NAME AND OBJECT
1. The League shall be called the Dumfries Sunday Amateur Football League
(thereafter called the League) and shall be affiliated to the Scottish Amateur
Football Association.
2. The object of the League shall be to foster and promote Association Football
in Dumfries and surrounding districts as played by Amateurs.
MEMBERSHIP
3. All Clubs playing in this League must be members of the Scottish Amateur
Football Association. An Amateur Club is one all of whose players are Amateurs
as defined by the Scottish Association.
4. a) All member clubs must submit a Continuation of Membership Form to the
League Secretary at or before each Annual General Meeting. Any club
failing to return the Form by the due date will be deemed to have resigned
from the League. Objections by any party against a clubs continued membership
must be lodged with the League Secretary prior to the date of the
AGM. Membership of such clubs will only be granted by the majority vote
in a ballot being in favour.
4. b) New Applicants - Clubs seeking membership to the League must submit
an Application Form to the League Secretary no later than 7 days prior to
the Annual General Meeting. The Application Form must be endorsed by
the signatures of the Secretaries of two member clubs, such clubs having
been members for at least two full seasons. Properly returned applications
will be put to the AGM for consideration and membership will be granted
by a majority of votes being in favour.
4. c) Any new Club or existing Club that has to re-apply for membership will have
a bond place on them to the value of £200.00. If any existing clubs fails in
a season (see rule 26) then the bond set on such club will be £250. This
bond to be returned to the club at the following A.G.M. provided that they
have reached the criteria laid down at the time of joining the association
i.e. The Dumfries Sunday A.F.L. Constitution.
5. a) League Subscription fees shall be proposed by the Executive Committee
and put to the AGM for ratifi cation. The subscription shall include membership
fee to the SAFA, payment of Public Liability Insurance and entry
into all the League’s domestic competitions, except the annual 5-a-side
competition and also Players/Club Insurance. The subscription fee must
be paid in full no later than 7 days after the date of the Annual General
Meeting and any club failing to pay in that time will be deemed to have
resigned from the League.
5 b) All members club to pay £50 by the 25th May each season,the amount
paid will be deducted from league membership.
6. Clubs wishing to change their name must intimate this at the A.G.M.
MANAGEMENT
7. An Executive Committee shall be elected at each AGM consisting of the following
offi ce-bearers; a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a League Secretary, a
Treasurer, a Match Secretary. One person may hold more than one office. Any
vacancy occuring during the season shall be filled by nomination by the remaining
Executive Committee. No Club may have more than one representative
on the Executive Committee.
The duties of the Executive Committee shall be to:-
a) Advise the General Committee on all matters involving the general policy
of the League.
b) Deal with routine League business.
c) To form the Disciplinary Committee and to undertake other such duties as
may be deemed necessary. The Executive Committee shall meet as the
occasion demands. The quorum at Executive Committee Meetings shall
be three.
8. Management shall be vested in a General Committee consisting of the Executive
Committee and one representative from each Club (except where a
club has a member present on the Executive Committee). Each Club shall
be entitled to send a maximum of 2 representatives to all General Committee
Meetings but shall have only one vote. The General Committee shall meet at
least bi-monthly on dates decided by the Executive Committee. The quorum
at General Committee Meetings shall be seven.
9. At all meetings the Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman shall
preside. In the absence of such offi ce-bearers the chair shall be taken by
another member of the Executive Committee. At all meetings the Chairman,
or acting Chairman shall have both a deliberative and a casting vote. Each
Executive Committee member and each Club representative shall have one
vote. Executive Committee members and the offical Club representatives only
shall be allowed to speak and vote during meetings.
10. Clubs not represented at General Meetings will be fined the sum of £5 and
each subsequent failure to attend will incur double the previous fine up to a
maximum fine of £20.
