NW Counties 13-15 News

Proposed changes to the constitution (part 1)

25th May, 2010

NORTH WEST COUNTIES 13 -15 AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION SEASON: 2010-11

Current rules are in black, new/changes to rules are listed in red. Note that explanations, where necessary, of the proposed changes are placed in bold black in brackets after the appropriate rule change. Other changes are either self-explanatory or have been re-worded for clarity.

3. Membership

3.03

Membership shall be for one season only and is subject to re-application by the first Wednesday in July each year. Applications should be accompanied by each teams’ Code of Conduct.

3.03

Membership shall be for one season only and is subject to re-application by the first Wednesday in July each year. (Copies of codes of conduct no longer required)

4. Meetings

4.01

All member clubs must attend all Monthly, Special and Annual meetings.

4.01

All member clubs must attend all Monthly, Special and Annual meetings. Apologies for absence will not be accepted and any club failing to attend a meeting will be fined accordingly (Non acceptance of apologies added to bring in line with current procedure not previously written down)

5. Registrations

5.01

The Registration Secretary shall keep a register of players. All queries regarding the register shall be directed in writing to the League.

5.01

The Registration Secretary shall keep a comprehensive record of all new players and those carried forward from the previous season. Clubs may at any time request by email, a copy of their individual registered players. All queries regarding players held on the register shall be directed in writing to the Registration Secretary. (Expanded for clarity)

5.02

Players must register with a club which is in their own district. Players are not allowed to play outside their own district unless such a registration/transfer has been ratified by the transfer committee

5.02

Players must initially register with a club within a five (5) mile radius of their registered home address, or the nearest alternative club if there are non within five miles. Players are not allowed to register or transfer outside this area unless such a registration/transfer has been ratified by the registration/transfer committee. (This change will allow players to play outside of the traditional district boundaries and allow players to register with clubs that may well be nearer to their home and to which they may previously not have been allowed to register.)

5.03

All players must have registration cards, colour coded to show the age group in which they are playing. For registration purposes, the season will end on the 31^st August and start again on 1^st September.

5.03

All players must have registration cards, colour coded to show the age group in which they are playing. For registration purposes, the season will end on the 31^st May and start again on 1^st June. (Changed to bring in line with registration dates. The age bandings remain as now running in parallel with school years)

5.04

Registrations should be received by the first Wednesday in August. Any registrations received after this date may not be guaranteed cards by the start of the season. Any team unable to complete a fixture due to lack of registration cards who have failed to meet this deadline will forfeit the points for any unfulfilled fixture.

5.04

Player registrations should be received by the first Wednesday in August. Any registrations received after this date may not be guaranteed cards by the start of the season. Any team failing to meet this deadline and as a consequence not hold sufficient registration cards (see 5.05) will forfeit the points for any unfulfilled fixture organised by the league. Teams will be expected to play a friendly game against their scheduled opponents with the loaning of players or reduced numbers making up teams.(Fixtures will be issued to all teams regardless of the number of players registered. Games will be forfeited if cards not received due to late application. The League cannot allow players to postpone games due to their own lack of administration. If cards have been applied for in time and for whatever reason not been received then games will be allowed to be postponed. In order to keep the interest of players from both teams who are registered, friendlies should be played.)

5.05

Clubs are not permitted to register more than 25 players per team. Fixtures will be issued to teams with less than 15 players registered, however any scheduled games will be deemed to be forfeited until 15 players are registered. Any request for variation in these numbers must be placed in writing to The League for consideration by the Management Committee.

5.05

Clubs are not permitted to register, nor hold on the database at any time during the season, more than 25 players per team. Fixtures will be issued to teams with less than 13 players registered, however any scheduled games will be deemed to be forfeited until 13 players are registered (see 5.04). Any request for a variation in these numbers must be placed in writing to the League for consideration by the Management Committee. (Teams now only need to be able to field a team without the need for substitutes)

5.06

Any club official or agent who is found to have induced or having tried to induce any player registered with one club to transfer to any other club shall be deemed guilty of misconduct and be dealt with by the Management Committee accordingly.

5.06

Any person who is found to have induced, or tried to induce, any player registered with one club to transfer to another club shall be deemed guilty of misconduct and be dealt with by the Management Committee. (A person need not be affiliated to, or working on behalf of a club to be deemed guilty of misconduct. Sanctions will now be applied to ANY individual found guilty of poaching)

5.07

Players may only play for and train with the team with which they are registered. Any team found guilty of fielding an ineligible player will be fined and will lose any points accrued for games in which the player has taken part.

