1. Nomenclature and Constitution
a) This combination of football teams shall be designated the Southern Area Christian Football League.
b) All teams shall be duly affiliated to a recognised County Football Association and their names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on Form “D” to the Surrey County Football Association.
c) The League must receive the sanction of the Surrey County Football Association (to whom it must be affiliated) and the constituent teams may be grouped in divisions.
d) County receipt (affiliation) numbers must be sent to the League Secretary by June 8 each season.
e) The league will be administered by the League Council, which will consist of the
Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer
f) At the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, a majority of the delegates present shall have the power to decide or adjust the constitutions of the divisions at their discretion.
g) Reference to “League” and “SACFL” means the Southern Area Christian Football League.
2. Application
a) Membership shall be restricted to clubs who represent a church/fellowship or other Christian organisation.
b) Two or more church/fellowship or other Christian organisations may amalgamate to form a team, at the League Council’s discretion.
c) It is the intention of the League that it will exist as a “Christian” League. However this refers to the evangelistic aims and expected standard of behaviour on and off the pitch and should not restrict teams from using players of any beliefs or religions.
d) All team leaders must be regular and active members of the church/organisation they represent and provide written approval from that body.
e) The number of teams to be entered for the season shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting.
f) Applications to join the league by new clubs will be considered at the Annual General Meeting.
g) All new teams must fully comply with all conditions and rules of the league and may be interviewed before a final decision on acceptance is made.
3. Officers
The Officers of the League shall be the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Fixtures Secretaries, Results Secretaries, Information Secretary, Disciplinary Committee, Referees Secretary to be elected annually at the AGM. The League Council shall comprise the Chairman, Secretary & Treasurer.
4. League Management
a) The League shall be governed in accordance with the Rules, regulations, Bye-Laws and Practices of the Football Association by a Council to be called the League Council and composed of the 3 Officers who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
b) Retiring Officers shall be eligible for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers shall be nominated in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the AGM. Names of those nominated shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the above for any office, nominations may be received at the AGM.
c) The Council shall meet as often as they deem necessary.
d) The funds of the League shall be deposited in a UK Bank Account in the name of the League. All accounts over £10 to be paid by cheque which shall bear the signatures of any two of the following Officers: Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer.
e) The Council may appoint an Emergency Committee and/or such other sub-committees as they may consider necessary and may delegate all or any of their powers to such committees.
f) The Council may call upon each Club to contribute equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the end of the season.
g) The Council shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the League and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the League, including any not provided for by the rules when a charge of disrepute may be made. Also where necessary acting prior to an action which may be taken by the County FA.
h) All decisions of the Council shall be binding subject to the right of Appeal (in accordance with Rule 12 e ). Decisions must be notified in writing to all concerned within 7 days.
i) Two members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the League.
j) The Council, as it may deem necessary, shall have the power to fill any vacancies that may occur including any vacancies in the constitution.
k) All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of the notification of imposition (unless otherwise ordered). Fines not paid within 21 days will be doubled and Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this rule shall be liable to such penalties as the Council may impose.
l) A Club failing to be represented at a Council Meeting or General Meeting, by a Christian Leader, when ordered to do so shall be liable to a minimum fine of £5 unless a satisfactory reason is given. Not less than seven days’ notice shall be given of any meeting.
m) A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Council within 21 days of receipt of notice of such order or within 21 days of an operative date specified in that order, shall be suspended until the order has been complied with and a reason for the delay has been furnished to the Secretary, who shall submit it to the Council for their adjudication.
n) Club Secretaries are responsible for dealings between League and Club. Changes affecting names, addresses and /or contact details of Club Secretaries must be notified in writing immediately to the League Secretary and the County Association to which the Club is affiliated.
o) A Club failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the League shall be liable to be fined a minimum of £5 or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Council.
