League Rules

RULES (Updated March 2019)

1. AFFILIATION SUBSCRIPTION & GUARANTEE FEE

a) All Clubs must be directly affiliated to the West Wales Football Association by the 1st July in each Season. The annual League Subscription to be £60 (to include all Player Registration Fees but not Transfer Fees) to be paid by the 2nd Saturday in July in each Season or £70 after this date. The Guarantee Fee per team of £30 to be paid by the 2nd Saturday in July in each Season

b) The Guarantee Fee will be forfeited if all commitments are not fulfilled by the last official day of the Season.

c) The Guarantee Fee shall also be forfeited if a team withdraws from the League during the Season.

d) Clubs shall not withdraw from membership of this League without due notice of such intention being given in writing to the League Secretary before 1st week of July prior to the Annual General Meeting in July at which time they will terminate membership. A Club failing to meet this requirement will forfeit its Guarantee Fee.

e) Clubs and players registered with this League shall not be permitted to take part in competitions other than those arranged by the Football Association of Wales or an Area Association except for small-sided tournaments. Individual tour matches may be sanctioned if approved by the appropriate Association.

f) All Managers and Coaches running teams in this League must have a valid DBS certificate. At least one Manager/Coach must also possess a valid First Aid qualification approved by the FAW.

2. CONFIRMATION OF MATCHES

a) The Home Club must notify the Away Club and the Referee (in writing or by telephone) of all match details at least six days before the match. Directions to the ground, kit colours and time of kick-off must be provided. Clubs failing to comply without reasonable explanation in the opinion of the Management Committee will incur the following sanctions:

i. 1st occasion – Warning;
ii. 2nd occasion - £30 fine;
iii. 3rd occasion - £80 fine;
iv. 4th occasion – suspension from the League

b. Non-receipt of notification will not be accepted as an excuse for a Team not turning up for a fixture. In such circumstances Teams should travel for a kick off in accordance with Rule and inform the League Secretary. The Home Club must provide footballs in match condition and present to the Referee when the team sheet is handed in, in the Referee’s Dressing Room, before the match.

c. The Away team and Referee are to notify the League Secretary when the Home Club fails to notify appropriately.

3. FIXTURES AND POSTPONEMENTS

a) Teams cannot postpone a fixture without the prior agreement of the League Secretary. Any club failing to fulfil a League Fixture must notify the League Secretary by text immediately and by email within 24 hours of the scheduled match time and date. For clubs failing to supply a satisfactory reason, the offending team shall forfeit the match by the score of four-nil. This score and the three points will be awarded to the opponents. On the 4th occasion the club will forfeit its guarantee fee and be struck out of the league should it be unable to provide the Management Committee with a satisfactory explanation.

b) Any offending Club which fails to fulfil a fixture must pay any permit and expenses incurred by its opponents and the referee half fee plus travelling expense should the referee attend.

c) Clubs requesting an open date must make an application to the League Secretary, including the reason, at least 21 days prior to the requested date. No such requests will be considered for a date on a published monthly fixture list except in exceptional circumstances as determined by the League Secretary. A maximum of two open dates per Club will be considered in one season.

4. FRIENDLY MATCHES

a) No such match is to be played without the permission of the League. If the request is for matches outside the Association area, a written request must be made to the West Wales Football Association with a copy to the League Secretary at least 28 days prior to the date of the match. Friendly matches played outside the League Season do not require League permission but do require Association approval.

5. REGISTRATION AND TRANSFERS

a) Registration and Transfer Forms are to be completed in BLOCK CAPITALS. Transfer Forms are to be accompanied by the appropriate fee as per FAW directive.

b) The League Registration Secretary shall have the authority to accept the registration / transfer of a player.

