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1.
NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION (a) This Combination of Clubs shall be designated the Aylesbury Sunday Football Combination and shall consist of not more than fifty (50) Clubs. (b) All such Clubs shall be duly affiliated to their appropriate County FA and shall have ground or headquarters situated within a twenty (20) miles radius of the centre of Aylesbury and their names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on form ‘D’ to the Berks & Bucks FA (c) The Combination shall apply annually for sanction to the Berks & Bucks F.A, and the constituent Teams may be grouped in Divisions as decided by the Management Committee. 2.
ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT (a) Applications by Clubs for admission to the Combination shall be made in writing to the Secretary and shall be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £25.00 per Team, which shall be returned in the event of non-election. Closing date for applications from Clubs is 1st June each year. Fees shall be enclosed with applications At the discretion of a majority of its accredited voting members present, applications may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply. (b) The Annual Subscription shall be £25.00 for each Club (or Team), payable by 30th June in each year. (c) Each Club shall within fourteen (14) days of election pay a deposit of £75.00, which shall be returned to Clubs on withdrawing from the Combination provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee. (d) A Club shall not participate in a league match until the Entry Fee, the Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid. (e) Clubs shall advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 1st August of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming season and any other information required by the Competition. (f) Each Club shall purchase three (3) copies of the Combination handbook for which a charge not exceeding £5.00 shall be made. Further copies can be obtained at £2.00 each. (g) The Management Committee may impose an administration charge not exceeding £15.00, to be decided at the Management Committee Meeting held in January of each season. (h) Existing Member Clubs wishing to enter a reserve Team may only do so when the Club has been a member of the Combination for the minimum period of one (1) season. (i) The Entry Fee and Annual Subscription shall apply as in Rule 2(a), (b) and (c) above. 3.
OFFICERS The Officers of the Combination shall be:- President, Vice President (s), Chairman, Vice- Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Fixtures Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees’ Secretary, Press/Results Secretary, Ground Liaison Officer and Sportsmanship Secretary to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.(N.B. Verifiers of Accounts are not Officers).4.
MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION AND ELECTION (a) The Combination shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and six (6) 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 (2) Member Clubs, not later than 1st June 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. On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting. (d) Except where otherwise mentioned, all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Combination and keep a record of its proceedings. (e) All communications received from Clubs shall be conducted through their nominated Officers. 5.
POWERS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (a)
The Management Committee may appoint Sub-Committees and delegate such of
their powers as they deem necessary. The
decisions of all such 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) The Management Committee may (subject to the permission of the Berks & Bucks FA having been obtained) order a match or matches to be played each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Combination 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. (c) Each Member of the Management Committee shall be entitled to attend Management Committee Meetings and have one (1) vote except that no member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to himself or to the Club he represents. This principle shall apply to the procedure of any 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 Combination and shall also have jurisdiction over matters
affecting the Combination, including any not provided for by the Rules. Except
where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set penalty any Club, Club
Official (limited to Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer) or Player alleged to be
in breach of Combination Rule shall be formally charged in writing and given the
opportunity to present their case before the Management Committee. Financial
penalties can only be imposed if included within the set penalties for breaches
of Combination Rules. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and
Regulations of The Football Association shall be dealt with in accordance with
