1.   Format & Duration of Play

All matches are 7-a-Side and are of 15 minutes each way duration.

There are 5 teams in each group giving 8 matches per team (4 home & 4 away).

The Girls’ League comprises 7 schools in a single group, with each side playing each of the others once, thus giving 6 fixtures per team.

2.   Offside

There are no offsides in 7-a-Side matches (except at kick-offs).

Similarly, there are no offsides in either the ESFA Outdoor 7-a-Sides or Indoor 5-a-Sides (separate rules for 5s will be issued – see over for ESFA 7s rules).

3.   Pitch Size

It is strongly recommended that pitches for all 7-a-Side matches measure 60m x 40m and that goals are of a size appropriate to the pitch. Nets and corner flags should be used for every game.

4.   Ball

A size 4 leather ball must be used in all matches.

5.   Equipment

All players will be required to wear shin pads during a game. Jewellery which may cause injury (eg dangling earrings) should be removed or taped before play begins.

6.   Free Kicks

In 7-a-Side football – due to there being no offsides – all free kicks are direct.

7.   Kick Off

Goals cannot be scored direct from the kick off in any GPSFA competition.

8.   Substitutes

There is no limit to the number of substitutes that may be used in a match. Substitutes are ‘rolling’, which means that players taken off may be re-introduced at any time and for any reason, provided the number of players on the pitch at any one time does not exceed seven.

9.   Referees

All school matches must be refereed by a member of school staff. Should the home team not be able to provide a suitable referee, then the opposition should provide a referee for the game. It is the responsibility of the home manager to inform the visitors prior to their arrival at the game if he / she cannot provide a member of staff to referee. Should a situation arise whereby neither school can provide a referee, the committee shall be informed and every effort will be made to allocate a suitable official. Under no circumstances whatsoever should a parent of a squad member referee school matches.

10.                Referees’ Assistants

An assistant referee shall be provided by each team. If one team cannot provide a linesman, then the other side should have the option of providing one or both assistants.

11.               Nine Goals

No team must score double figures in a game. Should a team score nine times before the 30 minutes is up, the kick-off should be taken and the full time whistle blown before a tenth goal is scored. This rule is non-negotiable.

12.                Points

1 point for playing a match.  2 points for a draw.

3 points for a win.                              Unplayed games receive no points (see also Rule 13).

Strictly the last date for league results to be reported is Friday 6^th February.

13.               Match Days

The nominated match day for the Boys’ League is Thursday of the scheduled week; for Girls’ League fixtures the nominated day is Wednesday. Games may be arranged on other days, but should a match remain unplayed at the end of the season, the school which could not play on the original Thursday will forfeit the game 0-1. Schools wishing to claim matches via this rule should e-mail the Secretary before 6^th February.  It is though in the spirit of the competition to play all matches – however, the committee’s decision on this and all other matters is final.

14.                Supervision

All teams must be under the supervision of a teacher, employee of the LEA or a school governor, who is directly responsible for all matters on or off the field. This includes taking full responsibility for the team and its supporters and their approach to the game in all aspects of attitude and play.

15.                Arranging Games

While it is assumed the home side will make contact and arrange matches, the away team should get in touch if the home side does not make contact for any reason.

16.                Priority

School matches take priority over all other local (Youth League) and community (cubs, etc) events. A pupil’s first commitment is to their school (FA Rule 21). This rule should be strictly adhered to at all times. The only exception to this is if there is a clash of interest due to a player being a member of a Football Academy or FA registered Centre of Excellence. Being involved with either of the latter bodies however does not preclude pupils from playing in school matches. However, it is strongly recommended that players at academies, centres of excellence or in the city schools’ representative squads are not required to train with their school teams in an effort to reduce overplay. Please contact the Secretary if in any doubt.

17.                Notification of Results

BOTH teams to e-mail GPSFA@dugout.fsnet.co.uk on the same evening a game has been played, giving the score and full names of scorers.

18.                Trophies

There is a perpetual award for the winner of each group. Schools should ensure trophies are engraved before their return in February. Schools requiring individual mementoes will need to organise these themselves. In the case of teams finishing equal on points at the top of their group (goal difference does not come into effect in the league competitions), the title will be shared.

1.   Format

All competitions to be 7-a-Side – entrants will be split into three competitions (Large / Intermediate / Small) as dictated by the number of boys in Years 5 & 6. If numbers allow, a B Team Cup may be organised (depending on numbers interested).

