Donegal Women’s League
Rules and Regulations
As adpoted at the A.G.M. 2007.
1. Membership
Rule 1.1The amalgamation of clubs shall be known as the Donegal Women’sLeague and hereafter referred to as the League.
Rule 1.2 The League shall be affiliated to the Women’s Football Association of Ireland and the Ulster Football Association. It shall promote, foster, develop and govern the game of association football within the league area i.e. that part of County Donegal not under the jurisdiction of the Inishowen League.
2. Control
Rule 2.1The League shall be controlled by the League Executive Committee – hereinafter referred to as “The Committee or League Committee” – consisting of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, P.R.O., W.F.A.I. rep., and Team Manager (s).
Rule 2.2Full Council Meetings to be attended by the Executive Committee and two representatives from each competing club.
Rule 2.3Any 5 members shall form a quorum at full Council Meetings.
Rule 2.4The ownership of League property is vested in the Trustees i.e. Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.
Rule 2.5All communications to the League must be sent to the League Secretary, unless specified otherwise.
Rule 2.6Payment of fines, protests, appeals, queries etc. to be sent to Disciplinary Secretary.
Rule 2.7Matters relating to the registration and transfer of player(s), and fee(s) thereof must ALWAYS be sent directly to the Registrar.
Rule 2.8The Executive Committee will require a quorum of 5 members present to hold a meeting.
3. Application for Membership of the League
Rule 3.1Application by clubs for membership of the League must be submitted in writing to the League Secretary no later than the date specified by the Committee. The application must include the following particulars; (a) Status of Grounds and whether Public or Private, (b) Location of Dressing Facilities, (c) Club Colours, (d) Names, Addresses and Telephone numbers of Club Committee members and Club Secretary.
Rule 3.2A club changing its Secretary, or a Secretary changing address, must notify the League Secretary immediately, and must notify all clubs in the League. Notification must be in writing and failure to comply with this rule will render a club liable to removal from the League.
Rule 3.3A new club accepted into the League shall be confined to the lowest division for their first year of membership
Rule 3.4All outstanding monies and fines due to the League by a club must be paid in full within 7 days upon receipt of account. If account remains outstanding after this will result in monies being doubled.
Rule 3.5 Existing League Clubs must re-apply for League membership at the beginning of each season at the Committees discretion.
Rule 3.6When required a club shall place its ground(s) and facilities, and players, at the disposal of the committee.
Rule 3.7A match not under the auspice of the League shall not be played on a League registered ground if the playing of such a match is likely to cause a postponement of a subsequent League Fixture i.e. if the playing of the match would endanger ground conditions that would result in the postponement of the League Fixture.
Rule 3.8A club must have a first aid kit, which must be present at all matches involving the club, and one person must be responsible for same. The first aid kit can be inspected by any League Executive Member, their Agent, or a Referee Official.
Rule 3.9The Committee shall set the club affiliation fee. The current fee is €120 per club.
Rule 3.10A club must have current public liability insurance on their ground. Under no circumstance will a club play on an uninsured ground.
Rule 3.11If a game has to be postponed owing to club not producing proof of public liability insurance the game (s) in question will be awarded to the opposing team.
4. Registration and Transfer of Player
Rule 4.1A player shall be registered or transferred only on official League form. The form must be completed according to instructions therein and must be signed by the player and club secretary/secretaries concerned.
Rule 4.2Completed registered form (s), with fee (s), shall be sent by registered post to The Registrar only.
Rule 4.3A player shall be eligible to take part in competition on and after the 2nd day of registration, the date of postmark shall be counted as the 1st day of the registration.
Rule 4.4A registered player may be transferred from one club to another by the lodgement of a transfer form. The form must be signed by the player and both secretaries involved, which must be verified by the releasing club secretary to the satisfaction of the Registrar. 24 hour transfer rule applies.
Rule 4.5Completed transfer form (s), with fee (s), may be posted, or handed, to the Registrar so as to be in his/her possession no later than 6 p.m. on the day prior to player (s) intended playing for new club. Check that transfer has been sanctioned by the Registrar before using the player (s).
Rule 4.6The Committee shall set the registration and transfer fees. Current registration fee €10 per player and transfer fee €20 each transfer.
Rule 4.7Signing Northern Ireland or out of state players. Clubs are permitted to sign a maximum of 2 such players. An International Clearance Certificate will be required for a player who has been a registered player in another country.
Rule 4.8Transfer closes on 31st July. Player registration closes on 30th June.
Rule 4.9The Registrar shall enquire and satisfy himself/herself as to the legality of any player before authorising a registration or transfer. If the Registrar is not satisfied or is undecided on the matter then he/she shall refer it to the Disciplinary Secretary.
