South Surrey Youth Football League

Supporting grassroots youth football

Player Registration & Eligibility

 

  1. All players must be registered with the League before participating in SSYFL fixtures (U7-U18 age groups). Player participation may be refused if unregistered.
  2. At least 24hrs notice is required to register a player once they have signed to your club. Register the player with SSYFL in the FA Player Registration System supported in the FA Club Portal.
  3. Keep your player registrations up to date. Player registration and eligibility supports fair play and is also required for governance and safeguarding purposes. The league may be asked to confirm the eligibility of a player to participate in a League fixture for FA or insurance purposes. Allowing an unregistered or suspended player to participate in League fixtures breaches competition rules and may place the player and other participants at risk.  
  4. Use the Player Registration transfer processes to move players between Teams and Clubs, a transfer may take up to 3 days to complete if the transfer is between different Clubs.
  5. U7-U11 development age group players and players in any other age group designated as development may be registered by Club i.e. they may be assigned to play for all the teams your Club enters in their SSYFL age group. U12-U18 competitive age group players are registered by Team i.e. players may only be registered for one Team in an age group.
  6. No registration cards are required but you must carry a copy of the Player Registration squad list for your Team and must show this to the opposition to check before the match. The list can be produced at the start of the season but must be refreshed when changes are made so it is up to date. 
  7. League rule 18J covers temporary transfers from another of your Clubs' SSYFL teams in specific circumstances to enable a fixture to go ahead when it would otherwise be postponed (Temporary Transfer rule). Please read the full rule if intending to use a temporarily transferred player/s. A squad list for the Team providing the temporarily transferred player/s must be available at the match to show the player/s is/are eligible for the match. 
  8. The FA age eligibility rules covered in the League rule 18C table apply unless special dispensation has been granted in writing by the FA. 
  9. Player names populated from the Player Registration system may be published in the FA Full-Time Players tab. The Statistics feature in Full-Time is not used by the League, and there is no requirement for managers to have a login to Full-Time.
  10. Failure of an opponent to show a squad list for the pre-match check is to be reported to SSYFL on the League Report Form providing all relevant details.  The fixture should still go ahead.     
  11. An unregistered or suspended player attending a fixture to play should be reported to SSYFL on the League Report Form whether the player participates or not. In normal circumstances the player should not be permitted to play in the fixture. If the player does participate, reasons for the teams allowing this should be provided in the report.      
  12. Complaints regarding ineligible players will not be considered unless the squad list was checked prior to the match (or this was refused) and sufficient information/evidence is provided to support an investigation.     

 

Competition Formats

The formats we offer in season 2023/24 are:

 

  • 5v5 for age groups U7 to U8
  • 7v7 for age groups U9 to U10
  • 9v9 for age groups U11 to U12
  • 11v11 for age groups U13 to U18
  • Girls groups may play 7v7 in all age groups, to be determined pre season   

 

The Competitions we offer:

 

  • U7 to U11 play unpublished development fixtures
  • U12 to U18 have published competitive divisions and tiered cup competitions with 2, 3 or 4 levels depending on the number of Teams and League fixtures.
  • Girls groups development or competitive fixtures to be determined 

 

Our constitution is reset every season to provide competition divisions and structures that best suit the number of entries and relative strength of the Teams we have in each age group. Previous season results and the potential for promotion or relegation is considered, but only as a guide, not a definite outcome. Teams are also invited to state preferences and participate in competition discussions during the summer.   


Care is taken to fit teams that are new to SSYFL into the competition at an appropriate level, new Teams do not automatically start in the bottom division.   

Fixtures

 

