1.
NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
2.
ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT 3.
OFFICERS 4.
MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION,
ELECTION 10. PLAYING SEASON 13. REFEREES 16. BOARD OF APPEAL 18. TROPHY 22. FINANCE
1. (A) This competition shall be
designated the Hertfordshire Girls Football League and all Clubs shall be full
members.
All such Member
Clubs must be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their
names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the
form “D” to the Hertfordshire County Football Association. The area covered by
the Competition Membership shall be Clubs that have their home ground within a
25 mile radius of Hatfield.
This
Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Hertfordshire Football
Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions
as determined by the Management Committee.
Member
Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any
other Competitions (with the exception of F.A. and county F.A. Competitions)
except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.
Teams will only be permitted to enter one County FA Competition which shall be
that of their parent FA where such a Competition is in existence.
The
Competition will provide 11-a-side football for players who have attained the
age of 10 as at midnight 31st August in a playing season and
Mini-Soccer for players who have attained the age of 8 years but not the age of
11 years as at midnight on 31st August in a playing season.
ENTRY
FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT
2. (A) Applications by Clubs for admission
to this Competition or the entry of an additional team(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary and must be
accompanied by an Entry Fee of £35.00 per team (11 a side) and £20.00 per team
(Mini Soccer) which shall be returned in the event of non-election. In addition
to the Entry Fee of £12.00 per team (11 a side) and £8.00 per team (Mini
Soccer) must accompany all applications. This fee is in relation to the minimum
number of players that must be registered to comply with Rule 8C(6). All
additional individual registrations will be charged at a fee to be set at the
Annual General Meeting.
At the
discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications,
of which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General
Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.
(B) The Annual Subscription shall be
£10.00 per Club payable on or before the 1st July in each year.
(C) Each Club shall, upon election, pay
a Deposit of £25 which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition
provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the
Management Committee.
(D) A club shall not participate in this
Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been
paid.
(E) Clubs must advise annually to the
Secretary in writing by 1st July each year of its County
Football
Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season. Clubs must advise
the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its
Headquarters, including a detailed map of its home ground, Officers and any
other information required by the Competition.
3. The Officers of the Competition
shall be the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant
Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary, Fixture Secretary.
Results Secretary and Child Protection Officer to be elected annually at the
Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers). The Management
Committee may also co-opt additional officers at its discretion.
4. (A) The Competition shall be governed
in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a
Management Committee comprised of the Officers and Ordinary Members who shall
be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
No two
Ordinary Members shall have an attachment/interest to the same Member Club. The
Management Committee and Ordinary Members must make a written declaration of
attachment/interest to any Member Clubs on election or at the time an
attachment/interest occurs.
The Management
Committee shall have the power of veto over a nomination to the position of
Ordinary Member but shall have no right to deny any Member Club representation
on the Management Committee.
(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible
to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates
for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be
nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member
Clubs, not later than 30th April in each year. Names of the
candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual
General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with
the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General
Meeting.
(C) The Management Committee shall meet
monthly or as often as is necessary to deal with business as it arises. Any
Member of the Management Committee who is absent from three consecutive
meetings or Sub Committee meetings may be removed from the Management
Committee.
On
receiving a requisition signed by the two-thirds of the Members of the
Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.
(D) Except where otherwise mentioned
all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the
correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.
(E) All communications received from
Clubs must be conducted through their Secretary. Any communications that does
not meet this requirement may be disregarded. Written communication may take
the form of electronic mail when communicating with the Management Committee
and Member Clubs. Where electronic mail is used a receipt must be sought and if
receipt is not acknowledged within 36 hours from the recorded time of sending
then telephone contact must be made where appropriate
5. (A) The Management Committee may
appoint such other Sub-Committees as they may consider necessary and may delegate
such of their powers as they deem necessary to such Committees. The decisions
of all such Committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for
ratification.
(B) Subject to the permission of the
Hertfordshire County Football Association having been obtained the Management
Committee may order a match or matches to be played each season, the proceeds
to be devoted to the funds of the Competition and, if necessary, may call upon
each Club (including any Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to
contribute equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the
end of the season (See Rule 6(e)).
