1. NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
(A) This Competition shall be designated the Horsham & District Youth Football League and known as the Horsham & District Youth Football League and shall consist of not more than 50 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.
All such Member Clubs must be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the Form "D" to the Sussex County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be within a 15 mile radius from Horsham Town Centre.
This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Sussex County Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions.
The competition will provide 11-a-side football for players who have attained the age of 10 as at midnight 31st August in a playing season and Mini-Soccer for players who have attained the age of 6 years but not the age of 10 years as at midnight on 31st August in a playing season.
2. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT
(A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition must be made in writing to the Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £10.00 per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election.
At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications, of which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.
When Rule 12(B) is applied or a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.
(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £10.00 per Team playing 11-a-side football and £10.00 per Team playing
Mini-Soccer payable on or before the 31 August in each year.
(C) Each Club shall within 14 days of election pay a Deposit of £25, which shall be returnable to Clubs on
leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the
Management Committee.
(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit
have been paid.
(E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 15th July of its County Football Association
affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £10.00.
Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters,
Officers and any other information required by the Competition.
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3. OFFICERS
The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer,
Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Competitions Secretary,
Minutes Secretary, Press Officer, Bulletin Editor, Small-Sided Co-ordinator, Representative Teams
Co-ordinator and Breach of League Rules Co-ordinator to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
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4. MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION
(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 a
Divisional Representative of each Youth age group who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other
candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary
in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 30 April in each year.
Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting.
In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may
be received at the Annual General Meeting.
(C) The Management Committee shall meet monthly to deal with business as it arises.
On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary
shall convene a meeting of the Committee.
(D) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct
the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.
(E) All written communications received from Clubs must be conducted through
their Secretary.
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5. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT
(A) The Management Committee may appoint such other sub-committees as they may consider necessary and may
delegate such of their powers, as they deem necessary to such committees. The decisions of all such committees
shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.
(B) Subject to the permission of the Sussex 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
subcommittee).
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) Five members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business of the Management Committee and three Members shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the
Competition.
(G) The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting capacity,
any vacancies that may occur amongst their number.
(H) A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee, or failing to
satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition, shall be liable to be
fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(I) All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification.
Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur a further fine of £10.00 or such
penalties as the Management Committee may impose.
(J) A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or match may have
any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.
(K) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the
Competition between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the
commencement of the Competition season.
(L) Any Club not represented on the Committee may be asked to supply a member to fill a vacant position on the
Committee. Clubs failing to supply a member when so asked may be fined up to £50.
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6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
(A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 31 May in each year. At this meeting the
following business shall be transacted provided that at least 30 Members are present and entitled to
vote: -
(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business arising therefrom.
(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.
(iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management Committee).
(v) Constitution of the Competition for ensuing season.
(vi) Election of Officers and Management Committee.
(vii) Appointment of Qualified Accountant.
(viii) Alteration to 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.
(C) A signed copy of the duly verified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Sussex
County Football Association within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.
(D) Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club
shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than fourteen days' notice shall be given of any Meeting.
(E) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who
are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the
season being concluded.
(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least 10 of the
delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.
(G) No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club.
(H) Any new or continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without
satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £10.00.
(I) Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.
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7. AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED
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 Horsham & District Youth 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 County Football
Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to
the Secretary of the Competition."
(Note: The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of officers and members).
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8. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
(A) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition.
No player registered with a F.A. Premier League or Football League Academy will be permitted to play in this
competition. A Player registered with a Centre of Excellence may only play in this Competition subject to the
Regulations of the Programme for Excellence.
(B) A registered youth playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has: -
(1) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by his/her
parent or guardian and an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Registration Secretary'
7 days prior to playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to
playing. The registration document must incorporate any known serious medical conditions of the player and
emergency contact details of the player's parents or guardians. These details must be available at matches
and training events the player attends within the management of the Club or Competition.
The registration document must incorporate a current passport-size photograph of the player seeking
registration together with proof of the player's date of birth.
