ADL LEAGUE RULES 2011-12

a. This Competition shall be designated the Aylesbury & District Football League and shall consist of not more than fifty (50) Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.

All such Member Clubs shall be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their

names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the Form “D” to the

Berks & Bucks County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership

shall be within a fifteen (15) mile radius of Aylesbury Market Square but this shall not apply to

Clubs in membership in 1988/89 season.

No Club with its First Team in any other League shall be accepted into the Aylesbury & District

Football League. This shall not apply to Clubs in membership in the 2007/08 season

This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Berks & Bucks Football Association and

the constituent Teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in Divisions, each not exceeding

sixteen (16) in number.

Member Clubs shall not enter any of their Teams playing in the Competition in more than three

(3) other Competitions (with the exception of F.A. and County F.A. Competitions) except with

the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.

(B) At the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, a

majority of the delegates present shall have power to decide or adjust the compilation of the

Divisions at their discretion. When necessary this Rule shall take precedence over Rule 12.

2 - ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

a. Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional Team(s)

shall be made in writing to the Secretary and shall be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £50.00

per Team which shall be returned in the event of non-election.

At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications, of which

due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General

Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.

When Rule 12(B) is applied and a Team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to

another Division no Entry Fee shall be payable.

b. The Annual Subscription shall be £35.00 for all Divisions, payable seven (7) days before the

commencement of the season in each year. Teams in default shall be fined £10.00 and shall

not be able to commence the season until payment is received.

c. Each Club shall within seven (7) days of election pay a Deposit of £250.00 which shall be

returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and

complied with all orders of the Management Committee.

d. A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and

Deposit have been paid.

e. Clubs shall advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 30thJune of its County Football

Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined

£10.00. Clubs shall advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its

Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition.

3 - OFFICERS

The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer,

Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary, Press Secretary and Fixture Secretary to

be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers).

4 - MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION

a. The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The

Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and five (5)

members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

All participants shall abide by The Football Association Regulations for Safeguarding Children as

determined by the Association from time to time.

b. Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be

nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later

than 30th April in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the

notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance

with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting

c. The Management Committee shall meet monthly to deal with business as it arises.

On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee

the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.

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

e. All communications received from Clubs shall be conducted through their nominated Officers.

5 - POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

a. The Management Committee may appoint such other Sub-Committees as they may consider

necessary and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary to such Committees.

The decisions of all such Committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for

ratification.

b. Subject to the permission of the Berks & Bucks County Football Association having been

obtained the Management Committee may order a match or matches to be played each season,

the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Competition and, if necessary, may call upon

each Club (including any Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to contribute

equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the end of the season. (See

Rule 6(E)).

c. Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all

Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed

to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented.

(This shall apply to the procedure of any Sub-Committee).

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

casting vote.

d. The Management Committee shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition,

including any not provided for in the Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the imposition

of a set penalty any Club, Official or Player alleged to be in breach of a Competition Rule shall

be formally charged in writing and given the opportunity to present their case before the

Management Committee. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and Regulations of The

Football Association shall be dealt with in accordance with F.A. Rules.

e. All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to

the Board of Appeal in accordance with Rule 16. Decisions of the Management Committee shall be notified in writing to those concerned within seven (7) days.

f. Six (6) Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three (3) Members shall constitute a quorum for

the transaction of business by any Sub-Committee of the Competition.

If any member of the Management Committee is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings of

the Management Committee without reasonable excuse, the Management Committee shall have

the power to declare the position vacant.

g. The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting

capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number.

h. A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee, or

failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition

shall be liable to be fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management

Committee.

i. All fines and charges shall be paid within fourteen (14) days of the date of posting of the

written notification. Where fines have not been paid within fourteen (14) days of written notice

the Club shall be suspended until payment is made.

Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule shall incur such penalties as the

Management Committee may impose.

j. A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or match may have any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.

k. The Management Committee shall have the power to appoint Vice-Presidents from time to time in recognition of service to football within the Aylesbury & District Football League and to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.

l. No participant under the age of 18 can be fined.

6 - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

a. The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 30thJune in each year. At this meeting

the following business shall be transacted provided that at least 75% of Members are present

and entitled to vote:-

(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.

(ii) To consider any business arising therefrom.

(iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.

