STANDARD CODE OF RULES
The following Rules have been compiled for the use of Competitions and are mandatory for all new Competitions, and will be mandatory for all
sanctioned Competitions at Step 7 or below of the National League System as from Season 2002/2003.
Competitions seeking sanction must draft their Rules in conformity with this Code, putting them in the correctly numbered Rule and showing the
Standard Headings.
It should be noted that in many cases Rules are so printed because they are alternatives. For instance shall/shall not or, more elaborately, in Rule 8
(B) where there is a differing procedure. In such cases the procedure to apply should be retained and the others omitted. In all cases where a line is shown the necessary name, address, number or wording to complete the Rule must be inserted.
THE DEVON & EXETER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NAME AND CONSTITUTION
1. This Competition shall be designated the Devon & Exeter Football League and shall consist of not more than 200 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 %u201CD%u201D to the Devon County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be a 50 mile radius from Exeter.
This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Devon County Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, comprising Premier, Senior and Intermediate each not exceeding 16 in number.
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 £50.00 (Youth £20.00) per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election.
With the exception of those involved in the F.A. National League System of Football, all Clubs and Teams desiring to be admitted to membership of the League must make an application to the League Hon. General Secretary not later than 15th May, (Premier Division 30th April). Such applications, which will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting for consideration and decision, shall be made on the Club%u2019s headed notepaper and shall contain full particulars of the Club%u2019s record to date, ground and dressing room situation, Club colours and also the names and addresses of the Club%u2019s Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Further, the Club Chairman and Secretary shall sign the application. The League Officers shall have the power to offer any Club seeking admittance to the League a place in such a Division as they consider the application to warrant, and to re-allocate the following season if justified.
By the 30th April, Clubs seeking election to the Premier Division of the League, whether existing member clubs of the League, or new applicant clubs, shall be required to complete a written questionnaire supplied by the Hon. General Secretary. Applicant clubs must satisfy the League Executive that they can offer all the minimum (ESSENTIAL) requirements as listed in Conditions of Entry to the Premier Division (located at the rear of the Handbook). Club Reserve Teams (Football League Clubs Included) shall be eligible for election to the Premier Division of the League at the discretion of the League Executive.
If the application proves successful the Entry Fee to be credited against League Fees payable. The Entry Fee will be forfeited should the application be withdrawn.
At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present, applications, of which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.
When Rule 12(B) is applied or a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.
Applications from Clubs not represented at the A.G.M. or S.G.M. will not be considered , and the Entry Fee retained by the League.
(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £80.00 per Team. Payable on or before the 1st August in each year.
Clubs who fail to pay the Annual Subscriptions by 1st August will be fined £25.00.
(C) Each Club shall within 28 days of election pay a Deposit of £100.00 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, Deposit and Team Insurance have been paid.
(E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by the date of the A.G.M. of its Devon, Dorset, Cornwall or Somerset County Football
Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £10.00. Clubs must advise the League Hon. General 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, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman,Treasurer,General Secretary, Registration
Secretary, Referees Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Insurance Secretary to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are
not Officers).
The League shall also appoint a Press Officer and a Grounds Inspection Officer who shall be non-voting Members.
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 up to 20 Club Representatives members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the General Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 15th May in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting. (The management has the power to co-opt Club Representatives if insufficient come forward at the Annual General Meeting).
(C) The Management Committee shall meet monthly %u2013 September to May inclusive to deal with business as it arises. (If there is little or no business to deal with in any one month the Chairman and General Secretary may cancel a meeting).
On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the General Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.
(D) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the General 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
(A) The Management Committee may appoint sub-committees and delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all sub-committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.
(B) Subject to the permission of the Devon County Football Association having been obtained the Management Committee may order a match or matches to be played each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Competition and, if necessary, may call upon each Club (including any Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to contribute equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the end of the season. (See Rule 6(e)).
(C) Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (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 14 days.
(F) One third of voting Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and One-third of voting 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 a fine of £20.00 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. No receipt will be issued unless payment is accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. Unless so paid or action taken under Rule 15 or 16, the Club will be fined a FURTHER £20.00 and reported at the next meeting of the League Management Committee. Should the TOTAL amount be then not paid within a further fourteen (14) days, the club will be suspended forthwith. Clubs may also be reported to their County F.A. for general suspension.
