BRECKLAND & DISTRICT SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

League Rules

Season 2011/2012

CONSTITUTION AND RULES

The Competition shall be conducted in accordance with the General Rules for Competitions as laid down by the Football Association, which are adopted by Norfolk County Football Association, together with special Competition Rules and Clarification which have been approved by the Leagues Sanction & Rules Revision Committee of the Norfolk County Football Association.

STANDARD CODE OF RULES

The following rules have been compiled for the use of Competitions and are mandatory for all Competitions outside the National League System at Step 7and below.

Competitions seeking sanction must draft their Rules in conformity with this Code, putting them in the correctly numbered Rule and showing the Standard Headings.

CLUBS TO NOTE

In order to preserve the status and good name of the Breckland and District Sunday Football League, rules governing the Competition will be strictly adhered to and enforced by the League’s elected Officials and the Management Committee.

Copies of the League Rules are provided to each Club in membership and ignorance of any particular rule will not be accepted as an excuse for breaking that rule. Club Secretaries are therefore urged to consult the League Rules frequently so that unnecessary fines and penalties imposed by the Management Committee can be avoided.

If you are in any doubt or have any questions regarding the interpretation of the below rules please contact John Finch on 01842 766504 or jf_badsfl@live.co.uk

LEAGUE RULES QUICK REFERENCE

Rule 1 NOMENCLATURE & CONSTITUTION

Rule 2 ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

Rule 3 OFFICERS

Rule 4 MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION

Rule 5 POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

Rule 6 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Rule 7 AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

Rule 8 QUALIFICATIONS OF PLAYERS

Rule 9 CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME

Rule 10 PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY, TIMES OF KICK OFF, POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTIONS

Rule 11 REPORTING RESULTS

Rule 12 DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP

Rule 13 REFEREES

Rule 14 CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB

Rule 15 PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

Rule 16 BOARD OF APPEAL

Rule 17 EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS, MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS

Rule 18 TROPHY, LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED, AWARDS

Rule 19 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

Rule 20 ALTERATION OF RULES

Rule 21 FINANCE

1. NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

(a) This Competition shall be designated the Breckland and District Sunday Football League and known as the Frames Conservatories Direct Breckland and District Sunday Football League and shall consist of not more than 36 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 Norfolk County Football Association / Suffolk County Football Association, as appropriate. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be a radius of 20 miles from the centre of Thetford.

This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Norfolk County Football Association and the constitute teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions each not exceeding 12 in number.

This Competition and its Clubs shall support the FA’s Respect programme. As such it recognises that everyone in football has a collective responsibility to create a fair, safe and enjoyable environment in which the game can take place. A Respect League values the contribution of match officials, players and spectators and ensures that they are treated with courtesy and fairness by opposing players, club officials and spectators. The League and its Clubs will seek to play fixtures in a fair, competitive but not antagonistic environment.

Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competitions (with exception of FA and County FA Competitions) except with written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.

(b) At the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, a majority of the delegates present shall have power to decide or adjust the compilation of the divisions at their discretion. When necessary this rule shall take precedence over Rule 12.

Competition Rule

(c) All member clubs shall have a committee consisting of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and up to 3 other members, all elected at an Annual General Meeting.

(d) Each Club must notify the parent Association and Competition of any change of its Secretary, Chairman, and Treasurer within 14 days of a change taking place failing which they shall be fined £15.

(e) Each Club must complete a new Application Form following any alteration of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Manager within 14 days of a change taking place failing which they shall be fined £15.

2. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

(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 £20 per team, which will 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 compulsory transferred to another division, no Entry Fee shall be payable.

(b) The Annual Subscription shall be £50 per Club / Team, payable on or before 1st August in each year.

(c) Each Club shall within fourteen days of election pay a Deposit of £25 which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition providing 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, or on the prescribed form, by 10th June of its County affiliation number for the forthcoming Season and in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition failing which they shall be fined £15.

Competition Clarification

Please ensure that the information for your Club shown in the Handbook is kept up to date. You must advise the Competition Secretary of any required changes so that the information may be circulated to the other clubs. If your Club changes Secretary (including temporary changes) during the season you must also advised the Norfolk County FA / Suffolk Count FA (as appropriate), BADSFL Secretary and your pitch provider.

3. OFFICERS

(a) The Officers of the Competition shall be determined by the Annual General Meeting and elected thereat. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers).

Competition Rule

(b) Honorary Life Members, who shall be elected at an AGM, may be elected to serve in a non-executive capacity but shall not be entitled to vote at any General or Management Meeting.

