The SSFA has advised team ID sheets will now be ready for use this weekend, Round 1.
It is really important for each team (u12+) to pick up their ID sheets before your Round 1 game.  Either the team manager or coach should come to Gymea Bay Oval’s ground control on Friday afternoon, between 6pm and 7pm, to collect their team’s ID sheets.  
If you are unable to attend on Friday afternoon, our Registrar will be at ground control from 7am until noon on Saturday and Sunday morning, but please leave enough time before your game time to pick up your ID sheets.  

Messages from SSFA:

ID Sheets
As previously noted, the FFA provided Play Football system does not have the functionality to produce ID Cards (as per our normal practice). In fact, the SSFA (in conjunction with FNSW) have only just managed to have Play Football programming instated that allows for ID Sheets to be generated.

Therefore, for the 2019 season it has been decided that the SSFA will use ID Sheets in lieu of ID Cards for all competition matches

Summary

–        ID Sheets are to be made available to the opposing Team manager for perusal prior to the commencement of the Match.

–        Only players listed on the ID Sheets can participate in a match.

–        Three (3) ID Sheets will be made available per team.

–        Any changes to the team complement will require all three ID Sheets to be returned in exchange for three new ID Sheets.

–        When Borrowing a player you will need the ID sheet for their team – hence three copies have been made available.

Details

That is, the following requirements will need to be adhered to (in conjunction with all other SSFA Rules) and will be enforced:

  1. ID Sheets are to be made available to the opposing Team manager for perusal prior to the commencement of the Match, and it will be his / her duty to return the sheets to the Opposing Team Manager after checking that they are in order.
  2. Players for any Team that are not included on the player identification sheets are not permitted to take the field of play.
  3. Any Team who cannot produce at least seven (7) Players that appear on the Player identification sheets for any Match will not have enough eligible Players to commence the Match and will be deemed to have forfeited the Match.
  4. Opposing Team managers are responsible for sighting the Player identification sheets prior to the Match. Should a Team suspect the opposition of replacing any Player between the initial identification sheet check and the commencement of either the first or second half, the procedures as  specified in the attached previously distributed Temporary By Law should be followed.
  5. Any Club, Team Official and / or Player that is found to have breached these requirements and the Rules may be sanctioned pursuant to the SSFA Rules
  6. Failure of Teams to produce player identity sheets on request may be sanctioned pursuant to the SSFA Rules.

The Process for preparation, distribution and replacement of ID sheets is highlighted below:

  1. The SSFA will Print 3 copies of ID sheets per team per club.
  2. These ID Sheets will be annotated (i.e. dated and stamped by the SSFA) to show that they are originals.
  3. Any late registrations, transfers, team changes etc. will require all 3 ID sheets for that team to be returned  to SSFA for the issuance of new ID sheets.
  4. Late registrations, team changes, etc. need to be received by the SSFA Office by no later than Thursday 9am to be processed by Friday. That is photo, sightings etc. must be complete by this time. Clubs are requested to double check that photos are correct before sending late registrations to the Office.
  5. Any late registrations or team changes received after Thursday 9am will not be processed until the following week.
  6. All 3 issued ID Sheets will need to be returned to the SSFA Office prior to Replacement/ Revised ID Sheets being issued. Replacement/ Revised ID Sheets will have to be signed for by the Club when collected  (Clubs to pick up on a Friday).
  7. Note point b) above. A player not included on the SSFA issued ID Sheet is not permitted to participate in a match. Reminder also that a player with outstanding sightings or serving a suspension is also not permitted to play in a match – even if they are listed on the ID Sheet.

U10, W10, U11, W11 ID Sheets
The u10, w10, u11 and w11 ID Sheets will not be printed for a couple of weeks.  As soon as they are available we will let you know.  ID Sheets for your u10 or u11 team is only needed during the season if players are borrowed into a competition (u12+) team ie you do not need to show these to the opposition team each week (If Players in Under 10 and Under 11 Divisions must have I.D. cards or any other form of identification approved by the EC but only need to present these for inspection if they take part in Under 12 or older competition matches.)

If one of your players is borrowed into a competition team in the next couple of weeks, the SSFA advise the following:

In the event that a U10 or U11 player is borrowed into a competition team the Team Manager is asked to list their name on the match sheet (including age and grade) and advise the opposing team coach/ manager accordingly. The SSFA will then, as part of its normal process, review all match sheets to ensure that there are no issues.

Send Offs  (as noted at the bottom of the temporary By-Laws)
Where a player has been sent from the field by a referee for a send off offence and I.D. cards are not in use, the team manager or delegate shall produce the appropriate EC approved form of identification [currently the approved Team ID Sheet], if required by the referee, and show this to the referee at the conclusion of the match. Failure to do so will result in a fine and in addition may result in the matter being referred to the JC.

The SSFA will maintain a record of players that have been sent off and the suspension that has been applied. The SSFA will send a copy of this Suspension report, on a weekly basis, to all clubs. In addition, a player’s name will be ‘crossed out’ on the Match Sheet.  This should be sufficient information for the clubs so that participants are informed of their suspension and do not subsequently play in a match while under suspension.

Note that the Team ID Sheets will not need to be returned and will not be altered to reflect a players suspension. The onus will be on the player and the team/ club to manage.

Please also note that the above two tasks are very manual and are being undertaken on a best endeavours basis. Therefore if any errors or omissions are noted please advise the SSFA Office immediately.

I also note that a player is responsible to know that they have been suspended and that ignorance is no excuse. That is, the player has likely been sent from the field (which is an automatic suspension) and/ or have been recorded in the minutes of the DP or JC. Accordingly, a clerical error whereby a player has not been included on the Suspension report or has not been crossed off the Match Sheet by the SSFA is not a valid excuse for a player under suspension (and therefore ineligible to play) participating in a match.

