PDFL Handbook 2021 - 2022

In addition, Premier Division Clubs must ensure that they meet the current Football Association National League System Step 7 minimum Ground Grading requirements. Two covered trainers ’ boxes clearly marked "Home" and "Away" must be provided, portable covered trainer boxes are permitted and must be securely fixed when in use. Ideally, they should be on the same side of the pitch either side of the halfway line, equidistant from it, and, ideally, a minimum of 3 metres apart and provide an unob- structed view of the playing area and be able to seat eight. Home clubs must provide refreshments at half time for opponents and match officials. Premier Teams to provide food after every home game. Any breach of this rule must be reported to the Secretary by the Match Referee. Failure to comply with this rule will make the Club liable to a minimum fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. The Competition Secretary must receive within 2 days (excluding Sunday ’ s) of the date played, the result of each Competition Match in the prescribed manner (submit results and statistics including referees ’ scores and respect marks of the match played on FA Full Time system). This must include 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. Any Club knowingly submitting incorrect information shall be liable to a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. The Referee markings as required by Rule 13 (1 – 100) or any other information re- quired by the Competition, Failure to do so will incur a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff and/or the club being dealt with as the Board decide. A letter of explanation must be sent to the League Office, and signed by the club secretary within 4 (four) days of the date of the match when marking of 60 or below Failure to comply will result in a minimum fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff Both Clubs shall use SMS via Full Time System as directed by the Competition to notify the result of each Competition Match within 30 minutes from the end of the match. Each Club playing in the PDFL, PDFL Cups, FA/County Cup, and any PDFL club playing an FA/County match away to a non PDFL opposition must submit match results by SMS text message to the FA Full - Time system, within 30 minutes from the end of the match. 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 team, or as prescribed by the Competi- tion. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. REPORTING RESULTS Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points to be awarded for a win and one point for a drawn Competition Match. The Teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective divisions at the end of the Play- ing Season shall be adjudged the winners. Competition Matches must not be played for double points. In the event of two or more Teams being equal on points at the end of the Playing Season, rankings shall be determined by 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). In the event of two or more Teams still being equal, the Team which has scored the most goals during the Playing Season shall be placed highest. In the event of two or more Teams still being equal, the Team that has won the most matches during the Playing Season shall be placed highest. In the event of two or more Teams still being equal, the Team which has the better playing record against the other Team in their head to head Competition Matches during the Playing Season will be placed highest. If the records of two or more Teams are still equal and it is necessary for any reason to determine the position of each then the Teams affected shall play a deciding match or matches under conditions as determined by the Board. Saturday – Automatic Promotion shall be applied for the first two teams in Division Two, Three, Four and Five and automatic relegation shall be applied for the last two teams in the Premier Division. Any Club not maintaining the ground grading set for the Compe- tition may be relegated at the end of the Playing Season. Automatic Relegation shall be applied to the last three teams in Divi- sion One, Two, Three and Four except as provided for below, subject to the provisions of Rule 2.L. and subject to the require- ments of the Regulations for the Operation of the National League System. The first two teams of Division One shall have the right to promotion to the Premier Division thereby replacing the bottom two clubs, providing they meet all the requirements of the League rules. Should any of these clubs fail to meet all the requirements of the League rules, then clubs down to 5th position may be considered for promotion, if they have applied and met all the re- quirements of the League rules, will be promoted. Should one or more Teams withdraw from any one division after the Playing Season has commenced an equal number of Teams to those withdrawing in that division shall not be automatically relegated. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP