Joint Handbook 2023 2024

and to order the Club concerned to play its Competition Match (es) on another ground.

Artificial Football Turf Pitches (3G) are allowed in this Competition provided they meet the required perfor mance standards and are listed on the FA ’ s Register of Football Turf Pitches https:// footballfoundation.org.uk/3g - pitch - register. All Football Turf Pitches used must be tested (by a FIFA accredited test institute) every three years and the results passed to The FA. The FA will give a decision on the suitability for use and add the pitch to the Register. The home Club is also responsible for advising Participants of footwear requirements when confirming match arrangements in accordance with Rule 20(C). Within the Regional NLS Feeder Leagues all Competition Matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes. All Com petition Matches outside of the NLS shall have duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than sixty (60) minutes) is mutually arranged by the two Clubs in consultation with the referee prior to the com mencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves. Two matches involving the same two Teams can be played on the same day providing the total playing time is not more than 120 minutes. The times of kick - off in the Reserve and U21 Division (s) for Saturday fixtures shall be either 2pm or 3pm as determined by the home team and can only be altered by the mutual consent of the two competing clubs and the Competition. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum in accordance with the Fines Tariff or be otherwise dealt with as the Board may determine. Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Com petition. 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 not provided. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. Regional NLS Feeder Leagues/Competitions at Tiers 5 and 6 of The FA Women ’ s Pyramid: Overhead wires used to support pitch divider netting are removed for all affiliated matches in the 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. When a Club obtains the consent of the Board to postpone a fixture because of an epidemic affecting the availability of their Players, that Club shall be liable to pay any direct expenses incurred, if any, to the oppos ing Club. The amount of claim will be at the discretion of the Board. Requests for the postponement of a match for any reason will not be considered more than forty - eight hours before the scheduled time of kick off. 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 contract and Non - Contract Players currently registered by the Club at the date of the match, which was postponed, giving full reasons against each name for the Player ’ s unavailability. It is acknowledged that the Clubs first responsibil ity is to fulfil its ’ first team match if playing on the same day or within 48 hours of the fixture it is requesting be postponed. Except by permission of the Board all Competition Matches must be played on the dates 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 ) Secretary. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tar iff. In the case of a revised fixture date, the Clubs must be given by the Competition 5 clear days ’ notice of the Midweek fixtures shall be 7.45pm. In a dispute, the Board will determine the kick off time. No overhead netting is allowed for 9v9 and 11v11 affiliated matches

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