MIDLAND JUNIOR PREMIER LEAGUE RULES
2012/2013 SEASON

1. NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

(A) This Competition shall be designated the MIDLAND JUNIOR PREMIER LEAGUE

And known as the MIDLAND JUNIOR PREMIER LEAGUE and shall consist of not more

than 100 Clubs approved by the sanctioning authority.

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 Football Association. Membership of the Competition is drawn from the

Midlands area and the South where travel to matches is no more than 90 minutes in each

direction between member clubs.

This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Football Association and the

constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in division(s), as deemed

appropriate 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.

This Competition wishes to become a designated Charter Standard League. Existing

Member Clubs have two years (until the end of the 2012-13 season) to achieve the

Charter Standard club award or face expulsion from the League. New Member Clubs

have one year to achieve the Charter Standard club award. The League has the right to

refuse membership to a Club if it fails to demonstrate commitment to achieving the award.

This Competition and its Clubs shall support the FA’s Respect programme. As such it

recognises that everyone in football has a collective responsibility to create a fair, safe

and enjoyable environment in which the game can take place. A Respect League values

the courtesy and fairness by opposing players, club officials and spectators. The League

and its Clubs will seek to play fixtures in a fair, competitive but not antagonistic

environment.

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.

(B) NOT APPLICABLE

2. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

(A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition must be made in writing to the

Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £25 per team which shall be

returned in the event of non-election.

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.

When Rule 12(B) is applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to

another division no Entry Fee shall be payable

(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £100 per Team playing 11-a-side football + £25 Cup

Fee per Team payable on or before the 31st May in each year.

(C) Each Club shall, on the day of election, pay a Deposit of £100 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 31st July of its County

Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they will

be fined a maximum of £25. Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the

prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information

required by the Competition.

3. OFFICERS

The Officers of the Competition shall be determined by the Annual General Meeting and

elected thereat. (N.B. Auditors/Verifiers are not Officers).

4. MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION

(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

club members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. All Participants shall

abide by The Football Association Regulations for Safeguarding Children as determined

by The Association from time to time.

(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 May 20th 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 at least quarterly.

On receiving a requisition signed by 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 nominated

Officers.

5. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

(A) The Management Committee appoints sub-committees and delegate such of their

powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all sub- committees shall be reported

to the Management Committee for ratification. The Management Committee shall have

power to deal only with matters within the Competition and not for any matters of

misconduct that are under the jurisdiction of the Football Association or affiliated

Association

(B) Subject to the permission of the 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 or where there may be a conflict of interest. (This shall 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.

With the exception of Rules 5(i), 6(h), 10(a), 11 and 19 for any breaches of Rule a formal

written charge must be issued. The respondent shall be given seven days from the date

of notice to reply to the charge and given the opportunity to:-

(i) Accept or deny the charge

(ii) Submit in writing a case of mitigation, or

(iii) Put 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 by the appropriate Association.

With the exception of Clubs playing at Step 7 of the Football Pyramid and the FA

Women’s Premier League, the maximum fine permitted for any breach of a Competition

rule is £250 and, when setting any fine, the Competition must ensure that the penalty is

proportional to the offence, taking into account any mitigating circumstances.

(E) All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of

appeal in accordance with Rule 16.

Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned

within 14 days.

(F) Three 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 or instruction of the Management

Committee, or failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of

the Competition shall be liable to be fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the

Management Committee.

(I) All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written

notification.

Any Club failing to do so will be fined a maximum of £50. Further failure to pay the fine

including the additional sum within 14 days will result in fixtures being withdrawn until

such time as the outstanding payments are settled.

(J) 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.

(K) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur

in the membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special General

Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition

season.

(L) No participant under the age of 18 can be fined.

(M) NOT APPLICABLE

(N) The business of the Competition as determined by the Management Committee shall

be transacted by electronic mail or facsimile.

6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

(A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 31st July in each year. At this

meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least 50% of

Members 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) Election 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 of the season and kick off times applicable to

the Competitions.

(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 verified Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall

be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Football

Association.

(C) A signed copy of the duly audited/verified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts

shall be sent to the Football Association within fourteen 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. Fourteen days’ notice shall be

given 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. This provision will not

apply to Clubs expelled in accordance with Rule 17.

(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded

by at least 51% 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 Member Club.

(H) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting

without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined a maximum of £50.

(I) Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at

an Annual General Meeting.

7. AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

The Chairman and the Secretary 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) of the

_________________________________Football Club have been provided with a copy of

the Rules and Regulations of the MIDLAND JUNIOR PREMIER 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. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

(A)(i) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted

in this Competition.

It is the responsibility of each Club to ensure that any Player signing a registration

form for that Club has, where necessary, the required International Transfer

Certificate. Clearance is required for any Player aged 12 and over crossing borders

including Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

(ii) No player registered with a F.A. Premier League or Football League Academy will be

permitted to play in this competition. A Player registered with a Centre of Excellence may

only play in this Competition subject to the Regulations of the Programme for Excellence.

(iii) While serving in any branch of Her Majesty’s Regular Forces, a player must first

obtain the consent of his Association Secretary before signing a registration form to play

for a Club.

(B) A registered youth playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects

eligible, has:-

Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned

by his parent or guardian and by an Officer of the Club, whose details have been correctly

entered onto the online system, and has been registered with the Registrations Secretary

by 9pm the day immediately prior to playing. All registrations must be confirmed by the

Registrations Secretary. Registration cards will be produced for all registered players. The

registration document must incorporate any known serious medical conditions of the

player and emergency contact details of the player’s parents or guardians. These details

along with the players’ registration card must be available at matches and training events

the player attends within the management of the Club or Competition.

The registration document must incorporate current passport-size photograph of the

player seeking registration together with proof of the player’s date of birth.

If a player’s age is required for registration purposes a Competition must accept an

original birth certificate or a photocopy. In cases where the birth certificate is not available

a Competition is required to accept a photocopy of the player’s passport or other official

document issued by a Government Agency attesting to the player’s date of birth.

The qualification dates for the competition shall be as follows:

Youth Football

Under 11 – the player must have attained the age of 10 but must be under the age of

11by midnight 31st August in the playing season if the format of football is 11v11. If the

format provided is 9v9, the player must have attained the age of 9 but be under 11 as at

midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 12 – the player must be under the age of 12 as at midnight on 31st August in the

playing season.

Under 13 – the player must be under the age of 13 as at midnight on 31st August in the

playing season.

Under 14 – the player must be under the age of 14 as at midnight on 31st August in the

playing season.

Under 15 – the player must be under the age of 15 as at midnight on 31st August in the

playing season.

Under 16 – the player must be under the age of 16 as at midnight on 31st August in the

playing season.

Under 17 – the player must be under the age of 17 as at midnight on 31st August in the

playing season.

Under 18 – the player must be under the age of 18 as at midnight on 31st August in the

playing season.

In accordance with the foregoing qualifications a player under the age of 15 as at

midnight on 31st August 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 qualification dates are subject to the provisions contained in FA Rule

C.4(a)(v) and (vi) and (vii).

(C) NOT APPLICABLE

(D) 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.

(E) A fee of £20 shall be paid for all players registered per team.

Registration forms shall be obtained from the League Secretary.

(F) 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 Registrations Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the

player of the fact of the previous registration.

(G) It shall be deemed misconduct for a player to:-

(i) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without

first being transferred.

(ii) 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.

(iii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had wilfully

neglected to accurately or fully complete.

(H) (i) The Management Committee shall have the power to accept the registration

of any player subject to the provisions of clauses(ii) and (iii) below.

(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the

registration of any player or may fine any player, at their discretion who has been

charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).

(iii) The Management Committee shall have power to make application to refuse or

cancel the registration of any player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct

(subject to Rule 16) subject to the right of appeal to the FA or the relevant County

Football Association. Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated proven

misconduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition.

Application should be made to the parent County of the Club the player is registered or

intending to be registered with.

(iv) For a player who has previously had a registration removed in accordance with clause

(iii) but has a registration accepted at the expiry of exclusion will be considered to be

under a probationary period of 12 months. Whilst under a probationary period, should

the player commit a further act of proven misconduct under the jurisdiction of the

Competition, (excluding standard dismissals), the Competition would be empowered to

consider a further charge of bringing the Competition into disrepute.

(Note: Action under Clause (iii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct until

the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association, and then only in cases of

the player bringing the Competition into disrepute and will in any case be subject to an

Appeal to the Football Association. All decisions must include the period of restriction. For

the purpose of this Rule, bringing the competition into disrepute can only be considered

where the player has received in excess of 112 days’ suspension, or 10 matches in match

based discipline, in a period of two years or less from the date of the first offence for any

team playing in the Competition.)

(I) Subject to FA Rule C2(a) dealing with players without a written contract when a player

desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to

the Registrations Secretary accompanied by a fee of £5. Such transfer shall be referred

by the Registrations Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this

Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Registrations

Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form.

Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within

seven days, the Registrations Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee,

transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date

or seven days after receipt of such transfer.

In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management

Committee for a decision.

(J) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the

Competition after 28th February except by special permission of the Management

Committee.

(K) 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.

A club can with the Management Committee’s permission allow a club to enter two teams

into the same age group if this does not affect any other club, and sanctioned FA number

of teams is not reached. The second team will only be an invited associated member not

a full league member, and will lose their place when the sanctioned number of teams is

met by 1st teams.

In the event a Club has more than one team in an age group, each team must be clearly

identifiable but not designated ‘A’ or ‘B’ or 1st or 2nd.In such cases, players will be

registered for one team only. A player so registered will be allowed to play for his Club in

a younger or older age group within the provisions of Rule 8 (B).

(L) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of

registration, shall be kept by the Registrations 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. Registrations are valid for one

season only.

(M) 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.

(N) NOT APPLICABLE

(O)(i) Any 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

otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(ii) In addition the team shall have 2 points deducted from its total at the discretion of the

Management Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner which is thought to

be fit.

(iii) The Management Committee may, at its discretion, award the points available in the

match in question to the opponents, subject to the match not being ordered to be

replayed.

(The following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary

education):-

(P) (i) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations’ activities.

This is not applicable for under 17/18 football.

(ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except

for Sunday Competitions).

(iii) Children under 15 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2

years older.

9. CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME

(A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 31st

July 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 at least five days before the

match.

If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away

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 £5.

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. Shirts must be numbered.

(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its

affiliated County Football Association and from the Management Committee.

10. PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY
TIMES OF KICK-OFF.POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES

(A) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the date for the commencement of the

season in accordance with Football Association Rules. Original fixtures arranged by the

Fixtures Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no

later than 31st July, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the

concluding date.

(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 and 9v9 football, the

Laws as set down by the Football Association.

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.

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.

All matches shall have a duration as set out below unless a shorter time (not less than 40

minutes (under 14 age group and below), not less than 50 minutes (under 15 & under 16

age groups), not less than 70 minutes (under 18 age group)) is mutually arranged by the

two Clubs in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in

any event shall be of equal halves.

For Youth football – The duration of play shall be as follows unless it is mutually agreed

by all parties to reduce the time. For under11 and under 12, 30 minutes each half; for

under 13, 14, 35 minutes each half and under15 and under 16, 40 minutes each half;

under17 and under 18, 45 minutes each half.

The minimum time for any game will not be less than 20 minutes each half for players in

the under 14 age group and below and 25 minutes each half for all other age groups.

No player participating in an under 17 division or lower age group shall be permitted to

play more than one game or, in the event the competition allows the playing of a doubleheader,

ie: two separate matches, 100 minutes per day in this Competition.

The times of kick-off shall be fixed at 10.30am, unless the HOME side have provided the

competition with at least 8 days clear notice of a different kick-off time, clubs in default of

this will be fined a maximum of £25, plus match officials fees if they cannot be found an

alternative fixture. No games can start before 10.00am, or kick off later than 2.00pm on

Saturdays, without consent of both teams, and the League Management Committee.

Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding

£5 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.

Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late

starts to the Competition.

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. A size 4 ball will be used for age

groups U10 to U14. A size 5 ball will be used for all other age groups.

Goals must be 8 feet high and 8 yards wide. Goals 7 feet high by 7 yards wide may be

used for under 12 &13 age groups only. Goal nets must be used. All goals must confirm

to the safety standards in accordance to Law 1 of The Laws of the Game. All Goals must

be securely anchored to the ground. Portable goals can only be used if they satisfy these

requirements.

(C) 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. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the

Fixtures Secretary.

In the case of a revised fixture date, the Clubs must be given by the Competition 5 clear

days’ notice of the match (unless otherwise mutually agreed).

(D) 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 at least 5 clear days prior to the playing of the match.

(Please be aware for a Saturday fixture, this is 9pm on the Monday prior to the game).

The away Club shall seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars.

Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £5.

(E) In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than 11 players’ they may be

fined a maximum of £5 for each missing player. A minimum of 7 players will constitute a

team for a Competition match.

(F) (i) Home and away matches may be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its

engagement the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a fine (including

Match Officials fees in full), deduct points from the defaulting Club, replay the fixture or

award the points from the match in question 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 foregoing 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. Any team wishing to have a game postponed for any reason must

give the fixtures secretary at least 28 days’ notice. 1 postponement is allowed per team

per season. The last date for using a 28 day notice postponement throughout the season

is 28th February in each year. There will be no postponement regarding cup final dates.

