20 - Playing Season, Conditions of Play, Times of Kick-Off, Postponements, Substitutes

(A) All Competition Matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board or, for Mini-Soccer, and 9v9 football, the Rules as set down by the FA.

Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their Grounds in a playable condition. All Competition Matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home Team a Competition Match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to be changed.

The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for Competition Matches and to order the Club concerned to play its Competition Matches on another ground.

Artificial Football Turf Pitches (3G) are allowed in this Competition provided they meet the required performance standards and are listed on the FA’s Register of Football Turf Pitches - https://footballfoundation.org.uk/3gpitch-register. All Football Turf Pitches used must be tested (by a FIFA accredited test institute) every three years and the results passed to the FA. The FA will give a decision on the suitability for use and add the pitch to the Register.
                                                                                                                                       
The home Club is also responsible for advising Participants of footwear requirements when confirming match arrangements in accordance with Rule 20 (C).

Overhead netting is allowed for 5v5 and 7v7 mini soccer if the overhead netting height is at a minimum of 6m. No overhead netting is allowed for 9v9 and 11v11 affiliated matches.

Overhead wires used to support pitch divider netting are ideally removed for affiliated matches but if they cannot be removed then discretion is given to the match official to restart the match in accordance of the laws of the game.

All Competition Matches shall have a duration as set out below unless a shorter time is mutually arranged by the two Clubs in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the Competition Match, and in any event shall be of equal halves. Competition Matches should be played in accordance with the Laws appropriate to the relevant age group, as laid down by the FA, as detailed below.

Competition Matches for age groups from U7 to U10 will be played in halves.

For round robin/trophy events, the maximum duration of play per half cannot be exceeded, but the minimum duration of play per half may be adjusted.
For trophy events, the Competition may award mementos.

The times of kick-off shall be fixed at the AGM and can only be altered by the mutual consent of the two competing Clubs prior to the scheduled date of the Competition Match with written notification given to the Competition at least [7] days prior.                                                                                                                                        
Referees must order Competition Matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition.

The home Team must provide goal nets, corner flags and at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

(B) Except by permission of the Management Committee all Competition Matches must be played on the dates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The FA and parent County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a Competition Match with the consent of the [League Age Group] Secretary. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. In the case of a revised fixture date, the Clubs must be given by the Competition 5 clear days’ notice of the Competition Match (unless otherwise mutually agreed).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Clubs will be allowed to close two [2] dates during the season per registered team in the competition. Prior notification of these dates must be given in writing at least 28 days prior to the proposed closed date; failure to do this may result in the date being unable to be closed and possible further action from the management committee, as per rule 20 (E). All proposed dates must be received as prescribed above before the 31st March; any received after that date may be refused by the management committee.

(C) An Officer of the home Club must give notice of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the Ground, time of kick-off and kit colours (including goalkeeper) to the Match Officials and an Officer of the opposing Club at least [4] clear days prior to the playing of the Competition Match. The opposing club must confirm receipt and give notice of its kit colours (including goalkeeper) at least [4] days prior to the playing of the Competition match. If either is not provided, the relevant Club shall seek such details and report the circumstances to the Competition. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.  

                                                                                                                                     
(D) The minimum number of Players that will constitute a Team for a Competition Match is as follows: Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

(E) (i) In competitions where points are awarded, home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall decide whether it should either; 

                                                                                                                                       
a. award the points from the competition match in question to the Club’s opponents (without the awarding of goals) OR
b. order the competition match to be rescheduled, The Management Committee shall also have the power to order the rescheduled Competition Match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent Club’s ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances.

In addition, the Management Committee may at its discretion order one or more of the following (if appropriate);

a. impose a fine (in accordance with the Fines Tariff
b. deduct points from the defaulting Club
c. order the defaulting Club to pay any reasonable expenses incurred by the opponents.    

Clubs must be given by the competition 7 clear days’ notice of a competition match

(ii) Any Club unable to fulfil a fixture or where a Competition Match has been postponed for any reason must, without delay, give notice to the [League Age Group Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary providing, with a minimum of 2 hours notice] and once agreed with the officers will be advised of the next steps.

A match postponement form must also be completed and sent to the Age Group Secretary within 3 days of the fixtured date. Failure to comply with this result in a fine according to the Fines Tariff.