Football Association Rules by the appropriate Association. (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 shall be notified in writing to all concerned within fourteen (14) days. (f) Five (5) members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and three (3) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any Sub-committee of the Combination. (g) If any member shall have been absent for three (3) consecutive Management Committee Meetings without any good reason he shall be removed from the Committee and the Management Committee shall co-opt a representative to fill his place until the following Annual General Meeting. If any member of the Management Committee shall resign, the Management Committee shall co-opt a person to fill the post until the next Annual General Meeting. (h) All fines and charges shall be paid within fourteen (14) days of the date of notification of imposition (unless otherwise ordered). If any such fine or charge is not paid within this period a further fine additional fine of £20.00 shall be imposed at the discretion of the Management Committee. (i) The Management Committee shall hold an Annual Clubs Meeting to deal solely with the operational requirements of the Combination for the forthcoming season. Each Club is empowered to send at least one (1) delegate. A Club failing to be represented at a Annual Clubs Meeting shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00 and failing to be represented at three (3) consecutive meetings without satisfactory reasons being given shall be further dealt with as the Management Committee may determine. Not less than fourteen (14) days notice shall be given of any meeting. (j) A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee within twenty-one (21) days of receipt of notice of such order or within twenty-one (21) days of an operative date specified in that order, shall not be allowed to play or take part in the business of the Combination until the order has been complied with and a reason for the delay has been furnished to the Secretary who shall submit it to the Management Committee for their adjudication. (k) A Club failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and the correspondence of the Combination shall be liable to be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00 or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee (subject to Rule 16). (l) A Member appointed by the Combination to attend a meeting or match may have his expenses refunded by the Committee. (m) Any Club not supplying an alternative telephone number for the season’s Club Directory before the commencement of the season shall be suspended until an alternative telephone number is received by the Secretary. Any scheduled games shall be awarded to their opposition. The alternative contact name and telephone number shall be a separate daytime telephone number not a mobile or works number. This is in addition to the Secretary’s telephone number. (o) No participant under the age of eighteen (18) can be fined. 6.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (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 75% of members are present and entitled to vote:- (1) The minutes of the proceeding Annual General Meeting shall be read and confirmed. (2) To consider any business arising there from. (3) Presentation and adoption of the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts. (4) Election of new Clubs. (5) Constitution of the Combination for ensuing season. (6) Election of Officers and Management Committee. (7) Appointment of Verifier of Accounts. (8) Alterations of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given. See Rule 20). (9) Fix dates on which normal playing seasons shall commence and terminate for ensuing season. (10) 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 verified Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting and to the County Football Association. (c) A signed copy of the duly verified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Berks & Bucks FA within fourteen (14) days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting. (d) Each member Club shall be empowered to send two (2) delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one (1) vote only. (e) Clubs who have withdrawn their membership of the Combination 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 is demanded by at least one third of the delegates present or the Chairman so decides. (g) Any continuing member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00. (h) Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting 7.
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED The Chairman, the Secretary and two responsible members of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Combination, together with the application for membership for the coming season or upon indicating that the Club intends to complete:- We………(name)… of (address……Chairman), and …(name)……. of…….(address)…. Secretary, and …….(name) of……(address) …….members of the……..Football Club, and have been provided with copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Aylesbury Sunday Football Combination and do hereby agree for, and on behalf of the said Club, to, if elected or accepted into membership, conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide by and implement the decisions of the Management of the Combination subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16. Any alteration of the Chairman
and/or Secretary on the above Agreement shall be notified to the 8.
QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS (a) Any bona-fide members of a Club shall be eligible to play for that Club in this Combination (subject to other relevant clauses in these Rules) provided he has not, in the current season, played for another Club in the Combination, or previously signed for, or played for another Club in the Combination. If he has so played or remains on the Combination Register of Players, permission for his transfer shall be obtained from the Club to which he is attached (see Rule 8(h)). (b) All Clubs shall register the majority of players as soon as possible after the Annual Clubs Meeting (approximately fourteen (14) days before the season’s commencement). In the seven (7) days prior to the start of the season only three (3) registration forms per Team shall be accepted. For the purpose of this Competition, a registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has signed a fully and correctly completed Combination registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club. Such form having been posted to the Registration Secretary, bearing a postmark twenty-four (24) hours earlier than kick-off time on the day of the match or having been delivered to the Registration Secretary twenty-four (24) hours before kick-off time on the day of the match. The player having played under the conditions of this Rule shall not again play until the Club is in possession of his completed registration counterfoil. (c) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Combination without first proving to the officials or his intended Club that he has discharged his responsible financial liabilities to his previous Club or Clubs, and an 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 he last played. (d) (i) Registration forms shall be supplied in an initial block of twenty at 40p per form and additional forms shall be obtained from the Registration Secretary at a cost of £1.00 per form, the request to be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. (ii) Transfer forms shall be obtained from the Registration Secretary at a cost of £5.00 per form, the request to be accompanied with a stamped addressed envelope. (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 (1) Club, priority of registration shall decide for which Club he shall be registered and the Registration Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player, of the fact of the previous registration. (f) It shall be deemed a breach of Rule for a player to:- (i) Play for more than one (1) Club in the Combination in the same season without first being transferred. (ii) Having signed for one (1) Club in the Combination, sign for another Club in the Combination in that same season except for the purpose of transfer (iii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that he has wilfully neglected to accurately or fully complete. (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 a sum not exceeding £100.00, except those under eighteen (18) years of age, at their discretion proved guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16). (iii) The Management Committee shall have power to make application to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in all games in the Competition (Subject to Rule 16) subject to the right of appeal to The Football Association or the relevant County Football Association. Undesirable conduct shall mean
an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being
involved in this Competition. Application should be made to the parent County of
the Club the player is registered with. Note:
Action under Rule 8(g)(iii) shall not be taken against a player for
misconduct on the field of play until the matter has been dealt with by the
appropriate Association and then only in cases of the player bringing the
Combination into disrepute and shall in any case be subject to an Appeal to The
Football Association. For the purpose of this Rule, bring the Combination into
disrepute can only be considered where the player has received in excess of
one-hundred and twelve (112) days suspension, or ten (10) matches in match based
discipline, in a period of two (2) years or less from the date of the first
offence.) (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 Registration Secretary. Such transfer shall be referred by the Registration Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should the Club object to the transfer it should state its objection in writing, to the Registration Secretary and to the player concerned, within seven (7) days of receipt of the application. Upon receipt the Clubs consent, or upon its failure to give written objection with seven (7) days, the Registration Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player and he shall be deemed eligible to play for his new Club from such dates seven (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. (i) A player may not be registered for a Club nor be transferred to another Club in the Combination after 31st January. (j) A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the game 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 Registration Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually agreed. Registrations are valid for one (1) Season only. (l) A player shall not be eligible to play for a Team in any “special” championship deciding match or any “special” match unless he has played five (5) games for that Team in this Combination in the current season. (m) (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 a sum not exceeding £100.00 or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. (ii) In addition the Team shall have three (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 any points deducted under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not be ordered to be replayed. (n) In the event of a Member Club withdrawing and/or disbanding during the current season a maximum of three (3) players who were registered with that Club shall be allowed to register with another Member Club in the current season. (o) (i) Priority shall be given at all times to school organisation activities. (ii) The availability of children shall be cleared with Head Teachers (except for Sunday Leagues). (iii) To play open age football the player shall have achieved the age of sixteen (16). 9.
CLUB COLOURS – CLUB NAME (a) Every Club shall register the colours of its shirts and shorts with the Combination who shall decide as to their suitability. Goalkeepers shall 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 or jerseys. Any Team not being able to play in its normal colours as registered with the Combination shall notify the colours in which they shall play to the opponents at least three (3) days before the match. In the event of two (2) Clubs, in the opinion of the referee, having 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 a sum not exceeding £25.00. The Secretary of the Combination may request jerseys or shirts to be submitted to him if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours and the Management Committee may condemn any shirts or shorts as they think fit. (b)
Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours whilst members of this
Combination, shall obtain permission from its affiliated (c) All jerseys or shirts shall be uniquely numbered 10.