Please note:
I. To comply with FAW requirements, the Registration and Transfer Forms must be received by the Registration Secretary within five days of the date quoted on the Form
II. Registration Forms should not be forwarded to the Registration Secretary until the player in question has reached their 16th birthday

c) To ensure registrations are processed in order for players to be eligible to play, forms should be received by the Registration Secretary 7 days before the commencement of the season and thereafter 48 hours before the scheduled match fixture. A player is registered/transferred only when the form is processed on the FAW database by the working day prior to the fixture. Each club may check this via the MYCLUB portal into the FAW database

d) Transfer Forms will not be processed without the appropriate fee being received. There is no additional fee for processing Registration Forms.

e) Each Club shall be provided with 20 Registration Forms. Additional forms to be charged at 50p each if posted although downloaded J6 forms from the FAW Website will be accepted in hardcopy form but not as scanned images via email.

f) The registration and transfer deadline is the last Thursday in March each Season.

g) The official Player Transfer Form must be used when a player transfers to a Club. The Transfer Fee is £5.00 for clubs in the league and £10 for transfers from clubs outside of the League. The transfer is completed when the counterfoil is processed by the Registration Secretary. Approaches to players must be conducted in accordance with the Rules of the Football Association of Wales. Each club may check this via the MYCLUB portal into the FAW database.

h) In accordance with FAW directive, should a Club become defunct none of its players shall be allowed to transfer to another Club without having first satisfied the League that all obligations to the League and Club have been met. In such cases, a Transfer form, completed by both clubs and the player, is to be forwarded to the Registration Secretary but NO fee is required'

6. MEETINGS

a) League Management Committee meetings will be convened by the League Secretary as necessary. A meeting of all Clubs will be held in the month of July for the issue of Rules, Registration Forms etc. Clubs failing to attend such meetings shall be fined the sum of £10.

7. CLUB COLOURS

a) Each Club shall forward to the League Secretary a statement of its distinguishing colours. In the event of any two Clubs having similar colours, the HOME TEAM shall make a change, unless otherwise mutually agreed.

b) The colours of the opposing teams must be distinctive. Shirts must be numbered and the numbers worn by the players must correspond with the Team Sheet submitted to the Referee. No club is allowed to play in a predominantly Black Kit as per FAW Directive.

8. TEAM SHEETS

a) The HOME club (or first listed in the fixture in the case of neutral grounds) is responsible for supplying the Team Sheet and notifying the result of the fixture, by text or telephone, to the League Secretary within 90 minutes of the conclusion of the game by either the club's Secretary or Fixture Secretary or another nominated person. Failure to supply the Team Sheet or notify the result within this time will result in a fine of £5 for each offence.

b) Team sheets must be handwritten and must be completed by each Club and submitted to the Referee at least 20 minutes prior to commencement of the match. Team Sheets must detail the names of the nominated substitutes. Details of all the squad must be in BLOCK CAPITALS and the numbers must correspond to the numbers the players wear. No alterations to be made after the start of the game

c) Where it is suspected that a club has played, or is intending to play, an ineligible player in their team the club raising the protest must first notify the appointed match referee. The referee shall then ask the player in question to provide his full name, address, date of birth and signature, as witnessed by the referee, on the reverse of the team sheet. This will then be investigated by the League Management Committee on receipt of the Team Sheet from the match official. This shall not constitute a protest. If it is found that an ineligible player has been used, Rule 12 shall apply.

d) The League appointed referee is responsible for forwarding the Team Sheet, by mail or email, to the League Secretary in reasonable time after the conclusion of the game

e) In the absence of a League appointed referee, the Home team is responsible for forwarding the Team Sheet, by mail or email, to the League Secretary in reasonable time after the conclusion of the game.

9. GROUND

a) Each Club shall register its ground with the League Secretary and is responsible for pitch markings which must conform to regulations. Goal nets are compulsory in all matches and no metal hooks can be used to secure nets. Corner flags must not be less than 5 feet out of the ground. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a fine of £10 for each offence.

b) Games are only to be played on artificial (non-grass) pitches when both clubs agree and notify the League Secretary accordingly prior to the match date.

10. TIME OF KICK OFF AND DURATION OF MATCH

a) The Kick off time (normally Sunday 14:00, except Finals) shall be detailed by the League Secretary. Any variation to Kick-off times or Match Days must be mutually agreed by both clubs and noted to the League Secretary at least 7 days prior to the scheduled fixture date.

b) Whether the match is completed or not, Clubs responsible for a late start shall be liable to a fine of £5. All matches shall be played according to the Laws of the game and Football Association of Wales and shall be of 90 minutes duration. Any match not completed may be ordered to stand as a completed match or replayed for a full period of 90 minutes as the League Management Committee may direct.

c) The League Play-Off Semi-Finals and Final shall be played on a knock out basis. If the result after normal time is a draw, an extra 10,20 or 30 minutes of equal halves (e.g. 5,10,15 mins each way) must be played at the discretion of the referee on the day dependent on light factors etc. If the teams are level after extra time the match will be decided by the use of the penalty kick system. If Penalty Kicks cannot be taken the result shall be decided by the toss of a coin.