Suspension may only be lifted on payment of a fee of £50.00 in addition to the outstanding fine. CLUBS PLACED UNDER SUSPENSION Will be PENALISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISION OF LEAGUE RULE 10 (F) IN RESPECT OF ANY FIXTURES SCHEDULED TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE DURING THE PERIOD OF SUSPENSION. This procedure to apply also to Clubs placed under suspension by their Parent County Association whereby such suspension will remain effective until notification to the contrary is received from the Parent County Association at least 24 hours prior to any scheduled fixture.
Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose subject to Rule 16
(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) Any Member of the Management Committee not attending for Three consecutive meetings without reasonable excuse shall lose their seat.
Vacancies may be filled as they arise.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6. (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than July 7th in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least one-third of Club 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/Teams 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 verified Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Devon County Football Association(s).
(C) A signed copy of the duly verified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Devon 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 Twenty One days%u2019 notice shall be given of any Meeting.
(E) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded. This provision will not apply to Clubs expelled in accordance with Rule 17.
(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least two-thirds of the delegates qualified to vote or the
Chairman so decides.
Where contested, voting for the election of Officers shall be by ballot.
(G) No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club.
(H) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £20.00.
(I) The League Officers 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 Devon & Exeter 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 Devon, Dorset, Cornwall or Somerset County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the Hon General 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 permitted in this Competition.
(B) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has:-
(i) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Registrations Secretary prior to the time of kick off on the day of the match in which the player is scheduled to participate, and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing.
(ii) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink on a match day prior to playing, countersigned by an Officer of the Club and submitted to the Registrations Secretary within 96 hours of the match. The player shall not again play until the Club is in possession of the new completed list of players. A maximum of TWO players per match may be registered in this way.
ALL registrations received after the 96 hours dead-line, will be treated as UNREGISTERED
WARNING. Match day registrations should only be used in an emergency. Players found to have already signed for another Club, including a block registration for a Service Club, University or College Club, in the League or under suspensions by they County football Associations will be treated as ineligible. Rule 8 (N) will apply.
9
(C) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club official may not accept such player's signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.
(D) Registration forms, subsequent to the initial allocation, shall be obtained from the Registrations Secretary on prepayment of £2.00 per book of 35 forms.
SERVICE clubs, Universities and Colleges to have Block Registrations restricted solely to Service Personnel and Students, and which shall not entitle them to League Insurance Benefits. The Secretary of each Service Club, University or College shall forward to the League Registration Secretary a list of its playing members and all subsequent additions in alphabetical order. Such players are not permitted to sign an individual registration form for another Club within the League. Female players are not permitted registration with the League.
At the commencement of each season, at least eleven completed registrations PER TEAM must be received by the Registration Secretary seven days prior to each team%u2019s First League Fixture. Clubs failing to comply will have their first league fixture/fixtures cancelled and treated as an unfulfilled fixture/fixtures.
(E) The Management Committee shall decide all registration disputes.
In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player shall be registered. The Registrations Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.
(F) It shall be a breach of Rule for a player to:-
(i) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred.
(ii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition in that season except for the purpose of a transfer.
(iii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had wilfully neglected to accurately or fully complete.
The penalty for any of the above shall be a fine of £10.00.
(G) (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player.
(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).
(iii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16). Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition. (Note: Action under Clause (iii) 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.)
(H) Subject to The Football Association Rules, (See the County Football Association Handbook), 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 Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Registrations Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon it%u2019s failure to give written objection within seven days, such transfer shall be referred to the Registrations Secretary by the Club the player wishes to transfer to. A fee of £10.00 shall be charged for each transfer. The Registration Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club after receipt of the transfer.
In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.
No transfers will be accepted in April or May each year.
Each Club will be supplied with ten blank transfer forms at the A.G.M.
All registration and transfer forms must be accompanied by a stamped and addressed envelope for return. Failure to do so will result in a £10.00 fine.
(J) A player may not be registered for a Club after 31st May or transferred to another Club in the Competition after 31st March 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.
(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 three games for that team in this Competition in the current season.
(N) (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 will be fined £10.00 per offence and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(ii) In addition the team shall have ONE point deducted from its total and may be dealt with in any further manner which is thought to be fit.
(iii) The Management Committee in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.
(iv) Any Club fielding a player under an assumed name will incur a fine of £150.00 per offence.
(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 Leagues).
(iii) Players MUST have achieved the age of 16 before playing in the Devon & Exeter Football League.
