Matches must be played according to the schedule determined by the Executive Committee (hereafter referred to as "ExCo") of the the Yau Yee League ("League"). This schedule will be published on the League website and it is the responsibility of all teams to observe and adhere to the schedule, and any amendments thereto. This will require managers and assistant managers to check the website regularly and to communicate with opposition managers before every game.

Matches will normally be played on Sundays and must not start earlier than 08.00. Teams cannot refuse to play at 08.00 nor can they refuse to travel to the allocated ground.

Matches may be scheduled on Saturdays or on weekday evenings or on public holidays depending on the availability of pitches. Matches may be played on artificial grass pitches.

Where teams have their own or guaranteed pitches, these teams will normally play their matches on their own ground, however when both teams have their own pitches a Home and Away system will operate. In addition if ExCo needs to relocate these games for any reason teams must play at whatever pitch that has been allocated to them and under those circumstances cannot insist on the game being played at their own ground.

At the semi-finals and final of the cup competition there will be no home team system.

Teams cannot postpone matches without prior authority from ExCo. Any team wishing to seek a postponement must send a written application to the Divisional Representative (Div Rep), Chairman and Secretary of the Exco at least 10 days before the scheduled date of the game, clearly stating the reasons why the team wishes to postpone the match.

If the postponement is granted the Exco will re-arrange the time and date of the postponed matches subject to pitch availability. These games may be replayed weekday evenings or on non scheduled playing weekends and both teams must play at the time and date scheduled by ExCo.

Failure to have at least 8 players ready to start the match no more than 10 minutes after the scheduled kick off time shall be deemed as failure to appear and the offending team shall be subject to a fine and disciplinary measures as indicated under the Disciplinary Guidelines. A team that fails to field four or more players for a fixture at the Sixes Tournament shall be subject to a fine and other disciplinary measures. In addition teams failing to appear in one or more games during a season will automatically have their conduct reviewed at the end of the season.

The usual duration of matches is two 40 minute halves for 1st Division matches and two 35 minute halves for 2nd, 3rd and 4th Divisions and Yau Yee Cup ("Cup") matches prior to the Quarter final stage of the Cup competition. The minimum duration for a match is two 30 minute halves . If it is not possible to play two 30 minute halves the game must be abandoned. If it is possible to play two 30 minute halves the game must be played.

Prior to the quarter finals of the Cup competition the duration of the matches will be two 35 minute halves, however from the quarter finals the duration will be two 40 minute halves. Prior to the quarter finals of the Cup there will be no extra time and penalties will be taken to decide the outcome of any match that results in a draw at the end of normal time. During the quarter finals, semi-finals and finals of the Cup, when a match results in a draw at the end of normal time, extra time of two additional periods of 10 minutes each will be played.
If penalties are needed to decide a match which is still tied, each side will take 5 penalties to decide the outcome of the match followed by sudden death penalties if necessary.

If a match is abandoned for any reason both teams must e-mail a report to the Divisional Representative, AO and Secretary within 24 hours following the scheduled kick off. The remaining time of any abandoned games will normally be replayed at a later date with the score-line at the time of the abandonment carrying forward to the replay. For example, if a Division 1 game was abandoned in the 70th minute with the score at 1-1, the game would be replayed for a duration of 10 minutes with the score starting at 1-1. The match shall restart with a kick-off from the centre spot; the team that kicks off shall be decided by the toss of a coin, unless the match was abandoned at half time, in which case the team that was due to kick off the second half shall kick off. Depending on the cause of the abandonment, disciplinary action may be taken including the payment of all costs by any offending team and possibly the suspension of a team or teams from the League.

If due to inclement weather there is doubt as to whether a match is to be played both teams must check to see if the ground they are scheduled to use is officially closed .Matches will be cancelled if the ground is closed up to four hours before the scheduled starting time.

If the ground is not closed both teams must go to the pitch and the rule on "non-appearance" will apply if one team fails to have enough players present to play the match. This rule on "non-appearance" will apply even if no match officials are present or if the referee or ground staff subsequently decide that the match cannot be played.

If for any reason only two match officials are present for a match they will either referee one half of the pitch each or arrange for a representative from one of the teams or a spectator to be an assistant referee.

If there is only one match official present each team will either provide one assistant referee or arrange for a spectator to be an assistant referee.

If no match officials are present, both teams must make every effort to play the match by arranging for one or more representatives from the teams or for spectators to officiate. Both teams must agree to the relevant arrangement before the match begins. Failure to play the match may result in ExCo determining the result of the match.

If both sides agree to a team representative or spectator refereeing the match, the League shall consider that person authorised with all the powers of a referee, and all rules, including those concerning disputes with officials will apply.

