CWFL Rules

 

 

RULE BOOK 2024-2025

Chester & Wirral Football League

 

 

Established 1894-95

www.CWFL.org.uk

 

 

DEFINITIONS

1. (A) In theseRules:

“Affiliated Association” means an Association accorded the status of an Affiliated Association under the rules of The FA.

“AGM” shall mean the annual general meeting held in accordance with the constitution of the Competition.

“Club” means a club for the time being in membership of the Competition.

“Club Portal” means the system used by Clubs to affiliate teams as determined by The FA from time to time;

“Competition” meanstheChester & Wirral Football League.

“Competition Match” means any match played or to be played under the jurisdiction of the Competition.

“Contract Player” means any Player (other than a Player on a Scholarship) who is eligible to play under a written contract of employment with a Club.

“Deposit” means a sum of money deposited with the Competition as part of the requirements of membership of the Competition.

“FeesTariff”meansalistoffeesapprovedbytheClubsatageneralmeetingtobeleviedby the Management Committee for any matters for which fees are payable under theRules, as set out at Schedule A.

“Fines Tariff” means a list of fines approved by the Clubs at a general meeting to be levied by the Management Committee for any breach of the Rules, as set out at Schedule A.

“Ground” means the ground on which the Club’s Team(s) plays its Competition Matches.

“ManagementCommittee”meansinthecaseofaCompetitionwhichisanunincorporated association,themanagementcommitteeelectedtomanagetherunningofthe Competition and where the Competition is incorporated it means the Board of Directorsappointed in accordance with the articles of association of thatcompany.

“Match Officials” means the referee, the assistant referees and any fourth official appointed to a Competition Match.

“Non Contract Player” means any Player (other than a Player on a Scholarship) who is eligible to play for a Club but has not entered into a written contract of employment.

“Officer” means an individual who is appointed or elected to a position in a Club or Competition which requires that individual to make day to day decisions.

“Participant” shall have the same meaning as set out in the rules of The FA from time to time.

“Player”meansanyContractPlayer,NonContractPlayerorotherplayerwhoplaysorwho is eligible to play for aClub.

“PlayingSeason”meanstheperiodbetweenthedateonwhichthefirstcompetitivefixture intheCompetitionisplayedeachyearuntilthedateonwhichthelastcompetitivefixturein the Competition is played.

“Rules” means these rules under which the Competition is administered.

“Sanctioning Authority” means [The FA] [the…………County Football Association Limited].

“Scholarship” means a Scholarship as defined The FA rules.

“Season” means the period of time between an AGM and the subsequent AGM.

“Secretary” means such person or persons appointed or elected to carry out the administration of the Competition.

“SGM” means a special general meeting held in accordance with the constitution of the Competition.

“Team” means a team affiliated to a Club, including where a Club provides more than one team in the Competition in accordance with the Rules.

“The FA” means The Football Association Limited.

“WGS” means the Whole Game System and the procedures for the operation thereof as determined by The FA from time to time.

“written” or “in writing” means the representation or reproduction of words or symbolsor other information in a visible form by any method or combination of methods, whether sent or supplied in electronic form orotherwise.

• Unless stated otherwise, terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders. Any term in the singular applies to the plural andvice-versa.

 

 

GOVERNANCE RULES

COMPETITION NAME, CONSTITUTION

2. • The Competition will be known as Chester & Wirral Football League(or such other name as the Competition may adopt). The Clubs participating in the Competition must be members of the Competition. A Club which ceases to exist or which ceases to be entitled to play in the Competition for any reason whatsoever shall thereupon automatically cease to be a member of the Competition.
   • This Competition shall consist of not more than 100 Clubs approved by the Sanctioning
   • The geographical area covered by the Competition membership shall be Chester, Wirral and surrounding areas.
   • The administration of the Competition under these Rules will be carried out by theCompetition acting (save where otherwise specifically mentioned herein) through the Management Committee in accordance with the rules, regulations and policies of The
   • All Clubs shall adhere to the Rules. Every Club shall be deemed, as a member of the Competition to have accepted the Rules and to have agreed to abide by the decisions of the Management Committee in relation thereto, subject to the provisions of Rule
   • The RulesaretakenfromtheStandardCodeofRules(the“StandardCode”) determinedby The FA from time to time. In the event of any omissions from the Standard Code then the requirements of the Standard Code shall be deemed to apply to the
   • All Clubs must be affiliated to an Affiliated Association.

ThisCompetitionshallapplyannuallyforsanctiontotheSanctioning Authority and the constituent Teams of Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 16 innumber.

• Inclusivity and Non-discrimination
• The Competition and each Club must be committed to promoting inclusivity and to eliminating all forms ofdiscrimination and should abide and adhere to The FA Equality Policy and any legislative requirements (to include those contained in the Equality Act2010).
• This Competition and each Club must make every effort to promote equalitybytreatingpeoplefairlyandwithrespect,byrecognisingthat inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and by providing access and opportunities for all members of the community, irrespective of age, gender,gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability or
• Any alleged breach of the Equality Act 2010 legislation must be referred to the appropriate Sanctioning Authority for
• ClubsmustcomplywiththeprovisionsofanyinitiativesofTheFA, which are adopted by the Competition including, but not limited,to, England Football Accredited and RESPECT Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• All Participants shall abide by The Football Association Regulations for Safeguarding Children as determined by The FA from time to time.
• Clubs shall not enter any of their Teams playing in the Competition in any other competitions (with the exception of FA and County FA Competitions) except with the written consent of the Management Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.A Club must immediately inform the Competition of the details of any fixture(s) in any other competition in which the Club has entered, for which written consent of the Management Committee has been obtained.
• At the AGM or a SGM called for the purpose, amajority of the delegates present shall have power to decide or adjust the constitution of the divisions at their discretion.When necessary this Rule shall take precedence over Rule
• Only one Team shall be permitted  from  any Club  to  participate in  the  same  divisionas another Team from the same Club unless there is no viable alternative because of logistical issues and/or reasons linked to participation and geographical boundaries. The Competition will obtain the prior approval of the Sanctioning Authority in the event of a division comprising of  more  than one  Team  from the  same   This Competitionwill ensure that, where permission is given, Teams from a Club operating in the same division are run as separate entities with no interchange of players other than via transfers of registration in accordance with these Rules.

 

CLUB NAME

3. Any Club wishing to change its name must obtain permission from the Sanctioning Authority and from the Management Committee. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

4. (A)ApplicationsbyClubsforadmissiontotheCompetitionortheentryofanadditionalTeam(s) fromthesameClubmustbemadeinwritingtotheSecretaryby 15^thJune andmustbeaccompaniedby an Entry Fee per Team as set out in the Fees Tariff, which shall be returned in the event of non-election.

At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications, of which due notice has been given, may be received at the AGM or an SGM.

When Rule 22(B) is applied or a Team seeks a transfer or, is compulsorily transferred to another division, no Entry Fee shall be payable.

