Our rules for the junior section
The KDFL’s Standard Code of Rules for youth football in the league, also known as SCORY.
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DEFINITIONS
Rule - 1A
In these Rules:
Affiliated Association – means an Association accorded the status of an Affiliated Association under the rules of The FA.
AGM – shall mean the annual general meeting held in accordance with the constitution of the Competition.
Club – means a club for the time being in membership of the Competition.
Club Portal – means the system used by Clubs to affiliate teams as determined by The FA from time to time;
Competition – means the Kent Disability Football League.
Competition Match – means any match played or to be played under the jurisdiction of the Competition.
Contract Player – means any Player (other than a Player on a Scholarship) who is eligible to play under a written contract of employment with a Club.
Deposit – means a sum of money deposited with the Competition as part of the requirements of membership of the Competition.
Fees Tariff – means a list of fees approved by the Clubs at a general meeting to be levied by the Management Committee for any matters for which fees are payable under the Rules, as set out at Schedule A.
Fines Tariff – means a list of fines approved by the Clubs at a general meeting to be levied by the Management Committee for any breach of the Rules, as set out at Schedule A.
Ground – means the ground on which the Club’s Team(s) plays its Competition Matches.
Management Committee – means in the case of a Competition which is an unincorporated association the management committee elected to manage the running of the Competition and where the Competition is incorporated it means the Board of Directors appointed in accordance with the articles of association of that company.
Match Officials – means the referee, the assistant referees and any fourth official appointed to a Competition Match.
Non Contract Player – means any Player (other than a Player on a Scholarship) who is eligible to play for a Club but has not entered into a written contract of employment.
Officer – means an individual who is appointed or elected to a position in a Club or Competition which requires that individual to make day to day decisions.
Participant – shall have the same meaning as set out in the rules of The FA from time to time.
Player – means any Contract Player, Non Contract Player or other player who plays or who is eligible to play for a Club.
Player Registration System – means The FA system to register players as determined by The FA from time to time.
Playing Season – means the period between the date on which the first competitive fixture in the Competition is played each year until the date on which the last competitive fixture in the Competition is played.
Rules – means these rules under which the Competition is administered.
Sanctioning Authority – means the Kent County Football Association Limited.
Scholarship – means a Scholarship as defined in The FA rules.
Season – means the period of time between one AGM and the next AGM
Secretary – means such person or persons appointed or elected to carry out the administration of the Competition.
SGM – means a special general meeting held in accordance with the constitution of the Competition.
Team – means a team affiliated to a Club, including where a Club provides more than one team in the Competition in accordance with the Rules.
The FA – means The Football Association Limited.
Virtual Meetings – means meetings held electronically.
Written or in writing – means the representation or reproduction of words or symbols or other information in a visible form by any method or combination of methods, whether sent or supplied in electronic form or otherwise.
Rule - 1B
Unless stated otherwise, terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders. Any term in the singular applies to the plural and vice-versa.
GOVERNANCE RULES
Rule 2 - Competition Name and Constitution
(A) The Competition will be known as Kent Disability Football League (or such other name as the Competition may adopt). The Clubs participating in the Competition must be members of the Competition. A Club which ceases to exist or which ceases to be entitled to play in the Competition for any reason whatsoever shall thereupon automatically cease to be a member of the Competition.
(B) This Competition shall consist of not more than 80 Clubs approved by the Sanctioning Authority.
(C) The geographical area covered by the Competition membership shall be Kent.
(D) The administration of the Competition under these Rules will be carried out by the Competition acting (save where otherwise specifically mentioned herein) through the Management Committee in accordance with the rules, regulations and policies of The FA.
(E) All Clubs shall adhere to the Rules. Every Club shall be deemed, as a member of the Competition to have accepted the Rules and to have agreed to abide by the decisions of the Management Committee in relation thereto, subject to the provisions of Rule 7.
(F) The Rules are taken from the Standard Code of Rules for Youth Competitions (the “Standard Code”) determined by The FA from time to time. In the event of any omissions from the Standard Code then the requirements of the Standard Code shall be deemed to apply to the Competition.
(G) All Clubs must be affiliated to an Affiliated Association. This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Sanctioning Authority and the constituent Teams of Clubs may be grouped in divisions, each not exceeding 8 in number.
(H) Inclusivity and Non-discrimination
(i) The Competition and each Club must be committed to promoting inclusivity and to eliminating all forms of discrimination and should abide and adhere to The FA Equality Policy and any legislative requirements (to include those contained in the Equality Act 2010).
(ii) This Competition and each Club must make every effort to promote equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and by providing access and opportunities for all members of the community, irrespective of age, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability or otherwise.
(iii) Any alleged breach of the Equality Act 2010 legislation must be referred to the appropriate Sanctioning Authority for investigation.
(I) Clubs must comply with the provisions of any initiatives of The FA which are adopted by the Competition including, but not limited to, England Football Accredited and RESPECT programmes. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
(J) All Participants shall abide by The Football Association Regulations for Safeguarding Children as determined by The FA from time to time.
