Cambridgeshire Indoor League Korfball Rules All Divisions 2021/22 onwards

TERMINOLOGY

Walkover victory : When a ruling results in a walkover victory being awarded to a team, that victory shall be classed as a 10–0 win in Division 1, a 7-0 win in Division 2 and a 5–0 win in all other divisions.

1 NON ATTENDANCE

1.1 Match Cancellations and Rearrangements

1.1.1 Once a match has been scheduled with the agreement of both clubs postponement of a fixture will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances e.g. unavailability of the hall. An inability to field a full strength team will not be considered to be a valid reason, other than due to international commitments under the circumstances specified in 1.1.1.1 and 1.1.1.2.

1.1.1.1 Any first team (a club's highest team in the CKL) with two players involved in international matches or tournaments in the capacity of player, referee or other recognized official on the same day as a scheduled fixture is entitled to apply to have their team’s fixture postponed providing that at least 28 days notice is given. This also applies if the international match or tournament is abroad, to allow for reasonable travel time to or from Cambridgeshire.

1.1.1.2 For avoidance of doubt, the term 'international matches or tournaments' applies to junior and senior events, and to matches involving any country; attendance at international training is not considered a valid reason to request postponement; second and lower teams (of the teams entered by a club in the CKL) are not entitled to apply to have their team’s fixtures postponed.

1.1.2 If a team is unable to attend a fixture, that team must give at least 7 days notice of the postponement to the opposing team AND the Fixtures Officer. The following 3 CKA Officers : Fixtures Officer, Results Officer and Chair (the 'League Sub-committee) will then decide by agreement if the match should then be rescheduled by the home team.

1.1.2.1 It is the Offending Team’s responsibility to inform the referee.

1.1.2.2 In the event that a referee attends an abandoned match because the offending team does not inform the referee they shall also pay the referee’s match fee to the referee

1.1.2.3 Teams giving less than the required 7 days notice to the opposition will be responsible for the cost of 1 hour of hall hire for the cancelled match, regardless of whether that team was playing home or away.

1.1.2.4 Failure to give the required 7 days notice to the opposition will also result in the opposing team being awarded a walkover victory for the fixture.

1.1.2.5 Matches should be rescheduled as soon as possible after the original fixture date and before the end of the season. The home captain must suggest one or more suitable dates to the Fixtures Officer in a timely fashion. The Fixtures Officer will check the dates for clashes with existing fixtures and if the dates are deemed suitable the dates will be offered to the away team by the Fixtures Officer. The away team must select one of the dates in a timely fashion. Inability to field a full strength team will not be considered to be a valid reason for rejecting a date. The Fixtures Officer will then notify home captain and the referee.

1.1.2.6 Any problems regarding rescheduling of a fixture, including disagreements between clubs, should be referred to the following 3 CKA Officers : Fixtures Officer, Results Officer and Chair (the 'League Sub-committee). The League Sub-committee will then agree to take action to either ensure the match is played or that any necessary disciplinary measures are taken. Once the League Sub-committee has been asked to intervene their decision will be final.

1.1.2.7 In the event that a team gives less than the required 7 days notice due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. road closure or adverse weather) then the following 3 CKA Officers : Fixtures Officer, Results Officer and Chair (the 'league sub-committee') will agree which team is responsible for the hall fees and referee's fee and whether or not the match should be replayed, a walkover victory awarded or the match declared void (no score or goals to either team).

1.1.2.8 Bad weather procedure :

The away team captain/coach decides if the away team should not travel and communicates this to :
- the home team captain/coach
- the refereeing coordinator of the refereeing club
- the away team players

If the hall is closed or if the home team captain/coach decides the home team should not travel they communicate this to :
- the away team captain/coach
- the hall staff so that they can inform anyone turning up and they can then go home
- the refereeing coordinator of the refereeing club
- the home team players

If EITHER the away team OR the home team decide the should not travel then the match does not go ahead. The refereeing coordinator of the refereeing club informs the referee. Each club should provide team captain/coach and refereeing coordinator contact details. There should be more than 1 contact in case that person is unavailable for some reason.
If the referee turns up because they could not be contacted then the CKA pays the referee's fee.

1.1.3 If the same team agrees to and then postpones two consecutive fixtures for a match, the opposing team will be awarded a walkover victory.

1.1.4 No ‘doubling-up of results’ will be permitted.

1.1.5 No team will be required to play more than 1 fixture on the same day or on consecutive days.

1.2 Late and Non Attendance

1.2.1 If a team is more than 15 minutes late for a fixture, the opposing team may claim a walkover victory, or choose to play a shorter match in the time remaining. The referee must be informed of the decision before any play begins.

