Competition Rules

#1:- League Competition
The League is divided into 3 Divisions, each of 12 sides. During the season, each team plays the teams within their division twice (home and away). At the end of the regular season, the top two teams in Divisions 1 and 2 will get promoted to the division above. They will be joined by the winner of a 4 team playoff. The playoffs are contested between the sides that finish in 3rd to 6th in the division. The bottom three sides in the Premiership and Division 1 are relegated to the Division below.

The playoff semi finals are one leg games with 3rd place playing 6th and 4th place playing 5th. The home team will be the higher placed side benefitting from home advantage and receiving all the gate receipts. The final is a one off game played at The National Stadium which if after 90 minutes the scores are level, extra time and, if needed, penalties are played to decide a winner. The gate receipts from the final are split 50:50.

#2:- Youth League Competition
The Youth League is divided into 3 Divisions, each of 12 sides. During the season, each team plays the teams within their division twice (home and away). At the end of the regular season, the top two teams in Divisions 1 and 2 will get promoted to the division above. They will be joined by the winner of a 4 team playoff. The playoffs are contested between the sides that finish in 3rd to 6th in the division. The bottom three sides in the Premiership and Division 1 are relegated to the Division below. There is no home advantage or gate receipts in the youth league.

The playoff semi finals are one leg games with 3rd place playing 6th and 4th place playing 5th. The home team will be the higher placed side. The final is a one off game played at The National Stadium which if after 90 minutes the scores are level, extra time and, if needed, penalties are played to decide a winner.

The youth league is for players aged 20 and under only. #2(a):- Youth Skill LevelsThere are no limits on skill level in the youths, however players skills are restricted during the games to the skill cap depending on his division. The limits on acting skills are as follows:

Youth Premiership/Cup - 17
Youth Division One - 16
Youth Division Two - 15

#3:- Pre-Season Competitions
1. Friendlies
Teams can only play friendlies after the regular league season. If you wish to play a friendly, there will normally be an opportunity to do so in close seasons where there is no World Cup taking place. The statistics from friendlies don't count for league games. Therefore, if a players gets suspended, booked or injured in a friendly game, it does not affect his DP level. Also no ability points are collected from friendly matches. Players which are suspended for league or cup games can still play in friendlies. Managers are actively encouraged to organise and run their own friendlies and friendly tournaments during close season.

2. Hampden Challenge
The Hampden Challenge is an unofficial pre-season tournament. No side is obligated to enter this long running tournament, but are most welcome to do so. As with any other friendly tournament, abs, injuries and suspensions do not count.

3. Hampden Youth Challenge
The Hampden Youth Challenge is an unofficial pre-season tournament. No side is obligated to enter this long running tournament, but are most welcome to do so. As with any other friendly tournament, abs, injuries and suspensions do not count.

#4:- The Memorial Cup
Formerly the Francois Visser Memorial Cup the Memorial Cup is a straight knockout competition, with drawn matches going to extra time and then penalties if necessary.

The teams entered into Round 1 are the 8 lowest placed unpromoted sides from Division 2 the previous season. All other sides get a bye to round 2 and join the competition at that stage.

The Memorial Cup Semi Finals and Final are played at neutral venues with the two competing clubs getting 50% of the gate. The venue for the Final is always the UCFL National stadium with a capacity of 100,000, whilst the semi-finals are played at the two largest league stadia, with the highest profile semi (based on combined league positions) being held in the bigger of the two.

As of Season 19 if a side playing with a default "T Tactic" defeats a side with a non default tactic, it will be the side with the non default tactic that progresses to the next round.

Memorial Cup gates are always split 50:50.

#5:- Youth Cup
The Youth Cup starts with a straight knockout competition in which all UCFL Youth sides compete. The competition follows the same fixtures as the Memorial Cup and therefore runs across the 2 youth seasons. Drawn matches go to extra time and then penalties if necessary.

The teams entered into Round 1 are the 8 lowest placed unpromoted sides from Division 2 the previous season. All other sides get a bye to round 2 and join the competition at that stage.

Matches are played at low-key neutral venues just as the youth league fixtures.

As of Season 19 if a side playing with a default "T Tactic" defeats a side with a non default tactic, it will be the side with the non default tactic that progresses to the next round.

