STANDARD CODE OF RULES
This document contains the Standard Code of
Rules developed by The Football Association and additions, for Youth
Competitions. Youth Competitions may add
to the core of the Standard Code, which is mandatory, as they see fit. The
mandatory element is printed in roman text and the optional elements of the
Standard Code in italics.
This Standard Code of Rules is mandatory for
all sanctioned Youth Competitions as from Season 2003-2004. Competitions seeking sanction must draft
their Rules in conformity with the code putting them in the correctly numbered
Rule and showing the standard heading.
Revised Rules for
Season 2009/2010 indicated by a double rules line on the left hand side of the
rule.
INDEX OF CONTENTS.
1. NOMENCLATURE
AND CONSTITUTION.
2. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT.
3. OFFICERS.
4. MANAGEMENT,
NOMINATION, ELECTION.
5. POWERS
OF MANAGEMENT.
6. ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING.
7. AGREEMENT
TO BE SIGNED.
8. QUALIFICATION
OF PLAYERS.
9. CLUB
COLOURS. CLUB NAME.
10. PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY,
TIMES OF KICK-OFF,
POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES.
11. REPORTING
RESULTS.
12. DETERMINING
CHAMPIONSHIP.
13. REFEREES.
14. CONTINUATION
OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB.
15. PROTESTS
AND COMPLAINTS.
16. BOARD
OF APPEAL.
17. EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS, MISCONDUCT,
CLUBS,
OFFICIALS, PLAYERS.
18. TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS,
CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT TO BE
SIGNED. AWARDS.
19. SPECIAL
GENERAL MEETINGS.
20. ALTERATION
TO RULES.
21. RULES
BINDING ON CLUBS.
22. FINANCE,
FEES AND FINES.
23. CHILD PROTECTION. By Laws.
NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION.
1. (A) This Competition shall be
designated the North Bury Junior Football
League/Cup and known as the North
Bury Junior Football League.
(Sponsorship title) and shall
consist of not more than 100 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 appropriate County Football Association. The area covered by the
Competition Membership shall be approximately Greater Manchester and
This Competition shall apply
annually for sanction to the Leagues Parent County(s) and the constituent teams
of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 14 (Fourteen)
in number.
Member Clubs shall not enter any of
their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competitions (with the exception
of F.A. and County F.A. Competitions) except with the written consent of the
Management Committee of the Competition.
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, additionally we will provide
9-a-side football for players who have attained the age of 10 as at midnight 31st
August in the playing season, should the members provide enough teams to form a
league.
(B) The management committee shall
have power to decide or adjust the compilation of the divisions at their
discretion. When necessary this Rule
shall take precedence over Rule 12.
ENTRY FEE,
SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT.
2. (A) Applications by New 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 £75-00 per team which
shall be returned in the event of non-election.
At the discretion of a majority of
the accredited voting members present applications, of which due notice has
been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General
Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.
When Rule 12(B) is
applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another
division no Entry Fee shall be payable
(B) The Annual Subscription shall be
£75-00 per team playing 11-a-side or 9 –a-side football and Mini-Soccer payable
on or before the 16th June in each year.
(C) Not Applicable.
(D) A Club shall not participate in
this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been
paid.
(E) Clubs must advise annually to
the Secretary in writing by 21st July of its relevant County Football
Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they
shall be fined £25-00. Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the
prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other
information required by the Competition.
3. The Officers of the Competition shall
be the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary,
Referees Secretary, Results Secretary’s, Minutes Secretary and Discipline
Secretary to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors
are not Officers).
The competition may elect a
president who will not have any voting rights or be subject to re election at
the AGM.
4. (A) The Competition shall be governed
in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a
Management Committee comprised of the Officers and members who shall be elected at the Annual
General Meeting. All Participants shall abide by The Football Association
Regulations for Safeguarding Children as determined by The Association from
time to time.
(B) Retiring Officers shall be
eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers
or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in
writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 31st
March 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 as often as is necessary to deal with business 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.
(D) Except where otherwise mentioned
all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the
correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.
