19-Jun	Match 23	Sao Paulo	Uruguay	England	4pm
20-Jun
21-Jun
22-Jun
23-Jun	Match 35	Curitiba	Australia	Spain	1pm
24-Jun	Match 23*	Belo Horizonte	Costa Rica	England	1pm
25-Jun	Match 42*	Rio de Janeiro	France	Ecuador	5pm
26-Jun					5pm
27-Jun
28-Jun	Match 50	Rio de Janeiro		Round 16	5pm

Dear Members,

In recent weeks the Committee has received reports of abuse of the Book Player system and offending teams being penalised with a FORFEIT.

This week rule is a reminder that it is the Team Leaders’ responsibility to ensure EVERY Book Player who takes to the field is registered with the Registrar and assigned to their team.

This includes the times when there are no players on the Book where the Team Leader can ’round-up’ a player/players.

Also, the sole purpose of Book Players is purely to assist a side to get a full 11 players on the pitch.

We ask ALL players to be aware of the correct procedure of Book Players  https://soccer-over35.com/about/rules/

8.0 Team Sheets/Book Players

8.1 Team Leaders must complete a team sheet immediately after the game. Names to be printed on the team sheet. Unused players crossed off and score recorded.

8.2  “Book” players are solely to assist teams to be able to have a full squad on the field.

8.3 Players who requested to be available in the “Book” register are players who are assisting the Club. The Club is not obligated to ensure the player has a full game.

8.4  “Book” players are expected to be available to assist the Club to be linesman (assistant referee) if needed. “Book” players will make themselves available as linesmen (assistant referee) until they are required on the field. Their replacement is the next player in the “Book”. Any “Book” player not prepared to assist the club will be removed from the “Book” register.

“Book” players continuing to refuse to assist the Club will not be accepted on the “Book” register.

8.5 If a team is short of players it must first use book players listed on the “book players” register, with first name on the register selected as first choice.

8.6 A team requesting a “book player” has the option to refuse a player if that player’s team is in a division more than one below the requesting team. e.g. A Div 1 team can refuse a registered Div 3 player.

An Over 35s team also has the option to refuse a player over the age of 45.

8.7 If the team does not accept the next suitable player, no others can be selected.

8.8 A Team Leader can pre-arrange a Goalkeeper and either the Team Leader or Goalkeeper must register his name with the Registrar on the team sheet BEFORE the game. Pre-arranged Goalkeepers do not need to register on the “Book”.

Goalkeepers must remain in goal and cannot play on the pitch.

8.9 Players taken from the book register must be given a minimum 30 minutes playing time on the field.

8.10 Any team not complying with 8.9 will forfeit the game.

8.11 Any player fielding for a team without using the above rules regards “book” players will automatically be suspended for two (2) weeks on the “book” register and one (1) game for his own team. A forfeited game or a postponed game is not counted as a missed game. The offending team will forfeit the game.

8.12 Teams can take a maximum of three (3) players from the “book” register without the match being deemed a DEFAULT. An injured “Book Player” can be replaced.

8.13 Players registering in the “Book” must identify if they are playing on the night for their own team, if so they will be advised that they are not eligible to play until all non-playing players are used. Players will be selected in the order of the “Book” register.

8.14 Team Leaders have the right to request verification as to the identity of any player on the opposition team sheet.

8.15 All players’ names that are expected to play in that game must be on the team sheet prior to kick-off, including those players expected to arrive late.

8.16 The “book” players and their regular team must be shown in brackets on the team sheet.

8.17 Teams who do not present fully filled in team sheets at the end of their game will be penalized one point; whether they win, lose or draw.

8.18 “Book” players have the option to decline playing for a higher division team  without losing their place on the book register.

Dear Members,

On behalf of the Committee and Officials we thank you for your attention over the past few weeks during the brief pre-match talk from the Referees.

It has been important to emphasise some of the rules and also to cut down on many of the unsavoury incidents which had been occurring in matches.

The results have been extremely positive and show the strategy is very successful with players and officials gaining a better understanding of the Over 35s rules and a huge reduction in the volume of abuse and dissent.

Overall it is providing a more pleasant and enjoyable experience for Players and Officials.

Next on the Agenda is the introduction of armbands for Team Captains/Leaders which will be handed out by the Referees during this weeks matches.

The objectives of this policy are:

• Team Captains/Leaders can be easily identified by Referees
• Team Captains/Leaders to take more responsibility for the behaviour of their own players (calming situations, control of players attitudes)
• Adopt a strategy similar to Rugby where the Team Captain/Leader takes any concerns about decisions etc direct to the Referee rather than a frustrated player (or players) yelling and shouting and getting a Yellow or Red card for dissent

This will take the ‘heat’ out of a situation and give the Referee an opportunity to explain decisions to the Team Captain/Leader for him to pass on to his team members.

As not all Players have the opportunity to read ‘Rule of the Week’ the Referees will provide a short explanation to all players before games this week.

Let’s keep enjoying the game!

Dear Members,

Following consultations with the Referee Co-ordinator regarding the continued dissent and abuse shown to our Officials the Committee have implemented the following as a trial for the rest of this season.

We all have moments of frustration which Referees understand and accept, however, a ZERO TOLERANCE stance will be taken on dissent, abuse and threatening behaviour either to Officials or opposing players.

Depending upon the seriousness of the offence a YELLOW CARD will be shown immediately.

An amendment to rule 6.1.1 for the trial will be:

6.1.1 First Offence – 5 minutes off field, (yellow card) or red card depending upon the seriousness and repetitiveness of the offence. NO REPLACEMENT PLAYER WHILE OFFENDER IS IN SIN-BIN

All yellow card offences will fall under the same penalty during the trial.