Rule changes - a number of rules have been amended by the Football Association, these are underlined.
NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
1. (A) This Competition shall be designated the Hartlepool Sunday Football League and known as the TAG Teamwear Hartlepool Sunday Football League and shall consist of not more than forty two 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 Durham County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be Clubs whose grounds are within ten miles radius of Hartlepool Borough Buildings. This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Durham County Football Association(s) and the constituent teams of Member Clubs will be grouped into three divisions, each not exceeding 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 Competitions organised by the league are: John Dowson Memorial Cup, Steven Tierney Memorial Cup, Colin Lyver Premier Division Cup, Barry Hogan Division One Cup, Division Two Cup
(B) At the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, a majority of the delegates present 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 Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional team(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary by 15th May and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £5.00 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 or a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.
(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £70.00 per Club/Team, plus affiliation fees and pitch & insurance fees (if applicable). All fees are payable on or before the October meeting in each year, clubs who default payment will be liable to suspension until the monies are paid. New Clubs elected into the League at the AGM, will be required to pay the £70.00 League fee at the AGM.
(C) 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.
OFFICERS
3. The Officers of the Competition shall be the Honorary President, Chairman, Finance Officer / Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary, Fixtures Secretary and two other committee members. With the exception of Honorary President, each to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
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 at least 3 member clubs who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 15th May 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 monthly/ quarterly 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.
POWERS OF MANAGEMENT
5. (A)The Management Committee may appoint sub-committees and delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all sub- committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification. 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 Durham 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, or where there may be a conflict of interest. (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. With the exception of rules 5(i), 6(h), 11 and 19, for all breaches a formal written charge must be issued. The respondent shall be given seven days from the date of notice to reply to the charge and given the opportunity to:
(i) Accept or deny the charge
(ii) Submit in writing a case of mitigation, or
(iii) Put 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 in accordance with Rule 16. Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within seven days.
(F) Five Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and Five 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.
(I) All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification. Any club failing to do so will be a fined a maximum of £50.00. Further failure to pay the fine including the additional sum within 14 days will result in fixtures being withdrawn until such a time as the outstanding payments are settled.
(J) A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or match 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) Rule not applicable
(M) The business of the competition as determined by the management committee may/shall be transacted by electronic mail or facsimile.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6. (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the first Wednesday in June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least 30 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 therefrom.
(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 of the season and kick off times applicable to the competition.
(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 seven days prior to the meeting, and to the Durham County Football Association(s).
(C) A signed copy of the duly audited/verified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Durham 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 Seven 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 hands unless a ballot be demanded by at least 75% 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 shall be fined £20.00. Clubs failing to attend may also have their membership of the competition revoked.
(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 Hartlepool Sunday Football League Competition and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club, if elected or accepted into Membership, to conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide by and implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the Competition, subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16."
Any alteration of the Chairman and /or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Durham 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
8. (A) (i) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are/are not permitted in this Competition. A contract player may only play for the club that
holds his contract. It is the responsibility of each club to ensure that any player signing a registration form for that club has, where necessary, the
required international transfer certificate. Clearance is required for any player aged 12 and over crossing borders including Wales, Scotland and
Ireland.
(ii) While serving in any branch of Her Majesty’s Regular Forces, a player must first obtain the consent of his commanding office before signing a
registration form to play for a club
(iIi) Players must be a minimum of 15(fifteen) years of age on or before 31st August to register to play in the league.
(B) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has:-
(i) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the (Registrations) Secretary Seven days prior to playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing.
(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.
(D) A fee of £2.00 shall be paid for each player registered.
(E) The Management Committee shall decide all registration disputes. In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player shall be registered. The (League) 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 wilfully neglected to accurately or fully
complete.
(iv) Submit more than two transfer forms during the same playing season.
(G) (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 at their discretion who
has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16), subject to the right of appeal to the FA or the relevant County Football
Association.
(iii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16). 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 (ii) 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 brining the Competition into disrepute can only be considered where the player has received in excess of 112 days’ suspension in a period of two years or less from the date of the first offence. When a Competition refuses to accept or cancel the registration of a player, the player must be advised in writing of the reason(s) and given the right of appeal to The Football Association or affiliated Association.)
(H) 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 £3.00 (The fee does not appt during close season – 01st to 30th June). Such transfer shall be referred by the (club) 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 seven days after receipt of such transfer. In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.
(I) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after March 31st except by special permission of the Management Committee.
(J) 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.