1.2.1.1 If a walkover is claimed, then any ‘friendly’ play which takes place after the decision has been made will not have any bearing on the league, providing the referee is informed BEFORE play begins. A team that chooses to play a shorter match, will NOT be able to declare the match a friendly AFTER the match. Similarly, a team that chooses a walkover will not be able to reverse this decision after any ‘friendly’ play begins.

1.2.1.2 The Results Officer must be informed of the situation immediately after the match. It is the referee’s responsibility to do this.

1.2.1.3 If a walkover is claimed, the home team may claim the cost of 1 hour of hall hire from the offending team. The offending team will also be responsible for paying the refereeing fee to the referee.

1.2.1.4 The ‘15 minute late’ deadline means that, in the opinion of the referee, players must be on the pitch and ready to play at that time, not getting changed or any other reason.

1.2.1.5 If any ‘friendly’ play takes place and a player is sent off then this will be treated as if the match was a league match and the sent off player will be dealt with under Rule 4.2.

1.2.2 Teams failing to attend a fixture will be treated as if they have given less than the required period of notice for cancellation.

1.3 Abandonment

1.3.1 If a match is abandoned due to circumstances for which one of the teams is responsible, the other team may either claim a walkover victory, or elect to rearrange the match.

1.3.2 If a match is abandoned due to circumstances beyond the teams’ control (e.g. serious injury), if less than half the match has been played the match should be rearranged. If more than half the match has been played, the score should stand as that when the match was abandoned.

1.3.3 In either of the above circumstances, the Results Officer must be informed. The following 3 CKA Officers : Fixtures Officer, Results Officer and Chair (the 'League Sub-committee) will agree and make a decision about the nature of the abandonment. This decision will be final.

2 REFEREEING

2.1 Club Responsibilities

2.1.1 Clubs will be responsible for providing referees to all the fixtures allocated to them by the Fixtures Officer.

2.1.2 All referees must be CKA approved i.e. passed the EKA theory test, or equivalent, and a CKA practical assessment, or EKA Q level or higher qualified.

2.1.2.1 Referees who aren't yet CKA approved, but have passed the EKA theory test, or equivalent, may be practically assessed, by a CKA approved referee, in matches involving Development teams, subject to prior approval by the CKA.

2.1.3 Each club is responsible for ensuring that it has enough approved referees to be able to fulfil its commitments.

2.1.4 Clubs will be allocated a number of refereeing fixtures based upon the number of teams they have entered in a Division (each Division considered separately). It is NOT dependent upon the number of approved referee a club possesses (see 2.1.3 above).

2.2 Failed Attendance

2.2.1 Any club not providing an appropriate, approved referee to an allocated fixture will be fined by the CKA.

2.2.1.1 Where the match takes place with a stand-in referee the fine will be £10.

2.2.1.2 Where the match doesn’t take place the fine will be £45 or the cost of 1 hour of hall hire if the cost is greater than £45, which will cover reimbursing 1 hour of hall hire to the home team.

2.2.1.3 The club concerned will have the right of appeal to the CKA if they feel there are exceptional circumstances that have caused the referee to miss the fixture.

2.2.2 A referee who is more than 15 minutes late to a fixture will be classed as absent.

2.2.3 In the event of an absent referee the match may go ahead if both captains agree to allow another person to referee the match. In this case the stand-in referee need not be CKA approved, but must have the approval of both team captains.

2.2.4 If a refereeing club knows in advance that they will be unable to attend a fixture they may attempt to organise a CKA approved replacement. In such a case the team originally allocated the refereeing commitment is still ultimately responsible for the referee’s attendance and liable to any fines incurred.

2.3 Match fixtures

2.3.1 It is the responsibility of the referee to provide a match form for the fixture (available from the Results Officer), and ensure that it is completed and sent to the Results Officer within one week of the match .

2.3.2 It is the responsibility of the home team to pay the refereeing fee on completion of the fixture (unless the rules regarding match attendance have been broken, see section 1).

2.3.2.1 If a team fails to do this, the referee should inform the Results Officer.

2.3.3 All comments about refereeing standards should be directed to the CKA Refereeing Officer. The CKA Refereeing Officer will review the standard of individual referees if necessary and may revoke the referee’s approved status if necessary.