(E) All communications received from
Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers (secretary).
POWERS OF
MANAGEMENT.
5. (A) The Management Committee may appoint
sub-committees and delegates such of their powers as they deem necessary. The
Management Committee shall have power to deal only with matters within the
Competition and not for any matters of misconduct that are under the
jurisdiction of the Football Association or affiliated Association
(B) Subject to the permission of the
appropriate 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, Club Official (limited to
Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer) 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. Financial penalties can only be imposed if included
within the set penalties for
breaches of Competition Rules. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and
Regulations of The Football Association shall be dealt with in accordance with
F.A. Rules by the appropriate Association.
(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/email to those concerned within 7 days.
(F)
FOUR 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 £20-00 or otherwise penalised at the discretion of
the Management Committee.
(I) All fine payments should be paid
to the discipline secretary within 14 days of the date of posting/email of the
written notification.
Clubs, Officials or individuals
committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management
Committee may impose. (Such penalties maybe an additional Fine of £20-00 or for
persistent failure suspension/expulsion from the competition)
(J) A member of the Management
Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting at County or FA Headquarters
may have any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.
(K) The Management Committee shall
have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the
Competition between the annual general or special general meeting called to
decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.
(L) No participant under the age of
18 can be fined.
(M) Leagues who organise Mini Soccer
for teams playing U7 and U8 football may not, with the exception of Rules 6,
11d, 14 and 19 fine clubs for breaches of League Rules. Subject to rule 16
The league will require all u7 and
u8 team management to attend meetings at set dates, 3 times per season to
ensure compliance with competition standards on behaviour and any FA
directives/guidelines. Failure to attend will result in the team being called
before the management committee; failure to attend this meeting will result in
immediate termination of membership.
ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING.
6. (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be
held not later than 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall
be transacted provided that at least 51% Members are present and entitled to
vote:-
(i) To
receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business arising there
from.
(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report,
Balance Sheet and Statement of accounts.
(iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as
recommended by the Management Committee).
(v) Constitution of the Competition for
ensuing season.
(vi) Election of Officers and Management
Committee.
(vii) Appointment of Auditors.
(viii) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice
has been given).
(ix) Fix the date for the commencement 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/verified Balance Sheet,
Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least
fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Appropriate County Football
Association(s).
(C) A signed copy of the duly audited/verified Balance Sheet and
Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Appropriate County Football
Association(s) within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General
Meeting.
(D) Each Full Member
Club/team shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General
Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to
one vote only. Not less than
14 days’ notice shall be given of
any Meeting.
(E) Clubs who have withdrawn their
Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not
continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on
matters relating to the season being concluded.
This provision will not apply
to Clubs expelled in accordance with Rule 17.
(F) All voting shall be conducted by
a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least 20% of the
delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.
(G) No individual shall be entitled
to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club.
(H) Any continuing Member Club
failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting to be held not later
than 30th June in each year without satisfactory reason being given shall
be fined £30-00.
A
Club/Team may not be a member of the Competition unless a Completed Membership
form has been presented at the Annual General Meeting and accepted by the
Management Committee.
(I) Officers and Management
Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General
Meeting.
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED.
7. The Chairman and the Secretary of each
Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited
with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for the
coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete.
"We, A,_____ _____________of
_________________________(Chairman) and
B________________________of
_________________________(Secretary) of the
_________________________________Football Club have been provided with a copy
of the Rules and Regulations of the ______________________Competition and do
hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club, if elected or accepted into
Membership, to conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide by
and implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the Competition,
subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16."
Any alteration of the Chairman and
/or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Relevant County
Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of
the Competition.
(Note: The spaces above are intended for the
inclusion of the signatures and addresses of officers and members).
QUALIFICATION
OF PLAYERS.
No player registered with a F.A.
Premier League or
(please
refer to fa rules on academy players released during current season)
(B) A registered youth 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 his /her parent or guardian and by an Officer of the Club, and who has been
registered with the (Registrations) Secretary ON THE NOTIFIED REGISTRATION
DATES and whose completed registration counterfoil 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. Failure to comply with this
rule will result in a
£20-00
fine.
