League Committee - deatils of the current league managment committee

MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION
(4a) The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Football Association by a Management Committee comprising the Officers and six members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. Management Committee members shall be representatives of six different Clubs. Clubs so elected may send up to three representatives to Management Committee meetings but will have only one vote regardless of the number of representatives sent. (4b) 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 th 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. (4c) The Management Committee shall meet on the first Thursday of the months of February, April, August, October, and December. On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee. (4d) 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. (4e) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers.
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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
(6a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 30 th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least 60 per cent of Members are present and entitled to vote: (6ai) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting. (6aii) To consider any business arising therefrom. (6aiii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts. (6aiv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management Committee). (6av) Constitution of the Competition for ensuing season. (6avi) Election of Officers and representative Clubs. Nominations for Clubs to be represented on the Management Committee shall be received at the Annual General Meeting. In the event of more than six nominations a written ballot will be held. (6avii) Appointment of Auditors. (6aviii) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which due notice has been given). (6aix) Fix dates for the commencement and conclusion of the playing season. (6ax) Other business of which at least fourteen days’ notice shall have been given and accepted as being relevant to an Annual General Meeting. (6b) A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club and Officer at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Devon County Football Association. (6c) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Devon County Football Association within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting. (6d) Each 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. (6e) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded. This provision will not apply to clubs expelled in accordance with Rule 17. (6f) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least twenty-five per cent of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chair so decides. (6g) No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club. (6h) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £20. Any Club leaving the Annual General Meeting without the permission of the Secretary will be deemed not to have attended. (6j) In the event of any vote being tied the Chair shall have a second or casting vote.
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AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED
(7) The Chair 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 …………….. (Chair) and B ………………….. of ……………... (Secretary) of the ………………. Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Devon County Women’s League Competition and do hereby agree for and on behalf of 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 Chair and/or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the County Football Association to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.
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QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
(8a) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition. (8b) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Secretary on the day prior to playing. Registrations forms may be posted, delivered or transmitted by facsimile to the Competition Secretary. If submitted by facsimile the original must be posted within four days. Photostats are not acceptable. A SAE must be enclosed with all original forms for a confirmation of registration. Failure to comply will result in a fine of £5. (8bi) The Competition operates a retained system for players’ registrations from season to season. (8bii) On May 1 st of each season the Competition Secretary will supply a list of all players registered with each Club to the Club Secretary. The Club is responsible for indicating which players it wishes to retain in writing. The retained list must be returned to the Competition Secretary by May 31 st in each season. (8biii) It shall be each Club’s duty to ensure players to be registered with it have not been retained by another Club. A Club attempting to register a retained player will be fined £10. (8biv) Failure to return the list of retained players by May 31st will result in a fine of £50 and that Club’s players will become unregistered from June 1 st onwards. (8bv) Any Club not continuing Membership for any reason is not required to comply with this obligation and any of the players registered with that Club will become unregistered on June 1st. (8bvi) Any player who is not retained may be registered with any Club after June 1st, including the Club she may have been previously registered with, on an official registration form. (8bvii) All players retained may join another Club only on completion of a transfer form in accordance with the Rules in force. (8c) A player is not eligible to play in this Competition who receives any form of payment for playing. (8d) A team shall not include more than two players who have played in more than half of any Club’s competition matches at a more senior level during the current season. (8e) 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. (8f) Registration forms shall be obtained from the Secretary on prepayment of £0 per form. Each Member Club will be issued with player registration forms and transfer forms at the beginning of each season. A SAE will be required upon application for additional forms. Failure to comply will result in a fine of £5. (8g) 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 Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration. (8h) It shall be a breach of Rule for a player to: (8hi) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred. (8hii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition in that season except for the purpose of a transfer. (8hiii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had wilfully neglected to accurately of fully complete. (8ii) The Management Committee shall have the 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.) (8iii) The Management Committee shall have the 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.) (8k) 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 Secretary accompanied by a fee as follows: Transfers requested between June 1 st and June 30 th inclusive – free of charge Transfers requested between July 1 st and August 31 st - £5 Transfers requested between September 1 st and February 29 th inclusive - £10 Such transfer shall be referred by the 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 