(K) 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, unless the player and club fully completes a re-registration form (including signature) and it is returned no later than 31st July, along with the appropriate fee. Forms will not be accepted before June 01st. Players not re-registering with existing club by the deadline, must register as a new player . In the event of a player without a written contract charging 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 for him 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
(L) (i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players will have 3 points deducted from its total and be fined a minimum of £10.00.
(ii) In addition the team may have three 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 in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.
(M) Players can only play for one Club in the League Cup Competitions (Colin Lyver Premier Division Cup, Barry Hogan First Division Cup & Second Division Cup). In addition, players can only play for one Club in the John Dowson Memorial Cup and Steven Tierney Memorial Cup. To be eligible to play, a player must have been registered for his current club at least 7 days prior to the cup match in that competition.
(The following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary education):-
(N) (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 Leagues).
CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME
9. (A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by July 08th 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 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 three 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 £10.00. 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 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 date for commencement of the season in accordance with Football Association Rules. If mutually arranged at a meeting a list of fixtures must be forwarded to the (Fixtures) Secretary within seven days of the meeting. Fixtures are deemed to be accepted unless objections are received by the (Fixtures) Secretary within fourteen days of their issue. Any Club failing to be represented at a fixture meeting or otherwise infringing this Rule shall be liable for a fine of £10.00 and the Management Committee or the (Fixtures) Secretary shall arrange that Club’s fixtures. Meetings to be held on the 1st Wednesday of the month, (except June,(AGM) and July). In the event of New years day falling on a Wednesday, the meeting shall be on the following Wednesday. Persons attending the meeting can only represent one club.
(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. The Management committee shall have the power to determine if the playing area should be roped/cordoned off, if it is being used for a game which bears significance to the league (eg Cup semi-finals, Cup finals or promotion / relegation play-offs) 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 Annual General meeting. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time may be fined a sum not exceeding £5.00 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. Goal nets must be used.
(C) (i) 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. In the case of a revised fixture date,the clubs must be given by the competition 5 clear days notice of the match (unless mutually agreed). Clubs failing to play an arranged game shall automatically have 3 points deducted and be fined the sum of £20.00. Clubs reaching the final of the FA Sunday Cup or Durham County FA Sunday Cup, will be allowed to cancel midweek matches in the week immediately before the final.
(ii) Clubs may request non-allocation of a match in the following months fixtures, providing they provide seven days notice prior to the fixtures meeting. Requests can only be accepted for league competition matches and will not be permitted for Cup competition matches. All requests will be decided by the management committee.
(D) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing or by phone full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least three clear days prior to the playing of the match. The away Club shall seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £2.00.
(E) A minimum of Seven 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 from the match in question 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 unable to fulfil a fixture must, without delay, give notice to the (Fixtures) Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict a fine. Clubs failing to fulfil fixtures on consecutive weeks will be suspended from the league. In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be played on a revised date as provided by the fixtures secretary. 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 opponents and/or take what other action they may deem necessary. 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. NB no fine(s) can be applied by the Management Committee for such a match
(G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 3 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from 5 players. The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than ten 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.
(H) The half time interval shall be of a minimum five minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.
(I) Clubs reaching the semi-finals of the John Dowson Memorial Cup and Clubs reaching the final of the Colin Lyver Premier Cup, Barry Hogan First Division Cup, Second Division Cup, shall be granted a bye in the first round of the same competition in the following season. (Note: by same competition, this rule means that clubs who reach a final of the Divisional Cup competition and are also promoted / relegated to another division, cannot be granted the bye.)
(J) All Clubs shall be entered into the John Dowson Memorial Cup and Steven Tierney Cup. Premier Division Clubs shall be exempt from the Steven Tierney Cup until the third round.
REPORTING RESULTS
11. (A) (i) The (Fixtures) Secretary must receive within two 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), substitutes must have the time that they entered the field of play included. Clubs must also include the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of a maximum of £10 and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
(ii) In the event of a match being postponed or abandoned, the home team must submit a Sheet providing detail of the match and reason it was not fulfilled. Failure to comply will result in a fine of £5 being imposed.
(B) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £1.00
DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
12. (A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with Three points to be awarded for a win and One point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. 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:-
(i)) goal average or goal difference
(ii) goals scored or deciding matches played under conditions determined by the management committee
(iii) where promotion/relegation is concerned, deciding match(es) played under conditions determined by the Management Committee.
(B) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first two and last two teams in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule 1(b).
