For your advice and assistance, the following guidelines, which contain a few additional points to previous years, are given.

1.    Renfrewshire Education authority requires that ALL people involved with School teams have been registered with Disclosure Scotland and have attended Child Protection education sessions. Please contact the P&D committee if you need assistance.

 2.    The master documents for insurance, both Personal accident and Public Liability will be held by Renfrewshire Education and The Primary committee of the P&DSFA. Please contact the P&D, me specifically,  if you need to make a claim

3.    The P&D will maintain a log of all persons associated with the running of primary School teams and that they meet the education / Disclosure requirements. You may be asked during the season for information / status.

4.    Schools playing on Saturdays are expected to field two teams but we would ask that the B team should be composed of younger pupils to make it a fairer game when playing Schools with small roles.

5.    Home teams are responsible for making the arrangements for the game, i.e. booking pitch, checking team colours, arranging referee. Home teams should contact their opponents at least 3 days before the fixture, i.e. No later than Wednesday for Saturday matches and Monday for Thursday games.

6.    Teams should make every effort to fulfill scheduled fixtures. If a cancellation is unavoidable, please let your opponents know in plenty time, as booked pitches have to be paid for. If possible, arrange another date at the time of cancellation.

7.    Results should be reported in promptly, within 7 days of the game completion. Both teams, ideally , should submit the result to the Match Secretary whose name is on your fixture list

8.    Both teams should take a ball to the match (size 4)

9.    You are expected to use the correct size of pitch (max 65m x 45m) and goals (5m x 2m) for your matches

10.  All players must wear shin pads., Metal studs are suitable for grass fields only, Glasses MUST have safety frames and lenses

11.  In the spirit of fairness, try to avoid any team running up a very large score against their opponents. A team winning by 3 or 4 goals should invite the opposition to add a player and another after a further 2 or 3 goals. It  would be nice to avoid a team winning by double figures. The ref could also negotiate shortening the game if the addition of players is making no difference.

12.  All pupils taking part should have signed a consent form at the start of the season

13.  Team Representatives will be held responsible for the good behavior of all players in their teams, any accompanying adults. Representatives are reminded that while players should receive encouragement, the formal coaching of players is discouraged while the games are in progress and the referee decisions should not be disputed.
A copy of the ‘Code of Conduct’ for all adults involved in Primary Schools football is enclosed. Representatives must ensure that all adults are aware of the contents of the code and that they abide by it.

14.  The Management Committee intends to organsise a second series of fixtures for Saturday teams in the New Year. Details and entry forms will be issued nearer the time.

15. In the event of any situation not covered by these notes, please contact your match secretary, in the first instance, for advice.

Game / Match Rules

1.     All games are 7 a side. Both boys and girls may play and the committee is keen to encourage more girls to play. Up to 3 substitutions may be used. All substitutes MUST PLAY at some point in the game. Nb. Players can come back on

2.      Games are 20 mins each half, unless Reps agree before starting to a shorter game.

3.     There will be no offside in play and all freekicks direct

4.     The game shall be started, or restarted after a goal with a centre ball.
The game shall be re-started with a kick-in (instead of throws) goal kick or corner kick (as appropriate) if the ball goes out of play behind or at the side of the field of play

5.     Goalkeepers may kick or throw out the ball as preferred but not into opponents half of the field. Infringement of this rule will result in an indirect free kick on the half way line. For a goal kick/ throw, the opposing team must retreat to their own half of the field.
In normal play when the goalkeeper takes possession of the ball he or she should move it on quickly. The retreat rule does not need to be applied.

Guidelines for Adults at  P&DSFA 7s Matches

One of the main aims of the Scottish schools Football Association in its small sided games is to promote good attitude towards the game of football, and to try to improve playing skills.

Above all, playing football MUST be an enjoyable experience for all our players no matter how skilful or successful they are

Code of Conduct for Adults Involved in Primary School Teams

1.      Players should be encouraged at all times

2.      Players must be allowed to make mistakes, without receiving criticism from adults. Players can learn a lot from their mistakes and therefore should be allowed to make their own decisions about what to do during the course of a game.

3.      Refereeing is a very difficult job and we must accept that there will be times when referees will make mistakes. Adults must avoid the temptation to criticize referees. The referee’s decision is final, right or wrong.

4.      Adults must remember that children play football because it is something they enjoy doing. Children’s participation and enjoyment are more important than winning.

5.      Leagues are organized purely as a means to giving everyone a game to play each week. Although results are collected, this is only so that teams can be placed with others of similar ability in the second set of fixtures, Sat Leagues).

6.      Whenever possible, adults should try to avoid any team running up a large score against their opponents. This could be done by allowing the losing team to play an extra player, or by shortening the game.

In Summary

Adults attending Primary games have a big responsibility

They should

·         Set a good example to their players

·         Highlight and applaud good play by both teams

·         Emphasise good sportsmanship

·         Be patient and supportive

They should not

·         Instruct / coach players during the game

·         Criticize players who make mistakes

·         Dispute refereeing decisions

·         Place too much emphasis on results

At the end of every game

·         There should be applause for both teams

·         Players should shake hands

·         The referee and match organizers should be thanked for their time and effort