The ‘Spirit of Fair Play Policy’ is essentially designed to even up the number of players on the field so that if one team
is struggling for numbers in a particular game (e.g. there are only 15 players available), then the opposition team can
only field one additional player on the field, in this example 16 players (15 + 1). In previous years, a team could take
the field with a full complement of 18 players against the team that only had 14 players. This policy will be
introduced for the 2023 season and applies to all competitions except senior men’s matches in Premier Division,
Division One and Division Two.
Where one team cannot have the maximum allowed number of players for their competition on the field, a policy to
equalise the numbers competing for each team is in place.
- Firstly, Clubs are encouraged to take advantage of the Special Permit System which allows teams with lesser numbers to borrow players from an opposition team who has greater numbers to allow both teams to take the field with an even number of players. The Special Permit System only applies to junior competitions up to and including Under 16s.
- If for any reason it is not possible to borrow players from another team, then the team with the greater numbers shall field no more than one (1) additional player on the field, to that of the team with the lesser numbers (e.g. if Team X only has 15 players, then Team Y is restricted to 16 players on the field.
- Where there is a reduction in players on the field, the bench can be extended to allow the maximum number of players to compete in the game. For example, where 15 players are on the ground and the maximum number of players allowed on the team sheet is 24, the team with the greater number of players may have up to nine (9) on the bench.
- Where a player is sent from the ground under the send-off rule, the opposition team is not required to reduce their numbers on the field to accommodate the reduction in player numbers.
- Where a player is sent from the ground under the send-off rule and that team falls below 14 players (Men’s, Mixed & Boys), and 12 players (Women’s & Girls), Rule 6.1 of the EDFL by-laws shall apply.
- Where an injury has occurred that has reduced the number of players on the field, the opposition team with the greater numbers shall, upon polite request from the opposing Team Manager, reduce the number of players on the field by one.
- Where a player is injured and cannot return to the field and that team falls below 14 players (Men’s, Mixed & Boys), and 12 players (Women’s & Girls), Rule 6.1 of the EDFL by-laws shall apply.
- Where a team has more players on the field than this policy allows, the team shall be considered to have too many players on the playing field. In such situations, the Board of Management will deal with this indiscretion as it sees fit.
- Umpires are not responsible for enforcing this policy and head counts will not be permissible under this policy.