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E.A.D.S.A.F.A. Constitution and Rules 2009/2010 1. The organisation formed under these Constitution and Rules shall be known as the EDINBURGH AND DISTRICTS SUNDAY AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, hereinafter called the Association, whose objects shall be to foster and develop the game of amateur football. The Association and all member clubs must be in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.
2. To control the legislation of the Association, an Executive Committee will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The elected office bearers will consist of a League Secretary, President, Vice President, Treasurer, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary and a Match Secretary, in addition to whom there will be elected a Minute Secretary and a maximum of five club delegates.
3. The Executive Committee shall have the power to deal with, as it sees fit, any player, club official or club for any alleged misconduct reported to it.
4. The Association shall meet monthly at an appointed place, and shall commence promptly at 7.30pm. Each member club of the Association shall have at least one delegate present at all meetings. However, a maximum of two delegates per member club will be permitted but each member club shall have only one vote on all points of issue. Failure of a member club to have a delegate present at any meeting will result in a fine of £15.00. A second consecutive absence will result in a fine of £20.00. Further offences against this Rule may be punished as deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee. Fines must be paid by the date on invoice. Failure to do so shall result in the offending club being automatically debt suspended until the outstanding amount is paid. During the suspension, the offending club shall forfeit all league points and/or cup ties scheduled to be played. Only two apologies will be permitted per club in any one season.
5. The Executive Committee are empowered to call a special meeting of all member clubs whenever necessary, providing that all member clubs are given five clear days notice prior to the special meeting convening.
6. Each member club of the Association will be provided with a copy of the Constitution and Rules, and anything not dealt within them shall be dealt with by the Executive Committee, whose decision shall be final, subject to appeal to the Scottish Amateur Football Association, as detailed in Paragraph 44.
All Rules herein contained shall at times be rigidly adhered to without exception. It will, therefore, be the responsibility of Club Secretaries to keep their copies of the Constitution and Rules up to date by the insertion of new rules, alterations by amendment, or deletions to standing rules as authorised and minuted at monthly council meetings or Annual General Meetings. Absence from Council Meetings will not be accepted as a valid excuse for ignorance of any rule and its context. The Constitution and Rules herein provided and contained will supersede and cancel all previous issues.
7. Procedures at Association meetings will be strictly adhered to by all delegates present. All discourses, remarks or representations shall be directed through the President and no delegate shall be permitted to have discussions across the floor. Only one delegate shall have the floor at any time and should any delegate be deemed to be out of order by the President, the delegate can be ejected from the meeting and his club subjected to a fine of £10.00.
8. The method of voting at meetings on points of issue will be by a show of hands of those eligible to vote when called for by the chair. The vote counting will be undertaken by a member of the Executive Committee, but should the count be challenged, the President may order a recount. The result of the voting will be announced by the President.
9. The Association will be composed of amateur clubs whose application form for membership of the Association is accepted by the Executive Committee. All clubs must submit an application form for membership to the Association prior to the Annual General Meeting. Applications from new clubs for the following season are to be submitted in like manner and those new clubs are required to pay to the Treasurer the sum of £100.00, being the non-returnable deposit required for a new application prior to it being put to the Annual General Meeting. Any club failing to comply with the above will be liable to have their application refused. Applications for membership will be considered by existing member clubs of the EADSAFA at the AGM.
On attaining membership, member clubs will be required to remit to the Treasurer an affiliation fee, which must be in receipt of the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting. A member club who defaults will be automatically debt suspended, debarring participation in League and Cup fixtures until such time as the affiliation fee is paid, any member club who so defaults will lose points and/or cup ties which have been scheduled during the period of debt suspension.
Renewal of membership for each successive season will be governed by the same conditions as stipulated above.
10. In instances of serious misconduct or any offence that in the opinion of the Executive Committee merits expulsion from the EADSAFA, a recommendation will be put to all member clubs at an AGM or EGM that the membership of the club(s) be not continued for the current and/or the following season. Any member club having their membership withdrawn will forfeit their affiliation fee and must pay any outstanding dues and money forthwith.