• Theannualsubscriptionshallbepayable in accordance with the Fees Tariff perClub/TeampayableonorbeforetheAGM of the Competition in each
• IntheeventofanyissueconcerningthemembershipofanyClubwiththeCompetitionthe Management Committee may require a Deposit to be paid (in accordance with the Fees Tariff) by or on behalf of the Club on such terms and for such period as it may in its entire discretion think Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• AClubshallnotparticipateinthisCompetitionuntiltheentryfeeannualsubscriptionand deposit (if required) have been
• Clubs must. ensure that all its teams participating in the Competition are recorded as affiliated on the Club Portal for the forthcoming Playing Season by the following date [ ]. Clubs must advise the Competition Secretary in a manner prescribed by the Sanctioning Authority,orontheprescribedform,ofdetailsofitsheadquarters,its Officersandanyotherinformation required by theFailure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION

(A)The Management Committee shall comprise the Officers of the Competition and 14 members who shall all be elected at the AGM.App 2 Re Rule 5(A)

• Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination provided that the Officer notifies the Secretary in writing not later than 30^thApril in each year.

Allother candidates for election as Officers of the Competition or members of the Management Committee shallbe nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the secretaries of two Clubs,not later than 30^thApril in each year.Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the AGM.In the event of there being no nomination inaccordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the AGM.

• The Management Committee shall meet as and when required, save that no more than threecalendar months shall pass between each

On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Management Committee.

• Exceptwhereotherwisementionedallcommunicationsshallbeaddressedtothe Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its
• All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their Officers and sent to the Secretary.

Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

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

• SubjecttothepermissionoftheSanctioningAuthorityhavingbeenobtained,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 eachClub(includinganyclubwhichmayhavewithdrawnduringtheSeason)tocontribute equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the end of the
• 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 sorepresented or where there may be a conflict of interest. (This shall also apply to the procedure of anysub-committee).
• In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman of the Management Committee shall have a second or casting vote.
• TheManagementCommitteeshallhavepowerstoapply,actuponandenforcetheseRules andshallalsohavejurisdictionoverallmattersaffectingtheAnyactionbythe Competition must be taken within 28 days of the Competition beingnotified.

With the exception of Rules 6(I), 8(H), and 9, for all alleged breaches of a Rule the Management Committee shall issue a formal written charge to the Club concerned. The Club charged shall be given 7 days from the date of notification of the charge to reply. In such reply a Club may:

• Accept the charge and submit in writing a case of mitigation for consideration by the Management Committee on the papers;or
• Acceptthechargeandnotifythatitwishestoputitscaseofmitigationatahearing before the Management Committee;or
• Deny the charge and submit in writing supporting evidence for consideration bythe Management Committee on the papers;or
• Deny the charge and notify that it wishes to put its case of mitigation at a hearing before the Management

Where the Club charged fails to respond within 7 days, the Management Committee shall determine the charge in such manner and upon such evidence, as it considers appropriate.

Where required, hearings shall take place as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of the reply of the Club as more fully set out above.

Having considered the reply of the Club (whether in writing or at a hearing), the Management Committee shall make its decision and, in the event that the charge is accepted or proven, decide on the appropriate penalty (with reference to the Fines Tariff where applicable).

With the exception of Teams playing at Step 7 of the National League System, the maximum fine permitted for any breach of a Rule is £250 and, when setting any fine, the Management Committee must ensure that the penalty is proportional to the offence, taking into account any mitigating circumstances.

The maximum fine permitted for a breach of a Rule by a Team playing at Step 7 of the National League System is £500.

No Participant under the age of 18 can be fined.

All breaches of the Laws of the Game, or the Rules and Regulations of The FA shall be dealt with in accordance with FA Rules by the appropriate Association.

• All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule

Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within 7 days.

• 50% ofitsmembersshallconstituteaquorumforthetransaction of business by the Management Committee or any sub-committee
• The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their
• A Club must comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee and must attendtothebusinessand/orthecorrespondenceoftheCompetitiontothesatisfactionof the Management Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• Subjecttoa Club’srightofappealinaccordancewithRule7below, all fines and charges must be paid within 14 days of the date ofnotification of the decision. Any Club failing to do so will be fined in accordance with the Fines Further failure to pay the fine including the additional fine within a further 14 days will result in fixtures being withdrawn until such time as the outstanding fines arepaid.
• A member of the Management  Committee  appointed by  the  Competition to  attenda meeting or Competition Match may have any reasonable expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.
• TheManagementCommitteeshallhavethepowertofillanyvacancythatmayoccurinthe membership of the Competition between the AGM or SGMcalled to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Playing Season subject to the provisions of the National League System Regulations or Women’s Football Pyramid Regulations (which must take precedence if applicable.)
• The business of the Competition as determined by the Management Committee may be transacted by electronic mail or

PROTESTS, CLAIMS, COMPLAINTS, APPEALS

7. (A)  (i)        All questions of eligibility, qualification of Players or interpretations of theRules shall be referred to the ManagementCommittee or a sub-committee duly appointed by the Management Committee.

(ii)          Objections relevant to  the dimensions  of  the pitch,  goals,  flag posts   or  other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the referee before the commencement of the Competition Match.

• 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 with the Secretary within5 days (excludingSundays)oftheCompetition MatchoroccurrencetowhichtheyAprotestorcomplaint shall not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee. A memberof 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.
• No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unlessthe complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum in accordance withthe Fees This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining orprotesting Club losing its case.The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting ClubortheClubmakingalosingorfrivolousprotestorcomplainttopaytheexpensesofthe inquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by theparties.
• 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 orcomplaint being
• All parties must have received 7 days’ notice of the hearing should they be instructed to
• Should a Club elect to state its case in person then it should indicate such when forwarding the written
• The Management Committee shall also have power to compel any party to the protest topay such expenses, as the Management Committee shall
• Any appeal against a decision of the Management Committee must be lodged with the SanctioningAuthoritywithin14daysofthepostingofthewrittennotificationof thedecisioncausingtheappeal,accompaniedbyafee(as set out in the Fees Tariff), whichmaybeforfeitedintheevent of the appeal not being upheld. A copy of the appeal must also be sent to the The procedure for the appeal shall be determined by the Sanctioning Authority, in such respect the Sanctioning Authority may (but is not obliged to):
  • Invite submissions by the parties involved;
  • Convene a hearing to hear the appeal;
  • Permit new evidence; or
  • Impose deadlines as are appropriate

Any appeal shall not involve a rehearing of the evidence considered by the Management Committee.

• No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an AGM or SGM unless this is on the ground of unconstitutional
• All protests, claims or complaints relating to these Rules and appeals arising from aPlayer’s contract shall be heard and determined by the Management Committee, or a sub-committee duly appointed by the Management Committee. The Clubs or Players protesting, appealing, claiming or complaining must send a copy of such protest, appeal, claim or complaint and deposit a fee (as set out in the Fees Tariff) which shall be forfeited in the event of the protest, appeal,claimorcomplaintnotbeingupheld,andthepartynotsucceedingmay,inaddition, be ordered to pay the costs at the direction of the Management

AllsuchprotestsclaimscomplaintsandappealsmustbereceivedinwritingbytheSecretary within fourteen days of the event or decision causing any of these to besubmitted.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

8. (A)TheAGMshallbeheldnotlaterthan30^thJuneineachAtthismeetingthe following business shall be transacted provided that at least 10 members are present and entitled tovote:-
   • To receive and confirm the minutes of the preceding AGM.
   • To receive and adopt the annual report, balance sheet and statement of accounts.
   • Election of Clubs to fill
   • Constitution of the Competition for the ensuing
   • Election of Officers of the Competition and the ManagementCommittee members.
   • Appointment of
   • Alteration of Rules, ifany (see Rule 14)
   • Fix the date for the commencement of the Playing Season and kick off times applicableto the Competition.
   • Fix the date for the end of the Playing Season (save for Step 7 which shall be determined by The FA).
   • Other business of which due notice shall have been given and accepted as beingrelevant to an AGM.