(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, shorts and stockings with the Hon General Secretary by the date of the Annual General Meeting 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 five days before the match.
If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £10.00.
The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. Shirts must be numbered.
(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must obtain permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.
PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY
TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES
10. (A) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the 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, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.
League matches as compiled shall be circulated to the Clubs by August 4th. Clubs given five days notice of matches by the Fixtures secretary on the dates left open on the original fixtures must be accepted %u2013 Rule 10 (F) to apply. Revised dates made after the first Saturday in March must be accepted. Clubs shall not under any circumstances whatever mutually agree to re-arrange the date of any match without the sanction of the League Fixtures Secretary.
Application for re-arrangements must be made in writing to the Fixtures Secretary by both Clubs, giving full reasons, such applications to be received by not less than ten days prior to the original match date. Applications for the match to be played before the original date must be received by the Fixtures Secretary as soon as possible. Visiting teams will be expected to utilize the availability of suitable floodlights whenever required.
All matches, including re-arranged and evening fixtures must be played on the dates fixed by the League Fixtures secretary. Any Club failing so to do, weather conditions and weather affected grounds excepted, will be fined as follows;
Premier Division teams £100.00 per offence; Other Divisions £75.00 per offence, and the match points to be forfeited to their opponents. In addition the defaulting Club shall have one point deducted from its total, and shall pay the opponent%u2019s out-of-pocket expenses as may be agreed and approved by the Management Committee. If the aggrieved Home Club fulfils its away fixture, or has already done so, they may claim from their opponents through the League Management Committee, travel costs based on an allowance for a maximum of five vehicles at the current Referee mileage allowance (Rule 13); all claims must be submitted to the League General Secretary within 14 days of the match date.
If for any reason a match scheduled by the Fixtures Secretary does not take place and a match is staged on that date on the ground of the Home Club as stated in the League Handbook (priority fixtures under Rule 10 (C) excepted), the Home Club to be penalised as for an unfulfilled fixture.
If any ground is inspected by the League or its appointed Agent on the day of the match and found to be playable beyond any reasonable doubt after having been declared unfit for play, then the defaulting Club will be deemed as having failed to fulfil the fixture in question.
The Home Club must be notified of a pending inspection, and, dependent upon the outcome, the costs of a requested ground inspection (half match-fee and expenses) by an aggrieved Club, to be met as the Management Committee so decides.
In the case of a ground of a Local Authority, the representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision must be accepted, unless responsibility conferred upon the appointed match official.
Season 2010/2011 will commence on the 14th August 2010 and conclude on the 31st May 2011.
(B) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board.
Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to be changed.
The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.
All matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than 70 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.
The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the A.G.M. or the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.
The official time of kick-off for the present season is as follows
(Saturday fixtures)
August, September and October 3.00pm
November, December and January 2.15pm
February to the end of season 3.00pm
F.A. Challenge Cup Final date 11.00am or 6.30pm
Clubs responsible for a late kick off shall be fined in accordance with the following scale:
Up to 10 minutes £10.00
Over 10 minutes at the discretion of the Management Committee.
Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition.
Clubs may mutually agree to a kick-off other than the official time and in such event the Home Club must notify the Referees%u2019 Appointments secretary of the agreed time of kick-off five clear days before the date of the match. Failure to observe this obligation will involve a fine of £10.00 on the Home Club plus any expenses involved.
Any Club not having a ground available shall notify their opponents and Referees%u2019 Appointment Secretary at least six clear days prior to the fixture where the match is to take place, Rule 10 (F) to apply.
Failure to notify opponents and Referees%u2019 Appointments Secretary will involve a fine of £10.00 in each instance, plus any expenses involved.
For the duration of the match, all HOME CLUBS must provide the following:
(a) Goal Nets approved goal posts & crossbars
(b) Regulation corner flags
(c) Two match balls
(d) Two assistant-referee flags
(e) Half time liquid refreshments for the match official(s) and the visiting team
In addition on match days, each team must be equipped to provide Basic First Aid to any injured player, and each team must provide, unless officially appointed an assistant referee who shall not be under the age of 16 years, unless having qualified as a referee.
Any team failing to comply with any of the forgoing match requirements will incur a fine of £10.00 per offence.
