Milton Keynes & District Junior 7’s Football League
Standard Code of Rules
2009 - 2010 Season
1. Nomenclatures and Constitution
2. Entry Fee, Subscription and Deposit
3. Officers
4. Management, Nomination & Election
5. Powers of Management
6. Annual General Meeting
7. Agreement to be signed
8. Qualification of Players
9. Club Colours and Club Name
10. Playing Season: Conditions of Play, Times of Kick-Off, Postponements and Substitutes
11. Reporting Results
12. Determining Championship
13. Referees
14. Continuation of Membership or Withdrawal of a Club
15. Protests and Appeals
16. Board of Appeal
17. Exclusion of Clubs or Teams: Misconduct, Clubs, Officials and Players
18. Trophy: Legal Owners, Conditions of Taking Over, Agreement to be signed. Awards
19. Special General Meetings
20. Alteration to Rules
21. Rules Binding on Clubs
22. Finance
23. Code of Conduct
24. Cup Rules
1. Nomenclatures and Constitution
(a)This Competition shall be designated the Milton Keynes and District Junior 7’s and hereafter called Junior 7’s.
The Under 9, 10, 11 and 12 age groups League/Cup and Shield to be known by the relevant sponsors title.
The Junior 7’s shall consist of not more than one hundred (100) Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs and not more than ten (10) Clubs who shall be Associate 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 and Bucks County Football Association. The area covered by the Junior 7’s Membership shall be an area not exceeding twenty-five (25) miles of Milton Keynes.
The Junior 7’s shall apply annually for sanction to the Berks and Bucks Football Association and the constituent Teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in sections/divisions, each not exceeding fifteen (15) in number.
Member Clubs shall not enter any of their Teams playing in the Junior 7’s in any other Competitions (with the exception of F.A and County F.A Competitions) except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Junior 7’s. Member Clubs shall apply in writing to the Leagues General Secretary, no later than 31st July of the forthcoming playing season.
The Junior 7’s shall provide Mini-Soccer for players who have attained the age of 6 years as at midnight 31st August in a playing season.
(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 sections/divisions at their discretion. When necessary this Rule shall take precedence over Rule 12.
2. Entry Fee, Subscription and Deposit
(a) Applications by Clubs for admission to the Junior 7’s or the entry of an additional Team(s) shall be made in writing to the Secretary and shall be accompanied by an Entry Fee per Club of £25.00 and 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.
The Annual Subscription shall be:
(i) Under 11’s and 12’s - £30.00 (Thirty Pounds)
(ii) Under 9’s and 10’s - £25.00 (Twenty Five Pounds)
(iii) Under 7’s and 8’s - £20.00 (Twenty Pounds)
Payable on or before 1st July in each year
(c) Each Club shall within fourteen (14) days of election pay a Deposit of £50.00, which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Junior 7’s provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee.
(d) A Club shall not participate in the Junior 7’s until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid.
(e) Clubs shall advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 1st July of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00. 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 Junior 7’s.
The Officers of the Junior 7’s shall be the President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary,
Fixture Secretary and Committee Secretary to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
Should there be any vacancies after the Annual General Meeting, the Management Committee shall have the power to co – opt members as required.
4. Management, Nomination & Election
(a) The Junior 7’s shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and up to four (4) other members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
In addition to the Management Committee, the Competition shall meet as a Council for administrative purposes only. The Council shall consist of the Officers of the Competition as detailed in Rule 3 together with two
(2) Delegates from each Member Club. Twelve (12) members shall form a quorum, of which five (5) shall be Officers of the Competition. Any Club failing to be represented at a Council Meeting shall be fined a sum of £25.00.
(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 1st June 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 as often as is necessary 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 the nominated Officer.
(a) The Management Committee may appoint Sub-Committees and delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary .The decisions of all Sub-Committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.
(b) Subject to the permission of the Berks and 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 Junior 7’s 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 6e).
(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 fourteen (14) days.
(f) Four (4) Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and Two (2) Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any Sub-Committee of the Junior 7’s.
(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 Junior 7’s, 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.
Failure to pay within 14 days, the outstanding value of the fine, shall result in the fine being doubled.
(j) A Member of the Management Committee appointed by the Junior 7’s to attend a meeting or match may have any expenses incurred refunded by the Junior 7’s.
(k) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Junior 7’s between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Junior 7’s season.