Registration forms
may only be submitted on the relevant date notified at the AGM
No registration form must be posted
and will not be accepted at any other time than the notified registrations dates
to be decided at the first league meeting of the coming season.
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.
If
a player’s age is required for registration purposes a Competition must accept
an original birth certificate or a photocopy. In cases where the birth
certificate is not available a Competition is required to accept a photocopy of
the player’s passport or other official document issued by a United Kingdom Government Agency attesting to
the player’s date of birth, this maybe a letter from the child’s head teacher
on official headed paper.
The qualification dates
for the competition shall be as follows:
Mini-Soccer
Under 7 – the player must have attained the age of 6 as at
midnight on 31st August in the playing season but must be under the
age of 7 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 8 – the player
must be under the age of 8 as at
Under 9 – the player
must be under the age of 9 as at
Under 10 – the player
must be under the age of 10 as at
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. To play in a KO Cup
game or a game where points are awarded, or results collected, a player must
have achieved the age of 8 on or before 31st August.
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
Under 13 – the player must be under
the age of 13 as at
Under 14 – the player must be under
the age of 14 as at
Under 15 – the player must be under
the age of 15 as at
Under 16 – the player must be under
the age of 16 as at
Under 17 – the player must be under
the age of 17 as at
Under 18 – the player must be under
the age of 18 as at
In accordance with the foregoing
qualifications a player under the age of 15 as at
(The above qualification dates are
subject to the provisions contained in FA Rule C.4 (a) (v)).
(C) NOT APPLICABLE
(D) A player having
taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football
Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club
in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club
that the player has discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the
previous Club or Clubs, and a Club official may not accept such player's
signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged
to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.
(E) NOT APPLICABLE
(F) The Management
Committee shall decide all registration disputes.
In the event of a
player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more
than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player
shall be registered. The (Registrations) Secretary shall notify the Club last applying
to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.
(G) It shall be deemed
misconduct for a player to:-
(i) Play for more than one Club in the
Competition in the same season without first being transferred.
(ii) Having signed for one Club in the
Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition in that season except for
the purpose of a transfer.
(iii) Submit a signed registration form for
registration that the player had wilfully
neglected to accurately or
fully complete.
Should any of the above rules be
proven to have been breached the committee reserve the right to suspend the
player for 4 consecutive games or request the player to be banned by county.
(H) (i) The Management Committee
shall have power to accept the registration of any player.
(ii) The Management
Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any
player who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities.
(Subject to Rule 16).
(iii) The Management
Committee shall have power to make application to refuse or cancel the
registration of any player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct
(subject to Rule 16) subject to the right of appeal to the FA or the relevant
County Football Association.
Undesirable conduct
shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from
being involved in this Competition. Application should be made to the parent
County of the Club the player is registered
with.
(Note: Action under Clause (iii) shall not be taken
against a player for misconduct until the matter has been dealt with by the
appropriate Association, and then only in cases of the player bringing the
Competition into disrepute and will in any case be subject to an Appeal to the
Football Association.) For the purpose of this Rule, bringing the competition
into disrepute can only be considered where the player has received in excess
of 112 days’ suspension, or 10 matches in match based discipline, in a period
of two years or less from the date of the first offence.
(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 (Registrations) Secretary accompanied by a fee of
£10-00. Such transfer shall be referred by the (Registrations) Secretary to the
Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the
transfer it should state its objections in writing to the (Registrations)
Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the
transfer form? Upon receipt of the
Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven
days, the (Registrations) Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee,
transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from
such date or 0 days after receipt of such transfer.
The transfer will only be valid from the next
available registration date
In the event of an
objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management
Committee for a decision.
(J) A player may not be
registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 28th
February except by special permission of the Management Committee.
(K) A Club shall keep a
list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have
played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.
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).
A club may name a
second team “Tigers, Whites etc”
The maximum number of
players a team can have registered at any one time during the season is as
follows?
Mini Soccer Teams under 7’s to Under
10’s 14 players per team.