Clubs in the Premier Division are required to maintain the standards of the essential ground facilities as listed in Conditons of Entry (Rear of Handbook). Any deficiency in the minimum essential requirements, brought to the attention of the League, will automatically incur a warning letter from the Hon. General Secretary in the first instance, and must be immediately rectified. A repeated situation in which the required facilities remain below the standard acceptable to the League will, at the discretion of the Management Committee, incur a minimum fine of £75.00.
All grounds shall be marked out in accordance with the Laws of the Game; the use of creosote, parquet, hydrated lime and any other substance banned under the Health and Safety Act is not permissible, and Home Clubs must provide suitable changing accommodation and washing facilities, with hot showers, for the visiting teams and match officials. Clubs failing to do so will be dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
Any breach of these Ground, Match and Facility requirements (with the exception of Health and Safety) should not detract from the fulfilment of the fixture.
(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.
Any Club engaged in a priority competition match, including replays, shall immediately notify the League Fixtures Secretary and Referees Appointments Secretary and their opponents or shall be fined a sum of £10.00 in each instance, plus any expenses incurred. In the case of the East
Devon Cup Competition three dates shall be reserved by arrangement.
(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 kickoff to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least four 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 £10.00.
(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 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.)
In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than eleven players they may be fined for each missing player at the discretion of the Management Committee. A minimum of seven players will constitute a team for a Competition match.
(F) Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points 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 £100.00 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.
(This does not mean if a First Team fixture is postponed due to weather conditions etc. that the Reserve Team match will not go ahead).
Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club (or notice of a Club being unable to fulfil any Match must be given 48 hours prior to the match by the Club) 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 fixed by the Fixtures Secretary.
The Management Committee shall review all matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both Teams. Where
it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, the Management Committee shall be empowered to order the score
at the time of the abandonment to stand.
If ordered to be replayed the expenses incurred in the replayed match, viz.: visitors travel based on an allowance for a maximum of five vehicles at the current Referee mileage allowance (Rule 13) Referee%u2019s expenses, ground charges, costs of printing, posting, advertising, telephone charges, police charges, shall be met from the gate of the second match. If the gate is not sufficient, the balance of expenses shall be shared by the Clubs concerned in equal proportion. This also to apply to a postponed match when a team has travelled to its opponents%u2019 ground unless the Home Club is deemed to be at fault. All claims to be conducted by the Clubs concerned.
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 3 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from 5 players.
The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than 5 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 ten 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 Registration Secretary must receive within 4 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 £10.00 and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
(B) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. A Club which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information shall be fined £10.00. Clerical errors contained in the result sheet will not be accepted.
Either Team captain may inspect the result sheet upon request.
Both teams shall insert the names and forenames (in block capitals) of the registered players and substitutes that PLAYED for their team in the match on the result sheet provided, within 15 minutes of the completion of the match, or in default be fined the sum of £10.00
On completion of this, the referee shall insert the result of the match together with the time of kick-off, indicating the Club responsible for any late start.
After the referee has completed all obligations, BOTH CLUBS shall complete the referee assessment form (match in all Divisions to be assessed).
A fine of £10.00 will be imposed for recording an assessment prior to the signature of the referee. The assessment of the Referee is strictly confidential and must not be advertised.
Any Club assessing a referee with a mark of 50, or less, must submit a report to the League Registration Secretary within 96 hours of the match, indicating OBJECTIVE reasons for the low mark. Failure so to do will incur a fine of £10.00, with the report still being a requirement of the League.
The Home Club shall be responsible for the safe keeping of the result sheet and referee assessment form, and shall forward both to the League Registration Secretary, in the envelope provided, within 96 hours of the conclusion of the match, or in default be fined the sum of £10.00.
Alterations without the Referees signature will incur a fine of £10.00.
DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
12. (A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points to be awarded for a win and one point for a drawn match.
The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.
Should two or more teams in a Division have an equal number of points goal difference shall be the deciding factor in determining the winners of the Division. Should goal difference also be equal a deciding match or matches will be arranged by the League. For the purpose of Cup Competions: Divisions 1-4 will be classified as Senior Divisions 5-9 will be classified as Intermediate.
(B) Automatic promotion shall be applied for the first three teams in each Division from the lowest Division up to Division 2.
Automatic relegation shall apply to the last three teams in each Division from Division 1 down to the penultimate Division.
