NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

Transcription

1 NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION 1.(A) This Competition shall be designated the Suffolk & Ipswich Football League and known as the Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League and shall consist of not more than 100 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 Suffolk County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be for Clubs with grounds and headquarters within the county of Suffolk and within a radius of 40 miles of Ipswich. This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Suffolk County Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 18 in Senior and Intermediate Divisions and 14 in all other divisions. Under extenuating circumstances these numbers may be added to (except for the Senior Division) (B) Only bona fide first teams of Clubs shall be allowed to play in the Senior Division, Division 1 or Division 2. (C) The Intermediate Divisions shall consist of the Reserve teams of Clubs in the Senior Division, Reserve teams of Clubs meeting the Ground and Headquarters in the County of Suffolk requirement and playing in the Eastern Counties League, on request and subject to League Rules, and qualifying reserve teams of Clubs in Division One. They will be arranged in two Divisions as decided at the Annual General Meeting. (D) (E) The headquarters of the Competition shall be at the office of the General Secretary. The Competition is a member of the Respect Programme. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT 2. (A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition and/or movement of a team to another division or the entry of an additional team(s) must be made in writing to the General Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of 100 the Senior Division and 50 per team for Intermediate and Junior Divisions 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 or a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable. (B) (C) The Annual Subscription per team shall be as agreed by the Management Committee taking into account the recommendations of the April Management Committee meeting. It shall be payable by the agreed split on 15th July, 30th September and 31st December annually. Clubs failing to pay any of the three payments by the required dates shall be fined 20 for any of the offences. Each Club shall within 14 days of election pay a Deposit of 15 which shall be returnable to Clubs on the leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee. 1

2 (D) (E) (F) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid and the Club Agreement Form satisfactorily returned. Clubs must advise annually to the General Secretary by 15th July on the Club Agreement Form of its Suffolk County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined 25. Clubs must advise the General Secretary on the Club Application and Directory Form details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition. At any League meetings, each Club must be represented by the Club Secretary or any Deputy whose name appears on the Club Application and Directory Form to be returned to the General Secretary 14 days before the Annual General Meeting. Any Club failing to comply with this rule shall be fined a sum of 25 for each offence; furthermore any Club not returning its new season Club Application and Directory Form by the required date will have its late Directory Form dealt with as a new application to join the Competition. This includes new entry fee and deposit. OFFICERS 3. (A) The Officers of the Competition shall be the Patron, President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Players Registration Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Referee Secretary, Promotions Officer, IT Officer and Treasurer to be elected at the appropriate May Management Committee meeting and confirmed at the next Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers). (B) (C) (D) Nominations for election to Life Membership of the League, for services rendered, should be made in writing to reach the General Secretary by 30th April annually. Nominations for election to Vice-President of the League, for services rendered, should be made in writing to reach the General Secretary by 30th May annually. Three trustees MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION 4. (A) The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and 12 members who shall be elected to serve for three years, four retiring 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) (C) 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 General Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than the published date for the June Management Committee meeting in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting The Management Committee shall meet monthly (except during July) to deal with business as it arises. 2

3 On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the General Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee. (D) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the General 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. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT 5 (A) The Management Committee may appoint such other sub-committees as they may consider necessary and may delegate such of their powers, as they deem necessary to such committees. The decisions of all such committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification. One such sub-committee shall be the Executive Committee to comprise at least three Officers. In the event of a ruling being necessary before a normal monthly Management Committee meeting a ruling may be made by a majority of the Executive Committee and thereafter ratified by the Management Committee. 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 Suffolk 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). Absence from three consecutive Committee meetings without apologies and the member loses the right to serve. 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. With the exception of Clubs playing at Step 7 of the Football Pyramid and the FA Women s Premier League, the maximum fine permitted for any breach of a 3