11. Fines for non-attendance or fines imposed by the Disciplinary Committee must
be paid to the Treasurer no later than 14 days following the date of the meeting
at which the fine was incurred. Failure to pay in that time will result in the
automatic debt suspension of the club and officials with the debt suspension
being raised at noon on the first Monday after the full amount owed has been
paid. Fixtures allocated to debt suspended clubs shall not be played and the
debt suspended club shall forfeit the result(s) of such match(es).
12. Communication to any offi ce-bearer where a reply is required must be accompanied
by a stamped addressed envelope.
FINANCING THE LEAGUE
13. The League shall be financed by subscription from its member Clubs. Fines
collected and receipts obtained at Cup Finals shall go to League funds. Sponsorship
shall be allowed from such sources as deemed suitable by the General
Committee.
14. Expenses shall be paid to offi ce-bearers or members as may be agreed by the
Executive Committee.
15. Payments made by cheque shall bear the signatures of the Treasurer and one
other nominated Executive Committee member. League funds shall be lodged
in such Banks and accounts as approved by the Executive Committee.
16. The fi nancial year shall run from the 1st of May until the 30th April the following
year. The Treasurer shall circulate a copy of the Leagues Balance of Accounts
to all Clubs prior to the AGM.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
17. The Annual General Meeting of the League shall be held no later than the last
day in June each year on a date decided by the Executive Committee. The
venue shall be Dumfries. The General Secretary shall send notice of the date
of the Annual General Meeting to all Club Secretaries a minimum of 14 days
in advance and shall include any notices or proposals to be considered at the
meeting.
18. The Executive Committee, and a maximum of two representatives from each
club (which shall include any club member present on the Executive Committee)
only shall be allowed to attend, but each club shall have only one vote and the
terms of rule 9 and 10 shall apply.
19. The order of business at all Annual General Meetings shall be:-
a) Minutes of previous AGM.
b) General Secretarys Report.
c) Treasurers Report.
d) Match Secretaries Report.
e) Alteration to Constitution.
f) Determination of fees, subscription, expenses, etc.
g) Election of Executive Committee.
h) Election of delegate to SAFA.
i) Admission of new Clubs.
j) Any other competent business.
PLAYING SEASON, DIVISIONS, ETC
20. The Executive Committee shall determine the dates of commencement and
conclusion of the playing season.
21. No football shall be played by any Club in membership after the 31st May in any
season unless permission has been granted by the Scottish Amateur Football
Association.
22. Clubs shall be allowed two free Sundays prior to 31st March in any season,
with individual Clubs giving the Match Secretary 14 days notice, in writing, of
the dates that they prefer.
23. The number of divsions and teams per division will be decided at each AGM.
In the event of there being two or more divisions, the bottom two clubs in each
division will be relegated to the division below, providing that such a division
exists, and the top two clubs in each division shall be promoted to the division
above. A club withdrawing from the league after the end of the playing season
and not due for relegation shall not be taken into consideration in this respect,
and in such cases an additional club shall be invited to make up the numbers
in the higher division, should the vacancy not be filled then the number of clubs
to be relegated shall be reduced.
Clubs withdrawing from the league during the playing season shall be deemed
to relegation at the end of that season. New clubs shall enter the lowest
division.
24. Each Club shall play home and away fi xtures with every other Club in the
relative Division. Three points shall be awarded for a win and one point for a
draw. Goal difference shall determine Divisional position where Clubs have
equal points. In cases of championship, promotion or relegation where Clubs
have identical points and goal difference, a deciding game shall be played, the
League bearing all relevant expenses and retaining all receipts. In the event of
this game being level after normal time a period of extra time and/or penalties
shall decide the winning team.
25. The Match Secretary shall issue the only and offi cial intimation of fi xtures to
Clubs and Referees.
