Important CUFC Juniors Club information Players, Coaches & Managers information ID CARDS Players: only players who are registered with Eastern Suburbs Football Association (ESFA) can play. The team's manager or coach should hold the Player ID cards for each junior player in their team. The manager or coach must show the cards to the opposing team on demand. Senior players hold their own cards, and must show these to the referee before playing. A player can only play for an age or a division equal to or higher than the division or age in which the player is registered. A player cannot play "down" - either a division or an age. Registered Team Official (RTO): each team official, manager, coach etc. must register with ESFA as a Registered Team Official or RTO. Registration is free for a RTO and includes accident support cover.
LINING UP, RUNNING OUT TO THE CENTRE OF THE PITCH AND CHECKING PLAYER ID CARDS Please line up all players before kick-off, run out to the centre of the pitch and present ID cards. Each player will provide their ID card to the opposing teams manager or coach in the centre of the field FIVE (5) minutes before kick-off. ID Cards will be inspected by the opposing RTO and handed back once checked. There is no need for the opposing RTO to keep the cards for the duration of the match. Your team's manager or coach will be required to check the opposing team's players' ID cards against their match card or team sheet. They should check the players are the right age and not from a higher division. The Association has warned clubs they will fine teams that do not do this. A common reason for dispute in past seasons has been about the eligibility of players and that is why all this is necessary.
PLAYING TIMES The boys' teams play on Saturdays and all girls teams U12 & over on Sundays. SSG are held at Heffron Park Maroubra varying times this is our Home ground . Games are also the games are held all around the area: Christenson Park, Queens Park, Mascot, Maroubra, Pagewood, etc. The team manager will supply everyone with a list of fixtures for the season. These are also available on the internet at ESFA's website: http://www.essfa.net.au Under 6 and Under 7 boys Game time: 15 mins each way mini pitch Ball Size 3 Non-competitive – Gala days offer opportunity to play other Clubs Under 8 boys Game time: 20 mins each way 3/4 pitch Ball Size 3 Noncompetitive Under 9 boys Game time: 20 mins each way 3/4 pitch Ball size 4 Noncompetitive ( Note teams are selected on merit from U9 age onwards ) Under 8 girls Game time: 15 mins each way mini pitch Ball Size 3 NonCompetitive Under 10 girls Game time: 20 mins each way 3/4 pitch Ball Size 4 Competitive Under 12 girls Game time: 25 mins each way full pitch Ball size 4 Competitive Under 10 to U12 boys Game time: 25 mins each way full pitch Ball Size 4 Competitive Under 14 girls Game time: 30 mins each way full pitch Ball size 5 Competitive Under 13 to Under 14 boys Game time: 30 mins each way full pitch Ball Size 4 (Under 13) and 5 (Under 14) Competitive Under 15 to Under 16 boys Game time: 35 mins each way full pitch Ball Size 5 Competitive
WET WEATHER Generally matches are played in all weather, including rain...sometimes, heavy rain. …………………………….Soccer is a winter sport! Unless notified beforehand, all players are required to attend the venue or your team forfeits the match. If in doubt, check the club's website at Wet Weather and look for an e-mail or phone call from your coach or manager. Your coach determines whether you train in wet weather, but be prepared for it. If you play in the rain, you should train in the rain. Just
have a towel and a dry change of clothes in the car. If players get dry immediately, they won't get sick. In the event of rain, all matches will be played unless cancelled by the park rangers, Association Competition Secretary, or if the Referee considers conditions are unsuitable or unsafe, or the respective Council closes the ground. The Referee remains the sole arbiter. Always turn up for a game unless told not to by the coach or club's website.
CLUB UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT The Coogee Juniors official strip is Black Shorts, black socks, Black & White Strip shirts. Shirts are provided by the club at the beginning of the season and with U11 & over teams they will need to be returned to the club at the end of the season. Socks & Shorts are available for purchase on registration days and also at Grading or Training sessions. To get the best choice of sizes make sure you get in early. Shin pads are mandatory. Boots with rubber studs? No metal studs allowed. WHAT UNIFORM DO I NEED TO PURCHASE? To play in any game players must have: the Club shirt and shorts and the club socks. Boots and shin pads can be purchased from Rebel Sport using the discount account number TBA by our Vice President Stanko Zonich (5% off ALL goods from Rebel throughout the year).Stanko email Sponsorship.juniors@coogeeunited.com if you require further information WHAT SORT OF BOOTS SHOULD I BUY? You should only buy boots with moulded studded soles. Boots with screw in studs can be dangerous and tend to be uncomfortable for children. For younger age groups, expensive boots are not necessary, as they will only last a season before they grow out of them. It really your choice just make sure they are comfortable & allow some room for the young player to grow . SHOULD SHIRTS BE NUMBERED? For senior and junior teams from age 10 upwards it is necessary for each player to consistently wear the same shirt number and this should
be entered on the team sheet or match card. For under 6 to 9 these rules are not necessary. PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT (spectacles, jewellery and hats) SAFETY - "A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery)." This includes anti-discrimination bands, leather necklaces and any other loose wristbands. The taping of jewellery is no longer allowed (including earrings and wedding rings). Sweatbands may be worn. Hats and caps may not be worn. Sun cream can be applied, of course. Any player not complying with these regulations will not be allowed to play. Exception: An exception to this Policy is where a person is required to wear a "Medic Alert" bracelet for emergency medical reasons. In this case the bracelet should be taped in an appropriate manner and to the satisfaction of the referee of the game.