• Acopyofthedulyaudited/verifiedbalancesheet,statementofaccountsandagendashall be forwarded to each Club at least 14 days prior to the meeting, together with any proposed Rule changes.
• A signed copy of the duly audited/verified balance sheet and statement of accounts shall besenttothe SanctioningAuthoritywithin14daysofitsadoptionbytheAGM
• Each Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an AGM. Each Clubshallbeentitledtoonevote14days’noticeshallbegivenofanyAGM.
• Clubs who have withdrawn their membership of the Competition during the Playing 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
• All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by atleast 50% of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so
• No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Club.
• Any continuing Club must be represented at the AGM. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine inaccordancewiththeFines

Any club that has submitted a valid application to join the Competition for the forthcoming season must have the opportunity to be put forward for membership and to have a vote taken on their membership application.

• Officers of the Competition and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at anAGM, but cannot also cast a vote on behalf of a club. (See Rule 9D)
• WhereaCompetitionisanincorporatedentity,theOfficersoftheCompetitionshallensure that the Articles of Association of the Competition are consistent with the requirements of these Rules.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

9. (A) On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds (2/3) of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a SGM.

(B) The Management Committee may call a SGM at any time.

(C) At least seven 7 days’ notice shall be given of a meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting.

(D) Each Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all SGM’s. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only.

(E) Any Club failing to be represented at a SGM shall be fined in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

(F) Officers of the Competition and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all SGM’s, but cannot also cast a vote on behalf of a club (See rule 9 D).

AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

10. Each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement, which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the applicationformembershipforthecomingSeason,oruponindicatingthattheClubintends to

“We, (A) (name) [ ] of (address) [ ] (Chairman)/(Director)and (B) (name) [ ] of (address) [ ] (Secretary)/(Director)of [ ] Football Club (Limited) have been provided with a copy ofthe Rules and Regulations of the [ ]  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 tothe right of appeal in accordance with Rule7.”

The agreement shall be signed by:

• Where a Club is an unincorporated association, the Club chairman and secretary; or
• Where a Club is an incorporated entity, two directors of the Club.

Anyalterationofthechairmanand/orsecretaryof the Club ontheaboveagreementmustbenotified to the [ ] County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary.

Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP, WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB

11. (A)AnyClubintending,orhavingaprovisionalintention,towithdrawaTeamfromtheCompetition on completion of its fixtures and fulfillment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by 31st March each This does not apply to a Club moving in accordance with Rule 22(B). Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

• TheManagementCommitteeshallhavethediscretiontodealwithaTeambeingunableto start or complete its fixtures for a PlayingSeason, including, but not limited to, issuing a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• Notwithstanding the powers of the Management Committee pursuant to Rule 6(I), in the event of a Club failing to discharge all its financial obligations to theCompetition in excess of £50, the Management Committee shall be empowered to refer the debt under The FA Football Debt Recovery

 

EXCLUSION OF CLUBS, TEAMS. MISCONDUCT OF CLUBS, OFFICERS, PLAYERS, MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

12. (A)At the AGM or SGM called for the purpose in accordance with the provisions of Rule 9, noticeof motion having been duly circulated on the agenda by direction of the Management Committee, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to: (i) remove a member of the Management Committee from office; (ii) exclude any Club or Teamfrommembership, both ofwhichmustbesupportedbymorethantwothirds(2/3)ofthose present and voting.Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A member of the Management Committee or Club, which is the subject of the vote being taken, shall be excluded from

• At the AGM, or at a SGM called for the purpose in accordance with the provisions of Rule 9, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club whose conducthas,intheiropinion,beenundesirable,whichmustbesupportedbymorethantwo-thirds (2/3) of those present and voting.Voting on this point shall be conducted by A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.
• Any Officer 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 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 clause (A) and/or (B) of this

TROPHY

13. (A) The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the cup ortrophy:-

“We (A) (name) and (B) (name), the Chairman and Secretary of FC (Limited), 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 [

]. 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 in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

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

ALTERATION TO RULES

14. (A) Alterations, for which consent has been given by the Sanctioning Authority, shall be made totheseRulesonlyattheAGMorataSGMspecially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 9.Any alteration made duringthe Playing Season to these Rules shall not take effect until the following PlayingSeason, except in exceptional circumstances and approved by the sanctioning authority or The FA.

(B)Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the AGM shall be submitted to the Secretary by 31^stMarch in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 14^thApril and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 30^thApril. The proposals and proposed amendments thereto shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of the AGM. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if 51% [a majority] of those present, entitled to vote and voting are in favour.

(C) AcopyoftheproposedalterationstoRulestobeconsideredattheAGMorSGM shall be submitted to the Sanctioning Authority or The FA (as applicable) at least 28 days prior to the date of themeeting.

FINANCE

15. (A)TheManagementCommitteeshalldeterminewithwhichbankorotherfinancialinstitution the funds of the Competition will be

• Allexpenditure in excess of £100shall be approved by theManagement
• The financial year of the Competition will end on 31^st
• The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited/verifiedannuallybyasuitablyqualified person(s)whoshallbeappointedatthe

 

INSURANCE

16. (A) All Clubs must have valid public liability insurance cover of at least ten million pounds (£10,000,000) at all

(B) All Clubs must have valid personal accident cover for all Players registered with them from time to time. The Players’ personal accident insurance cover must be in place prior to the Club taking part in any Competition Match and shall be at least equal to the minimum recommendedcoverdeterminedfromtimetotimebytheSanctioningAuthority.IninstanceswhereThe FA is the Sanctioning Authority, the minimum recommended cover will bethecoverrequiredbytheAffiliatedAssociationtowhichaClubaffiliates.

Failure to comply with Rule 16(A) or 16(B) will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

DISSOLUTION

17. (A)DissolutionoftheCompetitionshallbebyresolutionapprovedataSGM byamajorityofthreequarters(3/4)ofthememberspresentandshalltakeeffectfromthe date of the relevant SGM.

• In the event of the dissolution of the Competition, the members of the Management Committee are responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the
• The Management Committee shall deal with any surplus assets asfollows:
  • Any surplus assets, save for a trophy or any other presentation, remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Competition shall be transferred only to another Competition or Affiliated Association or The Football Association BenevolentFundortosuchothercharitableorbenevolentobjectinthelocalityof the Competition as determined by resolution at or before the time of winding up, and approved in writing by the SanctioningAuthority.
  • IfaCompetitionisdiscontinuedforanyreasonatrophyoranyotherpresentation shall be returned to the donor if the conditions attached to it so provide or, if not,dealt with as the Sanctioning Authority may

 

 

MATCH RELATED RULES

QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

18. (A)                                    A Player is one who, being in all other respects eligible,has:
    • Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersignedbyanOfficer of the Club,whichissubmittedtotheCompetition1dayspriorto thePlayerplayingandwhoseregistrationhasbeenconfirmedbytheCompetition prior to that Player playing in a CompetitionMatch;

Or

• Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink on a match day prior to playing which is countersigned by an Officer of the Club andwitnessed by an Officer of the opposing Club, and submitted to the Competition within two days (Sundays excluded) subsequent to the Competition Match.The Player shall not play again on a subsequent match day until the Club is in possession of the approval of the Competition. A maximum of 1 Players may be registered in accordance with this paragraph 18(A)(ii);

or

• Registered through

Any registration form which is sent by either of the means set out at Rules 18(A) (i) or (ii) above that is not fully and correctly completed will be returned to the Club unprocessed. If a Club attempts to register a player via WGS but does not fully and correctly complete the necessary information via WGS, the registration will not be processed.