26. Any club failing to fulfil a league fixture, unless there is deemed by the
Executive Committee to be exceptional circumstances, shall automatically
be penalised by forfeiting three points and incurring a fine of £40. The
defaulting club will be penalised by forfeiting the points or as the Executive
Committee decide. (Note no goals can be awarded to any team). The guilty
club will also be held liable for any legitimate match expenses incurred by the
opposition or referee for the unplayed fixture. The fi xture will be re-scheduled
at the Match Secretary’s discretion. Any club failing to fulfil a knock-out
competition fi xture, unless there is deemed by the Executive Committee to
be exceptional circumstances, will be penalised by forfeiting the tie to the
drawn opposition and also incurring a fine of £40. The guilty club will also be
held liable for any legitimate match expenses incurred by the opposition and
referee for the unplayed fixture. Any club failing to fulfil a fixture during the
sectional stages of such cup competitions, unless in exceptional circumstances,
will automatically be placed bottom of their section, forfeit all sectional points
gained (such points not awarded to opposition), take no further part in the
competition and will incur a fi ne of £40 and also be liable for any legitimate
match expenses incurred by the opposition or referee for the unplayed game.
Any club failing to fulfil ONE fixture in any competition during the season will
be required to apply for re-election at the end of that season.
27. Should a Club resign from the League or cease to function at any stage during
the season all League games played by that Club shall be declared null and
void.
28. Tournaments and Friendly Fixtures:
All clubs wishing to participate in a tournament or a friendly match outwith
their own Association or League must have the permission of the Association
of League concerned, the Scottish Amateur Football Association and where
appropriate the Scottish Football Association.
Friendly match against a team in their own Association or League:
Permission from local Association or League.
Friendly match against an amateur team in another Association and
League in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football:
Permission from the local Association or League and the Secretary of the
Scottish Amateur Football Association.
Friendly match against a team not in membership of the Scottish Amateur
Football Association:
Permission from their local Association or League, the Secretary of the Scottish
Amateur Football Association and where appropriate Football Association
which will be obtained by the Scottish Amateur Football Association.
Tournaments within and outwith Scotland:
Permission from their local Association or League, the Secretary of the Scottish
Amateur Football Association and where appropriate Football Association
which will be obtained by the Scottish Amateur Football Association.
Any match which takes place without the required permission will be deemed
to be unauthorised football and will be referred to the committee which may
result in disciplinary action being taken against the club(s) involved.
REFEREES
29. The Match Secretary shall appoint neutral Referees. Should the appointed
Referee fail to appear then unless a new Referee in membership of the S.F.A.
is not available then the match SHOULD NOT PROCEED.
30. The Referees fee and expenses shall be as periodically agreed between the
Executive Committee and the Referees Association and shall be shared equally
by both teams.
31. Should the appointed Referee inspect the ground prior to kick-off and declare it
unplayable then half match fee plus expenses shall be paid and shared equally
by both teams. If however, a fixture is not fulfi lled because of the failure of a
team to appear then the full fee is payable.
32. Linesmen shall be appointed by each Club to assist the Referee as he may
desire. Clubs shall be responsible for their own linesmen who must be Club
members. Should a Referee report that no linesman was made available then
the Club(s) concerned shall be brought before the Executive Committee and
dealt with as they deem fit.
33. All referees in membership of the Scottish Football Association’s Registration
Scheme for Referees, may participate in football under the jurisdiction of the
Scottish Amateur Football Association as a player, provided that to do so is not
contrary to the Constitution and Cup Competition Rules of the Scottish Amateur
Football Associaition and that there is no confl ict of interest between his role
as a referee and his roll as a player.
TEAM LINES
34. A representative from each club, BEFORE the game commences, must hand to
the match Referee an offi cial form in duplicate, in ink or typewritten, containing
the full name of player, also his ID number. In the event of a trialist being used
the full name and address is required, including substitutes, in their respective
teams. The Referee shall, after signature, exchange one copy of the Team Lines
with the respective Club representative and forward the remaining copies, with
a report and result of the match, to the League Offi cial named on the form to
reach him not later than 48 hours after the match. Any Club failing to complete
Team Lines properly or not using an offi cial form shall be considered guilty
of breach of Rules and shall incur an automatic fi ne of £5 on each occasion
and any club guilty of submitting more than three improperly completed or
incorrect team-lines in the same season shall be called before the Executive
Committee and dealt with as deemed fit. Trialists must be clearly indicated on
team lines.