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 Fixture Secretary shall not be arranged for a date later than seven (7) days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting. Clubs shall be invited to play midweek matches when required to fulfill outstanding fixtures. (b) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as settled by the International Football Association board. Clubs shall take all reasonable precautions to keep their ground in playable condition. All matches shall be played on grounds 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 the power to order the venue to be changed. Premier Division Teams are to have suitable changing room and washing facilities. Division One and Division Two Teams are to have suitable changing rooms. All matches played in the Combination shall be ninety (90) minutes (forty-five (45) minutes each half) unless a short time (not less than sixty (60) minutes, thirty (30) minutes each half) is mutually arranged by the two (2) Captains in consultation with the Referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in the event shall be of two (2) equal halves. The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00. Changes to kick-off times may only be made by agreement with the Management Committee or Fixture Secretary on behalf of the Management Committee. Changes shall also be agreed with each participating Club, Referees Secretary and the match Referee. Referees shall order matches to commence at the appointed time if possible and shall report all late starts to the Combination and advise the captain of the offending Team(s) of his intention to do so. The Home Team shall provide two (2) suitable match balls fit for play and present it to the Referee fifteen (15) minutes before the kick-off. The Referee shall notify the captain if he intends to make a report as to the ball being unsuitable. A Club providing unsuitable match balls shall be fined a sum not exceeding £15.00. The Home Team shall ensure goal nets and corner flag posts are in position before the commencement of each match. Before each match both Teams shall complete a Team Sheet with the following information: Date of Match, Division or Cup Round, Each Teams Name and Colours, Player’s full Names (in block letters) against the shirt or short number they are wearing for the Match and each player’s registration number, Referee’s Name, Date of match confirmation and Name of Club. Teams shall exchange copies, in the presence of the Referee, who shall retain a copy fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled kick-off. Failure to comply shall incur a fine not exceeding £15.00. In the event of a Club commencing a match with fewer than eleven (11) players, they shall be fined a sum not exceeding £15.00 per missing player. The half-time interval shall be fifteen (15) minutes, in accordance with the Laws of the Game. The duration of the half-time interval may be altered only with the consent of the Referee. (c) Except by permission of the Management Committee (or the Fixture Secretary acting on their behalf), all matches shall be played on the dates originally fixed, but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all County Association Competitions. All other matches shall be considered subservient. Clubs may bring forward a match with the consent of all interested parties and the Fixtures Secretary. A Team who is engaged in a cup-tie replay shall inform the Fixtures Secretary within twenty-four (24) hours. All Clubs shall fulfill all league fixtures. Any Club failing to fulfil all fixtures shall be fined a sum not exceeding £100.00. (d) Any Club unable to fulfill a fixture shall, without delay, (by personal service or telephone) give notice to the Fixture Secretary, the Referee 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. A fine not exceeding £50.00 and the match awarded to its opponents may be applied. Note: If the game is postponed on the morning of the match, please telephone the Press/Results Secretary informing him of the postponement.. (e) The Secretary of the Home Club shall give notice by phone or in writing of full particulars of the situation of the ground, time of kick-off and means of reaching the ground, to the Referee (Assistant Referees) and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least four (4) clear days prior to the playing of the match and the away Club shall acknowledge receipt of such particulars. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £25.00, for each offence. (f) (i) Every Club shall play its best available qualified Team or Teams in all matches in the League. The intention of this Rule is not to interfere with the normal Team selections 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 shall field higher Team players in lower Teams when the higher Team has no engagement. If in the opinion of the Management Committee the substance or spirit of the Rule is obviously being disregarded, the Club or Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions and shall be subject to such decisions as the Management Committee may determine, despite the fact that Rule 8 has not been infringed. (ii) A Reserve Team shall be placed into a lower Division than its First Team. Where a Club with a Reserve Team can only field one (1) Team, this Team becomes the First Team. No Club shall include in its Reserve Team more than two (2) players at a time who have played more than three (3) games for its own or any other Club’s First Team, but a player shall be classed as being reinstated as a Reserve Team player if through injury or other reasons he has not played First Team football in the previous four (4) weeks in the Combination. (g)
(i) 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 not exceeding £50.00, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award points
to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the
opponents or otherwise dealt with except the awarding 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 opponents ground if
they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances. (ii) If a Team cancels a game within twenty-four (24) hours prior to kick-off, except under special circumstances, the game may be awarded to the non-offending Team, with the score 0-0, at the discretion of the Management Committee. (iii) Any club requesting a free date shall submit this request in writing to the Secretary giving at least twenty-eight (28) days notice for consideration. The Secretary shall confirm acceptance of the request, or otherwise, within seven (7) days. (iv) Any Club with more
than one (1) Team in the Combination shall always fulfill its fixture, within
the Combination, in the following order of precedence:- First Team, Reserve
Team, ‘A’ Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not
exceeding £50.00 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee. (h) In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall (subject to Rule 10(j) below) be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed by two (2) Clubs and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and notification to the Fixtures Secretary within fourteen (14) days the matter shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who shall have the power to order the match to be played on a named date, or on or before a given date, or to deal with the matter as they may determine subject to the provision of Rule 10(c). Not less than four (4) days notice shall be given to the Clubs concerned. (j)
The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches in cases
where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both Teams. Where it is to
the advantage of the Combination and does no injustice to either Club, 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 (1) Team or its Club member(s) they shall be
empowered to award the points for the match to its opponent. In cases where a
game has been abandoned owing to the conduct of Teams or their Club member(s),
the Management Committee shall rule all points for the match as void. No fine(s)
can be applied by the Management Committee for an abandoned match. (k) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use three (3) from five (5) substitute players in any match in this Combination. The Referee shall be informed of the five (5) substitutes’ names not later than fifteen (15) minutes before the start of each game. A player who has been selected, appointed, or named as substitute before the start of a 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. (l) Clubs shall not agree to play a friendly match in place of a Combination fixture. (m) A Club shall not be allowed to change a fixture to their opponents ground without permission being first obtained from the Fixture Secretary or the match Referee. (n) Payment for the use of Council grounds shall be made within fourteen (14) days of the match being played and failure to do so shall incur a fine not exceeding £25.00. Clubs using Council grounds shall pay for two (2) pitches prior to the commencement of the season. 11.