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

(v) Constitution of the Competition for ensuing season.

(vi) Election of Officers and Management Committee.

(vii) Appointment of Verifier of Accounts.

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

(ix) Fix the date for the commencement and conclusion of playing season.

(x) Other business of which due notice shall have been given and accepted as being relevant

to an Annual General Meeting.

b. A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be

forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Berks & Bucks

County Football Association.

c. A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Berks & Bucks County Football association within fourteen (14) days of its adoption by the

Annual General Meeting.

d. Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send one (1) delegate to an Annual General

Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than fourteen (14) days notice

shall be given of any Meeting.

e. Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition during the season being

concluded or who are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only

on matters relating to the season being concluded.

f. All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least sixty-six per cent (66%) of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.

g. No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club.

h. Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without

satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £50.00.

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

7 - AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

The Chairman and the Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement

which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for

the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete.

"We, A, ______ of ______ (Chairman) and B ______of ______ (Secretary) of the ______

Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Aylesbury &

District Football League Competition and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club, if

elected or accepted into Membership, to conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept,

abide by and implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the Competition,

subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16.

Any alteration of the Chairman and/or Secretary on the above Agreement shall be notified to

the Berks & Bucks County Football Association to which the Club is affiliated and to the

Secretary of the Competition. (Note: The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of Officers.

8 - QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

a. Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this

Competition.

A player shall have achieved the age of 16 to play in open age football.

b. A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible has:-

(1) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink,

countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Registration

Secretary seven (7) days prior to playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has

been received by the Club prior to playing.

(2) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink on a match

day prior to playing, countersigned by an Officer of the Club and witnessed by an Officer of

the opposing Club, and submitted to the Registration Secretary within two (2) days (Sundays

excluded) subsequent to the match. The player shall not again play until the Club is in

possession of the completed counterfoil. A maximum of three (3) players may be registered

in this way.

c. A player having played a total of three (3) or more matches in the following Competitions:-

Football Association or County Senior Cup Competition, Isthmian League, North Premier,

Southern League, Hellenic League, United Counties League, Spartan/South Midlands League or

any League of equal status during the current season SHALL NOT be eligible to play in any

Division of the League without written sanction of the Management Committee.

d. (i) A Team shall not include more than three (3) players who have taken part in six (6) or more matches in a higher Division of the League during the current season except with written

permission of the Management Committee. If a player plays six (6) consecutive League or Cup

matches in a lower Division of the League he shall be re-instated to his previous level.

(ii) A player who is considered to be a Senior player may be reinstated to Junior status on

written application by the Club concerned. No player shall be allowed more than one (1)

application for reinstatement in a season, and in no case shall a reinstatement be allowed after

the last day of February of the current season. These provisions apply equally to players classed

as Senior in Rule 8(C) and 8(D)(i). The club requesting reinstatement shall provide written

proof from the player’s current club of the number of games played in the season.

(iii) A player who has been reinstated in accordance with the foregoing paragraph shall forfeit

his reinstatement immediate on playing one (1) further game in the Senior Competition or

League.

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

f. Each Team shall annually be provided with a sheet allowing for three (3) registrations free of charge, the clubs to then photocopy sufficient sheets for further registrations. The

Registration Secretary shall sign the form and return it to the Club as receipt for such

registration. For players registered after 1st October a stamped addressed envelope shall be

included in order to receive the signed form. Failure to comply the Club shall be fined £5.00,

which shall be paid prior to the registration being processed.

Each club shall have fourteen (14) or if it has a reserve team, twenty eight (28) players

registered with the Registration Secretary by midnight on the Sunday following the pre-season

meeting. Registration means the Club being in receipt of the registration counterfoil.

g. The Management Committee shall decide all registration disputes.

In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more

than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player shall be registered.

The Registration Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact

of the previous registration.

h. It shall be deemed misconduct for a player to:-

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

transferred.

(ii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition in

that season except for the purpose of a transfer.

(iii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had wilfully neglected to

accurately or fully complete.

j. (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player.

(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration

of any player or may fine any player, except those under 18 years of age, at their discretion,

proved guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).

(iii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any

player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from

participating in all games in the Competition. (Subject to Rule 16).

(Note 1: Action under Rule 8(J)(iii) 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.

