THE NORTHUMBERLAND YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE
COMPETITION RULES
1. NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION.
(A) This Competition shall be designated THE NORTHUMBERLAND YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE and known as THE NORTHUMBERLAND YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE and shall consist of not more than 36 clubs who all can 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 appropriate Northumberland County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition shall be Northumberland and Durham.
The Competition shall apply annually for Sanction to the Northumberland and Durham Football Associations and the constituent teams of Members Clubs may be grouped on divisions each not exceeding 18 in number.
Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competition (with the exception of F.A. and County F.A. Competitions) except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.
(B) At the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose,
the majority of the delegates present shall have the power to decide or adjust the compilation of the divisions at their discretion. When necessary this Rule shall take precedence over Rule 12.
2. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT.
(A) Application by Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry must be made in writing to the Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £60 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.
(B)The Annual Subscription shall be £60 per Club, (represented by £40 League fees, £15 League Cup fees and £5 Charity.l Cup fees) payable on or before 1st July in each year
(C) Each Club shall on the day of election pay a Deposit of £50 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 the Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid. Failure to pay the specified amounts prior to or on the stipulated date will result in a fine of £20 being imposed in each case.
(E) Clubs must, prior to 1st July each year, forward to the Secretary of the Competition the fully completed Annual Club Return of the Competition. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £25 being imposed
.
(F) Where applicable Personal Accident Insurance Premiums must have been paid.
3. OFFICERS.
The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Fixture Secretary and Registration Secretary who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
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 a maximum of 8 Club Members, 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 of the Competition in writing, signed by the Secretaries of 2 Member Clubs, not later than 1st May in each year. Names of Candidates shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nominations in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting.
(C)The Management Committee shall meet monthly/or as often as necessary to deal with the business of the Competition as it arises. On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.
(E) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.
(F) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers.
(G) It is expressly acknowledged that no Member of the League Management Committee is considered to be a worker for the League, for the purposes of the National Minimum Wage Act 1968, and has no right to any remuneration of any nature relating to time spent in fulfilling their duties in pursuing their appointment
(G) The Management Committee reserves the right to request any Member Club to submit its books of accounts and Club records at any time.
5. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT.
(A)The Management Committee may appoint such Sub–Committee and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all such Sub-Committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.
(B) Subject to the permission of the Northumberland Football Association being obtained, the Management Committee may order a match/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 the 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
.
(H) Six 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.
(H) The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have the power to fill, in an acting capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number.
(I)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.
(J) 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 approve.
All fines and payments must be made to the League Secretary within one month after written notification. Failure to do so will result in the Competition Secretary informing the Secretary of the County Association with which the Club affected is affiliated. The League is authorised to collect all fines, late fines and any fees or expenses owing to the League.
(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 Meeting, or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution, and the commencement of the Competition Season
(L)Any Club not represented at a Management Committee Meeting when instructed in writing to do so, by either the Secretary and/or Chairman, or any other Person instructed to attend a meeting of the Management Committee and failing to do so without reasonable excuse shall be fined the sum of £10 in addition to any fines imposed. In the event of any Club or Person failing to attend a meeting of the Management Committee, the Committee shall have the power to deal with the matter in his/her absence.
(M) A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Committee to attend a meeting or match may have the expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.
6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
(A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 31st May in each year.
At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least two thirds of member Clubs are present and entitled to vote.
(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business arising there from.
(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.
(iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management Committee)
(v) Constitution of the Competition for the coming 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 the 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 Northumberland and Durham County Football Associations.
(C) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Northumberland and Durham County Football Associations within fourteen days of its adoption at the Annual General Meeting.
(D) Each Full member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than fourteen days notice shall be given of any meeting.
Associate Member Clubs may be represented at an Annual General Meeting in the proportion of one representative for each six or part of six Associate Member Clubs and such representatives shall exercise the powers and rights of Full Member Clubs at such meetings.
(E) Clubs who have withdrawn their membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not continuing membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded. This provision will not apply to clubs expelled in accordance with Rule 17.
(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot is demanded by at least two thirds of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.
(G) No individuals 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 £20 on the first occasion with all future absences being dealt with by the Management Committee.
