Rule of the Week – Book Players

SUBJECT: Rule of the Week – Book Players

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.