(ii): Any Club with more than one team in the competition shall always fulfil its fixture,

within the competition, in the following order of precedence:- First Team, Reserve Team,

A Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not exceeding £5.00 or

otherwise dealt with by the management Committee.

(iii) Any club unable to fulfil a fixture must, without delay, give notice to the Fixtures

Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary, the Secretary of the

opposing Club and the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by

the Management Committee who may inflict a fine.

(iv) In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which

neither Club has control, it may be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed

by the two Clubs and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement

and notification to the Fixtures Secretary within seven days the Management Committee

shall have power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given

date.

(v) The Management Committee shall review all matches abandoned in cases where it is

consequent upon the conduct of either or both teams. Where it is to the advantage of the

Competition and does no injustice to either Club, the Management Committee 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 opponent. In cases where a match has been abandoned

owing to the conduct of both teams or their Club member(s), the Management Committee

shall rule all points for the match as void. No fine(s) can be applied by the Management

Committee for an abandoned match.

The Management Committee shall review any match that has taken place where either or

both teams were under a suspension imposed upon them by the Association or Affiliated

Association. In each case the team that was under suspension would be dealt with in the

same manner as if they had participated with ineligible players in accordance with Rule

8(O) above. Where both teams were under suspension the game must be declared null

and void.

(G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use five

substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from five

players.

For Youth Football – for teams in the under 18 age group and below, a player who has

been substituted himself becomes a substitute and may replace another player at any

time subject to the substitution being carried out in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of

Association Football.

The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than fifteen

minutes before the start of the match.

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.

(H) The half time interval shall be of ten minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen

minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.

(I) The League shall require all players and club officials to have signed the FA’s Respect

Codes of Conduct and produce these if so requested by the League management

committee.

Prior to each match the participating teams and officials shall conduct the ‘Respect’

handshake.

The participating clubs taking part in the fixture shall identify a team captain designated

with a captain’s armband who has a responsibility to offer support in the management of

the on-field discipline of his team mates. If the participating players are considered to be

too young to take on this role a member of the team coaching staff should provide this

support.

Each home club shall make arrangements for the provision of designated areas for

spectators. This area must be marked by a roped off area or use of a temporary spectator

barrier, cones or painted lines will not be considered suitable. The area for spectators

should start two metres from the touchline on one side of the pitch. The area should run

the full length of the pitch. It is recognised, however, that the alignment of some public

pitches does not allow for this arrangement in which case other appropriate arrangements

should be made.

Teams failing to adhere to the ‘Respect’ code will be fined £25.

(J) The format below will be the maximum format allowed for each age group for the

2013/14 season.

U7 – 5v5

U8 – 7v7

U9 – 7v7

U10 – 7v7

U11 – 9v9

U12 – 11v11

U13 – U18 – up to 11v11

From the beginning of the 2014/15 season the format below will be adopted.

U7 – 5v5

U8 – 5v5

U9 – 7v7

U10 – 7v7

U11 – 9v9

U12 – 9v9

U13 – U18 – up to 11v11

11. REPORTING RESULTS

(A) The Secretary must receive within two days of the date played, the result of each

Competition match entered onto the online system by 10pm on the Monday evening. This

must include the forename and surname of the team players (in block letters), the score,

goal scorers and any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will

incur a fine of £5 for each item of missing data and the Club being dealt with as the

Management Committee decide.

All teams will have until 10pm on the Friday evening to check and report any

discrepancies between the data entered onto the system and the team sheet swapped

before the match.

All home teams must produce a match report that must be entered onto the online system

by 10pm Monday evening. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5.

Referees’ marks required by Rule 13 must be entered onto the online system. Failure to

do so will result in a fine of £5. All marks are to be out of 100. Marks fewer than 51 must

be accompanied by a full written report sent to the League Secretary.

(B) The Home Club shall notify the result of each match to the league website before

6pm. Clubs in default shall be fined £5.

(C) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible

member of the Club. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5.

NB. If the fixed penalty exceeds £20 the Club must be charged as detailed in Rule 5(D).

(D) NOT APPLICABLE

12. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP

(A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with two points to be

awarded for a win and one point for a drawn 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 team rankings may be decided in

any one or more of the following ways:-

(i) Number of wins

(ii) Number of draws

(iii) Goals scored

(iv) Goal difference

(iii) A deciding match shall be played under conditions determined by the

management committee

(B) Promotion and relegation shall be applied by the management committee where

deemed or required necessary to meet the needs of the competition Rule 1 (A).