Note 2: Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a

participant from being involved in this competition.)

k. Subject to The Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registration Secretary accompanied by a fee of £10.00. Such transfer shall be referred by the Registration Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Registration Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt ofthe Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven days, the

Registration Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who

shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date or seven (7) days 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.

No player shall be allowed more than one (1) transfer in a season except for a special reason

which shall be approved by the Management Committee. If approved the fee to be £20.00

l. A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition

after 1st March except by special permission of the Management Committee.

m. A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.

n. A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of

registration, shall be kept by the (Registrations) Secretary and shall be open to the inspection

of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or

at other times mutually arranged. Registrations are valid for one season only.

o. A player shall not be eligible to play for a Team in any special championship, promotion or

relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12(A)) unless the player has played five (5)

games for that Team in this Competition in the current season.

p. (i) Any Team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the

points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined a sum not exceeding

£100.00 and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(ii) In addition the Team shall have three (3) points deducted from its total at the discretion of

the Management Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner which is thought to

be fit.

(iii) The Management Committee may, at its discretion, award the points available in the

match in question to the opponents,, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.

(The following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary

education):-

q. (i) Priority shall be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.

(ii) The availability of children shall be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday

Leagues).

(iii) To play in open age football the player shall have achieved the age of 16.

(Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules

shall apply.)

9 - CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME

a. Every Club shall register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 1st July who

shall decide as to their suitability.

Goalkeepers shall 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 shall play to its opponents at least three (3) days before the

match. If, in the opinion of the Referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the Home 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 £10.00. For semi finals and finals of all cup competitions then BOTH teams must change.

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. Shirts shall be uniquely numbered.

b. Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours shall obtain permission from its affiliated

County Association and from the Management Committee.

10 - PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY

TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES

a. The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the

ensuing season, which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be

compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixture

Secretary shall not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date

determined by the Annual General Meeting.

b. All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the

International Football Association Board.

Clubs shall take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition, and if

the occasion arises, either Club may require the Referee to visit the ground by 10-00am before

the advertised kick-off time and decide as to the fitness of play. Only a Referee or League

Officer of the Aylesbury & District Football League may cancel a League match or decide as to

the fitness of the pitch except where a third party such as the Local Authority has overriding

authority on pitch usage. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the

Management Committee. If through any fault of the Home Team a match has to be replayed,

the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to be changed.

The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are

suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on

another ground.

No Club shall be eligible unless it has suitable ground and dressing accommodation for visiting

Teams and a separate room for the Referee. Each Club shall take all reasonable precautions to

ensure its ground is fit for play and when ground conditions are such as to render play

impossible, to ensure that opponents have adequate warning. Where a Club travels to a ground

which proves unfit for play, the Home Club shall be called upon to explain the circumstances to

the Management Committee in writing and, failing a satisfactory explanation, shall pay to the

visiting Club reasonable out of pocket expenses on production of satisfactory receipts or

mileage for four (4) cars at the rate of forty (40) pence per mile.

All matches shall have a duration of ninety (90) minutes unless a shorter time (not less than

sixty (60) minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with the Referee

prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.

The times of kick-off for Saturday matches shall be 2-00 pm and for midweek evening matches’

6-30 pm at the latest.

Time for commencement of matches may only be varied with the agreement of both Clubs and

the consent of the Fixture Secretary. In the event of any required alteration to the above times,

ten (10) days notice shall be given to the opposing Teams.

Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £5.00 or

be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.

Referees shall order matches to commence at the appointed time and shall report all late starts

to the Competition.

Each Club shall on the day of the match fill in an official Team Sheet before the match which

shall be available for exchanging with the opposition and inspection not later than fifteen

(15) minutes before kick off, the exchanging of the Teamsheets to be done in the presence

of the referee. No further changes to be made after this time unless agreed with the

opposition and referee. Failure to comply a fine of £10.00 shall be imposed.

At the end of the match the Team Sheet shall be completed to show the final score and other

information required by the Management Committee.

Only official Team Sheets shall be recognised. Books of official Team Sheets are available from

the Registration Secretary at £5.00 per book.

