State Cup Regulations

1. Name of Cup
The 2014 State Cup shall be named the State Cup. From time to time the competition may be referred to by a naming rights sponsor.

2. Medals
Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) will provide 20 winners and 20 runners up medallions.

3. Management of the Competition
The management of the competition shall be the responsibility of NNSWF. NNSWF shall have the power to formulate the regulations for the competition and to alter or add to these regulations at any time, if it is deemed necessary.

Clubs shall be bound by the competition regulations. NNSWF has the power to take such action and impose such penalties as it deems necessary, for any matters not specifically mentioned in these regulations.

NNSWF reserves the right to cancel the competition completely, reduce the prize money, alter the format of the competition and reject entries in the event that insufficient entries are received.

4. Eligible Clubs
The competition shall be for senior men’s teams and open to:

4.1 All clubs being Members of NNSWF Premier Competitions

4.2 All clubs being Members of a NNSWF Zone Competition.

5. Dates of Entry
Each club wishing to nominate shall complete a nomination form and return it to NNSWF by the due date, together with the appropriate nomination fee.

Clubs seeking to host fixtures on their home ground shall “nominate to host” on the State Cup nomination form.

6. Format
The competition shall be conducted on a knock out basis and divided into two pools (Northern Pool / Southern Pool) until the Final Series stage of the competition.   

The Northern Pool will comprise of club teams from Football Mid North Coast, North Coast Football, Northern Inland Football and Football Far North Coast. From these club teams, the last remaining four will participate in the Finals Series, representing the Northern Pool.

The Southern Pool will be split into two further sub-pools, the first comprising of NNSWF National Premier League and New FM 1st Division club teams and the second comprising of club teams from Newcastle Football, Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football. From each of these two sub-pools, the last remaining two club teams will participate in the Finals Series, representing the Southern Pool.

NNSWF reserves the right to adjust or alter the competition format subject to the number of nominations received.

7. The Draw
Clubs accepted into the competition shall be drawn in pairs. The pairs shall compete, with the winner progressing to the next round. This format will be followed until the end of the competition when the winner has been determined.

Immediately after each draw is made, NNSWF will advise each club of its opponents, together with the date, time and venue of their fixture.

All matches in each round and the final series, shall be played on dates, times and at such venues, as determined by NNSWF.

Northern Pool: The Northern Pool will comprise of club teams from Football Mid North Coast, North Coast Football, Northern Inland Football and Football Far North Coast.

Club teams from these four zones will be drawn from the hat to verse other club teams from any of the four zones, for all rounds. The final four (4) teams remaining will represent the Northern Pool in the Finals Series. Where possible, endeavours will be made to keep travel requirements to a minimum.

In the event that a disproportionate number of club team entries are received, NNSWF reserves the right to allow for byes within the draw. A club team receiving a bye in any given round will be the last team drawn from the hat. A club team will not be permitted to receive a bye on more than one occasion throughout the draw.

Southern Pool:  The Southern Pool will be split into two sub-pools, the first comprising of NNSWF National Premier League and New FM 1st Division club teams and the second comprising of club teams from Newcastle Football, Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football.

Club teams within each of these sub-pools will be drawn from the hat to verse other club teams from within the same sub-pool, for all rounds. The final two (2) teams remaining in each sub-pool will represent the Southern Pool in the Finals Series.

In the event that a disproportionate number of club team entries are received, NNSWF reserves the right to allow for byes within the draw. A club team receiving a bye in any given round will be the last team drawn from the hat. A club team will not be permitted to receive a bye on more than one occasion throughout the draw.

8. FFA Cup
The two finalists of the 2014 State Cup will automatically qualify for the 2014 FFA Cup. The two finalists will progress to represent Northern NSW Football in the final 32 stage of the FFA Cup.

9. Home Team
The first team drawn from the hat shall be declared the HOME team with the second team drawn from the hat declared the AWAY team.

10. Match Rules

10.1 Duration
All matches will be thirty five (35) minutes duration each half. The referee shall allow for stoppage time or time wasted. The referee is the sole judge of allowance of time whether lost through accident or other cause and his/her decision on this matter is not subject to appeal.

10.2 Drawn matches
If a match is drawn at the conclusion of normal time, the result of the match shall be decided by the Penalty Kick as per FIFA Laws of the Game. No extra time shall be played.
  
10.3  Substitutions
A club may at its discretion substitute a maximum of three (3) players during a match. The substitute players must be listed on the official team sheet prior to the commencement of the match.

10.4  Match Balls
The host Club shall supply three (3) first class footballs of the same brand, colour and weight for the match.

10.5  Club Playing Strip – Clash of Colours
In the event of a playing strip colour clash, the AWAY team (listed second on the official draw) must provide an alternate strip comprising of shirts, shorts and socks.

The Referee shall be the arbiter on match day should there be a clash of colours. It is the responsibility of the HOME team (listed first on the official draw) to notify the AWAY team of their club colours prior to match day. The AWAY team should however, always take their alternate strip on match day to avoid any possible clashes.  

11 Match Results
The Host club shall forward, by email, the result of all matches to operations@northernnswfootball.com.au no later than 2 hours after the completion of the last fixture.

12 Team Sheets
NNSWF will forward official State Cup team sheets to all host clubs.

The team sheet must be completed in ink, in a legible manner by both teams and must contain the names, shirt numbers and registration numbers of the players taking part in the match, including the names of the nominated substitutes.

The original team sheet must be handed to the referee at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled kick off time.