3 LEAGUE TABLE

3.1 Points and Placements

3.1.1 Two points will be awarded for a win, one for a draw and nothing for losing.

3.1.2 For those teams tied on points then league positions will be decided by goal differences between all teams, then by goals scored between all teams.

3.2 Promotion and Relegation

3.2.1 At the end of the season, all division champions (excluding Division 1) will be promoted in the team rankings and all the teams placed bottom of divisions (excluding the lowest division) will be relegated in the team rankings.

3.2.2 At the end of the season, all 2^nd place teams in each division (excluding Division 1) will compete in play-off matches against the team 2^nd from bottom in the division above. If the team in the lower division wins then for next season's league the team from the higher division is ranked below the 1^st place team in the lower division, but above the bottom team from the higher division. In the team in the higher division wins then there is no change to the team rankings.

e.g.
D1 result : A1 (1^st), A2(2^nd), A3(2^nd from bottom), A4(bottom)
D2 result : B1(1^st), B2(2^nd), B3, B4

If B2 beats A3 in the play-offs the team rankings for the next season's league are :-
A1, A2, B1, B2, A3, A4, B3, B4
otherwise the rankings are :-
A1, A2, A3, B1, A4, B2, B3, B4

3.2.2.1 Play-off matches will be a single match at a neutral venue. Play-off Fixtures will be arranged in association with the Fixtures officer, in the same way as normal league fixtures. The venue and referee costs will be shared equally between the 2 teams. The 'home' team will be determined by the toss of a coin by the referee immediately before the match.

3.2.2.2 The league rules, including team composition, will apply to the play-offs. The play-offs will be considered to be played before the end of the season i.e. before the end of the third status period and thus the status calculated at the end of status period two will apply. However, the play-off matches will not be used for calculating player status and thus will not affect a players status in the next season.

4 MATCH ISSUES

4.1 Team Composition

4.1.1 All players should be registered with the English Korfball Association (EKA) as soon as possible after starting to play in the Cambridge Indoor Korfball League.

4.1.2 Player Status

4.1.2.1 The league season will be split into 3 equal parts – ‘status periods’. Player status will be calculated and may change on defined, publicised dates at the start/end of each part of the season.

4.1.2.2 Player status is calculated over the last 6 Premier League (PL), last 6 South East Regional League (SERL), last 5 1^st and last 5 2^nd team matches, excluding matches involving Development Teams, matches which do not take place (e.g. walkovers due to late or non-attendance) and matches which are abandoned and the score doesn't stand. Player restrictions for the first status period of the season are based upon matches of the previous season. Matches which are walkovers due to ineligible players are included. This may mean some matches are included in more than one status period.

4.1.2.3 Where a club has more than 1 SERL team, only the highest SERL team's matches count towards status.

4.1.2.4 Starting a SERL match for different club to the club which the player plays for in the CKL does not count towards status.

4.1.2.5 Each player is only considered to have played in a whole match if they were on the pitch for the whole match.

4.1.2.6 A player is given 2 status points for every quarter of a 1^st team match played, and 1 status point for every quarter of a 2^nd team match played. Therefore a player can get a maximum of 8 status points for playing a full 1^st team match, or a maximum of 4 status points for playing a full 2^nd team match.

On pitch	Off pitch	Status points for 1^st team match (2^nd team match in brackets)
at start	at end	8 (4)
during 1^st half	at end	6 (3)
at half time	at end	4 (2)
during 2^nd half	at end	2 (1)
at start	during 2^nd half	6 (3)
during 1^st half	during 2^nd half	4 (2)
at half time	during 2^nd half	2 (1)
during 2^nd half	during 2^nd half	2 (1)
at start	at half time	4 (2)
during 1^st half	at half time	2 (1)
at start	during 1^st half	2 (1)
during 1^st half	during 1^st half	2 (1)

More than 1 row may to apply to a single player in a match and in this case the status points for each applicable row are totalled. If a player comes off, back on, off and then back on all in the same half then this is treated as if the player had come off once and back on once in the same half i.e. 2 status points for a 1st team (1 status point for a 2nd team).

4.1.2.7 The numbers of 1^st and 2^nd team status points earned by each player are counted.

4.1.2.8 For clubs with PL or SERL teams this season, for the first status period of the season, male and female players who have started 4 or more PL or SERL matches are separately ranked by the total number of PL plus SERL matches started, followed by all other male and female players separately ranked by number of 1^st team status points. The 4 highest ranking male players and 4 highest ranking female players from each club will have 1^st team status. The next 3 male players and next 3 female players from each club separately ranked by 1^st team status points plus 2^nd team status points will have 2^nd team status.