ExCo members and match officials may require a player or players to prove that they are properly registered. This may include, but not necessarily be limited to the inspection of identity documents prior to a match taking place. Failure to provide proof WILL be taken to indicate that the player or players concerned are not registered and thus ineligible to play in the game.

Teams can register a maximum of 30 players and up to 4 non-playing team reps. Registration and de-registration must be done via the League website. If the website accepts the player’s registration, he is an eligible player of the team. However, it is the team rep’s responsibility to check and make sure that the registration has not resulted in a duplicate player identity.

When a team first registers a new player, the team must supply the player’s full name as shown on his or her Hong Kong identity card, international passport stamped with a valid entry visa for Hong Kong or Hong Kong Immigration Recognizance Document as well as his or her identity document number. The registration itself must be done via the League’s website and it is the responsibility of the team representatives to keep a printed record of the registration details.

If a player changes identity documents, (for example from a foreign passport to a Hong Kong ID card), it is the team rep’s responsibility to apply to change the player’s ID detail on the website. The proper procedure would be to apply via email to the Chairman, the secretary, the division rep, the AO and the webmaster, stating the change and the reason for the change and supplying both the previous and new ID document copies for record keeping. Failure to do so will result in the player being deemed ineligible and penalties will be applied (retroactively).

In keeping with the amateur nature of the league, no team shall pay players for playing for a team or offer them any form of financial inducement. Any breach of this rule shall be dealt with by the Disciplinary Sub Committee as it sees fit.

For a player to be eligible to play in a match, the League must receive his or her registration details at least 48 hours before a game is played. For matches taking place on a Sunday, the normal deadline is midnight on the immediately preceding Friday. The League’s website is programmed to lock-down 48 hours before a game is to be played and release registrations at midnight on the day the games are played. Should a team have a Tuesday midweek game immediately following a Sunday game, it is advisable for the team reps to register enough players for both game by the Friday preceding as there will be no registration window between the games. Newly registered players will automatically be added to the team sheet once registration has been completed via the League’s website. If a team de-registers a player less than 48 hours after he or she has played in a Yau Yee League or Cup match, it will be liable to the penalty set out in Regulation 2.

Players registered with Hong Kong Football Association ("HKFA") are not eligible to play in the League until after they de-register from the HKFA. This rule does not apply to youth players or persons playing in HKFA leagues that are not part of the First, Second, Third, or Fourth division leagues of the HKFA as defined each year on the League web site. The League recommends that where teams are in doubt as to whether players may fall into this category, teams should seek the advice of Exco on the eligibility of individual players to play in the League.

A maximum of two players previously registered with HKFA will be permitted to de-register to join a League team during the season.

A team may be permitted to register within the same season no more than five players who have been registered with the HKFA at any time from the beginning of the previous season up to any time during the current season, including during the close season.

Before the 1st February each year, players may transfer from one League team to another. Any player wishing to transfer must first be de-registered from his previous team’s webpage before he can be registered to his new team. A player may be transferred a maximum of 2 occasions during the course of any playing season. After 1st February each year, players will not be allowed to transfer from one League team to another and any person who has been registered in the current season with the HKFA will not be allowed to join a League team even if he is de-registered from the HKFA. In addition, If a player has played for one League team in a Cup match then he or she is not eligible to play for another team in the same competition during the same season.

The sole responsibility for checking whether or not a player is able to register, is properly registered or is eligible to play in the League rests entirely with the individual team management. Any team submitting a Team Sheet listing a player, who is not eligible to be registered will be subject to measures as indicated under the disciplinary guidelines, and such measures will apply in respect of every occasion on which a team sheet is submitted. Any decision as to whether or not to register a player for a particular team rests entirely with the team management and the consequences of registering an ineligible player will be borne by the team as a whole. Furthermore it remains the responsibility of individual team management to ensure that any player once registered does not also register with another team in the HKFA leagues.

Any player currently suspended or banned by the HKFA or any other FIFA-recognised Football Association is not eligible to play in the League.

Any player who is currently suspended or banned from playing in any other league is not eligible to play in the League without first having obtained written permission from ExCo, but such written permission is not required when the player is serving an automatic one-match suspension from that other league for a red card offence or an accumulation of yellow cards.

Players equipment and apparel should comply with normal FIFA regulations and as sanctioned and permitted by match officials. Metal studs are not be allowed and players must wear shin guards.

Referees must not allow players to play if they are not wearing shin pads and if a team cannot field enough players with shin pads then the rule of "non-attendance" will apply.

Players will not be allowed to continue to play with visibly bleeding wounds.

In 11-a-side match up to 5 substitutes can be used. In the 6-a-side tournament, unlimited substitutes can be used and substituted players may return to the match under the "roll-on, roll-off" system.