The qualification dates for the competition shall be as follows:
Mini-Soccer
Under 8 - the player must have attained the age of 6 as at midnight on 31st of August
in the playing season but must be under the age of 8 as at midnight on 31s1 August in
the playing season.
Under 9 - the player must be under the age of 9 as at midnight on 31s1 August in the
playing season.
Under 10 - the player must be under the age of 10 as at midnight on 31st August in
the playing season.
In accordance with the foregoing qualifications a player in the above age ranges must not play in a match
where any other player is older or younger by 2 years or more.
Youth Football
Under 11 - the player must have attained the age of 10 but must be under the age of
11 by midnight 31st August in the playing season.
Under 12 - the player must be under the age of 12 as at midnight on 31st August in
the playing season.
Under 13 - the player must be under the age of 13 as at midnight on 31st August in
the playing season.
Under 14 - the player must be under the age of 14 as at midnight on 31st August in
the playing season.
Under 15 - the player must be under the age of 15 as at midnight on 31s1 August in
the playing season.
Under 16 - the player must be under the age of 16 as at midnight on 31st August in
the playing season.
In accordance with the foregoing qualifications a player under the age of 14 as at midnight on 31st August
in the playing season must not play in a match where any other player is older or younger by 2 years or more.
(The above qualification dates are subject to the provisions contained in FA Rule C.4((a)(vi)).
(C) Standard Rule not applicable to this Competition.
(D) Standard Rule not applicable to this Competition.
(E) 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.
(F) A fee of £3 shall be paid for each player registered.
Registration forms shall be obtained from the Registration Secretary on prepayment of nil per form.
(G) 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 Registration
Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.
(H) 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 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.
(J) (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player. The Management
Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player
at their discretion proved guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).
(ii) The Management Committee shall have power 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).
(Note: Action under Clause (ii) 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 Competition into disrepute.)
(K) 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 accompanied by a fee of £5. Such transfer shall be referred by the Registration Secretary to the
Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections
in writing to the Registration Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the
transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven
days, the Registration Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be
deemed eligible to play for the new Club from 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.
(L) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after the
last day of February except by special permission of the Management Committee.
(M) A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played,
and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.
In the event a Club has more than one team in an age group, each team must be clearly designated "A" and "B"
etc. In such cases, players will be registered for one team only. A player so registered will be allowed to
play for his Club in a younger or older age group within the provisions of Rule 8 (B) and 8(K).
(N) 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 arranged.
(O) 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 registered by 31st December for that team in
this Competition in the current season.
(P) Standard Rule not applicable to this Competition.
(Q)(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 £25.00 and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of
the Management Committee.
(ii) In addition the team may have 3 points deducted from its total at the discretion of the Management
Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner which is thought to be fit.
(iii) The Management Committee 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.
(R) (i) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisation activities.
(ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Leagues).
(iii) Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.
(S) A maximum of 20 registered players per team shall be permitted at any given time. A Club wishing to
de-register a player must do so by application to the Registration Secretary on the appropriate form.
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9. CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME
(A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Registration Secretary by 31st August
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 or replica kit.
Player's names will not be allowed on their playing kit.
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 5 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
£5.
The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of
distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think
fit.
The player's shirts must be clearly 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.
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10. PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS.SUBSTITUTES
(A) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season
which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the
concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixtures Secretary, must not be arranged for a date later
than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.
(B) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International
Football Association Board or, for Mini-Soccer, the Laws of Mini-Soccer as set down by The Football Association.
Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be
played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match
has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to be changed.
The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches
in the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.
All matches shall have a duration as shown below unless a shorter time is mutually arranged in consultation
with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves :-
For Mini-Soccer - The recommended duration of play shall be as follows: for under 8 age group,
10 minutes each way and for under 9 and under 10, 15 minutes each way. The maximum playing time in any one
day for under 8 age group is 45 minutes and for under 9 and under 10 age groups is 60 minutes.
For Youth football - The duration of play shall be as follows unless it is mutually agreed by all
parties to reduce the time. For under 11 and under 12,30 minutes each half; for under 13 and under 14,
35 minutes each half; and under 15 and under 16, 40 minutes each half.
