GPSFA League, Cup & ESFA 7-a-Sides Rules & Regulations
GPSFA Leagues
Rules & Regulations
Format & Duration of Play
All matches are 7-a-Side and of 15 minutes each way duration.
There are 7 groups of 5 teams (8 matches) and 1 group of 4 teams (6 matches).
The Girls’ League comprises 24 schools in 8 groups of 3. Each side plays each of the others twice, giving 4 games per team with the play-offs taking place on Wed 24th November.
Offside
There are no offsides in 7-a-Side matches, including the ESFA 7s (except at kick-offs).
Pitch Size
Pitches for all 7-a-Side matches must not measure more than 60m x 40m and goals need to be of a size appropriate to the pitch. Nets and corner flags should be used for every game.
Ball
The size of ball used in matches should be agreed between the competing schools themselves. If one team feels a size 3 should be used (due to their team having some Y5s in it), then that is what must happen, but please ensure the ball size is agreed prior to game day in your pre-match communication.
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. Watches should not be worn.
Free Kicks
In 7-a-Side football, due to there being no offsides, all free kicks are direct.
Kick Off
Goals cannot be scored direct from the kick-off in any GPSFA competition.
Goal Kicks
At goal kicks, the opposition must retreat to the halfway line until the kick has been taken. The goal kick can however be taken before the retreat is complete.
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.
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.
Discipline
Should a situation arise that the referee feels would normally warrant a booking or even a sending off, he/she should stop the game, explain the situation to the offending player’s manager and ask the manager to substitute the player immediately. The substituted player will play no further part in the game. Should the offending team have no substitutes, that team will play with one player short for the remainder of the game. Ideally, however, the team manager should remove any defaulting player prior to the referee becoming involved. Any player disputing a referee’s decision should be either temporarily or permanently removed from the game by his/her own manager.
Nine-Goal Ceiling
No team can score more than nine goals in a game. Should a team score nine times before the 30 minutes is up, the kick-off shall be taken and the full-time whistle blown before a tenth goal is scored. This rule is non-negotiable.
Points
1 point for playing a match (and losing).
2 points for a draw.
3 points for a win. Unplayed games receive no points (see also Rule 14).
Strictly the last date for league results to be reported is Friday 3rd February 2022.
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 by mutual consent, but should a match remain unplayed at the end of the season, the school which could not play on the original date will forfeit the game 0-1. Schools wishing to claim matches via this rule should e-mail the Secretary before Friday 3rd February. It is though in the spirit of the competition to play all matches – however, the committee’s decision on this and in all other matters is final.
Supervision
All teams must be under the direct supervision of a teacher, employee of the LEA or a school governor, who is directly responsible for all matters on and 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.
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.
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 Development Centre. 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, development centres 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.
Notification of Results
BOTH teams to e-mail the result to boh1066@live.co.uk on the same evening a game has been played.
Trophies
There is a perpetual award for the winner of each group. 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.
GPSFA KO Cup Rules
(Where different from, or additions to, League Rules)
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. There will also be a B Team Cup assuming numbers justify this, together with Large & Small Schools’ Girls’ KO Cup competitions.
All first-round losers in the Large, Small & Intermediate KOs will be automatically entered into either the Large or Small Schools’ Plate KO.
Timing
All ties must be played 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 penalty shoot-out will take place – 5 players per side to contest this. If scores remain level, the shoot-out becomes ‘sudden death.’ The same players that took the original penalties must contest the ‘sudden death’ shoot out, though the order may be changed.
Match Days
The named day for the ‘A’ Team KOs is Thursday of the scheduled week and for the Girls’ & ‘B’ Team KOs, Wednesday. This day only comes into play should schools be unable to agree to play on a particular day during that week, at which point the school unable to play on the Wednesday / Thursday will be eliminated from the competition.
Should a situation arise whereby a school has a home ‘B’ & Girls’ tie scheduled for the same afternoon, there should be enough light to play one game immediately after the other.
Pitches Unfit
In the case of pitches being unfit during the scheduled week due to the weather:
The game is switched to the opposition ground.
The competition organiser shall be informed immediately and a neutral ground may be arranged, requiring both teams to travel.
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.
Finals
All ‘open’ final ties will be played on Saturday 25th March at Longlevens, with the girls’ finals taking place at the same venue on Friday 24th March. Players cannot play in two finals on the same day, but can play on both the Friday and the Saturday.
ESFA Outdoor 7-a-Side Rules
There will be a LARGE SCHOOLS’ (boys/girls) 7-a-Side competition, a SMALL SCHOOLS’ (< 65 pupils in Y5/6) 7-a-Side competition and a GIRLS’ ONLY 7-a-Side competition as part of the ESFA National 7s tournament.
Matches to consist of two periods of 5 minutes each way (or 10 minutes straight through).
Two substitutes may be used in any game. These substitutes are ‘rolling’ as in all other GPSFA competitions.
All other rules are the same as league 7-a-Side matches (see above).
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) result(s) between the teams involved b) goal difference c) goals scored d) a play-off of 3 minutes each way (‘golden goal’) between the teams that are level and e) penalties (5 per team) then ‘sudden death’ penalties.
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.
The winner of the Gloucester competitions for the ‘Large Schools,’ ‘Small Schools’ and ‘Girls’ events will represent the city in the County competition in December.