13. REFEREES

(A) Registered Referees (and Assistant Referees where approved by the FA or County

FA) for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management

Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s).

(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. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers,

status and authority of a registered Referee.

(C) Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club

Assistant Referee. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5 being imposed on the

defaulting Club.

(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 subject to either in the case of a ground of a

Local Authority or the owners of a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole

arbiter and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.

(E) Subject to any limits / provisions laid down by the sanctioning Association Match

Officials appointed under this rule shall be paid a match fee of Referee £30, Assistant

Referees £20, (inclusive of travel expenses)

The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees or expenses immediately after the match,

clubs failing to pay the match officials will result in a fine of £25, plus the match officials’

fee(s).

(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 half fee. 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.

(G) A Referee not keeping his or her engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory

explanation as to their non-appearance, may be reported to the Association with which he

or she is 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 prescribed Form

provided. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with as

the Management Committee shall determine.

(I) 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 Football Association /

County Football Association.

(J) NOT APPLICABLE

(K) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the

Competition Rules available from the league website or electronically from the Referees

Appointment Secretary.

(L) Referees and Assistant Referees shall have undertaken a Respect briefing offered by

the FA/County FA or the League.

14. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP ORWITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB

(A) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional

intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and

fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by

28th February each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £25.

All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following Season

must confirm their intention to do so, in writing, to the Secretary by 31st March.

(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition

after the Annual General Meeting. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not

exceeding £50 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be

made under Rule 5(B).

(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General

Meeting held not later than 31st July, the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of

other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to

join another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements.

(D) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing

and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other

obligations to the Competition.

In the event that any such obligation remains un-discharged after a period of twenty-one

(21) days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding

those under the statutory school leaving age. Until a Member’s pro rata obligation is

discharged in full the Member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which

may apply to the clubs Parent County Association for a suspension order.

15. PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

(A)(i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules

shall be referred to the Management Committee.

(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of

the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is

lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such

protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and

shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.

(B) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special

circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds

upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within

seven days (excluding Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A

protest or complaint shall not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management

Committee. A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club

involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when

such protest or complaint is being determined.

(C) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for

determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all

parties subject to Rule 16.

(D) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee

unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £30. This

may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club

losing its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club

making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to

order that the costs to be shared by the parties.

(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must receive a copy of the submission and must

be afforded an opportunity to make a statement at least 7 days prior to the protest or

complaint being heard.

(i) All parties must have received 14 days’ notice of the Hearing should they be

instructed to attend.

(ii) Should a Club elect to state its case in person then they should forward

deposit of £50 and indicate such when forwarding the written response.

(F) When dealing with a protest or complaint the Management Committee shall take into

consideration the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information

which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.

16. BOARD OF APPEAL

Within 14 days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management

Committee or the Competition, a Club, Official or Player against whom action is taken

may appeal against such decision by lodging particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of

the Football Association, including a fee of £50, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal.

The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules. The Board of Appeal may

order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal

shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties

concerned.

No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an Annual or Special General

Meeting unless this is on the ground of unconstitutional conduct.

17. EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS
MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS

(A) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose in

accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated

on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any

Club or Team from further membership which must be supported by (more than) twothirds

(⅔) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.

(B) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the

purpose, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present

shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club or

team of a Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable, which must be

supported by (more than) two-thirds (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this

point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being

taken shall be excluded from voting.

(C) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either a breach of Rule, other than

field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in

the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General

Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to

expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.

(D) Any Club or Team failing to complete 75% of its fixtures in any season shall (unless

the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual

General Meeting or a Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of twothirds

of the votes cast) be debarred from membership the following season.

18. TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED.AWARDS.

(A) If a Competition is discontinued for any reason a trophy or any other presentation

shall be returned to the Donor if the conditions attached to it so provide or, if not, dealt

with as the sanctioning Association may decide.

(B) The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or

Trophy:-

“We A_________________ and B______________________, the Chairman and

Secretary of ________________________FC, members of and representing the Club,

having been declared winners of _____________________Cup or Trophy, and it having

been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and

severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before

_____________________. If the Cup or Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care

we agree to refund to the Competition the amount of its current value or the cost of its

thorough repair.”

Failure to comply will result in a fine as determined by the Management Committee.