The Home Team shall provide at least two (2) footballs fit for play and the Referee shall make a

report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets shall be used.

c. Except by permission of the Management Committee all matches shall be played on the dates

originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County

Association Cup Competitions. All other matches shall be considered secondary. Clubs may

mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the (Fixtures) Secretary. Any Club

wishing a FREE DATE shall give four (4) weeks written notice or two (2) weeks for a FREE DATE

for midweek matches. However, no more than two (2) free dates shall be allowed in any

season.

d. The Secretary of the Home Club shall give notice by phone or text (the text to be

acknowledged)of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kickoff to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least three (3) clear days

prior to the playing of the match.

Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £10.00.

e. Every Club shall play its best available qualified Team or Teams in all matches in the

Competition. Failure to comply shall incur a fine of £10.00.

In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than eleven (11) players they shall be fined

£5.00 for each missing player. A minimum of seven (7) players shall constitute a Team for a

Competition match.

f. Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement

the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a fine not exceeding £50.00 for the First

Team and £25.00 for the Reserve Team, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the

points to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the

opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. If a club fails to fulfill a

fixture for a third time in a season a fine of up to £100 may be imposed and for any

subsequent cancellations the fine shall not exceed £75.00 for the First Team and £50.00 for

the Reserve Team.

Any Club with more than one Team in the Competition shall always fulfill 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 £25.00 or otherwise dealt with

by the Management Committee.

If, for whatever reason, you find either before or on the day, that your pitch is unplayable, you

must consult your opponents’ and decide:

a) It your opponents’ pitch is available / playable, then the match is to be switched (even

if you have already played the away fixture).

b) If your opponents’ pitch is unavailable / unplayable.

If (a) the official and fixture secretary shall be informed or if (b) the following paragraph details

what is required. Failure to comply could result in a fine of £10.00.

Notice of postponement of any match shall be given without delay by the postponing Club (or

notice of a Club being unable to fulfil any match shall be given 48 hours prior to the match by

the Club) to the Fixture Secretary, the Referee Secretary, Press Officer and the Secretary of

the opposing Club and the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall incur a fine of £5.00

and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem

suitable.

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

Fixture Secretary within seven (7) days 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 matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent

upon the conduct of either or both Teams. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and

does no injustice to either Club, the Management Committee shall be empowered to order the

score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the Management Committee

are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one Team or its Club

member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponents and/or

take what other action they may deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing

to the conduct of both Teams or their Club members, the Management Committee shall take

such action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary action taken

by the appropriate Affiliated Association.

The Management Committee may impose a fine not exceeding £500.00 on either or both Clubs.

For all abandoned matches both Clubs shall submit a written report to the Secretary immediately after the match. Failure to comply will result in a £10.00 fine.

g. A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use three (3) substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from five (5) players.

The Referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than fifteen (15) minutes before the start of the match.

A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the

match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in

that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.

h. The half time interval shall be of ten (10) minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen

minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the Referee.

11 - REPORTING RESULTS

a. The Registration Secretary shall receive within three (3) days of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This shall include the forename(s) and

surname of the Team players (in block letters) and also the Referee’s name and markings

required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition.

For failing to comply with the requirements of Rule 11(A) the Club shall be fined the following:

Team Sheet received between four (4) and seven (7) days late - £10.00

Team Sheet received between eight (8) and twenty one (21) days late - £30.00

Team Sheet received more than twenty one days (21) late - £50.00

Any Club proved to have wilfully falsified a Team Sheet shall be deemed to be guilty of serious

misconduct and may be dealt with in accordance with Rule 7(C).

b. The Home Club shall telephone, text or e-mail the result of each match to the Press/Results

Secretaryby 5.30 pm for Saturday matches and 9.30 pm for evening matches. Failure to

comply a fine of £10.00 shall be imposed. If no result is received then a fine of £20.00 shall

be imposed.

c. The official Team Sheet notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible

member of the Club. The Management Committee shall have power to take such action, as they

deem suitable against a Club, which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information. In

the event that the official Team Sheet not being available, a substitute sheet containing the

required information shall be submitted within the time detailed in 11(A).

12 - DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP

a. Team rankings within the Competition shall be decided by points with three (3) points to be

awarded for a win and one (1) 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

shall not be played for double points.

In the event of two or more Teams being equal on points Team rankings may be decided in any

one or more of the following ways:-

(i) Goal difference.

(ii) Goals scored.