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 at least 3 members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. All participants shall abide by The Football Associations Regulations for Safeguarding Children as determined by The Association from time to time.

(b) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by Secretaries of two Member Clubs not later than 30th April in each year. Names of 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 at least quarterly.

On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.

(d) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.

(e) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers.

5. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

(a) The Management Committee may appoint sub-committees and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all sub-committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification. The Management Committee shall have power to deal only with matters within the Competition and not for any matters of misconduct that are under the jurisdiction of the Football Association or affiliated Association.

(b) Subject to the permission of the Norfolk 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 where there may be a conflict of interest. (This shall apply to the procedure of any sub-committee).

In event of voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

(d) The Management Committee shall have the powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have the jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition, including any not provided for in the Rules.

With exception of Rules 5(1), 6(h), 10(a), 11 and 19, for all breaches of Rule a formal written charge must be issued. The respondent shall be give seven clear days from the date of notice to reply to the charge and given the opportunity to:-

(1) Accept the charge

(2) Submit in writing a case for mitigation, or

(3) Put 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 FA Rules by the appropriate Association.

With the exception of Clubs playing at Step 7 of the Football Pyramid and the FA Women’s Premier League, the maximum fine permitted for any breach of a Competition rule is £250 and, when setting any fine, the Competition must ensure that the penalty is proportional to the offence, taking into account any mitigation circumstances.

(e) All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16.

Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within seven days.

(f) Five Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three Members shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business by any Sub-Committee of the Competition.

(g) The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have the 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.

Any Club failing to do so will be fined a maximum of £50. Further failure to pay the fine, including the additional sum, within 14 days will result in fixtures being withdrawn until such time as the outstanding payments have been settled.

(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 Meeting or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.

(l) The business of the Competition as determined by the Management Committee may be transacted by electronic mail.

Competition Rule

(n) Any Club who has fixtures suspended by the NCFA and/or SCFA will be liable to the full consequences of failing to fulfil any fixtures as detailed in Rule 10(f).

(o) Any instruction, request and the like communicated directly to a Club shall be deemed to be an official instruction, request and the like from the Management Committee.

6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later that the 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least two thirds of Members are present and entitled to vote:-

1. To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.

2. To consider any business arising therefrom.

3. To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.

4. Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management Committee).

5. Constitution of the Competition for ensuing season.

6. Election of Officers and Management Committee.

7. Appointment of Auditors.

8. Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given).

9. Fix the date for the commencement of the season and kick off time applicable to the Competitions.

10. Other business of which due notice shall be given and accepted as being relevant to an Annual General Meeting.

(b) A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least 14 days prior to the meeting, and to the Norfolk County Football Association.

(c) A signed copy of the audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Norfolk County Football Association within 14 days of adoption by the Annual General Meeting.

(d) Each Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. 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 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 is demanded by at least two thirds 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 continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £35.

(i) Officers and Management Committee Members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.

7. AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

(a) The Chairman and 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 Breckland and District Sunday Football 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 appeal in accordance with Rule 16.”

Any alteration of the Chairman and/or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Norfolk County Football Association (Suffolk County Football Association as appropriate) to which the Club is affiliated and the Secretary of the Competition.

(Note: The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of officers and members).

Competition Rule

(b) Each Club must complete a new Agreement following any alteration of the Chairman and/or Secretary and forward it to the Competition within 14 days of a change being made failing which they shall be fined £15.

8. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

(a) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition. A contract player may only play for the Club that holds his contract.

It is the responsibility of each Club to ensure that any Player signing a registration form for that Club has, where necessary, the required international Transfer Certificate. Clearance is required for any Player aged 12 and over crossing borders, including Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

(b) A registered 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 an Officer of the Club, and has been registered with the Registrations Secretary four days prior to playing and whose registration confirmation has been received by the Club prior to playing.

(2) Omitted

(3) While serving in any branch of Her Majesty’s Regular Forces, a player must first obtain the consent of his Association Secretary before signing a registration form to play for a Club.

Competition Clarification

Clubs should ensure they have read this clarification before attempting to register any member of HM Forces.

The Registration Secretary will require the original written confirmation from the Secretary of the player’s Parent Association. The player’s rank and service number must be entered on his registration form.

(c) Omitted

(d) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club Official may not accept such player’s signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.

(e) Registration forms shall be obtained from the Registration Secretary on payment of £1 per form.

(f) The Management Committee shall decide on all registration disputes.

In the event of a player signing a Registration form or having a registration submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player shall be registered. The Registrations Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.