9 A-Side Teams Under 11s 14 Players
11-a-side competitions Under 11’s
Upwards is 20 players per team
It is the responsibility
of the Club Secretary and Team managers to ensure that all players are Category
“B” or “C” and in the correct age group, all registrations are up to date
including de-registrations. The Registrations Secretary or Management Committee
shall reserve the right to ask a player to provide their Original Birth
certificate or passport if it is felt for any reason that any player is in
contravention of this rule.
Failure to ensure the above rule
will result in a fine of £20-00
(L) A register
containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of
registration, shall be kept by the (Registrations) Secretary and shall be open
to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all
Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged. Registrations are valid for one Season only.
An electronic register
must be provided by the clubs to the registration secretary on the prescribed
form before the commencement on the playing season.
(M) A player shall not be eligible
to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation
deciding match (as specified in Rule 12(A)) unless the player has played 7 games
for that team in this Competition in the current season.
(N) A player who has
played for a team in higher Division shall not in that season be eligible to
play in a lower Division except if he has completed the relevant transfer procedure.
(O)(i) Any team playing an unregistered
or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the points gained in the
match deducted from its total and may be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at
the discretion of the Management Committee.
(ii) In addition the team shall have 3 points deducted from its
total at the discretion of the Management Committee and may be dealt with in
any further manner which is thought to be fit.
(iii) The Management
Committee may, at its discretion, award the points available in the match in question
to the opponents, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.
(The following Clause
applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary education):-
(P) (i) Priority must
be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.
(ii) The availability
of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday
Competitions).
(iii) Children under 15
shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.
(Note: For players
under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will
apply)
Clubs to refer to FA Memorandum:
Children of School age and School Games to identify their responsibility on this issue. Failure to comply with
this will result in a team being found guilty of Competition rule 8 0(i)
9. (A) Every Club must
register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 15th
August who shall decide as to their suitability.
Goalkeepers must wear
colours which distinguish them from other players and the referee.
No player, including
the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black, very dark shirts or all navy
blue shirts. (Black means where the shirt contains more than 60% Black)
Any team not being able
to play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition shall notify
the colours in which they will play to its opponents at least 3 days before the
match.
If, in the opinion of
the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the home team shall
make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the
kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £20-00.
Please note you are not
permitted to play in BIBS as this is deemed unsuitable clothing. (As per law 4)
The Secretary of the
Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to
lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to
permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit.
Shirts must be numbered.
(B) Any Club wishing to
change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its
affiliated County Football Association and from the Management Committee.
PLAYING SEASON.
CONDITIONS OF PLAY TIMES OF KICK-OFF,POSTPONEMENTS,
SUBSTITUTES
10. (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 (Fixtures) Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for
that purpose, to be held no later than 31st May, must not be
arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date
determined by the Annual General Meeting.
It will be a requirement to play
night matches to ensure the completion of the competition fixtures. Any team
unwilling to play night matches will be charged under rule 10F.
(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 duration as set out below
unless a shorter time (not less than 20 minutes) is mutually arranged by the
two Clubs in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the
match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.
For Mini-Soccer – The maximum
duration of play shall be two halves of 20 minutes each way. The maximum
playing time in any one day for fewer than 7 and under 8 age groups is 40
minutes and for under 9 and under 10 age groups is 60 minutes.
For Youth football – The duration of
play shall be as follows unless it is mutually agreed by all parties to reduce
the time. For under 11 and under 12, 30
minutes each half; for under 13, 14, 35 minutes each half and under15 and under
16, 40 minutes each half; under 17 and under 18, 45 minutes each half.
The minimum time for any game will
not be less than 20 minutes each half for players in the under 14 age group and
below and 25 minutes each half for all other age groups.
The minimum amount of time to be
played in a league match that is affected by any incidents that neither team
has control over shall in order to constitute a valid result be 70% of the
leagues recommended playing time for that age group. Cup competitions will be
dealt with in accordance with the rules of that competition
No player under the age of 17 as at
midnight on 31st August in any season shall be permitted to play
more than one game or, in the event the competition allows the playing of a
double-header, i.e.: two separate matches, 100 minutes per day in this
Competition.