RESULT/REPORT FORMS (a) The Home Club shall telephone the result of the match to the Press/Results Secretary within two (2) hours after the completion of the match. Clubs engaged in cup matches against opponents who are not members of the Combination shall be responsible for notifying the Fixtures Secretary of the result of the match. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00. (b) Each Club shall send to the Registration Secretary within three (3) days (Sunday excepted) of the date played, the result of each match, initials and surnames (in block capitals) and registration numbers of all their players and also the referee’s markings required by Rule 13 or in default be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00 for each offence. (c) The result form, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club and the Management Committee shall have the power to take such action they deem suitable against a Club which submits an incomplete or incorrect form and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £25.00 for each offence. 12.
POINTS TO DETERMINE CHAMPIONSHIP – DECIDING MATCHES PROMOTION AND
RELEGATION 12. (a) Team rankings within the Competition shall be decided by points with three (3) points to be awarded for a win and one (1) point for a drawn match. The Teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches shall not be played for double points. In the event of two (2) Teams or more Teams being equal on points for any position in any of the league tables at the conclusion, goal difference shall decide. In the event of two (2) or more Clubs being level on points and goal difference, the Team with the most goals scored shall be positioned highest. (b) (i) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first and last two (2) Teams in each Division except as provided in the following:- Should two (2) or more Teams withdraw from one Division after the fixtures have commenced and their vacancies not filled during the season, no Team in that Division shall be automatically relegated. (ii) Additional vacancies, caused by the retirement of a Team or by the withdrawal of a Club from the Combination, shall be filled by election. The last two (2) Teams in the lower Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election as below, and subject to the conditions of Rule 12 (b) (i). (iii) When a Senior Team is relegated to a lower Division of which its Reserve Team is a member, or entitled to be a member, such Reserve Team shall accept relegation to, or retain its position in the next lower Division; and should the Senior Team be relegated to the lowest Division, its Reserve Team automatically retires from the Combination. (iv) Should either or both the leading Teams in any of the Divisions have its Senior Team in the next higher Division, promotion shall fall, at the discretion of the Annual General Meeting, to the highest Team or Teams in the Division concerned. (c) In the event of a Club not completing 75% of its fixtures for the season, all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting Club, shall be expunged from the league table. 13.