(g) It shall be a breach of Rule for a player to:-

(1) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred.

(2) Having signed for one Club in the Competition sign for another Club in the Competition in that season except for the purpose of transfer.

(3) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player has wilfully neglected to accurately or fully complete.

(h) The Management Committee:-

(1) Shall have the power to accept the registration of any player.

(2) Shall have the power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player, except those under 18 years of age, at their discretion, who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16)

(3) Shall have the power to make application to refuse or cancel the registration of any player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16) subject to the right of appeal to the FA or relevant County Football Association.

Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident or repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition. Application should be made to the parent County of the Club the player is registered with.

(Note: Any action under clause 3 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 a player bringing the Competition into disrepute and will in any case be subject to an Appeal to the Football Association.) For the purpose of this Rule, bringing the Competition into disrepute can only be consider where a player has received in excess of 112 days’ suspension, or 10 matches in match based discipline, in a period of two years or less from the date of the first offence.

(i) Subject to The Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registrations Secretary accompanied by a transfer fee of £10. Such transfer shall be referred by the Registrations Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Registrations Secretary and to the player concerned within 7 days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club’s consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within 7 days, the Registrations Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date or 7 days after receipt of such transfer.

In the event of any objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.

(j) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 1st 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 player 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.

In the event of a player without a written contract changing his status to that of a contract player with the same Club, another Club in the Competition or with a Club in another Competition his registration as a player without written contract will automatically be cancelled and declared void. In order to play in the Competition again either for his original Club or another Club it will be necessary for him to be re-registered as required by this Rule.

(m) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12(a) unless the player has played 5 games for that team in this Competition in the current season.

(n) Omitted.

(o) Any team playing an unregistered player or otherwise ineligible player or players:-

(1) Shall have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined ~~£20~~ and / or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(2) 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.

(3) The Management Committee may, at its discretion, award the points available in the match in question to the opponents, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.

(p) The following applies to players in full-time secondary education:-

(1) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.

(2) Not applicable to the Competition.

(3) To play open age football the player must have achieved the age of sixteen.

Competition Clarification

Please be aware that current FA Regulations allow players of 16 and 17 years of age to play in ADULT football leagues. As persons of this age are classified ‘minors’ any club using players of this age need to be aware of the Child Protection Policy (Safeguarding Minors) and make every effort to ensure they adopt the policy standards. It is not mandatory for Clubs to have a trained and registered (with the County FA) Child Welfare Officer although this is recommended.

Competition Rules

(q) At no time during the consideration of the validity of a player on a match day are the Clubs to seek an opinion from the Match Official. The Management Committee will consider representations from each Club and then announce their decision which will be binding on both Clubs, subject otherwise to the Rules of the Competition.

(r) A suspended player is not eligible to sign a Registration or Transfer form. It shall be the duty of the Official of the Club, or others instructed by them, that when approaching a player with a view to registering him, to first ascertain whether such player has signed a Breckland and District Sunday Football League Player Registration Form with the Competition, and the signing of such player, if found to be already registered with the Competition, shall be dealt with under Clause (g) (2) of this Rule.

(s) Club officials authorised to register players is restricted to the club Secretary and Chairman. Managers and any other official are not permitted to register players. Confirmation (email version) will be sent to the club Secretary as retainable proof that the player has been registered.

(t) Any Club or Member of a Club, inducing or attempting to induce a bona fide player of another Club in the Competition to leave his Club without giving seven days notice in writing to his Club Secretary, shall be referred to the County FA. The approaching Club shall not give notice of intention to approach more than one player of the same Club within 28 days of prior notice. Requests for transfers shall not be made prior to 15th November.

Competition Clarification

The player’s current Club Secretary must attach the written seven days notice, received from the approaching Club, to the Transfer Form.

(u) All Clubs participating in the Competition must have 16 players registered for each team with the Competition 14 days prior to commencement of the season failing which they shall be fined £15.

9. CLUB COLURS, CLUB NAME

(a) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by the 1st July who shall decide 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 four 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 £15.

The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to the 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 the Management Committee.

(Note: BADSFL will only permit name changes between playing seasons)

Competition Rules

(c) All Clubs are responsible for finding their own pitch the dimensions of which must conform to those stipulated in the Laws of the Game.

(d) Each team must provide Linesmen Flags, Whistle and First Aid kit, which will be randomly inspected by a member of the Management Committee.

(e) Club finances must be held in accounts in the name of the said Club.

(f) Any Club failing to comply with c, d, and e, shall be fined £15.

10. PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY,

TIMES OF KICK-OFF, POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES

(a) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the date of commencement and conclusion of the season in accordance with Football Associations Rules. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixtures Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for the purpose, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.

Competition Clarification

No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date.

(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 the power to order the venue to be changed.

The Management Committee shall have the power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition and order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.

All matches shall have 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 at the Annual General Meeting. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined £15 or otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.

Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report late starts to the Competition.

The home team must provide at least 2 footballs fit for play and the Referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. 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.

In the case of a revised fixture date, the Clubs must be given by the Competition 5 clear days notice of the match (unless mutually agreed).

Competition Clarification

The Fixture Secretary shall have the power to rearrange any fixture, should it be deemed necessary and the new date he notifies to the Clubs involved shall be the official date of the fixture.

(d) The Secretary of the Home Club must give notice in writing (email version acceptable) of full particulars of the location of and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match officials and Secretary of the opposing Club, at least four clear days prior to the playing of the match.

Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined £15.

(e) In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than eleven players they shall be fined £15. 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 the power to inflict a fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award points from the match in question 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall ~~have the~~ power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground, or the opponent’s ground if they are satisfied that 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 find £15 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.

Any Club unable to fulfil a fixture must, without delay, give notice to the Fixtures Secretary, the Competitions 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 a fine.

In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed by the two Clubs and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and notification to the Fixtures Secretary within seven days the Management Committee shall have the power to order the match on a named date or on or before a given date.

The Management Committee shall review all matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both Teams. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, the Management Committee shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its Club Member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponent. In cases where a match has been abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams and or their Club member(s), the Management Committee shall rule all points for the match void. No fine(s) can be applied by the Management Committee for an abandoned match.

(g) A Club may, at its discretion, and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use any three substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from five players.

The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes on the official team sheet not later than 15 minutes before the start of the match.

Competition Clarification

Substitutes not so named, may not take part in the match. (In accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of the Game).

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 be a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.

(h) The half time interval shall be of ~~five~~ ten minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.

(i) The League shall require all players and club officials to have signed the FA’s Respect Codes of Conduct and produce these if requested by the League Management Committee.

The participating clubs taking part in the fixture shall identify a team captain designated with a captain’s armband who has a responsibility to offer support in the management of the on-field discipline of his / her team mates.

Prior to each match the participating teams and officials shall conduct the ‘Respect’ handshakes and handshakes to the opposing team after the match.

Competition Rules

(j) Well maintained goal nets, correctly secured, must be used. Corner flag posts (minimum 5ft high with non-pointed tops and flags attached) correctly positioned must be used. The Referee should make a report to the Competition if well maintained goal nets, correct flag posts are not provided and field markings are not clear or safe. If the home team fails to adhere to any of the requirements they shall be fined £15 and/or dealt with as deemed necessary by the Management Committee.

(k) The consumption of alcohol around the field of play by any Team’s Players, Members, Officials, Loyal Followers or Supporters before, during or immediately after the match is strictly forbidden. The Referee shall make a report (email version acceptable) to the Competition if they witness the consumption of alcohol. Clubs failing to comply shall be fined £15 or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(l) Fixtures may, at the discretion of the Management Committee, become Double Header Fixtures. Double Header Fixtures consist of two separate matches of 70 minutes (two equal halves of 35 minutes) to be played on the Home ground of the first named team. The result of each separate match must be reported as detailed in Rule 11. Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be paid 1.5 of the fee, plus travelling expenses as detailed in Rule 13(e). All matches expenses to be shared equally between both clubs.

(Note: These are arranged when certain teams start to suffer a back log of fixtures. A player dismissed in the first game is eligible to play in the second game).

11. REPORTING RESULTS

(a) The Registration Secretary must receive within three days of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include:-

1. Name of Home and Away Teams.

2. Match result.

3. Referee’s name.

4. Referee’s markings required by Rule 13.

5. Forename(s), Surname of the team players, (the players names must correspond with the number on their shirts and must be printed in block letters), and BADSFL registration number, plus any other information required by the League.

6. Member Clubs must in addition to meeting relevant BADSFL instructions also complete a result sheet/card containing the above information for all County Cup Competitions.

7. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be fined £15.

(b) The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match in to the Results Secretary by 2 pm. Clubs in default shall be fined £15.

(c) The match result notification, correctly completed shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £15.