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 Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from the day after receipt of such transfer. In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision. Players who are not under written contract to a Club may be registered with a number of Clubs at any time, subject to the following provisions and those of the Competitions in which they play: (8ki) During the current season (which runs from 1 st July to the following 31 st May) any Club wishing to approach a Player known to be registered with and having played for any other Club must give to the Secretary of each such Club seven days’ formal written notice of the intention to approach the Player. Formal written notice of approach need be given by a Sunday Club only to all Sunday Clubs. (8kii) The written notice must be sent by Special Delivery or Recorded Post, or a written acknowledgement otherwise obtained from the Secretary or Chair of the Club approached. Facsimile or email transmission may be used provided a receipt of acknowledgement is also obtained. (8kiii) Following the date of posting of the written notice of approach, or receipt of an acknowledgement: (A) the Player may be registered on or after the eighth day (B) the Player must have been registered on or before the twenty-first day. (8kiv) The approaching Club: (A) may not approach the same Player a second time in the same season; (B) may approach only one Player at a Club at any time subject to (viii) below; (C) may not approach another Player at the same Club within twenty-eight days of an earlier notice of approach or acknowledgement. (8kv) If an approach is made by a Player to another Club during the current season that Club shall give the Club(s) for which the Player is known to be registered and has played seven days notice of approach as set out above before registering the Player. (8kvi) A Club which is the subject of a complaint alleging failure to give notice in accordance with this Rule may be subject to a charge of misconduct under FA Rules. (8kvii) A Club proved to have breached the provisions of this Rule may have its current registration of the Player cancelled and be subject to such other penalty as The Association or Affiliated Association deems appropriate, in accordance with FA Regulations. (8kviii) During the current season a maximum of two Players may be approached in the manner described above if invited to trial at a licensed Football Association/FA Premier League/Football League Academy or Centre of Excellence. (8kix) A currently registered Player shall not be allowed to register with another Club without first satisfying the Club Officials of the intended Club that all reasonable financial and other liabilities have been discharged to the Club or Clubs with which the Player is or was known to be registered in the current and previous season. (8kx) A Player approached on or after 1 st May in the current season may not play in competitive football for the Club making the approach until the commencement of the following season. (8kxi) A player wishing to transfer to another Club must use the official Competition transfer form (not a photostat). The transfer form must be signed by the player concerned and by the Secretaries of the Clubs involved. When properly completed it must be returned to the Competition Secretary with a SAE the day before the player can play for her new Club. Failure to provide will result in a fine of £5. Completed transfer forms may be transmitted by facsimile in accordance with the provisions of Rule 8(B). (8kxii) In order for a transfer to be completed the duly completed transfer form must be enclosed with the correct fee as appropriate. Transfers concluded between June 1 st and June 30 th inclusive: free of charge. Transfers concluded between July 31 st and August 31st inclusive: a fee of £5. Transfers concluded between September 1 st and February 29 th inclusive: a fee of £10. No transfers will be granted between March 1 st and May 31st inclusive, subject to the provisions in (L) above. (8l) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 29 th February except by special permission of the Management Committee. Special permission to register a player on a registration form will always be given by the Management Committee; a transfer will be granted after February 29 th in any season if the Competition Secretary (on behalf of the Management Committee) is satisfied that special circumstances exist, for example, chronic team raising difficulties on the part of the Club seeking to transfer the player, or non-selection, or a change of residence on the part of the player seeking the transfer. In any such case the Secretary will report the matter to the next Management Committee meeting for ratification. (8m) 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. (8n) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be open to inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged. The registration register may be viewed other than at a Management Committee meeting at an agreed time upon payment of a £5 fee. (8o) 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 0 (zero) games for that team in this Competition in the current season. (8p) A player who has played for a team in the Premier Division three times or more shall not in that season be eligible to play in a lower Division except by permission of the Management Committee. (8qi) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players may have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. (8qii) In addition the team shall have three 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. The team playing unregistered or otherwise ineligible player(s) shall be liable to a fine of £10 for each ineligible player and the Management Committee has the power to impose further sanctions. (8qiii) 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. (8s) A player must be 16 (sixteen) years of age or over to register for a Club. (8t) Any player of a defunct Club must apply to the Competition Secretary, who has power to give provisional sanction, for permission to sign for another Club. The Secretary shall report to the next Management Committee meeting in such a case.
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CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME
(9a) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts, shorts and socks with the Secretary by 24 th June who shall decide as to their suitability. Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the referee. No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts. Any team not being able to play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition shall notify the colours in which they will play to its opponents at least five days before the match. Where a home team is not able to play in the colours registered with the Competition it will not be permitted to change to the same or similar colours of the away team. 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. All shirts are to be numbered on the back. Any club failing to comply will be fined £5. (9b) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must seek permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee. A Club must notify all other Club Secretaries in their division of any permitted change.