REFEREES (a) Registered Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the Sanctioning Association. (b) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee, the senior Assistant Referee, when appointed, shall take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed. In cases where there are no officially appointed Referees, the Club shall mutually agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus mutually agreed upon shall for that game have the full power, status and authority of a registered Referee, and shall be entitled to appropriate fee and expenses. (c) The Management Committee may if they consider it desirable or upon application by the two competing Clubs, appoint registered Referees, if available, as Assistant Referees to any match. With the above exceptions, each Club shall provide a Club Assistant Referee or be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00. (d) The appointed Referee shall have the power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and his decision shall be final. (e) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge the following match fees, inclusive of expenses:- Referee: £30.00 Assistant Referee: £20.00 Subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Association. The Referee shall provide each Club with a Referees Report Sheet: this should include anything that the Referee has to report to the Combination. The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fee and expenses immediately before the match. If a Club fails to pay the appointed Referee, they shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £25.00. (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 plus expenses, but where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall pay the Officials, if they reasonably attend at the ground, their full fee inclusive of expenses. (g) A Referee not keeping his engagement and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his non-appearance, may have his name removed from the list of referees and the fact reported to the Association with which he is registered. (h) Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed by the The Football Association, award marks to the Referee, as per appendix, for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Combination on the result/report form provided. Clubs failing to comply with this clause shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £15.00 or dealt with, as the Management Committee shall determine. Clubs awarding a mark of less than fifty (50), shall send an explanatory letter to the Referees Secretary within seven (7) days or shall be liable to be fined a sum not exceeding £10.00 The Combination shall keep a record of the markings and, on the form provided and by the prescribed day each season, shall submit a summary to the County Football Association. (i) All correspondence concerning Referees should be sent direct to the Referees Secretary. 14.
CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF CLUB (a) Every Club shall notify the Secretary of the Combination on or before 31st March each year of its intention to continue in, or withdraw from the Combination its Team or Teams for the next season, or be liable to a fine not exceeding £100.00 and shall forfeit their deposit. (b) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all its Teams from the Combination after the Annual General Meeting for the following season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £150.00, and shall forfeit their deposit and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(b). (c) No player from a defaulting Club shall be allowed to play for any member Club until any fine liable under Rule 14(b) has been paid in full. (d) The Committee or any member of the Committee of the defaulting Club shall not be allowed to run any Club within the Aylesbury Sunday Football Combination for one (1) full season following that in which the Club withdraws, subject to the Management Committee approval. 15.
PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS (a) (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretation 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 shall 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 shall contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) shall be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within seven (7) 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 a protest or complaint is being determined. (c) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Combination 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 shall be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and shall have received seven (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. 16.
BOARD OF APPEAL Within fourteen (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 Berks & Bucks Football Association, including a fee of £50.00, 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 grounds of unconstitutional conduct. 17.
EXCLUSION OF CLUBS – MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS (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 shall be supported by (more than) two-thirds 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 provision of Rule 19, the accredited delegates' shall have power to exclude from further participation in the Combination, any Club whose conduct has in their opinion been undesirable, which shall be supported by (more than) two-thirds 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 Club Official or member proved guilty of either a breach of Rule, other than field offences or of inducing or attempting to induce a player of another Club 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 Rule 17(a) and (b). (d) Any Club or Team failing to complete its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the majority of 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 excluded from membership the following season. 18.
TROPHIES – LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE
SIGNED – AWARDS (a) The Combination shall, for all intent and purposes, be the legal owners of the Combination Trophies, which cannot be won outright. 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) At the close of each Competition, awards shall be made to the winners and runners-up of each Division if the funds of the Combination permit. (c) The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the trophies:- “We …………….. Secretary of ……………….Football Club and …………………(1)……………. (2) ………………… (3) ……………….. members of and representing the said Club having been declared winners of the ………………. Division/trophy of the Aylesbury Sunday Football Combination and the same having been delivered to us by the said Combination, do hereby on behalf of the said Club, jointly and severely agree to return the same to the Secretary before 1st March next in accordance with the Rules of the Combination, and providing the said Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care, we agree to refund to the Combination the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough repair.” (d) The names of the winning Clubs shall be engraved on the Combination Trophies at the said Clubs expense and shall be so engraved before returning trophies to the Secretary. 19.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS 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 fourteen (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 (2) delegates to all Special General Meetings.
Each Club shall be entitled to one (1) vote only. Not less than
fourteen (14) 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 shall be fined £50.00. Officers and Management
Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General
Meetings. All amendment of Rules can
only be implemented once approved by the appropriate sanctioning authority. 20.
ALTERATION TO RULES (a) 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 alterations made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season. (b) Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by 28th February in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals from the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 15th March and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 31st March. 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 of those present and entitled to vote are in favour. (c) A copy of the proposed alterations and proposed amendments to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Berks & Bucks Football Association by not later than 14th April. A copy of the proposed alterations and proposed amendments to be considered at a Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the Berks & Bucks Football Association by no later than twenty-eight (28) days prior to the date of the meeting. (d) Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the approval of the Berks & Bucks Football Association shall have been obtained. 21.