PLAYERS WITH GLASSES Several years ago, FIFA endorsed a view of its IFAB Committee of 10 March 2001, that: New technology has made sports spectacles much safer, both for the player ? and other players. We expect referees to take full account of this fact and it would be considered extremely unusual for a referee to prevent a player taking part in a match because he or she was wearing modern sports spectacles. This does not stop an individual referee, or a referee outside the district, refusing permission. Some Associations act already to approve certain types of sports spectacles, but all need to take this extra step in a further attempt to deal with this vexed issue. The decision to allow a player to wear or not wear particular glasses under FIFA directives is still up to the individual referee.
REFEREES When there is no official referee If there is no official referee appointed to the game it is the responsibility of the home team to provide a referee. Where possible someone who has completed a referee’s course should referee the game. Clubs may decide amongst themselves before start of the game if they wish to pay the un-official referee, however this must be done by the Clubs directly as ESSFA only pays official referees through the Referees Association. Unofficial referees have the same rights as official referees and can send a player off. If they do so they must complete an incident report. Do not share refereeing with the other team It is a common practice for one team to appoint a parent to be a referee for the first half and then the other team appoints a referee for the other half. You should not do this because once a referee is appointed they maintain authority for the duration of the game. Supporting and protecting referees Some referees are as young as 12 years old. Sadly, adult coaches have been known to intimidate them. The team manager and coach have a responsibility to support referees and report any intimidation to the club president. Who recruits, appoints trains and supervises them? The Eastern Suburbs Soccer Referees Association is responsible for the training and development of referees of all standards within the Eastern Suburbs from junior Referees to local All Age standard. Note that the referees have their own association. ESSFA runs the football. How can we help get more referees? The most practical and immediate way is to encourage parents, friends and players to do the training course and become a qualified referee. Paying for referees For all Competition matches each club will be invoiced monthly by the ESFA. Clubs are to be charged on a 50/50 basis for referees fees. Team managers have been asked to report if you had a referee or not for each match.
Referee Warnings and Send-Offs (a) Referees (including Assistant Referees and Club/unofficial Referees) who have had occasion to send a player from the playing field, or deems it necessary to submit an incident report, shall be required to provide a written report to the ESFA Office to be received by 5pm on the Tuesday immediately following the relevant game. Such report may be delivered, posted, e-mailed or faxed (b) If a player has been sent from the field the referee will retain the ID Card and return it to the ESFA office accompanied by the send off report no later than 5pm on the Tuesday immediately following the relevant game.
HOW DO I LODGE A COMPLAINT All complaints about other teams and issues outside the Club must be made through the Club. The Association will not accept any correspondence unless it is on Club letterhead. Contact your team manager or age coordinator if you require more information. Any internal complaints should be made through either your manager or directly to the club president d.s.hochberg@bigpond.com Once a complaint is made it should be treated as a confidential manner until a decision has been made by either an internal club or ESFA judiciary process. Allegations against people from within the club or other clubs are serious matters and should not be circulated. Let the judiciary processes take their course and recommend their action.
SPECIAL RULES Under 6 - 8s (Non Competitive) matches Coaches will be allowed on the field only for 6?s and must stay outside the penalty area. Offside play will only be penalised where the Referee considers it to be blatant or deliberate. Goal kicks will be taken from the edge of the penalty area. Penalty kicks shall be taken from a point six (6) metres from the goal line, in front of the centre of the goal mouth. Free kicks shall be indirect.