5. Annual General Meeting
a) The AGM shall be held no later than 30 June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted:
i) Minutes of the preceding AGM confirmed, & business arising there from dealt with
ii) Presentation and adoption of the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts.
iii) Election of new Clubs
iv) Constitution of the League for the ensuing season
v) Election of Officers, League Council and Auditors
vi) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given)
vii) Other business of which due notice shall have been given.
b) A copy of the Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club and all officers of the league at least 7 days prior to meeting.
c) A signed copy of the duly-certified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Surrey County Football Association within 7 days of its adoption by the AGM.
d) Each Club shall be allowed to send 2 delegates to all General Meetings. All delegates attending meetings must be Christians who attend the Church or Christian Organisation that they are representing. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only.
e) Clubs who have withdrawn their membership of the league during the season being concluded (or ejected) or who are not continuing membership shall be entitled to attend, but shall vote only on matters relating to the season concluded.
f) Officers & League Council members shall be entitled to attend & vote at all General Meetings.
g) All voting shall be conducted by a show of hands unless a ballot is demanded by at least one-third of the delegates present, or the Chairman so decides.
h) Fees for membership of the League will be agreed at the Annual General Meeting and will be paid to the League Treasurer as soon as possible after the Annual General Meeting and before the start of the season.
i) Fees for the season:-
1. League Fees shall be £100 plus £20 for Cup competitions.
2. Where a club has a second or third Team playing in the League the League Fee for the additional team shall be £50 plus £10 for Cup Competitions. (Note: For the purpose of clarification – if both teams qualify for the same Cup competition, the cup fee is only payable by one side as the Rule 18 (h) states that a Club cannot have two teams competing in the same cup competition).
3. Teams playing in the Veterans Division the Fee shall be £25 to include both League and Cup Competitions.
j) Failure to pay League or Cup Competition Fees will result in all fixtures being declared as forfeited and awarded to the opposition until the fees are paid. In such circumstances goals will not be awarded. Once the Fees have been paid in full, the Team shall be permitted to continue its matches but shall not be permitted to replay games that have been forfeited under this rule.
6. Qualification of Players
a) Any player is eligible for a Club provided he has not played for another Club within the League. Any transfers between Clubs must be approved by the League Council.
b) A player may only be transferred between Clubs in the League once per season.
c) No player can be transferred to another Club until he has discharged any debts due to his previous Club.
d) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any championship or promotion or relegation deciding match, or cup semi-final, unless he has played at least 2 games for that team in this League in the current season. Unless it is a Christian Leader who needs to play as no other leader is available. If a player is ineligible for a cup semi-final he remains so for a subsequent cup final.
e) Any team playing an ineligible player/s shall be fined £10, and where applicable the match and points shall be awarded to their opponents. In such circumstances goals will not be awarded.
f) A player may not be transferred within the League or play for the first time for a Club after the end of February, unless specifically approved in advance by the League Council.
g) A club shall keep a list of the players who play for it and a record of all the games in which they have played and shall produce such records upon demand by the Council.
h) A player must be at least 35 years of age on the date of the match to qualify as a “Veteran” to be eligible to play in the Veteran’s Division or in any Cup games that includes the Veteran’s Division.
i) Each team shall be permitted to include a maximum of two players in their match squad who are under 35 years but not younger that 30 years on the date of the match.
7. Club Colours, Club Name
a) Every Club must register its colours with the league and County FA who shall decide as to their suitability.
b) Any team not playing in their normal registered colours must inform the opposition at least 5 days before a match of the colours in which they will play.
c) In the event of a colour clash the away team is to change.
d) Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off will be fined £5
e) All shirts are to be numbered on the back, minimum height 9 inches.
f) All Clubs are encouraged to play under the name of their Church or Christian Organisation.
8. Playing Season, Kick-off times, Match Rules
a) All Matches are to be played in accordance with the Laws of the game as settled by the International Football Association Board.
b) Club Secretaries are to forward all home pitch dates available to them to the Fixtures Secretary by July 30. Team’s failing to deliver by these deadlines shall be fined £10.
c) The Council shall have the power to decide whether a ground is suitable for matches in the League and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.
d) The maximum duration of a match is to be 90 minutes (45 minutes each way) and the minimum duration shall be 60 minutes (30 minutes each way).
e) All League matches are to kick-off at 2pm, Cup matches are to start at 1.30pm.
f) Kick-off times can be changed if the request is made at least 7 days prior to the match concerned or if the League Council has given permission.
g) Any Club failing to kick-off at the appointed time shall be fined £5 up to 15 minutes late, £10 up to 30 minutes late, £20 up to 45 minutes late.
h) Clubs not in attendance 45 minutes after the agreed time of Kick-off shall be deemed absent. If there is not an acceptable explanation clubs will be fined £25 and pay reasonable expenses incurred by their opponents and the referee’s fee. The points shall be awarded to their opponents.
i) Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time if possible and must report all late starts and advise which team caused the delay.
j) The Home team must provide at least two match balls fit for play. Failure to comply with this rule a minimum fine of £5 will be imposed.