11. PROTESTS AND APPEALS

a) All questions of eligibility (other than those lodged with the Referee before, after or during the game – see Rule 8c), or interpretations of these Rules, shall be referred in writing to the League Secretary within 5 days (except Sunday) of the date of the match to which it refers. All such applications must be accompanied by a fee of £20 which may be refunded if the Protest / Appeal is considered by the League Management Committee to be proved

b) Any Club, player or Official not being satisfied with a decision of the League Management Committee may appeal to the West Wales Football Association in accordance with its rules. The Club, player or Official shall have the right of a further appeal to the Football Association of Wales.

12. INELIGIBLE PLAYERS

a) When a Club has been proven to have played an ineligible player, or players, the following action will be taken:-

a. If the Club has won the match:
i. Three points will be deducted from the total points.
ii. The goals scored by the Club shall be disallowed.
iii. Three points may be awarded to the opponents at the discretion of the League Management Committee.

b. If the Club has lost the match:
i. The goals scored by the Club shall be disallowed.

c. If the Club has drawn the match:
i. One point will be deducted from the total.
ii. The goals scored by the Club shall be disallowed.
iii. The other Club may score two additional points.

b) In each case the Club shall be fined £10 for each ineligible player found to have played. Players found to have played when ineligible may be fined up to a maximum of £50 at the League Management Committee’s discretion. For a second or subsequent offence the fine shall be doubled and the Club liable to expulsion.

13. REFEREES

a) The Referee in all matches shall be appointed by the League Management Committee. The Referee’s Fee shall be £20.00 plus 30p per mile travel expenses and this must be equally split between the 2 teams immediately after the game.

b) If for any reason the match is not played and the Referee attends the ground the Referee shall be paid half the fee plus travel expenses provided the Referee has not received notification of the postponement. Referees’ fees will be paid by the Home Club unless the Away Team is judged by the Management Committee to be in default and the Away Team shall then be liable for all fees.

c) In all games where Assistant Referees have been appointed by the League Management Committee, the Assistant Referees will be paid a match fee of half the above Referee’s fee and the equivalent travelling expenses. The fee shall be paid equally between the two teams to the Assistant Referees immediately after the match.

d) Referees must confirm acceptance of appointment to the Home Club. The Referee shall be at the ground 30 minutes before the kick off. In cases where the groundsman has the deciding power as to fitness of the ground, his decision shall suffice unless the Management Committee feels it necessary to have a Referee’s report. In such cases the matter shall be reported to the League Management Committee. In all grounds, except those under the control of a groundsman, the Referee shall have the power to decide as to the fitness of grounds in all matches and each Club must take every precaution to keep its ground in good playing condition. If necessary the Home Club may request the Referee, or a suitable qualified Referee, to visit the ground two hours before the advertised time of kick off.

e) Any Referee causing a late start will be fined the sum of £5. Referees must accept or decline match appointments within three days of notification by the League Secretary or 48 before the game commences. If no reply is received the League Management Committee will deal with the Referee’s misconduct.

f) If a referee accepts an appointment and – having confirmed arrangements with the Home team – is subsequently unable to fulfil the fixture, he should notify the League Secretary and Home team immediately he/she is aware of the change in circumstances.

g) In the event of the appointed referee being unavailable (or where the League Secretary has been unable to appoint a referee), the representatives of the two clubs must agree before the game begins on ONE suitable person to act as substitute referee who shall have the same powers as a League appointed Referee.

h) This agreement must be recorded on the Team Sheets. The representatives of both clubs should sign the declaration on the Team Sheet accordingly.

i) The initial onus rests with the home club to supply a suitable substitute referee. When choosing a substitute referee, registered referees, followed by qualified referees, take precedence.

j) If the substitute referee is a qualified, registered referee they shall be entitled to a match fee and expenses in accordance with Rule 13(a) above.” (A “registered referee” is one whose name appears on the West Wales FA website of current referees.

k) If a match is not played because agreement cannot be reached regarding a substitute referee, Rule 3 will apply for both clubs.