The numbers on the back of the shirts shall correspond to the numbers on the team sheet handed to the Referee prior to the commencement of the match.

A maximum of sixteen players may be listed on the official team sheet.

It is the responsibility of the host club to scan and email team sheets to operations@northernnswfootball.com.au, on the first working day after the match.

Should a match be forfeited, the referee shall endorse the team sheet accordingly.

Any Team Manager, Team Coach or Club Official found supplying false information shall be subject to disciplinary action as determined by NNSWF.

13 Player Eligibility
The following shall apply in defining player eligibility:

13.1 A qualified or bona-fide player is one who has completed an online registration through MyFootballClub, either direct with a NNSWF Premier Club or with a NNSWF Member Zone Club.

13.2 No player shall be permitted to play for more than one club team in the State Cup and can only represent the Club to which he is currently registered.

14 Ineligible Players
A Club playing an Ineligible Player in any State Cup fixture will be deemed to have forfeited that fixture and shall be fined a sum, as determined by NNSWF. The score shall be recorded as three (3) goals to the opposing team and nil (0) to the team that has infringed the competition rules.

15 Postponed Fixtures
It is the responsibility of the Host club to contact NNSWF, all competing teams and the referee branch in the event of wet weather cancellations. The Host club must also provide ample notice of a postponement for teams travelling long distances.

Postponed or abandoned matches will be replayed at a time, date and venue determined by NNSWF. The decision of NNSWF for rescheduled fixtures shall be final.  

In the event that a fixture is unable to be replayed within the required time frames, NNSWF reserves the right to declare the fixture a washout with the winner of this fixture to be drawn from the hat.

16 Forfeits and Withdrawal
Clubs who withdraw from a fixture or forfeit a fixture without providing a reason satisfactory to NNSWF, shall not be allowed to enter the Competition the following season, shall pay the expenses incurred by the other club and the Match Official fees and shall be liable to a fine as determined by NNSWF.

17 Disciplinary Procedures
All disciplinary matters shall be referred to the NNSWF Competitions Administrator with provision for the following:

17.1 Yellow Cards
A player who accumulates three (3) yellow cards during the State Cup competition shall receive an automatic one (1) match suspension to be served in the next State Cup fixture.

Should a player and his club team not progress to the next round of the State Cup, the said player’s yellow card infringements will be expunged.

Yellow card accumulation will not carry over into final series fixtures.
            
17.2 Red Cards
A player who receives a red card in a State Cup fixture shall receive an automatic one (1) match suspension to be served in the next State Cup fixture. Players may be subject to further disciplinary action as determined by the Competition Administrator.

Should a player and his club team not progress to the next round of the State Cup, the following will apply for red card infringements:
17.2.1 Indirect Red Card - Infringement will be expunged.

17.2.2 Direct Red Card - Automatic one (1) match suspension to be served in regular season competitions. NNSWF Competition Administrator will then review infringement and determine if any further action be deemed necessary.

18 Club Officials at Fixtures
All clubs must have a minimum of two (2) identifiable Club Officials present during their State Cup fixture. 

19 Match Officials  
The appointment of Match Officials will be made by the local referee branches in conjunction with NNSWF.

Each Referee shall, after the completion of a match, forward to NNSWF by email any Send-Off Reports or After Match Report by 10.30am on the next working day after the match.

Referees may, after waiting fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled kick off time, abandon the match due to the absence of a club team.

The Referee shall be the sole arbiter as to whether a game will proceed, having regard to the condition of the ground and the weather at the time of the inspection.

The Host Club shall be fully responsible for the welfare of the match officials, from the time they arrive at the ground, until the time they depart from the ground. Failure to carry out this requirement shall render the Host club liable to a penalty, as determined by NNSWF.

Provisions relating to protests are as follows:
19.1 All questions relating to qualifications of players or interpretation of the regulations, or any dispute or protest, shall be referred to the NNSWF Competitions Administrator, whose decision shall be final and binding on both clubs.

19.2 Every protest must be lodged in writing within forty eight (48) hours of the completion of the match and contain the particulars of the grounds upon which it is founded. The protest must be accompanied by a fee of $110.00 which will be forfeited should the protest not be sustained.

19.3 Any protest relating to the ground, goal posts or other appurtenances of the game shall not be entertained by NNSWF unless such objection has been lodged with the Referee before the official kick off time.

19.4 NNSWF shall forward a copy of the protest and particulars to the club protested against.

19.5 Each Club may support its case by witness statements.

19.6 Due to travel distances and time restraints, all protests will be dealt with summarily by the NNSWF Competitions Administrator.

20 Match Official Fees / Structure
The cost of match official fees shall be shared evenly between both participating teams in each match. It is the responsibility of the Host club to ensure that match officials are paid immediately after the completion of the fixture.

In the case of the Finals Series, NNSWF will be responsible for the payment of match official fees.

Match Official fees for State Cup fixtures are listed below:

Referee - $80.00     
Assistant Referee - $40.00
Assistant Referee - $40.00    
Total fee per match - $160.00

21 Disqualification
NNSWF shall have the power to disqualify any competing club, or player for any competing Club, who may be proved to be guilty of any breach of NNSWF Rules and Regulations or the Regulations of the State Cup.

22 Admission Fee
The Host Club may, at its discretion, charge an admission fee as follows:

Adults: $5.00     
Concession: $2.00     
School Children: Free

The Host Club will retain all admission fees to help offset costs related to hosting the match.

Last modified 31st January 2014