Competition Clarification

The Match Result Sheet submitted for any fixture will be deemed to be the definitive presentation. Any discrepancies arising regarding player eligibility will be decided by the Management Committee on the information submitted on the Match Result Sheet. If a match is abandoned a fully completed Match Result Sheet must be submitted showing the score at the time of abandonment. If a fixture is postponed notification must be made in accordance with the requirements of Rule 10(f).

NB If the fixed penalty exceeds £20 the Club must be charged as detailed in Rule 5(d).

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 awarded for a draw. 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 may be decided in any one or more of the following ways:-

1. Goal average or goal difference

2. Goals scored or deciding match(s) played under conditions determined by the Management Committee.

(b) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first and last two teams in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule 1(b).

1. Should one or more teams withdraw from anyone division after fixtures have commenced an equal number of teams of those withdrawing in that Division shall not be automatically relegated.

2. Vacancies occurring after conclusion of the season may be filled on any 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

3. The last team in the lowest Division shall retire but be eligible for re-election except as below, and subject to conditions of para (b)(1) above.

4. Omitted

5. Omitted

(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 Club shall be expunged from the Competition table.

(d) Omitted

13. REFEREES

(a) Registered Referees (and Assistant Referees where approved by the FA or County FA) for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and the sanctioning Association(s).

(b) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee or in cases where there are no officially appointed 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.

Competition Clarification

In the event that no referee is appointed by the Competition, and the two Clubs fail to agree upon a Referee at the ground on the morning of the fixture, causing the fixture to be postponed, then both Clubs are to submit a written report (email version acceptable) to the Fixture Secretary within 7 days of the fixture clearly stating the reason for the postponement of the fixture. Any Club not submitting a report within the specified time shall be fined £15. Any fixture postponed in this instance may be dealt with by the Management Committee as an unfulfilled fixture, in accordance with Rule 10(f).

(c) 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 £~~15 being imposed on the defaulting Team.

(d) The appointed Referee shall have the 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 the ground, the Representative of the body is the sole arbitor and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.

Competition Clarification

Each Club must obtain details from their pitch provider as to whom they must contact in the event of a pitch may be withdrawn due to adverse weather. The Home Club must contact their provider within the agreed time frame and then if the pitch has been withdrawn, immediately contact the opponents and the other officials detailed under match postponements Rule 10(f) para 3. In the event that the pitch provider has not withdrawn the pitch then both teams must attend the ground and the game should be played unless in the opinion of the Referee it would be unsafe to play, such as a frozen rutted ground. Any game postponed other by the pitch provider or the match referee may be considered an unfulfilled fixture and dealt with by the Management Committee as an unfulfilled fixture, in accordance with Rule 10(f).

(e) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to the following match fees:-

Referee £25, Assistant Referees £15, (plus travel expenses or private car expenses of 20p per mile) and any other expenses actually incurred subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Associations.

The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses immediately before the game.

(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 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/her engagement, and failing to give satisfactory explanation as to their non-appearance, may be reported to the Association with which he or she is registered.

Note: The Home Club shall report the non-appearance, in writing, (copied to the Competition Secretary) to the County FA Referees Secretary.

(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 shall determine.

(i) The Competition shall keep a record of the markings and, on the Form provided by the prescribed date each season, shall submit a summary to the Football Association / County Football Association.

(j) Omitted

(k) Referees an Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.

(l) Referees and Assistant Referees shall have undertaken a Respect briefing ordered by the FA / County FA.

14. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF CLUB

(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 in fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by 1st March each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £50.

All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following Season must confirm their intention to do so, in writing, to the Secretary by 1st March.

(b) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any of its team(s) from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following season.

(1) Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £75 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(b).

(2) Any Club infringing this Rule after fixtures have commenced shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £75 per team and shall be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(b).

(c) The Membership for the coming season having have been decided at a Special General Meeting held for the purpose not earlier than 1st June nor later than 30th June or at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 30th June, the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to join another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements.

(d) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition.

In the event that any such obligation remains undischarged after a period of twenty-one (21) days then each 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.

If the debt remains unpaid after eighty-four (84) days the Competition may apply to the Club’s parent County Association for the debt to be recovered in accordance with the FA Football Debt Recovery System. Once the matter has been passed to the Club’s parent County Association the debt can only be cleared by payment to that County Association.

Competition Rule

(e) In the event of a Club being excluded from further participation in the BADSFL, or any Sunday League, then no more than two players registered with the Club at the time of its exclusion may register for any single Club within the League for a period to be determined by the Management Committee.

15. PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

(a) 1. All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.

2. 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 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 League 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 refereed for determination by the Management Committee whose decision will be binding upon all parties subject to Rule 16.

