OOC Background
This fictional sport in the world of NationStates was invented by a group of members of the NS Sports forum in 2012. It was worked out by brainstorming on a discussion thread, and several competitions were held. The original code of rules was compiled by The Babbage Islands and maintained on nswiki.net. Sadly that page seems irretrievable. TBI has compiled this version 2 of community football, trying to be faithful to the established consensus and practice of the pioneers.
Community Football Code v2.01OverviewThe
Community Football Code, generally shortened to
community football or
CFC (and sometimes called
Target from the configuration of the pitch), is a field sport played by two teams of nine players each on a circular pitch 75 metres in diameter.
The object for each team is to score more points than the other team by legally sending a rugby football between two vertical goal posts and above the horizontal crossbar connecting them. Two goals are set diametrically opposite one another, with each team generally defending one goal and attempting to score through the other.
PitchThree lines marked on the ground and two goals define the
pitch.
The
touch line is a circle 75 m in diameter.
The
18-metre line is a circle 39 m in diameter, 18 m from touch all round.
The
centre circle is a circle 3 m in diameter.
(All of these circles have a common centre point.)
These lines define zones of play. The
inner ring is the area within the 18 m line, including the centre circle. The
outer ring is the area between the 18 m line and the touch line. The
in-touch or out-of-bounds area is beyond the touch line. A player or ball touching the 18 m line is in the outer ring. A player or ball touching the touch line is in-touch or out-of-bounds.
Each
goal has two vertical
goal posts 8 m tall, spaced 6.5 m apart, connected by a horizontal
crossbar 5 m above the ground. The centre points of each goal are 75 m apart and centred above the touch line; the goal posts are therefore in-touch or out-of-bounds.
The team boxes are located 1 m outside the touch line, diametrically opposite each other on an axis perpendicular to the line between goals. The permitted occupants of the team box are regulated by organisers. No person shall leave the team box to enter the field of play or otherwise interfere with play except in the course of lawful substitution or, with the head official's permission, to attend to an injured player.
The BallThe ball is a prolate spheroid, inflated with air, of approximately elliptical shape. It is made of approved synthetic materials or leather, and may be of any colour or colours.
A standard ball is 28–30 cm long and 58–62 cm in circumference at its widest point. It weighs 410–460 g and is inflated to 65.7–68.8 kPa.
Number of PlayersA match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than nine players. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players.
In official competitions a maximum of five substitutions may be used. The rules of the competition shall specify how many substitutes may be nominated, up to a maximum of twelve. In other matches the teams concerned may agree to increase these numbers prior to the start of the match, provided that the head official is notified.
The names of all players and substitutes are given to the head official prior to the start of the match. Any substitute whose name is not given to the head official at that time may not take part.
During play either team may make substitutions at any time by having the departing player exit the pitch to the team box. After the departing player has entered the box the replacement player may then leave the box and enter the pitch. A player may return to play after having been substituted, but each such action counts against the limit of five total substitutions.
Player EquipmentUniforming standards are the responsibility of organisers. In their absence it is expected that all players will wear a sleeved jersey or shirt, shorts, socks, footwear, and shin guards. Teams shall ensure that the colours worn contrast sufficiently from those worn by their opponents and the officials.
Jewellry is forbidden to all players and officials, save for a timekeeping device worn or carried by the head official.
Other protective equipment may be worn if its use poses no danger to the wearer or any other player.
OfficialsMajor competitions use teams of six officials. The four on-field officials are the head official, circle official, and two goal judges. Two scorekeepers are stationed off-field at the two team boxes.
- The head official keeps the time, whistles the (re)start of play, and serves as overall arbiter of the match.
- The circle official tosses the ball in neutral starts and monitors the taking of ground balls in the centre circle or inner ring.
- The goal judges signal scores and generally observe play as the ball nears the touch line.
- The scorekeepers keep the score, monitor substitutions, and time penalties.
- Any of the four on-field officials may whistle any observed foul. Only the head official may issue a sanction (formal warning or ejection).
Matches below the top level may operate with as few as three officials, often with the head official also assuming the duties of the circle official and the goal judges also assuming the duties of the scorekeepers.
DurationA match has three 15-minute periods of play with a five-minute interval between periods. The head official may add time to the length of a period to compensate for significant injuries.
Starts and restartsAt the start of the match, either team may score in either goal. After the first goal is scored, the scoring team will continue to attack that goal for the balance of the period and their opponents will attack the other goal. The teams then switch goals for each succeeding period.
The centre circle is used for starting play or restarting after interruptions. In a neutral start, one official blows a starting whistle blast and a second throws the ball up in the centre of the pitch. As the whistle blows two lifters for each side physically lift a third player, the centre, to compete for the ball. Only the centres of each team may intentionally touch the ball until it touches the ground or leaves the centre circle..
Lifting the centre prematurely is a foul, as is pushing or pulling a lifter while their centre is being lifted from or held off the ground. Also, the ball must not be popped while the centre is off the ground. Each of these fouls awards the non-offending side a
ground ball (below) within the centre circle.
Playing the ballPlayers may freely run with, kick, fist-strike, or throw the ball. However, except in the act of relinquishing possession a player with possession of the ball must maintain it in both hands, in front of the body, and not touching any other part of the body. The principal means of challenging for such a held ball is "popping", where a defender attempts to strike the ball out of the attacker's hands.
A ball in the air is fair game for all. Incidental contact is not a foul, but deliberate contact is.
ScoringA team scores a goal by legally playing the ball on the full, touching neither ground nor goal posts, between the vertical posts and above the crossbar. A goal from the inner ring scores three points, and a goal from the outer ring scores one point.
FoulsAdditional to the infractions listed for starts and restarts, it is a foul to:
- Kick at a ball touched by a player's hands, arms, or body above the waist.
- Intentionally make contact with another player.
- Endanger another player.
- Be the last player to contact the ball before it strikes the ground in-touch when a goal was not scored on the play.
- Engage in any manner of unsporting or violent conduct.
Ground ballMost fouls award the non-offending side a
ground ball. This consists of one member of that side placing the ball on the ground anywhere within the centre circle. Except for the grounding player, all others must remain in the outer ring until the grounded ball is again touched by that player.
If a foul also resulted in a sanction (below), the non-offending side may elect to take the ground ball at the point of the foul. In this case, except for the grounding player all others must remain in the ring that does not contain the ball and at least 5 m from it until the grounded ball is again touched by that player.
Sanctions (warning and ejection)The head official may, in addition to the ground ball awarded for a foul,
sanction any player for dangerous, violent, or unsporting conduct. A sanction is made by displaying a
yellow card (warning) or
red card (ejection) to the offender.
Unsporting conduct has been held to include a wide array of infractions including dissent from an official's decision and deliberately fouling an opponent to disrupt a clear scoring opportunity.
A warned player is sent off the pitch for two minutes, returning to play by entering the pitch between the goal posts that team is defending. An ejected player, including a player receiving a second warning in one match, is sent off the pitch for the balance of the match. The ejected player may be replaced with a substitute, if a substitution is available, after two minutes.
Tiebreaking provisions in cupsTies are normally left unbroken. In matches where a winner must be determined, such as knockout tournaments, the win is awarded to the team with the better score in two of three periods, then the team that won the third period, then the team that won the second period, then the team that scored the first goal, then the away team. (Where matches are conducted on neutral ground and this provision could apply, organisers are expected to designate an away team prior to the competition.) The official score of the match is unchanged.