11. The Association will permit member clubs to register a maximum of 30 players during a season and only under exceptional circumstances will the Association permit a club to exceed this figure. A player’s registration will only be effective from the date received and will automatically be cancelled on the final date of this period. A player’s registration can be cancelled on written direction by the player or registering club at any time during the season and he may be replaced, providing the maximum of 30 players is not exceeded. Registration of players is not permitted from 31st of March in any season. This Association does not allow use of Trialists.
12. Registration forms will be issued to member clubs of the Association by the Registration Secretary in advance of the season starting. These forms must be returned to the Registration Secretary duly completed as specified on the Registration form. Passport size photographs must be attached on all forms as directed. In order that a player is eligible to play in a club’s first scheduled match of the season, the player must be registered with the Association Two week before the club’s first scheduled fixture. A minimum of sixteen players must be registered by all member clubs two week prior to the start of the season. Teams who have not registered enough players in time will lose points for games cast.
A player is deemed registered with the Association when a correctly completed registration form is returned by the Registration Secretary to the Club Secretary. All completed registration forms lodged with the Registration Secretary must be accompanied with a stamp addressed envelope. Failure to do so will mean that although the registration form and/or incorrectly lodged registration forms will be directly returned to the club, a fine of £3.00 will be imposed on the defaulting club.
13. Any player registered or playing with a club in membership of the East Of Scotland FA, the Scottish Junior FA the Scottish Youth FA or the Scottish FA is not eligible to play for a club in membership with the EADSAFA while so registered or playing. Any player registered or playing will not be eligible to register for a club in membership of the EADSAFA until a period of 14 days has elapsed from the date of his registration with any of above bodies having been cancelled, providing that such a cancellation has been effected prior to the 1st March in the current season or 14 days from his last match.
14. A player can only be registered with one member club of the Association unless he is transferred, the player will only be eligible to play for the member club for whom the Association holds a registration. The player cannot play for his new club until they have paid a transfer fee of £5.00 to the Treasurer.
15. Registration forms for new players signed during the season must be sent to the Registration Secretary in the same manner as described in Paragraph 12. However, in order that a player is eligible to play in a match, the player’s correctly completed registration form must be in the hands of the club’s secretary no later than three days before the date of the match in which the registering club intends the player to participate, players must also produce their personal identification cards when requested by match/committee official prior to play starting.
16. Because the Association and member clubs are in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association, all players must be amateur as currently defined by the Scottish Amateur Football Association. Any contravention of this rule which is deemed very serious by the Association and can result in a protest being lodged with the Association. If upheld, the offending club will automatically lose the tie and/or the league points. The Executive Committee can take any further action it deems necessary in such circumstances.
17. All protests should be made in triplicate, one original and two photocopies. The original should be sent by recorded or registered post to the League Secretary. All protests should be accompanied by a postal order or cheque for £10.00(payable to the EADSAFA) as a deposit. The first copy of the protest must be sent by recorded or registered post to the Secretary of the member club against whom the protest is being lodged. The second copy should be retained by the Secretary of the club submitting the protest and he/she should have this copy available for reference.
18. The grounds of protest must be clearly defined and any protest received which, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, does not state specific grounds of protest, will be returned marked “improperly lodged” and a fine of £5.00 will be imposed upon the defaulting club. If the protest is dismissed, the £10.00 deposit will be forfeited. The protest to be sent to the League Secretary and the copy to be sent to the club protested against must be lodged within three days of the game.
19. Secretaries of member clubs will be responsible for the preparations of team lines, which should be correctly compiled on the standard Association form showing the full details requested. Team lines must be prepared in triplicate in order that one copy can be handed to the Secretary (or Secretary’s representative) of the opposing team and the second copy to be handed to the Referee. This is to be done before kick-off time. Any contravention of this rule will result in the defaulting member club being fined £10.00. Should persistent contravention of this rule by any one member club be reported, the member club defaulting will be liable to any punishment the Executive Committee deems necessary.
20. CLUB SECRETARIES MUST ENSURE THAT THEIR REGISTRATION FORMS ARE PRESENT AT EACH GAME AND PRESENTED TO THE REFEREE BEFORE THE MATCH.THE REGISTRATION FORMS HANDED TO THE REFEREE MUST MATCH THE TEAM LINES.FAILURE TO PRODUCE REGISTRATION FORMS WITH TEAM LINES WILL RESULT IN THE GAME BEING UNFULFILLED AND THE DEFAULTING TEAM LOSING THE POINTS OR CUP TIE. THE DEFAULTING CLUB WILL BE LIABLE FOR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GAME NOT TAKING PLACE. ANY CLUB FAILING TO PRODUCE REGISTRATION FORMS/TEAM SHEETS ON REQUEST OF ANY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER OR TO THE REFEREE BEFORE THE MATCH WILL BE LIABLE TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
21. In the situation that the team colours of both teams clash, it is the responsibility of the home team to change their kit to acceptable alternative colours.
