-a-side field dimensions will be 60m long and 40m wide.
  • The sidelines, halfway line, goalbox, and off-side lines will be marked with markers.