(C) Each Member of the Management
Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee
Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on
any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented
and they should withdraw from the meeting for the duration of that business.
This shall also apply to the procedure of any Sub-Committee.
In the
event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second
or casting vote.
(D) The Management Committee shall have
powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall
also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition, including
any not provided for in the Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the
imposition of a set penalty any Club, Official or Player alleged to be in
breach of a Competition Rule must be formally charged in writing and given the
opportunity to present their case before the Management Committee. All breaches
of the Laws of the Game, Rules and Regulations of The Football Association
shall be dealt with in accordance with F.A. Rules.
(E) All decisions of the Management
Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of
Appeal in accordance with Rule 16.
Decisions
of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned
within 14 days.
(F) Five Members of the Management
Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the
Management Committee and three Members shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business by any Sub-Committee of the Competition.
(G) The Management Committee, as it may
deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting capacity, any vacancies
that may occur amongst their number.
(H) A Club having failed to comply with
an order/instruction of the Management Committee, or failing to satisfactorily
attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition, within 14
days of the operative date specified in that order/instruction shall not be
allowed to play or take part in the business of the League until the
order/instruction has been complied with and a reason for the delay has been
furnished, in writing, to the Secretary. Clubs shall not be liable to be fined
or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(J) All fines and charges shall be paid
within 14 days (unless otherwise ordered) of the date of posting of the written
notification. Fines not paid within that time shall be subject to a levy for
late payment in addition to the original fine and the defaulting Clubs shall
have its matches cancelled until the fine and levy have been paid. Points may
be awarded to opponents in all matches cancelled under this rule.
Clubs,
Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such
penalties as the Management Committee may impose.
(K) A member of the Management
Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or match may have
any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.
(L) The Management Committee shall have
the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition
between the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting called to decide
the Constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.
(M) The Management Committee shall have
the power to order any Member Club or player to produce any documents or
evidence that they require. A Club or player failing to comply with an order of
the Management Committee shall be dealt with at their discretion.
(N) The Management Committee shall have
the power to fine, suspend or exclude any Club, player or person whose actions
are deemed contrary to the Rules of Hertfordshire Girls Football League subject
to Rule 16.
6. (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be
held not later than 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be
transacted provided that at least two thirds of Member Clubs are present and
entitled to vote:-
(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of
the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business arising there from.
(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report,
Balance Sheet and Statement of
Accounts.
(iv) Elections of Clubs to fill vacancies (as
recommended by the Management
Committee).
(v) Constitution of the Competition for
ensuing season.
(vi) Election of Officers and Management
Committee.
(vii) Appointment of Auditors.
(viii) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which
notice has been given).
(ix) Fix the date for the commencement and
conclusion of playing season.
(x) Other business of which due notice
shall have been given and accepted as being
Relevant to an Annual General
Meeting.
(B) A copy of the duly audited Balance
Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at
least 7 days prior to the meeting, and to the Hertfordshire County Football
Association.
(C) A signed copy of the duly audited
Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Hertfordshire
County Football Association within 14 days of its adoption by the Annual
General Meeting.
(D) Each Member Club shall be empowered
to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled
to one vote only. Not less than 7 days’ notice shall be given, in writing
together with the Agenda, of any Meeting.
(E) Clubs who have withdrawn their
Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not
continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters
relating to the season being concluded.
(F) All voting shall be conducted by a
show of voting cards unless a ballot is demanded by a majority of the delegates
qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.
(G) No individual shall be entitled to
vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club.
(H) Any continuing Member Club failing
to be representing by a bona-fide Member of their club at the Annual General
Meeting or any Special General Meeting shall be fined £25. The representative
must be present for the duration of the meeting.
A Club that
fails to attend three consecutive General Meetings without satisfactory reasons
being provided in writing shall be dealt with at the discretion of the
Management Committee.
(J) Officers and Management Committee
members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.
7. The Chairman and the Secretary, and
two responsible members of each Club shall complete and sign the following
agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the
Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the
Club intends to compete.