All opposing players will stand five (5) metres away from the kick off, free kicks, goal kicks or corner kicks. Blatant fouls are to be penalised. Also careless tackles, which disadvantage the ball carrier, should be penalised. An incorrect throw in may be taken again at the Referees discretion. The second throw in shall be deemed a correct throw in. Under 6?s to 12?s Corner kicks shall be taken on the goal line seven (7) metres (approx. 8 yards) from the edge of the penalty area. Under 9?s to 10?s Goal kicks shall be taken from an imaginary line drawn through the penalty spot. Free kicks to the defending team inside the penalty, that are between the defenders goal lien and the penalty spot, shall be taken from an imaginary line drawn through the penalty spot. NO SPECTATORS, COACHES, MANAGERS OR PLAYERS ARE PERMITTED BEHIND EITHER GOAL LINE WHILST A GAME IS IN PROGRESS. TREATMENT OF ALL INJURED PLAYERS: NO PAIN KILLING SPRAYS SHALL BE ADMINISTERED WHILST THE PLAYER REMAINS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY. If such sprays are used the player shall be sent from the field of play and not allowed to return.
HANDLING CONFLICT Conflict takes place in junior soccer. Here are common reasons listed below which can be handled internally by CUFC Age Coordinates or Club Vice Presidents if required. 2012 Season Key Contacts SSG Manager U5 to U11 Girls Co-‐ordinator U12+
Andrew Brundu
0434 900 243
Ian Mead
0421 055 902
Boys Co-‐ordinator U12+
Sharon Steinman
0415 211 084
Players and parents from one's own team are threatening and bullying. There are different views about whether children are being given a fair opportunity to play or whether they have been placed in the most
suitable position. This is the most common cause of conflict. Coaches are entitled to decide in what positions players should be placed and how long they play. But this must be balanced against the guiding principle that players should be affirmed, further developed and have a positive experience. If there is conflict within your team it is, in the first instance, the manager's responsibility to try and facilitate resolution. Where there is irresolvable conflict and distress the club will convene a judiciary committee to address it. Here are further reasons for conflict and these are not handled by our club but at a district level by ESFA - the Eastern Suburbs Football Association: You may not agree with refereeing decisions. People are standing behind the goalposts and refuse to budge Opposing players and parents are sledging The opposing team does not have ID cards for all their players A player is wearing jewellery or glasses that are not safe The opposing team and referee insist on playing with a ball size you believe to be incorrect. Here is advice about how to deal with conflict that comes under the jurisdiction of ESFA. If you are not happy with the refereeing decisions there is little you can do during the game. The referee's decision is final. After the game, you can submit a report to the club president who may edit and pass this on to the Referee's Association. They have senior inspectors who will check on referees that are the subject of numerous complaints. A referee can issue yellow cards to coaches who abuse them and this can lead to banning for a period of time. Your coach or manager is entitled to verify the identity of the opposing players by asking to see their ID cards. It is in your interests to do this to ensure all players on the field are covered by insurance and that they are not using older or higher graded players. If the opposing team has players without ID cards and they want them to be allowed to play you have to exercise judgement. You are entitled to not play and the other team loses by forfeit. You may want to let the children play. It is after all, junior soccer. But you do need to be aware that players without cards are not covered by insurance or the rules of the Association. If you believe the safety of your children is under threat - be it parents sledging behind goal posts or something else - you should in the first
instance try to deal with it directly yourself. Hopefully, several parents will support you. But please understand that vigilante refereeing will further aggravate conflict. Do not aggressively confront parents or players of the opposing team directly because they can lodge a complaint. In the second instance ask the referee to stop the game until the threat has been removed. But please note that many of the referees are as young as 12 year olds and either the clubs or the Association expect them to exert authority over burly and aggressive adults. In the third instance, ask the coach of the opposing team to support your action and stop the game. If all else fails, the ultimate action is to take your team off the field. If the coach of the opposing team does not agree with this and demands a forfeit in their favour, you then file a report to the club president who will submit it to ESFA's judiciary committee. Occasionally you may see someone at the grounds with an armband called 'Club Official'. They may be able to help. The role of club officials with armbands is to protect referees from abuse by parents, coaches and managers.
TEAM SELECTION POLICY In younger age groups, the Club will endeavour to place groups of friends wishing to play together in a particular team, but we would encourage all players to be flexible and to play in teams appropriate to their standard. Teams in the 9s to 18s age groups are selected on merit each year. This is always in the interest of CUFC Junior player development for all levels of skill. At school for example strong Maths students are placed in advance maths classes for a reason so they so they are continuously be challenged improve & the same for the average Maths student however it the challenge is excessive the student can lose interest and regress the same applies to Football from U9 onwards the challenge & the skill level need to be aligned and we always endeavour to do this on trial merit when grading is required.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Please see the ESFA website http://www.esfa.com.au documents for additional information about rules and policies. Go to the library on the website for a copy of the competition rules. Â