(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 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 complete;
“We, …………………………………. (Chairman) and ……………………….. (Secretary) of the …………………….Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Northumberland 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 on accordance with Rule 16.
Any alteration made by the Chairman and/or Secretary of the above Agreement must be notified to the County Football Association to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.
(Note the spaces in the above Agreement are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of the Chairman and secretary.)
8. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS.
(A)Contract players as defined in the Football Association Rules are not permitted in this Competition.
(B) A registered playing member of a Club is one, who being in all other respects eligible has;
(i) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition Registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Registration Secretary forty eight (24) hours prior to playing and whose completed Registration Counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing.
(ii) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition Registration form in ink, on a match day, countersigned by an Officer of the opposing Club and submitted to the Registration Secretary with the Match Result / Team Sheet within four days of the date of the match. A player completing a match day registration form must appear on the match result / team sheet as a player or substitute (playing or non playing) on that date, if not, the player’s registration will be classed as a normal registration under Rule 8 b i. The player may not play again until the Club is in possession of the completed registration counterfoil. A maximum of two players per match may be registered in this way. Any additional players signed on a match day will be classed as a normal registration under Rule 8 B i.
(iii)Players must be at least 16 years of age on the 31st August of the current playing season and must not have reached their 19th birthday by this date. Proof of age must be established by the production of a copy of the Player’s Birth Certificate, Passport or Drivers Licence.
Note; All matters regarding international clearance will be reported to the English Football Association and will be dealt with by that Association. The Competition will, after such action has been taken, discipline the Club or player concerned.
(C)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 has played. Clubs who register “contract players” from another Club should ensure all regulations required by the Football Association and County Associations have been complied with. Infringements will be dealt with in accordance with Rule 8 N I and ii. Any Club found guilty of this offence will be fined £10.
(D)There will be a limit of 22 players a Club may register at any one time, in any one
season.
(E)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.
(F)It shall be a breach of Rule 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 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.
(G)
(i) The Management Committee shall have the power to accept the registration of any player. The Management Committee shall have the power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player due to irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16)
(ii) The Management Committee shall have the power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in all games in the Competition. (Subject to Rule 16)
(Note; Action under Clause (ii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct on the field of play until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association and then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into disrepute)
(H) Subject to the Football Associations dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a fully completed transfer form to the club the player is currently registered. This Club should then:
(i) Complete the form and return it to the potential new club or the Registration Secretary.
(ii) State in writing to the Registration Secretary and the player concerned any objections to the transfer within 7 days of receiving the transfer form.
On receiving a fully completed transfer form the Registration Secretary may on behalf of the Management Committee transfer the player. Fully completed transfer forms must be received by the Registration Secretary 48 hours prior to a match day and the completed Transfer Registration Counterfoil must have been received by the new Club prior to playing.
No transfers will be allowed prior to 1st September and after 31st March in any season.
No player shall be transferred more than twice in any season without the express permission of the Management Committee.
Five transfer forms shall be supplied to every Club each season. Clubs will be charged £5 per transfer when the forms are submitted to the Registration Secretary.
(I)
(i) A player may not be registered by a Club or transferred to another club in the Competition after 31st March in any season except by special permission of the Management Committee.
(ii) Clubs must inform the League Secretary of any player registered who is under 18 years of age on the 1st August in any season. (Note: for players under 18 the provisions contained in the Football Association Rules will apply)
(J)A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have taken part and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.
(K)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 inspection by any duly appointed member club at all Management Committee Meetings or at any other time mutually agreed.
(L)A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12A) unless the player has played four games for that team in this Competition in the current season.
(M) Each Club will be provided by the Registration Secretary with a Retained List of players which shall include all players registered with the Club as at 31st March in the current season who have played for that Club in the Competition. A player wishing to remain with the Club for the following season should sign and date the form which must be countersigned by the Club Secretary. The completed Retained List must be returned to the Registration Secretary prior to 15th July. Any retained list submitted to the Registration Secretary after this date will not be accepted by the Competition.
Any player registered under this Rule may during the period 16th July to 31st July write to the Registration Secretary requesting that his registration with his Club be cancelled. The Registration Secretary on receipt of such request shall confirm to the player and the Club concerned the cancellation of the registration.
(N) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall:
(i) Have any points gained in the match deducted from its total and shall be fined £50 and otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.