For Clubs registering Players under Rules 18(A) (i) or (ii), registration forms will be provided in a format to be determined by the Competition. For Clubs registering Players via WGS (underRule18(A)(iii)),ClubsmustaccessWGSinordertocompletetheregistrationprocess.

 

Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

• • ContractplayersarenotpermittedinthisCompetitionwiththeexceptionofthose Players who are registered under Contract with the same Club who have a team operating at Steps 1 to 6 of the National League Or Tiers 1-4 of the Women’s Pyramid System.
  • ItistheresponsibilityofeachClubtoensurethatanyPlayerregisteredtotheClub has, where necessary, the required International Transfer Certificate. Clearanceis required for any Player aged 10 and over crossing borders including Wales, Scotland and

(ii)         EachClubmusthaveatleast14Playersregistered14daysbeforethestartofeach PlayingSeason. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

(iv)        In the event of a non contract player changing their status to that of a contract player with the same club, or with that of another club in another competition, their registration as a Non contract player will automatically be cancelled and declared void unless the club conforms to the exception detailed in Rule 18.8.1.

• A Player that owes a Football Debt (as defined under the Football Debt Recovery Regulations) shall be permitted to register for a Club but will be suspendedfromfootball activities if the Player fails to comply with the terms of the Football Debt Recovery Regulations in respect of that Football
• AfeeassetoutintheFeesTariffshallbepaidbyeachClub/TeamforeachPlayer
• The Management Committee shall decide all registration

In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more than one Club in the competition, the valid registration submitted first shall take precedance.TheSecretaryshallnotifytheClublastapplyingtoregistertheplayerofthefact of the previousregistration.

• It shall be a breach of Rule for a Playerto:-
  • Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same Playing Season without first being
  • Having registered for one Club in the Competition, register for another Club in the Competition in that Playing Season except for the purpose of atransfer or where the competition adopts rule 18 P.
  • Submit a signed registration form or submit a registration through WGS for registration that the Player had willfully neglected to accurately or fully

Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

• (i) The Management Committee shall accept the registrationof any Player subject to the provisions of Rules 18(G) (ii) and (iii)
• The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any Player or may fine any Player, at their discretion (inaccordance with the Fines Tariff) who has been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities (subject to Rule7).
• The Management Committee shall have power to make  application  to refuse or cancel the registration of any Player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct(subjecttoRule7)subjecttotherightofappealtotheSanctioning Authority. Application should be made to the parent County of the Club the Player is registered or intending to be registered

Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated proven misconduct, which may deter a Participant from being involved in this Competition.

• For a Player who has previously had a registration removed in accordance with Rule 18(G)(iii) but has a registration accepted at the expiry of exclusion will be considered to be under a probationary period of 12 months. Whilst under aprobationaryperiod,shouldthePlayercommitafurtheractofprovenmisconduct under the jurisdiction of the Competition, (excluding standard dismissals), the Competition would be empowered to consider a further charge of bringing the Competition into

(Note: Action under Rule 18(G) (iii) shall not be taken against a Player for misconduct untilthematterhasbeendealtwithbytheSanctioning Authority,andthenonly in cases of the Player bringing the Competition into disrepute and will in any event be subject to an appeal to the Sanctioning Authority or The FA. All decisions must include the periodofrestriction.ForthepurposeofthisRule,bringingtheCompetitionintodisrepute can only be considered where the Player has received in excess of 112days’suspension,or10matchesinmatchbaseddiscipline,in any competition (and is not restricted to the Competition) inaperiodoftwoyears or less from the date of the firstoffence.)

• Subject to compliance with FA Rule C when a Club wishes to register a player whois already registered with another club it shallsubmit a transfer form (in a format as determined by the Competition) to the Competition accompanied by a fee as set out in the Fees Such transfer shall be referred by the Competition 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 Competition and to the player concerned within 3 days of receipt of the notification. Upon receipt of the club’s consent, or upon its failure to give written objectionwithin3days,theSecretarymay,onbehalfoftheManagement Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date or 7  days after receipt of suchtransfer.

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

• APlayermaynotberegisteredforaClubnortransferredtoanotherClubintheCompetition after [31^stMarch) except by special permission of the Management Committee.
• Registrations are valid for one Playing Season
• A Player shall not be eligible to play for a Team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding Competition Match (as specified in Rule(A)unless the Player has played [4 ] Competition Matches for that Team in the current Playing Season.
• A Team shall not include more than [5 ] Players who has/have played in [4 ] or more senior Competition Matches during the current Playing Season unless a period of 21 clear days has elapsed since they played. 21 clear days is counted by excluding the day when the relevant Player last played and the day when the Player intends to play again.For the purpose of this Rule a senior competition(s) is/are [CWFL Premier Division.Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• SubjecttoRule18.M.2anyClubfoundtohaveplayedanineligiblePlayerina Competition Match or Matches where points are awarded shall have the points gained fromthat Competition Match deducted from its record, up to a maximum of 12 points, and have levied upon it a fine (in accordance with the Fines Tariff).

2TheManagementCommitteemayvarythesanctionasrelatestothedeductionof pointssetoutatRule18.M.1 onlyincircumstanceswherethe   ineligibilityisdueto thefailuretoobtainanInternationalTransferCertificateorwheretheineligibilityis related to the Player’sstatus.

3. Where a Club is found to have played an ineligible Player in accordance with Rule 18.M.1above, the Management Committee may also, at itsdiscretion order one or more of the following (if appropriate )

(A) Award the points available in the Competition Match in question to the opponents, subject to the Competition Match not being ordered to bereplayed; or

(B)Levy penalty points against the Club in default;or

(C) Order that such Competition Match or Matches be replayed (on such terms as are decided by the ManagementCommittee).

• The following clause applies to Competitions involving Players in full-time secondary education:

1. Priority must be given at all times to activities of schools and school organisations.Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
2. The availability of children and young people must be cleared with the Head Teachers or Principals (exceptforSundayleagues competitions).
3. To play open age football the player must have achieved the age of16.

• A Player who has played for a Team in the [CWFL Premier Division] [10 ] times or more shall not in that Playing Season be eligible to play in a lower division except by permission of the Management Committee.
• If a club wishes to cancel a players registration within the competition, it must make request via The FA’s electronic player registration system giving the reasons for the request. The competition may either approve or decline the request. If a players registration is cancelled he / she will not be able to reregister in the competition for a period of 14 days from the date of cancellation.

 

• See App 3 & 4 for Vets Players eligibility.

CLUB COLOURS  

19. Every Club must register the colour and design of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 15^thJuly and the competition secretary shall decide as to its

Any Club wishing to change the colours and or design 0f its shirts and shorts during the Playing Season must obtain permission from the competition secretary in advance of making that change.

Goalkeepers must wear colours that distinguish them from all other Players and the Match Officials.

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 its opponents the colours in which they will play (including the colours of the goalkeepers jersey) at least 3 days before the Competition Match.

If,intheopinionofthereferee,twoTeamshavethesameorsimilarcolours,theawayTeam shall make the change. Should a Team delay the scheduled time of kick off for a Competition Match by not having a change of colours they will be fined in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

Shirts must benumbered, failing which a fine will be levied in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY, TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES

20. (A) All Competition 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 Competition Matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee.If through any fault of the home Team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to bechanged.