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PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY
TIMES OF KICK-OFF, POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES
(10a) 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 Secretary must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting. A Club wishing to keep a particular date or dates open in the ensuing season must notify the Competition Secretary within twenty-one days of the Annual General Meeting. Any Club not requiring a fixture on any date left open during the season must give the Competition Secretary twenty-eight days’ clear notice in writing of its wishes. (10b) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board. None of the modifications permissible in women’s football apply except with regard to substitutions where the Football Association has given sanction. Matches must be played within the county boundaries of Devon unless, on application by a Club, the Management Committee and the appropriate County Football Association agree to the venue. 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 to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground. All matches shall have a duration of ninety minutes unless a shorter time (not less than seventy minutes) is mutually agreed by the two captains in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any case shall be of equal halves. The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the A.G.M. or the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £10 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine. The time of kick-off shall be 3:00pm except during the months of November, December, January and February when it will be 2:00pm . All Cup matches in which extra time is due to be played must kick off thirty minutes earlier than this. No other kick-off time will be permitted unless mutually agreed by both clubs concerned and notified to the Competition Secretary and referees’ Secretary. Midweek and holiday fixtures will be by mutual consent; if agreement is not reached the Competition Secretary will decide the kick-off time and this decision is final. Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition. Any Club responsible for a match starting more than fifteen minutes later than the official or agreed time will be liable to the fine of £10 and in addition further action may be taken by the Management Committee if as a result of a late kick-off the match is not completed. The home team shall provide at least two footballs fit for play and a set of standard assistant referee flags and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets must be used. Clubs shall provide an adequate changing room in clean condition, and with hot water provided for use by their opponents, the Management Committee having power to inspect such premises in case of doubt at any time during the season. The Clubs are responsible for the above conditions and not the landlords of the grounds. All teams must have a fully equipped first aid case, and at least one person at a match who is a qualified or adequate first aid trainer, such person or persons to be named to the Competition Secretary prior to the commencement of each season. 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, and Competition Cup ties. All other matches must be considered secondary. In the event of a Club having two or more players selected to play for the National, County or County League representative team that Club may apply to the Management Committee for postponement of a Competition match. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the Competition Secretary provided both Clubs have given seven days’ notice in writing. The Secretary of the home Club must give notice 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. The home Club must also confirm its playing colours to its opponents. Notification must be by personal telephone contact, not by leaving a message on an answerphone. Any difficulty in contacting any party should be reported to the Competition Secretary at least three days before the match. The home Club Secretary must notify the match officials of any change of venue or kick-off time. (10e) Every Club shall play its best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be fined £10. (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.) In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than eight players they shall be fined £0 for each missing player. A minimum of eight players will constitute a team for a Competition match. (10f) Home and away matches shall be played. The Management Committee shall have the power to arrange further matches between clubs in their divisions in order to provide sufficient League games. In the event of a Club failing to keep or complete its engagement the Management Committee shall have the power to impose a maximum fine of £25 and deduct three points from the total of the defaulting Club and/or award the points to the opponents. It may also order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. The defaulting Club shall send a letter of explanation to the Competition Secretary within seven days of the postponed match. Notwithstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent’s ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances. Any Club with more than one team in the Competition shall always fulfil its fixture, within the Competition, in the following order of precedence: First Team, Reserve Team, A Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not exceeding £10 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee. Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club. Such notice shall be given immediately by the Club to the Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and (if directed) the match official(s). Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable. Any Club failing to notify the required persons of a postponement will be fined £5 on each count up to a maximum of £10 per match postponed. When there is a question concerning the fitness of a pitch the home Club shall contact the appointed referee where practical or a local registered referee who will take the decision. The referee undertaking the pitch inspection shall not be directly associated with either of the competing Clubs. Unless otherwise directed by the Competition Secretary inspections should normally be carried out on the day of the match allowing, where possible, sufficient time to prevent opponents and match officials travelling. Clubs are not empowered to postpone matches themselves. In the event of a match being postponed the Competition Secretary shall be notified of the name of the inspecting referee and failure to comply will result in a fine of £5. 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 Secretary within one day the Management Committee shall have power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date. 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, it 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 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 . (10g) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use three substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from five players. Both Clubs must enter the surnames and forenames of the players commencing the match on the official result card in block capitals and lodge same with the referee prior to the start of the match. The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes before the start of the match but their names shall only be entered on the official match card if they actually play. Any Club failing to comply will be fined £5. 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. (10h) The half time interval shall be of ten minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.