DRAWINGS
35. Gate receipts or collections, at League games and Trophy ties, except the
finals, shall be retained by the home Club.
DURATION OF PLAY ETC
36. All matches shall be played to the Laws of the Game.
37. Matches must begin promptly. In exceptional circumstances, eg. the nonarrival
of a team or Referee, the kick-off may be delayed for not more than 20
minutes beyond the specified kick-off time. All late starts must be reported by
the Referee and may be investigated by the Executive Committee.
38. Both Clubs must provide a serviceable match ball. Failure to provide one may
involve liability to a fine. The visiting Clubs ball is to be used only if the home
Club ball should become unserviceable during the game.
39. The home Club must telephone their match result to the Match Secretary (or as
directed) no later than 6 p.m. on the day of the match of 9.30 p.m. for evening
matches. Failure to do so will incur a £10 fine on each occasion. Clubs failing
to telephone result on three occasions in any one season shall be brought
before the Executive Committee.
40. Notice of all unfinished games shall be given to the Executive Committee who
may penalise defaulting Clubs as they deem fit.
41. In National Cup ties the home Club must inform the visiting Club and Referee
of ground directions.
COLOURS
42. Every Club will, before the beginning of each playing season, register their Club
colours and those colours shall not be changed during that season except with
the consent of the Executive Committee. Where there is a similarity in colours
the visiting Club shall play in their registered colour and the home Club shall
change unless otherwise mutually agreed.
GROUND
43. Expenses of hiring a park and changing room shall be borne wholly by the
home team with referee and his expenses shared equally by both teams.
44. When ground conditions are uncertain the home Club shall, on their own or at
the request of their opponents, call in an offi cal Referee to inspect the ground
at least three hours before the kick-off time. If the ground is then declared
unplayable the home Club must fi rstly notify the Match Secretary, then the
opposition and match referee at least two hours before kick-off time. The
away club must confi rm the postponement with the Match Secretary, or other
League offi cial as instructed, before players are notified. An inspection fee of
£5.00 plus travelling expenses shall be paid to the inspectin official, shared
equally by both teams and the Referee shall give a written statement after his
inspection.
45. Clubs playing on public parks or school playing fi elds may not postpone their
game unless on the authority of an official Referee, Parks Department, or
Education Authority.
SPECTATORS
46. Clubs must take proper precaution to secure good behaviour from their own
spectators. Where it is proved that spectators so conduct themselves as to
interfere with the players to stop the game, the Executive Committee has power
to order the game re-played on a ground selected by them, or to award the
points or tie to either Club. The Executive is also empowered to fine defaulting
Club(s) to any extent, or take any further action as deemed necessary.
PLAYERS
47. If any objection is made by a Club, member of a Club or other persons, with
regard to the status of a player, the Executive Committee is empowered to
call upon protesting Club, such player, or the Club for which he has played to
prove his qualifi cation. If disqualifi cation is proved the Executive Committee
shall deal with the offending Club or player as it may deem fit.
48. Any player who plays for or is registered with a club in membership of the
Scottish Football Association in the current season cannot play for a club in
membership of the Dumfries Sunday AFL during that season until a period of
28 days has elapsed from the date of the player having played his last game
for the club in membership of theScottish Football Association.
49. All players in league matches with the exception of trialists must be registered
on a form supplied by the League and this form, properly completed, must be
submitted to the League Secretary, together with any relevant fee as set at the
AGM, at least 24 hours before kick-off time of the player’s fi rst match. The date
the League Secretary receives the Form and fee shall be the Registration date.
Any player registered with a club in this League cannot play (even as a trialist)
for, or be a member of, any other club in this League. Where it is proved that
a player has signed Registration forms for more than one Club (unless offi cially
cancelled) that player will be automatically suspended until dealt with by the
Executive Committee. Registration deadlines for Trophy Competitions, except
5-a-sides, shall be as laid down in Trophy Rule 73.
