NORTH WEST
COLERAINE AND DISTRICT YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE
RULES
August 2011
INDEX
- Name
- Aims/Objectives
- Membership
- Voting Power
- Fees
- Fines
- Trophies
- Management Committee/Powers
- Delegates’ Meetings
- Finance/Property
- Insurance
- Age Groups
- Referees
- Registration of Players/Coaches
- Transfers
- Fixtures/Matches
- Protests and Appeals
- Tournaments
- Amendments to Constitution
1.NAME
(A)The name of the League will be theNorth West, Coleraine and District Youth League.
2.AIMS/OBJECTIVES:
(A)The aim of the League is to provide a forum for young people to assist them, through sport and associated activities, to become good responsible citizens as they develop to adulthood while asking all to respect, “It is not the winning that counts, but how we participate and play the game”.
(B)To participate in their own self-development in the sport of soccer as a team sport with the help of all people associated with the League in the widest sense.
(C)The League will promote “The Children N.I. Order 1995” and will promote general welfare, health and protect children from harm of all kind.
(D)The League will promote “The Children N.I. Order 1995” to all people associated with the League in the widest sense.
(E)It is the duty of the League that all Clubs/Teams receive fair treatment.
3.MEMBERSHIP
(A)The membership of the League is on a yearly basis subject to application and shall consist only of teams from organisations accepted by the League Management Committee.
(B)The Leagues are mutual respect, non-sectarian, multicultural and non-political in membership.
4.VOTING POWER
(A)Only one member from each affiliated team or, a block vote for a club which has more than one team, shall be entitled to vote at the AGM and delegates’ meeting, i.e., club with one affiliated team, one vote; club with three affiliated teams, three votes.
(B)Officers not associated with teams shall have no voting power at the AGM.
(C)Officers will be entitled to one vote at delegate’s meeting and management committee.
(D)The Chairman has a casting vote in cases where there is a tied vote in the motion not carried.
5.FEES: General
(A)All entry fees for league, cup and all other competitions organised by the league shall
be set by the management committee.
(B)The League has been allocated pitches by Councils for use by teams in the areas covered by the league.
(C)Home teams are responsible for expenses, that is, paying of referee and pitch.
6.FINES:
(A)All fines must be paid in full before or at next League Committee meeting. Fines imposed at the end of the season must be paid before the AGM. Any club guilty of a breach of this rule will be automatically suspended.
7.TROPHIES:
(A)All trophies donated or otherwise honestly obtained are the property of the League. These trophies will be retained by the League and winning Clubs will be provided with alternative trophies for their retention.
(B)Clubs/Teams borrowing League trophies will be held responsible for them and will be required to repair any damage and make good any loss sustained while in possession of the club.
8.MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE/POWERS:
(A)The Management Committee shall consist of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, General Secretary, Treasurer, and Fixture Secretary. The President and Vice-President are automatically members. The Management Committee is empowered:
(B)To delegate executive powers to individual members of the committee.
(C)To conduct the entire business of the League.
(D)To co-opt additional delegates to serve on sub-committees as required.
(E)To form sub-committees and delegate that committee to conduct certain aspects of the League’s business on their behalf.
The Mini League sub committee will set the rules and fees applied to the
seven aside competitions prior to each season and will notify all participating.
teams prior to commencement
(F)To make checks at any time on teams in order to ensure the rules are being adhered to. Should any club/team fail to co-operate with this request (providing the person has made themselves known as a committee member and that the person checking a team on the day is not attached to the teams playing).
(G)To expel, suspend, dismiss from a competition, fine or otherwise deal with any club/team, player, manager, ornery person infringing the league rules or where their conduct is deemed to be objectionable and bring the League into disrepute.
(H)To make financial arrangements for the League and appoint internal auditors for the coming year.
(I)The Chairperson shall maintain order at all meetings and see that all in attendance has an equal say.
(J)The General Secretary shall record all meetings, inform the League of all correspondence, pass all correspondences from the League to Clubs/teams and release any documents or information to clubs/teams when requested. Such request should be made in writing to the General Secretary and such release must be approved by the Management Committee. The Registration Secretary shall keep an up to date register of players.
(K)The Treasurer shall keep a record of all income and expenses to present an annual report and statement of accounts with a letter of verification from the auditors at the AGM.
9.DELEGATES MEETING:
(A)The delegates meeting will comprise of all members of the Management Committee and an adult representative from each affiliated club/team.
(B)The Delegates’ meeting will be convened a minimum of three times a season.
