RULES
NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
1. This Competition shall be designated the
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 Lancashire County Football Association.
The area covered by the competition Membership shall be ten miles from
This competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Lancashire
County Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be
grouped in divisions.
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 is 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 and
Mini-Soccer for players who have attained the age of 6 years but not the age of
10 years as at midnight on 31st August in a playing season. 9 v 9
may be provided for players who have attained the age of 10 as at midnight on
31st August.
Other formats of youth football as authorised from time to time by the
FA are also permitted.
ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT
2(A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition must be
made in writing annually to the
Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry fee of £25.00 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.
2 (B) The Annual subscription shall be £100.00 per Team playing Youth
football and £50.00 per Team playing Mini Soccer. Payable as to, £25.00 as a deposit by the 31st March and the
balance on or before the end of the December meeting in each year. Penalty, may
incur a fine not exceeding £20.00.
2(C) Each Club shall pay a Deposit of £10.00 per new Team, which should
accompany their application and which shall be returnable to Teams on leaving
the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with
all orders of the Management Committee.
2(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry
Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid.
2(E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 1st August
of its Lancashire County Football Association number for the forthcoming
season. 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.
OFFICERS
3(B) No person may hold the offices of
Secretary and Treasurer at the same time.
MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION
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 no members and an age group
Registration Secretary for each age group, 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.
4(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 1st May
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.
4(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.
4(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.
4(E) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through
their nominated Officers.
POWERS OF APPOINTMENT
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 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.
5(B) Subject to the permission of the Lancashire 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 sum s as may be necessary to meet any
deficiency at the end of the season. (See Rule 6(e)).
5(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.
5(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.
5(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.
5(F) Five members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and Four Members
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee
of the Competition.
5(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.
5(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.
5(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.
Payment should be made by Club cheque or postal order.
5(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.
5(L) No participant under the age of 18 can be fined.
5(M). Leagues who organise mini soccer for teams playing under 7 and
under 8 football may not, with the exception of rules 6, 10(a), 11d, 14 and 19
fine clubs for breaches of League rules.
5(N). The business of the Competition as determined by the Management
Committee may be transacted by electronic mail or facsimile.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING /MONTHLY MEETINGS. GENERAL STANDARDS.
6. (A)
The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the last day of June in
each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided
that at least a majority 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
therefrom.
(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 year.
(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
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.
6(B) A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and
Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the
meeting and to the Lancashire County Football Association.
6(C) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of
Accounts shall be sent to the Lancashire County Football Association within
fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.
6(D) Each member Club/Team shall be empowered to send two delegates to an
Annual General Meeting. Each Team shall be entitled to one vote only. Seven
days notice shall be given of any Meeting.
6(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.
6(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a
ballot be demanded by at least a majority of the delegates qualified to vote or
the Chairman so decides.
6(G) No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one
full member Team.
6(H) Any continuing Member Team failing to be represented at the Annual
General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given may be fined £10.00.
6(I) Officers and Management Committee members
shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.
6(K) Any matters relating to
League Business should normally be conducted by telephone 6.30pm - 8.30pm,
Monday, Wednesday or Thursday.
6(L) In order to maintain the
high standard required, the League Committee shall, after due warning, be
empowered to expel any Team and/or Official, whose conduct or administration is
considered below the standard which can be tolerated for the efficient
operation of the League.
6(M) No Club, Team, Player or Official shall
allow any other Club, Team, Player or Official to wilfully contravene Rules.
Penalty may be a fine not exceeding £10.00.
6(N) Each Team is responsible for the conduct
of its own spectators; any complaint must be directed to the Committee in
writing via the League Secretary. Enquiries may be made by the Committee and
future games played by the accused Teams may be observed by a Committee member.
If the Committee deems it necessary, the Team may incur a fine not exceeding
£20.00.
6(O) Any Manager or Official found guilty of
inducing Players from any other Team in the League to sign, either by their own
efforts or by means of a third party, may be expelled sine die from the League
and/or may incur a fine not exceeding £50.00.
6(P) Monthly meetings will be held
at 8.00pm.
6(Q) All Teams must send a representative to
each monthly meeting. One apology a season from Teams failing to attend monthly
meetings will be accepted. Failure to attend may render the Team liable to a
fine not exceeding £10.00.