(d) No protest or complaint of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £25. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing the case. The Competition shall have the power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay 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 receive a copy of the submission and must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement at least 7 days prior to the protest or complaint being heard.

(1) All parties must have received 14 days’ notice of the Hearing should they be instructed to attend.

(2) Should a Club elect to state its case in person they should forward a deposit of £25 and indicate such when forwarding the written response.

16. BOARD OF APPEAL

Within 14 days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee of 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 Norfolk County Football Association (Suffolk County Football Association as appropriate), including a fee of £35, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules. The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties concerned.

No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an Annual or Special General Meeting unless this is on the grounds of unconstitutional conduct.

Competition Rule

A copy of any appeal lodged in accordance with this Rule must be sent to the Competition Secretary and the operation of any decision made by the Competition that is subject of the appeal shall not be suspended pending the result of the appeal unless the Board of Appeal or the Norfolk County Football Association, through its officers, orders such suspension.

17. EXLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS

(a) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a 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 (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.

(b) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club 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 League to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (a) and (b) of this Rule.

(d) Any Club or Team failing to complete all of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds (2/3rds) of votes cast) be debarred from membership of the following season.

18. TROPHY: - LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

(a) If a Competition is discontinued for any reason a Trophy or 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 winners of the Cup or Trophy:-

“We A ............... and B ............... the Chairman and Secretary of................. FC, members of and representing the Club, having been declared winners of............... Cup or Trophy, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby, on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before the March 1st. 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.”

Failure to comply will result ina fine as determined by the Management Committee.

(c) At the close of each Competition awards shall be made to winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.

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 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, as will members of the Management Committee.

Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be find £35.

Officers and Management Committee Members shall be entitled to attend and vote at a Special General Meetings.

20. ALTERATION TO RULES

Alterations, for which consent has been given by the sanctioning Association, 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 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 1st March in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the clubs by 1st April each year and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 30th April each year. The proposals and proposed amendments

21. 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 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 1st May each year.

(d) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

Standing Orders

1. Officers, Committee Members and Delegates attending any meeting shall sign the attendance register.

2. No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum of 12 members is present and at a Management Committee Meeting unless a quorum of 5 members is present.

3. On a show of hands every member eligible to vote and who is present in person shall have one vote. There shall be no right for a member to vote by proxy. No person may represent more than one person. All voting to be by a show of hands unless in the opinion of the Chairman, or the majority of the meeting, a ballot should be taken. Except where otherwise specifically stated, the voting shall be decided by a simple majority.

4. In the case of equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

5. That the proposer of a motion be allowed five minutes for his speech and the seconder, and all succeeding speakers, be allowed three minutes.

6. Any member seconding a motion or amendments without remark shall not be considered to have spoken.

7. Whenever an amendment is made upon any motion, no second amendment shall be taken into consideration until the first amendment is disposed of. If that be carried, it shall then be put as a substantive motion upon which a further amendment may be moved. If the amendment be negated, then a further amendment may be moved to the original motion, but only one amendment shall be submitted for discussion at any one time.

8. That the decision of the Chairman on any point shall be binding upon the meeting but, upon notice being given at such meeting, it may be called in question at the next meeting and rescinded by two thirds of those present and voting.

9. The Chairman shall, at his discretion or upon request, submit to the meeting any question as to the eligibility of delegates to vote upon, or be present at, the discussion of any matter with which they personally, or their clubs, are concerned.

10. If the Chairman at any meeting shall be of the opinion that any motion proposed to be thereat is of an objectionable character, it shall be competent for him either before or after the same is brought forward, to put it to the vote (on which no discussion shall be allowed) whether the same be entertained or not, and if two-thirds of the members present decide not to entertain such motion, the same shall be considered as disposed of.

Cup Competition Rules

1. The Cups

The Cups shall be called

The Breckland and District Sunday League Knock-Out Cup (Open to all member clubs of the BADSFL)

The Presidents Shield To be competed annually between the League Champions and winners of the Breckland and District Sunday League Knock-Out Cup.

The Peter Page Memorial Trophy. To be competed annually between Weeting FC and the Member Club awarded either the Fair Play or Sportsmanship Award.

2. Ownership

The Honorary Treasurer (Custodian of Trophies if appointed) of the Breckland and District Sunday Football League shall be for intents and purposes the legal owner of the cups in trust for the League.

3. Control and Management

The management of the competitions shall be vested in the Breckland and District Sunday Football League Management Committee, who shall have the power to delegate the work to any committee appointed. The words ‘Competition Secretary’ shall mean the Secretary from whom the club received the cup draw.