5.07

Players may only play for and train with the team with which they are registered. Any team found guilty of training with or fielding an ineligible player will face disciplinary action. Disciplinary action may include the loss of points accrued for games in which the player has taken part, fines and any other action deemed necessary by the disciplinary committee. (Addition to cover players training whilst not registered with a team not just playing whilst not registered to a team)

5.08

If written notice of a disbandoning of a team at youth/junior age groups is received from the Club Secretary, players from the disbanded team will be deemed to be free agents. To prevent teams being forced/manipulated to disband, no disbanded team or group of more than 3 free agents from a single disbanded team will be permitted to move to/set up at another club within six months of notice having been received. Exceptional circumstances may be reviewed by the Management Committee where deemed appropriate.

5.08

If notice in writing is received from the Club Secretary confirming the disbanding of a team then players from that team will be deemed to be free agents. To prevent teams being forced/manipulated to disband, no disbanded team or group of more than 3 free agents from a single disbanded team will be permitted to move to/set up at another club within six months of notice having been received. Exceptional circumstances may be reviewed by the Management Committee where deemed appropriate. (Re-worded for clarity)

5.09

Teams must complete a de-registration form if they wish to de-register a player. These will be reviewed by the League Transfer Committee and, if approved, be given a de-registration date.

5.09 a

Teams must, if they wish to have a player removed from their register, complete a standard de-registration form. (Rule split into multiple sections for clarity)

5.10 (5.09 b)

A player failing to re-register with his current team will not automatically be deemed de-registered.

(5.11

De-registrations will not be allowed after the last day in February each year until the first Monday in June. – delete in whole)

5.09 c

De-registrations will be allowed at any time. If approved at the next available management meeting, the de-registration will be effective from the date received by the Registration Secretary. (Current de-registration date is the date of approval. Forms may have been received up to 5 weeks prior to this date thus adding to the length of de-registration. If approved this will be taken into account)

5.12 5.10 (Re-numbered for continuity)

De-registered players shall become free agents similar to players from disbanded teams, but will not be allowed to move to another club within six months of their de-registration without the completion of a Transfer Request Form. This transfer will count towards the clubs possible three possible transfers per season.

5.10

De-registered players shall become free agents similar to players from disbanded teams, but will not be allowed to move to another club within twelve months of their de-registration without the completion of a standard Transfer Request Form. This transfer will count towards the team’s transfer quota for the season. (De-registration period increased to 12 months. This will prevent teams from encouraging players to de-register in order to become a free agent. Players must declare their previous teams on re-registration.)

5.13

Players after a period greater than six months from their de-registration date (or who have become a free agent due to their previous team disbanding) can freely join another team but must register as a new player.

5.11

Players after a period greater than twelve months from their de-registration date (or who have become a free agent due to their previous team disbanding) can freely join another team but must complete a new registration form and MUST highlight the team(s) for which they have previously played. (Timescale increased to be in line with 5.10. Clarity given around the completion of registration forms for previously registered players)

5.14 5.12 (Re-numbered)

De-registered players/free agents are uninsured and subsequently will not be permitted to train with ANY club until such time as a transfer has been approved, a new registration request has been approved and a registration card received with the new player/team details.

5.15 5.13

Any club/coach found guilty of permitting a player to train whilst de-registered will face the risk of suspension and further disciplinary action

5.13

Any club found guilty of permitting a player to train whilst de-registered will be dealt with as per 5.07. (Responsibility given over to the club as a whole, not any individual)

5.14

Random checks will be carried out by members of the League Management Committee at clubs’ training sessions to ensure that clubs are complying with these rules. (Self explanatory)

6 Fixtures

6.04a

Clubs must accept fixtures given at five days notice by the appropriate Fixture Secretary.

6.04b

The failure of a team to complete a fixture for whatever reason will result in the loss of the points for the fixture. The reverse fixture, if not already played, will be made to take place at the ground of the opponents. The team will also be responsible for the settlement of costs namely referees fee, if in attendance and not scheduled to officiate at another game at the same ground, and up to £25 towards the cost of refreshments. (If a game is called of due to the non-appearance of a team then as well as cost towards refreshments being due the referee fee is also to be paid by the non-attending team but only if the referee has no other game at which to officiate)

6.08

Visiting teams should ensure that they return to the host club for after match refreshments. Failure to do so without 48 hours notice to the host club will result in any costs incurred being met by the visiting team.

6.08

7 Playing Provisions

7.04a

It is the responsibility of the home club to contact its match day opponents by Wednesday to confirm arrangements and to provide travel directions. This should be repeated by the club later in the week if the weather or pitch conditions should deteriorate. Clubs should not wait for the appointment of referees before contacting opponents (Recent history has shown that many teams are not contacting their opponents until late on in the week, usually waiting until the referee appointments have been distributed. Teams must be contacted by Wednesday evening regardless of if a referee has not yet been appointed to the game)

7.07 (NEW)

All games played under the jurisdiction of the League will be played using size 5 match balls. (Ball size increased for consistency across the league and also to bring into line with other leagues)

7.07 (7.08)

In the event of a game being abandoned for whatever reason then the League Management Committee may, at its sole discretion, order a replay if less than three quarters of the scheduled playing time has elapsed. If more three quarters of the scheduled playing time has elapsed then the result at the time of abandonment shall stand.