It is the responsibility of the Home Team (first named team on the fixture list posted on the League website) to ensure that there is no similarity of colours between the teams and the home team must change shirts if the colours are similar.

Each team must complete its Team Sheet and hand this to the Referee or one of his or her Assistants before the start of a match. Referees have been instructed not to start a match until after the have been given both Team Sheets. Manual changes to the team Sheet are not allowed and will result in a deduction of 3 points and 3 goals and a fine of $500 for each offence in relation to a league match and for the same offence in relation to a cup match the offending team will be deemed to have lost the match with a score-line of 3-0 and will incur a fine of$500. The non-offending team will be allowed back in to the competition regardless of the Cup round in which the offence took place.

After a match both teams must retrieve their team sheets from the Referee and ensure that the Referee has correctly filled in the details of any Red and Yellow Cards given to both teams on both team sheets. If the Referee has not correctly filled in both team sheets then each Team Manager must fully complete his own sheet including the mark for the referee’s performance.

Both teams must fax or scan and e-mail their completed team sheets to the AO and the Divisional Representative within 24 hours following the scheduled start of the game. Teams must also provide via the League website brief reports on every red card received by either team during the match or of any other incident affecting the passage or completion of the game within 48 hours. A report must be sent even if the game was postponed or abandoned. Failure to send in the completed team sheet on time or failure to provide an explanation of red card or other relevant incidents will result in disciplinary measures being taken by the League. Further action will be taken against any team providing misleading or inaccurate red card reports.

Errors on the Team Sheet or failure to complete the date, name of the competition (i.e., League or Cup), opposition, number of players starting both halves or to obtain the relevant signatures will lead to a team being fined as indicated under the Disciplinary Guidelines.

Any complaints or incidents of note must first be reported by telephone or e-mail by teams to their Divisional Representative and followed up by a written report no later than 48 hours after the scheduled start of the match to the Divisional Representative, AO and Secretary, and must also be copied to the other team.

For every player who receives a red card or two yellow cards during a match the team will receive disciplinary points and a fine in accordance with the Disciplinary Guidelines. A player who receives a red card in a match will be suspended for at least the next match following the offence. Teams must automatically suspend their own player and pay the required fine. Following the match, teams can appeal to the League against the giving of a red card but they must automatically pay the fine first plus an additional fee for the appeal. A player on behalf of whom a team has appealed is not considered to be suspended from playing in the League, but if the appeal is not upheld by the League he or she will have to serve their suspension in the next match after the decision is announced. Fines and appeal fees will be rescinded in the event of a successful appeal.

For every player who receives a yellow card the team will be given one disciplinary point and when a player has accumulated four yellow cards he or she will be fined and suspended in accordance with the Disciplinary Guidelines. Teams must keep their own record of their players' disciplinary offences and they must automatically suspend their own player and pay the fine. Teams cannot appeal against the receipt of four yellow cards by a player. Individual players accumulating 8 or more disciplinary points will be subject to disciplinary measures as indicated under the Disciplinary Guidelines.

When a team accumulates disciplinary points reaching the thresholds of initially 25 points, then 40 points and then 50 points during a season, they will be fined in accordance with the Disciplinary Guidelines. For each disciplinary point accumulated after the disciplinary thresholds, there will be a further fine in accordance with the Disciplinary Guidelines. Teams must maintain their own record of disciplinary points and must automatically pay the fines to the League.

Individuals or teams reported by the Referee for fighting may be required to appear before the Disciplinary Sub Committee and may be subject to measures under the Disciplinary Guidelines.

Oral or written abuse of league officials at any time will be subject to measures under the Disciplinary Guidelines. Any physical abuse / assault on league officials will result in measures set out in the Disciplinary Guidelines. League officials include match officials, Exco members and paid employees, e.g., the Administration Officer and the Webmaster.

ExCo can set the levels of punishment for any player or team for any breach of the rules at levels beyond those of the Disciplinary Guidelines. This includes the suspension or banning of players and also the suspension of teams.

A team suspended by ExCo will remain suspended until such time as ExCo is satisfied that the team should be allowed to continue playing, or until such time as a General Meeting decides whether or not to dismiss that team from the League. Should a team be expelled or withdraw voluntarily from the League, at the end of the season two teams would normally be relegated from Divisions 1, 2 and 3 and the requisite number of teams would be promoted from Division 2, 3 and 4 to achieve the required number of teams in each division. Should a team be suspended or withdraw from the League having played 16 or fewer league games, all of their games will be rendered null and void. Should a team be suspended or withdraw after playing more than 16 league games, their remaining league games will be awarded to the opposition with a 3-0 score-line. Should a team be expelled or withdraw from the League whilst still in the Cup competition, their place in the Cup competition will be taken by the team they beat in the previous round.