For any Cup Competition to be held there must be a minimum of four clubs actually playing in the competition.

4. Notice & Entrance Fees

Breckland and District Sunday League Cup: - £25.

The Presidents Shield and Peter Page Memorial Trophy: - No fee.

No Club shall be allowed to play in the Breckland and District Sunday Football League unless it takes part in the Breckland and District Sunday League Knock-Out Cup Competition.

5. Withdrawals

Clubs, which enter and withdraw before the First Round, will be considered as not having played and shall be fined £50. The entry fee will not be return.

6. Qualification of Players.

(a) All players of the Club shall be registered with the Breckland and District Sunday Football League for such Club in the current season within the rules of the League.

(b) He must have played in at least three (3) games sanctioned by Breckland and District Sunday Football League for his Club/Team to be eligible to play in either the semi-finals or final of the Competition except where a player has registered on a Player Registration Form dated prior to 15th October.

(c) Players playing in the Competitions may play for only one Club or one Team of a Club in any season, i.e. first or reserve.

(d) No player shall be eligible for more than one team in Knock-Out Competitions in any one season.

(e) The playing of an unregistered or suspended player in an earlier round shall not validate that player’s eligibility.

7. Playing an Ineligible Player

In the event of a Club playing an ineligible player, the Breckland and District Sunday Football League Management Committee may order the match in question to be replayed or that the offending club is expelled from the Competition and may find the Club a sum not exceeding £50. The offending Club may also be held responsible for any expenses incurred. The Committee shall also have the power to impose an appropriate penalty against the player.

8. The Drawing

(a) The names of the Clubs, entered for each Competition, shall be placed in one lot, unless otherwise decided, and drawn therefrom in couples and shall fix the dates and grounds upon which ties shall be played. The two Clubs drawn together shall compete with each other. The names of the winning teams in that round shall be drawn together in the same way and so on until the final tie is played. The time of kick-off shall be the same as that for the Breckland and District Sunday Football League games. In the event of teams being level at the expiration of ordinary time, extra time of not more than 15 minutes and not less than 10 minutes each way shall be played. In the event of scores being level at the end of extra time, the match shall be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark, in accordance with regulations laid down by the International Board. The Management Committee shall make arrangements for the final tie, take all receipts and pay all match expenses.

(b) Each home club shall, at least seven days before its respective cup tie, confirm with its opponents the match arrangements including the venue, colours and kick-off time.

(c) Where it is deemed necessary to play preliminary rounds prior to round one proper the matches will be played over two legs, home and away. In the event of teams being level at the expiration of ordinary time of the second leg, extra time of not more than 15 minutes and not less than 10 minutes each way shall be played. In the event of scores being level at the end of extra time, the match shall be decided by taking of kicks from the penalty mark, in accordance with regulations laid down by the International Board.

9. Venues

The first-drawn Club of each couple shall play on its recognised home ground, except if otherwise decided by the Management Committee and in the finals of all Competitions. If the ground of the first drawn Club is not available, other than adverse ground conditions or more Senior County Cup games or FA competitions, on the date fixed, the match must be played on its opponents ground. In the event of a match being postponed because of weather conditions, it shall be the responsibility of the home Club to notify Competition Secretary of the postponement as soon as possible and by no later than 2pm of the match day. Failure to do so will result in the Club being fined £15.

10. Late Arrivals

Should a team arrive so late as to cause the cancellation of the tie, the Management Committee may expel the team from the Competition and the team may be liable to pay the expenses of both its opposition and the match officials. A team so expelled shall be fined £50. The entry fee will not be returned.

11. Referees and Assistant Referees

Referees (and assistant referees where appointed) shall be appointed as in the Breckland and District Sunday League games but the fees for the officials, which shall be the same as in League games, shall be equally defrayed by the competing Clubs. For the final tie the Management Committee shall be responsible for defraying their fees and/or presenting mementoes in lieu.

12. Awards

The finalists shall receive awards, funds of the Competition permitting. No player who has been sent off in the Final Tie shall receive an award on the day of the Final and the question of whether or not he will receive an award will be decided by the Management Committee after the matter has been dealt with by the Norfolk County FA (SCFA if applicable).

13. Powers of the Management Committee

(a) The Management Committee shall have the power 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 by the Rules. Unless stated to the contrary in the foregoing paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, the Laws of the Game, the International Board Decisions relating thereto, and Rules governing the Breckland and District Sunday Football League, in so far as they can, shall apply to the Competition.