#6:- Super Cup
The Super Cup is the official season opener and is contested between the Premiership and Memorial Cup winners from the season before. The game is a one off game played at The UCFL National Stadium which if after 90 minutes the scores are level, extra time and, if needed, penalties are played to decide a winner. The gate receipts from the final are split 50:50.

#7:- Other Competitions
At certain times the UCFL FA may introduce other competitions. This includes International games such as the World Cup, Inter-League games, All-star games and so forth. Currently the World Cup is planned to be held every 4 seasons, meaning the summers of 2012, 2014, 2016 and so on.

#8:- PFA Champions League
The PFA Champions League currently consists of 2 groups each of 4 sides, drawn from qualifying sides from the 3 participating leagues (UCFL, JAFL, SSL). The top two sides from each group progress to the PFA Champions League Semi-Finals. Each Semi-Final is played over 2 legs. Away goals DO count, but if the match is still level on aggregate at the end of normal time in the 2nd game, then there is extra time and, if required, a penalty shootout.

The final is played on a neutral venue, and is a one off game.

For a UCFL side to be assured of qualification for the PFA Champions League in the following season they need to finish in the top 2 places in The Premiership or win the PFA Champions League, although if a UCFL side wins the PFA Champions League and finishes in the top 2, it will mean that 3rd place is also an automatic qualification spot. The two leagues NOT to produce a winner will see their 3rd place teams play a one-off qualification match for the group stages, to be held early in the season.

PFA champions league gates all go to home teams apart from the final which is split 50:50 as played at a neutral ground.

#9:- PFA Cup
The teams that are eligible to enter the PFA Cup are the top flight teams of the 3 participating leagues that are not entered into the PFA Champions League. Entry is voluntary and entrants are invited normally early during the season by Gary Brown who runs the inter league games.

PFA cup gates all go to home teams apart from the final which is split 50:50 as played at a neutral ground.

#10: - PFA Competition Notes
If a UCFL side wins either the PFA Champions League or PFA Cup they will be allowed to enter the competition to try and retain it even if they would not normally be eligible. The only occasion where this will not happen is if a side wins the PFA Cup, but qualifies for the PFA Champions League. That side will be entered into the PFA Champions League.

In all other cases the lowest placed league qualifier for the competition will lose out to allow the holders to defend the trophy.

#11:- JUS Cup
The JUS Cup competition is a voluntary entry inter league competition between JAFL, UCFL and SSL. The competition is open to all clubs who are not involved in other inter league competitions. Some sides may need to play a qualifying round however, which will involve some UCFL sides playing off against each other before the competition involves the other 2 leagues (JAFL + SSL).

The draws for each round will be entirely random, with no seeding taking place to keep sides from the same league together or apart. Each game is a 1-game knockout style event, randomly home or away, with extra time and penalties being called upon if needed. The semi finals and final will be hosted at neutral venues.

If a side playing with a default "T Tactic" defeats a side with a non default tactic, it will be the side with the non default tactic that progresses to the next round.

JUS Cup gates are always split 50:50.

#12: - Fair Play Award
The team in each division with the least number of DP's (disciplinary points) on their senior team at the end of the season is awarded the Fair Play Award. This award is for the senior leagues only. The prize for this award is 500k UCFL dollars.

#13: - Magic Gloves
The Magic Gloves are awarded to the goalkeeper making the most saves in their division for the season. Stopping ability points are awarded as follows:

Seniors - 300
Youths - 100

#14:- Defensive Dynamo
The Defensive Dynamo is awarded to the defender making the most tackles in their division for the season. Tackling ability points are awarded as follows:

Seniors - 300
Youths - 100

#15:- Midfield Maestro
The Midfield Maestro is awarded to the midfielder making the most passes in their division for the season. Passing ability points are awarded as follows:

Seniors - 300
Youths - 100

#16:- Creation King
The Creation King is awarded to the player making the most assists in their division for the season. Passing ability points are awarded as follows:

Seniors - 300
Youths - 100

#17:- Golden Boot Award
The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in their division for the season. Shooting ability points are awarded as follows:

Seniors - 300
Youths - 100

#18:- UCFL Player of the Year
The receiver of the award is decided by looking at the performance points upon the ‘leaders’ list at the end of the season. The average points score for players playing in at least 15 games is used. The best performer 'on average' will win the award, and the rosters used are the final ones of the season, released after finals day.The award is given to one player in each division. Prize money of 1.5M UCFL dollars is given to the club the player plays for during the season, so if a player is loaned it is the loaning club NOT the owning club that receives the prize.