(C) At the close of each Competition awards shall be made to the winners and runners-up

if the funds of the Competition permit.

19. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the

Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.

The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.

At least seven days’ notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with

an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting.

Each Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General

Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only, as will members of the

Management Committee.

Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting

without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined up to a maximum of £50.

Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all

Special General Meetings.

20. ALTERATION TO RULES

Alterations, for which consent has been given by the sanctioning Association, shall be

made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting

specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration

made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall

not take effect until the following season.

Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be

submitted to the Secretary by 31st March in each year. The proposals, together with any

proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 15th April

and any amendments there to shall be submitted to the Secretary by 30th April. The

proposals and proposed amendments there to shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice

of the Annual General Meeting. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if a majority

of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.

A copy of the proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General

Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football

Association 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.

21. FINANCE

(A) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial

institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.

(B) All expenditure in excess of £100 shall be approved by the Management Committee.

Cheques shall be signed by at least two Officers nominated by the Management

Committee.

(C) The financial year of the Competition will end on 31st May.

(D) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall

be verified annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual

General Meeting.

22. INSURANCE

All clubs must have public liability insurance cover of at least ten million pounds

(£10,000,000).

23. CUP COMPETITION

(A) Any player registered in accordance with Rule 8 shall be eligible to take part in the

Cup competition subject to the following:

a) Any player having played in a Cup competition in one age group shall not be

eligible to play in the Cup competition in another age group.

b) Any player having played for one club in the Cup competition is Cup Tied and

cannot play in the Cup competition for another club.

c) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any Cup competition Semi-Final

or Final match, unless he has signed before the 28th February deadline and played

3 League games for that club.

(B) In Cup competitions, any team causing a match to be abandoned will forfeit the

tie.

Any team playing ineligible, or suspended, player(s) in a Cup Match will forfeit the game

to their opponents, and dealt with as per Rule 8(O). In addition, if any of the above

offences are committed in a Cup Final, the opponents will be declared the winners and

trophies will be withheld from the offending team.

(C) In all rounds of the Cup competitions if teams are drawing at the end of normal time,

extra time will be played as appropriate to that Age Group – All age groups (except under

18), ten minutes each way: Under 18, fifteen minutes each way.

If extra time is unable to be played in a Cup-Tie because of a late kick off or refusal of one

of the teams, then the offending team will be fined the sum of £25 and forfeit the tie.

In Cup Matches (including Cup Finals), if the teams are drawing after extra time then

Kicks from the penalty mark (in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game) will determine

the winner.

(D) In Cup competitions substitutions will be allowed as per League Rule 10(G). Any

player whose name appears on the Match Report Form as a substitute but does not play

shall not be Cup- tied in that competition.

(E) The Management Committee will decide Cup Final venues and kick off times. Once

kick off times and grounds have been established for the Cup Finals there will be no

alteration except where weather conditions may intervene.

(F) In all Cup matches except Finals both teams will share equally the costs of the

ground, to a maximum of £25 each, and the Referees Fee (and Assistant Referees where

applicable).

(G) In Cup matches any club offending as in Rule 10(F) will be fined and forfeit the

match.

 

24. ADDITIONAL CRITERIA

 

(A) Minimum pitch size for under 12 & 13 is 59 yards wide by 80 yards long. Minimum

pitch size for all other age groups is 60 yards wide by 10 yards long.

All weather pitches 3G or 4G may be used as long as they are to UEFA standard (no

other AstroTurf is acceptable) The opposition must be informed at least 24 hours before

an all-weather pitch is to be used.

(B) All match venues must have separate secure changing and washing (showers)

facilities for both teams and the match officials.

(C) Home team to provide post match day hospitality of a meal and hot and cold

hospitality drinks for both sets of players, club officials, match officials and league

representatives at the game. This should be provided in a club house or in a suitable

clean room made available for hospitality.

(D) All team Coaches/Managers MUST have valid FACRB and FA Safeguarding Children

Certificates.

(E) All team Coaches/Managers must also have a current coaching qualification /

certificate.

(F) All certificates with the exception of the FACRB are to be sent to the league when

requested in order to register officials. Any coach / manager not providing certificates may

not be present in the designated technical area at league games until they have been

supplied. Official registration cards must be worn at all times.

(G) A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 qualified club officials in the designated

technical area. No person in the technical area shall smoke or drink alcohol.

(H) Players are to be dressed in white shirt, club tie and smart casual trousers or smart

club tracksuit.

Disciplinary Fines Tariff