4 Competition rule is 250 and, when setting the fine, the Competition must ensure that the penalty is proportional to the offence, taking into account any mitigating circumstances. (E) All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Appeal in accordance with Rule 16. Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within 14 days. (F) Nine Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the Competition. (G) The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number. (H) A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee, or failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition shall be liable to be fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee. Normally if the order or instruction is not complied with within twenty one days of receipt of notice of such order or within twenty one days of an operative date specified in that order, shall not be allowed to play or take part in the business of the League until the order has been complied with, and a reason for the delay has been furnished to the General Secretary who shall submit to the Management Committee for their adjudication. (I) (J) A Club failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or correspondence of the League shall incur a fine of 10 for a first offence with incremental increases of 10 for each subsequent offence during a season. All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification. Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose. This shall be a fine of 10 per week or part thereof beyond the period set for payment. (K) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any Club 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) By ballot, annually, the records of one Senior Club and one Club from each of the Junior Divisions will be required for inspection by the Management Committee. These records to consist of those that the Football Association and this League require by their Rules and must include a record of meeting minutes, financial books including back up documents and bank statements, record of players, including matches played, together with proof of Club AGM and audited accounts. (N) All new Clubs entering the League will be required to have their records inspected during their first season by the Management Committee. The records should be consistent with the requirements set out under Rule 5(M). (O) Clubs must seek the approval of the League as well as the Suffolk County Football Association for any sponsorship arrangements. Permission will be required for each new arrangement. Clubs failing to conform may be fined up to 40. 4

5 (P) A newly appointed Club Chairman or Secretary or in the case of a new Club both Chairman and Secretary shall attend a League briefing given by the Officers of the League, normally on the Thursday following the AGM. The aim of the meeting is to enable new Chairmen and Secretaries to carry out their duties in as efficient a manner as possible. Failure to attend such a meeting will lead to a fine of 50. (Q) The League will produce an official Weekly Bulletin during the season to communicate information from the Officers and Management Committee to Clubs. A copy will be sent to each Club Secretary (or nominated deputy), who will be expected to take note of relevant information and act upon it accordingly ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 6. (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the last Thursday in June each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least two thirds of Members are present and entitled to vote:- (i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting. (ii) To consider any business arising there from and adoption of standing orders. (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) (C) (D) 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 Suffolk County Football Association. A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Suffolk County Football Association within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting. Each Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. With the exception of matters governed by League rules, all Senior Division business shall be dealt with and voted upon by Senior Clubs. Not less than14 days notice shall be given of any Meeting. (E) (F) (G) (H) 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. All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least one third of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides. No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Club. Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined 50. 5

6 (I) Officers, Life Members, Vice Presidents 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 Suffolk & Ipswich Football League 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 Suffolk County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the General Secretary of the Competition. The above agreement shall be part of the League s Club Agreement Form. This form will also require the Treasurer and any Press Secretary, Programme Editor and Team Manager(s) to sign the Club Agreement Form. Secretaries will receive a copy of the Rule Book free of charge. Any further copies requested will be charged at 5 per copy (free if sent electronically) (Note: The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of officers and members). 7 (i) Irrespective of the number of teams, only one Club Secretary will be recognised by the League as being responsible for all business relating to the said Club and League. 7 (ii) Any change of Club Secretary and/or address must be notified in writing to the General Secretary and the Suffolk County FA officials as stated in SCFA rules. Any change in Chairman, Press Officer or Team Manager(s) shall be notified to the General Secretary within 7 days. In default of this clause, the offending Club shall be fined 10. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS 8. (A) Contract players, as defined in 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: - Signed a fully and correctly completed SIL Competition registration form/ transfer form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Players Registration Secretary prior to playing. While serving in any branch of Her Majesty s Regular Forces, a player must first obtain the consent of his/her Commanding Officer before signing a registration form to play for a Club. From the commencement of the season, fully completed registration and transfer forms may be sent to the Players Registration Secretary by the following methods:- postal services, hand, facsimile or a scanned image attached to an 6