(C)When delegates meetings are arranged each club/team must send an adult representative. Club/teams not represented will be fined £5 per meeting for each of the first three meetings. Missing more that three meetings will be considered persistent absenteeism and could result in additional penalties including possible dismissal from the League.
(D)Delegates meetings are empowered to deal with all matters not covered by the rules and their interpretation of all rules shall be deemed as final.
10.FINANCE/PROPERTY
(A)All property and assets of the League shall be vested in the delegates.
(B)All monies, equipment or other items raised, donated or otherwise honestly obtained is the property of the League.
(C)The funds of the League can only be used to further the object of the League and for no other purpose.
(D)The League shall open a bank account at a bona fide bank.
(E)The League shall nominate the Chairperson, the Treasurer and one other to the bank and to authorise them to sign cheques on behalf of the League.
(F)In the event of the League “winding-up” the remaining members of the delegates’ meeting will decide what will be done with any funds remaining after all liabilities have been met.
(G)This will be done at a special meeting of which proper notice has been given.
11.INSURANCE:
(A)NIBFA Sportsguard Insurance cover or an appropriate alternative to be compulsory
for every team participating in the league. Copies of certificates should be forwarded
to the League Secretary. Failure to do so could result in expulsion from all
competitions.
(B)Clubs/teams will not be permitted to participate without insurance.
12.AGE GROUPS:
(A)Age categories for the 2009-10 season will be:U10, (born on or after 1st January 2000), U11 (born on or after 1st January 1999), U12 (born on or after 1st January 1998),, U 13 (born on or after 1st January 1997), U14(born on or after1st January1996), U15 (born on or after 1st January 1995), U16(born on or after 1st January 1994), U17 (born on or after 1st January 1993).
13.REFEREES:
(A)It is the responsibility of the home team to provide a qualified referee. Failure to do so
could result in the match being awarded to their opponents.
(B)If the appointed referee fails to attend and the two teams wish for the game to be
played, then they can agree on an alternative. Caution should be observed as this.
removes the right of protest and appeal
(C)Any referee used, subsequently found not to be qualified could result in the match
being awarded to the away team.
(D)The referee’s decision is final. All managers to give the referee their full backing.
(E)The League calls upon all referees to report all sending-off and bookings with no exceptions.
(F)Referees must have match card before kick-off.
14.REGISTRATION OF PLAYER:
(A)All teams can register up to 22 players for the duration of the season. All postal
registration requests should be accompanied by the fee and a return addressed
envelope with the appropriate postage attached.
(B)Additional players over and above 22 can still be registered and a fee of £2 per
player will be charged.
(C)The league will produce a registration card for each player. In order for a registration card to be issued each player must:
1.complete the league registration form;
(All registration forms are deemed valid when signed by the Club Secretary/Team Manager AND by a parent/legal guardian);
- provide two passport size photographs;
3.provide a copy of either a birth cert or passport or medical card (documents that confirm BOTH the name and date of birth of the player.
(D)Registration cards can be requested by the opposing manager at any time during the match and must be provided. Cards must be returned after the game.
(E)Team Managers must satisfy themselves as to the eligibility of their player before registration.
(F)Players must have been transferred or registered two weeks in advance of a fixture to qualify for the Knockout cup.
(G)Managers wishing to register new players must submit their registration forms to the League Registration Secretary 72 hours before next fixture. No new registration of players or transfers will be permitted after 28 February.
(H)If two forms are signed by the same player, the person involved should miss six matches and at that point in time can nominate the team they wish to play for.
(I)Registration forms with a club seal/stamp affixed will not be accepted by the League if used by another club/team. The Registration Form is the property of the club/team.
14.1REGISTRATION OF COACHES
(A)All Club coaches are required to register with the League.
(B)The league will produce a registration card for each coach. In order for a registration card to be issued each coach must:
1.complete the league registration form;
(All registration forms are deemed valid when signed by the Club Secretary/Team Manager);
- provide two passport size photographs;
(C)Coaches must carry registration cards at all matches and may be asked to
produce their registration card by a League Official at any time.
(D)To comply with child protection requirements only registered coaches are
permitted to enter changing rooms or to issue instructions etc to players.
15.TRANSFERS:
(A)Players under suspension from club/team for disciplinary reasons may not be transferred by another club/team, provided the League has been informed of such a suspension.
(B)A player seeking a transfer must inform his manager or club. The chairman, manager, player and his parent must have a meeting to discuss reasons for the player’s request. This period must not exceed two weeks.
(C)After the two-week period the Manager/Club the player wishes to transfer to must request his release in writing from his previous club. This letter will be accompanied by a new registration form completed by the player and signed by his new manager/club. The registration form must be signed also by his old manager/club and returned, along with the players registration card, to the players new club. This process must not exceed two weeks or it will be deemed a refusal.