All first round losers in the Large, Small & Intermediate KOs will be automatically entered into the Large or Small Schools’ Plate KO. The Girls’ competition qualifying rounds will be played at four nominated venues (dependent on numbers entering). The highest placed large school and the highest placed small school at each venue will contest the cup finals.

2.   Timing

All ties must be completed in the scheduled week and completed on one evening. If scores are level at the end of 15 minutes each way normal time then 5 minutes each way extra time will be played with the first goal scored in this extra period determining the winner (‘Golden Goal’). If scores are still level a ‘shoot out’ will take place – 5 players per side to contest this. Players begin on the halfway line and have 12 seconds in which to score. The ball is declared ‘dead’ when it goes out of play or is held by the keeper. If scores remain level, the ‘shoot out’ becomes ‘sudden death.’

3.   Match Days

The named day for the KO is Thursday of the scheduled week. This day only comes into play should schools be unable to agree on a particular day during that week, at which point the school unable play on the Thursday will be eliminated from the competition.

4.   Pitches Unfit

In the case of pitches being unfit during the scheduled week due to the weather:

a)    The game is switched to the opposition ground.

b)    The competition organiser shall be informed immediately and a neutral ground may be arranged, requiring both teams to travel.

c)    Only in the case of extreme weather causing widespread fixture disruption [and following the failure of (a) and (b) above], will games be transferred to the following week. This may then require 2 games being played in one week.

5.   Semi Finals and Finals

All semi finals will be played at neutral venues as stipulated by the organiser. All boys’ final ties will be played on Saturday 28^th March at Longlevens, the girls’ finals taking place at the same venue on Friday 27^th.

1. There will be a BOYS ONLY 7-a-Side competition, a SMALL SCHOOLS (less than 100 pupils in KS2; boys / girls) 7-a-Side competition and a GIRLS ONLY 7-a-Side competition.

2. Matches to consist of two periods of 5 minutes each way.

3. Two substitutes may be used in any game. These substitutes are ‘rolling’ as in all other GPSFA competitions.

4. All other rules are the same as league 7-a-Side matches (see above).

5. In all rounds of the competition with a league format – Win = 3 points; Draw = 1 point; Loss = 0 points. Should points be level at the end of group games, positions will be decided by a) Goal difference b) Goals scored c) A play off of 3 minutes each way (‘golden goal’) between the two teams d) Penalties (6 per team) then ‘sudden death’ penalties.

6. In KO rounds, should scores be level at the end of normal time, 3 minutes each way extra time shall be played with the ‘Golden Goal’ rule applying. Should scores still be level, penalty kicks in accordance with (5) above will be taken to decide the tie.

7. The winner of the Gloucester competitions for the ‘Boys,’ ‘Small Schools’ and ‘Girls’ will represent the city in the County competition in December / January.

1.    5 players per team, with up to 2 substitutes allowed. Subs to be used as follows: at approximately the halfway point in each match, coinciding with a convenient break in play (eg ball in ‘keeper’s hands or free-kick), the referee will give team managers the opportunity to make substitutions. Apart from replacing players who have to retire due to injury at any time, this will be the only time when substitutions may be made.

2.     No offsides.

3.    Kick-offs may be played backwards.

4.    The ball may not be played over head height. This judgement will be entirely at the referee’s discretion.

5.    No heading allowed, even when the ball is below head height.

6.    No sliding tackles.

7.    Free kicks for fouls and hand balls are direct and opponents are not allowed to stand within 2 metres of the ball when a free-kick is taken.

8.    All other free-kicks are indirect and opponents are not allowed to stand within 2 metres of the ball when a free-kick is taken.

9.    Only 2 steps are allowed in the taking of a penalty.

10. THE ‘D’. The ‘D’ around each goal is an area for goalkeepers only.

The goalkeeper is not allowed to leave that area (referee will award a penalty).

Outfield players are not allowed to enter that area (if defender enters, referee will award a penalty; if attacker enters, referee will award a free-kick to defending team, 2m from edge of the ‘D’).

The referee will always use his/her judgement to consider whether an outfield player is ‘seeking to gain an advantage’ from entering the ‘D’ and, if he/she considers the player is not, will allow play to continue.

     11.GOALKEEPERS. An outfield player may pass the ball back into his/her ‘D’ to the  goalkeeper. However, the goalkeeper is not allowed to:

a)    pick the ball up in the hands

b)    kick the ball back to the player who passed it to him/her (ie. the ball must be passed to a different player).

          Goalkeepers must throw the ball out under-arm.

          If, in the course of making a save, the ball goes over head height off the body of the goalkeeper or the frame of the goal, the referee will award the ball to the goalkeeper to throw out.