(iii) In the event of a Competition Match not being played or being abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it should be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed by the two Clubs and approved by the Competition. Failing such agreement and notification to the Competition within [7] days, the Competition shall have the power to order the Match to be played on or before a given date. Where it is to the
advantage of the Competition. The Management Committee shall also be empowered to order the score at the time of an abandonment to stand.

Providing gate money is taken and retained, the visiting Club shall receive their actual standard class rail or bus fares or the equivalent for [16] persons, or car allowance at [30] p per mile for transporting [16] persons, or hire charge of a coach (receipt to be submitted). The residue (if any) to be equally divided between the two Clubs after deducting the cost of advertising, printing, posting, police, and Match Officials' charges. The home Club shall take the whole of the proceeds of the second Competition Match.

Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

(iv) The Management Committee shall review all Competition Matches abandoned in cases where it is consequent upon the conduct of either or both Teams. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, the Management Committee 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 Competition 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 Competition Match to the opponent.

In cases where a Competition Match has been abandoned owing to the conduct of both Teams or their Club member(s), the Management Committee shall rule that neither Team will be awarded any points for that Competition Match, and it shall not be replayed. No fine(s) can be applied by the Management Committee for an abandoned Competition Match.

                                                                                                                               
(v) The Management Committee shall review any Competition Match that has taken place where either or both Teams were under a suspension imposed upon them by the FA or Affiliated Association. In each case the Team that was under suspension would be dealt with in the same manner as if they had participated with ineligible players in accordance with Rule 18 (N) (i) above. Where both Teams were under suspension the Competition Match must be declared null and void and shall not be replayed.

(vi) Where a Competition Match has been abandoned for any reason both Clubs must, within 24 hours, give notice to the Competition. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

(F) A club may, at its discretion, and in accordance with the Laws of the Game, use a maximum of five (5) substitute players in any match in the League’s Competitions; those substitutes may be selected from a maximum of five (5) players as listed on the team's teamsheet. A Player who has been substituted becomes a substitute and may replace a Player at any time, subject to the substitution being carried out in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of ssociation Football the Game.

For Mini-Soccer, any number of substitutions may be used at any time with the permission of the referee. Entry onto the field of play will only be allowed during a stoppage in play. A Player who has been replaced may return to play as a substitute for another Player. Team must not have a match day squad greater than double the size of its team in an age group. In youth football only, the Referee shall be informed of the names and the substitute players not later than [15] minutes before the start of the Competition Match, and a player not so named may not take part in that Competition Match. A Player who has been named as a substitute before the start of that Competition Match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a Player in that Competition Match within the meaning of Rule 18 of this Competition.

(G) For U7 to U10 games the half time interval shall be of [5] minutes’ duration, but not exceed 10 minutes. The half time interval must be agreed between the referee and club officers.

For U11 to U16 games the half time interval shall be of [10] minutes’ duration, but it shall not exceed 15 minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.

                                                                                                                                       
(H) The Teams taking part in Under 7s to Under 10 or Youth Football (U11 to U16) shall identify a team captain who may wear an armband and shall have a responsibility to offer support in the management of the on-field discipline of their teammates. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

Pitch setup – Club Officials and players shall setup on one side of the pitch with spectator’s setup on the opposite side of the pitch. Clubs will make sure that a respect barrier or similar line (cones etc.) are installed to prevent spectators, coaches, and players from encroaching on the field of play.      

                                                                       
U7 to U10 teams – U7 to U10 teams can use the FA Powerplay Rule as described here: https://www.tdyl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mini-Soccer-Handbook-2024.pdf                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                       
More information can be found on www.tdyl.co.uk    

                                                                                                                                   
(I) Where a suspension imposed in relation to a Football Debt (as defined under the Football Debt Recovery Regulations) upon a Club by The FA or Affiliated Association is not lifted, and/or the Club does not provide confirmation from The FA or Affiliated Association that such suspension is lifted to the Competition Secretary by [Time] [1 or 2] days before a fixture, that fixture will be treated as an unfulfilled fixture and dealt with in accordance with Rule 20(E)(i).                                                     

(J) Powerplay Rule for U11s - The powerplay rule will take effect within an U11 game if a team is losing by a 5-goal difference a further additional player can be added so that 9 v 9 becomes 10 v 9. However, if the goal difference reduces to less than 5 then a player needs to be removed, returning to 9 v 9. This does not need to be the player that was added. Should the losing goal difference increase from 5 to 10 then a further additional player can be added so that 10 v 9 becomes 11 v 9.