  1. Our normal KO window is Saturday 9.30 - 12.00, actual KO time is set by the home Team who inform the away Team of the match venue, time, and other relevant details. Saturday KO's at other reasonable times are permitted if the teams agree. The League should be contacted to approve KO's that are significantly later on Saturday or on different days.   
  2. The KO time and any venue information on Full-Time is only a default value and should be ignored; follow the fixture instructions from your opponent
  3. We do not use the automated reminders or notification of fixture dates/changes in Full-time. Teams need to track their own fixture lists on Full-Time, but the league will email if there's a short notice change or a significant change in the schedule
  4. Standard fixture formats, match durations, pitch, and equipment information etc. for all age groups are covered in the league rules and YDR booklets .
  5. The unpublished age groups may agree reasonable alternatives as their standard fixture format e.g. 4 qtrs or vary play by agreement of the Teams match by match. Team sizes should stay within the maximum FA format for the age group and must stay within the maximum playing times for individual players in the age group. If an alternative cannot be agreed the default fixture format and duration applies as set out in the League rules. 
  6. If you need to postpone a match please provide as much notice as possible to your opponent and copy to the League Secretary, our detailed information on postponements includes the minimum notice required. The league has a cooperative approach to postponements and accepts unforeseen issues arise, but there are League rules governing the awarding of fixtures that may apply. Read detailed information on Postponements .
  7. You must consider switching venue if it is a pitch issue, submit the result as shown on Full-Time if you do switch, and let the League Secretary know if there is a return fixture that needs to be switched as part of the re-arrangement. 
  8. There is no requirement for managers to update any information on Full-Time which is only used by the league to schedule fixtures and manage results.

 

Results Reporting

 

  1. SMS result texts are set up in Full-Time by the League for the Team Manager registered on the SSYFL Club Registration System and/or another registered contact if requested. Up to two contacts maximum per team can be set up in Full-Time. 
  2. The text recipient/s must be assigned to the team in the FA Whole Game System and have a current mobile number in MyAccount in WGS.
  3. A text is sent on match day for the recipient to reply with the result, follow the reply instructions in the text, both teams are to reply with the result. More information on the results text is here.
  4. Bad weather postponements on the day should be advised using P-P in your results text reply. 
  5. U12-U18 - All competition results are reported by SMS and published on Full-Time. 
  6. U8-U11 - SMS will be set up, results are not published (except trophy competitions) but may be captured to help with future age group planning. Team Managers may be advised of results for their age group to assist with this process, but they must not be published any further or used for reward. 
  7. U7 - SMS will not be set up, no results captured. 
  8. Points ties in published divisions are settled on head to head results, so tables will display this way during the season and presentations made on this basis. 
  9. Inter division fixtures in linked divisions require a table adjustment update after a result is received, there may be a short delay before the table is updated after a result is received.   

 

Discipline & Misconduct

 

  1. The FA manages Match Day Discipline. This provides a consistent approach to dealing with matters of misconduct. For more information go to the Surrey FA website Discipline pages which includes a link to the interactive Discipline Handbook.               
  2. The referee has full authority on match day and is accountable to the FA. They should report any cards or incidents to the FA. This covers on and off pitch behaviour of players, officials and spectators.
  3. The referee should be informed of any match day misconduct, so they can deal with the matter within their powers and/or report to the FA. 
  4. Only the referee has the power to abandon a fixture. If this happens due to misconduct it is immediately referred to the county FA for investigation into the misconduct that led to the abandonment.   
  5. Any persons present at a fixture may witness something that they wish to report to the League and may do so on a SSYFL Report Form.
  6. When reporting bad behaviour or alleged misconduct to the League this must be properly reported on a SSYFL Report Form within 7 days of the alleged offence to provide the necessary detail and support the timescales for disciplinary follow-up if appropriate.     
  7. Reporting the referees name and whether they are an FA registered referee is important information for matters of misconduct to be taken further as they have the authority and independent status to support and substantiate the case.
  8. Any alleged misconduct reported to the League will be immediately reported to the Surrey FA discipline team and/or the County Welfare Officer for investigation depending on the nature of the offence. 
  9. The League is not permitted to act upon individual matters of match day discipline misconduct or sanctions, but will track any cases and assist the FA with investigations and enforcement as required.
  10. FA sanctions and reports of bad behaviour, whether taken up by the FA or falling outside of FA misconduct or evidence thresholds, will be recorded by the League and appropriate action will be taken to work with Clubs to raise standards going forward.   
  11. The League may temporarily withdraw fixtures from a Club or Team to safeguard players in future fixtures while matters of misconduct are addressed. 
  12. Our League Welfare Officer works within the FA safeguarding structure alongside County and Club Welfare Officers. Discipline and Welfare matters can often overlap.
  13. If anyone associated with your club or team reports a discipline or safeguarding matter to the FA directly, please let the League Secretary know. If it is a safeguarding matter let the League Welfare Officer know through your Club Welfare Officer.