In summary, the responsibility lies with the club/ team to ensure a suspended player is crossed off the match sheet and does not participate in a match whilst they are suspended.

Temporary By-Law to cover rule amendments due to Play Football issues.

Due to the issues created by the Playfootball registration system, the EC have implemented some procedures in an effort to assist clubs and to get players on the pitch for the 2019 season. As a result, the following By-Law has been created to cover any anomalies that may occur between these procedures and the current rules. This By-Law is temporary, and only relates to season 2019. NB While the EC have enacted these amendments to enable players to play without ID cards, only those players eligible to play should take the field. Teams attempting to circumvent the rules or take advantage of these circumstances by playing ineligible players will be dealt with harshly by the JC. By-Law D Playfootball Registration System Issues – I.D. Cards The following amendments to current rules will apply during part or all of season 2019. Clubs will be notified if further changes are needed throughout the season. Rule 4 F. Identification Photographs I.D. cards may not be able to be printed for the initial competition rounds, and possibly for the entire season. Therefore a replacement method for identification of players will be implemented by the EC and this system will be communicated to clubs. As such, clauses (a), (b) and (e) of Rule 4. F. will be suspended until further notice. Amended Rule 14:

14. IDENTIFICATION CARDS FOR COMPETITION MATCHES

A. All players registered in Under 12 Divisions and older must have and present for inspection I.D. cards or any other form of identification approved by the EC showing the correct team and grade for the current year. Players in Under 10 and Under 11 Divisions must have I.D. cards or any other form of identification approved by the EC but only need to present these for inspection if they take part in Under 12 or older competition matches.

B. Any player changing his/her appearance contrary to the photograph appearing on the current EC form of identification must present themselves to their Club Registrar to have a new photograph taken and a revised EC form of identification produced.

C. With the exception of the provisions of Rule 14. H.:-
(a) A player is not permitted to play in a competition match if:
(i) They are not in possession of their current I.D. card, or any other form of identification approved by the EC
(ii) Their I.D. card or EC approved method of identification has not been inspected by the Manager, Coach or nominated team representative of the opposing team.
(b) For instances where identification of a player from their I.D. card or any other form of identification approved by the EC is uncertain, see Rule 14. G.

D.
(a) Before the start of a match the players nominated to play shall present their I.D. cards or any other form of identification approved by the EC for inspection by the Manager of the opposing team in the centre of the field, or at a nominated location approved by the EC.
(b) The referee will indicate by a notation in a space provided if a team has produced I.D. cards for inspection by the opposition team. Referees will NOT be required to carry out or report on the identification procedure.

E. Players preparing to take the field after the start of a match, whose I.D. card or any other form of identification approved by the EC has not previously been inspected, shall present their I.D. card or other form of identification approved by the EC to the Manager of the opposing team on the halfway line in the interchange area for inspection before playing in the match, or at a nominated location approved by the EC.

F. A Manager has the right to hold all the I.D. cards or any other form of identification approved by the EC of the members of the opposing team playing in the match until the conclusion of the game. At the conclusion of the game ALL cards or other forms of identification must immediately be returned to the opposing Manager.

G. If, after inspecting I.D. cards or for any reason during the match, the Manager is uncertain of the identity of an opposition player, the matter should be brought to the attention of the opposition Manager who shall after the match:
(a) Take action as necessary to clarify the player’s identity to the satisfaction of the opposing Manager, or
(b) If requested, arrange for the player to sign his/her name on the back of the match sheet in the presence of the opposition Manager for signature verification by the Association Office. In this case, the Manager requesting the signature should make an appropriate notation on the back of the match sheet and take action as covered by sub-clause G. (c).
(c) To report an alleged breach of the identification procedure by an opposing team, the Manager or Coach of the team protesting must make an appropriate notation on the back of the match sheet and the Club must advise the Association by official letter to the office by 7.00 pm on the Monday following the match.

H. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, a team is unable to produce the I.D. cards or any other form of identification approved by the EC for the ENTIRE team, the team may participate in the match under the following conditions:
(a) All players to sign the Match Sheet in the presence of the opposing Manager – if necessary, the fifteen (15) minutes allowed for the production of I.D. cards or other forms of identification may be used for this purpose.
(b) An appropriate notation to be made on the Match Sheet.
(c) Should 14.H.(b) not be complied with the Club to submit an official letter to the Association, fully outlining the reason for the failure to produce I.D. cards by 3.00 p.m. on the Thursday following the match for consideration by the J.C., in conjunction with the check of players’ signatures if required.

I. Breaches of Rule 14. A. to H.
(a) Reports received alleging breaches of the Rules covering the use of I.D. cards and other EC approved forms of identification, and reports received alleging the refusal of teams or Managers to participate in the presentation of I.D. cards or other EC approved forms of identification for verification of identity, in accordance with Clause G, or to act in accordance with Clause H., shall be referred to a Judiciary Committee for investigation and action as appropriate.
(b) If the offence is proved the match shall be declared lost by forfeit by the offending team. A fine as appropriate may also be levied.
(c) The usual appeal provision against the Judiciary Committee’s decision will be available to the offending team. Borrowed Players All borrowed players will need to present for inspection their I.D. card or other EC approved form of identification before taking part in a match. Send Offs Where a player has been sent from the field by a referee and I.D. cards are not in use, the team manager or delegate shall produce the appropriate EC approved form of identification and show this to the referee at the conclusion of the match. Failure to do so will result in a fine and in addition may result in the matter being referred to the JC

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]