“We, A____
__________of____________________(Chairman) and
B___________________of____________________(Secretary) C____
and D___________________________of the
___________________________Football Club have
been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Hertfordshire
Girls Football League Competition and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the
said Club, if elected or accepted into Membership, to conform to those Rules
and Regulations and to accept, abide by and implement the decisions of the
Management Committee of the Competition, subject to the right of appeal in
accordance with Rule 16
Any
alteration of the Chairman and/or Secretary on the above Agreement must be
notified to the County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated
and to the Secretary of the Competition.
(Note: The
spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of
officers and members).
8. (A) Contract players, as defined in
Football Association Rules are not permitted in this Competition.
(B) A registered bona fide youth
playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible,
has:-
(1) Signed
a fully and correctly completed League Registered Form in ink which is
countersigned by her parent or legal guardian and by an Officer of the Club.
This form must be accompanied by two current passport size photographs and
proof of date of birth. The document produced must be an original birth
certificate, medical card, passport or other legal document acceptable to the
Management Committee.
(2) Has
been registered with the Registration Secretary 24 hours prior to playing.
(3) Has
been issued with and is in possession of a valid League Registration Card.
An
incorrectly completed League Registration Form, in particular with regard to
date of birth may result in the club being fined up to £50.
(C) (1) League Registration Cards
together with a Match Report Card detailing participating players must be shown
to the person in charge of the opposing team prior to every match in this
Competition and they shall be retained by a responsible member of the
opposition for the duration of that match and returned at it’s conclusion.
(2) In the
event of a failure to produce Registration Cards the match will be played
nonetheless. Proven failure to produce Registration Cards will result in a fine
£25 and the match being awarded to the opposing team regardless of the result.
A player whose Registration Card is not made available will not be permitted to
participate in the match.
(3) Should
a player’s Registration Card become lost a replacement may be obtained from the
Registration Secretary by submitting the appropriate form, two current passport
size photographs and the required fee. A player may not participate in a match
in this Competition until they are in possession of their replacement
Registration Card.
(4) Should
a dispute arise in relation to the identity of a player when the photograph on
the Registration Card is compared to that player, the match will be played
nonetheless. The complaining club
should submit within four days of the completion of the match their grounds of
complaint, together with a fee of £10 and be prepared to attend a hearing at
which the player and the card will be produced.
(5) Clubs
should note that it is their responsibility to ensure that a players
Registration Card photograph is current. Should a player’s appearance markedly
change from that shown on their Registration Card then two current passport
size photographs should be sent to the Registration Secretary who will issue a
replacement. A player may not participate in a match in this Competition until
she is in possession of her replacement Registration Card.
(6) Clubs
must submit at least 12 (8 for Mini Soccer) fully completed League Registration
Forms to the Registration Secretary by 31st July of the current
season. Failure to comply with this Rule may result in a team having its
matches cancelled until such time as the required number of League Registration
Forms have been submitted. A Club in default will be fined £5 in respect of
each and every player short of the minimum number specified or otherwise dealt
with at the discretion of the Management Committee. It is the responsibility of
Clubs to ensure that players are registered in sufficient time to play in the
opening fixture. Registration Forms received in August of the current season
will not be guaranteed to be released until 14th September.
(7) A team
playing 11 a side football may register a maximum of 20 players. Teams playing
Mini Soccer may register a maximum of 14 players.
(8) In the
event of a player ceasing to play for a Club it is the responsibility of that
Club to deregister the player by returning her Registration Card, together with
a written explanation of the reason’s to the Registration Secretary.
When the
de-registered player has not fulfilled her financial obligations to the
satisfaction of her former Club, that Club must notify the player and the
Registration Secretary, in writing, detailing the full circumstances of the
claim.
(9) All
Registration Cards must be returned by member Clubs to the Registration
Secretary no later than the Annual General Meeting each year. Failure to do so
will occur a fine £15
(D) The qualification dates for the
competition shall be as follows:-
Mini-Soccer
Under 10 –
the player must be under the age of 10 as at midnight on 31st August
in the playing season (School Years 4 and 5).