(ii) In addition the team shall have 3 points deducted from its total by the Management Committee and otherwise dealt with as is thought to be fit.
(iii) The non defaulting Club may at its discretion request for the match to be replayed and in that case be awarded reasonable expenses involved in the original match. If both Clubs default in a league game the match will be replayed at a ground decided by the Management Committee.
(iv)The Management Committee in exceptional circumstances may at its discretion award any points deducted from a Club under this rule to the non defaulting Club in the match in question subject to the match not being replayed.
(O) Any player who plays whilst under a suspension issued by the relevant County Association will be reported to the County Secretary. No protest is necessary against breaches of this Rule and the provisions of Rule 15 shall not apply.
(P)Players counterfoils MUST be carried at all times and should be available for inspection by the opposing team and any Official of the League prior to the start of the game. A £20 fine will be imposed on any team in breach of this rule.
9. CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME.
(A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts, shorts and socks with the Competition Secretary prior to 1st June who shall decide as to their suitability. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined £20.
Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the referee.
No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black shirts.
Any team not being able to play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition shall notify the colours in which they will play to its opponents at least five days before the match.
If, in the opinion of the Referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick off by not having a change of colours shall be fined £10.
The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit.
All players of both sides, other than the goalkeepers, must wear playing outfits of uniform colour and pattern with shirts numbered from 2 to 11. Substitute shirts must be numbered from 12 upwards except when the substitute is a goalkeeper.
For breaches of this Rule the fine imposed will be £10 on the first occasion with each subsequent occasion to be reviewed by the Management Committee.
(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its Affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.
10. PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY, TIMES OF KICK OFF,
POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES.
(A) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencement and concluding dates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with the Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixture Secretaries, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no later than 1st August must be arranged for a date not 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.
Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition.
All matches shall be played on grounds 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 the power to order the venue to be changed.
The Management Committee shall have the 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.
The Management Committee shall be empowered to amend the standards set for the Competition at any time and shall be empowered to investigate the facilities at grounds of any Member Clubs. Video recordings of any match can take place only with the permission of the Management Committee. All Clubs will be subject to ground grading or assessment based on the recommendations of the Joint Liaison Committee.
Any club using a ground which has not been authorised by the Competition shall be fined up to £20.
Teams must have playing surfaces surrounded on all sides by either a barrier of ropes or a permanent barrier. Such barriers must be at least two metres distant from all touchlines.
Each Club at their ground must provide adequate dressing accommodation and washing facilities for both teams with a minimum of four showers for each team. The minimum floor area of each team’s dressing room shall be fifteen square metres.
Each Club must provide adequate separate accommodation and changing facilities for the use of the match officials. Such accommodation should have a minimum floor area of six square metres and be provided with separate washing facilities. Match officials dressing rooms must not be used for storage or similar purposes.
Dressing room accommodation should be within a reasonable distance of the playing area with each Club’s provision in this respect being assessed and judged as to its suitability by a Ground Grading Committee appointed by the Competition. Each dressing room must be capable of being independently secured.
Clubs are expected to provide a safe means of access between the dressing rooms and the pitch for players and match officials. All grounds should have adequate toilet facilities. The ground of every Club must have a playing surface which is even, well grassed and well maintained.
Every Club shall be responsible for ensuring that no spectator or any unauthorised person is allowed to encroach onto the playing area except for the purpose of ensuring crowd safety. Clubs will be held responsible for the actions of spectators.
Clubs are required to provide their own practice balls for use prior to kick off time.
All matches shall have duration of ninety minutes unless a shorter time (not less than seventy minutes) 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 two equal halves.
The times of Kick Off shall be fixed by the Annual General Meeting or the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time will be fined the sum of £10 or 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. Goal nets and corner flags must be used.
Clubs are required to provide their own half time refreshments. Home clubs must provide half time drinks for match officials. For a breach of this Rule clubs will be fined £10 on the first occasion with each subsequent occasion reviewed by the Management Committee.
(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 League Secretary.
(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 five clear days prior to the playing of the match. The away Club shall seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined £10.
(E) Every Club shall play its best available qualified team in all matches of the Competition.