(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 on any of the following ways:
(a) retention of otherwise relegated team(s)
(b) additional promotion of the next ranked team(s) from the Division below
(c) election
(iii) The last two teams in the lowest Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election except as below, and be subject to the conditions of paragraph (B)(1) above.
(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.
REFEREES
13. (A) Registered Referees and Assistant Referees (where approved by the FA or County FA) shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s).
(B) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant Referee shall take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed by the competing Teams. In cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
(C) 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 arbiter 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 the following fees: Referee £25.00. Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees £25.00, subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Association(s). The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses before/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 full fee plus expenses/half fee plus expenses/expenses only. 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.
(G) A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his non-appearance within five days, may be reported to the Association with which he 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. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with as the Management Committee shall determine. 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 Association.
(J) The Referee shall submit a report Form, supplied by the Competition, giving the result of the match, the number of players in each team and the time of kick-off to the (Registration) Secretary within two days of the match.
(K) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.
CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR
WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB
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 07th May each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £50.00 Unless written notification is received, it shall be automatically registered that a club wishes to remain in membership of the Competition for the following Season.
(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 £250.00 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B). Clubs shall not be permitted to re-join the league for a period of two years.
(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting held not later than the first Wednesday in 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 undischarged 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.
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PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS
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 Secretary within six 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) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £10.00. 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 receive a copy of the submission and must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement at least 7 days prior to the protest or complaint being heard.
(i) All parties must have received 7 days’ notice of the hearing should they be instructed to attend
(ii) Should a club elect to state its case in person then they should forward a deposit of £10.00 and indicate such when forwarding the written response
BOARD OF APPEAL
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 Durham County Football Association, including a fee of £25.00, 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, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership which must be supported by (more than) two thirds (2/3) 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 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 all of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast) be debarred from membership the following season.
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 31st March. If the Cup or Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care we agree to refund to the Competition the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough repair.”
(C) A maximum of (14) miniature trophies shall be awarded to both Winning & runners-up teams in both League & Cup Competitions, to a value determined by the management committee. If approved, trophies may be substituted for goods of an equal value, from the supplier approved by the management committee.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
19. Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting. The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time. At least seven days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting. Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall/may be fined £10.00.. All amendments of rules can only be implemented once approved by the sanctioning authority
ALTERATION TO RULES
20. Alterations for which consent has been given by the sanctioning Association, 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 01st May in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the clubs by the May meeting and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 10th May. The proposals and proposed amendments thereto shall be circulated to the clubs with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. A proposal to change a rule shall be carried if a majority of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.
A copy of the proposed alterations to rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football Association 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.
FINANCE
21. (A) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.
(B) All expenditure 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 May 15th
(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.
CHILD PROTECTION
1. Any act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour which is improper and brings the game into disrepute.
2. In these Regulations the expression "Offence" shall mean any one or more of the offences contained in Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and any other criminal offence which reasonably causes The Association to believe that the person accused of the offence poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children.
3. Upon receipt by The Association of:
3.1 notification that an individual has been charged with an Offence; or
3.2 notification that an individual is the subject of an investigation by the Police, Social Services or any other authority relating to an Offence; or
3.3 any other information which causes The Association reasonably to believe that a person poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children then the Association shall have the power to order that the individual be suspended from all or any specific football activity for such period and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
4. In reaching its determination as to whether an order under Regulation 3 should be made The Association shall give consideration, inter alia, to the following factors:
4.1 whether a child is or children are or may be at risk of harm;
4.2 whether the matters are of a serious nature;
4.3 whether an order is necessary or desirable to allow the conduct of any investigation by The Association or any other authority or body to proceed unimpeded.
5. The period of an order referred to in 3 above shall not be capable of lasting beyond the date upon which any charge under the Rules of The Association or any Offence is decided or brought to an end.
6. Where an order is imposed on an individual under regulation 3 above, The Association shall bring and conclude any proceedings under the Rules of The Association against the person relating to the matters as soon as reasonably practicable.
7. Where a person is convicted, or is made the subject of a caution in respect of an Offence, that shall constitute a breach of the Rules of The Association and The Association shall have the power to order the suspension of the person from all or any specific football activity for such a period (including indefinitely) and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
8. For the purposes of these Regulations, The Association shall act through its Council or any committee or sub-committee thereof, including the Board.
Notification in writing of an order referred to above shall be given to the person concerned and/or any club with which he is associated as soon as reasonably practicable.
01st June 2011
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