The minimum time for any game will not be less than 20 minutes each half for players in the under 14 age
group and below and 25 minutes each half for all other age groups.
No player under the age of 17 as at midnight on 31st August in any season shall be permitted to play more than
one game or, in the event the competition allows the playing of a double-header, ie: two separate matches,
100 minutes per day in this Competition.
The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the Management Committee. All matches played on a Saturday, kick off
no earlier than 09.30 hours. The competition reserves the right to require teams to play matches other than a
Saturday. Evening games will kick off at 18.30 hours unless otherwise agreed by both teams and the Fixture
Secretary.
Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time may be fined a sum not exceeding £10.00 or be otherwise
dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.
Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts.
The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the
Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. The recommended size of football to be used shall be:
For Mini-Soccer, size 3 for players in the under 8 age category; size 4 for the under 9's and 10's.
For youth football - size 4 for those playing under 11, 12, 13 and 14 age groups; size 5 for all other
age groups. Goal nets must be used.
(C) Except by permission of the Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally
fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County Association Cup
Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a
match with the consent of the Fixtures Secretary.
(D) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of,
and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing
Club at least five clear days prior to the playing of the match.
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 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.)
For Mini-Soccer matches for under 9 and under 10 will be seven-a-side for under 8 five-a-side. Teams for
Mini-Soccer matches must constitute the required minimum number for that age group.
In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than 9 players they shall be fined £10.00. A minimum of
8 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 of £10.00, 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.
Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club. Such notice must be
given at least 15 hours prior to the match by the postponing Club, to the Fixtures Secretary, the Competition
Referees Secretary, the Secretary/Fixtures 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, to a maximum fine of £20.00.
In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it
shall be played in its entirety on a date to be arranged by the Fixtures Secretary.
A club may postpone one match for each of its teams, for any reason, during the course of the season, by
giving at least twenty four hours notice. This provision will not apply to the first match of the season,
and the semi-final or final rounds of any of the Cup Competitions organised by the Competition.
The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of the
Competition 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 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
County 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 3 players.
For Mini-Soccer - any number of substitutions may be used at any time with the permission of the Referee.
Entry onto the field of play will only be allowed during a stoppage in play. A player who has been replaced
may return to the play as a substitute for another player. A Team must not have a squad greater than double
the size of its team in an age group.
For Youth Football - for teams in the under 16 age group and below, a player who has been substituted himself
becomes a substitute and may replace another player at any time subject to the substitution being carried out
in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of Association Football.
The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than 10 minutes before the start of the
match.
A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not
actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of
Rule 8 of this Competition.
(H) The half time interval for youth football shall be at least 5 minutes duration, but it shall not exceed
fifteen minutes. The half time interval for Mini-Soccer must not exceed 5 minutes. The half time interval may
only be altered with the consent of the referee.
(1) Before every match the two managers of the participating teams will check the identity cards of all players
nominated to play for the opposing team including substitutes. Any player without an identity card or with
a defaced or altered identity card will not be permitted to play. Any team that fails to produce identity
cards for its players will be fined £10.00 in addition to any penalties that may be imposed for its failure
to fulfil the fixture in accordance with Rule 10.
(J) The home team must ensure that the field of play has adequate markings and regulation equipment including
two Assistant Referees' flags and a whistle. They must also have a Qualified First Aider (QFA) in attendance.
All teams shall provide at every match a well equipped first aid kit, which must be available for inspection
by any Competition or match official.
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11. REPORTING RESULTS
(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 Home Club shall notify the result of each match to the Press Officer by 6pm on Saturday, or for
mid-week fixtures within 24 hours of the scheduled kick-off of the match. Failure to do so shall result in
a fine of £10.00. For the purposes of this rule the result to include any postponement caused through inclement
weather.
(C) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club.
The Management Committee shall have power to
take such action as they deem suitable against a Club which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information.
(D) U8 age group match results and/or match reports must not be reported in the media. Contravention of this
rule will incur a fine of £10.00.
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12. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
(A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points to be awarded for a
win and one point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective
Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.