Fines imposed are published on the League website and must be paid on a monthly basis or as may be stipulated in the rules or specified from time to time by ExCo or the Treasurer. Payment must be made by direct deposit into the League account and the pay-in slip along with an explanatory cover note must be sent to the Treasurer.

The decisions of the Referee and match officials during the match are final. Dissent will be considered a serious breach of discipline.

If a team wishes retrospectively to dispute the decisions of the officials or to report on their conduct, it must submit a report to the Divisional Representative, AO and Secretary within 48 hours of the scheduled start of the match. Supporting evidence from both teams as well as video evidence or evidence from a neutral party having witnessed the incident must accompany the report in order for the Exco to investigate further.

The team captain is responsible for trying to ensure that no member of his or her team, including supporters, argues with the match officials or shows dissent at their decisions and the team captain must take quick action to stop any dissent that occurs from members of his or her team.

Team management officials are also expected to take quick action to stop their players and supporters from showing dissent at the decisions of match officials.

The team captain is responsible for making sure that his or her players comply with the rules of the game and in particular he must take quick action to stop any of his or her players who are involved in violent conduct or verbal or physical abuse even if such abuse is only directed at his or her own team's players.

Team management officials are also expected to take quick action to stop their players and supporters from getting involved in violent conduct or verbal or physical abuse even if the verbal abuse is only directed at their own team players.

When a violent incident or other disturbance occurs during a match teams must not attempt to influence match officials. Any teams found to have done this will be deemed to have committed a serious breach of the Regulations and may be suspended from the League and ultimately be subject to expulsion.

If for any reason fighting or serious misconduct occurs between any players, supporters or officials before, during or after the match both teams must submit a report to the Divisional Representative, AO and Secretary within 48 hours of the scheduled start of the match.

For the day to day running of the League a Disciplinary Sub Committee will be formed each season, one member of which must be either the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary or Tresurer of the League. The DSC will monitor all disciplinary issues that may arise on and off the field of play and make a determination as to an appropriate punishment. If the DSC decides that oral evidence is required it can call witnesses to give evidence.

Any person or any team asked by the DSC to attend a disciplinary hearing is required to attend the hearing and any person representing the team must be one of the officials responsible for the team when the incident under consideration occurred.

If after review the Disciplinary Sub Committee feels that it would be more appropriate for a Disciplinary Enquiry to be set up then such an Enquiry Board will be formed, where at least one member of such Board will be a member of the Disciplinary Sub Committee. Such Board will consist of at least two independent members of the League and will be formed by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Sub Committee. This Board will hold the same powers of decision as the Disciplinary Sub Committee.

ExCo has the power to vary a punishment in cases that have a direct bearing on promotion, relegation or prizes by taking into consideration whether or not the rules were broken for the purposes of obtaining an unfair advantage.

An appeal against any disciplinary decision, including automatic suspensions for red cards, must be made in writing and sent to the AO, Chairman and Secretary within 72 hours of the red card being issued or of the team or player being made aware of the subsequent disciplinary decision. The required appeal fee of HK$500 must be deposited in the League account and the pay-in slip sent to the AO, Chairman or Secretary together with the written appeal.

As a first step the Disciplinary Sub Committee or Disciplinary Enquiry Board shall review their decision based on any further information submitted.

If a team or individual does not accept the findings of the Disciplinary Sub-Committee or Disciplinary Enquiry Board after review they may appeal to Exco in writing not later than three days after notification of the decision from the Disciplinary Sub Committee or Enquiry Board.

Exco will consider such an appeal and will notify the team or individual of their decision.

An appeal against any disciplinary decision, including automatic suspensions for red cards, must be made in writing and sent to the AO, Chairman and Secretary within 72 hours of the red card being issued or of the team or player being made aware of the subsequent disciplinary decision. The required appeal fee of HK$500 An appeal against a decision of ExCo can only be made to an Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM").must be deposited in the League account and the pay-in slip sent to the AO, Chairman or Secretary together with the written appeal.

An EGM can only be called by application in writing to ExCo from at least 20% of the members. ExCo must then call the EGM within one month of receipt of such application.

Decisions taken by an EGM are final.

The cost to each team for the whole season, including management expenses for the league, pitch and referee fees for the League, Cup and six-a-side competitions, will be reviewed each season and the Treasurer shall require teams to deposit money in advance for league expenses in two instalments, usually before the start of the season and halfway through the season. Teams must pay on or before the due date; failure to do so will result in the amount of money owed being increased in accordance with the Disciplinary Guidelines.

These rules are published in the English language only and if translations into Chinese are made they are to be considered unofficial. ExCo has the power to interpret the meaning of rules and to amend them during the season in the interest of better management of the League. However before any amendments of rules can be carried over to the next season they must be the subject of Special Resolutions at an EGM or AGM and have the approval of 75% of the members.