(iii) Deciding match(es) played under conditions determined by the Management

Committee.

b. Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first two (2) and last two (2) Teams

in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule 1(B).

Promotion to the Premier Division is dependent on a Clubs ground and facilities satisfying the

Management Committee.

(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 shall 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.

(ii) 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 concerned.

c. In the event of a Team not completing 75% of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by

or recorded against such defaulting Team shall be expunged from the Competition table.

d. The winners of the Premier Division may be called upon to play a challenge match against the

runners-up. Winners of all other Divisions shall be required to play in such challenge matches,

as the Management Committee may consider appropriate.

e. Arrangements for matches played in accordance with Rule 12(D) above shall be made by the

Management Committee and the matches shall be played on such ground as they may require.

Each competing Club shall be issued with fourteen (14) privilege tickets for the use of players

and officials and only holders of such tickets shall be admitted free of charge. All proceeds

after deduction of match expenses shall be devoted to League funds.

13 - REFEREES

a. Registered Referees and Assistant Referees, if available, for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association.

b. In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant

Referee shall take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed by the competing

Teams. In cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Clubs shall

agree upon a Referee. Failure to agree shall render both Clubs liable to a fine not exceeding

£200.00. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and

authority of a registered Referee.

c. The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs, appoint assistant Referees, if available, to any match. Where Assistant

Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. Failure to do so

shall result in a fine of £5.00 being imposed on the defaulting Team.

d. The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision shall be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.

e. Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge the following match fees

inclusive of expenses:-

Referee £30.00, unless two (2) matches between the same teams played consecutively on the

same day then the fee to be two thirds (2/3) of the normal fee Registered Referees appointed

by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees £20.00, subject to any limits laid down by

the sanctioning Association. The Assistant Referees fees shall be equally divided between the

two Clubs.

The Home Club shall offer to pay the Officials their fees before the match or within 15 minutes

of the match ending. Failure to comply will result in a fine of £10.00. If a club fails to pay the

appointed referee, they shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £25.00.

f. In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have

no control, the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half fee. Where a match is not

played owing to one Club being in default: that Club shall be ordered to pay the Officials, if

they attend the ground, their full fee.

g. A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his

non-appearance, may have his name removed from the list of Referees and the fact reported to

the Association with which he is registered.

h. Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award

marks to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall

be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed Form provided. Clubs failing to comply with

this Rule shall be liable to be fined £5.00 or dealt with as the Management Committee shall

determine.

For any mark under fifty (50) a written report shall be submitted. Failure to comply a fine of

£10.00 shall be imposed.

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 Berks & Bucks Football Association.

j. The Referee shall submit a report Form, supplied by the Competition, giving the result of the

match, the number of players in each Team and the time of kick-off to the Referee Secretary

within two (2) days of the match.

k. Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition

Rules free of charge.

14 - CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR

WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB

a. After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw a Team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition shall notify the Secretary in writing by 28th February each

Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £50.00.

b. 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 £50.00 per Team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).

c. The Membership for the coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting,

held not later than 30th June, the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other

provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its Team(s) in order to join

another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements

d. In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or

disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to

the Competition.

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

days then 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.

15 - PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

a. (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be

referred to the Management Committee.

(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the

venue shall 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.

b. Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances,

protests and complaints (which shall contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are

founded) shall be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within seven (7) days (excluding

Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall not be

withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee. A Member of the Management

Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or

representative of his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined.

c. Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties subject to Rule 16.

d. No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the

complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £10.00. This may be

forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case.

The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or

frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs to

be shared by the parties.

e. All parties to a protest or complaint shall be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when

the protest or complaint is being heard and shall have received seven (7) 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.

16 - BOARD OF APPEAL

Within fourteen (14) days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the

Management Committee or the Competition a Club, Official or Player against whom action is

taken may appeal against such decision by lodging particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of

the Berks & Bucks Football Association, including a fee of £25.00, 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.

17 - EXCLUSION OF CLUBS.OR TEAMS

MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS

a. 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 which shall be supported by

(more than) two-thirds of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by

ballot.

b. At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in

accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the

power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in

their opinion, been undesirable upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this

point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken

shall be excluded from voting.

c. Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either 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.

d. Any Club or Team failing to complete 75% of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the

conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General

Meeting or a Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds of the votes

cast) be debarred from membership the following season.