(D)The new registration form and previous registration card will be forwarded with a fee of £5 to the League Registration Secretary and a new registration card will be issued before the player can play for his new team. Otherwise the player is ineligible.
(E)In the case where two clubs cannot reach agreement the matter will be decided by the management committee.
(F)No player can be transferred after February 28th.
16.FIXTURE/MATCHES:
(A)All fixtures shall preferably be played on grass pitches unless as agreed by both clubs or as directed by the delegates meeting.
(B)Each team will provide a football in good playing condition. Size 4 for under 12 and below. Size 5 for under13 and above.
(C)Each team is required to play in numbered strips (1-16).
(D)It is compulsory for all home teams to ensure that nets and corner posts are available and that they are used for all home games, which must be played on properly constituted pitches.
(E)Should two teams be playing under the same colours, home team must change unless by mutual consent of the opposing manager.
(F)Match cards are the responsibility of home team. Should no match card be available the particulars as required on the match card should be filled out on a sheet of paper and will become the match card.
(G)Each playersname must be entered on the match card by the team manager who must sign the card. A manager may inspect a match card on request in the presence of an official of the opposing team.
(H)Match cards must be sent to anominated League representative within 48 hours (Sunday excluded) of the match played. Results should be provided to the nominated person by phoned/text by both managers no later than 6pm on the Saturday or by noon the following day in the event of evening games or Sunday games. Failure to comply could result in omission from the competition.
(I)
(J)Home team must inform his opposing manager of venue for fixture before 7pm on Friday night.
(K)All league and cup games to be played preferably on a Saturday with an 11am kick
off. Games may be played on an alternative day and time but only with the agreement of both teams concerned and with 24 hour notification given to the fixture secretary.
(L)The duration of play will be: under 13, 14– 30 minutes each half; under 15, 16 – 35 minutes each half; under 17 – 40 minutes each half.
(M)The manager will be responsible for the conduct of his players, both on and off the field of play.
(N)On match day, teams can have 16 players, each team allowed five substitutes. . All five substitutes can be used.Rolling substitutions in all competitions
is permitted for 17 year olds and under in line with NIBFA rules.
(O)Home team will be responsible for visiting teams protection. Any team found harassing their opponents will be dismissed from the League and will not be allowed to re-enter for a period of two years.
(P)Three bookings will warrant, on the third booking, a suspension period of two matches to take effect immediately after the third booking. Managers should note all bookings to ensure that any player with three bookings is suspended.
(Q)A player sent off will be suspended for a period of two matches taking effect from the game following the sending off.Suspensions issued in the NIBFA cup will be upheld by the league and vice versa.
(R)Dates and venues for all cup finals will be set by the management committee in
advance and announced to the participating club by the fixture secretary. Venues should be neutral with the exception of were the use of a senior Irish league facility is made available.
(S)In the League Cup semi-finals, 10 minutes extra time and penalties if both teams finish level.
(T)All Knockout Cup games to be played to a finish. If at the end of normal time the game ends in a draw, 10 minutes extra time will be played each way. If this fails to separate the teams, a penalty shoot out in accordance with Association Football Rules will decide the game.
(U)The League competition shall be played on a League system, three points for a win, and one point for a draw. At the completion of the competitions, the team with the highest points will be declared the League champions in their appropriate age groups. A play off if two teams have the same points having both completed their League fixtures.
(V)Any teams refusing or failing to fulfil a fixture on the date and time specified by the committee shall be judged to have lost the fixture. Any team failing to fulfil two fixtures will be automatically dismissed from their competition. Teams who do not turn up will lose the points.
(W)In the event of a team requesting a postponement they must contact both the Fixture
secretary and their opponents and 48 hours notice given. Exception to this will be if a
pitch should be deemed unplayable and the responsibility for this lies with the home
manager. In the event of players being unavailable due to pre arranged events such
as transfer tests and school trips, notice for a postponement must be given to the
fixture secretary and opposing team at least two weeks in advance.
(X) Details of any other unplanned postponement must be sent in writing to the
management committee who will decide ona rearrangement or award the opposing
team the result if it is deemed that the team has not maximised the use of their
squad.
17.PROTESTS AND APPEALS:
(A)Two copies of the protest or appeal must be received by the General Secretary by “Recorded Delivery Letter” bearing postmark within 72 hours after the cause of protest/appeal (Sunday excluded) accompanied by a deposit of £5 which shall be forfeited in all cases in which the protest/appeal has not been sustained.