The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for Competition Matches and to order the Club concerned to play its Competition Match (es) on another ground.

Artificial FootballTurfPitches(3G)areallowedinthisCompetitionprovidedtheymeettherequired performancestandardsandarelistedontheFA’sRegisterofFootballTurfPitches.- https://footballfoundation.org.uk/3g-pitch-registerAllFootball Turf Pitches used mustbetested(byaFIFAaccreditedtestinstitute)every threeyearsandtheresultspassedtoTheFA.TheFAwillgiveadecisiononthesuitabilityfor use and add the pitch to theRegister.

ThehomeClubisalsoresponsibleforadvisingParticipantsoffootwearrequirementswhen confirming match arrangements in accordance with Rule20(C).

WithintheRegional NLS Feeder League allCompetition Matchesshallhaveadurationof90minutes. All other Competition Matches outside of the NLS shall have duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not lessthansixty(60)minutes)ismutuallyarrangedbythetwoClubsinconsultationwiththe refereepriortothecommencementofthematch,andinanyeventshallbeofequalhalves. Two matches involving the same two Teams can be played on the same day providing thetotal playing time is not more than 120minutes.

The times of kick-off shall be fixed at the AGM and can only be altered by the mutual consent of the two competing Clubs prior to the scheduled date of the Competition Match with written notification given to the Competition at least 7 days prior.

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

The home Team must provide goal nets, corner flags and at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Failureto comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

 

No Overhead netting is allowed for 9v9 or 11v11 affiliated matches.

 

Regional NLS Feeder Leagues:Overhead wires used to support pitch divider netting are removed for all affiliated matches at Regional NLS Feeder League level

For those leagues which are not Regional NLS Feeder Leagues: Overhead wires used to support pitch divider netting are ideally removed for affiliated matches but if they cannot be removed then discretion is given to the match official to restart the match in accordance of the laws of the game.

 

 

• Except by permission of the Management Committee all Competition Matches must be played on thedates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The FA and parent County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a Competition match with the consent of the Fixtures Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

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

• An Officer of the home Club must give notice of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the Ground, time of kick-off and kit colours (including goalkeeper) to the Match Officials and an Officer of the opposing Club at least [3] clear days prior to the playing of the Competition Match. The opposing Club must confirm receipt and give notice of its kit colours (including goalkeeper) at least [2] days prior to the playing of the Competition Match. If either is not provided, the relevant Club shall seek such details and report the circumstances to the Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• In accordance with the Laws of the Game, the minimum number of Players that will constitute a Team for a CompetitionMatch is 7. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• (i) HomeandawaymatchesshallbeIntheeventofaClubfailingtokeep its engagement the Management Committee shall decide whether it should either.

1. Award the points from the Competition Match in question to the Club’s opponent (without the awarding of goals)

OR

1. Order the Competition Match to be rescheduled. The Management Committee shall also have the power to order the rescheduled Competition Match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent Club’s Ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances.

 

In addition, the Management Committee may at its discretion order one or more of the following (if appropriate):

1. impose a fine (in accordance with the Fines Tariff),
2. deduct points from the defaulting Club,

order the defaulting Club to pay any reasonable expenses incurred

• AnyClubwithmorethanoneTeamintheCompetitionshallalwaysfulfillitsfixture, within the Competition, in the following order of precedence:- First Team, Reserve Team, A
• Any Club unable to fulfill a fixture or where a Competition Match  has been  postponed  for any reason must, without delay, give notice to the Fixtures Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary, the secretary of the opposing Club and the Match
• In the event of a Competition Match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it should be played in its entirety on a date to be mutuallyagreedbythetwoClubsandapprovedbytheManagement Failing such agreement and notification to the Fixtures Secretary within 7 days the Management Committee shall have the power to order the Competition Match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and the Clubs involved agree,the Management Committee shall also be empowered to order the score at the time of an abandonment to stand. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• The Management Committee shall review all Competition Matches abandoned in caseswhere it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both Where it is  totheadvantageoftheCompetitionanddoesnoinjusticetoeitherClub,theManagement Committee shall be empowered to order the score at the time ofthe abandonment to stand.In all cases where the Management Committee aresatisfied that a Competition 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 Competition Match totheopponent.IncaseswhereaCompetition Matchhasbeenabandonedowingtotheconduct of both Teams or their Club member(s), the Management Committee shall rule that neither Team will be awarded any points for that Competition Match and it shall not be replayed. No fine(s) can be applied by the Management Committee for an abandoned CompetitionMatch.
• The Management Committee shall review any Competition Match that has taken placewhere either or both Teams were under a suspension imposed upon them by The FA or Affiliated Association. In each case the Team that was under suspension would be dealt with in the same manner as if they had participated with ineligible players in accordance with Rule 18(N) above. Where both Teams were under suspension the game must be declared null andvoid and shall not be replayed.
• A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use substitute PlayersinanyCompetition A Clubmayname up to 5 substitute Players of whom not more than 5may be used.

A player who has been substituted himself becomes a substitute and may replace a Player at any time subject to the substitution being carried out in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of Association Football.

The referee and a representative of the opposing club shall be informed of the names of the Players taking part in the match (including substitutes) not later than 30 minutes before the start of the Competition Match and a Player not so named may not take part in that Competition Match.

APlayerwhohasbeennamedasasubstitutebeforethestartofthe Competition MatchbutdoesnotactuallyplayinthatgameshallnotbeconsideredtohavebeenaPlayer in that Competition Match within the meaning of Rule 18 of thisCompetition.

• Thehalftimeintervalshallbeof10minutes’duration,butitshallnotexceed15 The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of thereferee.
• The Teams taking part in a Competition Match shall identify a Team captain who shall wear an armband and shall have a responsibility to offer support in the management of the on-field discipline of his/her teammates. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• Where a suspension imposed in relation to a Football Debt (as defined under the Football Debt Recovery Regulations) upon a Club by The FA or Affiliated Association is not lifted, and/or the Club does not provide confirmation from The FA or Affiliated Association that such suspension is lifted to the Competition Secretary by [Time] [1 or 2]days before a fixture, that fixture will be treated as an unfulfilled fixture and dealt with in accordance with Rule 20(E).
• For Sub rules concerning rule 20 see apps 5, 6, 7 & 8.

 

REPORTING RESULTS

21. (A)TheRegistrationSecretarymustreceivewithin2 days of the date played, the result of each Competition Match in the prescribed manner. This mustinclude the forename(s) and surname of the Team Players (in block letters)  and also  the referee markings required by Rule 23, or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

• The both Clubs shall telephone/SMS/ notify the result of each Competition Match to the Media Secretary by 5pm on Saturdays or 9pm Midweek. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by an Officer of the Club, or as prescribed by the Competition. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. (See app 9.)

DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP

22. (A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points to be awardedforawinandonepointforadrawnCompetition TheTeamsgainingthehighestnumber of points in their respective divisions at the end of the Playing Season shall be adjudged the winners.Competition Matches must not be played for doublepoints.

In the event of two or more Teams being equal on points at the end of the Playing Season, rankings shall be determined the following criteria, in the order of priority in which they appear:

(NB: for Regional NLS Feeder Leagues criteria 1 & 2 are mandatory; for all other Competitions they are optional):

1. [Goal difference (where the goals scored against each Team shall be deducted from the goals scored by that Team and the Team with the most favourable goal difference shall be placed highest).
2. In the event of two or more Teams being equal, the Team which has scored the most goals during the Playing Season shall be placed highest.]
3. In the eventof two or more Teams being equal, the Team that has won the most matches during the Playing Season shall be placed highest.
4. Intheeventoftwoor more Teamsbeing equal,theTeamwhichhasthebetterplayingrecord against the other Team in their head to head Competition Matches during the Playing Season will be placed highest.

