MID WILTS YOUTH AND MINOR LEAGUE

NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

1.(A) This Competition shall be designated the Mid Wilts Youth & Minor Football League/Cup and known as the Wiltshire Times & News Series and shall consist of not more than 54 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.

All such Member Clubs must 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 Wiltshire County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be within a 25 mile radius of Melksham.

This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Wiltshire County Football Association(s)and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 16 in number.

Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition 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 Competition.

The competition will provide 11-a-side football for players who have attained the age of 10 as at midnight 31st August in a playing season and Mini-Soccer for players who have attained the age of 6 years but not the age of 10 years as at midnight on 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 divisions at their discretion. When necessary this Rule shall take precedence over Rule 12.

ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT

2.(A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional team(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary by the 1st of June and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £10.00 per team which 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. Clubs may apply to join the League even if it is their intention only to field a team or teams in the Mini Soccer Divisions. When Rule 12(B) is applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.

(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £25.00 per Team (playing 11-a-side football and £25.00 per Team playing Mini-Soccer payable on or before the 31st of July in each year.

(C) Each Club shall within 14 days of election pay a Deposit of £30.00 which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee. Such deposits to be kept in a separate account.

(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid.

(E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 31st of July each year of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, situation of its Headquarters, Ground, Dressing Rooms and Colours failing which they shall be fined as per schedule of charges. Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition.

(F) Should the deposit sum in the Schedule of charges be increased by vote at the AGM, existing member clubs shall increase their existing deposit with the League to the value of the new deposit figure prior to the start of the following season.

(G) Each Member Club must advise the League Secretary in writing, before the 15th of July each year of any changes made, since the constitution of the league at the AGM, to the number of teams they are entering in the league in the upcoming season. Fixtures will be formed on the basis of this information, and no teams can be submitted after this date.

N.B. The Mini Soccer divisions are separate competitions and a different date is applicable.

OFFICERS

3.The Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman,Treasurer, Secretary, Mini Soccer Secretary, Fixture Secretary (11 a-side), Fixture Secretary (Mini Soccer), Results(11 a-side)/Registration Secretary, Results Secretary (U9’s & U10’s), Match Report Secretary (U7’s & U8’s), Referees Appointment Secretary, Disciplinary Secretary, Minutes Secretary, Publicity Manager and auditors to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers).

MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION

4.(A)The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and 9 members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The League may appoint Life Members who shall be entitled to attend all meetings.

(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 30th of April 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 on the first Thursday of each month or 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, passing on any relevant information to Sub-Committees for their deliberation and Sub-Committee Secretary to deal with. Records of proceedings shall be kept by the League Secretary including those of sub-committee meetings.

(E) Not used.

POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

5.(A) The Management Committee may appoint such other sub-committees as they may consider necessary and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary to such committees. The decisions of all such committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.

(B) Subject to the permission of the Wiltshire 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 Competition 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 6(e)).

(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 must 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 must be notified in writing to those concerned within seven days.

(F) Five Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the Competition.

(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. Any Management Committee Member not attending three consecutive Committee meetings, without good and valid reason, or failing to attend more than 50% of Committee Meetings convened in any one season, without good and valid reason, may be removed from the Committee by majority vote of the Committee. Written notice of such action must be served to all Committee members at least 21 days in advance of any such vote being taken.

(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 Competition, 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 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification. Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose.

(J) A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or match may have any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.

(K) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.

(L) A Club failing to be represented at a General Meeting without satisfactory reason, may be fined, as per schedule of charges, and failing to be represented at three consecutive meetings without satisfactory reasons being given shall be further dealt with as the Management Committee may impose.

(M) A Club failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the League shall be liable to a fine, other penalty or suspension (until the fine/correspondence has been received by the league) at the discretion of the Management Committee (subject to Rule 16).

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

6.(A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 30th of June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted:-

(i)To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.

(ii)To consider any business arising therefrom.

(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 Competition 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 seven days prior to the meeting, and to the Wiltshire County Football Association(s).

(C) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Wiltshire County Football Association(s) within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.