(l) The Officers have the authority to deal with any matters arising from the running of the League, which has not been covered by the Rules.
(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 25th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least ten (10) 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 there from.
(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 Junior 7’s for ensuing season.
(vi) Election of Officers and Management Committee.
(vii) Appointment of Auditors.
(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 (14) days prior to the meeting, and to the Berks and Bucks County Football Association.
(c) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Berks and 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 two (2) delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one (1) vote only. Not less than fourteen (14) days’ notice shall be given of any Meeting.
(e) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Junior 7’s 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 two- thirds 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 (1) 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 a sum of £25.00.
(i) Officers and Management Committee Members shall be entitled to attend and to vote at an Annual General Meeting.
The Chairman and the Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Junior 7’s together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete.
“We, _____________________________ of _________________________________ (Chairman) and
__________________________________ of _________________________________ (Secretary) of the
______________________________________________________________________ Football Club
Have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Milton Keynes and District Junior 7’s and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club to, 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 Junior 7’s,
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 County Football Association to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Junior 7’s.
(a) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in the Junior 7’s.
(b) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has
i) Signed a fully and correctly completed Junior 7’s registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club (Club Secretary), and who has been registered with the Registrations Secretary prior to playing and whose completed registration card and team squad sheet has been received by the Club prior to playing.
(ii) The registration of any player shall be accompanied by both an existing registration card and signed parent/player agreement form OR for a new player, proof of birth, a photograph of the player, signed parent/player agreement form. In either case shall be accompanied by a fully completed squad sheet signed by the Club Secretary.
(iii) The registration document shall incorporate any known serious medical conditions of the player and emergency contact details of the player’s parents or guardians. These details shall be available at matches and training events the player attends within the management of the Club or Competition.
(iv) All registrations shall be directed to the Registration Secretary.
(v) Once the Registration Secretary is in possession of all the required documentation as specified under Rule 8(b) (ii), the Registration of the Player shall be completed within fourteen (14) days.
(vi) The Milton Keynes & District Junior 7’s are not responsible for the loss of any original documents that are supplied for a registration.
(vii) The Registration Secretary shall not be visited without prior arrangement.
(viii) Registrations may be completed ‘On the Day’ at the discretion of the Registration Secretary.
(c) 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 Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.
(d) It shall be deemed misconduct for a player to:
(i) Play for more than one Team in the Junior 7’s in the same season without first being transferred.
(ii) Having signed for one Club in the Junior 7’s, sign for another Club in the Junior 7’s 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.
(iv) To transfer more than once during a season between Teams in the Junior 7’s.
(e) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player.
(i) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any club at their discretion who have been charged and found guilty of registration irregularities.
Fine not exceeding £25.00
(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct.
Undesirable Conduct shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in the Junior7’s.
(Note: Action under Rule 8(e) (iii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association, and then only in cases of the player bringing the MKDJ7's into disrepute)
(f) 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.
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 (7) days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club’s consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven (7) 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 twenty-one (21) 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.
(g) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club or Team in the Junior 7’s after the 28th February.
(h) 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.
(i) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the Registration Secretary and shall only 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.
(j) A player shall not be eligible to play for a Team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12A) unless the player has played five (5) games for that Team in the junior
7’s in the current season.
(k)
(i) Any Team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players may have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined the sum of £50.00 and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(ii) In addition the Team may have the 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 in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.
(l)
(i) Priority shall be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.
(ii) Children shall not play in a Team involving players who are more than two (2) years older.
(iii) The players in each age group shall be under the age of the group that they shall be playing in as at midnight 31st August of the season commencing in September.
(m)
(i) All player registration cards issued by the League remain the property of the League.
(ii) Lost or damaged cards shall be replaced by the League at a cost of £5.00 per card, payable by the last Member Club to be in possession of the card.
(iii) Each Club Secretary shall be responsible for ensuring that the registration cards for any players leaving their Club or the League during the season, are returned to the League. The card(s) should be returned to the Registration Secretary within seven (7) days of notification by the player.
(iv) Each Club Secretary shall be responsible for ensuring that ALL registration cards should be returned to the League by the 31st May. Failure to do so shall result in a fine not exceeding the sum of £25.00 per card.
(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 the 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 Junior 7’s 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 (2) Clubs have the same or similar colours, the home Team shall make the change and the use of bibs is permitted. Any Team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00. This Rule only applies to the competitive section of the Junior 7’s.