Rule 4.10The Disciplinary Secretary shall make enquiries and decide, and shall have the power to arrange a registration or transfer, fine, suspend or otherwise deal with the offending player and/or club.
Rule 4.11Once registered with the League a Player’s Registration cannot be terminated and remains in force for the duration of the season.
Rule 4.12Dual Registration of Players – Where a club enters the Donegal Women’s League at U14 level only, their players may dual sign with an U16 club. However to be eligible to play with both clubs, the player must complete the W.F.A.I. registration form with the U14 Club plus one Donegal Women’s League Card with the U14 club and one Donegal Women’s League Card with the U16 club. Only one registration fee is payable per player. However this only applies to competitions run by the Donegal Women’s League and not National Competitions, the player can only play National Competitions with their original club (i.e. their U14 club). Likewise where a club enters the Donegal Women’s League at U16 level only, their players may dual sign with a U14/Senior Club. However to be eligible to play with both clubs, the player must complete the W.F.A.I. registration form with the U16 club plus one Donegal Women’s League Card with the U16/Senior club. A maximum of 4 players can dual register with any one club.
5. Protests, Appeals and the Disciplinary Committee
Rule 5.1Decisions of the Committee on all matters shall be final and binding but a club or player shall have the right to appeal to the U.F.A., and W.F.A.I.
Rule 5.2 In appeals to the U.F.A., and W.F.A.I., the rules of the U.F.A, and W.F.A.I., as regarding appeals shall apply. The onus is on the player or club to contact the aforementioned bodies regarding appeal procedure to them.
Rule 5.3A protest must be lodged by registered post within 72 clear hours of the game to the League Secretary. The protest must be signed by the Secretary of the protesting club.
Rule 5.4 A protest must be accompanied by a fee of €30. Fee will be refunded if protest is upheld.
Rule 5.5A copy of the protest must be sent by registered post bearing a postmark within 72 clear hours of the cause of the protest to the Secretary of the Club under protest.
Rule 5.6Counter protest must be lodged by registered post within 72 clear hours of receipt of protest.
Rule 5.7A player sent-off is entitled to a personal hearing of her case with the Disciplinary Committee provided she makes a request in writing, to be sent by registered post to the League Secretary within 72 hours after being sent-off. In the absence of a request for a personal hearing the case will be dealt with as routine.
Rule 5.8No member of any Committee shall vote or take part in any discussion on any matter affecting a club or player with which he/her may be connected except in the capacity of a witness.
6. The Disciplinary Committee
Rule 6.1The Disciplinary Secretary shall notify official (s) / club (s) of serious
case (s) for decision where they may have an interest and may require a
personal hearing.
Rule 6.2The Disciplinary Committee have the power to call before them any member of the League, to enquire into any breach of discipline or etiquette which may be alleged to have taken place, to ban, suspend or fine, or a combination of the latter, such members found guilty.
Rule 6.3The Disciplinary Secretary shall notify concerned official/club/player of decision (s) taken against them.
7. Discipline
Rule 7.1An Executive Member, Disciplinary Member, Member of League Sub-Committee, Club Official, Club Member, Player, who has been suspended shall not during the period of his/her suspension take part in any match or fixture under the League, or hold any office in any club, or otherwise act in any capacity under the League.
Rule 7.2Unless in the case of an appeal all money fines fall due and must be paid on, or within 7 days of issue date and if unsettled after this the club may be suspended.
Rule 7.3Opponent (s) of suspended club (s) shall be awarded the game (s).
8. Club Discipline on its Members
Rule 8.1A suspension and/or fine imposed by a club on its member is only recognized as valid by the League if the member so suspended and/or fined was informed by registered post to attend a club disciplinary meeting.
Rule 8.2The notice must reach member 4 clear days before the meeting and must include the following; place of meeting, date and time member is to attend meeting, case against member. The notice must be signed by the club secretary.
Rule 8.3The member shall be informed by registered post of any disciplinary action taken against him/her and when such action becomes effective.
Rule 8.4A copy of all documentation on the case i.e. proof of notification, postage registration receipt (s), case and verdict etc. shall be sent to the League Secretary by registered post within 3 days of the club’s decision.
Rule 8.5The member has the right of appeal to the League Disciplinary Committee and any such appeals will only be recognized if they are received by the Secretary by registered post within 72 hours of the club’s decision. The appeal must be accompanied by a fee of €60. Fee forfeit if club’s verdict is upheld in whole or part.
Rule 8.6The decision of the League Disciplinary Committee will be final and binding.
9. The Playing of Matches
Rule 9.1A match should start at the prescribed time.
Rule 9.2Kick-off for league games will be at a prescribed time, as decided by the Fixtures Secretary, 40 minutes each way.
Rule 9.3If a team is more than 30 minutes late for a kick-off then the match may be awarded to the opposing team.