In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than eleven players they shall be fined £5 for each missing player. A minimum of seven players will constitute a team for a Competition match.
(F) Home and Away matches shall be played. Each Club shall be required to play a number of midweek matches (a maximum of four per Club) before the end of September in each season. The number of such matches will be decided at the Annual General Meeting. Midweek home matches will be allocated to Clubs with floodlights throughout the season.
In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have the power to inflict a fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award points to the opponent Club, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except for the award of goals.
Not withstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall also have the power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent’s ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances.
Any 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 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.
Should any two Clubs be without a League fixture on any Saturday or Midweek, the League Secretary shall have the power to order them to play a league match on the relevant date, provided that at least four days notice has been given to both teams. Any Club failing to adhere to this Rule will be dealt with by the Management Committee.
Players invited to represent the League in a Representative Match will be expected to accept the invitation unless they can convince the Management Committee that they will unable to play for a genuine reason. Clubs are expected to encourage any of their players who are selected for a Representative Match to accept the invitation and confirm their availability. Players or their Clubs deemed as not complying with the above will be subject to judgement and action by the Management Committee at that Committee discretion.
In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes 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 three days the Management Committee shall have the power to order the match to be played on a named date or before a given date.
The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both teams. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club the Management Committee shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand.
In all cases where the Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or it’s Club Member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponents and/or take what other action they may deem necessary, in cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or their Club Member(s) the Management Committee shall take such action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary action taken by the appropriate County Association.
(G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 3 substitute players in any match in this competition who may be selected from 5 players.
The Referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than 15 minutes before the start of the game. (Rule 11a)
A Player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.
(H) The half time interval shall be of ten minutes duration, but shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the Referee.
(I)Requests not to be fixtured on a certain date must be made to the League Secretary in writing at least 28 days prior to the date concerned with full explanation of the circumstances leading to the request. Such requests will not be granted automatically, clubs must wait to hear from the League Secretary. Requests by E-Mail will be accepted.
11. REPORTING RESULTS
(A)
(i) Not less than 15 minutes prior to the appointed kick off time each competing club must provide the referee and opponents with a fully completed Team Sheet.
(ii) The Registration Secretary must receive within four days of the date played the Result / Team Sheet of each competing team in a Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the surname and forename(s) of the team players, in block letters and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition. It shall be the responsibility of each competing Club Secretary, or other Club Official, to ensure that a correct and fully completed Result / Team Sheet is forwarded to the Registration Secretary. Please note any completed Match Day Player Registrations must accompany this Result / Team Sheet. Failure to comply with this Rule will incur a fine of £10 and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
Clubs that include in the completed Result / Team Sheet the name of a player who is not eligible to play but does not take part in the match will be fined £20.
(B) The Home Club will telephone the result of each match to the specified League official by 5.00pm for Saturday matches and by 9-45pm for midweek matches.
This rule also applies to all Northumberland Youth League Clubs playing matches, either home or away, in games other than those organised by the League Fixture Secretaries. Such matches include Football Association and County Cup Competitions. Failure to adhere to this Rule will result in a fine of £10 being imposed.
(C) Clubs must inform the League Secretary of any Cup matches having precedent over League matches immediately after the draw is made (or received) or if a replay is necessary. For a breach of this Rule the fine shall not be less than £10.
12. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
(A) Team rankings in the Competition will be decided by points with three points to be awarded for a win and one point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. The two Divisional winners will play against each other on a date and venue arranged by the League Secretary to determine who is the overall League Champions. Matches must not be played for double points. In the event of two or more teams being equal on points, team rankings will be decided by:
(i) The team having the best goal difference.
(ii) Goals scored
(iii) The Head to Head results.
(B) In the event of a team not completing all but two of it’s fixtures for the season all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition records.
If a team has only one or two matches unplayed, points will be awarded as follows;
(i) If the Team which was not in default lost or drew the first match the points value of the Competition for a drawn game shall be awarded to such Team.
(ii) If a Team which was not in default won the first match, the points value of the Competition for a win shall be awarded to such team.
(iii) If a Team which was not in default had not played either match, the points value of the Competition for a win shall be awarded to such Team.
(13) REFEREES
(A) Registered Referees and Assistant Referees for matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and sanctioning Association(s).
