NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
1. (A) This Competition shall be designated the Halton & District Junior Football League and known as the ____________________________(sponsorship title) and shall consist of not more than 44 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 Cheshire County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be The Cheshire County Football Association area & adjoining County F.A.s.
This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Cheshire County Football Association(s) and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions.
Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competitions (with the exception of F.A. and County F.A. Competitions) except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.
The competition will provide 11-a-side football for players who have attained the age of 10 as at midnight 31st August in a playing season and Mini-Soccer for players who have attained the age of 6 years but not the age of 10 years as at midnight on 31st August in a playing season.
(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 and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £30 per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election.
At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications, of which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.
When Rule 12(B) is applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.
(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £82 per Club/Team playing 11-a-side football and £78 per Club/Team playing Under 9’s & 10’s Mini-Soccer, £50 per Club/Team playing Under 7/8’s Mini-Soccer payable on or before the Commencement of Fixtures in each year.
(C) Each Club shall, on the day of election, pay a Deposit of £25, which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee.
(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid.
(E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 1st July of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £5. 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 President, Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary, Fixture Secretary and life members all with exception of life members to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers).
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 4 members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. All participants shall abide by The Football Association Regulations for Safeguarding Children as determined by The Association from time to time
(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 30th April in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting
(C) The Management Committee shall meet as often as is necessary to deal with business as it arises.
On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.
(D) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.
(E) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers.
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.
(B) Subject to the permission of the Cheshire 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 there at, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (This shall apply to the procedure of any sub-committee).
In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
(D) The Management Committee shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition, including any not provided for in the Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set penalty any Club, Official 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. 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.
(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 Seven days.
(F) Five 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.
(I) 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.
(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) No participant under the age of 18 can be fined.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6.(A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least Ten Members are present and entitled to vote:-
(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business arising there from.
(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.
(iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management Committee).
(v) Constitution of the Competition for ensuing season.
(vi) Election of Officers and Management Committee.
(vii) Appointment of Auditors.
(viii) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given).
(ix) Fix the date for the commencement and conclusion of playing season.
(x) Other business of which due notice shall have been given and accepted as being relevant to an Annual General Meeting.
(B) A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Cheshire County Football Association(s).
(C) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Cheshire County Football Association(s) within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.
(D) Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than Fourteen 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.
(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least Six 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 unless the individual is also appointed to vote as a representative of a group of Associate Member Clubs.
(H) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given may be fined £15.
(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 Halton & District 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 Cheshire County Football Association 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) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition.
No player registered with a F.A. Premier League or Football League Academy will be permitted to play in this competition. A Player registered with a Centre of Excellence may only play in this Competition subject to the Regulations of the Programme for Excellence.
(B) A registered youth playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has:-
(i) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by his /her parent or guardian and by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the divisional (Registrations) Secretary Two days prior to playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing.
(ii) The registration document must incorporate a current passport photograph of the player seeking registration. If a player’s age is required for registration purposes a Competition must accept an original birth certificate or a photocopy. In cases where the birth certificate is not available a Competition is required to accept a photocopy of the player’s passport or other official document issued by a Government Agency attesting to the player’s date of birth.
The qualification dates for the competition shall be as follows:
Mini-Soccer
To play in a KO Cup game or a game where points are awarded, or results collected, a player must have achieved the age of eight on or before 31st August.
Under 7 – the player must have attained the age of 6 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season but must be under the age of 7 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 8 – the player must be under the age of 8 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 9 – the player must be under the age of 9 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 10 – the player must be under the age of 10 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
In accordance with the foregoing qualifications a player in the above age ranges must not play in a match where any other player is older or younger by 2 years or more.
Youth Football
Under 11 – the player must have attained the age of 10 but must be under the age of 11 by midnight 31st August in the playing season.
Under 12 – the player must be under the age of 12 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 13 – the player must be under the age of 13 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 14 – the player must be under the age of 14 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 15 – the player must be under the age of 15 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 16 – the player must be under the age of 16 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 17 – the player must be under the age of 17 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
Under 18 – the player must be under the age of 18 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.
In accordance with the foregoing qualifications a player under the age of 14 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season must not play in a match where any other player is older or younger by 2 years or more.
(The above qualification dates are subject to the provisions contained in FA Rule C.4(a)(v)).
(C) NOT APPLICABLE
(D) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club official may not accept such player’s signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.
(E) A fee of £1 shall be paid for each player registered.
Registration forms shall be obtained from the (Registrations) Secretary on prepayment of £1 per form.
(F) The Management Committee shall decide all registration disputes.
In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player shall be registered. The (Registrations) Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.
(G) It shall be deemed misconduct for a player to:-
(i) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without
first being transferred.