50. No Club shall be allowed to submit more than a total of 34 Registration Forms
per season and clubs shall not have more than 24 players registered at any
one time during the season.
51. Clubs may field two trialists per league game. A trialist may play in two games
for any team(s) in this league before signing a registration form. A player released
by a team cannot be listed as a trialist by that team later in the season.
No trialists will be permitted in games after the registration deadline of first of
March.
52. If a Club has offi cially resigned from the League the Registered players of
that Club are deemed not to have been registered and are automatically free
to play trials or Register with another Club, but shall be deemed cup-tied in
competitions in which they played in for the resigned club.
53. No player shall be Registered by the General Secretary more than twice in one
season, unless his previous Club has offi cially resigned from the League.
54. Players offi cially released by one member club and wishing to register with
another member club shall be liable to a £1.50 registration transfer fee. No
player shall change clubs, or be registered or have his registration cancelled
after the first of March in any season. No trialists will be permitted in games
after the registration deadline.
55. Players may apply to be released from their Club if their name has not appeared
on a team sheet for three consecutive games. Appication for release
should be made in writing to the General Secretary with a true copy sent to
the Club Secretary. In such instance of release being granted the player shall
not be eligible to play for another Club until 7 days after his application has
been granted. Alternatively the players Club Secretary may release the player
by notifying the General Secretary in writing of his release. In such a case
the player is free to Register or play trials with any other Club immediately the
release is granted.
56. Any registered player seeking their release and found to be in dispute with thier
Club over debt arrears, or other reasons, shall not be released by the General
Secretary or allowed to register with another Club in that or any subsequent
season until the dispute has been settled to the satisfaction of the Executive
Committee.
57. Where a Club in a League game is proved to have fi elded and ineligible player
such Club may have any point(s) gained in such matches deducted and the
point(s) awarded to the protesting Club but the match scoreline must stand. In
cases of protests lodged by the winning team the scoreline shall also stand and
a fine will be levied against the guilty Club. Alternatively the match or matches
concerned may be ordered to be replayed.
SUBSTITUTES
58. Any three substitutes may be used from fi ve substitutes listed on team-lines in
all domestic competitions.
59. The General Secretary shall notify players or Club offi cials when to appear
before the Disciplinary Committee. Players or offi cials who fail to attend, or to
send defence in writing, shall be dealt with on the basis of the Referees report
and any other evidence available. Dated suspensions shall begin at 12 noon
on the date decided by the Disciplinary Committee.
60. When a player or offi cial incurs a dated suspension or games suspension thatpersons club will be liable to a fine of £10.00 on each occasion payable to the
treasurer no later than 14 days after the club receives notice of the suspension
from the league.
61. All suspensions, passed by this League on Clubs, players and officials shall
be notifi ed to the SAFA within 7 days of the Meeting.
PROTESTS
62. Protests relative to ground, or appurtenances, or violation of rule, other than
Rules pertaining to Players, must be intimated to the Referee in the presence of
the two captains prior to the game or when the infringement takes place. These
protests and protests concerning eligibility shall specify the grounds thereof
and accompanied by a deposit of £50.00 must be lodged by the protesting
Club with the General Secretary, and a true copy sent to the Club protested
against, both under registered cover or recorded delivery and postmarked not
later than three days after the match.
Claims for points in League games and claims for Cup ties to be awarded to a
Club must be lodged in the same manner as protests. If any protest claim is
considered to be trivial or groundless the deposit shall be forfeited.
APPEALS TO THE SAFA
63. Any club, players or club member may appeal to the S.A.F.A. against any decision
of the League affecting the club, or a member of the club. Such appeals
to be lodged by recorded or registered delivery and in duplicate within seven
days of receipt of notice of the decision of the League and accompanied by a
deposit of £50 incl. VAT. This deposit liable to a levy of up to a sum of money
which shall be fi xed may be forfeited if the Association so decide. The grounds
of appeal must be specifi cally stated and if the Association consider the appeal
frivolous or trivial, the appellant may lose the deposit. The decision against
which any appeal is made will only be set aside when the appeal is received
by the Association and agreed to be in order and confi rmation is received in
writing by the parties concerned. Appeals must be lodged on the Standard
Appeals Form issued by the S.A.F.A.