RULES BINDING ON CLUBS 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 shall abide by any issued Football Association Code of Conduct. 22.
FINANCE (a) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition shall be lodged. (b) All expenditure in excess of £100.00 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two (2) Officers nominated by the Management Committee. (c) The financial year of the Competition shall end on 1st June. (d) The books, or a certified Balance Sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be verified annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. 23.
REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES (a) Representative matches shall be arranged where possible. A Selection Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Team manager, shall be nominated to select the Team, acting upon the recommendations from the Club Secretaries. (b) No player selected for the representative side shall play for his Club on the same day. (c) Clubs having two (2) or more of their players selected by the representative side shall be allowed to have their games postponed on request. (d) The Treasurer shall insure the Representative Team for all matches where necessary. (e) Referees’ and Assistant Referees’ fee shall be £30.00 and £20.00 match fee respectively inclusive of expenses. APPENDIX REFEREE’S
MARKS SECTION 1 – GENERAL
CONTROL
MAXIMUM 50 MARKS (a) Did he face up to difficulties – or influenced by the crowd? (b) Where his decisions given clearly? (c) Did he make effective use of his linesmen? (d) Was his positioning satisfactory? SECTION 2 – APPLICATION
OF THE LAWS
MAXIMUM 30 MARKS (a) Was the referee generally correct in his decisions based on his interpretation of the Laws of the Game? (N.B. Isolated controversial shall be ignored). SECTION 3 – PERSONALITY
AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE MAXIMUM
20 MARKS (a) Was the referee confident and quick thinking? (b) Did his appearance and personality inspire confidence? The total award in each section to be entered on the result/report form, i.e. 50/30/20 total 100. ADVICE
TO REFEREES 1. Always accept or decline by return. 2. Always telephone if you need a late release. 3. If you do not receive details of a match to which you have been appointed, check if still on. 4. If you have not been appointed to a match, telephone in to see if you are required. 5. If possible, give open dates a month in advance. MATCH
FEES Referees:- All Divisions £30.00 inclusive of expenses Assistant
Referees:- All Divisions
£20.00 inclusive of expenses A.S.F.C.
TONY HIGGINSON CHALLENGE CUP 1. The Competition shall be known as the Aylesbury Sunday Football Combination Tony Higginson Challenge Cup Competition. 2. Entry is mandatory, and shall be restricted to the Teams in the upper two (2) Divisions of the Aylesbury Sunday Football Combination (hereafter called the ASFC). If, however, the ASFC has only three (3) Divisions for that particular season, the Teams shall be equally shared between the Tony Higginson Challenge Cup and Chris Payne Trophy. The Management Committee shall decide at a monthly Committee Meeting which Teams are entered in each Competition. This decision is final and binding. 3. No player shall play in the Competition unless he has been duly registered for the Club he proposes to represent in accordance with Rule 8 of the Combination. All relevant provisions of that Rule shall apply, except that before the quarter finals proper the player shall have played two (2) league games, and a player may only compete if his registration form has reached the Registration Secretary at least seven (7) days before the day on which he proposed to play. (For this purpose the day the form is received by the Registration Secretary and the day on which the match is played shall be included in calculating the period of seven (7) days). 4. The Competition shall be played on a knockout basis. Matches shall commence at 10-30am and playing time shall be as for Combination Rule 10 but extra time of thirty (30) minutes (fifteen (15) minutes each half) shall be played where the match is a draw at the end of full-time. After extra time, if the scores are still level, the winner shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with The International Board recommended procedure. 5. A Club playing a player who has not been duly registered in accordance with Rule 3 above or is serving a period of suspension from the Berks & Bucks FA shall be expelled from the Competition, and the tie awarded to their opponents. 6. The Management Committee of the Combination shall have full power to control the Competition. 7. No player can play for more than one (1) Club in this Competition. 8. Cancelled matches shall be dealt with as Combination Rule 10. 9. Referees’ fees as for Combination in each round, except for the final, which shall be £25.00 inclusive of expenses. 10. Appeals Committee to be same as Combination. 11. Entrance fee to this Competition shall be £15.00. 