6(R) All fines are for first
offences. The Committee may, at its discretion, alter the penalties for
subsequent offences.
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED
7.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, <<name>> of
<<address>>
(Chairman) and <<name>> of <<address>>
(Secretary) of the <<club name >> Football Club have
been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Wigan & District Youth 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 Lancashire County Football Association to which the
Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.
QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
8.(A)(i) Contract players, as defined in Football
Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition. A contract player may only play for the Club that
holds his contract.
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
8.(A) (ii) No
player registered with a F.A. Premier League or
8.(A)(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.
8.(B) (i) 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/her parent or guardian and by an officer of the Club and who has been
registered with the Registration Secretary 3 days prior to playing and whose
completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to
playing. In addition to a League Registration Form, players must also complete
a Club Registration Form, countersigned by his (her) parent or guardian which
must incorporate any known serious medical conditions of the player and
emergency contact details of the player’s parents or guardians. These details
must be available at matches and training events the player attends within the
management of the Club or League.
(ii) Each and every Team to have a photograph
album with a photograph of each Player and the signature of the League
Representative with each photograph. This must be affixed behind a plastic
cover. The albums to be passed to the Manager of the opposing Team and returned
at the end of the match. Penalty may be liable to a fine not exceeding £10.00.
The registration document must incorporate a current passport-size
photograph of the player seeking registration.
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:-
Mini Soccer
To play in a KO Cup game or a game where points are awarded, or results
published, a player must have achieved the age of 8 on or before 31st
August.
Under 7 - the player
must have attained the age of 6 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing
season but must be under the age of 7 as at midnight on 31st August in the
playing season.
Under 8 - the player must be under the age of 8 as at midnight on 31st
August in the playing season.
Under 9 - the player must be under the age of 9 as at midnight on 31st
August in the playing season.
Under 10 - the player must be under the age of 10 as at midnight on 31st
August in the playing season.
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 11 - the player
must have attained the age of 10 but must be under the age of 11 by midnight
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
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
F.A. Rule C4 (a) (v) and (vi) .
8(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.
8(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 Registration
Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the
fact of the previous registration.
8(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 Team in the
Competition, sign for another Team 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.
8(H) (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the
registration of any player.
(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or
suspend the registration of any player 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 conduct, 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 with.
(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. 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.).
8(I) Subject to the Football Association Rules 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 Registration
Secretary accompanied by a fee of £5.00. Such transfer shall be referred by the
Registration 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 Registration Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of
receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Clubs consent or upon its
failure to give written objection within seven days , the Registration
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 three 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.
8(J) A player may not be transferred
to another Team after 31st March nor registered for a Team after 31st
March in the Competition except by special permission of the Management
Committee.
8(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.
No Team is to sign more than 14 Players at Mini Soccer level or Youth Soccer
11-a-sideno more than 20 players and Youth Soccer 9-a-side no more than 18
players. For Youth Football a minimum
of 12 players are to be registered by the August meeting.
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).
8(L) 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. Registrations are valid for one season only.
8(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 four games for that team in this Competition
in the current season.
8(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 shall be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the
Management Committee.
(ii) In addition the team may have 3 points
deducted from its total at the discretion of the Management Committee and may
be dealt with in any future manner which is thought to be fit.
(iii) The Management Committee in exceptional
circumstances 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) :-
8(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 Teacher s
(except for Sunday Competitions).
(iii) Children under 15 shall not play in a team involving players who
are more than two years older.
8(S) In the event of a Parent , Guardian or
Relative of a League Player being reported to the League, by a Referee or
League Official attending the game, for behaviour which is responsible for
bringing the game into disrepute and found guilty of the said offence, they
shall be severely warned as to their future conduct both verbally and in
writing.
Should unacceptable behaviour persist by the said offenders, the players
registration may be suspended until the offenders give a written undertaking to
desist?
CLUB COLOURS, CLUB
NAME
9. (A)
Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary
by 1st June 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 3 days before the match.
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 £10.00.
The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints
are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, the Management Committee may
refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. Shirts must be
numbered.
9(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.
PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY
TIMES OF KICK-OFF, POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES
10. (A)
The Annual General Meeting shall determine the date for the commencement of the
season in accordance with the Football Association Rules. Original fixtures
arranged by the Fixture Secretary or at a meeting specially convened for that
purpose , to be held no later than31st March, must not be arranged for a date
later than seven days preceding the concluding date.