This prize is also awarded within the youth leagues for each division. The same rules apply, but the prize money is 500k.

#19:- UCFL Young Star
This award follows the same procedure as above but can only be won by a player 23 or under. If the player wins the senior player award then a different player will be chosen for the young player award.The prize for this award is 1.5M UCFL dollars

#20:- UCFL Manager of the Season (Divisional)
At the end of each season the UCFL managers will vote on the award of the Manager of the Season title for each division. The winning managers in each division will receive prize money of 1.5m UCFL dollars for their club.

Polls stay open for 7 days from the date they are posted. If a manager votes for themselves and at the end of the poll there is a tie, the self vote will be discounted.

#21:- UCFL Manager of the Season (Overall)
In addition, the managers will also pick one of the division winners who stands out for their achievements that season, thus earning them the ultimate managerial accolade. A further 500k UCFL Dollars will be earned.

#22:- Weekly Predictions
5 random matches from throughout the UCFL leagues will be chosen each weekend game week. Managers will need to predict home, away or draw for all 5, and the only way to win the pot is by getting all 5 correct. The prize starts at 5m UCFL Dollars and will increase by 1m UCFL Dollars each week until it is won. In the case of more than one manager correctly predicting all 5 results, the money will be shared.

Each week, there is a consolation prize of 1m UCFL Dollars awarded to the manager with the highest number of correct results. In the case of more than one manager having the same high score, the prize money is shared, to a minimum of 200k UCFL Dollars.

#23:- Seasonal Predictions
As well as the weekly predictions league, a one-off predictions game is also instigated before the season starts. This one challenges the managers to name the champions of each division, one of the 3 relegated sides from each division and the 2 cup winners (both FVM and Youth). Entries are collected before the season starts and come the end of the season, a point is given for every correct guess. There is also a tie breaker question, which is used to separate teams who score the same points. This will be a numerical type question where the closest answer wins.

#24:- Performance of the Week
Another weekly competition, this one is voted for by the managers and applies to each of the 22 league rounds. The FA will choose performances from each set of games which they think have been the most stand-out performances from across the divisions. They will take into account things like the scoreline, the balance of play, current form, and the playing squads. The chosen side do not necessarily have to win their match, each match will be taken on its own merit. Managers will then vote for a winner. The winner will receive 1m UCFL Dollars.

Polls stay open for 7 days from the date they are posted. If a manager votes for themselves and at the end of the poll there is a tie, the self vote will be discounted.

#25:- Other Predictions
Other predictions will be posted from time to time based on real world events and sporting competitions. The entry conditions and awards will be announced as the competition is posted.

#26:- Manager of the Month (Divisional)
The aim of the award is to reward managers that are doing a good job, which might be going through a month unbeaten for a side that started the month bottom or winning every game for a side that is top. The awards should reflect the difficulties of the ties that month and the resources available to bosses. A shortlist is determined by the FA and managers then vote for a winner. The winner will received 1m UCFL dollars for their club.

Polls stay open for 7 days from the date they are posted. If a manager votes for themselves and at the end of the poll there is a tie, the self vote will be discounted.

#27:- Manager of the Month (Overall)
In addition, the managers will also pick one of the division winners who stands out for their achievements that month. A further 500k UCFL Dollars will be earned.

#28:- Hall of Fame
Each manager winning a title in UCFL will be entered into the Hall of Fame. This is a cumulative points total and so will include all the titles ever won by that manager since the inception of UCFL. The points to be awarded are as below:

Premiership - 60
Division 1 - 30
Division 2 - 20
Youth Premiership - 15
Youth Division 1 - 10
Youth Division 2 - 5

Memorial Cup - 45
Youth Cup - 10

JUS - 30
PFA Cup - 45
PFA CL - 60