(ii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the
Competition in that season except for the purpose of a transfer.
(iii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had wilfully
neglected to accurately or fully complete.
(H) (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player.
(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).
(iii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player charged and 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.
(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.)
(I) Subject to The Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the (Registrations) Secretary accompanied by a fee of £5. Such transfer shall be referred by the (Registrations) Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the 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 7 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.
(J) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 28th February, except by special permission of the Management Committee.
(K) A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.
In the event a Club has more than one team in an age group, each team must be clearly designated “A” and “B” etc. In such cases, players will be registered for one team only. A players so registered will be allowed to play for his Club in a younger or older age group within the provisions of Rule 8 (B).
(L) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the (Registrations) Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged. Registrations are valid for one Season only.
(M) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12(A)) unless the player has played 5 games for that team in this Competition in the current season.
(N) NOT APPLICABLE
(O) (i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(ii) In addition the team 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.
(iii) The Management Committee may, at its discretion, award the points available in the match in question to the opponents, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.
(The following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary education):-
(P) (i) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.
(ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Competitions).
(iii) Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.
(Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply.)
CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME
9.(A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 1st August (date) 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 3 days before the match.
If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the home team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £5.
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 1 to 18 without duplication.
(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its affiliated County Football Association and from the Management Committee.
PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY
TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES
10.(A) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the (Fixtures) Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no later than , must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.
(B) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board or, for Mini-Soccer, the Laws of Mini-Soccer as set down by The Football Association.
Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to be changed.
The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.
All matches shall have a duration as set out below unless a shorter time (not less than 30 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two Clubs in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.
For Mini-Soccer – The maximum duration of play shall be two halves of 20 minutes each way. The maximum playing time in any one day for under 7 and under 8 age groups is 40 minutes and for under 9 and under 10 age groups is 60 minutes.
For Youth football – The duration of play shall be as follows unless it is mutually agreed by all parties to reduce the time. For under 11 age group 25 minutes each way, under 12 age group 30 minutes each way; for under 13, 14 age group 35 minutes each way and under 15 and under 16 age group 40 minutes each way; under 17 and under 18 age group 45 minutes each way.
The minimum time for any game will not be less than 20 minutes each half for players in the under 14 age group and below 25 minutes each half for all other age groups.
No player under the age of 17 as at midnight on 31st August in any season shall be permitted to play more than one game or, in the event the competition allows the playing of a double-header, i.e.: two separate matches, 100 minutes per day in this Competition.
The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the A.G.M. or the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time may be fined a sum not exceeding £5 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.
Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition.
The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. The size of football to be used: For Mini-Soccer, size 3 for players in the under 7 and 8 age categories; size 4 for under 9s and 10s. For youth football – size 4 for those playing under 11, 12, 13 and 14 age groups; size 5 for all other age groups. Goal nets must be used.
(C) Except by permission of the Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the (Fixtures) Secretary.
(D) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of 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 3 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 £10.
(E) Every Club shall play its best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition.
(Note: The intention of this Rule is not to interfere with normal team selection by Clubs, but to prevent Clubs deliberately fielding a weakened team in order to unreasonably reserve players for another game or to boost the strength of another or lower team. It is NOT intended that Clubs MUST field higher team players in lower teams when the higher team has no engagement. If, in the opinion of the Management Committee, the substance or spirit of the Rule is obviously being disregarded, the Club or Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions And shall be subject to such 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 11 / 7 / 5 players they may be fined £1 for each missing player. A minimum of 7 for 11 a-side. 5 / 4 for mini-soccer 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 fulfil 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 £20 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.
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 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 opponents and/or take what other action they may deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or their Club members, the Management Committee shall take such action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary action taken by the appropriate Affiliated Association.
(G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 5 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from 5 players.
For Mini-Soccer – any number of substitutions may be used at any time with the permission of the Referee. Entry onto the field of play will only be allowed during a stoppage in play. A player who has been replaced may return to the play as a substitute for another player.
For Youth Football – for teams in the under 16 age group and below, a player who has been substituted himself becomes a substitute and may replace another player at any time subject to the substitution being carried out in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of Association Football.
The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than 10 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 5 minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.
REPORTING RESULTS
11.(A) The Team Sheet Co-ordinator must receive within 3 days of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (in block letters) and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £5 and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide. The League may withhold any fixtures if there is a recurring problem with a team not sending in Teamsheets as required under rule 11(A).
(B) The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match to the Fixture Secretary by 8 pm. Failure to do so shall incur a fine of £10.
(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 points for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points. In Mini Soccer points can only be awarded for Under 9 Competitions.
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:-
(iv) deciding match(es) played under conditions determined by the Management Committee.