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REPORTING RESULTS
(11a) The Secretary must receive within three days of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename and surname of the team players (in block letters) and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, and other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £10 and the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide. After the match each Club will insert on the official match card the surnames and forenames of their substitutes who actually played (in block capitals) and the referee shall then insert the result of the match, and sign the card. Clubs shall then add the referee’s marking (1 to 10) in the space provided. It shall be the duty of the home Club to forward the match card by first class post to the Competition Secretary within two days of the match. Any Club submitting a referee’s mark of four or less must send a report to the Competition Secretary, stating their reasons, signed or countersigned by the Club Secretary within four days of the match. Any Club failing to comply with any section of this Clause will be fined £10. (11b) The home Club shall notify the Competition Secretary of the result of the match within two hours either personally or by leaving a message on the answerphone number. The home Club shall also contact the Press Officer on her/his mobile telephone within one hour of the completion of the match. Both teams must notify the Press Officer of goalscorers in the manner notified to them by the Competition Secretary. Any Club failing to comply with any section of this Clause will be fined £10. (11c) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. The Management Committee shall have the power to take such action as they deem suitable against a Club which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information. Any Club giving an incorrect surname or forename will be fined £5. A Club which enters a false name on the team list will be dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.
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DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
(12a) 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 rankings will be decided by goal difference. In the event of the goal difference being equal rankings will be decided by goals scored. In the event of goals scored being equal rankings will be decided by the toss of a coin. (12b) Where more than one Division exists automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the top and bottom team in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule 1(B). (12bi) 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. (12bii) Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season may be filled on 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. (12bii) The last two teams in the lowest Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election except as below, and be subject to the conditions of paragraph B(I) above. (12biv) When a senior team is relegated to a lower Division of which its reserve team is a member, or entitled to be a member, such reserve team must accept relegation to, or retain its position in, the next lower Division; and should the senior team be relegated to the lowest Division its reserve team automatically retires from the Competition.(12bv) Should any team eligible for promotion have a senior team in the next higher Division, promotion shall fall, at the discretion of the Management Committee, to the next highest team or teams in the Division concerned. (12c) In the event of a team withdrawing from the Competition at any time during the playing season all points obtained or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition table. (12d) Where a promotion and/or relegation link exists the Champion Club, providing it meets the appropriate grading criteria, will be eligible to make application to the Women’s South Western League Competition at their Annual General Meeting. Should the Champion Club not wish for promotion or, alternatively, not have the necessary grading criteria, then the second place Club will be eligible under the same conditions.
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REFEREES
(13a) Registered Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association. Registered Referees (and where required Assistant Referees) for all matches shall be appointed by the Referees’ Secretary. All match Officials will report to the home ground at least thirty minutes before the official time of kick-off. Referees must report all cases of misconduct to Devon County Football Association in accordance with their procedures. (13b) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant Referee shall take charge and the home Club must provide a substitute Assistant Referee. In cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Club 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. Where Assistant Referees have been appointed, in the event of the non-appearance of one appointed Assistant Referee, the home Club must provide a competent deputy; in the event of the non-appearance of both officially appointed Assistant Referees, the away Club must also provide a competent deputy. In the event of no match officials appearing at the ground referees registered with Devon County Football Association shall be given preference when agreeing a substitute. (13c) The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs, appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any match. Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. (13d) 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 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. (13e) Match Referees appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard an inclusive fee of £15 and official Assistant Referees will be paid a fee of £8, which cost shall be split between the competing Clubs. The home Club shall pay the Officials their fees either before or within twenty minutes of completion of the match. (13f) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Official(s), if present, shall be entitled to half fee only. Where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Official(s), if they attend the ground, their full fee. (13g) A Match Official not keeping his or her engagement and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to their non-appearance may be reported to the Association with which he or she is registered. Referees failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to their non-appearance when appointed to match(es) may have their name removed from the Competition list. (13h) Each Club shall, in the manner prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award marks out of 100 (one hundred) to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the official match card. The Competition shall keep a record of markings and, on the Form provided by the prescribed date each season, shall submit a summary to the County Association. Clubs submitting a mark of fifty or less must send a letter of explanation signed or countersigned by the Club Secretary to the League Secretary within four days. (13k) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge. (13l) Unless advised to the contrary, Referees and Assistant Referees must acknowledge, in writing, all appointments to the Referees’ Secretary within seven days of receipt. Failure to do so may result in the appointment(s) being withdrawn. (13m) Referees and Assistant Referees shall wear predominantly black kit.
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CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB
(14a) After 31 st 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 30 th April each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £75. (14b) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £100 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B). If the Management Committee is satisfied that the withdrawal is due to circumstances beyond the control of the Club and is not for the purpose of joining another Competition the fine may be waived. (14c) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 30 th 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. (14d) 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 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. The complete playing record of a club or team withdrawing during the season shall be deleted. A Club is responsible for the behaviour of its spectators or supporters. The Management Committee shall have the power to impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate on any Club that has failed to control any persons associated with it, or attending its matches. (14e) Any player found guilty of the assault of a Match Official will have her registration cancelled immediately and will not be permitted to play in this Competition, subject to the Management Committee’s annual confirmation.