In the event of two or more teams being equal on points team rankings will be decided in the following order:-
(i) goal difference
(ii) goals scored
(iii) deciding match played under conditions determined by the Management Committee.
For deciding matches, in the event of the scores in a special championship match played under conditions
determined by the management committee being level at the end of the game, 20 minutes extra time shall be
played in two equal periods of 10 minutes. Should one of the teams score a goal during the period of extra
time the match will be considered as finished and the team scoring the goal declared the winner. If no goal
is scored during extra time, the winners will be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in
accordance with the International Board Decision contained in the Laws of Association Football.
(B) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first two
and last two teams in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the
provisions of Rule l(b).
(i) Should one or more teams withdraw from any one Division after the fixtures have commenced an equal
number of teams to those withdrawing in that Division shall not be automatically relegated.
(ii) Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season may be filled in any of the following ways:
(a) retention of otherwise relegated team(s)
(b) additional promotion of the next ranked team(s) from the Division below
(c) election
(C) In the event of a team not completing 75% of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by or recorded
against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the
Competition table.
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13. REFEREES
(A) Whenever possible Registered Referees and Assistant Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner
approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s). Failure to use the services of an
Appointed Referee may result in a fine of £10.00 being imposed on the defaulting Team.
(B) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant Referee shall
take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed by the competing Teams. In cases where there are no
officially appointed Assistant Referees, or where the competition has been unable to appoint a Referee, the
home Clubs shall appoint a Referee whose minimum age shall be fourteen. A Referee thus appointed shall, for
that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
(C) The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon 4 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 23p per mile and any other permitted expenses actually incurred together
with the following match fees:
(i) under 15-16 £13.00,(ii) Under 13-14 £11.00 and (iii) All other ages £10.00.
Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees shall be entitled to 50% of
the Referee fee plus expenses.
The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses before the match.
(F) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the
Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half the usual fee plus expenses only. Where a match is not
played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Officials, if they attend
the ground, their full fee and expenses.
(G) A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his
non-appearance, 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 £10.00 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 Sussex County Football Association.
(J) Standard Rule not applicable to this Competition.
(K) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free
of charge.
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14. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB
(A) After 31s'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 31sl March each Season
or be liable to a fine not exceeding £20.
(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the arrangement
of fixtures for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding
£20.00 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).
(C) Standard Rule not applicable to this Competition.
(D) In the event of a Member Club which is an unincorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall
be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition.
In the event that any such obligation remains undischarged after a period of twenty-one (21) days then such
obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving
age. Until a Member's pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member shall not be allowed to participate
in the Competition, which may apply to the Club's Parent County Association for a suspension order.
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15. PROTESTS AND APPEALS
(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 guilt)' of
a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
(B) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and
complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in
duplicate with the Secretary within seven days (excluding Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they
refer. A protest or complaint shall not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee.
A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a
witness or representative of his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined.
(C) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management
Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties subject to Rule 16.
(D) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club
shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £10.00. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event
of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting
Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to
order that the costs to be shared by the parties.
(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest
or complaint is being heard and must have received fourteen 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.
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16. BOARD OF APPEAL
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 Sussex County Football Association, including a
fee of £35.00, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. A copy of the particulars of the Appeal shall also be
sent to the Competition Secretary. 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.
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17. EXCLUSION OF CLUBS,OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
(A) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose in accordance with
Rule 19, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall
have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership. 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 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 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.
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18. TROPHIES:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS
(A) If a Competition be 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. At the close of each Competition awards of a maximum of sixteen medals (fourteen for Mini-Soccer) shall
be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.
The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or
Trophy:-
"We ____________and _______________, 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 the last day of February. 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."
Any Club failing to return a trophy by the required date shall be liable to a fine of £20.00.
The respective Club is responsible for engraving the Trophy, which must follow the style of previous engravings.
Any Club failing to engrave a Trophy correctly will incur a fine of £20.00.
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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 7 days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business
to be transacted at such meeting. Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special
General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only.
Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason
being given shall be fined £10.00.