The Secretary of the Junior 7’s may request shirts 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. Failure to do so shall be dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(b)
Any Club playing in the competitive section of the Junior 7’s wishing to change its name and /or colours shall seek permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee. Failure to do so shall incur a fine not exceeding the sum of £25.00.
10. Playing Season: Conditions of Play, Times of Kick-Off, Postponements and 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 Fixtures Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no later than 10th September, shall not be arranged for a date later than seven (7) 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.
The Mini-Soccer Rules as laid down by the Football Association are to be adhered to at all times.
(i) Under 7’s and Under 8’s
The minimum pitch size shall be 18.30 metres (20 yards) x 27.45 metres (30 yards).
The maximum pitch size shall be 27.45 metres (30 yards) x 45.75 metres (50 yards).
(ii) Under 9’s and Under 10’s
The minimum pitch size shall be 27.45 metres (30 yards) x 45.75 metres (50 yards).
The maximum pitch size shall be 36.60 metres (40 yards) x 54.90 metres (60 yards).
(iii) Under 11’s and Under 12’s
The minimum pitch size shall be 36.60 metres (40 yards) x 54.90 metres (60 yards).
The maximum pitch size shall be 45.75 metres (50 yards) x 80.00 metres (80 yards).
(iv) The suggested goal size for 5, 6 and 7-a-side is 12’ wide x 6’ high.
(v) The suggested goal size for 9-a-side is 15’ wide x 7’ high.
(vi) The pass back rule is to be played at all times, and at all age groups.
(vii) Squad Sizes
5 v 5 Squad NOT to exceed 10 Players.
6 v 6 Squad NOT to exceed 12 Players.
7 v 7 Squad NOT to exceed 14 Players.
9 v 9 Squad NOT to exceed 18 Players.
(viii) A maximum of five (5) substitutes can be taken to a game and substitutions are to be made on a roll on, roll off basis when a break in play allows and with permission of the Referee (Rule 10(g)).
(ix) The Under 10’s 11’s and 12’s teams shall be split into divisions and, fixtures shall be supplied by the Management Committee, that are suitable for the number of teams in each age group entered for that season.
Clubs shall take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. 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 the power to order the venue to be changed.
The Management Committee shall have the power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Junior 7’s and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.
Under 7’s shall play 5 v 5 (a-side)
Under 8’s shall play 6 v 6 (a-side)
Under 9’s and 10’s shall play 7 v 7 (a-side)
Under 11’s and 12’s shall play 9 v 9 (a-side)
The duration of play for Under 7’s & Under 8’s shall be divided into 4 x 10 minute periods.
Under 9’s - 50 minutes maximum
Under 10’s - 60 minutes maximum
Under 11’s - 60 minutes maximum
Under 12’s - 70 minutes maximum
The duration shall be divided into equal periods.
The home Team shall provide at least two (2) footballs fit for play and the Referee shall make a report to the Junior 7’s if the footballs are unsuitable. The size of football to be used shall be size 3 for Under 7 and Under 8 age groups and size 4 for Under 9, Under 10, Under 11 and Under 12 age groups. Goal nets shall be used.
All matches for the competitive sections 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 Fixture Secretary.
Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £25.00.
(d) The Secretary (or nominated official) of the home Club shall give notice of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and the time of kick-off 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 £25.00.
(e) As it is the policy of the Junior 7’s to give the opportunity to every child to play the game of football, all Clubs shall be expected to field a Team to fulfil the fixture requirements from their registered squad. Mini Soccer is for all youngsters regardless of their ability.
For the Under 10’s section of the Junior 7's, in the event of a Club playing in any match with less than five (5) players they shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00 for each missing player. A minimum of five (5) players shall constitute a Team for an Under 10 Junior 7’s match.
For the Under 11 and Under 12’s section of the Junior 7’s, in the event of a Club playing in any match with less than seven (7) players they shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00 for each missing player. A minimum of seven (7) players shall constitute a Team for an Under 11 or Under 12 Junior 7’s match.
(f) All competitive matches shall be played according to the format agreed at the Annual General Meeting. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have the power to inflict a fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award 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. The Management
Committee shall have the power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent’s ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances.
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 three (3) days prior to the match by the Club) to the Fixture’s Secretary and the Secretary and Team Manager of the opposing Club. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may seem suitable.