(B) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee, the appointed senior Assistant Referee shall take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed by the competing teams. In cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall for that game have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
(C) 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 £20 being imposed on the defaulting Club
(D) The appointed Referee shall have the 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 the ground, the representative of that body is the sole arbiter whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.
(E) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses or private expenses of 25p per mile and any other permitted expenses actually occurred together with the following Match Fees:
Referee: £16, subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Associations. Fees and Expenses for Cup Ties to be as per those paid for Divisional League games.
The Home Club shall pay the Match Officials their fees and expenses immediately after the match.
(F) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half fee plus expenses. When a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Match Officials, if they attend the ground, their full fee and expenses. The Competition will claim the amount from the defaulting Club.
(G) The Referees Appointments Secretary in conjunction with the Competition Secretary
shall notify all match officials of their appointments. Match Officials must reply to the Referees Secretary within the stipulated time stating acceptance of appointments or otherwise.
A Referee not keeping his or her appointment, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to their non appearance, may be reported to the appropriate County Association with which they are registered.
(H) Each Club, shall in 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 fined £10, or dealt with as the Management Committee shall determine.
The Competition shall keep a record of the markings and on the forms provided, by the prescribed date each season shall submit a summary to the County Association.
(I) The Referee shall submit a report form, supplied by the Competition, giving the
result of the match, the number of players in each team and the time of kick off to the Referees Secretary within two days of the match.
(J)In the absence of a qualified and neutral referee, the managers of the two completing teams must decide by the toss of a coin, who shall be the match Official. The decisions thereafter are as binding as those of a qualified referee and such an official decided by the toss of a coin must take charge of the whole game. Games shall NOT under any circumstance be postponed due to the absence of a qualified and neutral referee.
(K)If the Home team does not inform their opponents that an appointed referee (although qualified) has some connection with their Club or it’s players i.e. Parent, Club Official, etc and such a person referees the game, the Home team will be fined £50 for breach of rule. The game at the request of the non offending team can be replayed. This would be arranged by the League Secretary.
14. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB.
(A) After the 31st December in the current season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of it’s fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Competition Secretary in writing by 31st March or be liable to a fine not exceeding £50.
All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following season must confirm their intention to do so, in writing, to the Competition Secretary by 31st March of the current season.
(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £50 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5 (B) The Club concerned will also be liable for all Competition and Insurance Fees for the coming season
(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at a Special General Meeting held for that purpose not earlier than 15th June, nor later than 1st August, or at the Annual General Meeting held not later than the 14th June, the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to join another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements.
(D) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all of its financial and other obligations to the Competition.
In the event that such obligations remains un-discharged after a period of 21 days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club members, excluding those under statutory school leaving age. Until a member’s pro rata obligation is discharged in full the member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition. The Competition may apply to the Club’s Parent County Association for a suspension order.
Any Club submitting an intention to resign at the end of the current season but who subsequently successfully applies to withdraw the resignation notice shall be regarded as a New Club in the following season.
15. PROTESTS AND APPEALS
(A)
(i) All question of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretation of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.
(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the Match. Any Club lodging such a protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
(B) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Competition 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. A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when such a protest or complaint is being determined.
(C) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties, subject to Rule 16.
(D) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Competition Secretary a sum of £20. This may be forfeited in whole or part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have the power to order the defaulting Club or a Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs be shared by the parties.
(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded the opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and must have received 7 days notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When dealing with a protest or complaint the Management Committee shall take into consideration the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information, which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.
16. BOARD OF APPEAL.
Within 14 days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee of 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 appropriate County Football Association, including the fee set by that Association, for adjudication by a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with F.A. Rules. A Copy of the appeal should be sent to the Competition Secretary.
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 it is on the grounds of unconstitutional conduct.
17. EXCLUSION OF CLUBS, OR TEAMS, MISCONDUCT, CLUBS,
OFFICIALS, PLAYERS.
(A) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special Meeting called for the purpose, the
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 (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.
(B) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special 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 whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable which must be supported by two thirds (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.
(C) Any Official or member of a Club proved guilty of either a Breach of Rule, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.
(D) Any Club or team failing to complete all of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two thirds (2/3rds of the votes cast) be debarred from membership the following season.