 

Replying to the Results Text

Follow these key points to submit results correctly.


  1. If you are expecting to receive the results text for your team but are not receiving the text please let us know. enquiry@ssyfl.org.
  2. If you are receiving result texts you are not expecting to receive please let us know at enquiry@ssyfl.org
  3. If you receive a result text please either reply with the result or let us know you are not the correct person so we can redirect the texts.
  4. The deadline in SSYFL rules is to reply with a result by Monday night but the earlier we receive a reply the better.
  5. Agree the result to be submitted with your opponent and the referee, if the results submitted do not match the League receives a conflict report to deal with.
  6. Reply with the result in the following format which is also supported by an example in the text you receive:
  7. Home team score first as the teams appear in Full-Time, then the away team score followed by your team 4 digit short code included in the text. Remember to include a space between the score-line and the short code e.g. 3-2 ABC1, no space and it will fail.
  8. Submitting a result in the correct score format without a short code will work in many cases, but to ensure it routes to the correct match include the short code. This is essential if you submit scores for multiple teams or have done so for other teams in the past that may still be active in Full-Time.
  9. Do not change the format around, do not submit multiple results in a text, do not include anything else in your reply, this may corrupt the result or fail to update.
  10. If the game is postponed and you receive a text, reply P-P followed by your short code as the score-line. We will request more information about the reason for postponement if required.
  11. Do not use the result texts to raise enquiries about anything else.
  12. Keep your mobile number up to date in FA My Account
  13. Alternatively, you may use the FA Matchday App to send your result.

Fixture Postponements

Key points and policy for Team requested postponements.

 

  1. Please make every effort to play your League and Cup competition fixtures on the published dates, subject of course to conditions being safe and playable.
  2. If your team has a problem fulfilling a fixture, contact your opponent in case a solution can be found to still play the match e.g. play reduced numbers, switch venue. Familiarise yourself with rules 20D/E that support the options available. 
  3. If you are unable to fulfil a fixture, please inform your opponent as soon as you know to make your apologies, then let the League know what has happened and confirm that your opponent has been advised. 
  4. We have a cooperative approach to occasional Team requested postponements and try to rearrange if we can. This is backed by our member Clubs who recognise unforeseen circumstances can arise. Overall we believe it is better for competition matches to be settled on the pitch if possible rather than by Committee decision. 
  5. To underpin this approach it is necessary for Teams to act reasonably and courteously at all times. Please do your best to play your fixtures on the scheduled dates, and give as much notice as possible if you cannot keep a fixture engagement and are seeking to postpone to another date. Even then, circumstances such as the overall state of the fixture schedule may prevent a match from being rearranged, in which case it will be settled in accordance with League rules.
  6. The standard rule in the event of a Team failing to keep a fixture engagement is as follows: 20.E.(i) In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have the power to impose a fine (in accordance with the Fines Tariff), deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points from the Competition Match in question to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals.
  7. In seeking to postpone a competition fixture to a later date you are asking the League to use Management Committee discretion to overrule the sanctions in 20.E(i) and rearrange the match instead. The League and your opponent supporting this request usually depends on how reasonable and timely the request is. For example, a postponement request at short notice is less likely to be supported, especially if the reasons were foreseeable, or if you can still field a Team within minimum numbers for the fixture but you choose not to play. Multiple postponements by the same Team and/or of the same fixture are also hard to justify rearranging again.
  8. Even with best intentions it is not always appropriate or possible to reschedule postponed fixtures, especially as the season runs down and Teams run out of alternative dates. The League may increasingly have to settle postponement requests in accordance with League rules to keep the competition on track, and may prioritise decisive fixtures over others to ensure the competition concludes fairly and on time.
  9. Sometimes it is clear a postponement request is unreasonable or there is no available date to rearrange, this may result in the 20.E (i) sanction/s being applied at the earliest opportunity. Conversely, there may be an alternative date available immediately and a reasonable postponement request can be rescheduled. Sometimes a fixture will be set as postponed indefinitely in the hope of finding a new date should an opportunity arise. If a fixture is postponed the reason for postponement is recorded and may be considered retrospectively to settle a fixture under the League rules if it turns out it cannot be played at a later date. 
  10. The Policy For Team Requested Postponements below sanctioned under League rule 20E (iii.c) will apply in normal circumstances. At all times the League Management Committee's decision how to determine a failed fixture within League rules is final, subject to the right of appeal included in the League rules.