7 . All are to arrive no later than 3 days before a match is to be played (i.e. 9.00pm Wednesday for a Saturday match). Forms received after this time will not be actioned until the next week. Where applicable, Clubs will be in receipt of revised players list by Saturday of that week. The original copy of any facsimile or scanned image must reach the Players Registration Secretary within 7 days of the facsimile or scanned image. Any failure to supply within the period shall be fined 10. (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 last played. Clubs are to send in a list of debtors to the Players Registration Secretary by the end of May to enable the process of registration to be speeded up See Rule 5((I) for information on what constitutes a player debt. (D) (E) Registration Forms (additional to those supplied under Rule 8(G)) may be downloaded from the Mitoo website or obtained from the Players Registration Secretary. 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 Players 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 in that season except for the purpose of a transfer. (iii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had willfully neglected to accurately or fully complete. (G) (H) With the invitation to re-register as a Club, each team shall either be issued with six transfer forms and 15 registration forms or may download them from the Mitoo website. This Transfer Form, subject to the rules of SCFA and the SIL may be freely used as required during the current season, up to 31st March annually. By the 15th April annually the Players Registration Secretary will issue an invoice to each Club covering usage at 10 per Transfer Form which MUST be paid within 14 days. There is no charge for use of Registration Forms. Clubs failing to pay the invoice by the required date shall be fined 15. New Clubs or teams will be allocated 30 forms when they are received into membership of the League at the Annual General Meeting. Additional Registration Forms are obtainable from the Players Registration Secretary or downloaded from the Mitoo website (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 or may fine any player (except those under 18 years of 7

8 age) at their discretion who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16). (iii) The Management Committee shall have power to make application to refuse or cancel the registration of any player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16) subject to the right of appeal to the FA or the relevant County Football Association. Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated 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 Players Registration Secretary. Such transfer shall be referred by the Players Registration Secretary to the Club which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Players Registration 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 Players Registration Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date. In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision. (J) A player transferring takes with them their new season status. REASONS FOR FAILING TO CONSENT Suffolk County Football Association Non financial, relating to 7 days written notice. Or relating to more than one transfer from the same Club within 28 days To delay a transfer, a dated copy of the letter to the SCFA reporting the matter must be returned to the Players Registration Secretary together with the transfer form. Suffolk County Football Association Financial. All as per County Rules. If a copy of a letter to the SCFA and a copy of the Player s demand money letter are not received by the Players Registration Secretary within seven days, the transfer will be completed. FAILING LIABILITIES. GENERAL INCLUDING MONIES OWED TO THE LEAGUES AND CLUBS The League accepts a delay of up to three months on Annual Subscriptions from the date of the Club s Annual General Meeting as well as match fees or any other method of collecting match fees and any agreement between a Club and a player over sports kits. The League does not accept outstanding monies for Social events. This reason cannot stop a transfer. In the case of the information needing to go to SCFA, the Club would have a further fourteen days allowing for the SCFA to make the player sine die for failure to pay overdue monies. In these circumstances a transfer may be delayed up to 8

9 twenty eight days but failure to meet the requirements will mean that the transfer will be completed. On matters relating to the SCFA on non-financial matters, a transfer will be completed in seven days if the Players Registration Secretary has not received a copy of your notice to the SCFA. Upon receipt of the Club s consent or failure to object or return within seven days, the Players Registration Secretary shall proceed with the transfer of the player. In the event of an objection to a transfer, the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee. (K) (L) (M) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 31st March except by special permission of the Management Committee. A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee. A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the Players Registration Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged. Registrations are valid for one season only. In the event of a player without a written contract changing his status to that of a contract player with the same Club, another Club in the Competition or with a Club in another Competition his registration as a player without a written contract will automatically be cancelled and declared void. In order to play in the League again either for his original Club or for another Club it will be necessary for him to be re-registered as required by this Rule. (N) (O) 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 two games for that team in this Competition in the current season. (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. (iii) To play in the competition the player must have achieved the age of (i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players may have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined a sum not exceeding 100 or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. (ii) (iii) In addition the team may have 3 points deducted from its total at the discretion of the Management Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner which is thought to be fit. Normally this will be a fine of 30 for a first offence plus the deduction of any points won in the match. In addition the match may be ordered to be replayed if the non-guilty team could win a Championship, gain promotion or avoid relegation as a result of any points gained in the replayed match. 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. 8.2 In the case of any doubts arising in regard to the eligibility of players, any Club may obtain from the Players Registration Secretary of the League, the names of 9