The times of kick-off shall be fixed
by the A.G.M. or the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the
appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £20-00 or be otherwise dealt
with as the Management Committee may determine.
Referees must order matches to
commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition.
The home team must provide at least
two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the
Competition if the footballs are unsuitable.
The size of football to be used: For Mini-Soccer, size 3 for players in
the under 7 and 8 age categories; size 4 for under 9's and 10s. For youth football – size 4 for those playing
under 11, 12, 13 and 14 age groups; size 5 for all other age groups. Goal nets
must be used.
(C) Except by permission of the
Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally fixed
but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County
Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary.
Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the
(Fixtures) Secretary.
Interleague competition is classed
as a county association competition
(D) The Manager of the home Club
must give notice in writing, email or by phone of full particulars of the
location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match
officials and the Manager of the opposing Club at least 48hrs prior to the
playing of the match. The away Club must
seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars; if the away team are unable
to confirm the details they must notify the discipline secretary by email by
Any Club failing to comply with this
Rule shall be liable to a fine of £20-00.
(E) Every Club shall play its best
available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition.
(Note: The intention of this Rule is
not to interfere with normal team selection by Clubs, but to prevent Clubs
deliberately fielding a weakened team in order to unreasonably reserve players
for another game or to boost the strength of another or lower team. It is NOT intended that Clubs MUST field
higher team players in lower teams when the higher team has no engagement. If, in the opinion of the Management
Committee, the substance or spirit of the Rule is obviously being disregarded,
the Club or Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions and
shall be subject to such decisions as the Management Committee may determine,
despite the fact that Rule 8 has not been infringed.)
In the event of a Club playing in
any match with less than 5 players they shall be fined £0-00 for each missing
player. A minimum of 6 players for mini soccer 8 player for 9-a-side and 9
players for 11 a-sides will constitute a team for a Competition match.
(F) Home and away matches shall be
played. 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, and award the points to the opponents, order the defaulting
Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them
except the award of goals? Notwithstanding
the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall have
power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent's ground
if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances.
If
the home team ground in not playable then the teams must try to reverse the
fixture. Failure to attempt to reverse the fixture will result in a fine of
£20-00.
Any team requesting an official
postponement of a competition match must give notice of postponement without
delay. Such request must be given at least 14
days prior to the date requested to the (League) Secretary in writing or email
on the appropriate form. This does not guarantee that the postponement request
will be granted. Failure to submit before the 14 days will result in the
postponement not being granted.
Upon receiving notification that the
postponement has been granted you must notify the fixture secretary, discipline
secretary, Referees Appointments
Secretary, the Manager of the opposing Club. This must be done within 48hrs of notification
any Club failing to comply will be fined £
Any club unable to fulfil a fixture (except
for weather) must, without delay, give notice to the Discipline Secretary, Fixture Secretary, League Secretary,
the Competition Referees Appointments
Secretary, Results Secretary the Manager of the opposing Club and the match
officials. Any team failing to comply with this shall be dealt with by the
management committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.
In a competition match where either
team has failed to fulfil their obligations, the points will be awarded to the
opposition. If this is a cup competition match then the opponents will be
awarded the match and progressed to the next round of the competition.
In the event of a match not being
played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it
shall be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed by the two
Clubs and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and
notification to the (Fixtures) Secretary within 2 days the Management Committee
shall have power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or
before a given date.
The Management Committee shall
review all matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent upon the conduct
of either or both teams. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and
does no injustice to either Club, the Management Committee shall be empowered
to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases
where the Management Committee are
satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its
Club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the
opponent. In cases where a match has been abandoned owing to the conduct of either
teams or their Club member(s), the Management Committee shall rule all points
for the match as void. No fine can be applied by the Management Committee for
an abandoned match.
(G) A Club may at its discretion and
in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 5 substitute players in any match
in this Competition who may be selected from 5 players.
For Mini-Soccer – any number of
substitutions may be used at any time with the permission of the Referee. Entry onto the field of play will only be
allowed during a stoppage in play. A
player who has been replaced may return to the play as a substitute for another
player. A Team must not have a squad greater than double the size of its
team in an age group.