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PROTESTS AND APPEALS
(15ai) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee. (15aii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee. (15b) 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 the 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 her/his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined. (15c) 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. (15d) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary the sum of £15. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining Club losing its 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 the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs be shared by the parties. (15e) 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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BOARD OF APPEAL
(16) Within fourteen days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee or the Competition a Club, Official or Player against whom action is taken may appeal against such decision by lodging particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of the Devon County Football Association, including a fee of £25, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules. The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties concerned. No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an Annual or Special General Meeting unless this is on the ground of unconstitutional conduct.
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EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS;
MISCONDUCT: CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
(17a) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership. Voting on this point shall be conducted by secret ballot. (17b) 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 at least two-thirds of those present and voting.. Voting on this point shall be conducted by secret ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting. (17c) 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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TROPHY: LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED, AWARDS
(18a) A Competition Cup or Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Competition as Trustees. If the Competition be discontinued for any cause the Cups or Trophies shall be returned to the Donor, if the conditions attached to it so provide, or otherwise dealt with as the Association may decide. Any Cup or Trophy donated to the Competition shall be returned to the donor where possible if the Competition be discontinued for any cause. Whilst the Competition is in existence Cups or Trophies vested in the Officers of the Competition cannot be claimed or passed to any person, persons or corporate body other than the original donor(s). At the close of each Competition each winning Club and each runner-up Club shall be awarded a trophy and twenty medals. The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy: “We A …………… and B ……………, the Chair 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 April 1 st. 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.” (18b) The receiving Club shall be responsible for suitably engraving the Cup or Trophy and returning it, engraved and in a clean and undamaged condition, to the Competition Secretary by April 1 st following the date of winning the Cup or Trophy. A Club failing to return a Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary shall be fined £10 plus £1 for every day after April 1 st until it is returned. Any Club withdrawing from the Competition must immediately return any Cups or Trophies in its possession to the Competition Secretary. If a Cup or Trophy becomes damaged in any circumstance the Competition Secretary must be informed as soon as possible.
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SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
(19) Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting. The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time. At least fourteen days’ notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of business to be transacted at such meeting. Each 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 £20. Any Club leaving a Special General Meeting without the permission of the Secretary will be deemed not to have attended.
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ALTERATION TO RULES
(20) Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season. Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by 29 th February in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 31 st March and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 30 th April. Proposed amendments to local conditions shall be submitted to the Secretary by 30th 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 one day 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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RULES BINDING ON CLUBS
(21) Each Member Club shall be deemed to have given its assent to the Rules of the Competition 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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FINANCE
(22a) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged. (22b) All expenditure in excess of £250 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two Officers nominated by the Management Committee. (22c) The financial year of the Competition will end on April 30th. (22d) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of the Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
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CHILD PROTECTION
(1) Any act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour which is improper and brings the game into disrepute. (2) In these Regulations the expression “Offence” shall mean any one or more of the offences contained in Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and any other criminal offence which reasonably causes The Association to believe that the person accused of the offence poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children. (3) Upon receipt by The Association of: (3.1) notification that an individual has been charged with an Offence; or (3.2) notification that an individual is the subject of an investigation by the Police, Social Services or any other authority relating to an Offence; or (3.3) any other information which causes The Association reasonably to believe that a person poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children then The Association shall have the power to order that the individual be suspended from all or any specific football activity for such period and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. (4) In reaching its determination as to whether an order under Regulation 3 should be made The Association shall give consideration, inter alia, to the following factors: (4.1) whether a child or children are or may be at risk of harm; (4.2) whether the matters are of a serious nature; (4.3) whether an order is necessary or desirable to allow the conduct of any investigation by The Association or any other authority or body to proceed unimpeded. (5) The period of an order referred to in 3 above shall not be capable of lasting beyond the date upon which any charge under the Rules of The Association or any Offence is decided or brought to an end. (6) Where an order is imposed on an individual under regulation 3 above, The Association shall bring and conclude any proceedings under the Rules of The Association against the person relating to the matters as soon as reasonably practical. (7) Where a person is convicted, or is made the subject of a caution in respect of an Offence, that shall constitute a breach of the Rules of The Association and The Association shall have the power to order the suspension of the person from all or any specific football activity for such a period (including indefinitely) and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. (8) For the purposes of these Regulations, The Association shall act through its Council or any committee or sub-committee thereof, including the Board. (9) Notification in writing of an order referred to above shall be given to the person concerned and/or any club with which (s)he is associated as soon as reasonable practicable.