k) All matches must be played on the dates fixed by the Fixtures Secretary. Priority is given to County Association and League Cup matches. Clubs may bring forward a match with the consent of all interested parties and the Fixtures Secretary.
l) Notice of postponements of any matches must be given without delay to the Opposition, the Referee, the League Fixtures Secretary and the League Results Secretary. Failure to comply shall be dealt by the Council as they deem fit.
m) The Secretary of the home team must confirm the game and provide directions to the opposing team at least 3 days before the scheduled date if there are no changes to the League Directory information – fine £10.
n) The Secretary of the home team must confirm the game and provide directions to the opposing team at least 7 days before the scheduled date if there are any changes to the League kick-off time or pitch detailed in the League Information Directory – fine £5. The Away team shall acknowledge receipt of such particulars. Non-conformance for either team a fine of £5 shall be imposed.
o) The playing season shall be completed by a date specified, any games not played will be termed void and no points will be awarded or as the Council deems fit.
p) Eight players will constitute a team, including the goalkeeper.
q) The Council shall review all abandoned matches and shall take such action as they consider appropriate.
r) A Club may nominate 5 substitutes players, only three of whom shall be eligible to play.
s) The Fixtures Secretary shall, if necessary, have the power to order midweek games during the season, also two games of one hour’s duration each, between the same opponents on the same day.
t) Should a team be unable to fulfil a fixture, their opponents MUST be notified at least 28 days prior to the fixture. Providing this notice is given then the game may be re-arranged in consultation with the Fixtures Secretary & League Secretary.
t) To claim a forfeiture of a match a claim must be made to the League Secretary within 7 days of the match date or the claim will be lost. Any match forfeited will result in a win being declared in favour of the opposition (no score will be allocated to forfeited matches).
u) Where the away team has been unable to fulfil a fixture and has given less than 14 days’ notice, the home team may claim full reimbursement for costs of an unused pitch from the opposition. Payment is to be made within 7 days of the request being sent. (Both clubs may settle this problem between themselves. The League will only act where there is a dispute between the clubs)
v) All Clubs, Home and Away must provide an adequate First-Aid Kit. A Fine of £20 shall be imposed on each occurrence.
w) The Home Club shall provide a Referee’s whistle (£5), Referees Assistance Flags (£5), Corner Flags (£5) and goal nets (£10) and oranges for half-time. The fines applicable to each provision is shown parenthesis.
x) The Home Club Leader is to welcome the opposition after the Captains have done the toss-up and lead a prayer before kick-off.
9. Results
a) Each team must phone the match result and a fair-play score for the opposition (marks out of 10) to the Results Secretary on match day. Failure to comply with this directive shall be a £5 Fine.
b) County Cup Tie and SACFL Cup tie results must also be phoned in accordance with Rule 9a above.
10. Points to Determine League Placing
a) The League competitions will be determined by points, highest winners. Three points for a win, one for a draw. If teams are equal on points, positions will be determined by goal difference, then goals scored, then the games between the 2 teams, then most away goals in the games between the two teams and then toss of a coin.
b) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied in each division, i.e. top two teams promoted and bottom two teams relegated, except as provided hereunder:
i) Should more than 2 teams withdraw from any division after the season has started no team in that division shall be automatically relegated.
ii) No two teams from the same Club may compete in the same division.
c) Should a team withdraw from the League after playing more than 75% of its games, their record to date will stand. Points for their remaining fixtures will be awarded to their opponents without goals awarded.
11. Referees & Assistants
a) It is the responsibility of the Home Club to provide a competent Referee who shall be suitably dressed, and equipped to undertake his responsibilities.
b) The Home Club must provide the Referee before the match with:-
i. The SACFL League Guidelines Sheet
ii. An SACFL Match Report Form
ii. A written list of all players and substitutes participating in the match.
c) The Home team shall offer the Referee a match fee of a minimum of £25 and it is at the team discretion if they wish to increase this amount before the kick-off.
d) For double-header matches of one hour referees receive £15 per match. Clubs share all costs when playing a double-header, pitch, travel and referee fee.
e) The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and his decision is final.
f) If a match is not played due to the fault of one Club and the referee is present, the Club at fault should pay the referee his full match fee.
g) The Referee must be instructed by the Home Club to complete and send in the Match Report Form within 3 days of the match taking place. This is the Home Clubs responsibility and failure to comply with this Rules shall be Fined £5.
h) Each Club must provide a competent Referee’s Assistant for both the home and away matches. Compliance with this Rule is mandatory to the extent that a team shall provide the Referees Assistant even if this results in playing with less than 11 players where no alternative exists. In the event that a suitable arrangement over the appointment of an Assistant Referee is unacceptable to the Referee, the Referee has the authority to cancel the match and the match shall be forfeited by the offending Team and the points awarded to their opposition, without the award of goals and a Fine of £10 shall apply.
