WEST BROMWICH JUNIOR CHURCH FOOTBALL LEAGUE These are the rules for the combination of teams called the West Bromwich Junior Church Football League. They apply to the All Divisions. 1Correspondence All correspondence concerning the League shall be addressed to the Secretary. 1.1League Officials The league officials will be elected at each AGM. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES must any league official be telephoned or visited after 8.30pm or before 8.30 am, any team not abiding by this rule will face the league disciplinary committee 1.2Entry in to the league The league management committee has the right to refuse admission to the league any team or official, new clubs entering the league may be restricted to one team in their first season All entry forms must be in by the 1st July with a deposit if requested 1.3 Child Protection Each team will provide a person responsible for their team to attend a course at the local F.A. Each church is responsible for their own child protection policy and their team officials. 1.4 League Table The league table is worked out on points, and then goal difference and then goals scored, if after this 2 or more teams are still tying, the games between these teams will decide the outcome, in the event of there still being a tie the league will be declared a draw. 1.5 Five a Side The 5 a side will be run on a league basis as in rule 1.4. Only 7 players can play for each team 2LEAGUE FEES 2.1Subscriptions An annual subscription fee, as decided by the League each season, must be paid to the League Treasurer before the commencement of the fixture or 1st September (which ever comes first). Failure to comply will result in a fine of 100% of money owed and all matches forfeited. 2.2Affiliation to the Football Association The league will be affiliated to the B’ham F.A.each team within the league must be affiliated to a local FA, The fee will be paid to the league treasurer by the date set at the AGM 2.3Match Day Fees On match days any official’s costs will be split between the 2 clubs. Pitch fees will be invoiced to the clubs direct for payment by return. 2.4 Team Registration All teams wishing to enter the league must complete an application form and have an accomping letter from their church confirming that the team are part of the church 2.5 League Officials Any person who holds office in this league must be a committed Christian, a reference will be sort from the church leadership 2.6 League Meetings A Christian service may be held at a church for the annual awards evening, A Maximum of 6 business meetings and 1 AGM will be held each season the Chairman reserves the right to call a EGM or emergency meeting with 14days notice, only Christian devotions will be held at all business meetings, A representive from each team must attend the league meeting failure to do so will result in teams being fined, apologies for absence must be made to the secretary by 6pm on the night of the meeting 3PLAYERS 3.1Church Attendance It is preferred that All players attend religious instruction on a regular basis at Church, Chapel, Sunday school or Bible Class. 3.2Age of Players Player’s ages for all Divisions will be as agreed by the League at the beginning of the season. 3.3Qualification & Registration of Players All players must be bona fide members of the club with which they are registered. Players may register for one team in each age group. A player can only play for one team on each match day; all players must be registered with the Registrations secretary, on the appropriate form with a photo and proof of age (official document) before the commencement of the fixtures. New players, who join a club mid-season, must be registered at least seven days before playing in any match. No player registered with the Registrations secretary after the 31st January is eligible to play in cup matches and 28th February for league matches. Under no circumstances will any player be allowed to play without being registered with the league. Any team not abiding be this rule will be subject to a disciplinary by the management committee players need to be registered no later than the 21st July for the start of the season and no later than the 1st august to play in September registrations will then re open on the 1st October and close on the 30th November, and re open for the month of February 3.5Transfer of Players If a player wishes to transfer to another club, a transfer form must be filled in and signed by both team managers and returned to the registrations secretary with his/her registration card, permission of the League Chairman, the Secretary will then be sort. An answer will be given within 48 hours if unsuccessful, the player will be able to play the next match for his new team. A player cannot be transferred to another team, if the team that he wishes to be transferred to, has completed two thirds or more of its fixtures. If the player concerned has already played in a cup match for his previous team, then he may not play in cup matches for his new team, for the remainder of the season. A player may only be transferred once in a season The transfer window is for the month of January only 3.6Discipline of Players All persons shall be deemed to be under the jurisdiction of the referee and the League Officials, from the time of arrival at the ground, to the time of their departure. Any person found guilty of misconduct, must accept the decision of the League Disciplinary Committee. The members of the League Disciplinary Committee will be as agreed by the League at the last A.G.M. The following penalties for misconduct shall apply: - a) If a person is booked twice in any one season, he suspended from the next match and shall be required to appear before the League Disciplinary Committee. b) If a person is sent off during a match, he is automatically suspended from the next match, and must appear before the League Disciplinary Committee at the next meeting. Should the player play in the next match following the offence, the team will lose 3 points and the team manager will be severely reprimanded. If a person fails to appear before the League Disciplinary Committee, he is automatically suspended from all matches until he does appear. The League Disciplinary Committee will meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. 