One-off fixture or play-off games as determined by the League management committee.

 

Automatic promotion shall be applied for the first 2 Teams and automatic relegation shall be applied for the last 2 Teams in each division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule2(L).

• Should one or more Teams withdraw from any one division after the Playing Season has commencedanequalnumberofTeamstothosewithdrawinginthatdivisionshall not be automatically
• Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the Playing Season may be filled in any of the followingways:
  • Retention of otherwise relegatedTeam(s);or
  • Additional promotion of the next ranked Team(s) from the divisionbelow; or
• The last 2 Teams in the lowest division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election exceptasbelow,andbesubjecttotheconditionsofRule22(B)(i)
• 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.
• Should either or both of the leading Teams in any of the divisions have its senior Team in the next higher division, promotion shall fall, at the discretion of the General Meeting, to the next highest Team or Teams in the division

• In addition to the Team(s) automatically promoted under Rule 22(B), a maximum of one furtherTeamshallbepromotedbyvirtueofbeingthewinnerofaplay-offmatchorseriesof matches(the“Play-Offs).TheeligibilitycriteriaandformatofthePlay-Offsareasfollows(NOT APPLICABLE.)
• In the event of a Team withdrawing from the Competition before completing 75% of its fixtures for the Playing Season all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting Team shall be expunged from the Competition table. For the purposes of this Rule 22(D) a completed fixture shall include any Competition Match (es) which has been awarded bythe Management
• Whereapromotionand/orrelegationlinkexistsbetweenCompetitions[]Clubs,providing they meet the appropriate grading criteria, will be eligible to make application to the [ ] Competition at their AGM. Should the champion Club not wish for promotion or,alternatively,not have the necessary gradingcriteria,then the []or[]placed Club will be eligible under the same(NOT APPLICABLE.)

At the end of each Season and depending on the geographical location of Clubs gaining promotiontoorbeingrelegatedfromthe[ ]Competition,itmaybenecessary for the Competition either (a) to accept a Club from the [ ]Competition, or (b) have a Club transferred to the sameCompetition.

The bottom [ ] Clubs in the [ ] Competition will be relegated.   Each relegated Club will        be allocated either to the [ ] Competition or to the Competition recommended as most appropriate by the Joint Liaison Committee.(NOT APPLICABLE.)

[ ] Clubs will be promoted to the [ ] Competition from the [ ] Competition, and the [ ] Competition providing that each Club is either the Champion Club or Runner-up or [ ]  placed Club and has the necessary grading criteria.(NOT APPLICABLE.)

In the event of there being no eligible Club wishing promotion or not having the necessary grading criteria from any of the Competitions, this will reduce the number of Clubs to be relegated from the  [ ] Competition.(NOT APPLICABLE.)

Ifonly[]Clubsareeligibleorwishforpromotion,thebottom[]Clubsinthe[]Competition willbe relegated.Ifonly[] Clubiseligibleorwishespromotion,onlythebottomClubinthe [ ] Competition will berelegated.(NOT APPLICABLE.)

If no Clubs are eligible, or wish for promotion, no Clubs will be relegated from the [ ] Competition.(NOT APPLICABLE.)

In the event of a [ ] Competition Club not being placed in the bottom [ ] Clubs at the end of the Playing Season, wishing to resign from the Competition at the end of the Playing Season, or having been excluded under Rule [ ] only [ ] Clubs will be relegated at the end of the Playing Season.(NOT APPLICABLE.)

In the event of a [ ] Competition Club opting to be relegated or being relegated under Rule [ ] such Club or Clubs will replace the Club or Clubs otherwise due for relegation.(NOT APPLICABLE.)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

23. (A)Registered referees (and assistant referees where approved by The FA or County FA) forall Competition Matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the Sanctioning

• In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed referee the appointed seniorassistant referee shall take charge and a substitute assistant referee appointed by the competing In cases where there are no officially appointed Match Officials in attendance, the Clubsshallagreeuponareferee.Anindividualthusagreeduponshall,forthatCompetition Match,have thefullpowers,statusandauthorityofaregisteredreferee.Individualsundertheageof16 must not participate either as a referee or assistant referee in any Competition Match.
• Where assistant referees are not appointed each Teamshall provide a Club assistant referee. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• The appointed referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the Ground in all Competition Matches and that decision shall be final, subject to the determination of the Local Authority or the owners of a Ground, which must be
• Subject to any limits/provisions laid down by the Sanctioning Authority, Match Officials appointedunderthisRuleshallbepaidamatchfeein accordance with the Fees Tariff andtravel

Match Officials will be paid their fees and/or expenses by the home Club before/immediately after the Competition Match. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. (See app 10.)

• In the event of a Competition Match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs havenocontrol,theMatchOfficials,ifpresent,shallbeentitledtohalf fee plus expenses. Where a Competition Match is not played owing to one Club being in default,thatClubshallbeorderedtopaytheMatch Officials,iftheyattendtheGround,theirfullfee and Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
• A referee not keeping his or her engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to their non-appearance, may be reported to the Affiliated Association with which he or she is registered.
• Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed from time to time by The FA, award marks to the referee for each Competition Match and the name of the referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed form provided.Clubsfailing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined (in accordance with the Fines Tariff) or dealt with as the Management Committee shall
• 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 FA/County FA.
• The referee shall submit a report form, supplied by the Competition, giving the result of theCompetition Match,thenumberofPlayersineachTeamandthetimeofkick-offtothe(Registration) Secretary within two days of theCompetition
• Match Officials shall be supplied, each season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of
• Match Officials shall have undertaken a RESPECT briefing offered by The FA/County FA or the

 

SCHEDULE A

 

FEES TARIFF
RULE NUMBER	DESCRIPTION	MAXIMUM FEE
4 (A)	CLUB ENTRY FEE	£25
4 (B)	CLUB/TEAM ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION	£195 OA / £165 VETS
4 (C)	DEPOSIT	£25
7 (C), 7 (E), 7(G)	PROTEST/APPEAL FEES	£35
18 (D)	PLAYER REGISTRATION FEE	£N/A
18 (H)	TRANSFER FEE	£5
23 (E)	REFEREE FEES	£50
23 (E)	ASSISTANT REFEREE FEES	£25

 