(K) Clubs shall not enter any of their Teams playing at a particular age group in the Competition in any other competition (with the exception of FA and County FA Competitions) except with the written consent of the Management Committee. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. A Club must immediately inform the Competition of the details of any fixture(s) in any other competition in which the Club has entered, for which written consent of the Management Committee has been obtained.
(L) At the AGM or a SGM called for the purpose, a majority of the delegates present shall have power to decide or adjust the constitution of the divisions at their discretion. When necessary this Rule shall take precedence over Rule 22.
Rule 3 - Club Name
Any Club wishing to change its name must obtain permission from the Sanctioning Authority and from the Management Committee. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
Rule 4 - Entry Fee, Subscription, Deposit
(A) Applications by Clubs for admission to the Competition or the entry of an additional Team(s) from the same Club must be made in writing to the Secretary
by 31st May and must be accompanied by an entry fee per Team as set out in the Fees Tariff, which shall be returned in the event of non-election.
At the discretion of the voting members present applications, of which due notice has been given, may be received at the AGM or a SGM or on a date agreed by the Management Committee.
(B) The annual subscription shall be payable in accordance with the Fees Tariff per Team (where a Club has more than one Team in membership of the Competition) and shall be payable on or before 31st August in each year.
(C) A Deposit of £0 shall be payable in accordance with the Fees Tariff per Club/Team (where a Club provides more than one Team in membership of the Competition) and shall be payable on or before 31st August in each year. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the entry fee, annual subscription and Deposit (if required) have been paid.
(E) Clubs must ensure that all its teams participating in the Competition are recorded as affiliated on the Club Portal for the forthcoming Playing Season by the following date 31st August. Clubs must advise the Competition Secretary in a manner prescribed by the Sanctioning Authority, or on the prescribed form, of details of its headquarters, its Officers and any other information required by the Competition. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
(F) An all-female team can apply to the Competition to play an age group down in a mixed gender competition, subject to rule 8A(iii)&(iv) and provided the team has obtained approval from its Sanctioning Authority.
Rule 5 - Management, Nomination, Election
(A) The Management Committee shall comprise the Officers of the Competition and no members who shall all be elected at the AGM.
(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination provided that the Officer notifies the Secretary in writing not later than 5th June in each year.
All other candidates for election as Officers of the Competition or members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the secretaries of two Clubs, not later than 5th June in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the AGM. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the AGM.
(C) The Management Committee shall meet as and when required, save that no more than three calendar months shall pass between each meeting.
On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Management 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 Officers and sent to the Secretary.
Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
Rule 6 - Powers of Management
(A) The Management Committee may appoint sub-committees and delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all sub-committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification. The Management Committee shall have power to deal only with matters within the Competition and not for any matters of misconduct that are under the jurisdiction of The FA or Affiliated Association.
(B) Subject to the permission of the Sanctioning Authority 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.
(C) Each member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee meetings and have one vote thereat, but no member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such member or to the Club so represented or where there may be a conflict of interest. (This shall also apply to the procedure of any sub-committee).
In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman of the Management Committee shall have a second or casting vote.
(D) The Management Committee shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce these Rules and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition. Any action by the Competition must be taken within 28 days of the Competition being notified.
With the exception of Rules 6(I), 8(H) and 9, for all alleged breaches of a Rule the Management Committee shall issue a formal written charge to the Club concerned. The Club charged shall be given 7 days from the date of notification of the charge to reply. In such reply a Club may:-
(i) Accept the charge and submit in writing a case of mitigation for consideration by the Management Committee on the papers; or
(ii) Accept the charge and notify that it wishes to put its case of mitigation at a hearing before the Management Committee; or
(iii) Deny the charge and submit in writing supporting evidence for consideration by the Management Committee on the papers; or
(iv) Deny the charge and notify that it wishes to put its case at a hearing before the Management Committee.
Where the Club charged fails to respond within 7 days, the Management Committee shall determine the charge in such manner and upon such evidence as it considers appropriate.
Where required, hearings shall take place as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of the reply of the Club as more fully set out above.
Having considered the reply of the Club (whether in writing or at a hearing), the Management Committee shall make its decision and, in the event that the charge is accepted or proven, decide on the appropriate penalty (with reference to the Fines Tariff where applicable).
The maximum fine permitted for any breach of a Rule is £100 and, when setting any fine, the Management Committee must ensure that the penalty is proportional to the offence, taking into account any mitigating circumstances.
No Participant under the age of 18 can be fined.
All breaches of the Laws of the Game or the Rules and Regulations of The FA shall be dealt with in accordance with FA Rules by the appropriate Association.
(E) All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 7. Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within 7 days.
(F) 40% of its members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the Management Committee or any sub-committee thereof.
(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 must comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee, and must attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition to the satisfaction of the Management Committee. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
(I) Subject to a Club’s right of appeal in accordance with Rule 7 below, all fines and charges must be paid within 14 days of the date of notification of the decision.
Any Club failing to do so will be fined in accordance with the Fines Tariff. Further failure to pay the fine including the additional fine within a further 14 days will result in fixtures being withdrawn until such time as the outstanding fines are paid.
(J) A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or Competition Match may have any reasonable 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 the AGM or SGM called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Playing Season.
(L) The business of the Competition as determined by the Management Committee may be transacted by electronic mail or facsimile.