18 - TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,

AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS

a. A Competition Cup or Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Competition as

Trustees. If a Competition is discontinued for any reason a trophy or any other presentation

shall be returned to the Donor if the conditions attached to it so provide or, if not, dealt with

as the sanctioning Association may decide. At the close of each Competition awards shall be

made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.

The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:-

“We A, ______ and B ______ , the Chairman and Secretary of ______ FC, members of and

representing the Club, having been declared winners of Aylesbury & District Football League

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 1st March. 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.”

b. Failure to comply with this undertaking shall render the offending Club liable to a fine of

£25.00.

c. It shall be the responsibility of all Clubs with trophies to ensure the name of the Club and the

season are engraved on the trophy by a suitably qualified craftsman in the style appropriate for

the particular trophy. In the event of a Club failing to comply with this Rule the Officers of the

League shall have the power to arrange for a suitable inscription to be made on the trophy, and

to recover the cost from the defaulting Club. In the event of it being impossible to recover a

trophy and/or cabinet from a Club, such Club shall be responsible for the cost of a replacement

of like quality, in so far as such cost is not covered by any sum which may be due under any

appropriate insurance policy.

19 - SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall

call a Special General Meeting.

The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.

At least fourteen (14) days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together

with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting.

Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General

Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than fourteen (14) days notice

shall be given of any Meeting.

Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting with out

satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £50.00.

Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all

Special General Meetings.

20 - ALTERATION TO RULES

a. 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

alterations made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players

shall not take effect until the following season.

b. Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be

submitted to the Secretary by 28th February in each year. The proposals, together with any

proposals from the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 15thMarch and

any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 31stMarch.

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 two-thirds of those

present and entitled to vote are in favour.

c. A copy of the proposed alterations and proposed amendments to be considered at the Annual

General Meeting shall be submitted to the Berks & Bucks Football Association by not later than

14thApril.

A copy of the proposed alterations and proposed amendments to be considered at a Special

General Meeting shall be submitted to the Berks & Bucks Football Association by no later than

28 days prior to the date of the meeting.

d. Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the

approval of the Berks & Bucks Football Association shall have been obtained.

21 - RULES BINDING ON CLUBS

Each Member Club shall be deemed to have given its assent to the foregoing Rules and agreed

to abide by the decisions of the Management Committee subject to Rule 16. Each Member Club

shall abide by any issued Football Association Code of Conduct.

22 - FINANCE

a. The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the

funds of the Competition shall be lodged.

b. All expenditure in excess of £100.00 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques

shall be signed by at least two (2) Officers nominated by the Management Committee.

c. The financial year of the Competition shall end on 31stMarch.

d. The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited

annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

23 - LIABILITY OF CLUBS

Clubs entering the League shall be equally responsible for all financial liabilities incurred in

carrying out the business of the League.

24 - FIRST AID EQUIPMENT

Each Team shall keep and maintain a satisfactory First Aid Kit, as determined by the

Management Committee and shall be present for use on match days and for inspection by the

Referee. Failure to do so shall incur a fine of £5.00.

25 - PRINTING OF RULES

a. The Rules shall be printed at such intervals as the Officers shall decide but if two (2) successive

years shall pass in which the Rules not be reprinted, the Management Committee shall have the

power to require that they be reprinted during the next succeeding year. Each Club in

membership shall purchase at least three (3) copies of the Rules at a cost to be determined by

the Management Committee as often as reprinting is undertaken.

b. Clubs shall be required to acknowledge receipt of any Rule Book or revisions issued to them.

Failure to acknowledge shall incur a fine of £5.00.

26 - REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES

Any Club having two (2) or more players selected for a representative side may request to have

their League matches cancelled for that day.

27 - LIFE MEMBERS

Members who have served on the League Management Committee for not less than twenty (20)

years shall be conferred with Life Membership of the League.

28 – PRESENTATION EVENING

Each club is required to send up to two (2) representatives to the League Presentation evening.

Failure to do so could result in a fine (amount to be determined by the committee) and / or loss

of any prize that may be due.

29 – PRE-SEASON MEETING

Each team is required to send up to one (1) representative to the League Pre-Season meeting.

Any team failing to be represented at the Pre-Season meeting will incur a fine of £50.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------