Sydney Combined Competition 2014 Playing Rules and By Laws th (As at 28 March 2014) 1 Sydney Combined Competition 2014 Playing Rules (As at 28th March 2014) Incorporating the Balmain, Canterbury, South Sydney, Sydney Roosters, St George and Western Suburbs District Junior Rugby Leagues. (These rules override Balmain DJRFC, Canterbury DJRFC, South Sydney DJRFC, Sydney Roosters DJRFC, St George JRFC and Western Suburbs DJRFC domestic rules for teams who are competing in the Sydney Combined Competition). All competition matches, and Rugby League activities conducted by, or on behalf of the Sydney Combined Competition (SCC) are subject to the conditions as laid out in the official National Rugby League (NRL) “Code of Conduct” Important – every person who attends a Rugby League match does so with the permission and license of the home club and / or League. Breaches of this Code of Conduct may result in penalties up to and including a fine, loss of team match points and/or suspension. Clubs are responsible for the conduct of their players, parents / careers, coaches, officials and spectators. All games are conducted under these 2014 Sydney Combined Competition Playing Rules and Bylaws Situations Not Covered - Should any situation or matter arise that is not covered by these playing rules, then the matter shall be dealt with by the Sydney Combined Competition Committee. Their decision shall be final and no correspondence will be entered into. The Sydney Combined Competition Committee reserves the right to alter these 2014 Playing rules as and when required by majority vote of the Sydney Combined Competition Committee. 2 A. TEAM NOMINATIONS 1. The minimum number of players in each team required to nominate for the Sydney Combined Competition shall be (13) thirteen players. 2. The Sydney Combined Competition reserves the right to add teams to any of its competition’s up until the completion of Round 3 B. REGISTRATIONS 1. Players may register in their respective Districts up to and including 30 June 2014. 2. No new registrations, deregistration’s or clearances/transfers between Clubs can take place after 30th June 2014.( For rules concerning clearances between SCC Districts please not rule B6). 3. The maximum number of registered players in each age group shall be: 25 players for A Grade, U21, U19, and U17 competitions. 22 players for Under 13, U14, U15 and U16 competitions. 4. Players may only be re-registered once each year. 5. In Under 17, Under 19, Under 21 & ‘A’ Grade competitions, seven (7) players only may be de-registered in each team each year. In the Under 13, Under 14, Under 15 and Under 16 competitions, five (5) players only may be de-registered in each team each year. 6. Once a player has participated in any SCC match, that player will not be permitted to clear/transfer to any other participating SCC club without the express approval of the SCC Committee. Each application will be treated on it merits with the committee being mindful of it obligation to protect the integrity of each of its competitions. PLAYER PORTABILITY U/13s - U/19s INCLUSIVE 7.1 A player may not play for a higher age group at the expense of any players registered in that higher age group unless with the express pre-approval of the Sydney Combined Competition Committee. 7.2 A player may not play up in a higher age group without the signed “Playing up an age group consent form”. This rule applies to all players participating in SCC Competitions that are yet to turn 18 years of age. (Please see over) 3 4 7.3 Any player who plays in a higher age group must fulfill his commitments to his own registered team on that same day. They must not take the starting position of a player who is playing in his rightful age group. 7.4 No player can play more than two years above their correct (natural) age group. A player must turn 17 years of age before he will be permitted to play open age Rugby League. (Please also refer to rule B7.1) 7.5 No player is permitted to participate in a higher or lower division within his own age group. Example: U/13s Div 3 U/13s Div 2 U/13s Div 1 U/14s Div 1 U/14s Div 2 U/14s Div 1 PLAYER PORTABILITY OPEN AGE COMPETITIONS The SCC open age competitions shall be graded and named as: 1st Grade (Ex ‘A’ Grade) 2nd Grade (Ex ‘A’ Reserve 1) 3rd Grade (Ex ‘A’ Reserve 2) The following rules (8.1-8.8) are to be applied to clubs who have more than one team competing in open age SCC competitions. Clubs should also note rules relating to player registration numbers (section B). 8.1 Players registered to a lower grade team may play up in a higher grade team subject to the “4 x 4” rule (see rule 8.7). 8.2 Lower grade players playing in a higher grade are not counted as registrations for the purposes of rule B3. That is, they do not count towards the registration cap applied to the higher grade team (25 players maximum). 8.3 The lower grade registered player is permitted to start the game in the higher grade. 8.4 On any single weekend, a maximum of two players registered in a higher grade (from the same club) can play down in a lower grade competition subject to the “4 x 4” rule (see rule 8.7). Any higher grade player dropping down in grade on any one weekend will NOT be permitted to play for the higher grade team to which they are registered to on that same weekend. 5 8.5 Higher grade players playing in a lower grade are not counted as registrations for the purposes of rule B3. That is, they do not count towards the registration cap applied to the lower grade team (25 players maximum). 8.6 If a club has more than one team competing in the same grade of competition, no cross pollination of players registered to each individual team will be permitted. 8.7 The “4 x 4” rule. Any registered participant who plays in a grade contrary to the grade that he is registered in, is limited to the number of times he can play in that contrary grade. A player may play in a contrary grade for no more than four games starting the match and no more than four games participating off the reserves bench. IE A player may participate in a contrary grade on no more than eight occasions. Once a player exceeds the 4 x 4 limits, he will be deemed to have breached competition registration rules, and clubs may have competition points deducted for this breach. 8.8 For the purposes of Finals Series qualifications, a player will only be eligible to play in the finals series for the team in which he has played the most number of games for over the course of the regular season. 9. Any player who participates (i.e. starting 13 or interchange player) in a higher grade e.g. NYC, NSW Cup, Ron Massey Shield; Sydney Shield shall NOT be permitted to return to play in the Sydney Combined Competition on that same weekend. Any player who participates (i.e. starting 13 or interchange player) in the Matthews Cup or SG Ball competitions shall NOT be permitted to return to play in the Sydney Combined Competition on that same weekend. (Should a team involved in the Finals Series of either Harold Matthews Cup or SG Ball Junior Representative Competitions be deemed after their game to be eliminated from that competition then this would be the only Exception to this rule and would be permitted to play on the same weekend). The onus for enforcement of this rule shall be on the Junior League Clubs. Clubs found breaching this rule will be liable for loss of competition points and fines as determined by the Sydney Combined Competition Committee. Clubs protesting under this Rule must lodge their protest before 5:00pm on the first business day following the match. C. TEAM COLOURS When team colours clash, the Club who is the “Away” team will arrange to play in a different set of jerseys. All jerseys to be numbered, with NO duplicated numbers. 6 D. TIMES OF PLAY 1. ‘A’ Grade, U/21’s - 35 minutes each way – 10 minutes half time (maximum). U/19, U/17, U/16, - 30 minutes each way – 10 minutes half time (maximum). U/15, U/14, U/13 - 25 minutes each way – 10 minutes half time (maximum). 2. Up to 5 minutes time off for all circumstances is allowed in the second half only during competition matches. In Semi-Finals and Finals series matches all time off shall be allowed. No time off in the first half of regular season matches is permitted. 3. Once a game starts the score at the scheduled finishing time (following rule D2) stands as a result. 3.1 Example: if your game has started and in the 5th minute a player is injured the following will occur: 3.1.1 Time will continue running on the match clock until half time, As there is no time off in first half 3.1.2 Up to 10 minutes half time 3.1.3 Normal time off for second half, up to 5 minutes 3.1.4 Time continues to run down until full time is called 3.1.5 Game is complete and the score at the end of the match stands as the result.