2021 Rules of Competition Contents 1.0 Organisation and Administration ............................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Scope and Application ............................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Administration of Competitions ............................................................................................................. 6 1.3 Consequences for Breach ..................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Matches Played in Accordance with the Laws of the Game ............................................................ 7 1.5 Confirmation of Leagues/Age Division ................................................................................................. 7 1.6 Contact Information ................................................................................................................................. 8 1.7 Player Insurance ..................................................................................................................................... 8 1.8 Travel Policy ............................................................................................................................................ 8 1.9 Commercial Arrangements .................................................................................................................... 9 1.10 Outstanding Debts ................................................................................................................................ 9 Subject to the Special Considerations as stipulated in 1.11 ................................................................... 9 1.11 Special Consideration ........................................................................................................................... 9 2.0 Code of Conduct and Registrations .......................................................................................................10 2.1 Code of Conduct ...................................................................................................................................10 2.2 Eligibility ..................................................................................................................................................10 2.3 Consequences of Playing an Ineligible Player .................................................................................11 2.3 Age Eligibility ..........................................................................................................................................11 2.4 Registration Period ...............................................................................................................................12 2.5 Reacquisition of Amateur Status ........................................................................................................13 2.6 Registrations Outside of Registration Periods ..................................................................................13 2.6.1 Amateur Player Registrations ......................................................................................................13 2.6.2 Professional Player Registrations ...............................................................................................13 2.6.3 Professional Player Registrations ...............................................................................................14 2.7 Visa Players ...........................................................................................................................................14 2.8 Process for Registration of Team Managers and Coaches ............................................................14 2.9 Submission of Registrations ................................................................................................................15 2.10 Professional Player Transfer Fees and Disputes ...........................................................................15 2.11 Player Rosters .....................................................................................................................................15 3.0 Player Movement ......................................................................................................................................16 3.1 Age Policy ..............................................................................................................................................16 3.1.1 Senior Men’s – U18/U23 Boys and First team ..........................................................................16 3.1.2 Women’s First Team and U23 Girls ............................................................................................16 3.1.3 NPL Junior Boy’s/Girl’s (U13 to U16 Boys and U14/U16 Girls) Competitions .....................17 3.1.4 SAP ..................................................................................................................................................18 3.2 Relative Age Effect (RAE) ...................................................................................................................18 2 February 2021 3.3 Playing Across Competitions ...............................................................................................................19 3.4 Long Term Injury Replacement Players ............................................................................................19 4.0 Competition Structures and Regulations ...............................................................................................20 4.1 Structures and Competition Format ...................................................................................................20 4.2 Promotion and Relegation ...................................................................................................................22 4.2.1 Relegation from NPL Men’s .........................................................................................................23 4.2.2 Relegation from FQPL1 ................................................................................................................23 4.2.3 Promotion from FQPL1 .................................................................................................................24 4.2.4 Promotion from FQPL2 .................................................................................................................24 4.3 Removal of Team/s from Competitions .............................................................................................25 4.4 Competitions Points ..............................................................................................................................25 4.5 Competition Placings ............................................................................................................................25 4.6 Finals Series ..........................................................................................................................................26 5.0 Match Day Procedures .............................................................................................................................28 5.1 Duration of Matches ..............................................................................................................................28 5.1.1 Added Time ....................................................................................................................................28 5.1.2 Extra Time .......................................................................................................................................29 5.1.3 Extra Time in Finals .......................................................................................................................29 5.2 Penalties in Finals Series .....................................................................................................................29 5.3 Substitution and Interchange ...............................................................................................................30 5.3.2 Interchange- including U23 NPL Women’s, U18 NPL Men’s/FQPL1 and Juniors .............30 5.3.3 General Interchange/Substitution ................................................................................................31 5.3.4 Substitution and Interchange- Finals Series ..............................................................................31 5.4 Technical Area .......................................................................................................................................32 5.5 Playing Strips and Clash of Colours ...................................................................................................33 5.6 Match Balls .............................................................................................................................................33 5.7 Match Officials .......................................................................................................................................34 5.7.1 Appointments ..................................................................................................................................34 5.7.2 Fees .................................................................................................................................................35 5.7.3 Responsibilities and Obligations .................................................................................................36