Under 11 –
the player must be under the age of 11 as at midnight on 31st August
in the playing season (School Years 5 and 6).
In
accordance with the foregoing qualifications a player in the above age ranges
must not play in a match where any other player is older or younger by 2 years
or more.
Youth
Football
Under 12 –
the player must be under the age of 12 as at midnight on 31st August
in the playing season (School Years 6 and 7).
Under 13 –
the player must be under the age of 13 as at midnight on 31st August
in the playing season (school Years 7 and 8)
Under 14 –
the player must be under the age of 14 as at midnight on 31st July
in the playing season.
Under 15 –
the player must be under the age of 15 as at midnight on 31st July
in the playing season.
Under 16 –
the player must be under the age of 16 as at midnight on 31st July
in the playing season.
In
accordance with the foregoing qualifications a player under the age of 14 as at
midnight on the above mentioned dates in the playing season must not play in a
match where any other player is older or younger by 2 years or more.
(The above
qualifications dates are subject to the provisions contained in FA Rule C.4
(a)(v)).
(E) A player having taken part in
matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be
allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition
without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has
discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs,
and a Club official may not accept such player’s signature without first
ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of
the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.
(F) League Registration Forms and Cards
shall be obtained from the Registration Secretary in a manner and at a cost to
be determined at the Annual General Meeting.
(G) The Management Committee shall
decide all registration disputes.
In the
event of a player signing a Registration Form or having a registration
submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for
which Club the player shall be registered. The Registration Secretary shall
notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the
previous registration.
(H) It shall be deemed misconduct for a
player to :-
(1) Play
for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without first
being transferred.
(2) Having
signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the
Competition in that season except for the purpose of a transfer.
(3) Submit
a signed Registration Form for registration that the player had wilfully
neglected to accurately or fully complete.
(J) (1) The Management Committee shall
have power to accept the registration of any player. The Management Committee
shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or
may fine any player at their discretion proved guilty of registration
irregularities, subject to Rule 16.
(2) The
Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the
registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct or bringing the
Competition into disrepute and to disqualify the player in question from
participating in any/all matches in the Competition and/or deal with them at
their discretion, subject to Rule 16.
(Note:
Action under clause (2) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct on
the field of play until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate
Association, and then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into
disrepute.)
(K) Players who desire a transfer between Member
Clubs must adhere to the following procedure:-
(1) The
player should apply to the Registration Secretary for a Transfer Form.
(2) Part 1
of the Transfer Form must be completed by the player and passed to a designated
Club Official of the team for which she is currently registered. If the Club
agree to the player’s release then the Transfer Form should be endorsed
accordingly and returned to the player together with her League Registration
Card. Should the Club wish to oppose the transfer they must notify the player
and the Registration Secretary, in writing, within seven days of receipt of the
transfer form of the reason(s) for the objection. In the event of an objection
to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a
decision.
(3) On
receipt of the completed Transfer Form and League Registration Card the
player’s new club shall complete Part 2 of the Form and send it to the
Registration Secretary enclosing two current passport size photographs, the
player’s original League Registration Card, a stamped addressed envelope and
the appropriate Transfer Fee.
(4) On receipt
of the necessary documents and the transferring Club’s consent or failure to
provide written objections within seven days, the Registration Secretary may,
on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player.
(5) A
player may play for her new Club 24hours after the transfer has been completed
and providing that she is in receipt of her new League Registration Card.
(L) A player may not be transferred to
another Club in the Competition more than twice in one season except by special
permission of the Management Committee. Transfers will only be permitted
between 1st October and 31st March in the current playing
season.
(M) A player may not be registered for
a Club or transferred to another Member Club after 31st March in the
current playing season except by special permission of the Management
Committee.
(N) A Club shall keep a list of the
players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and
shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.
(O) In the event a Club has more than
one team in an age group, each team must be clearly designated “A” and “B” etc.
In such cases, players will be registered for, and can only play for, one team
only. A player so registered will be allowed to play for their Club in a
younger or older age group within the provisions of Rules 8 (D) and (P).