RE-election to the Premier Division; At the end of the playing season THREE vacancies shall become available in the Premier Division. The Clubs occupying the bottom three places in the Premier Division become eligible to apply for re-election to that Division. The written application to be received by the League Hon. General Secretary no later than 31st may, shall be made on club headed note paper and signed by the Club Chairman, secretary and Treasurer, stating a case for retention in the Premier Division for the consideration of the League Executive.
The first three teams in Division 1 shall be eligible to apply for election to the Premier Division.
In any season when a Division has fallen below its initial complement of teams, the League Officers have the power to reduce or suspend relegation as necessary.
When a team is relegated to a lower Division of which its reserve team is a member, or entitled to be a member, such reserve team must 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 Competition.
Should any or all of the three leading teams in any of the Divisions have its senior team in the next higher Division, promotion shall fall to the next highest team or teams in the Division concerned.
The Officers of the League shall have the power to consider and finalize the position of teams in all Divisions, and to promote additional teams to make any Division up to strength; also to create or to abolish a Division as necessary, and to promote or relegate additional teams in order to accommodate such change.
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, 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.
The same procedure to apply in the event of a Referee being unable to complete a match due to sickness, injury or other unforeseen circumstance.
(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 £10.00 being imposed on the defaulting Team.
(D) The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in
the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.
(E) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses or private car expenses of 30p per mile, calculated from the official%u2019s normal place of residence, and return, together with the following match fees:-
Referee £22.00 Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees £16.00, subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Association(s).
The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses, in their dressing room, within fifteen minutes of the termination of the match, or in default be fined the sum of £10.00.
(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. 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 Association with which he is registered.
(H) Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award marks to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed Form provided. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with as the Management Committee shall determine.
The Competition shall keep a record of the markings and, on the Form provided by the prescribed date each season, shall submit a summary to The Football Association/County Association.
(J) The Referee shall complete the match result sheet, giving the result of the match, the time of kick off and reporting the Club responsible for a late kick off and enter the payment received. When completed, return it to the Home Team.
(K) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.
(L) Referees must, where a fixture appears unlikely to take place due to adverse weather conditions or the non appearance of one or both teams, stay in attendance for at least 30 minutes after the scheduled time of kick-off and report to the League Hon. General Secretary.
Clubs causing a late start to be reported on the match result sheet. Full report of abandoned matches to be forwarded to the League Hon. General Secretary.
Referees in charge of Premier Division Fixtures are required to submit Bill Rees Sportsmanship Shield match assessments to the League Referee%u2019s Secretary within seven days, in the stamped addressed envelope provided.
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 £500.00.
A Club or Team withdrawing in favour of another League without first having followed the foregoing procedures will be fined a sum of £500.00
(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £100.00 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5 (B), Such Club or Team shall also be liable for the appropriate Annual Subscription
The playing record of any withdrawn team to be expunged.
(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting 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.
The foregoing to also apply to any Club effecting a change of title but still maintaining the same Officers and Trustees.
(D) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition.
In the event that any such obligation remains undischarged after a period of twenty-one (21) days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving age. Until a Member%u2019s pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the Club%u2019s Parent County Association for a suspension order.
PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS
15. (A)(i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.
(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
(B) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full
particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the General 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 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 £25.00. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties.
(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and must 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.
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 Devon County 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 ground of unconstitutional conduct.
EXCLUSION OF CLUBS.OR TEAMS
MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
17. (A) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership which must be supported by more than two thirds (2/3) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.
(B) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable, which must be supported by (more than) two-thirds (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.
(C) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either a breach of Rule, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player
or players of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.
TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS.
18. (A) If a Competition is discontinued for any reason a Trophy or any other presentation shall be returned to the Donor if the conditions attached to it
so provide or, if not, dealt with as the sanctioning Association may decide.
(B) The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:-
%u201CWe A_________________and B______________________, the Chairman and Secretary of ________________________FC, members of and
representing the Club, having been declared winners of _____________________Cup or Trophy, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before 31st March, duly engraved and in a presentable condition. 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.%u201D
Clubs returning Trophies after the 31st March will be fined £5.00 per day thereafter.
(C) At the close of each Competition awards shall be made to the winners and runners-up..
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
19. Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the General Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.
The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.
At least seven days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting.
Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only.
Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given may be fined at the discretion of the Management Committee.
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 General Secretary by 22nd April in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 1st May and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 15th May. 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 a majority of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.
A copy of the proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the
sanctioning Football Association 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.
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.
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 £100.00 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 March.
(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. |