For Youth Football – for teams in the under 17 age group and below, a
player who has been substituted himself becomes a substitute and may replace
another player at any time subject to the substitution being carried out in
accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of Association Football.
The referee shall be informed of the
names of the substitutes not later than 5 minutes before the start of the match.
A player who has been selected,
appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not
actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that
game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.
For the purpose of any cup competition
matches in this competition if a player’s name appears on the match card then
it shall be deemed for the purpose of that cup competition that the said player
will be deemed to have taken part in that match.
(H) The half time interval shall be
of 10 minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes the half time
interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.
All cup competitions will be played
in accordance with the rules of that competition and where any matters arise
which are not covered by those rules the Management Committee shall deal with
it and their decision shall be final.
Suggested Kick of times for Competition matches (under16)
will be between
If teams cannot agree a Kick off
time then the competition will delegate a kick off time for the said match and
the match shall kick off at that time. Failure to comply with this instruction
will result in the offending club/team(s) being fined £40:00.
(I) All teams must provide a visible
barrier at least 2 meters between the field of play and spectators. Teams who
do not comply with this rule will be fined £30:00
No spectators are to stand anywhere
along the goal line. Any club/team reported to the competition by the match
official will be fined £20:00.
11. (A) The Results co ordinator Secretary must
receive within 3 Days of the date played the result of each Competition match
in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the
team players (in block letters) and also the Referee markings required by Rule
13, or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £5:00
and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
(B) The Home Club shall telephone/text/email
the result of each match to the relevant results secretary by 6pm on the day of
the match for Saturday games or by 9pm for mid week games.
Failure to comply will result in a
fine of £10-00.
(C) The match result notification,
correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. The Management Committee shall have power to
take such action as they deem suitable against a Club which submits an
incomplete form or incorrect information.
(D) Leagues are not permitted to
collect result sheets or compile any playing data for fixtures they organise
for U7 and U8 Mini Soccer. They may require a Club to confirm that a set
fixture has been played. A maximum fine of £5 may be imposed for a breach of
this Rule.
12. (A) Team rankings within the Competition
will be decided by points with 3 points to be awarded for a win and 1 point for
a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their
respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.
In Mini Soccer points can only be awarded for Under 9 Competitions onwards.
The following does not apply to the
mini soccer competition should teams finish equal on points
In the event of two or more teams
being equal on points team rankings may be decided in any one or more of the following ways:-
(i)
The points gained on head to head results between the
teams concerned.
(ii) Deciding match played under conditions
determined by the Management Committee.
For deciding
matches, in the event of the scores in a special championship match played
under conditions determined by the management committee being level at the end
of the game, 14 Minutes extra time shall be played in two equal periods of 7
minutes. If no goal is scored during extra time, the winners will be determined
by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the
International Board Decision contained in the Laws of Association Football.
In mini soccer where teams finish
equal on points the league will award trophies to the teams concerned
(B) Automatic promotion and
relegation shall be applied for the first 2 and last 2 teams in each Division
except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule 1(b) and at
the discretion of the management committee
.
The management
committee will appoint a sub committee to decide the format of the divisions
for the coming season. This sub committee shall have the power to promote the 3rd
and 4th placed highest team in any division if they consider it
beneficial to the competition, they will also have the power to relegate the
next two (2) teams above the original relegation positions if this is deemed
beneficial to the competition or clubs concerned. This sub committee will also
have the power to promote or relegate a team by more than one division but not
exceeding two divisions. (eg Div C to Div A or Div A to Div C).
(C) In the event of a team not
completing all of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by or
recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition
table.
(D) NOT APPLICABLE
North Bury JFL Main Knockout and
Supplementary Cup Rules.
Rules for Cup Competitions Played on
a League Basis.
13. (A) Registered Referees and Assistant
Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the
Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s).