Rule 9.4The Committee has the power to organise competitions during the season and to make such rules that are necessary in this respect.
Rule 9.5A club shall not postpone or break a fixture, or change the date and/or venue without prior consent from the League Secretary or whoever is on official League duty at the time.
Rule 9.6Postponement for normal program league matches will only be granted in the most extreme circumstances. The secretary of the club seeking such a postponement must apply in writing to the League Secretary 7 clear days before fixtures, schedule date, except in the case of a bereavement.
Rule 9.7A club involved in a National Competition, or a club having player (s) on the Inter League Team Pane or a club involved in the Ulster Cup Competition, shall be granted a postponement provided the club gives the League Secretary and opposing team secretary notification 3 days before the scheduled date, however these games must be played on the Tuesday night following the original scheduled date.
Rule 9.8In the case of bereavement the League secretary, or whoever is on Official League duty at the time, has the power to postpone a match. (Bereavement as follows: active club official; his/her wife/husband/offspring; player; player’s parent/wife/offspring, or if a wake house is in the vicinity or visible from the ground where the match is to be played. ** Within these brackets are guidelines only, not rules.) However in the event of a postponement these games must be played no later than the Friday of that weed of the original scheduled date.
Rule 9.9 A club refusing or failing to play the club against which it has been drawn, on the date fixed by the Committee, and without sufficient reason(s) for doing so, shall be adjudged to have lost the match by 4 goals and a fine of up to€130 shall imposed if deemed necessary by the disciplinary committee.
Rule 9.10When there is a change of venue/date/game or postponement, the onus is on the club granted the change to notify the opposing team and referee.
Rule 9.11A late start will be reported by the referee along with the reason for the late start.
Rule 9.12A team that fails to field for two matches during the season will be expelled from the League.
Rule 9.13When it can be proven to the satisfaction of the committee that the partisans of a club systematically interfere with the play using obscene language and/or inciting players or spectators to use violence towards their opponents etc., the committee have the power to deal with the offending club as they think fit.
Rule 9.14A club must supply two suitable inflated balls for each match they are involved in.
Rule 9.15Each club must provide a linesperson for the match.
Rule 9.16The league allows the use of five players out of the seveb named players on the match card as subs.
Rule 9.17In the event of two clubs registering the same colours the home club shall change when both clubs meet in competition. If the match is played on neutral ground the team drawn first will have choice of colours.
Rule 9.18All jerseys must be distinctly numbered.
Rule 9.19A player’s jersey number must correspond to his position entered on the official match card.
Rule 9.20Averages for the division championship will be taken from wins and draws as follows;- 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. In the event of two or more clubs being equal on points the clubs concerned will play-off to decide the championship, this also applies to runners-up position should the need arise. All other positions shall be decided by goal difference.
Rule 9.21Goal nets and corner flags must be used in all games and must be supplied by the home tea.
Rule 9.22If a team leaves the League in the first half of the season then all league matches that the team was involved in this half become void. If a team leaves the League in the second half of the season then all matches in this half involving the team become void and all results from the first half of the season will stand. If a team leaves in the second half of the season and they have outstanding match (es) to play from the first half of the season then the team (s) concerned will be awarded 3 points.
Rule 9.23Unfinished games will be dealt with in one of the following ways; (a) game will be replayed, (b) unexpired time will be played, (c) result will stand, (d) points will be awarded against team in default.
Rule 9.24Cup finals will be played on neutral grounds
Rule 9.25The home club must notify the League P.R.O. prior to 7pm. the day after game concerning the result and must also supply a detailed match report.
Rule 9.26All fixtures shall be arranged by the Committee and clubs shall play home and away fixtures except as otherwise directed.
Rule 9.27At the end of the season, all scheduled matches involving teams who are competing for league placings must be played at the same time and date. No team shall be granted a postponement or game played before scheduled date unless in the event of the a bereavement or weather problems.
10. Matches and Ground Inspections
Rule 10.1Notification for a pitch inspection must be made before 3 p.m., so that it can be carried out and if the pitch is declared unplayable the onus is on the club to notify the travelling team secretary, and the match referee.
Rule 10.2When a club can supply a ground when their own is unplayable permission is required from the League Secretary, or Official on duty, to move the fixture.
Rule 10.3The home club is responsible for the ground and the referee’s fee and expenses.
11. Promotion and Relegation
Rule 11.1The Committee alone has the power to elect club and/or fill vacancies.
Rule 11.2Promotion and relegation shall be two teams up with two teams down.
Rule 11.3If a team leave or is expelled from the league they remain on the League Tables for the duration of the season and are classed as a relegated team at the end of the season.
12. Suspension of Players
Rule 12.1A suspended player will be notified of his/her suspension by registered post and the suspension is effective on and from the date indicated on the notice. Player’s club will also be notified of the suspension.