22. No change of team name will be allowed once the AGM has been held.
23. Notification of all matches will be issued by the Match Secretary to all member clubs. The Secretary of the home club will be responsible for contacting the away team and referee by the Tuesday prior to fixture, (5 clear days notice is required for midweek games).The referee must be informed of the match being either league or cup tie. Failure to follow rule 23 will result in club being fined £10.00. Teams will no longer be able to claim the points, however a team who has not been contacted 5 Clear days prior to tie being played MUST notify the League Secretary who will then award the tie to this team after looking at each situation separately,(decision is totally at his discretion, his decision will be final).
24. Secretaries of home clubs will be responsible for paying the ground fees and Secretaries of away clubs will be responsible for making the appropriate payment to the referee before the match commences.
25. Should either home or away team fail to appear for the match, the team in attendance should contact the referee, inform him of the situation and instruct him to submit a written statement in confirmation to the Association requesting payment of his match fee, while at the same time the Secretary (or his/her representative) of the team in attendance should also submit a written report to the League Secretary who will take action if necessary. However, should the referee be adamant in his demand for his match fee, the team in attendance must make the required payment as the Association will guarantee a refund of the amount. In the event that a team fails to appear for a game which has been cast or is unable to assemble a team for a forthcoming match, that team will be responsible for any costs incurred, in addition, the club will be fined for an unfulfilled fixture, in line with the EADSAFA fines guidelines.
On any occasion that a referee deems a pitch to be unplayable, the cost to the referee will be shared by both teams, which is half his tariff, £38.00 full tariff for this coming season.
26. Clubs who cannot raise a team for cast fixture will forfeit points/cup tie and will also be subject to fine of £50.00.
27. Kick off times during the season will be directed by the Fixtures Secretary. Secretaries of all member clubs will be held responsible for ensuring that their players are at the ground no later than fifteen minutes before kick off to enable rule 19 to be carried out timeously, and also to ensure that matches are started at the scheduled time so that there is no curtailment to the standard playing time. If the Fixtures Secretary deems necessary, any club may be scheduled on a Tuesday or Thursday evening.
28. Duration of all league fixtures and cup ties will be of 90 minutes, and league fixtures can only be curtailed providing the referee advises both teams of his intention to do so prior to kick off. If there appears to be a possibility that a match will start late, both clubs should make a voluntary approach to the referee to ascertain if there is to be a curtailment of the playing time. The full 90 minutes must be played in cup ties.
29. Should the instance occur where a club finds that fifteen minutes before kick off time it does not have a full compliment of players in attendance, and then if there are 8 players or more in attendance, those players must strip and take the field of play when given permission to do so by the referee. Team lines must be duly completed and logged before the game indicating the names and addresses of players who are late. Players arriving late and who are already on the team lines must sign the team lines if they subsequently take the field of play (when convenient).
30. All league fixtures and cup ties will be played under the laws of the game as laid down by the International Football Board. A maximum of 3 from 5 nominated substitutes can be used during a match. The home team will supply the match ball, but it is imperative that the away team also have a ball on hand should the referee decided that the home team’s ball is not up to the required standard. The home team is also responsible for the provision of corner flags and goal nets (which must be used in all games). The referee is the sole arbitrator as to whether a game can proceed in respect of the condition of the park or the absence of the proper equipment.
31. Referees, who must be registered with the Scottish Football Association, will be scheduled by the Fixtures Secretary to take charge of all fixtures and cup ties, the referee’s name must be shown on all team lines. Any complaint regarding the handling of a match by a referee should be submitted in writing to the League Secretary no later than 4 days after a match. Any such complaint when received by the Association will be given fair and full consideration by the Executive Committee, whose decision shall be final, subject to appeal to the Scottish Amateur Football Association .If referee fails to appear for an Association cup tie or league match, the tie cannot be played. Scottish Sunday Amateur Cup ties must always be played with a referee officially appointed by the Scottish Sunday Amateur Cup Committee.