4.1.2.9 For clubs with PL or SERL teams last season and not this season, for the first status period of the season, male and female players who have started 4 or more PL or SERL matches are separately ranked by the total number of PL plus SERL matches started, followed by all other male and female players separately ranked by number of 1^st team status points. The 3 highest ranking male players and 3 highest ranking female players from each club will have 1^st team status. Then the next 3 male players and next 3 female players from each club, who have started 4 or more PL or SERL matches, separately ranked by total number of PL plus SERL matches started, then by 1^st team status points plus 2^nd team status points, will have 2^nd team status.

4.1.2.10 For clubs without PL or SERL teams this season or last season, for all status periods, and for clubs with PL or SERL teams this season, for the second and third status periods, the 3 male players and 3 female players from each club with the highest total of 1^st team status points will have 1^st team status. The next 3 male players and next 3 female players from each club, with the highest total of 1^st team plus 2^nd team status points will have 2^nd team status

4.1.2.11 Where 2 or more players are tied on the same number of status points or PL plus SERL matches started, the club must decide which of the tied players will have which team status. The club must choose and inform the results officer before their next match or within 2 weeks, whichever is sooner. This choice will be final. If a team does not choose within the time limit the following 3 CKA Officers : Fixtures Officer, Results Officer and Chair (the 'league sub-committee') will agree upon a choice for the club.

4.1.2.12 For clubs with PL or SERL teams, for the second and third status periods, if the player has started 4 or more PL or SERL matches then that player will have SERL status. SERL status has the same effect as 1^st team status. A player may have SERL status in addition to 1^st team or 2^nd team status. SERL status takes precedence over 1^st team and 2^nd team statuses.

4.1.2.13 All other players have no status.

4.1.2.14 Any player’s status can be appealed against by his or her own club. Particularly in the case of a player coming back from a short-term injury within a status period.

4.1.2.15 A transferring player has their status wiped clean with immediate effect, no matches from their previous club count towards their status at the next status calculation point

4.1.3 Team Composition Rules At each stage of the season each club will have a number of players with a status. The club will have to follow these restrictions:

	Number of 'SERL' or ‘1^st team’ players allowed on the pitch at the same time	Number of ‘2^nd team’ players allowed on the pitch at the same time
1^st Team	Unlimited	Unlimited
2^nd Team	Max 2	Unlimited
3^rd Team	None	Max 2
Development Teams (lowest Division only)	Unlimited	Unlimited
Other Teams	None	None

4.1.4 In the case of an appeal by a club the CKA must be given a minimum of 7 days to approve or deny the appeal

4.1.5 If any team fields an ineligible player the opposition will be awarded a walkover victory if the goal difference of the result is less than that of a walkover, otherwise the match result will stand.

4.1.6 If both teams are short of players at the start of the match then the match may still be played if there are at least 6 pairs of matched players (i.e. same sex). If there are insufficient numbers to fulfil this criteria, the result will be declared null and void (i.e. no points will be scored by either team) and the hall and refereeing costs will be shared between the two clubs involved.

4.1.7 A player who holds a English Korfball Association (EKA) registration with a club not affiliated to the CKA or an affiliation with a club belonging to any other national korfball association recognised by the International Korfball Federation, and who does not hold a registration with a club affiliated to the CKA,may not play in the CKA league.

4.1.8 A player transferring between any clubs may not play for any other club in the CKA league until the player has discharged his/her financial responsibility to the club they are leaving. After 31^st January, a player may still transfer to a new club, but will not be eligible to play in the CKA league, except in a match involving a Development team.

4.1.9 A player may appeal to the CKA League Sub-committee (Chair, Results Officer and Fixtures Officer) in exceptional circumstances.

4.1.10 All junior (under 18) players must be approved by the CKA i.e. an underage player request form for the player must be completed and approved by the CKA committee, before they can play in the CKA League. If a junior player who has not been approved plays in the CKA League then the penalties are :-

■the opposition will be awarded a walkover victory if the goal difference of the result is less than that of a walkover, otherwise the match result will stand.

■AND the team shall be deducted 2 points

■AND the club shall be fined £20

4.1.11 A team in the lowest Division may choose at any time during the season, prior 31^st January, to be a 'Development Team'. The team must notify the Results Officer of their decision. Once a team chooses to become a Development team this decision is final and cannot be reversed.

4.1.11.1 A team in the lowest Division who fields an ineligible player prior to 31^st January will be deemed to have chosen to be a Development Team. A team may appeal to the CKA League Sub-committee (Chair, Results Officer and Fixtures Officer) if the ineligible player was fielded by mistake. The League Sub-committee will decide by agreement if the team should be a Development Team or not.

4.1.11.2 No match results of a Development team will count towards any Division placings.

4.1.11.3 A Development team will not be eligible for play-offs or promotion and will be ranked as having finished at the bottom of the division, below all non-Development Teams and equal to all other Development Teams.

4.1.11.4 A Development team may field players ineligible under the team composition status rules. See 4.1.3.

4.1.11.5 Player status rules do not apply to either team in a match involving a development team. However, all junior (under 18) players must still be approved by the CKA.

4.1.12 '1^st team' refers to the highest team a club has in the CKL. '2^nd team' refers to the 2^nd highest team a cub has in the CKL.

4.2 Misconduct

4.2.1 Following a yellow or red card being issued in a match, English Korfball Association (EKA) guidelines for all disciplinary matters will be followed.

4.2.2 The CKA may take action following a match, regardless of whether a red or yellow card was issued

4.3 Rules

4.3.1 All league matches will be played to the latest IKF Rules of Korfball

4.3.2 Each team shall be entitled to one time-out.

4.3.3 The Home team is responsible for providing a ball for the match.

4.3.4 Matches shall nominally consist of 5 minutes warm up, plus 2 halves of 25 minutes (excluding timeouts), plus 2 minutes for time-outs, plus 3 minutes for half time I.e. 60 minutes in total. If less than 60 minutes is available then the half time may be shortened by 1 minute, after which the halves must be shortened. Warm up time should always be at least 5 minutes for both teams.

4.3.5 The home team shall select which end to attack and set out first. The home team shall have the throw off to start the first half, and the away team to start the second half.

4.3.6 A substituted player is allowed to return to the game (scenario A in the IKF Playing rules of 1^st September 2016).

4.3.7 No matches will use a shot clock, or require a timekeeper or scorekeeper.

4.3.8 All matches, except play-offs, will end after regular playing time, even if with both teams have the same score i.e. a draw.

4.3.9 For all matches, during the game it is prohibited to shoot when one plays without a personal opponent.

5 MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

5.1 Dates

5.1.1 The season is defined as being between the dates of the 1^st September and the 31^st May of the following year.

5.1.1.1 All matches, excluding play-offs must be played by the end of the of the season. Results for matches which have not been played in time will be decided by the agreement of the following 3 CKA Officers, Fixtures Officer, Results Officer and Chair (the 'League Sub-committee').

5.1.1.2 All play-off matches must be played within 1 month of the last match of the league season. Results for play-off matches which have not been played in time will be decided by the agreement of the following 3 CKA Officers, Fixtures, Results and Chair (the 'League Sub-committee').

5.2 Financial Matters

5.2.1 The cost of hall bookings and referee fees for individual fixtures are to be met by the home team, unless a rule infringement has occurred which entitles the home team to claim the fees from the opposition (as indicated in the relevant rules).

5.3 Problems and Complaints

5.3.1 Any problems should be referred to the Results Officer as soon as they arise.

5.3.2 In all matters relating to the league, the decision of following 3 CKA Officers, Fixtures Officer, Results Officer and Chair (the 'League Sub-committee') will be final.

5.3.3 If any member of the League Sub-committee is conflicted e.g. by being a member of a club involved in the matter to be decided by the League Sub-committee, then the Chairperson will invite another neutral Officer, or a representative from a neutral club (nominally the Chairperson of that club), to replace that member in the League Sub-committee.

5.4 Safety

5.4.1 All teams must have access to a first aid kit for their home matches.

5.5 Trophies

5.5.1 Once a club wins a division they have until the start of the next season to get possession of the trophy from the previous winner. Once the season starts they become liable for the full replacement cost of the trophy, including engraving. If a club fails to get possession they need to notify the CKA before the season starts. The previous winner can optionally return the trophy to the CKA, who then become responsible for it, before the start of the next season, if they fail to arrange passing it to the new winners.

6 LEAGUE FEES

6.1 Team Fees

6.1.1 The league entry fees will be £30 for the first team a club enters into the Cambridgeshire Korfball League and £20 for each subsequent team.

6.1.2 Fees are to be paid to the CKA Treasurer before the start of the season’s competition.

6.2 Referees Fees

6.2.1 The Referee’s fee for attending a match shall be £15.

Previous Versions

2008/9 - 2009/10

Development League