The HOME Club/Team shall contact the
match official at least 48 hrs before the scheduled date of the match. Failure
to comply with this rule will result in a fine not exceeding £30:00 or the
option to pay the referee their match fee for that game if the referee is
unable to be reallocated
(B) In the event of the
non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant Referee
shall take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed by the competing
Teams. In cases where there are no
officially appointed Assistant Referees, or where the competition has been
unable to appoint a Referee, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that
game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
Where a league official referee is
not appointed or fails to turn up then an Ad hoc official must be agreed on and
they shall officiate the entire match through to its conclusion and not just
one (1) half.
If
a team provides their own referee due to a league official referee not being
allocated to the fixture then they must inform the opposition before the
fixture commences and obtain their agreement for the substitute official.
Failure to do this will result in a fine of £20:00 and any other penalties the
Management Committee deem suitable.
(C) The Management Committee may, if
they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs,
appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any match. Where Assistant
Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant
Referee.
(D) The appointed Referee shall have
power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision
shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority
or the owners of a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbitor
and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.
(E) Match Officials appointed under
this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses
or private car expenses of 20p per mile and any other permitted expenses
actually incurred together with the following match fees:-
Referee £12-00 mini soccer, 9-a-side
£14-00 and 11-a-side £20-00 Registered Referees appointed by the Management
Committee as Assistant Referees£15-00, subject to any limits laid down by the
sanctioning Association(s).
The Home Club shall pay the
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. Where
a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be
ordered to pay the Officials, if they attend the ground, their full fee and
expenses.
Any Team failing to pay the referee
will be fined a sum not exceeding £30:00. The team will also be charged the
appropriate match fee for the referee and his actual expenses on top of this
fine so the referee can be paid
(G) A Referee not keeping his or her
engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to their
non-appearance, may be reported to the Association with which he or she is
registered.
(H) Each Club shall, in a manner
prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award marks to the
Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall
be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed Form provided. Any Club/Team giving the
referee a mark below 3 in more than 2 areas must put the reason for doing so in
writing to the Referees Secretary within 5 days of the Match failure to do so
will result in a fine not exceeding £10:00
The Competition shall keep a record
of the markings and, on the Form provided by the prescribed date each season,
shall submit a summary to The Football Association/County Football Association.
(J) Not Applicable
(K) Referees and Assistant Referees
shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of
charge.
14. (A) After 31st December in
the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to
withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and
fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the
Secretary in writing by 31st
March each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £50-00.
All Clubs wishing to remain in
membership of the Competition for the following Season must confirm their
intention to do so, in writing, to the Secretary by 30th April.
(B) A Club shall not be allowed to
withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the arrangement of
fixtures for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be
liable to a fine not exceeding £50-00per team and shall also be liable for its
share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B)
(C) The Membership for the coming
season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 30th
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 its financial and other obligations to
the Competition.
In the event that any such
obligation remains un-discharged after a period of twenty-one (21) days then
such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those
under the statutory school leaving age.
Until a Member’s pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member
shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the
Club’s Parent County Association for a suspension order.
As members of the competition all
Clubs are required to attend the league meetings on the dates arranged by the
Management Committee and posted on the NBJFL WEBSITE.
A Club having a team in
the Mini Soccer section (Under 7’s to Under 10’s) shall have a representative
present at this meeting failure to do this will result in that club being in
breach of this rule and result in a fine of £25:00.
A Club having a team in the Youth Football section shall
have a representative present at this meeting failure to do this will result in
that club being in breach of this rule and result in a fine of £25:00.
As a prerequisite of membership, attending meetings is
required, failure to attend more than two consecutive or 3 meeting per season
by any member club will result in you being called to management meeting at
which your continued membership will be discussed and may be terminated with
immediate effect.
15. (A)(i) All questions of eligibility,
qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to
the Management Committee.
(ii) Objections relevant to the
dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue
will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged
with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not
proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be
dealt with by the Management Committee.
(B) Except in cases where the
Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and
complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they
are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Discipline Secretary within 3 days (excluding
Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall not be withdrawn
except by permission of the Management Committee. A Member of the Management Committee who is a
member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or
representative of his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined.