10(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.
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 fixture on another ground.
All matches shall have a duration as set out below unless a shorter time
(not less than 20 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two Teams in
consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match and in any
event shall be of equal halves.
For Mini-Soccer - The maximum duration of play shall be two halves of 20
minutes each way. The maximum playing time in any one day for under 7 and under
8 age groups is 40 minutes and for under 9 and under 10 age groups is 60
minutes.
For Youth Football - The duration of play shall be as follows unless it
is mutually agreed by all parties to reduce the time.
For Under 11 and under
12, 30 minutes each half
For Under 13 and under
14, 35 minutes each half
For Under 15 and under
16, 40 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 double-header, ie: two separate matches, 100 minutes per day in this
Competition
For Youth and Mini Football the times of kick-off
shall be between 9.00am and 2.00pm
unless by mutual agreement. Any Club failing to commence at the
appointed time may be fined a sum not exceeding £20.00 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.
The size of football to be used shall be for Mini-Soccer, size 3 for players in
the under 7 and 8 age categories; size 4 for under 9’s and 10’s. For youth
football - size 4 for those playing
under 11,12,13 and 14 age groups; size 5 for all other age groups. All home Team's shall provide goal nets,
adequate first-aid kit, a supply of clean water, linesmen's flags, a whistle, a
watch and corner flags that stand 5ft from the ground when in place.
10(B)(i) Pitches must be “roped
off” using plastic stakes and tape (or loose thin rope), with the tape wherever
possible, being at least two metres behind the touchline and extending from
corner flag to corner flag. Any game played without the pitch being “roped off”
will result in the home team incurring a fine not exceeding £30.00.
All persons must remain outside the “roped off” area, except the
Assistant Referee and one Club official whilst the game is in progress. When
the game is stopped to allow a substitution or to request medical assistance
for an injured player, the appropriate personnel are allowed to pass inside the
“roped off” area to gain access to the pitch.
Any breach of Rule 10(B)(i) reported to the League by a referee will be
considered as conduct likely to bring the game into disrepute and will be dealt
with as provided for in rule 17(e).
10(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 Fixture 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).
10(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
3 clear days prior to the playing of the match.
Any Club failing to
comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £5.00.
10(E) In the event of a Club playing in any match with
less than 9 players they may be fined £1.00 for each missing player. A minimum
of 5 players will constitute a Team for a Competition mini soccer match and a
minimum of 7 players constitute a Team for a Competition youth soccer match and
a minimum of 5 players will constitute a Team for Competition 9 a-side soccer
match.
10(F)(i) 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 from
the match in question to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay
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.
10(F)(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 £20.00 or otherwise dealt with
by the Management Committee.
10(F)(iii) Notice of postponement of any match must be given without
delay by the postponing Club. Such notice must be given 5 days by the Club to
the Fixture Secretary, the Competition Referee Secretary, the Secretary of the
opposing Club and the match officials. Permission will be given only twice a
season. Any Club failing to comply shall
be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may
deem suitable.
10(F)(iv) 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 mutually agreed by the two Clubs and approved by the Management
Committee. Failing such agreement and notification to the Fixture Secretary
within 7 days the Management Committee shall have the power to order the match
to be played on a named date or on or before a given date.
(10F)(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 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 has been
abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams their Club members, the Management
Committee shall rule all points for the match as void. No fines can be applied
by the Management Committee for an abandoned match.
10(G) A Team may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the
game use 5 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be
selected from 5 players.
For Mini-Soccer any number of substitutions 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 may return to
the play as a substitute for another player. A Team must not have a squad
greater than double the size of its team in an age group.
For Youth football for teams in the under 16 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 substitute’s not later
than15 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.
10(H) The half time interval shall be of 5 minutes duration, but it shall
not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the
consent of the referee.
REPORTING RESULTS
11. (A) The
Registration Secretary must receive within 2 days of the date played, the
result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include
the forename(s) and Surname of the team players (in block letters) and also the
Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the
Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £5.00 and/or the Club being
dealt with as the Management Committee decides.
11(B) The Home Club shall
telephone the result of each match to the Registration Secretary by 6.00pm. Failure to do so may incur a fine not
exceeding £5.00.
11(C) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed
by a responsible member of the Club.