In the event of a competitive 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 (2) Clubs and approved by the Fixture’s Secretary. Failing such an agreement and notification to the Fixture’s Secretary on the date of the scheduled match the Fixture’s Secretary shall have the 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 abandoned competitive matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of the Junior 7’s and does no injustice to either Club, 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 deem necessary.
In all age groups where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of either 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 County Association.
(g) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use five (5) substitute players in any match in the Junior 7’s. Entry onto the field of play shall only be allowed during a stoppage in play, and at the Referee’s approval. A player who has been replaced may return to play as a substitute for another player.
(h) Registration cards and squad sheets shall be taken to every game.
(i) Registration cards and squad sheets shall be exchanged at the beginning of every match and returned to the appropriate manager at the end of the match. Failure to do so shall result in a fine not exceeding £ 25.00.
(j) Any manager attending a match without registration cards and/or squad sheet shall be fined a sum not exceeding £ 25.00.
(k) Any match that continues without one or both teams in possession of the opposition team’s registration cards and/or squad sheet shall do so at the risk of both managers. Any manager who does not wish to play a game against opposition not in possession of their Registration cards and/or squad sheet shall do so with the full support of the Management Committee.
(l) It is the duty of any team to report any instance when an opposing team have not been in possession of their registration cards and/or squad sheet to their Club Secretary, who is then duly bound to inform the League Secretary, in writing, within seven (7) days (not including Sundays) of the incident. Any Club failing to report an incident of this nature shall be liable for a fine not exceeding £ 25.00.
(m) Any player at any match without a registration card shall be deemed to be an unregistered player and shall be treated as such (see Rule 8(k) (i)).
(a) All results and fairplay are to be telephoned or e-mailed to the Fixtures Secretary:
(i) Telephoned results to be received no later than 5pm on the day the match is scheduled to be played.
(ii) Telephoned Fair-Play to be received no later than 5 pm on the day the match is scheduled to be played.
(iii) E-Mailed results to be received no later than 5pm on the day the match is scheduled to be played.
(iv) E-Mailed Fair-Play to be received no later than 5pm on the day the match is due to be played.
Failure to comply with any of the above shall result in a fine of £5.00
(b) The Management Committee shall have the power to take such action, as they deem suitable against a Club, which submits incomplete or incorrect information.
(c) A Fair-Play score of 3 or less in any of the categories (players, officials or supporters) shall require a full report stating the reasons for the low marks, sent via the reporting Club's Secretary, directly to the General Secretary of the Junior 7's, within 7 days of the match being played.
Failure to comply with the above shall result in a fine of £5.00
Team rankings in the Under 10, 11 and 12 sections of the Junior 7’s shall be decided by points with three (3) points 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 (2) or more Teams being equal on points for either the winners or runners up place in any Division of the Under 10, 11 and 12 Sections, this shall be decided by a play off played under conditions determined by the Management Committee.
(a) Registered Referees shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association.
(b) In cases where there are no officially appointed Referees, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. 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 one (1) or both competing Clubs, appoint a Registered Referee, if available, to any match.
The fee for a Registered Referee shall be:
U7, U8, and U9’s - £10.00
U10, U11 and U12’s - £15.00
All of the above shall be inclusive of expenses.
The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees immediately after the match.
(d) The appointed Referee shall have the 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) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Official, if present, shall be entitled to half fees. Where a match is not played owing to one (1) Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Official, if they attend the ground, the full match fee.
(f) A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his/her non-appearance, may have their name removed from the list of Referees and the fact reported to the Association with which they are registered.
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 Junior 7’s shall notify the Secretary in writing by 31st March each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding the sum of £25.00.
All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Junior 7’s for the following Season shall confirm their intention to do so in writing, to the Secretary by 30th April.
(b) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its Teams from the Junior 7’s after the Annual General Meeting/arrangement of fixtures for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding the sum of £25.00 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 a Special General Meeting held for that purpose not earlier than 1st April nor later than 30th April or at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 25th June the Junior 7’s 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 Junior 7’s.
In the event that any such obligation remains un-discharged 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 Junior 7’s, which may apply to the Club’s Parent County Association for a suspension order.
(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 their Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined.
(c) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Junior 7’s shall be referred, via the Club Secretary, 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 ten (10) pounds. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Junior 7’s shall have the 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.