(C) Any dispute occurring between
Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management
Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties subject to Rule 16.
(D) All complaints must initially be
addressed to the discipline secretary. No protest of whatever kind shall be
considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have
deposited with the Discipline Secretary a sum of £25-00. This may be forfeited
in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing
its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the
Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of
the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties.
(E) All parties to a protest or
complaint must be afforded an 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.
Any protest concerning the age of a
player shall be exempt from any fee, however the Club/Team who this protest is
made against shall have 7 Days to produce the original Birth certificate,
Passport or note from the child’s head teacher on School headed paper and
school stamp if the previous 2 forms of proof are not available. Failure to
supply this information will result in the player’s registration being
suspended until such time as it is produced.
16. Within 14 days of the posting of written
notification of any decision of the Management Committee or the Competition, a
Club, Official or Player against whom action is taken may appeal against such
decision by lodging particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of the Lancashire
Football Association, including a fee of ____________, for adjudication of a
Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal
shall be in accordance with FA Rules.
The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall
decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final
and binding on all parties concerned.
No appeal can be lodged against a
decision taken at an Annual or Special General Meeting unless this is on the
ground of unconstitutional conduct.
EXCLUSION OF
CLUBS.OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT, CLUBS,
OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
17. (A) At the Annual General Meeting, or
Special General Meeting called for the purpose in accordance with the
provisions of Rule 19, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the
Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any
Club or Team from further membership which must be supported by (more than)
two-thirds (⅔) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be
conducted by ballot.
(B) At the Annual General Meeting,
or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the
provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to
exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club or team of a Club whose conduct
has, in their opinion, been undesirable, which must be supported by (more than)
two-thirds (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by
ballot. A Club whose conduct is the
subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.
(C) Any official or member of a Club
proved guilty of either a breach of Rule, other than field offences, or of
inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in the
Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a
General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also
be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B)
of this Rule.
(D) Any Club or Team failing to
complete any of its fixtures in any season shall be debarred from membership
the following season subject to the management committee.
The Management Committee reserve the
right to force any Club/Team to suspend any Parent or Guardians of its players
from attending any competition matches if they think it is in the best interest
of the competition. Failure by the club to enforce this suspension will result
in a fine not exceeding £50:00 every time the suspended Parent/Guardian attends
a competition match
TROPHY:-
LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS.
18. (A) If a Competition is discontinued
for any reason a trophy or any other presentation shall be returned to the
Donor if the conditions attached to it so provide or, if not, dealt with as the
sanctioning Association may decide.
(B) The following agreement shall be
signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:-
“We A_________________and
B______________________, the Chairman and Secretary of
________________________FC, members of and representing the Club, having been
declared winners of _____________________Cup or Trophy, and it having been
delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and
severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or
before _____________________. If the Cup
or Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care we agree to refund to the
Competition the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough
repair.”
If before the results/charges
against a Club/Team by the relevant County FA are known they finish as
Champions/Runners up in any division in the NBJFL and are then found guilty of
the charge they shall return any trophies they have been awarded if through
this infringement a points deductions is applied that affects their final
league standings and results in them finishing outside a Championship/Runners
Up place. Failure to do this will result in a fine of £50:00 and the club/team
paying for the full cost of the said trophies.
(C) At the close of each Competition
awards may be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the
Competition permit.
Officers and
Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all
Special
General Meetings. All amendment of Rules can only be implemented once approved
by
the
appropriate sanctioning authority.
20. Alterations shall be made to these Rules
only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially
convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season
to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect
until the following season.
Notice of proposed alterations to be
considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by
14th December in each year. The proposals, together with any
proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 31st
January and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 14th
February. 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 51%[a majority] of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.
A copy of the proposed alterations
to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General
Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football Association 28 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. 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 Rule 16.
Each Member Club must abide by any issued Football Association Code of
Conduct (Appendix _____).
22. (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 £250-00
shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at
least two Officers nominated by the Management Committee.
(C) The financial year of the
Competition will end on 31st May.
(D) The books, or a certified
balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited/verified annually by some
suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
23 Child Protection Bye Laws