FINES TARIFF
RULE NUMBER	DESCRIPTION	MAXIMUM FINE
2 (G)	FAILURE TO AFFILIATE	£25
2 (I)	FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH FA INITIATIVES	£25
2 (K)	UNAUTHORISED ENTRY OF TEAMS INTO COMPETITIONS	£25
3	FAILURE TO OBTAIN CONSENT FOR A CHANGE OF CLUB NAME	£25
4 (C)	FAILURE TO PAY A DEPOSIT	£25
4(E)	FAILURE TO ENSURE TEAMS ARE RECORDED AS AFFILIATED IN THE CLUB PORTAL	£25
5(E)	COMMUNICATIONS CONDUCTED BY PERSONS OTHER THAN NOMINATED OFFICERS	£25
6 (H)	FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN INSTRUCTION OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE	£25
6 (I)	FAILURE TO PAY A FINE WITHIN REQUIRED TIMEFRAME	£25
8 (H)	FAILURE TO BE REPRESENTED AT AGM	£25
9	FAILURE TO BE REPRESENTED AT SGM	£25
10	FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE REQUIRED WRITTEN AGREEMENT OR TO NOTIFY CHANGES TO SIGNATORIES	£25
11(A)	FAILURE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL BEFORE DEADLINE	£25
11 (B)	FAILURE TO COMMENCE/COMPLETE FIXTURES	£25
13 (A)	FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE REQUIRED WRITTEN AGREEMENT REGARDING THE TROPHY	£25
16(A)	FAILURE TO HAVE THE REQUIRED INSURANCE	£25
16(B)	FAILURE TO HAVE THE REQUIRED INSURANCE	£25
18 (A)	FAILURE TO CORRECTLY REGISTER A PLAYER	£25
18 (B) (ii)	FAILURE TO HAVE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF REGISTERED PLAYERS PRIOR TO THE SEASON COMMENCING	£25
18 (F)	REGISTERING OR PLAYING FOR MULTIPLECLUBS, OR INACCURATE COMPLETION OF A REGISTRATION FORM	£25
18 (G)(ii)	REGISTRATION IRREGULARITIES	£25
18 (M)	FIELDING MORE THAN THE PERMITTED NUMBER OF PLAYERS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SENIOR COMPETITIONS MATCHES	£25
18 (N)	PLAYING AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER	£25
18(O)	FAILURE TO GIVE PRIORITY TO SCHOOL ACTIVITIES	£25
19	DELAYING KICK OFF DUE TO  NO CHANGE OF COLOURS	£25
19	FAILURE TO NUMBER SHIRTS	£25
20(A)	DELAYING KICK OFF DUE TO FAILURE TO PROVIDE REQUIRED EQUIPMENT	£25
20 (B)	FAILURE TO PLAY MATCHES ON THE DATE FIXED	£25
20 (C)	FAILURE TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF A FIXTURE	£25
20 (D)	PLAYING MATCH WITH LESS THAN REQUIRED NUMBER OF PLAYERS	£25
20 (E) (i) & (iv)	FAILURE TO PLAY FIXTURE	£25
20 (H)	NO CAPTAIN’S ARMBAND	£25
21 (A)	LATE RESULT NOTIFICATION FORM	£25
21 (B)	FAILURE TO PROVIDE RESULT	£25
21(C)	RESULT NOTIFICATION NOT SIGNED BY APPROPRIATE SIGNATORIES	£25
23 (C)	FAILURE TO PROVIDE CLUB ASSISTANT REFEREE	£25
23 (E)	FAILURE TO PAY MATCH OFFICIALS’ FEES AND EXPENSES	£25
23 (F)	FAILURE TO PAY MATCH OFFICIALS WHERE A MATCH IS NOT PLAYED	£25
23 (H)	FAILURE TO PROVIDE REFEREE’S MARK	£25

 

SCHEDULE B – INDEX

 

 

Rule 1	Definitions
GOVERNANCE RULES
Rule 2	Name and Constitution
Rule 3	Club Name
Rule 4	Entry Fee, Subscription, Deposit
Rule 5	Management, Nomination, Election
Rule 6	Powers of Management
Rule 7	Protests, Claims, Complains, Appeals
Rule 8	Annual General Meeting
Rule 9	Special General Meeting
Rule 10	Agreement to be Signed
Rule 11	Continuation of Membership, Withdrawal of a Club
Rule 12	Exclusion of Clubs, Teams. Misconduct of Clubs, Officers, Players, Management Committee
Rule 13	Trophy
Rule 14	Alteration to Rules
Rule 15	Finance
Rule 16	Insurance
Rule 17	Dissolution
MATCH RELATED RULES
Rule 18	Qualification of Players
Rule 19	Club Colours
Rule 20	Playing Season. Conditions of Play, Times of Kick-Off. Postponements. Substitutes
Rule 21	Reporting Results
Rule 22	Determining Championship
Rule 23	Match Officials
SCHEDULE A
	Fees Tariff
	Fines Tariff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORDERS OR INSTRUCTIONS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AS PROVIDED FOR BY SCoR

 

App 2 Re Rule 5(A)

The 14 ordinary members shall consist of 6 unattached members and 8 attached members.

 

App 3 Re Vets Player Eligibility Re Rule 8

Players registered must be 35 years old or above.

 

App 4 Re Rule 10(G) (For the Veterans Division Only)

(G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 7 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from 7 players.

Except for matches played at Step 7 of the National League System a player who has been substituted himself becomes a substitute and may replace a player at any time subject to the substitution being carried out in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of Association Football.

 

App 5 Re Rule 20

All Clubs must be available to play on any Chester & Wirral Football League day, i.e. Saturday, Monday, Wednesday or Friday even though they may not have a fixture listed. All Clubs will be informed of any additional fixtures by 21.00 hours on the Tuesday prior to the Saturday. A minimum of 48 hours notice will be given for midweek games.

 

App 6 Re Rule 20

All Clubs must display the full postal address of their grounds with post codes and telephone numbers in their changing rooms, so as to assist the emergency services in the event of an accident.

 

App 7 Re Rule 20

Clubs must be prepared to fulfil all fixtures. If, due to inclement weather conditions, the home club considers their pitch is unfit for use, they must call upon any registered referee to do a pitch inspection whose decision shall be final. If a game is postponed due to ground problems, where practical, every effort must be made to play the fixture on the opponents pitch if it is fit and available. (Especially in cup games.) The executive committee shall have power to rearrange the game on a ground of its choice. The home club shall remain responsible for all its original expenses up to its usual outlay. Clubs failing to comply with this rule shall be fined £25.

 

App 8 Re Rule 10

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

 

 

 

 

App 9 Re Rule 21(C)

Each Club shall provide a list of names of players taking part in the game (including the names of nominated substitutes) to the Referee and a representative of their opponents in the presence of the Referee and at least TEN minutes before the scheduled time of the kick off. Players named on the list must wear the corresponding numbered shirt in the game, and also be named correctly on the Match Report Form required under paragraph (A). Each part of the triplicate form must be distributed as instructed on the sheets and in accordance with the rules. Clubs who turn up on match day without their result book will be fined £25. Any lost or stolen books must be replaced at a cost of £25. In the event that a club attends a fixture without their result book they must use a triplicate form from the back of their opponents book and direct the copies in the prescribed manner.

 

The match result notification, correctly completed, will be submitted onto Full Time by a recognized member of the Club. Login details will be sent to each club within 10 days of the opening day of the season. Teams will exchange the yellow copies with their opponents 10 minutes prior to kick off in the presence of the Match Official and this will be kept for the current season. This must be submitted to the Management Committee upon request. The top (White copy) will be given to the Match Official prior to kick off, who will retain this for his records for the current season and will present it to the Management Committee upon request. The Management Committee shall have power to take such action, as they deem suitable against a Club, which submits an incomplete form or one with incorrect information on it.

 

App 10 Re Rule 23 (E)

Both teams shall pay the referee their fee on a 50/50 basis before the match. It is the responsibility of the clubs to ensure that the officials are paid in this way. The away club will submit their fee to the home club who will then pay the referee his fee in full.

 

App 11 Cup Rules

Rules of the Cayzer Shield, League Cup, Tom Gerraghty Memorial Trophy and Doug Johnson Shield.

1. Control and Management

(A) The competitions called ‘The Chester & Wirral League Cup Competition’ and ‘Cayzer Shield Competition’ shall be competed for each season.