14. ASSISTANT REFEREES

a) Each team MUST supply an Assistant Referee who shall report to the Referee 20mins before the start of the match. The League Management Committee will deal with Clubs failing to supply an Assistant Referee. Club Assistant Referees will act as directed by the Referee.

15. PROMOTION AND RELEGATION

a) Before the commencement of each season the Management Committee shall have the authority to formulate suitable divisions depending on the number of clubs registering with the league
b) When divisions are based on an East/West divide or some other random selection, the League Champion club will be determined, time permitting, by a “Play Off” involving the top two teams in each division.

c) The Play Off semi-final will be between the top team in one division against the second team in the other division.

d) The team coming top of their division will have home advantage in the Play Off semi-final.

e) The winners of the semi-finals will meet in the Play Off final, which is to be held at a neutral venue chosen by the League Management Committee.

f) In order to take part in the Play Off final or semi-final, a player must have played in a minimum of FOUR LEAGUE games for that club in the West Wales Youth League in the current season.

g) In the event of a second or more Divisions being added to the League the normal two-up and two-down promotion/relegation procedure will apply. For promotion/relegation or in any other case requiring a decision, goal difference shall be the deciding factor and, if still level, the Team scoring the most goals shall be declared the winner.

h) Only one Team per Club will be allowed into the League

16. CUSTODY OF CUPS

a) The winners of the League Championship Cup and/or any other Cup winners shall furnish to the League Secretary for approval by the League Management Committee the names of Bondsmen, who shall be required to execute a guarantee in accordance with West Wales Football Association Intermediate Cup Rule 29.

17. FINES

a) All fines must be paid within seven days after receiving notification from the League Secretary/Treasurer (such notification to be given within ten days of the fine being imposed) or the offending Club will be liable to be struck out of the League and reported to the West Wales Football Association.

b) All Correspondence from Clubs to the League Management Committee must be via email or in writing as applicable

c) All Correspondence from the League Management Committee must be responded to or clubs will be fined £10 one each occasion and this may result in clubs being suspended from the League until payment is received.
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18. MISCONDUCT

a) The League Management Committee shall have the power to deal with the offending Club or Official for breach of League Rules as they deem fit. All cases of misconduct of players, Officials or supporters shall be reported to the West Wales Football Association

b) If any club website, or any other social media networking services, is deemed to be offensive towards opponents, officials, the league or members of the League Management Committee then the offending club will be required to appear before the League Management Committee. If a club is unable to provide a satisfactory explanation of its conduct the incident will be referred to The West Wales Football Association

19. DISORDERLY CONDUCT

a) In order that the League and Cup Competition may proceed in a fair and sportsmanlike manner, Referees are empowered in all matches to stop the slightest attempt at rough play or intimidation. They also have the power to stop the match at any time for the same reason or where interference of supporters incites any display of unreasonable conduct, in which case the supporters at any match stopped on this account cannot claim any return of the admission money.

b) The consumption of alcohol is prohibited around the playing area of all football grounds and Clubs must also comply with any current legal legislation and FAW Directives regarding the consumption of alcohol.

20. HIRE OF GROUNDS AND ADMISSION

a) Any member of the Football Association of Wales, the West Wales Football Association or the League Management Committee shall have free access to any ground during the progress of a match upon production of his identity card of authority.

21. SUBSTITUTES

a) In accordance with current FIFA/FAW directives five substitutes may be used at any time during the match at the Club’s discretion, except to replace a player who has been suspended from the match by the Referee.
b) A maximum of five substitutes may be nominated to the Referee prior to the match. No substitutes other than the nominated players will be allowed to take part in the match.
c) All substitutions must be carried out in accordance with the Laws of the Game and with the permission of the Referee.

22. HANDBOOKS

a) The League may produce its own Handbook which inter alia may include the names and addresses of League officials, referees and participating clubs. However, Referee and Club particulars will be detailed on the League Website and changes that occur through the season will be highlighted on the News Tab as appropriate.