(D) Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than seven days’ notice shall be given of any Meeting.

(E) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition 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 one third of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.

(G) Not used

(H) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined as per schedule of charges.

(I)Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.

AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

7. The Chairman and the Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete.

"We, A,_____ _____________of _________________________(Chairman) and B________________________of _________________________(Secretary) of the _________________________________Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the ______________________Competition 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 Competition, subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16.

Any alteration of the Chairman and /or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the Wiltshire County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.

(Note: The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of officers and members).

QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

8.(A) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition. No player registered with a F.A. Premier League or Football League Academy will be permitted to play in this competition. A Player registered with a Centre of Excellence may only play in this Competition subject to the Regulations of the Programme for Excellence.

8.(b) A registered youth playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible has:-

(i)Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by his/her parent or guardian and by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the (Registrations) Secretary three days prior to playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing. The registration document must incorporate any known serious medical conditions of the player and emergency contact details of the players parents or guardians. These details must be available at matches and training events the player attends within the management of the Club or Competition.

All TEAM registrations (a minimum of seven players including the goal keeper or a minimum of eight without the goal keeper) should be completed and delivered to the relevant Registrations Secretary between the 15th of July and the 15th of August of the forthcoming season. Subsequent individual registrations must be delivered to the relevant Registrations Secretary no later than three days prior to playing. The registration counterfoil and identity card must have been received by the club prior to the player playing.

NB. Club Officials will exchange league identity cards prior to commencement of any match. Any player not in possession of his/her league identity card will not be allowed to participate in the match in question. Any dispute will be dealt with by the management committee upon receipt of a written complaint from the club secretary to the league secretary within seven days of the match.

Registration forms may also be submitted to the (Registrations) Secretary by facsimile machine prior to the player playing. The registration document must incorporate a current passport-size photograph of the player seeking registration together with proof of the player’s date of birth.

The qualification dates for the competition shall be as follows:

Mini-Soccer

Under 7 – the player must have attained the age of 6 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season but must be under the age of 7 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 8 – the player must be under the age of 8 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 9 – the player must be under the age of 9 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 10 – the player must be under the age of 10 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

In accordance with the foregoing qualifications a player in the above age ranges must not play in a match where any other player is older or younger by 2 years or more.

Youth Football

Under 11 – the player must have attained the age of 10 but must be under the age of 11by midnight 31st August in the playing season.

Under 12 – the player must be under the age of 12 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 13 – the player must be under the age of 13 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 14 – the player must be under the age of 14 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 15 – the player must be under the age of 15 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 16 – the player must be under the age of 16 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 17 – the player must be under the age of 17 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

Under 18 – the player must be under the age of 18 as at midnight on 31st August in the playing season.

In accordance wth the foregoing qualifications a player under the age of 14 as at midmight on 31st August in the playing season must not play in a match where any other player is older or younger by 2 years or more.(The above qualification dates are subject to the provisions contained in FA Rule C.4(a)(v)).

8b(ii)Not used.

(C) Not used.

(D) A team shall not include any more than three players who have taken part in three or more senior competition matches during the current season. For the purpose of this Competition a senior competition(s) is one in which each of the competing teams is either the first team of a Senior Club registered as such with its County football Association, or at team (except for mini soccer teams) attached to a Club employing players under written contract.

(E) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club official may not accept such player's signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.

(F) A fee of £2.00 shall be paid for each player registered. Clubs will be billed monthly for registrations.

(G) The Management Committee shall decide all registration disputes.

(i)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 (Registrations) Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.

(ii) A Club may deregister a player on notification to the League. All documentation relating to the registration of a player must be returned to the League Secretary by the Club the player is registered to and the player wishing to be de-registered.

Note: Rule 8(h) would still apply to any deregistered player.

(H) It shall be deemed misconduct for a player to:-

(i) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred.

(ii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition 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.

(I)(i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player.

(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion who has been charge and found guilty of registration irregularities. (subject to Rule 16.).

(iii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct (subject to Rule 16). Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated conduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition.

(Note: Action under clause (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 Competition into disrepute).