32. In instances where a player wearing glasses wishes to participate in the match, the Referee shall have full and final say as provided for by the laws of the game.
33. Public Liability Insurance as purchased by the Scottish Amateur Football Association is compulsory on all associations, leagues and clubs in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association with each member association, league or club paying by the due date their apportioned share of the premium with that share being determined by the Executive and Finance Committee of the Scottish Amateur Football Association. (included in club entry fees)
34. Should two teams or more finish the season with the same number of points, goal difference will determine their league position. This will include Promotion/Relegation and it will also decide who wins divisions. If goal difference is the same for two teams then a play off will decide the final league positions.
35. There will be automatic relegation for the bottom TWO teams in each division and automatic promotion for the top TWO teams from the lower divisions. There will also be a play-off between the team finishing 3rd bottom and 3rd top of their respective divisions to decide who will play in the higher/lower division, this play off will be held at a neutral venue and in the event of a draw after 90 minutes, extra time and then penalties if required will take place to decide a winner. Losing team will be relegated or remain in their division, whichever applies. Winning team will be promoted or remain in their division, whichever applies.
36. To control discipline in the Association the Executive Committee will sit to adjudge, (1) a player’s field record, (2) a club’s field record or (3) any other disciplinary irregularities, and so take measures it deems necessary. The Executive Committee will convene as required at times and place duly specified.
37. Swearing and obscenities will not be tolerated on the field of play and it is the intention of the Executive Committee to make full use of their powers should any player appear before them charged with this type of breach of discipline.
38. Duration of all cup ties will be 90 minutes and cannot be curtailed under any circumstances. Extra Time of 15 minutes each half will be played in the event of both clubs being level after 90 minutes. If the result of the game is still undecided, the result shall be determined by the taking of penalty kicks as laid down by the International Football Board.
39. All games played by a club in membership of the Association that withdraws from the Association during the season, shall be declared null and void. Any exception to this rule will be a matter for the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.
40. A player having played for a club in an Association cup competition will be deemed to be “cup tied” and will thus be unable to represent another club in that competition during the current season, even although the club the player played for may have withdrawn from the Association.
41. The Scottish Amateur Football Association lays down rights of appeal to decisions made by affiliated bodies, i.e. in this case the Association.
(a) Any club may appeal to this Association against the decision of the affiliated body affecting the club, or a member of the club. Such appeals to be lodged by recorded or registered delivery and in duplicate within seven days of receipt of notice of the decision of the affiliated body and accompanied by a deposit of £50.00 including VAT. This deposit may be forfeited if the Association so decide. The ground for appeal must be specifically stated and if the Association consider the appeal frivolous or trivial, the appealing club may be liable for the expenses of the meeting. All affiliated bodies must incorporate in their rules a clause specifying the right of its members to appeal to this Association, and the decision of this Association must be given effect to by the affiliated body. The decision against which any appeal is made will only be set aside when the appeal is received by the Association and agreed to be in order and confirmation is received in writing by the parties concerned.
(b) Any Association or league or club has the right to appeal to the Scottish Football Association Limited against a decision of the Council or any Committee of this Association except against decisions of the District Executive Committee, which are governed by rule 25 of this Association. Appeals to the Scottish Football Association must be lodged with Association in terms of Article 66 of its Articles of Association.
42. Rules for the Scottish Sunday Amateur Cup
The Rules of the district amateur cup competitions will apply with the following exceptions.
1. All games in the competition will be played on a Sunday. 2. Each game will be played to a finish. If at the end of 90 minutes the game is undecided, two equal periods of 15 minutes each way will be played. If the result of the game is still undecided, the result of the game shall be determined by the taking of penalty kicks from the penalty mark as laid down by the International Football Board. 3. The matters to be decided by the Committee arising from this competition shall be decided in the same manner as the Scottish Amateur Cup, by the District Committee. 4. Clubs shall be in membership of a recognised Sunday Association or League. 5. Clubs participating in this competition shall be debarred from participating in any district competition.
43. Teams in membership of the Association who own or have use of their own park for matches will only be able to play their home games on that park. However, if their opponents agree, and in consultation with the League Secretary, a team can play their away games on their “home pitch”.
