CENTRAL WARWICKSHIRE YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE

 

RULES

 

SEASON 2007-2008

 

1. NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

 

(A)        The title of the competition shall be the CENTRAL WARWICKSHIRE YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE and shall consist of not more than 200 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.

            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 Birmingham County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be 20 miles radius from Solihull centre.

This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Birmingham County Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped by age, with a maximum of fourteen in each division.

Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competitions with the exception of their parent County F.A. Competitions except with the written consent of the Management Committee.

            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.

Mini-Soccer for Under 7’s will be on a friendly basis only; no results or league tables will be recorded or published by the League or any of its Member Clubs or teams.

Mini-Soccer for Under 8’s will be a league based competition only; there will be no Cup competitions

 

2. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

(A)        Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional team(s) must be made in writing to the Registration Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of 50% of previous season’s League fee 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 £65-00 per team playing 11-a-side football and £65-00 per team playing Mini-Soccer payable on or before the May League Meeting in each year.

(C)        Each Club shall, upon election, pay a Deposit of  £50-00 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 General Secretary in writing by the Annual General Meeting of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £15-00. Clubs must advise the General Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition.

Existing member Clubs re-applying to participate within the League for the following season must do so on the appropriate application form(s), which must be returned on or before the April meeting, together with a minimum of 50% of the previous season’s League fees for each team entered to the Registration Secretary. At a Registration night, which will be held in May of each year at the League Headquarters, Travel West Midlands Social Society, Wheelers Lane, Kings Heath, Birmingham, existing Clubs must pay the balance (if any) of League fees. 

Cheques should be made payable to the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League.  A receipt will be issued for all fees paid.

Any Club failing to pay the full fee(s) within seven days of the May meeting will not be accepted into the League.

 

 

 

League application forms will be issued to new Clubs which must be returned to the Registration Secretary.  Following a meeting for new Clubs in May of each year, each club must, within seven days, forward the full current League fee per team together with a club Guarantee fee of £50-00 to confirm their commitment to participate in the League. Applications returned after that date would place that club on a reserve list pending any vacancies that may occur. No new Clubs will be accepted after the 31st May except with the consent of the relevant Divisional Secretary. Teams will be placed in the appropriate division at the Divisional Secretary’s discretion.

Where the Management Committee feels that any new or existing Club or team’s past record is not acceptable they will recommend to the League members that the Club/team’s application be rejected. The recommendation by the Management Committee shall stand pending a vote by all members of the League

Any Club/team whose application is suspended will have the right to speak in their defence at a Special Meeting convened for that purpose, called in conformity with League Rule No 19.  Any decision taken by the League members will be absolute; there will be no appeal.

Any team withdrawing from the League after the 31st May must inform the League General Secretary in writing. All League fees paid will be forfeited.

Any Club having overdue unpaid fines with this League or Parent County Association will not be allowed (unless appealing as in Rule 16)

(a) to register for the following season

(b) to commence playing fixtures

until such fines have been paid.

 

 3. OFFICERS

 

The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Chairman, Treasurer, General Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Disciplinary Secretary to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors 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 Divisional Secretaries and Referees Secretary who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

(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 the April League Meeting in each year.  Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting.  In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting

(C)        The Management Committee shall meet monthly to deal with business as it arises.

The Management Committee Comprised of the Executive Committee, Divisional Secretaries, Referees Secretary, Registration Secretary, Trophy Administrator and Press Officer will be responsible for the administration and promotion of the League.

The Executive Committee, comprising the League President, League Chairman, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Treasurer and Disciplinary Secretary, shall make decisions upon all matters of policy and procedure to be followed by the League members and Management Committee.

On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the General Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.

The Disciplinary Committee comprised of the Disciplinary Secretary and two members of the Management Committee shall deal with all matters relating to transgressions of the Rules and misconduct of Clubs, officials and spectators, and have the power to impose fines and suspensions, and recommend expulsions where deemed justified.

(D)        Except where otherwise mentioned all communications, with the exception of fines, appeals or protests, which should be addressed to the Disciplinary Secretary, shall be addressed to the General Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.

Any Club failing to reply to correspondence by the prescribed date will be fined £15-00.

(E)        All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their Club Secretaries, unless otherwise requested.

 

  5. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

 

(A)        The Management Committee may appoint such other sub-committees as they may consider necessary and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary to such committees.

The decisions of all such committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.

(B)        Subject to the permission of the Birmingham County Football Association having been obtained the Management Committee may order a match or matches to be played each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Competition and, if necessary, may call upon each Club (including any Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to contribute equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the end of the season. (See Rule 6(e)).

(C)        Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (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.

Except where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set penalty any Club, Official or Player alleged to be in breach of a Competition Rule must be formally charged in writing and given the opportunity to present their case before the Management Committee. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and Regulations of The Football Association shall be dealt with in accordance with F.A. Rules.

(E)        All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Appeal in accordance with Rule 16. Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within seven days.

(F)        Five Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the Competition.

(G)        The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number.

(H)        A Club having failed to comply with an order 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.

Clubs,Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose.

(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.

 

  6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

 

(A)        The Annual General Meeting shall be held on the second Monday of June of 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 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 season.

(vi)     Election of Officers and Management Committee.

(vii)     Appointment of Auditors.

(viii)    Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given).

(ix)     Fix the date for the commencement and conclusion of playing season.

             (x)    Other business of which due notice shall have been given and accepted as being

         relevant to an Annual General Meeting.    

(B)        A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Birmingham County Football Association.

(C)        A signed copy of the duly Audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the “BIRMINGHAM COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION” within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting

(D)        Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send one delegate to an Annual General Meeting.

Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than 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.

(F)        All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least two thirds of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.

(G)        No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club unless the individual is also appointed to vote as a representative of a group of Associate Member Clubs.

(H)        Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £25-00.

(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 an agreement (see Appendix 1) which shall be deposited with the Competition General Secretary together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete, stating that their Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the CENTRAL WARWICKSHIRE 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 said Agreement MUST be notified to the appropriate County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the General Secretary of the Competition.

 

8. QUALIFICATIONS OF PLAYERS

 

(A)        Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition.

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.

(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 /her parent or guardian and by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the appropriate Divisional Secretary at least 24 hours prior to playing and whose completed registration card has been received by the Club prior to playing.

            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 must be available at matches and training events the player attends within the management of the Club or Competition.

The registration document must incorporate a current passport-size photograph of the player seeking registration together with proof of the player’s date of birth.        

            The qualification dates for the competition shall be as follows:

Mini-Soccer

            Under 7 – the player must have attained the age of 6 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 14 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)(vi)).

(C)        Not applicable to the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League.         

(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 50 pence shall be paid for each player registered. The fees for the first twenty players registered per team are included in the Registration Fees.

(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 General 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 power to accept or reject the registration of any player.

(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 refuse or cancel the registration of any player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16). Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition.

(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.)

(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 appropriate Divisional Secretary accompanied by a fee of £5-00. Such transfer shall be referred by the appropriate Divisional 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 appropriate Divisional 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 appropriate Divisional 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 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 the second Monday in March in any season 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.

            In the event a Club has more than one team in an age group, each team must be clearly designated “A” and “B” etc. In such cases, players will be registered for 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 General 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.

An initial 20 Registration Forms & I.D.Passports will be issued to all teams following payment of 50% of League Fees (The cost of these items is included in the teams’ Registration Fees). Additional or replacement Passports will be charged at £5-00 each. The passports remain the property of the League.

No copies of Registration Forms or I.D.Passports will be permitted.

 

 

 

 

 

Club Officials are responsible for ensuring that all players’ registrations are made in the correct manner on the Registration Forms & I.D.Passports, which must contain the following particulars of each player

REGISTRATION FORMS                                        I.D.PASSPORTS

a) Full name.

a) Full name

b) Home address and telephone number.

b) Team

c) Date of Birth.

c) Date of Birth

d) School attended.

d) Signature

Two current passport photographs are required, one to be attached to the Registration Form, the second to be attached to the I.D.Passports.

The particulars stated on the Registration Form will be confirmed as correct by the signature of the player, his parent/guardian and team Manager. The team Manager will be responsible for the verification of authenticity of all signatures.

            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 must be available at matches and training events the player attends within the management of the Club or Competition.

Completed Registration Forms & I.D.Passports for previously-registered players should be submitted to the appropriate Divisional Secretary for registration. (No copies of Registration Forms or Identity Cards will be accepted)

Completed Registration Forms & I.D.Passports for new players should be submitted to the appropriate Divisional Secretary for registration. (No copies of Registration Forms or I.D.Passports will be accepted) They must be accompanied by a Medical card, or a Birth Certificate or any other approved document. (NO COPIES OF THESE DOCUMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED)

The appropriate Divisional Secretary, or in his absence, the Registration Secretary ONLY, will endorse registrations, enter the player’s registration number on the Registration Form, return the I.D.Passport to the respective Club Secretaries and retain the Registration Form.

I.D.Passports for all players must be carried at all times by the team Manager to all games.

Team Managers MUST give their I.D.Passports to opposing Team Managers before the commencement of each match.

Team Managers will be entitled to hold the I.D.Passports for the duration of the match if they so desire, but must return the Identity Passports after the game.

I.D.Passports must be shown to the League Officials if requested.