For deciding matches, in the event of the scores in a special championship match played under conditions determined by the management committee being level at the end of the game. 10 minutes each way extra time shall be played for 11 a side, and 5 minutes each way extra time for short sided. Should one of the teams score a goal during the period of extra time the match will be considered as finished and the team scoring the goal declared the winner. If no goal is scored during extra time, the winners will be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the International Board Decision contained in the Laws of Association Football.
(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
(C) In the event of a team not completing 75% of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition table. The defaulting team may be fined not less than £5.00 for each fixture unfulfilled.
(D) NOT APPLICABLE
REFEREES
13.(A) Registered Referees for all matches 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, or where the competition has been unable to appoint a Referee, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
(C) The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs, appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any match. Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £10 being imposed on the defaulting Club.
(D) The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbitor and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.
(E) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses Referee £20 for 11, a-side / £10 for mini-soccer, Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees £10 for 11, a-side / £5 for mini-soccer, subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Association(s).
The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses immediately after the match. Match fees shall be divided equally between the two clubs.
(F) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half fee 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, may be reported to the County Football 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 Football Association.
(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 31st March each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £10.
All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following Season must confirm their intention to do so, in writing, to the Secretary by 31st March.
(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the arrangement of fixtures for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £50 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).
(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 30th June the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to join another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements
(D) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition.
In the event that any such obligation remains un-discharged after a period of twenty-one (21) days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving age. Until a Member ís 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.
PROTESTS AND APPEALS
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 3 days (excluding Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee. A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined.
(C) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties subject to Rule 16.
(D) 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 £15. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties.
(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and must have received 7 days notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When dealing with a protest or complaint the Management Committee shall take into consideration the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.
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 Cheshire Football Association, including a fee of £25, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules.
The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties concerned.
No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an Annual or Special General Meeting unless this is on the ground of unconstitutional conduct.
EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS
MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
17. (A) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership which must be supported by (more than) two-thirds (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.
(B) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club or team of a Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable, which must be supported by (more than) two-thirds (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.
(C) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either a breach of Rule, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.
(D) Any Club or Team failing to complete 100% 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 Competition Cup or Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Competition as Trustees. If a Competition be discontinued for any cause the Cup or Trophy shall be returned to the Donor, if the conditions attached to it so provide, or otherwise dealt with as the Association may decide. At the close of each Competition awards may be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.
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 1st 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.”
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 14 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. Not less than 7 days’ notice shall be given of any Meeting.
Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given may be fined £15.
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
ALTERATION TO RULES
20. Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season.
Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by 31st March in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 14th April and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 30th April. The proposals and proposed amendments thereto shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if two thirds [a majority] of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.
A copy of the proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football Association 28 days prior to the date of the meeting.
Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the approval of the Association issuing sanction shall have been obtained.
RULES BINDING ON CLUBS
21. Each Member Club shall be deemed to have given its assent to the foregoing Rules and agreed to abide by the decisions of the Management Committee subject to Rule 16. Each Member Club must abide by any issued Football Association Code of Conduct (Appendix _____).
FINANCE
22.(A) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.
(B) All expenditure in excess of £50 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two Officers nominated by the Management Committee.
(C) The financial year of the Competition will end on 31st December.
(D) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
DOUBLE-HEADER GAMES (Supplementary Rules / Bye Laws)
23 A. In the event of inclement weather and or adverse playing conditions, the Management Committee MAY introduce ‘double-header’ games in order to ensure that the League programme is completed. Double-header games are the playing of two matches between the same two teams, one following the other, on one pitch, on one day. These will only be introduced when strictly necessary bearing in mind the number of outstanding games and the number of Matchdays left in the season.
B. The fixtures will be decided by the Fixture Secretary and the games are to be played on the ground of the scheduled Home side.
C. A team not ready to play at the time of the first Kick-off shall be deemed as absent and the points shall be awarded to the team that is ready to play. The second game will be played as soon as possible.
D. No more than a ten minute break shall separate the two games and the Half-time period in each game shall be reduced if agreeable to both sides or at the Referees discretion.
The duration of each game shall be :-
Mini Soccer Under 7’s… 8 minutes each way
Mini Soccer Under 8’s …10 minutes each way
Mini Soccer Under 9’s & 10’s… 12 minutes each way
Under 11’s,… 15 minutes each way
Under 12’s, … 18 minutes each way
Under 13’s, & 14’s … 20 minutes each way
Under 15’s, & 16’s… 25 minutes each way
A Double-header must not exceed the duration of a cup game with extra time added, as appropriate to each age group.
E. Each game may consist of different registered players for each team, but Registration Cards must be exchanged before the start of each game and the substitutes must be named. Separate Team Sheets must be completed for each game.