3.6 Conduct of Managers and Supporters Any club Official, member or spectator found guilty of misconduct by the league management committee will be reported to the county F.A. to face a disciplinary hearing the maximum fine for this if found guilty is £50 and the team expelled from the league, each manager is responsible for their clubs personnel including parents and their cars, please make sure that they observe all venue rules at all times 3.8 Bad language The league will not tolerate bad or foul language and will suspend managers or players if they are using it 4MATCHES 4.1F.A. Rules All matches shall be played under the rules of the game as approved by the International Football Association, and in accordance with the rules, regulations and byelaws of the Football Association. 4.2Kick-Off & Duration of Matches All matches will take place at the same venue on a Saturday morning. The kick-off times will be as stated in the fixtures. All teams must arrive at the ground 30 minutes before the kick-off time. The duration of matches shall be 25 minutes each half for the under 8’s 10’s & 12’s and Cup Matches, under 14’s &16’s matches shall be 35 minutes each way. All matches shall have a break of 5 minutes between halves. If a match kicks off late or bad weather, the referee has the power to shorten the duration of the match. He must notify both teams, if this applies, before the match begins. In the event of a draw in a cup match, extra time of 10 minutes (14’s &16’s) 5 minutes (8’s 10’s & 12’s) each half shall be played. In the event of a draw after extra time, a penalty shoot out shall decide the match. 4.3Teams & Substitutes A team must consist of at least four (8’s 10’s &12’s) seven (14’s & 16’s). A maximum of seven rolling substitutions may be used in 8’s 10’s & 12’s games and three from five rolling in 14’s &16’s games. At the end of a match, players may not leave the field of play until the referee has given them permission to do so. Registration cards must be present at all games; no player is allowed to play without it. Teams must field there strongest team at all times only injury, sickness and school football will be accepted for a player not playing ( a letter or doctors note must be produced if requested) players being rested to play in other leagues will not be accepted. 4.4Postponement of Matches All teams must fulfil the fixtures on the date shown on the fixture list. Failure to do this will result in automatic loss of points, with a right to appeal at the next League Meeting. Any match that is postponed with more than 14 days notice will automatically be re-arranged. Any match that is postponed with less than 14 days notice will be classed as a failure to appear (unless agreed by the management committee, a team postponing a match must notify the opposing team, the referee and the Secretary. A team may only postpone two matches in a season. The referee shall have the sole discretion, on the day of the match, to postpone the match to which he has been appointed. His decision is final.Postponements Due To Bad Weather If matches are called off due to bad weather, the League Officials will attempt to contact all teams. Alternatively, team officials should contact the League Officials to query the state of the pitches. If teams do not hear that the matches have been called off, they should turn up at the ground. Failure to do so could result in the loss of points. If a match is Abandoned the game will be replayed unless the league management committee deem otherwise 4.5Failure to Appear For a Fixture Any team that fails to produce a side or appear for a fixture, will forfeit both match points to their opponents, and shall pay the full cost of hiring the pitch and dressing room £20.Being late for kick-off, without notifying the ground, shall be deemed as a failure to appear. In the case of a match being played where a team was late arriving, the reason for lateness shall be recorded on the match report form. 4.6 Throwing of matches And team found guilty of throwing the match including 5 a side games will be reported to the F.A. and expelled from the league 4.7Win by Default Any team, which wins by default, will be credited with 3 points and be credited with no goals. 4.8Match Day Equipment Except where League Officials decree otherwise, each team must supply a suitable match ball and one competent linesman. The home team must supply a referee, nets, corner flags and a first aid kit. All team members should wear full and proper football kit. The referee has the right not to allow any player onto the pitch who is not properly dressed. If there is a colour clash between teams, it is the duty of the away team to change, unless the two teams agree otherwise. A change of team strip during the season must be agreed by the management committee in writing before it is used. At the end or the match both teams will take down nets posts flags ECT 4.9Match Report Forms Both team managers and the referee must complete match report forms in full. The home team manager shall supply the form and return it completed in full to the Secretary within 48 hours following the match. Failure to do so will result a fine of £10 per report, if 2 or more reports are late in one season the team will automatically be deducted 3 points and fined £20 per report. If a report is more than 7 days late an additional fine of £2 per day will be added until the report is received. 4.9AFailuar to complete fixtures Should a team withdraw from the league before 50% of their fixtures have been completed, all results will be removed from the league table, and the team however will still be responsible for all fees for any game falling due within 14 days of withdrawal, league, pitch and officials. Until they are paid in full the league will not accept the team’s resignation. If they withdraw after 50% of the games played the league management committee will sit and decide the appropriate action to take the team however will still be responsible for fees as above. 5League management 5.1 committee This committee shall consist of the League Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and a reprehensive from the managers. It shall deal with any item not covered within these rules. It has the authority to deduct points from teams for late payment of League Fees and non-attendance of League meetings on a regular basis. 5.2 Fines A fines structure will be included in the league handbook this will be reviewed at each league AGM Fines must be paid in full within 7 days of the judgement; failure to do so will result is suspension from the league 5.3 League handbook The league handbook will be reviewed by the management committee before each AGM; any amendments will be made in the interest of the league May 2002 Amended Oct 2002 Amended May 2003 Amended May 2004 Amended May 2005, May 2006