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NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION

1. (A) This Competition shall be designated theApollo Doors Gateshead Youth

League.

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 ëDí to the Relative County Football Association. The

area covered by the Competition Membership shall be Durham and Northumberland.

This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the relative Football

Association(s).

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 in 31st August in a playing season.

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

(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 and must be accompanied

by an Entry Fee of £90 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.

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 £ 90 per Team playing 11-A-Side football and

£80 per Team playing Mini-Soccer payable on or before the 1st July in each year.

be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled

their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee.

(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 July 1st of its

relative County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming

Season, failing which they shall be fined £10. 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.

OFFICERS

2. The Officers of the Competition shall be the Chairman, Vice Chairman,

Treasurer, Secretary, and four Member teams to be elected at the Annual General

Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers)

MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION

3. (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 four members who shall be elected at the Annual General

Meeting.

(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 14th May 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.

to deal with business as it arises.

On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management

Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.

(D) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed

to the secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and

keep a record of its proceedings.

(E) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated officers.

POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

4. (A) The Management Committee may appoint such other subcommittees 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 relative 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 6e)

and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote there at, 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

subcommittee).

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 Committees 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) Three 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 subcommittee 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.

(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 the posting of

the written notification.

Clubs and 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 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 Annual General or

Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement

of the Competition season.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

5. (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held no later than the 14th June each

year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided at least

one third of the Members are present and entitled to vote:-

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

(ii) To consider any business arising 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/verified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts

and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the

meeting, and to the relative County Football Associations.

Accounts shall be sent to the relative County Football Association(s) within fourteen

days of its adoption by the Annual general meeting.

(D) Each Full Member Club/Team 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.

Associate Member Clubs may be represented at an annual General Meeting in the

proportion of one representative for each six or part of six Associate

Member Clubs and such representatives shall exercise the powers and rights of

Full Members at such meetings.

(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. This

provision will not apply to Clubs expelled in accordance with Rule17.

(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be

demanded by at least two thirds of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman

so decides.

(G) No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member

Club unless the individual is also appointed to vote as a representative of a group

of Associate Member Clubs.

(H) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General

Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £10.

(I) Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and

vote at an Annual General Meeting.

AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

6. 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

Clubs intends to complete.

ìWe, A,_____________ of ___________________________ (Chairman)

and B______________ of____________________________ (Secretary)

of the____________________________Football Club have been provided with a

copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Gateshead Youth League and do

hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club, 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 or secretary on the above agreement must be

notified to the relative 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

7. (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 of Excellence.

(B) A registered youth playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other

respects eligible, has:-

(1) 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 24 hours 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..

A maximum of 18 players may be registered in this way. These details

must be available at matches and training events the player attends within the

management of the Club or Competition.

The registration document must incorporate a current passport-size photograph

of the player seeking registration together with proof of the playerís 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 in 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 11 by 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.

The date of registrations for 14 and 15 will change over next two seasons.

In accordance with the foregoing qualifications a player under the

age of 14 as at midnight 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.

** Leagues are permitted to phase in the 31st August date in accordance with FA

Rules.

payment for playing, other than expenses as per Clauses, 1, 2 and 3 of Article

2 of the FIFA Regulations Governing the Status and Transfer of Players. Clubs

upon election must sign a declaration that they will conform to the said clauses

and players of such Clubs are required to sign a declaration upon Registration

that they are eligible under, and will abide by, the FIFA clauses, which are as

follows:

(i) Players who have never received any remuneration other than for the actual

expenses incurred during the course of their participation in or for any activity

connected with association football shall be regarded as amateur.

(ii) Travel and hotel expenses incurred through involvement in a match and the

costs of a playerís equipment, insurance and training may be reimbursed without

jeopardising a playerís amateur status.

(iii) Any player who has ever received remuneration in excess of the amount

stated under clause 2 in respect of participation in or an activity connected with

association football shall be regarded as non-amateur unless he has reacquired

amateur status under the terms of Art. 10.1.

(E) A player having taken part in matches in 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 playerís 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) Registration forms shall be obtained from the (Registrations) Secretary for

25p each, however each team will receive 20 free of Charge.

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

In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration

submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club

the player shall be registered. The (Registrations) Secretary shall notify the Clubs

last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.

(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 has wilfully

neglected to accurately or fully complete.

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

any player. The Management Committee shall have the power to refuse, cancel

or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion

proved guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).

(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration

of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in

question from participating in all games in the Competition. (Subject to Rule 16)

(Note: Action under Clause (2) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct

on the field of play until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association,

and then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into dispute).

(J) Subject to the Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written

contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to

shall submit a transfer form to the (Registrations) Secretary accompanied by a

fee of £5. Such transfer shall be referred by the (Registrations) Secretary to the

Club for which the player is registered. Should the Club object to the transfer it

should state its objections in writing to the (Registrations) Secretary and to the

player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt

of the Clubís 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 as soon as he has

received the completed transfer form.

In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the

Management Committee for a decision.

(K) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the

Competition after 31st March in each season except by special permission of the

Management Committee.

(L) 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.

In the event a Club has more than one team in an age group, each team must be

clearly designated ìAî and ìBî etc. In such cases, players will be registered for one

team only. A player so registered will be allowed to play for his Club in a younger

or older age group within the provision of Rule 8 (B)

(M) 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 agreed.

(N) 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 ______ games for that team in this Competition in the current

season.

(P) (i) Any team playing an unregistered player or otherwise ineligible player or

players shall have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and will

be fined at the discretion of the Management.

(ii) In addition the team shall 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 this Rule to the opponents in the

match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.

(The following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time

secondary education):-

(Q) (i) 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 18 the provisions contained in Football Association

Rules will apply.)

CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME

8. (A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirt and shorts with the Secretary

by 1st July each season 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

three 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 kickoff by not having a change will be fined £10.

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 Football Association and from the Management

Committee,

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.

Any Team failing to be represented at a fixture meeting or otherwise infringing

this Rule shall be liable for a fine of £10 and the Management Committee or the

(Fixtures) Secretary shall arrange that Clubís 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.

Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable

condition. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the

Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to

be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to

be changed.

The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and

facilities are suitable for matches in the competition and to order the Club

concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.

All matches shall have a duration as set out below unless a shorter time (not less

than 35 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with

the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be

of equal halves.

For Mini-Soccer ñ The duration of play shall be as follows: for under 7 and under

8 age groups, 15 minutes each way and for under 9 and under 10, 15 minutes

each way.

For Youth football ñ The Duration of play shall be as follows unless it is mutually

agreed by all parties to reduce to time. For under 11 and under 12, 30 minutes

each half; for under 13, 14, 35 minutes each half and under 15, 40 minutes each

half.

The minimum time for any game will not be less than 20 minutes each half

for players in the under 14 age group and below and 25 minutes each half for

all other age groups.

The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the A.G.M. or the Management

Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be

fined a sum not exceeding £10.

Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must

report all late starts to the Competition.

The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee

shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. The size

of football to be used shall be: For Mini-Soccer, size 3 for players in the under

7 and 8 categories; size 4 for under 9s, under 10s, under 11s and under 12s;
size 5 for all other age groups. Goal nets must be used.

played on the dates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football

Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All other

matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring

forward a match with the consent of the (Fixtures) Secretary.

(B) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars

of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match

officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least 5 clear days prior to

the playing of the match. The away Club shall seek and acknowledge receipt

of such particulars.