10 the registered players of another club. The General Secretary shall be empowered to make such enquiries as deemed to be necessary in order to ascertain the eligibility or otherwise of any players, and a written reply must be sent within seven days. Teams will exchange teams sheets (provided) which should list players in the same order as they appear on result card including copy to the referee ten minutes before kick off time. Referee to retain for a minimum of 28 days. Club failing to provide list at the correct time will be reported by the referee and will be fined INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES Any player who is not an English National must get an International Clearance Certificate from the FA. No player may register for a club in this situation until he is in receipt of the Clearance Certificate. 8.4 (i) No player having played for a team in another Step 7 or higher League (see list in Appendix D) during the current season shall from the 1st April inclusive until the completion of the season, be allowed to play in any SIL match unless they have played a minimum of ten SIL matches during the current season. Also no player having played 10 or more games in the Ridgeons League Reserve Teams Division and Cup during the current season shall from the 1st April inclusive until the completion of the season, be allowed to play in any SIL match unless they have played a minimum of ten SIL matches during the current season. In either of the above cases a Club may apply to the Management Committee to play a Step 7 or higher League player in addition to those permitted by the rule. Any such application should be made in writing to the Players Registration Secretary by 31 March and must be supported by all relevant facts. (ii) (iii) (iv) Senior players registered for Clubs within the SIL shall be allowed to play in the Intermediate Divisions. Junior players who are Div. 1-6 and Inter A and Inter B status shall be allowed to play for the Club s reserve, A and B teams. Any third team that is eligible to reinstate Senior players in their team must nominate the player(s) in writing to the Players Registration Secretary to arrive no later than 3 days before a match is to be played (i.e. 9.00pm Wednesday for a Saturday match). A Club may apply to the Management Committee to have additional Senior players to those allowed by Rule in circumstances where their existing senior players no longer play for the Club and are only registered for the Club by virtue of the Registration regulations. Any such applications should be in writing and must be supported by all relevant facts. 8.5 PLAYER STATUS Senior A player who has played in twelve Senior Competition matches the previous season or within the season on-going. Div. 1 (Junior) A player who has not played in twelve Senior competition matches in the previous season or within the season ongoing. Div. 2 (Junior) A player who has not played in twelve higher Division matches in the previous season or within the season ongoing. Div. 3 (Junior) A player who has not played in twelve higher Division matches in the previous season or within the season ongoing. Div. 4-6 (Junior) A player who has not played in twelve higher Division matches in the previous season or within the season ongoing Inter A As Div. 2 Inter B As Div. 3 A player, who remains with a team that is relegated, shall retain their previous season s higher Division status. The Player will be allowed to play in the Division to which the team is placed 8.6 REINSTATEMENT 10