23. ALTERATIONS TO RULES

a) Alterations shall not be made to these Rules except at a Special Meeting convened for that purpose by the League Secretary during the first week of March. All proposed alterations to Rules to be in the hands of the League Secretary by 15th February in each Season. Alterations of Rules shall not be deemed to be carried unless by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. Alterations which are carried will become operative once ratified by the West Wales FA.

24. NON-ATTENDANCE AT HEARINGS

a) Clubs failing to attend disciplinary case hearings for any breach of League Rules when called upon to do so shall be liable to fines as the League Management Committee may direct.

25. MATTERS NOT PROVIDED FOR

a) The League Management Committee shall deal with matters not provided for in these Rules.

5th March 2019 
CUP AND PLATE RULES

1. All Clubs must participate in the League Cup competition. The name of the Cup will be The West Wales Youth League Cup. Each Club will pay an entrance fee of £5.00. The League Rules shall apply equally to the League Cup (and Plate) competitions unless otherwise varied by the following Rules.

2. MATCH FORMAT

a) Each match to be played on a knock-out basis.
b) If the result after normal time is a draw, an extra 10, 20 or 30 minutes of equal halves (i.e. 5, 10 or 15 minutes each way) may be played at the discretion of the referee, dependent upon light factors, weather conditions etc.
c) If the scores are level after extra time, the match will be decided by the use of penalty kicks.
d) If penalty kicks cannot be taken, the result shall be decided by the toss of a coin.

3. In the case of any player being found ineligible, the Club playing him must be adjudged to have lost the match. Any Club leaving the field of play before the expiration of the match must be adjudged to have lost the match. The League Management Committee will deal with any Club and players guilty of the above offences as it deems fit.

4. MATCH ARRANGEMENTS

a) The Club which is first drawn in the ballot shall play on their home ground.
b) In the event of the ground of the first drawn Club not being available on the conference date and no other pitch is available; the fixture must be played on the opponent’s ground. A minimum of 72 hours’ notice is required to transfer the fixture.
c) In the event of such a re-arranged fixture not being played due to bad weather, the match reverts to the ground of the original Home Club.
d) Postponements or replays will take place on the following week.
e) Should a match be postponed on two occasions the fixture shall be reversed, with home advantage being awarded to the visiting team. This will continue until the fixture is played.
f) All matches are to be played on conference dates. However, a match can be played BEFORE a conference date provided both clubs and the League Fixture Secretary are in agreement.
g) Finals are to be played on a neutral ground.

5. Referee and Assistant Referee fees will be as for League matches, except for the Final tie when they will be presented with suitable mementos.

6. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

a) All players must be registered by the last working day before the match date. In the case of postponed matches, only those who were eligible on the date originally chosen shall be allowed to play.

b) A player can only play for one club in any West Wales Youth League knockout competition in any season.

c) For the avoidance of doubt, that means a player who has played for one club in the Cup competition that season cannot then play for another club in the Plate in the same season (or vice versa).

d) For Semi-Final and Final ties players must have played at least 4 matches for that Club in this League during the current Season. This may only be varied by the League Management Committee.

e) Reference League Rule 8 regarding Team Sheets and result notification.

7. Any club failing to fulfil a cup fixture may result in clubs being suspended from the current competition and future cup competitions.

8. If time permits, the League Management Committee may arrange a second “knockout” competition. This will be called the “West Wales Youth League Plate”.. Entry to the West Wales Youth League Plate competition will be restricted to teams who were knocked out either in the Preliminary Round (if one is staged) or the First Round of the West Wales Youth League Cup competition.

9. DISORDERLY CONDUCT

a) In order that the League and Cup Competition may proceed in a fair and sportsmanlike manner, Referees are empowered in all matches to stop the slightest attempt at rough play or intimidation. They also have the power to stop the match at any time for the same reason or where interference of supporters incites any display of unreasonable conduct, in which case the supporters at any match stopped on this account cannot claim any return of the admission money.

b) The consumption of alcohol is prohibited around the playing area of all football grounds and Clubs must also comply with any current legal legislation and FAW Directives regarding the consumption of alcohol.

5th March 2019