7.08

In the event of a game being abandoned then the result will in the first instance stand if three quarters of the scheduled playing time has elapsed. If less than three quarters of the scheduled playing time has elapsed then the game will be replayed. The League Management/Discipline Committee reserves the right to over rule these options after a review of the circumstances. (Whilst keeping the cut off at three quarter time for a result to stand or otherwise, this may be changed by either committee depending on the circumstances causing the game to be abandoned)

7.08 (7.09)

The non-production/checking of Player Registration Cards by either team on the match day will invalidate all player insurance and so deem the game void should the game go ahead. A fine determined by the Management Committee will be imposed on both teams responsible.

7.09

Registration cards must be produced for all players named on the team sheet. Failure to do so will invalidate insurance and so deem the game void. Cards must be checked against both the team sheet and the individual player. (Amended to ensure that cards are not just checked against the players but also that those players are named on the team sheet)

8 Team Sheets

8.03

Team sheets for all games, including friendlies, must be returned to the nominated league official within 5 working days of the completion of each game. Failure to do so will result in a fine.

8.03

Official team sheets, fully completed and endorsed by the referee and both clubs officials for all games, including approved friendlies, must be returned to the Registration Secretary for receipt within 5 working days of the completion of the game. This can be scanned and emailed, by fax or mail. Failure to do so will result in a fine. If sent by email or fax then the original must be produced at the following month’s league meeting. (Expanded for clarity)

9. Divisions

9.02

If two or more teams from a division finish level on points at the end of a season, a play off, the format to be determined by the Management Committee will take place between the teams concerned to determine final league positions.

9.02

If two or more teams from a division finish level on points in either the top three or bottom three positions at the end of a season, a play off, the format to be determined by the Management Committee, will take place between the teams concerned to determine the final League positions. (Expanded for clarity and to ensure that prior to the season end the top and bottom two places in each division are known in order to plan for the following season)

10. Cup Rules

10.01a

All matches will be played for the duration set out in 7.06. If at the end of normal playing time the scores are level then an extra period of time will be played as follows;

U13 5 minutes each way

U14 5 minutes each way

U15 5 minutes each way

10.01a

All matches will be played for the duration set out in 7.06. If at the end of normal playing time the scores are level then an extra period of time of 5 minutes each will be played at all age groups. (Rule tidied up as extra time is the same length for all age groups)

10.01b

If no result is achieved after this time then a Sudden Death tiebreaker will apply. In such a circumstance the referee will toss a coin, the team calling correctly having the choice of ends with the opposition assembling in position to receive play at the kick off. Sudden Death will be played for a maximum period of ten (10) minutes followed by a break and change of ends. This pattern is to be repeated until the next point(s) is scored. (Clarified to ensure that regular breaks are included in any period of sudden death rugby.)

10.02

Any protest arising from a cup fixture or result of it must be lodged in writing by the club making the protest with the League Secretary within 3 working days of the game ending.

10.02

Any protest arising from a cup fixture or its result must be lodged in writing by the club making the protest with the League Secretary and their Fixture Secretary within 3 working days of the game ending. A copy must also be forwarded to the opposition. (Clarity around who is to received any formal complaint)

10.03

Any player appearing in a Semi-Final or Final must have appeared in at least two League and/or Cup games for that team (not club) in that season.

10.03

Any player appearing in a Final must have appeared in at least two League and/or Cup games for that team (not club) in that season. (Rule amended to delete the qualification rule for playing in a cup semi final)

10.04 (NEW)

A maximum of 17 named players will be permitted for all Cup Competitions under the jurisdiction of the League. (For clarity of a rule currently not in writing)

13. Suspensions

13.02

The following games shall count towards a player's suspension; all League, Cup games and representative games in which the suspended player had been selected to take part. Games for which the points have been awarded by default will count, however, postponed games WILL NOT count towards a player’s suspension.

13.02

Only games under the jurisdiction of the League will count towards a player’s suspension. Games for which the points have been awarded by default will count, however, postponed games WILL NOT count towards a player’s suspension. (Amended to ensure suspensions are only completed in games under the jurisdiction of the League as there is no control over games played under the jurisdiction of a third party)

13.03

A suspended player is not permitted to play in any other game under the jurisdiction of this League by league until his suspension is served. Any player or club violating this rule will be fined not less than £100 and the offending player will be suspended for a further six matches.