11 Div. 1 Teams shall be allowed four Senior status players at any one time by normal registration or transfer. The player shall retain the Senior status whilst playing in the ongoing season, for the team that seeks the reinstatement. Div. 2 & 3 Teams shall be allowed three higher status players at any one time of which two can be of Senior status. Players being reinstated shall retain their original status whilst playing in the ongoing season, for the teams that seeks the reinstatement. Div. 4-6 Teams shall be allowed three players of a higher Junior status at any one time. Players being reinstated shall be nominated to the Players Registration Secretary, in writing, and will retain their original status whilst playing in the ongoing season for the team that seeks the reinstatement. A club seeking additional reinstatements of players shall apply in writing to the Players Registration Secretary for consideration by the Management Committee. Full details in support of the application should be submitted. No team shall be allowed the reinstatement of a player unless the club has complied with (a-c). 8.7 PLAYER STATUS AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEASON All players shall be registered on the basis of their playing record obtained during the previous season. The player throughout the season shall retain the higher or lower status. A player who plays in twelve matches in a Division higher or lower than the one for which he is a registered player shall whilst remaining with the Club which he is registered, be permitted to play in a higher or lower division. A player transferring takes with them their new season status. 8.8 NEW SIGNINGS Players who have attained Senior status during the previous or ongoing season will be registered as a Senior player. Players not of Senior status shall be registered for the signing club s lowest placed team. 8.9 (a) Confirmation of renewal of registrations Season runs from 1st July to 31st May Confirmation of renewal forms and list of players who have played in the current season plus any that have been advised by the club that have been out with long term injury etc. to clubs by 30th April. Name, club and registration number will be completed by League. Date of birth, address, signatures and dates to be filled in by player and club official. A minimum of 15 players per team must be returned by 15th July. A new list to go to clubs 14 days before commencement of season. This will be staggered as is the start of the season for different divisions. (b) Any player not wishing to sign on again for his old club will have to fill in a new registration form to register with different club. Any player wishing to re-sign for their club can fill in a confirmation of renewal form at any time during the season providing that they have not signed for another SIL club. (c) Players who have committed themselves to a club but subsequently wishing to move clubs must fill in a transfer form. The onus will be on clubs to ensure that who they want to play has filled in a confirmation of renewal, registration or transfer form and appears on their list before the match. 11

12 (d) A Club may apply to the Players Registration Secretary to have a player s registration cancelled. The request shall be in writing, with full details for the reason being submitted, for a Management Committee ruling CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME 9. (A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the General Secretary by 15th June who shall decide as to their suitability. Details are to be provided on the Club Application and Directory Form. Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the referee. No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts. Any team not being able to play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition shall notify the colours in which they will play to its opponents at least six days before the match. If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined 10. The General Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. (B) (C) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee. Clubs must obtain permission from the League of any change of venue for its matches. Matches must not be played on pitches that have not been approved by the Competition. PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES 10 (A) 1.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 15th July must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting. Normally, the commencement of the SIL Playing Season shall be as follows: Senior Division Second last Saturday in August All Other Divisions Last Saturday in August Normally, the end of the Competition shall be the first Saturday in May, but should unforeseen circumstances arise the Management Committee have the right to order an extension of the season. 2. After the publication of fixtures for the season thirty-five days notice must be given of closed dates and any request to postpone a fixture. This rule does not apply to Senior Division teams who cannot close dates or postpone a fixture (except if another fixture takes priority) after the publication of the fixtures without the approval of the Fixtures Secretary. 12

13 3. From 1st April annually, until the end of the season s competition, unless a Club has closed a date in accordance with Rule 10(a)2 the Fixtures Secretary may, by giving six days notice, instruct when a match must be played. (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 pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to be changed. The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground. All matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than 70 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 equal halves. 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 10 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine. The latest times for kicking-off league matches shall normally be (except for evening kick-offs) 2.30pm from August to October clock change and from February to May 2.00pm from October clock change to January If more convenient to both Clubs kick-off times may be varied, provided seven days notice has been given to all concerned. Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Referees Secretary. The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Referees Secretary if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets must be used. Goal posts, etc. must not have metal cup hooks attached (C) (D) 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 (except League Cup ties) must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the Fixtures Secretary. The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground, colours and time of kick-off to the match officials and the secretary of the opposing Club at least 4 clear days prior to the playing of the match. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of 20. (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 13

14 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 9 players they may be fined 10 for each missing player. A minimum of 7 players 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 power to inflict a fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, 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. Not withstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent's ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances. Any Club with more than one team in the Competition shall always fulfill its fixture, within the Competition, in the following order of precedence:- First Team, Reserve Team, A Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not exceeding 50 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee. Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club. Such notice must be given by the Club to the Fixtures Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials. If the Fixtures Secretary is unavailable then another League Officer should be informed, or, failing that, Scoreline. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may impose any penalty it may deem suitable. 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 7 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 both teams or their Club member(s), the Management Committee shall rule all points for the match as void. No fine(s) can be applied by the Management Committee for an abandoned match. (G) (H) In the event that a home Club s ground is not available for any reason, it is the duty of the home Club to find a suitable alternative with the agreement of the Fixtures Secretary. If a match is postponed for ANY reason both Clubs must keep their players available until the Clubs have discussed the cancelled fixture with the Fixtures Secretary. If the Fixtures Secretary is unavailable then the matter should be discussed with another League Officer. The Club responsible for postponing the match must forward a written explanation on Form SIL1, to reach the Fixtures Secretary within 7 days (Sundays excluded) of the postponement. Any Club failing to make a correct return shall be fined