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
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20. ALTERATION TO RULES
Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting
specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing
season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season.
Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the
Secretary by 15th March in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee,
shall be circulated to the Clubs by 1st April and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by
15th April. The proposals and proposed amendments thereto shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of the
Annual General Meeting. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if 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 21 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.
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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 must abide by any issued Football
Association Code of Conduct.
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22. FINANCE
(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 £200 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 the Competition shall be prepared and shall be verified annually
by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
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CUP COMPETITIONS
1. The competitions shall be known by the names listed below and shall be entirely under the control of the
Management Committee of the Horsham & District Youth Football League:
Heron Way Cup
Roffey Robins Frank Giess Memorial Cup
Chairman's Cup
President's Cup
Fred Sparkes Cup
Edwin Hill Cup
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No Cup shall ever be won outright.
2. The Sussex County Football Association shall be for all intents and purposes the legal owners of the Cups,
in trust for the League.
3. Except as otherwise covered by these Cup Rules, the Rules of the Horsham & District Youth Football League
shall apply.
4. The Competitions shall be open to teams competing in the relevant Division of the League, as follows:
| Heron Way Cup | Under 11s |
| Roffey Robins Frank Giess Memorial Cup | Under 12s |
| Chairman's Cup | Under 13s |
| President's Cup | Under 14s |
| Fred Sparkes Cup | Under 15s |
| Edwin Hill Cup | Under 16 Colts |
5. The eligibility, qualifications and registration shall be the same as those applying to the League
competitions, except that:
(a)A bona fide club member is eligible to play in the relevant competition provided he has not played for
another club during the season in the same competition.
(b)No player may play in more than one Cup competition in the same season.
(c) For the semi-final and final ties, players must be registered for respective team by 31st December during
the current season.
Where a team experiences unforeseen problems, they may apply to the League in writing for consideration for
players who have been registered after 31 December.
In the case of postponed matches, only those players eligible on the date fixed for the original match shall be
allowed to play.
6. The Management Committee shall divide teams into pairs or ties, and the winners of such ties shall in like
manner be divided into other ties, and so on until there are four Clubs left in the competition. The four Clubs
left in the competition shall be divided into the semifinal ties, which shall be played over one leg on
neutral pitches where available. The first drawn team shall be the home team. In the event of teams being
level at the end of full time, extra time shall be played and if the scores are level at the completion of
extra time the tie shall be decided on penalties in accordance with F A Rules. The winners of the semi-finals
shall meet in the final tie.
7. The ties shall be drawn and the matches played as the Management Committee may determine. The Fixtures
Secretary or Divisional Representative shall notify each Club of its opponents, the date and venue of the
match and any other details that may be appropriate.
8. The Clubs that are in each instance first drawn in the ballot shall be considered to be the home Club and be
responsible for match expenses. The clubs that are in each instance first drawn in the ballot shall be
considered the home Club and be responsible for matches.
9. Matches shall be of the duration appropriate to the Division in which the teams play. Where scores are level
at the end of full-time, extra-time shall be played as follows:
| Heron Way Cup | 5 minutes each way |
| Roffey Robins Frank Giess Memorial Cup | 8 minutes each way |
| Chairman's Cup | 8 minutes each way |
| President's Cup | 10 minutes each way |
| Fred Sparkes Cup | 10 minutes each way |
| Edwin Hill Cup | 10 minutes each way |
When the scores are level at the end of extra time, the tie shall be decided on penalties in accordance with
F A Rules.
10. In the case of a draw at the end of full-time in the final tie, extra-time shall be played in accordance
with the Division the teams play. If the scores are level at the end of extra time the tie shall be decided
on penalties in accordance with F A Rules.
11 .Protests with regard to the eligibility of players must be lodged with the Hon. Secretary within four days
of the match. If it is proved that a Club played an ineligible player(s), the Management Committee shall fine
the offending Club the sum of £10.00 for each ineligible player and either eliminate from the competition the
offending Club or order the match to be replayed. The ineligible player(s) shall not be eligible to take part
should the match be replayed.