Within fourteen (14) days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee of the Junior 7’s,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 and Bucks Football Association, including a fee of twenty (20)
Pounds, 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 grounds of unconstitutional conduct.
17. Exclusion of Clubs or Teams: Misconduct, Clubs, Officials and 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 upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. 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 Junior 7’s 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 misconduct, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in the Junior 7’s 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 in the Under 10’s, 11’s and 12's Age Groups failing to complete all 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 excluded from membership the following season.
18. Trophy: Legal Owners, Conditions of Taking Over, Agreement to be signed. Awards
(a) A Junior 7’s Cup or Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Junior 7’s as Trustees. If the Junior 7’s be discontinued for any cause the Cup or Trophy 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 Junior 7’s season awards may/shall be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Junior7's permit.
At the close of each Junior7's season awards shall be made to the Winners and Runners Up of each Division of the Under 10, 11 and 12's age groups.
Awards shall also be made to the Winners and Runners Up of the Cup and Shield in the Under 9, 10, 11 and 12's age groups.
The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:
“We, ___________________________ of ________________________________ (Chairman) and
________________________________ of ________________________________ (Secretary) of the
___________________________________________________________________ Football Club
Members of and representing the Club, having been declared winners of the
___________________________________________________________________ Cup or Trophy,
and it having been delivered to us by the Junior 7’s, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Junior 7’s Secretary on or before the date of the awarding of the Cup or Trophy the following season. If the Cup or Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care we agree to refund to the Junior 7’s the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough repair.”
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 (2) delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one (1) vote only. Not less than seven (7) days’ notice shall be given of any Meeting.
Associate Member Clubs may be represented at all Special General Meetings in the proportion of one (1) representative for each six (6) or part of six (6) Associate Member Clubs and such representatives shall exercise the powers and rights of Full Members at such meetings.
Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined a sum not exceeding £25.00.
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
(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 15th March and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 31st March.
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 14th April. 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 twenty-eight (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.
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.
(a) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Junior 7’s shall be lodged.
(b) All expenditure in excess of £200.00 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 Junior 7’s shall end on 31st May.
(d) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of the Junior 7’s shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
(a) Under no circumstances should the Management Committee be contacted after 9pm Monday to Friday, after 5pm on a Saturday and at any time on a Sunday or Bank Holiday. Failure to adhere to these rules shall incur a fine of £25.00.
(b) No Officer of the League should be visited without prior arrangement.
(c) At no time, is any member of the Management Committee, to be verbally or physically assaulted. The Management Committee shall deal with an assault, in any form, on any member of the Management Committee in the strongest possible manner.
(d) At no time is any member of the Management Committee to suffer harassment from any individual of any member Club or any individual linked to a member Club. The Management Committee shall deal with the harassment of any member of the Management Committee in the strongest possible manner.
24. Cup Rules (top)
(a) The Under 9,10, 11 and 12 age groups are entered, free of charge, into a League Challenge Cup. The maximum duration of each match is Under 9's fifty (50) minutes, Under 10 and 11's sixty (60) minutes, and the Under 12's seventy (70) minutes divided into two equal periods. If the score is level at full time the match shall be decided by the taking of penalty kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with International Board Procedures.
(b) Teams in Under 9, 10, 11 and 12 age groups who are defeated in the First and Second Round of the League Challenge Cup are entered, free of charge, into the League Challenge Shield, subject to the fixture layout of the League Challenge Shield.
(c) Cup and Shield fixtures will take president over all league fixtures and games are to be played on the arranged fixture date unless postponement is agreed by the Fixtures Secretary, who will issue a new fixture date. Postponement of the second fixture date will again, only be at the approval of the Fixtures Secretary and a final fixture date will then be supplied on which the match must be played.
If either team fails to attend the third and final fixture date they will forfeit the match.
(d) Failure to contact the Fixtures Secretary to gain approval for postponement will at the discretion of the league, see the postponing club forfeit the game.
(e) The Standard Rules of the League cover all other aspects.
(f) No player shall play for more than 1 team in the League Challenge Cup or League Challenge Shield in the same season.
A player taking part in a Cup/Shield Semi-Final shall have played a minimum of 3 games for that team.
A player taking part in a Cup/Shield Final shall have played in a minimum of 5 games for that team or have been registered with that team prior to 1st January.