Any Club not completing the whole of its fixtures shall be fined a minimum of £25 and a maximum of £50 and shall be required to return to the Competition all sponsorship monies previously received unless they can convince the Management Committee that they were not at fault`
18. TROPHY; LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITION OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED.
(A) If a Competition is discontinued for any cause a Trophy or other presentation shall be returned to the Donor if the condition attached to it so provides, or if not dealt with as the Association may decide.
(B) The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:
“We A……………………………. and B………………………………., the Chairman and Secretary of ……………………………FC members of and representing the Club, having been declared the winners of the ………………………………….. 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 1st April. 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.”
(C) At the close of each Competition awards shall be made to the winners and runners-up
if the funds of the Competition permit.
(D) The winning Club and Runners–up Club must inscribe the trophy prior to its return. Failure to return the Trophy duly inscribed or in a clean and polished condition will result in the defaulting Club being fined £20.
(E) Clubs which resign from the Competition at the end of any season and which are holders of a trophy will be required to return that Trophy to the Competition before their resignation can be accepted.
19. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
Upon receiving a requisition signed by two thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.
The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.
At least 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 Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club will be entitled to one vote only.
Associate Member Clubs may be represented at all Special General Meetings in the proportion of one representative for each six or part of six Associate Member Clubs and such representatives shall exercise the powers and rights of Full Members at such meetings.
Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason shall be fined £20.
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
20. ALTERATION TO RULES.
Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting especially convened for the purpose called in accordance called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season to the Rule relating to qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season.
Notice of any proposed alterations to Rules for consideration at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by the 1st March in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals from the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 1st April each year and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 14th April of each year. 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 Associations 14 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.
21. RULES BINDING ON CLUBS.
Each Member Club shall be deemed to have given its assent to the foregoing Rules and agreed to abide by the decisions of the Management Committee subject to the Rule16. each Member Club must abide by any issued Football Association Code of conduct.
22. FINANCE.
(A) The Management Committee shall determine with which Bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.
(B) All expenditure, in excess of £500 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two Officers nominated by the Management Committee.
(C) The Financial Year of the Competition will end on 31st March of each year.
(D) The Books, or Certified Balance Sheet, of the Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
(E) The Treasurer shall pay into the Bank or Building Society Account all monies received by him on the Competition’s behalf and shall produce a Financial Statement at each meeting of the Management Committee.
23. SPONSORSHIP.
(i) Prior to accepting any sponsorship which involves any Member Club in the advertising of commercial products (other than static advertising boards) permission must be sort and obtained from the appropriate County Association. Full details of the sponsor’s requirements must be submitted when such permission is being sought.
(ii) No restriction shall be placed on any relegated or promoted Clubs in respect of any existing sponsorship agreement enjoyed by those Clubs.
THE NORTHUMBERLAND YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE
CUP COMPETITION REGULATIONS
Names and Entry Requirements to Cup Competitions
1 All Cup Competitions shall be under the entire control of the Northumberland Youth Football League Management Committee and the General Rules of Charity Competitions shall be applied along with the following rules. The Titles of the five Cup Competitions are as follows together with entry requirements:
(A) The Northumberland Youth Football League League Cup
All Clubs in Membership with the League must enter this Competition.
(B) The Northumberland Youth Football League Gray Division Cup.
(C) The Northumberland Youth Football League Heslop Division Cup.
(D) The Northumberland Youth Football League Charity Cup.
All clubs to enter.
(i) Any Club requesting dispensation from this Competition will submit a fee of £10 with their written request within 14 days of the scheduled date of the 1stRound.
2. ENTRY FEES.
The entry fees and dates for payments of these fees shall be in accordance with Competition Rule 11 relating to Annual Subscription.
3. MATCH ARRANGEMENTS.
(a) All Cup Ties including Semi Finals will be played on the ground of the first named Club in all pairings drawn. If the home clubs ground is not available, the opponents ground or a ground designated by the Competitions Management Committee must be used.
(b) In the event of a match being postponed on two occasions, for whatever reason, the home Club must obtain the use of an acceptable ground to play the match or transfer the match to their opponents ground.
(c) Neutral Assistant Referees will be appointed for all Semi Final and Final Ties.
(d) The Final Tie shall be played on a ground selected by the Management Committee.