(P) A player having played for her Club
in one Division within the Competition on any given day shall not play another
game in that or another Division on the same day.
(Q) A register containing the names of
all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be
kept by the Registration Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any
duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings
or at other times mutually arranged.
(R) A player shall not be eligible to
play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding
match (as specified in Rule 12(A)) unless the player has played three games for
that team in this Competition in the current season. Subject to the discretion
of the Management Committee this Rule may be waived in circumstances where the
player in question has suffered a long term injury. Waiver will only be
considered when the Management Committee have been given prior written
notification of the details of such an injury.
(S) A player who has played for a team
in an older age group four times shall not in that season be eligible to play
in a lower age group for that Club or any other Club except by permission of
the Management Committee.
(T) (1) A team playing an unregistered
or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the points gained in the
match deducted from its total and may be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at
the discretion of the Management Committee.
(2) In
addition the team shall have three points deducted from its total for each and
every match in which the offence(s) took place.
(3) The
Management Committee in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award
any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match
in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.
(U) This Clause applies to Competitions
involving players in full time secondary education but does not apply to
matches played on a Sunday.
(1)
Priority must be given at all times to school football and a player must be
released by her Club to play for her school.
(2) The
availability of players must be cleared with their Head Teacher.
(3) Children
under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.
9. (A)
Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary
by 1st July each season who shall decide as to their suitability.
Goalkeepers
must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the referee.
No player,
including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts.
Any team
not being able to play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition
shall notify the colours in which they will play to its opponents when
confirming match details in accordance with Rule 10J. A team playing in
unregistered colours, except when ordered to do so by the Referee, may be fined
or dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
If, in the
opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the home
team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying
the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £10.
The
Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints
are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee
may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit.
All
players’ shirts must bear different numbers. A Club which fails to comply with
this rule may be dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(B) Any Club wishing to change its name
and/or colours must seek permission from its affiliated County Football
Association and from the Management Committee.
(C) A Club that enters more than one
team in the same age group must designate the name of the team with ‘A’, ‘B’
etc or a suitable name to distinguish it subject to the agreement of the
Management Committee.
PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY TIMES OR
KICK-OFF,
POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES
10. (A) The playing season shall be 1st
September to 31st May inclusive. No Club shall be compelled to play
after the concluding date.
The current
season is considered to date from 16th July to 15th June
in each year regardless of the dates of the playing season.
(B) All matches shall be played in
accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International
Football Association Board or, for Mini-Soccer, the Laws of mini soccer as set
down by The Football Association.
(C) Clubs must take all reasonable
precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be
played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any
fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee
shall have power to order the venue to be changed. Clubs must ensure that they
have access to a home pitch for the entire League Season in accordance with
Rule 10(A)
(D) No Club shall be allowed to enter
the Competition unless they have changing and toilet facilities available.
Failure to provide adequate changing and toilet facilities may result in the
match being awarded to the opposition and the Club may be further dealt with at
the discretion of the Management Committee. The Management Committee shall have
power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in
the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another
ground.
(E) All matches shall have a duration
as set out below unless a shorter time (not less than 40 minutes up to the age
of under 14 and 50 minutes up to the age of Under 16) is mutually agreed by all
parties in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the
match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.
Mini-Soccer
– The duration of play shall be as follows:
Under 10 –
40 minutes (20 minutes each way)
Under 11 –
50 minutes (25 minutes each way)
Youth
football – The duration of play shall be as follows:
Under 12 –
60 minutes (30 minutes each way)
Under 13 – 70
minutes (35 minutes each way)
Under 14 –
70 minutes (35 minutes each way)
Under 15 –
80 minutes (40 minutes each way)
Under 16 –
80 minutes (40 minutes each way)
The time of
kick-off will normally be at the discretion of the home club and shall not be
earlier than 10.30 am or later 2.30 pm unless mutually agreed by both clubs. In
certain instances the kick off time shall be fixed by the Management Committee.
Referees
must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late
starts to the Competition.
(F) The home team must provide at least
two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the
Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. The size of football to be used
shall be:
For
Mini-Soccer, under 10 and 11 age groups – size 4
For youth
football – size 4 for those playing under 11, 12, 13 and 14 age groups, size 5
for under 15 and 16 age groups.
It is the
responsibility of the home Club to provide goal nets, corner flags and
Assistant Referee flags. All of which are obligatory.
(G) (1) Except by permission of the
Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally fixed
but priority shall be given to the Football Association and all relevant County
Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary.
(2) No
match may be postponed without the permission of the Fixture Secretary except
where a fixture is postponed because of inclement weather conditions. Notice of
postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club in
the first instance to the Fixtures Secretary, who will if accepting the
postponement issue a reference number, then the Secretary of the opposing Club
and the match officials. Written conformation of the reasons for the
postponements shall be submitted to the Fixture Secretary within three days of
the acceptance of the postponement. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt
with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem
suitable.
(3) A
request for a postponement due to a forthcoming school trip should be made in
writing to the Fixture Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the date
concerned. For the purpose of this Rule a team applying for a postponement must
have a minimum of four players absent on the school trip and written
confirmation will be required from the school as part of the application for
postponement. A Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be dealt with by
the Management Committee at its discretion.
In the
event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which
neither Club has control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be
fixed by the Fixture Secretary, subject to Rules 10(L) and 10(M).
(H) Mini Soccer matches will normally
be played on a Saturday and 11 a side matches normally on a Sunday. Clubs
should note that midweek/evening matches will be played as required by the
Competition. Matches may be played wholly or partly under floodlights.
Clubs may
mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of both Clubs, the
appointed Referee and the Fixture Secretary.
(J) The Secretary of the home Club must
give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of, and access to,
the ground and time of kick-off to the match officials and the Secretary of the
opposing Club by 9.00 pm on the Monday prior to the weekend of the match. For
midweek fixtures at least five clear days notice prior to the playing of the
match shall be given. The away Club shall acknowledge receipt of such
particulars.
When
electronic mail is used receipt must be sought and when no acknowledgement is
received within 36 hours of the recorded time of sending then telephone contact
must be made by the home Club.
Any Club
failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £20.
(K) Every Club shall play its best
available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition.
(Note: The
intention of this Rule is not to interfere with normal team selection by Clubs,
but to prevent Clubs deliberately fielding a weakened team in order to
unreasonably reserve players for another game or to boost the strength of
another or lower team. If, in the opinion of the Management Committee, the
substance or spirit of the Rule is obviously being disregarded, the Club or
Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions and shall be
subject to such decisions as the Management Committee may determine, despite
the fact that Rule 8 has not been infringed.)
(L)
Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to
keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a
fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points to the
opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the
opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. Not
withstanding the forgoing home and away provision, the Management Committee
shall have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the
opponent’s ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the
circumstances.
(M) The Management Committee shall
review all abandoned matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of the
Competition and does no injustice to either Club, shall be empowered to order
the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the
Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the
conduct of one team or its Club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the
points for the match to the opponents and/or take what other action they may
deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of
both teams or their Club members, the Management Committee shall take such
action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary
action taken by the appropriate County Football Association.
(N) Substitutions must be carried out
in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of Association Football and the names of
substitute players shall be given to the referee prior to the commencement of
any game in this Competition.
For
Mini-Soccer – a maximum of seven substitute players may be used at any time
with the permission of the Referee. Entry onto the field of play will only be
allowed during a stoppage in play. A player who has been replaced during a
match becomes a substitute and may return to the play as a substitute for
another player.
For Youth
Football – a maximum of five substitute players may be used at any time with
the permission of the Referee. Entry onto the field will only be allowed during
a stoppage in play. A player who has been replaced during a match becomes a
substitute and may return to the play as a substitute for another player.
A player
who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of
the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to
have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this
Competition.
(P) The half time interval shall be of 10
minutes duration, but it shall not exceed 15 minutes. The half time interval
may only be altered with the consent of the referee.