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 £10.00.
NB. If the fixed penalty exceeds £20 the Club must
be charged as detailed in Rule 5(D).
11(D) Leagues are permitted to
collect but not to publish results for fixtures they organise for U7 and U8
Mini Soccer. They may require a Club to confirm that a set fixture has been
played. A maximum fine of £5 may be imposed for a breach of this Rule.
11(E) Each Team manager may nominate two boys
from the opposing Team, who must, in his presence, write their full names,
addresses, schools and dates of birth, together with signatures, on the back of
the Team form, such information to be checked by the League Representative.
DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP/ KNOCK-OUT CUP. OTHER COMPETITIONS.
12. (A)
Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with 3 points to
be awarded for a win and 1 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 mini
soccer points can only be awarded for Under 9 Competitions and above.
In the event of two or more teams being equal on points team rankings
shall be decided in any one or more of the following ways :-
(i)
goal average
(ii)
goal difference
(iii)
goals scored
(iv)
deciding match(es) played under conditions determined by
the Management Committee.
For deciding matches , in the event of the scores in a match played under
the conditions determined by the Management Committee being level at the end of
the game, 20 minutes extra time shall be played in two equal periods of ten
minutes. If no goal is scored during extra time, the winners will be determined
by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the
International Board Decision contained in the Laws of Association Football.
12(B) Before being allowed to play in Cup
games, a Player must have played a minimum of four League games for his Team,
other than under exceptional circumstances for players registered before 31st
October and/or at the discretion of the Committee.
12(D) Any Player transferred or re-registered,
who has played in a cup competition, shall be deemed to be cup-tied in respect
of that particular competition.
12(E) In the event of a cup-tie, any Team
playing an ineligible Player, or supplying an incorrect name shall incur a fine
not exceeding £20.00 and the game shall be awarded to their opponents. A second
offence shall incur a fine not exceeding £30.00 and they shall be expelled from
the competition.
12(F) In the event of a draw, after extra time
has been played, penalties will be
taken to decide the result.
12(G) Cup competition(s) other than the
Knock-out cup, may be arranged at the discretion of the Committee. Such
Competition(s) rules and regulations to be issued to the competing Teams seven
days prior to commencement.
12(H) The Team(s) which are in each instance
first drawn in the ballot shall have choice of ground (if their own is not
available they must play on their opponents) except in the final tie, which
must be played on neutral ground.
12(I) All Cup Draws at all times must be conducted
at a FULL LEAGUE MEETING by BONA FIDE members and representatives of the League
and not outside sources.
12(J) The League shall have the power to
arrange representative matches, the proceeds from such matches to be devoted to
the funds of the League. Teams must give every assistance to the League in all
matches arranged under its auspices. Any Team having two or more Players
selected for a representative Team is entitled to postpone its own fixtures if
both matches are scheduled for the same day. This will not count as one of the
permitted postponements under RULE 10(F).
12(K) Players chosen to play in any
representative game under the League auspices must do so, or will be dealt with
by the Committee, unless a satisfactory explanation is given.
REFEREES
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).
13(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.
13(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. Failure to do so will result in a fine
of £5.00 being imposed on the defaulting Club.
13(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 arbitor and whose decision must be
accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.
13(E) Match officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to the
following match fees, Referee £20.00 for Youth, £18.00 for small-sided and £12.00
for mini fixtures, (inclusive of
travel expenses or private car expenses of 10p per mile) and any other
permitted expenses actually incurred, subject to any limits laid down by the
sanctioning Association(s).Referees appointed by the Management Committee as
Assistant Referees, half fee, subject to any limits laid down by the
sanctioning Association(s).
The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses before the
match.
13(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 and expenses.
13(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.
13(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.
13(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
County Football Association.
CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR
WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB
14. (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.
14(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams
from the Competition after the arrangement of fixtures for the following
season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not
exceeding£20.00 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call,
which may be made under Rule 5(B).
14(C) The Membership for the coming season having
been decided at a Special General Meeting held for that purpose or at the
Annual General Meeting 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.
14(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 undischarged 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
members pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member shall not be
allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the Club’s Parent
County Association for a suspension order.
PROTESTS AND APPEALS
15(A)(i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or
interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.
15(A)(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.
15(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 7 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. 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.
15(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.
15(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 £5.00. 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.
15(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 7
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 a deposit of £5.00 and indicate
such when forwarding the written response.
15(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.
BOARD OF APPEAL
16. 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 Lancashire Football Association, including
a fee of £35.00, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal
shall be in accordance with F.A. 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.
EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS
MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
17. (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) two-thirds of those present and voting. Voting on this
point shall be conducted by ballot.
17(B) At the Annual General Meeting, or 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 whose conduct has, in their opinion, been
undesirable, which must be supported by (more than) two-thirds 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.
17(C) Any official or member of a Club proved to be 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.
17(E) Where any Club Official(s), Parent(s) or Spectators(s) is/are found
to by the Management Committee to be guilty of misconduct or of conduct which
is likely to bring the game into disrepute, the following penalties shall be
imposed on the Club. A fine not exceeding £200.00.
TROPHY: - LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS
18. A
Competition Cup or Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the
Competition as Trustees. If a Competition be discontinued for any cause the Cup
or Trophy shall be returned to the donor, if the conditions attached to it so
provide, or otherwise dealt with as The Association may decide.
The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the
Cup or Trophy: -
“We <<chairman >> and
<<secretary >> , the
Chairman and Secretary of << winners/runners up >> FC, members of and representing the
Club, having been declared winners/runners up, of League/Knock-Out 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 30th April in the following year. 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.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
19. 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 7 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 full member shall be empowered to send two
delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Team shall be entitled to one
vote only.
Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General
Meeting without satisfactory reason being given may be fined £20.00.
All amendments of rules can only be implemented once approved by the
appropriate sanctioning authority.
Officers and
Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all
Special General Meetings
ALTERATIONS TO RULES.
20. 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 thereto shall be
submitted to the Secretary by 30th April. The proposals and proposed amendments
thereto 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 Association30 days prior to the date of the meeting.
Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become
operative until the approval of the Association issuing sanction shall have
been obtained.
FINANCE.
22. (A)
The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial
institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.
22(B) All expenditure in excess of £0.01 shall be approved by the
Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two officers
nominated by the Management Committee.
22(C) The financial year
of the Competition will end on 30th April.
22(D) The books or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be
prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be
appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
22(E) Justifiable expenses incurred by League
Officials in pursuance of their duties shall be reimbursed at the discretion of
the Committee.
CHILD PROTECTION.
(APPENDIX - A)
1. Any
act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or
poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute
behaviour which is improper and brings the game into disrepute.
2. In
these regulations the expression “Offence” shall mean any one or more of the
offences contained in Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and
any other criminal offence which reasonably causes the Association to believe
that the person accused of the offence poses or may pose a risk of harm to a
child or children.
3. Upon receipt by the
Association of:
3.1 Notification that an individual has been
charged with an offence: or
3.2 Notification that an
individual is the subject of an investigation by the Police, Social Services or
any other authority relating to an offence: or
3.3 any other information
which causes the Association reasonably to believe that a person poses or may
pose a risk of harm to a child or children then The Association shall have the
power to order that the individual be suspended from all or any specific
football activity for such period and on such terms as it thinks fit.
4. In
reaching its determination as to whether an order under Regulation 3 should be
made The Association shall give consideration, inter alia, to the following
factors:-
4.1 whether a child is or children are or may
be at risk of harm ;
4.2 whether the matters are of a serious
nature ;
4.3 whether an order is
necessary or desirable to allow the conduct of any investigation by The
Association or any other authority or body to proceed unimpeded.
5. The
period of an order referred to in 3 above shall not be capable of lasting
beyond the date upon which any charge under the Rules of The Association or any
Offence is decided upon or brought to an end.
6. Where
an order is imposed on an individual under regulation 3 above, The Association
shall bring and conclude any proceedings under the Rules of The Association
against the person relating to the matters as soon as reasonably practicable.
7. Where
a person is convicted, or is made the subject of a caution in respect of an
Offence,
that shall constitute a breach of the Rules of The Association and The
Association shall have the power to order the suspension of the person from all
or any specific football activity for such a period (including indefinitely)
and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
8. For
the purposes of these regulations, The Association shall act through its
Council or any Committee or sub-committee thereof, including the Board.
9. Notification
in writing of an order referred to above shall be given to the person concerned
and/or any Club with which he is
associated as soon as reasonably practicable.
NOTES