15 (I) Postponed match fines are as follows:- 1st match 2nd Match 3rd match 4th match for Club for Club for Club for Club Senior Division team All other teams Clubs pleading Guilty to a postponement on the SIL1 Form will have their fine reduced by 5 Clubs found guilty of failing to keep an engagement without a satisfactory explanation shall, in addition to paying any fine be deducted 1 point, and also pay to the opponent Club such compensation as the Management Committee shall approve. Any such detailed claims should reach the General Secretary within 5 days of the match date. Any compensation order must be paid within 14 days of the order being placed. (J) 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 30 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. (K) The half time interval shall not exceed fifteen minutes duration. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee. REPORTING RESULTS 11 (A) The Players Registration Secretary must receive within 4 days of the date played the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This being either by electronic scorecard or SIL 11 Result card. Black ink is to be used, letters and numbers to be written clearly inside the boxes provided and signed by a responsible member of the Club. In both cases, the initial and surname of the team players (in block letters), computer number of the player, goals scored in figures, The Referee markings required by Rule 13 and his/her expenses must also be included. Clubs may enter their own match details direct into Mitoo without the need to send in either an electronic scorecard or SIL 11 Result Card. However all the information stated above must be included. The information will be checked against the Team Sheet submitted to the referee. Failure to do so will incur a fine of 10 and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide. (B) The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match (including SCFA matches) to the notified Scoreline number between and on a Saturday or within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the match on Weekdays. Failure to do so will incur a fine of 15 for a first offence with incremental increases of 5 for each subsequent offence during a season and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide. This rule also applies to away teams in SCFA matches where the home team is from another League. 15

16 (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. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP 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 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 (in the following order) :- (i) (ii) (iii) goal difference goals scored deciding match(es) played under conditions determined by the Management Committee. (B) Subject to meeting the necessary ground and administration requirements the following promotions shall be applied:- From Divisions 1, 2 and 3 top 2 (formal applications required from Division 1 and Division 2 Clubs within 7 days of the end of the season) Divisions 4 to 6 top 3 From Intermediate B (to Intermediate A) top 3, subject to the team remaining eligible to stay in the Intermediate Divisions To Intermediate B Reserve teams of Clubs promoted from Division 2 to Division 1 providing that team would have otherwise been playing in Division 4 or above. The following relegations shall be applied:- From Senior Division, Divisions 1 and 2 bottom 2 From Divisions 3 to 5 bottom 3 From Intermediate A bottom 3, subject to the team remaining eligible to stay in the Intermediate Divisions From Intermediate Divisions Reserve teams of Clubs relegated from Division 1 to Division 2. These teams will be placed in a Division deemed appropriate by the Management Committee. The Management Committee (subject to AGM approval) reserves the right to alter the above in order to equalise numbers in each of the divisions. (i) Should one or more teams withdraw from any one Division after the fixtures have commenced an equal number of teams to those withdrawing in that Division shall not be automatically relegated. (ii) Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season may be filled by additional promotion of the next ranked team(s) or election. (iii) The last two teams in the lowest Division shall retire, but be eligible for reelection except as below, and be subject to the conditions of paragraph (B)(1) above. (iv) When a more senior team is relegated to a lower Division of which its reserve team is a member, or entitled to be a member, such reserve team must accept relegation to, or retain its position in, the next lower Division; and should the more senior team be relegated to the lowest Division its reserve team automatically retires from the Competition. 16