Joint Handbook 2023 2024

Except by permission of the Board all Competition Matches must be played on the dates original ly agreed 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 Competition. Failure to comply with this Rule will re sult in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. NOTE: Clubs may apply to call off a maximum of two League Fixtures during the season and NOT consecutive weeks except for F.A. and County Cup Competitions. All teams to advise the Fixture Secretary and give at least 6 weeks ’ notice prior to calling off a fixture which is intended for social purposes only and not to play any other football match. In the case of a revised fixture date, the Clubs must be given by the Competition 5 clear days ’ no tice of the match (unless otherwise mutually agreed). In order to postpone a match for any reason due to significant illness within the squad, medical certificates for those Players affected, signed by the Players ’ own doctor, must be forwarded to the Competition Secretary within fourteen days of the postponement, along with a full list of Play ers currently registered by the Club at the date of the match which was postponed, giving full rea sons against each name for the Player ’ s unavailability. For the sake of clarity, now that the Government have changed their advice on testing and isola tion on Covid 19, the same requirements will apply If a Club is unable to satisfy the League that the postponement was necessary, they will be charged under rule 20E for failing to fulfil a fixture. An Officer of the home Club must give notice of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the Ground and time of kick - off to the Match Officials and an Officer of the opposing Club at least 5 clear days prior to the playing of the match. If not so provided, the away Club shall seek such de tails and report the circumstances to the Competition. 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 which will constitute a Team for a Competition Match is 7. Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Board shall have power to impose a fine (in accordance with the Fines Tariff), deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points from the Competition Match in question to the oppo nents, order the defaulting Club to pay any reasonable expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except by the award of goals. Notwithstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Board shall have power to order a Competition Match to be played on a neu tral ground or on the opponent ’ s Ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances. Notes for Veterans Development Divisions ONLY: Cancellation of matches. It has been agreed by veteran ’ s teams only that games can only be cancelled without punishment up to 7 days before the scheduled KO. If a team cancels a game after that mark, then it is a disciplinary matter and the club cancelling will be fined in accordance with the Fine Tarif and the win and 3 points awarded to the other team. THE GAME WILL NOT BE RESCHEDULED! The only exception to the 7 - day rule is unplayable pitches. If there is an indication that a pitch may be unfit, then teams should chat as soon as possible and see if there is an alternative pitch availa ble. If a pitch is deemed unplayable past the 7 - day cut off point then the teams involved should re schedule the game with 7 days of the postponement i.e. if called off on a Sunday morning as water logged, then the fixture needs a new date in the calendar within 7 days of that postponement. The new date doesn ’ t have to be within 7 days, that can be whenever, but there must be a rearranged date in the calendar, so it is not left to be dealt with as a catch - up game. Walking Football Cancellation of matches, if a team cancels a game the club cancelling will be fined in accordance with the Fine Tariff and 3 points awarded to the other team. Any Club with more than one Team in the Competition shall always fulfil its fixture, within the Competition, in the following order of precedence: Saturday Clubs - First Team, Reserve Team, A Team, B Team and C Team.

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