12.The Cup/Plate Competitions take presidency over League Fixtures.
13.The one allowed postponement per season cannot be used for Cup/Plate matches.
14.Any point not covered by these Rules shall be decided by the Management Committee.
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PLATE COMPETITION
1. These competitions shall be known as The Plate Competitions and shall be entirely under the control of the
Horsham & District Youth Football League Management Committee. These plates shall never be won outright.
2. The Officers of the League shall be for all intents and purposes the legal owners of the Plates, in trust
for the League.
3. The Competitions shall be open to teams who lose their first match in the Cup Competitions be it preliminary
or first round.
4. In addition to the provisions of Rule 5 of the Cup Competitions, no player shall be eligible to play in the
Plate Competition without the permission of the Management Committee if he has already played in that season
in another Cup Competition in the Horsham & District Youth Football League for another team.
5. All Plate fixtures shall be completed on the first attempt. With the exception of this, the rules as defined
in Cup Competitions Rule 9 apply.
6. Except for the Plate Competition Rules, the Rules applicable to the Horsham & District Youth Football League
Competitions shall apply.
SPORTSMANSHIP SHIELDS
1. A sportsmanship shield has been donated for each of the Divisions in the League and for the friendly teams.
They will be under the entire control of the Horsham & District Youth Football League Management Committee
and all teams taking part will qualify. No shield shall be won outright.
2. Each team manager will enter on the result card for each league match and cup match marks out of 10 awarded
to the opposing teams for sportsmanship. This will not apply to final ties. At the end of the season, the
Registration Secretary will accumulate the marks for each team, and the team achieving the highest average
will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie the shield will be shared.
3. The shield will not be an individual personal award but a team award. Managers should
bear this in mind when giving their marking and take into account Club efficiency,
sportsmanship on the field of play and the behaviour of spectators.
4. Donors of the shields are:
| Under 11s | D Webb, Esq. |
| Under 12s | W Edwardes, Esq. |
| Under 13s | A Sheppard, Esq. |
| Under 14s | Henfield Boys Sports Club |
| Under 15s | S Christie, Esq. |
| Small-Sided (Friendly) | South water Swifts (Under 10) |
| | Mrs Lucas (Under 9) |
GUIDELINES FOR AWARDING SPORTSMANSHIP MARKS
The Management Committee believes that some team managers are not fully aware of all the aspects to be
considered when awarding sportsmanship points. As stated in Rule 3 of the "Sportsmanship Shields" section,
on the previous page, of this Handbook, the points awarded cover "Club efficiency, sportsmanship on the field
of play and the behaviour of spectators". This means that not only should you consider the way in which this
game is being played and the sporting spirit of the players, but also how the opposing team manager has worked
with you in fulfilling the fixture. The behaviour of the spectators is increasingly becoming a factor to be
considered when awarding marks.
To assist with this process, the Management Committee recommends that with immediate effect, the 10 marks
available should be divided as follows: -
- Up to 5 marks for sportsmanship demonstrated on the field of play.
- Up to 5 marks for the efficiency of the Club in arranging the fixture (and in the case of visiting team,
on their interaction with the home manager) and the behaviour of the spectators and Club officials in
attendance.
Marks should be deducted where players or Club officials use foul or abusive language, arguing
with decisions made by the match officials, managers who fail to confirm the fixture in the appropriate timescale or unsporting behaviour from the spectators. This list is not definitive but represents incidents flagged to the Management Committee during the last few months.
The Management Committee will actively investigate the reasons why low marks have been awarded and may call the
managers involved in the fixture to attend a Committee Meeting to discuss the matter. Therefore we ask all
Managers to carefully consider how they mark the opposition and only complete the Sportsmanship Marks section
on the Match Return once the game is over.
INTER LEAGUE GAMES / PLAYERS
All Clubs in membership of the League shall endeavour to ensure that players selected to play in any team
representing the Horsham & District Youth Football League fully cooperate and take part. Players selected
should have played 30% of his Club's League fixtures or a minimum of 4 games in the season in which he is
selected.
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