(K) 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, two passport/passport size coloured photographs (as per rule 8(b) and his/her original Identity Card, to the Secretary accompanied by a fee as per schedule of charges. Such transfer shall be referred by the 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 Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven days, the 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.

In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision. Where the club a player wishes to transfer from wishes to waiver the right to implement FA Rule 19(a), a transfer form, two passport/passport size coloured photographs (as per rule 8(b)) and his/her original Identity Card and fee may be forwarded to the League Secretary duly completed by the Club the player is transferring from, the club the player is transferring to and the player.

No team may transfer more than three players per season into its squad. The Management Committee may grant dispensation under special circumstances upon written request from the Club Secretary to the League Secretary.

(L) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 31st of March except by special permission of the Management Committee. In the event a Club has more than one team in an age group, each team must be clearly designated “A” and “B” etc. In such cases, players will be registered for one team only. A players so registered will be allowed to play for his Club in a younger or older age group within the provisions of Rule 8 (B).

(M) 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. Registrations are valid for one Season only.

(N) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club with the date of registration shall be kept by the (Registrations) Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged. The players photograph’s with their signatures on their reverse shall be kept by the League Secretary.

(O) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12(A)) unless the player has played a minimum of three games for that team in this Competition in the current season.

(P)(i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible pplayer or players may have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(ii) In addition the team may have three 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 the Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.

Where a club has a reserve or any other team in any other division of the same age group in the League, players shall be registered and qualified for the appropriate team, and players may only play for the team they are registered and qualified for. Transfers will be allowed under rule 8(k). Where a club has two teams in one age group and a player plays up an age group the player may only play for the team they are registered for i.e. Hightown Utd. under 11’s Blue division and Hightown Utd. under 12’s Blue division or Hightown City under 13’s Red division and Hightown City under 14’s Red division.

Where a club enters more than one team in an age group, each team must have a distinctive nomenclature that incorporates their affiliated club name, e.g. Hightown United A and Hightown United B, or, Hightown United Colts and Hightown United Cubs. Wherever possible, additional teams will play in different divisions from their club counterparts.

(The following) Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary education):-

(Q) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations activities.

(ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Competitions).

(iii) Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older.

(Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply.)

CLUB COLOURS, CLUB NAME, QUALIFICATION OF CLUB

9.(A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 31st of July who shall decide as to their suitability. Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from 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 Competition shall notify the colours in which they will play to its opponents at least five days before the match.

If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined as per schedule of charges. The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to 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 must be numbered.

(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must seek permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.

9.(C) As a minimum, all member Clubs shall provide for each of their home eleven-a-side fixtures to be played at a ground where the following facilities are available.

1. A pitch conforming to the dimensions laid-down by FA Rules for the age group involved.

2. Changing rooms for all players, and a separate changing room for match official(s).

3. Working toilets.

4. A supply of drinking water adequate for all participants for the duration of the fixture.

PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY. TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES

10. (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 August the 15th, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.

If mutually arranged at a meeting a list of fixtures must be forwarded to the League Secretary within fourteen days of the meeting. Fixtures are deemed to be accepted unless objections are received by the Fixtures Secretary within fourteen days of their issue. Any Club failing to be represented at a fixture meeting or otherwise infringing this Rule shall be liable to be fined and the Management Committee or the Fixtures Secretary shall arrange that Club’s fixtures.

(B) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board or, for Mini-Soccer, the Laws of Mini-Soccer as set down by The Football Association.

U17 90 mins (45 mins each way) Min 80 mins Size 5 ball K.O. 2:00pm Sunday

U16 80 mins (40 mins each way) Min 70 mins Size 5 ball K.O. 2:00pm Sunday

U15 80 mins (40 mins each way) Min 70 mins Size 5 ball K.O. 2:00pm Sunday

U14 70 mins (35 mins each way) Min 60 mins Size 4 ball K.O. 2:00pm Sunday

U13 70 mins (35 mins each way) Min 60 mins Size 4 ball K.O. 2:00pm Sunday

U12 70 mins (35