 

Policy For Team Requested Postponements 

Excludes unplayable pitch/bad weather postponements unless there is a default on the switching requirement rule 20E(i) e.g. game could have been switched and team refused.

Limit on number of team requested postponements 


No more than 3 Team requested postponements from the same Team will be accepted during the season regardless of notice and reasons.


This includes requests not to play on a normal fixture date prior to fixtures being published, except where dispensation is given for regular school attendance as a condition of entry that would otherwise prevent the Team from participating in the League. In this situation such dispensation will be treated as the equivalent of 3 Advance notice postponements.


The 4th postponement request will normally be rejected and if the fixture is not kept a walkover will be awarded to the opposition unless the opposition agrees to reschedule and the League determines rescheduling is possible. 

Advance notice period for Team requested postponements (Advance PP Request)


The advance notice period required to request a postponement is 14 days or more before the fixture (i.e. before Midnight two Saturdays prior to the fixture), or within 48 hours of fixture publication, whichever is later. 


If the advance notice period is met and the Team has initiated no more than 3 Team requested postponements during the season the fixture will normally be rescheduled. 


If the Team has already initiated 3 Team requested postponements during the season the request will normally be rejected. If the fixture is not kept a walkover will be awarded to the opposition, unless the opposition agrees to play at a later date and the League determines rescheduling is possible. 


Late notice requesting postponement (Late PP Request)


If late notice is given i.e. less than 14 days but more than 3 days before the fixture (before midnight Wednesday before the Fixture), the first late request will normally be accepted and the fixture rescheduled if the Team has less than 3 Team requested postponements in total during the season.

 

If the Team has already initiated 3 Team requested postponements during the season, the request will normally be rejected, then, if the fixture is not kept a walkover will normally be awarded to the opposition, unless the opposition agrees to play at a later date and the League determines rescheduling is possible. 


Very late notice requesting postponement (Very Late PP Request)


If very late notice is given i.e. less than 3 days before the fixture (after midnight Wednesday before the fixture), the request will normally be rejected, then, if the fixture is not kept a walkover will normally be awarded to the opposition, unless the opposition agrees to play at a later date and the League determines rescheduling is possible. 


Postponement Category Exceptions


These exceptions may be applied at League Management Committee discretion depending on individual case circumstances and the overall status of the  competition schedule at the time. 


County Cup


Teams who have entered a County Cup (CC) are required to give notice to the League by a given date before the start of the season. If notice is given, the League will leave the CC weekends free for the Team as additional permitted requests for as long as the Team stays in the CC Competition. If notice is not given, the League are still required to prioritise CC fixtures, but the normal postponement policy applies to any displaced League fixtures. Surrey CC fixtures are usually played on Sunday, if the Team wishes to also play a League fixture on the Saturday, they may advise the League and a fixture may be scheduled. Once scheduled the normal postponement policy applies and the fixture is no longer subject to CC exception.


School Matches & Events


Unless dispensation has been given under regular school attendance (see 1 above) the normal postponement policy applies to displaced League fixtures, except that Late and Very Late PP requests may be treated as Advance requests in determining the number of postponements a Team has requested. This exception may apply if the School event leaves the Team with less players than format played + 1. If the Team still has format + 1 available, the fixture should be played, otherwise normal postponement policy and notice requirements apply.   


Illness outbreak affecting multiple players including players isolated


The normal postponement policy applies to displaced League fixtures, except that Late and Very Late PP requests may, at the League Management Committees discretion, be treated as advance requests in determining the number of postponements a Team has requested. This exception may apply if the outbreak leaves the Team with less players than format played + 1. If the Team still has format + 1 available at no risk to the Team or Opposition, the fixture should be played, otherwise normal postponement policy and notice requirements apply.   


Other Exceptional circumstances


The League Management Committee reserve the right to consider exceptional circumstances and vary this policy providing any decision taken stays within the rules of the Competition. 

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