12. Protests & Appeals
a) Any issues pertaining to matches should be dealt with by the Team Leaders in the first instance as soon as possible after the game but not at the match itself.
b) If an issue is not resolved by the Leaders then a full report of the issue must be emailed to the League Chairman within 3 days of the match taking place.
c) If the League Chairman asks a Club for a response to an issue that has been raised it must be received by email within 3 days of the response being made. Failure to comply with this schedule shall result in a Fine of £5.
d) Any dispute occurring between clubs in the League shall be assessed by the Council whose decision shall be binding upon all parties.
e) If a Club wishes to Appeal against a Council decision it must be made in writing with a £10 non-refundable Appeal fee within 3 days of receiving the initial decision.
13. Exclusion of Clubs, Misconduct of Clubs, Officials, Players
a) The League Council shall have the powers, at any time, to exclude from further participation in the League any Club whose conduct has in their opinion been objectionable and/or contrary to the spirit and objectives of the League.
b) Any Club Official or Player found guilty of misconduct or behaving in a way that brings the League into disrepute will be punished as the League Council sees fit.
14. Trophies
a) All trophies awarded remain the property of the League and must be returned by the date requested. A Fine of £10 will apply for any delay. A Fine of £50 will apply for lost trophies.
b) Clubs withdrawing from the League shall return any League trophies they hold within 28 days, or be fined £50.
c) All Clubs are to have a representative at the League Awards Night. There is a non-attendance Fine of £10.
d) Each Club will receive a Referees Player of the Year Trophy.
e) There will be a League Player of the Year Trophy for each Division.
15. Special Meetings
a) Upon receiving a requisition signed by half of the Clubs, the Secretary shall call a General Meeting.
b) The Council may call a General Meeting at any time it shall consider it necessary. The Fine for non-attendance (By a Christian Leader only) is £10.
c) At least 7 days’ notice shall be given of all meetings under this rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meetings.
16. Alteration of Rules
a) Rules may be altered by the League Council as they see fit.
b) All rule changes must be advised to the Clubs at the subsequent General Meeting and be open for discussion and voting.
17. General
a) All clubs are reminded that they not only represent the Church/Fellowship/Christian Organisation to which they are attached, but also the good name of the Southern Area Christian Football League.
b) Any matters not catered for in the League Rules shall be decided by reference to the Laws of Association Football and/or at the discretion of the League Council.
c) All decisions with regard to League Rules, Scores, League Tables, Discipline and Appeals will be considered by the League Council whose decisions will be final and binding on all league teams.
d) Any club found to be in contravention of any League Rules will be dealt with by the League Council as they see fit.
18. Cup Competitions
a) The SACFL Cups shall be designated the:-
SOUTHERN AREA CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP and be competed for by teams in Division One and Division Two and the:-
SOUTHERN AREA CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHALLENGE TROPHY is competed for by ‘B’ Teams, Teams in Division 3 and teams in the Veteran’s Division.
b) All rules that apply to the League shall also apply to the cup competitions, unless specified otherwise by the League Council
c) The draw for the competition shall be made under the supervision of the League Council
d) Once a player has represented a team in a cup competition, he will become “Cup-tied” and cannot play for another team in the event of being transferred during the season.
e) The Annual General Meeting will decide on what basis the competition will be played.
f) The finals will be played at a ground and a date to be fixed by the League Council
For all ties, if the scores are level at the end of the fixture, extra time of 15 minutes each way will be played. If there is still no result, the winner shall be decided on penalty kicks.
h) In the event that a Club has two teams that qualify for the same cup competition, then that Club shall be represented by only one team.
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THESE RULES ARE COMPILED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SYSTEM IN ORDER TO RUN THE LEAGUE. MAKE SURE YOU ARE FULLY AWARE OF ALL THE RULES. IGNORANCE OF THEM WILL BE NO EXCUSE.
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Issue 02 – DALAUG07
League Rules