All CWFL teams shall play for The TGMT. The entrance fee of £25 is payable at the start of the season along with the registration fees. Failure to pay by the due date will result in the team being omitted from the TGMT during that season.

1. B) Entry to The League Cup shall be confined to teams in the Premier Division of the League and entry to The Cayzer Shield to teams in the remaining Division of the Open Age Competition of the League. The Doug Johnson Shield shall be for Vets teams only.

All teams will be required to enter the appropriate competition.

(C) The entire control and management of the competition shall be vested in the Management Committee of the Chester & Wirral Football League.

(D) All Chester & Wirral Football League Cup competitions may, at the discretion of the Management Committee, be played on a group or knock-out basis.

(E) In all rounds of the competition, if the scores are level after 90 minutes, kicks from the penalty mark shall be taken to determine the winner, in accordance with the procedure adopted by The International Football Association Board.

 

(F) In the Semi-Final and Final ties the Management Committee shall fix grounds and take gate receipts. No Club shall be allowed to protest against a ground appointed by the Committee.

(G) Teams in the Semi-Final of the competitions shall provide a suitable football for use in the game and shall share the cost of the match officials and ground hire equally. In the Semi-Finals and Finals in the event of colours being alike, both teams shall change unless being mutually agreed.

(H) In Semi-Final and Final ties, Clubs shall exchange and submit to the Registration Secretary seven days prior to the match, a list of players from which their team will be selected. The list must include a minimum of four qualifying dates as defined in Cup Rule 2(B), together with your opponents on those dates. Failure to comply with this Rule will incur a fine not exceeding £25.

(I) Teams may only be active in a maximum of 3 cup competitions at any one time. If teams are still active in 3 cup competitions when the Cayzer Shield/ League Cup is drawn then they will relinquish their place in the draw.

2. Qualification of Players

(A) A player for the purposes of these competitions must have been duly registered by 12 noon prior to the day of the game being played in either competition. All such registration must have on or before the 31^stMarch.

 

(B) In addition to 2(A) in Semi-Final and Final ties all players must have played in not less than four Chester & Wirral Football League or Chester & Wirral Football League competition matches, for the participating club, by the 31^stMarch in the current season.

(C) The Management Committee, upon an application from a club, shall have power to rescind Rule 2(B). The concession would only apply in the case of an injured goalkeeper for whom the club had no qualified replacement. A condition of application must be that the replacement goalkeeper must have played for his club in that position during the current season.

(D) A player can only play for one team in these competitions during the current season.

(E) A player who has played in the League Cup competition during the current season is not eligible to play in the Cayzer Shield competition.

(F) In the case of postponed, drawn, abandoned or re-played matches, only those players shall be allowed to play who were eligible on the day fixed for the original tie.

(G) Any club playing a player who is not qualified as above shall be removed from the competition, fined and the Management Committee may also take such further action as they deem necessary.

(H) Where a cup tie has been postponed due to the state of the pitch, the management committee has the power to order the match to be played at the ground of the opponents or an alternative venue if fit.

3. Protests

(A) Protests, except in respect of Semi-Final and Final ties, shall be lodged in accordance with League Rule 15(ii).

(B) In Semi-Final and Final ties all protests as to the eligibility of any player included on the club’s list of players (see Rule 1(i)), must be made in writing to the League Secretary accompanied by a fee of £25, to reach him not less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of kick-off in the tie.

4. General Rules

Except where otherwise stated in the above rules, the Rules of the Chester & Wirral Football League shall apply.

 

 

Reference to temporary dismissals is found in the Laws of the Game 2017/18:

Law 5 – The Referee (Powers and duties):

Disciplinary action

The referee:

• has the power to show yellow or red cards and, where competition rules permit, temporarily dismiss a player, from entering the field at the start of the match until after the match has ended, including during the half-timeinterval, extra time and kicks from the penalty mark

A temporary dismissal is when a player commits a cautionable (YC) offence and is punished by an immediate ‘suspension’ from participating in the next part of that match. The philosophy is that an ‘instant punishment’ can have a significant and immediate positive influence on the behaviour of the offending player and, potentially, the player’s team.

 

The National FA, Confederation or FIFA, should approve (for publication in the competition rules) a temporary dismissal protocol within the following guidelines1:

Players only

 Temporary dismissals apply to all players (including goalkeepers) but not for cautionable offences (YCs) committed by a substitute or substituted player.

 

Referee’s signal

 the referee will indicate a temporary dismissal by showing a yellow card (YC) and then clearly pointing with both arms to the temporary dismissal area (usually the player’s technical area).

 

The temporary dismissal period

 the length of the temporary dismissal is the same for all offences

 The length of the temporary dismissal for The FA Pilot, it will be 10 minutes for Adult – Open aged Football and 8 minutes for Youth Football.

 the temporary dismissal period begins when play restarts after the player has left the field of play

 the referee should include in the temporary dismissal period any time ‘lost’ for a stoppage for which ‘additional time’ will be allowed at the end of the half (e.g. substitution, injury, time-wasting etc…)

 

 Where neutral assistant referees or 4th officials are appointed, they will help the referee time the dismissal period – alternatively each Club should nominate where possible a team official to assist. The referee remains the sole judge of the time.

 once the temporary dismissal period has been completed, the player can return from the touchline with the referee’s permission, which can be given while the ball is in play

 the referee has the final decision as to when the player can return

 a temporarily dismissed player cannot be substituted until the end of the temporary dismissal period (but not if the team has used all its permitted substitutes)

 If a temporary dismissal period has not been completed at the end of the first half (or the end of the second half when extra time is to be played) the remaining part of the temporary dismissal period is served from the start of the second half (start of extra time)

 a player who is still serving a temporary dismissal at the end of the match is permitted to take part in Kicks from the Penalty Mark (penalties)

 

Temporary dismissal area

 a temporarily dismissed player should remain within the technical area (where one exists) or with the team’s coach/technical staff, unless ‘warming up’ (under the same conditions as a substitute)

Offences before/during/after a temporary dismissal

 A temporarily dismissed player who commits a cautionable (YC) or sending-off (RC) offence during their temporary dismissal period will take no further part in the match and may not be replaced or substituted

 

 

Further disciplinary action

 all temporary dismissals will be reported in the same manner as other cautionable offences.

 Further disciplinary action will be taken in relation to suspension for accumulating a number of cautions and

RESPECT sanctioning for Clubs

 Sin Bin Offences do not attract the £10 Administration fee

Temporary dismissal systems

IFAB have authorised the use of one of the following temporary dismissal systems:

o System A – for all cautions (YCs) or System B – for some but not all cautions (YC)

The FA will be using System B – temporary dismissal for some but not all cautions (YCs) and will apply for C2

Offences – Dissent

 all other cautionable offences are punished with a caution as normal (YC)

 a player who has been temporarily dismissed and then receives a caution (YC) continues playing

 a player who has received a caution (YC) and then receives a temporary dismissal can continue playing after the end of the temporary dismissal period

 a player who receives a second temporary dismissal in the same match will serve the temporary dismissal and then takes no further part in the match. The player may be replaced by a substitute at the end of the second temporary dismissal period if the player’s team has not used its maximum number of substitutes (subject to the next bullet point)

 a player who receives a second temporary dismissal in the same match and has also received a caution for another YC offence takes no further part in the match and the player cannot be replaced/substituted

 a player who receives a second caution (YC) in the same match will be sent off and takes no further part in the match and may not be