44. Any club who wishes a postponement of any match other than a Cup Tie, can send a written application to the League Secretary not less than 28 days prior to the date for which a postponement is sought. Applications are limited to 2 matches per club per season. NO POSTPONEMENT OR FREE WEEK ALLOWED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30TH OR AFTER MARCH 31ST. No free week will be permitted if the date coincides with a cup tie that involves requesting team (dates will be supplied pre-season).
45. All teams must have numbers on the back of their shirts as per S.A.F.A rules.
46. All member clubs must be represented at an AGM or EGM. All fees must be paid on the night of the AGM or EGM, failure to do so will result in your club not being accepted into the EADSAFA.
47. All clubs must complete a Continuation of Membership Form at the end of each season, Failure to do so by 1st March in the current season will deem membership to have expired.
48. Two members only from each club to be allowed into the AGM. A register will be taken on commencement of the AGM and each club will receive one vote. No proxy votes are permitted.
49. All clubs, officials and players shall be responsible for the protection of referees in any matches connected with the Association and must render any responsible request for assistance by the referee.
50. Midweek fixtures will take place on a Tuesday or Thursday at each end of the season if required (Kick offs 6.30pm).
51. There will be a trophy awarded at the end of the season to the team with the best disciplinary record on the field of play.
52. Should a team forfeit points at end of season and it affects the outcome of Divisional Final Standings, the defaulting team will be fined £50.00 and deducted 15 points.
53. Clubs will be held responsible for any supporters at their games and can expect to be held accountable should there be any indiscipline.
54. Teams will remain in changing rooms until Referee has checked team lines and photos, teams are entitled to have a 10 minute warm up period before match kicks off (as long as match kicks off at allocated time).
55. Alcohol is prohibited from being consumed at Association Fixtures as per S.A.F.A rules, Referees have the authority to abandon games should a sideline become too troublesome, should this happen, the points would then be passed on to opposing team, and offending team disciplined by Executive Disciplinary Committee where appropriate action would be taken.
56. Should a player be sent off FOR VIOLENT CONDUCT, his registration papers will be held by the Association until he is legible to play again, Referee will retain the forms during game and forward any report along with the papers to the League Secretary. This allows us to impose appropriate ban with immediate effect instead of the 14 day period which was the previous rule.
57. All fines must be paid by the end of the meeting at which fines are due to be paid, failure to have done so will result in offending club being debt suspended for 7 days with immediate effect. Clubs will then have that time to pay the fines in full, the suspension however will stay in place for the 7 days as per SAFA rules. During the period of debt suspension, the offending club will forfeit any ties cast.
58. Both club Secretaries must TEXT their results AND any goal scorers to the Match Secretary following the completion of the fixture (by 5.00pm on a Sunday, 9.30pm Midweek games), failure to do so will result in a £3.00 fine being issued to offending club. Match Secretary is Mr Keith Jones and his number is: 07866 335254.
59. Each season the Associations Clubs sell Raffle Tickets at Christmas and at least 50% of the money raised is donated to the chosen charity of the current season, the rest is used towards costs of prizes for the raffle and cost of the Cup Finals (parks, officials and medals), all teams are asked to sell £100.00 worth of tickets and any team who does not sell any tickets are liable to pay any costs incurred should they reach a final in that season.
60. At the end of each season, the Executive Committee shall meet to discuss teams membership renewals for the following season, they will discuss both on field and off field records and shall then have the power to terminate any teams membership who fail to comply with Association policies. THERE IS NO RIGHT OF APPEAL TO THIS PROCESS, DECISIONS MADE WILL BE FINAL.
61. There will no longer be SIX POINT ties played in this Association.
62. Any teams who agree to move venue of any tie MUST inform the Match Secretary, this is for insurance purposes.
CLUB SECRETARIES, THIS ASSOCIATION WILL NOT TOLERATE ANYTHING THAT MAY BRING THE ASSOCIATION INTO DISREPUTE. CLUBS NOT ADHERING TO OUR RULES OF CONDUCT WILL BE DEALT WITH MOST SEVERELY.
KEITH JONES LEAGUE SECRETARY (MOBILE)- 07896 220160 (E-MAIL)- keithjones2004@blueyonder.co.uk
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