4. MATCH EXPENSES.
(a) All Clubs shall be responsible for paying their own expenses. It will be the responsibility of the Home Club to pay all match expenses, including Match Official’s Fees in all ties prior to the Semi Finals. (See Rule 4c)
(b) The visiting Club will receive no contribution from the home Club towards its travelling and other expenses.
(c) In Cup Semi Final and Final Ties the Competition will pay the Match officials fees and expenses.
5. PLAYER QUALIFICATIONS.
(a) In all matches prior to the Semi Final ties any player who has been registered with the Competitions Registration Secretary in accordance with the Competition Rule 8 shall be eligible.
(b) To be eligible to play in Semi Final and Final Ties a player must have played for his Club in at least 4 games prior to the Semi Final Ties, controlled by the Northumberland Youth Football League.
(c) A player can only play for one Club in each of the Cup Competitions controlled by the Northumberland Youth Football League. Therefore a player may play for a Club in the League Cup and if transferred may play for another Club in a Divisional Cup or the Charity Cup.
(d) A player shall be considered to be bona fide player if he is registered by his Club with
the Northumberland Youth Football League in accordance with the provisions of the competitions Registration Rules except in the case of an abandoned match in which case a player must have been eligible to play in the aforesaid match. However a player who has been suspended may play in a postponed or abandoned match after the term of his suspension has expired.
(e) A Club may at its discretion use three substitute players in a match except to replace a player who has been suspended from the game by the Referee. The substitution can only be made when play is stopped for any reason and the Referee has given his permission.
(f) A maximum of five substitutes may be nominated of which three can be used. They must be included on the Official Team Sheet and handed to the Referee 15 minutes prior to kick off. Substitutes not so named may not take part in the match.
(g) A Club playing an ineligible player will automatically be expelled from the Competition and be fined £20 by the Management Committee.
6. CHANGE OF COLOURS.
In event of two teams competing in the Final Ties having strips of a similar colour both teams must change.
7. RESULT SHEETS.
(a) (i) Not less than 15 minutes prior to the appointed kick off time each competing club must provide the referee and opponents with a fully completed Team Sheet.
(ii) The Registration Secretary must receive within four days of the date played the Result / Team Sheet of each competing team in a Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the surname and forename(s) of the team players, in block letters and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition. It shall be the responsibility of each competing Club Secretary, or other Club Official, to ensure that a correct and fully completed Result / Team Sheet is forwarded to the Registration Secretary. Please note any completed Match Day Player Registrations must accompany this Result / Team Sheet. Failure to comply with this Rule will incur a fine of £10 and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
Clubs that include in the completed Result / Team Sheet the name of a player who is not eligible to play but does not take part in the match will be fined £20.
(b) The Home Club will telephone the result of each match to the specified League official by 5.00pm for Saturday matches and by 9-45pm for midweek matches
This rule also applies to all Northumberland Youth Football League playing matches, either home or away, in games other than those organised by the League Fixture Secretaries. Such matches include Footfall Association and County Cup Competitions. Failure to adhere to this Rule will result in a fine of £5 being imposed.
8. CONDUCT OF CUP TIES.
(a) The duration of the match shall normally be 90 minutes. However, in the event that normal time has to be reduced due to insufficient light or other reasonable cause, than agreement must be made between the referee and the participating teams prior to the start of normal play.
(b) In all Cup Ties in all Competitions, including the Final Tie, where the scores are level at the end of normal time, extra time of 15 minutes each way shall be played. If the scores are level at the end of extra time then the result will be decided by the taking of penalty kicks. The penalty kicks shall be conducted in strict accordance with the procedure adopted by the Football Association Board.
(c) The half time interval in any match shall be 10 minutes. This may be altered with consent of the Referee.
9. MATCH OFFICIALS’ FEES.
The Referee and Assistant Referees fees shall be the same as those relating to the Competitions League Matches as indicated in the Competitions Rules.
10. CUSTODY OF TROPHY AND AWARD OF MEMENTOES.
The winners of a Competition shall hold the Cup for one season. Seventeen medals or suitable mementoes will be presented to the winners and runners-up if circumstances permit.
11. DONATIONS.
The net proceeds from the Charity Cup will be donated to charities and worthy causes approved by the Management Committee.