ANY TEAM FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE CLAUSES RELATING TO I.D.PASSPORTS  WILL BE FINED THE SUM OF £10-00 FOR EACH NON-COMPLIANCE UP TO A MAXIMUM OF £100-00.

FAILURE TO PRODUCE PLAYERS IDENTITY CARDS WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENT REASON TO POSTPONE A FIXTURE.

All Youth teams must register a minimum of 11 Players and Mini-Soccer teams must register a minimum of 7 players, by the August meeting, A surcharge will be made of £5-00 per player below this minimum requirement. Any team failing to register any players by the August Meeting will be expelled from the League and all fees will be forfeited. No Player will be allowed to take part in a match in the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League without possession of a valid I.D.Passport.

Players must be registered by 12-30pm on Saturday to be eligible to play on the following Sunday.  For mid-week fixtures players must be registered at least 24hrs before the kick off.

No registrations or transfers or cancellations will be accepted after the second Monday in March of each season.

No Youth team shall have more than 20 players registered and no Mini-Soccer team have more than 14 players registered, at any one time. Any team wishing to register further players must de-register sufficient number of players to comply with this Rule. If further Registration Forms/Identity Passports are required they are obtainable from the appropriate Divisional Secretary or the Assistant General Secretary at a cost of £5-00 per pair.

Any cancellations of registrations must be in writing to the Divisional Secretary and be accompanied by the original I.D.Passport. On completion of this procedure all paperwork will be passed to the League General Secretary.

a) A Player may be registered with a Club during the close season (June 1st to June 30th) without having to go through the transfer procedure.

b) Should a player be registered as in section (a), or subsequently, then he may not be approached unless the 7-day rule of intent procedure is followed and a transfer completed on the appropriate form.

Any player registered with a Football League Club Academy will not be allowed to register and/or play for any other team until such time as he has been officially de-registered. It is the responsibility of the player’s parent(s) and/or the Manager of any team to secure documentation to verify any player’s de-registration and to submit any such evidence to the appropriate Divisional Secretary PRIOR to registering and/or playing within the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League.

 

 

Any player registered with the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League then subsequently registered with an Academy during the playing season must be de-registered from the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League IMMEDIATELY. The Central Warwickshire Youth Football League Club holding the player’s registration prior to his registration with an Academy will have first option to secure his registration following any official de-registration from an Academy.

Any player registered with the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League and a Football League Club Centre of Excellence will not be allowed to play for any team without written approval from the Director of the Centre of Excellence. Such documentation relating to the player must be shown to the appropriate Divisional Secretary BEFORE he plays in the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League.

N.B. It is not necessary to de-register players registered with Centres of Excellence.

Any team playing an Academy player and/or a registered Centre of Excellence player without written permission as outlined in Rule 8A will be charged with misconduct as per Rule 17.

 (M)      A player shall not be eligible 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 to the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League.

(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 shall have three 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 in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.

(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.

            (ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Competitions).

            (iii) Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.

(Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply.)

 

  9. CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME

 

(A)        Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the General Secretary by the August League Meeting and a decision made as to its suitability.

Each player’s shirt must be individually numbered.

Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the referee.

No player including the goalkeeper shall be allowed 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 four 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 £15-00.

The Disciplinary 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.

(B)        Any team wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.

When confirming fixtures, teams should be aware that where the basic colour of the strip is the same or similar to their opponents, the away team will change colours.

 

10. PLAYING SEASON.  CONDITIONS, TIMES OF KICK-OFF, POSTPONEMENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

 

(A)        The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date.  Original fixtures arranged by the Divisional Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no later than the September League Meeting, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.

(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 fixtures on another ground.   All matches shall have a duration as set out below unless a shorter time is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.

Teams are expected to make every effort to complete their league matches on a “home and away” basis. This may include the necessity for mid-week (not Saturdays) games in the latter part of the season. Divisional Secretaries will advise teams of any mid-week fixtures deemed necessary. Initially, the onus will be on both teams to agree a mutually acceptable date and time to play the fixture and inform the Divisional Secretary of the details.Once thus confirmed, the fixture will be subject to Rule 10(F) with regard to non-fulfilment. If teams cannot reach agreement, then the Divisional Secretary will stipulate the date on which the fixture will be played and may take any subsequent action against either or both teams should they fail to honour the fixture, in accordance with Rule 10(F).

For Mini-Soccer – The duration of play shall be as follows (unless it is mutually agreed by all parties to reduce the playing time):

Under 7 and Under 8 age groups, 20 minutes each half.

Under 9 and Under 10 age groups, 25 minutes each half.

For Youth football – The duration of play shall be as follows unless it is mutually agreed by all parties to reduce the time: