ASHFIELD SUMMER SOCCER FAQ
What is the league all about?
Ashfield is fortunate to have year-round access to our reserve and facilities, making it an ideal home for a summer league. We believe that everyone benefits from a social league, which is why we’ve introduced one without a focus on trophies or prize money. Our goal is to create a fun, social, inclusive, and enjoyable league, and we feel that removing the competition for prizes helps achieve this. It also helps us keep costs as low as possible.
What does the Team Fee cover? Are there hidden costs?
There are absolutely no costs outside of your team fee. This one-off fee covers all expenses we incur to organize this competition. We lease the grounds, clubrooms, and facilities from the Town of Bassendean. Covering all equipment, balls, and line marking individually would make the competition too expensive. We aim to keep costs low and hope you’ll participate in our fundraising initiatives. Engage with our food and drink offerings from the bar, canteen, and BBQ, and join us for any fundraising events such as raffles or quiz nights.
What times are games?
Game times vary depending on the number of teams in each league.
Over 35s/50s Leagues: Monday
Mixed Adults: Wednesday
Kick-offs will likely be at 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm.
Juniors - Tuesday
The Under 6/7s will likely kick off around 4:30-5:00pm, with older age groups kicking off later in the afternoon/evening.
Will you have girls/women’s leagues only?
Yes, if there is enough interest. We will not consider this for any teams under the age of 12. Initially, we aim to offer leagues for Under 12s, 14s, and 16s/18s girls, as well as an Over 35s women’s league on Monday nights.
How do the mixed leagues work?
Our leagues are 7v7 games, except for 4x4 in the Under 6/7 leagues, with both formats allowing a maximum of 3 substitutes. We have no specific gender requirements. This is not the Champions League; it’s about everyone having fun. We encourage teams to monitor the evenness of games and adjust accordingly. If a team is losing significantly, they can add up to 2 extra players on the pitch.
If there is still a significant gap in quality, we’ll mix the teams up for that game, and we’ll take note to adjust future fixtures accordingly. Ashfield does not require you to register specific players for your team, allowing flexibility to play whoever is available each week. It’s not about winning, so let’s keep it simple.
Can our team field a player that is younger/older?
Yes, but we encourage you to limit this to avoid creating an unfair advantage or an unsafe playing environment. For example, a 14-year-old playing in an Under 12 league may be acceptable if they are not physically dangerous to the other players or are new to the game.
In our Over 35s and Over 50s leagues, younger players should not have a substantial speed or physical advantage. For example, a 30-year-old with low fitness may be suitable for the Over 35s league. If a player’s participation causes complaints from opposing teams, they may need to be excluded. We trust that most people understand what we are trying to achieve here.
Is there food & drink available?
Absolutely. Our fully licensed bar and clubrooms will be open for food and drink before the first kick-off. The kitchen will close 30 minutes after the last game finishes, but the bar has a late license every night.
Boots, shinpads?
You can decide whether to wear boots or shoes, as well as shin pads. However, for our junior tournaments, shin pads are compulsory for player safety.
Are we covered by insurance?
Ashfield holds public liability insurance, but we encourage you to have your own insurance and/or private health cover, especially if you are self-employed. As a side note, we recommend this even when playing in a Football West tournament!