12. All results/report forms submitted in connection with this Competition shall be plainly marked “A.S.F.C. Challenge Cup”. 13. All appropriate Rules of the Aylesbury Sunday Football Combination shall apply, except where alternative provision is made in these Rules. 14. The semi-finals shall, where possible, be played on neutral grounds, the costs to be shared equally by both Clubs. 15. All match day expenses (officials and pitch if applicable) to be shared equally between both Clubs on the day. Home Team is responsible for paying the officials and the pitch fee. Pitch fee for Away Team to be no more than half a Council pitch fee. 16. In the semi-finals and final each competing Club shall supply a suitable match ball fit for play and present it to the Referee fifteen (15) minutes before the kick-off. The Referee shall notify the captain if he intends to make a report as to any ball being unsuitable. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £15.00. 17. The final shall, when possible, be played at Aylesbury United Football Club. 1. The Competition shall be known as the Aylesbury Sunday Football Combination “Chris Payne Trophy”. 2. Entry is mandatory and shall be restricted to the Teams in the lower two (2) Divisions of the Aylesbury Sunday Football Combination (hereafter called the ASFC). If, however, the ASFC has only three (3) Divisions for that particular season, the Teams shall be equally shared between the Tony Higginson Challenge Cup and Chris Payne Trophy. The Management Committee shall decide at a monthly Committee Meeting which Teams are entered in each Competition. This decision is final and binding. 3. No player shall play in the Competition unless he has been duly registered for the Club he proposes to represent in accordance with Rule 8 of the Combination. All relevant provisions of that Rule shall apply, except that before the quarter finals proper the player shall have played two (2) league games, and a player may only compete if his registration form has reached the Registration Secretary at least seven (7) days before the day on which he proposed to play. (For this purpose the day the form is received by the Registration Secretary and the day on which the match is played shall be included in calculating the period of seven (7) days). 4. The Competition shall be played on a knockout basis. Matches shall commence at 10-30am and playing time shall be as for Combination Rule 10 but extra time of thirty (30) minutes (fifteen (15) minutes each half) shall be played where the match is a draw at the end of full-time. After extra time, if the scores are still level, the winner shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with The International Board recommended procedure. 5. A Club playing a player who has not been duly registered in accordance with Rule 3 above or is serving a period of suspension from the Berks & Bucks FA shall be expelled from the Competition, and the tie awarded to their opponents. 6. The Management Committee of the ASFC shall have full powers to control this Competition. 7. No player can play for more than one (1) Club in this Competition. 8. Cancelled matches shall be dealt with as Combination Rule 10. 9. Referees’ fees are to be as for the ASFC Tony Higginson Challenge Cup matches for each round. 10. The Appeals Committee shall be as for the ASFC Tony Higginson Challenge Cup. 11. Entrance fee to this Competition shall be £15.00. 12. All result forms submitted in connection with this Competition shall be clearly marked “Chris Payne Trophy”. 13. All appropriate Rules of the ASFC shall apply, except where alternative provision is made in these Rules. 14. The semi-finals shall, where possible, be played on neutral grounds, the costs to be shared equally by both Clubs. 15. All match day expenses (officials and pitch if applicable) to be shared equally between both Clubs on the day. Home Team is responsible for paying the officials and the pitch fee. Pitch fee for Away Team to be no more than half a Council pitch fee. 16. In the semi-finals and final each competing Club shall supply a suitable match ball fit for play and present it to the Referee fifteen (15) minutes before the kick-off. The Referee shall notify the captain if he intends to make a report as to any ball being unsuitable. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £15.00. 17. The final shall, when possible, be played at Aylesbury United Football Club. 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. 9.
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. 10. The applicable standard of proof
shall be the civil standard, of the balance of probability. The
more serious the allegation taking into account the nature of the
misconduct alleged and the
context of the case the greater the burden of evidence required to find
the matter proved. Save that for charges pursuant to The Football Association's
Child Protection Policy, where the welfare and protection
of children shall be paramount and the test shall be whether more likely than
not. |