(b) The decisions of the Management Committee, on all relating to the Breckland and District Sunday Football League Knock-Out Competitions shall be final and binding and shall not be subject to appeal.

(c) All fines and costs shall be paid to the Breckland and District Sunday League within fourteen (14) days of the date of notice to the Club/Team. Any Club/Team failing to pay any fine and/or cost shall be dealt with by the Breckland and District Sunday Football League Management Committee as provided for by BADSFL Rule 5 (h) and (i).

USEFUL INFORMATION / REMINDERS FOR CLUB SECRETARY’S

League Disciplinary Policy

1. Except where otherwise detailed all correspondence, concerning League business, including complaints and protests must be received in writing, (email version acceptable) signed by the Club Secretary, must be addressed to the Honorary League Secretary. If correspondence, complaints or protests are received from a club member who is not the Secretary it will be returned to the sender explaining the correct procedure to be followed. There have been some past incidences of clubs sending in complaints or protests without paying the appropriate fee. In such cases it will be returned to the sender explaining the correct procedure to be followed.

2. If a complaint is received from a member of the public, an acknowledgement will be sent notifying the individual of our agreed policy, informing them they would need to make the complaint through the appropriate channels direct to the Club’s parent County FA.

3. All complaints to be responded to by an acknowledgement of receipt, this would indicate the complaint will be investigated by the County FA.

5. All queries concerning fixtures should be addressed to the Fixture Secretary and the correct contact for Player Registration queries is the Registration Secretary. The Official Match Record Team Sheet should also be sent to the Registration Secretary by First Class mail, Email, or Hand Delivered, to arrive no later than 3pm the following matchday Wednesday as he is responsible for the individual player’s record of appearances, goals scored and discipline (red and yellow cards accumulated). All matters concerning fines should be addressed to the Originating Officer. Please note the League cannot take action on fines distributed by Norfolk County FA or Suffolk County FA.

Please remember that this league always starts at 10.30am (excepting when pitch availability demands a later start) and then only when authorised by the Fixture Secretary. It is one of the major points you need to get across to your players to avoid unwanted fines for late kick-offs.

Please pay Referees Fees promptly. The referees should be paid their match fee plus travel expenses immediately after the match. Referees don’t like to ask for their money and your prompt action will avoid embarrassment. The referee’s fee is the duty of the home team for League matches and both teams share all match expenses in BADSFL Cup Competition games.

Your matchday results must be phoned in to the Results Secretary by the home team as soon as possible after the match, certainly No later than 2 pm. County Cup results must also be phoned through to the Results Secretary No later than 2 pm.

The majority of league business will be conducted with club secretaries by email. Receipt of all emails MUST be acknowledged to the Originating Officer. See Rule 5(o).

Fines Administered by the League

If your club falls foul of the League Rules, you WILL receive a fine, administered by the league’s Appointed Officer. If you feel the fine is unjust, you should take the following action:

1) Pay the fine in full by the date stated on the fine notice.

2) Adopt the procedure outlined in Rule 15(d).

3) All correspondence must come from the club Secretary.

4) Please do not ignore the fine, or refuse to pay. This comes under rule as failing to deal with league business and it incurs a further fine. There have been some past incidences of clubs sending in appeal letters without paying the fine or appeal fee and some letters of appeal have not come from the club chairman or secretary. Should your appeal be successful, your appeal fee and fine are returned in full.

Please bear in mind that dealing with the Competition should be the same as dealing with the County FA. They would not accept any appeal from anyone but the club chairman or secretary and no appeal fee means no appeal hearing.

Fair Play Award

To ensure a fairer approach in determining the recipient of the award the following procedure is be strictly adhered to on entering ‘cautions’ and ‘send offs’ when completing the Official Match Record Team Sheet.

When a player is dismissed for one caution enter it as C (1 point). When a player receives two cautions in the same game enter it as Cx2 (3 points) and not as SO. When a player receives a straight red card enter as SO (5 points).

FA’s Respect Code of Conduct

Clubs are required to acquaint all their members with the FA’s Respect Code.

All Clubs in this league have, by being accepted into our Constitution, signed up to the Football Association Respect programme. We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game. The FA’s respect programme is aimed at tackling unacceptable behaviour across the whole game. Play your part and observe The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for coaches, team managers, club officials and adult players.

Football Debt Recovery

The Breckland and District Sunday Football League will adopt the procedure as detailed in the Norfolk County Football Association Handbook to recover unpaid fines, costs and monies owed to the League.

Season 2011-12

Revised 15th May 2011