COMPETITION WINNERS
64. Funds permitting, sixteen badges or tokens of recognition will be awarded to
finalists in knock-out competitions. Funds permitting sixteen badges or tokens
of recognition will be awarded to Divisional champions.
REPRESENTATIVE GAMES
65. Players of Clubs in membership of this League when selected by the League
to take part in Representative or trial games shall not refuse selection except
for reasons of injury or illness or with the consent of the League. The League
shall investigate the reasons behind any infringement of this Rule in relation
to both player concerned and his Club.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
66. The General Committee may recommend to the Annual General Meeting or
Special General Meeting that Life Membership of the League be granted to any
person whom it is considered has rendered valuable service to the League.
Life Members shall have the right of attending meetings and shall have the
power of voting at such meetings.
ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
67. Alterations shall not be made to these Constitution and Rules except at Annual
General Meetings or Special General Meetings for review purposes. Notices
for the AGM must be lodged witht he General Secretary before 1st June.
Proposed alterations to the Constitution require a proposer and a seconder.
A copy of all notices will be sent to Club Secretaries a minimum of 14 days
before the meeting. Alterations shall be carried by a majority of those voting
being in favour. Any alteration before coming into force must be approved by
the SAFA.
INTERPRETATION OF CONSTITUTION AND RULES
68. The Executive Committee shall decide on the interpretation of the Constitution
and Rules and shall have the power to legislate upon any point not provided
for in these Rules.
69. Any rule not provided for in the Constitution and Rules shall be governed by
the rules of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.
TROPHY RULES
70. Trophies shall be competed for on a knock-out basis unless otherwise decided
by the Executive Committee. Where the format of a competition has been
changed eg to home and away ties, it shall automtically revert to a knock-out
competition the following season unless otherwide decided.
71. Any registered player of a Club in membership of this League shall be eligible
to play for that Club in Trophy competitions but no player shall play for more
than one Club in any Trophy competitions during the season under any circumstances.
Players must be registered at least 24 hours prior to kick-off in all
rounds, up to and including quarter-fi nals, and 14 days prior to the semi-fi nals
and final round. No registrations shall be accepted after the 1st of March in
any season. Trialists shall not be permitted.
72. Entry fees to Trophy competitions shall be included in the Annual Subscription
except for:-
(a) National, District, or Inter-League Competitions.
(b) The League’s 5-a-side Competition.
(c) Any competition in which Clubs participate at the invitation of other organisations;
or
(d) Any competition included to temporarily increase fixtures.
73. In all rounds except the fi nal, the team drawn fi rst shall be deemed the home
team and shall make usual match arrangements. Expenses of hiring a park
and changing rooms shall be borne wholly by the home team with referee and
his expenses shared equally by both teams.
74. Trophy fi nals shall be played at venues decided by the Executive Committee.
The League shall bear all relevant expenses and shall retain all gate receipts
or collections made at Trophy fi nals. The home Club may retain all receipts or
collection made in earlier rounds.
75. In knock-out competitions all ties shall be played to a conclusion. If after normal
time the score is level then extra time and/or penalties shall decide the winner.
There shall be no replays unless authorised by the Executive Committee. In
home and away competitions where the aggregate score is level after normal
time of the 2nd leg then extra time and/or penalties shall decide the winner.
76. Referees in Trophy Finals shall receive £30 and Assistants shall each receive
£20 plus any travelling expenses incurred.
77. All trophies competed for shall remain the property of the League. Clubs winning
trophies will be responsible for the safe-keeping of the trophies and will
be liable for the full cost of repair or replacement of trophies damaged whilst
in their care. The Executive Committee may order the return of any trophy at
any time.