11. (A)
(1) The registration Secretary must receive within 4 days of the date the match
is played, a correctly completed Match Report Card, signed by a responsible
member of the Club detailing the following information of each Competition
match in block letters:-
i) match result
ii) age group
iii)
surname and initials of all players used including named substitutes and if
used
iv) name of
the referee and marks required by Rule 13
v) Sporting Award mark
vi)
conformation that oppositions League Registration Cards were checked,
retained
throughout the match and returned to
opponents at it’s conclusion.
(2) A Club
who submits a Referees mark of 4 or less shall forward to the League Secretary
a written explanation within four days of the match in question.
(3) A Club
who submits a Sporting mark of 4 or less shall forward to the League Secretary
a written within four days of the match in question
Failure to
comply with Rules 11(A) (1), (2) or (3) will incur a fine of £10 and/or the
Club being dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(B) The Home Club shall telephone the
result of each match to the Results Secretary by 7.00 pm on the day of the
match. A Club which takes part in another Competition must telephone the result
to the Results Secretary by 7.00pm on the day of the match regardless of
whether they are the home or away team.
Failure to
do so will incur a fine of £20 and/or the Club being dealt with as the
Management Committee decide.
12. (A)
Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three
points to be awarded for a win and one point for a draw match. The teams
gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the
conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double
points.
In the
event of two or more teams being equal on points positions, with the exception
of the championship and runners-up, will be decided by goal difference and if
that is equal by goals scored. Should teams finish on equal points for the
championship position a special championship play off match will take place
under conditions determined by the Management Committee.
(B) In the event of a team not
completing 75% of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by or
recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition
table.
(C) In the event of a team completing
75% of its fixtures and then failing to fulfil any further fixture(s) the
points may be awarded to the opponents and they may then be further dealt with
at the discretion of the Management Committee.
13. (A) Registered Referees and Assistant
Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the
Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s). Except with the
permission of the Referees Secretary, a Referee appointed to officiate in a
match in this Competition may not be replaced by the competing clubs. Confirmation
of match details should be notified to Match Officials in accordance with Rule
10J. Should a Club select or change a kick off time to avoid the use of an
appointed Referee or fail to comply with Rule 10J the Management Committee may
treat the action(s) as replacing the appointed Referee and may deal with the
matter at its discretion.
A Club
which causes the non appearance of an appointed Referee shall be fined £25, be
ordered to pay the Management Committee the current Referees fees, regardless
of attendance at the ground, and they will then be paid to the appointed
Referee.
(B) In the event of the non-appearance
of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant Referee shall take
charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed by the competing Teams. In
cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, or where the
competition has been unable to appoint a Referee, the Clubs shall agree upon a
Referee. An available qualified Referee shall take preference over a non
qualified Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the
full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
Failure by
Clubs to mutually agree upon a Referee will be treated as a failure to fulfil
the fixture.
(C) The Management Committee may, if
they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs,
appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any match. Where Assistant
Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee.
(D) The appointed Referee shall have
power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision
shall be final. In the event of the appointed Referee not being available, a
local Referee may be called upon to decide as to the fitness of the ground so as
to avoid unnecessary travelling and expenses subject to the approval of the
Referees Secretary.
(E) Referees appointed under this Rule
shall be entitled to a match fee of £15.00 (£10 Mini Soccer) plus 10p per mile
travel expenses subject to a maximum of £5.00.
When
Assistant Referees are appointed they shall be entitled to a match fee of £8.00
plus 10p per mile subject to a maximum of £5.00.
The Home
Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses before the match.
(F) In the event of a match not being
played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match
Officials, if present, shall be entitled to full fee plus expenses. Where a
match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be
ordered to pay the Officials, if they attend the ground, their full fee and
expenses.
(G) A Referee not keeping their
engagement, and failing to give satisfactory explanation as to their
non-appearance, may be reported to the County Football Association with which
they are registered.
(H) Each Club shall, in a manner
prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award marks to the
Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall
be submitted to the Competition on the Match Report Form. Clubs failing to
comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with as the
Management Committee shall determine. The Competition shall keep a record of
the markings and, on the Form provided by the prescribed date each season,
shall submit a summary to The County Football Association.