ADJFL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS updated for 2002/03 season

REGISTRATIONS

• Q. Are Centre Of Excellence or Academy Players allowed to play in the League?

As from the 2002/2003 season a player who is signed to a centre of excellence or Academy will NOT be permitted to play any game in this league. Any team that breaches this rule will be punished severely by the Executive committee. A player who is on trial at a centre of excellence or Academy will still be permitted to play, but must be deregistered immediately upon signing to a C of E or Academy. 

Even before this rule was introduced, Cof E and Academy players where only allowed to participate in this league , only if written permission was sought from the organisation director and agreed to,  and a copy forwarded onto the League registration secretary. If any teams played any of the above mentioned players last season and did not follow the above procedure then they were knowingly breaking an ADJFL rule.

• Q. But ******** Centre Of excellence do not provide enough games , surely the league should be encouraging more participation of children in organised football.

With the new rule being in place it WILL encourage more participation in Junior Soccer. Cof E and Academy players will still be participating but obviously not in this league, which will leave spaces in squads for other players to be given the chance to participate. If a C of E or Academy is not providing enough games speak to the Director there, if you do not receive a satisfactory reply, write to either Lancashire Football Association Limited or the Football Association.

• Q. What are the qualification dates for players age groups ?

A. For the 2002/2003 season the qualification dates are as follows. Under 9's, 10's and 11's must be under the respective age group on the 31st of August 2002. For all age groups above under 11's all players must be under the respective age group on the 1st of August 2002.

Please note that any players who wishes to play 11-a-side football MUST be 10 years old on  or before the 31st of August 2002.

With regard to the two year age rule a players must be within the specified age limits on either the 31st or 1st of August 2002 depending on age group. For instance a player wishing to play for a under 10's team MUST be eight year old on or before the 31st of August 2002. The player may not sign for or play for an under 10's team if their 8th birthday falls after this date

• Q. How many Players can I register with my team ?

A. For Mini soccer teams the maximum number of players you can have registered at any one time is 12 players. For 11-a-side the maximum number of players you can have registered is 20.

• Q. How do I register additional players once the season has started ?

A. If your current squad including the "new" player does not exceed the maximum squad size, you must send a) a league registration form completed and signed by the player and  b) a copy of the players birth certificate or medical card, to the registration secretary (details in the hand book), SEVEN (7) days before the match you intend to play the new player in. You will receive confirmation from the registration secretary that the player has been registered with the league and what date he / she is eligible to participate. A player should not participate in ANY ADJFL  game until your club receive confirmation from the registration secretary.

• Q. I Want to register a player but I already have the maximum squad size, what should I do?

A. On the registration form that you send in detailing the "new" player, you must also state which player you wish to de-register. Once de registered a player can not play for your team unless you register them again. 

• Q. Can I sign a player who has played for another team in the league ?

A. Yes, has long as the player has completed all commitments with the club they are leaving and a Transfer form has been completed by your club and the club that the player is leaving

• Q. I have signed a player who has played for another team this season, can he still play in the cup for me?

A. If the player has played in any cup game for his previous team, then he is not eligible to play for you in any league cup competition.

• Q. Does it cost anything to register, re-register or transfer a player ?

A. The answer is No. Unlike other leagues ADJFL does not penalise clubs for any registration of players.

• Q. What is the final date that I can sign a player?

A. The last date for signing a player to your team is the 1st of February of that current season.

• Q. A team who we are playing against includes a player who we think is over age/ not registered/ plays for another team, what should we do.?

A. In the first instance, bring this to the attention of the referee and ask him/her to make a note of your concern. Secondly and most importantly, you must put your concerns in writing to the league Secretary as soon as possible. ADJFL can only investigate a breach of this kind if the complaint is made in writing!.

• Q. How many league games does a player need to have played in before he can play in a cup game ?

A. To be able to play in any Cup competition a player must have appeared as a player or substitute in four (4) League games prior to the semi-finals being played. No player can play for more than one Club in any Cup competition.

If you have a question that you need answering e-mail us .

• Q. What should I /  My team do on a match day ?. 

A. Every team has a different match day routine, but following the items below will avoid any fines!

• If you are the away team, always make sure you know where you are going, contact the opposition manager a couple of days before to check directions and kick off times, colours etc.

• If you are the HOME team arrive in plenty of time to erect goalposts/ put netting up.

• If you are the HOME team make sure the referee is given a completed match card before the Game.  

• Arrive at least 20 minutes before the stated kick off time

• Fill in your match card and make sure ALL players sign the card before kick off.

• Get your substitutes to sign the Referees match card before kick off.

• Make sure players are ready for the stated kick off time.

• After the game has finished, fill in the referees marks and post the Match card immediately.

• After the game has finished the HOME team must pay the referee the correct amount: League Games  £14 for 11-a-side games and £9 for mini soccer games.

• If you are the HOME team, you must ring the Press Secretary on 01254 605004 and leave the result of the game on the answer phone or e-mail the result. For Saturday games this must be done by 6PM, and midweek games by 9 PM the same evening.

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• Q. How many Substitutes can I use during the game?

A. You can use Five (5) substitutes in 11-a-side games and five (5) in small sided games (Mini Soccer). Each substitute, must be named, be present and their presence be made known to the Referee by signing the Referees match card before the game commences. 

In the small-sided games (Mini-Soccer) repeated substitutions can be used. N.B. Football Association rule definition, “ A player who has been substituted during a match himself becomes a substitute and may, in turn replace another player at any time subject to the substitution being carried out in accordance with Law 3 of Association Football

• Q. Who Supplies the Match Ball ?

A. The home team is responsible for supplying the CORRECT size match ball. All age groups from under 11s downwards a regulation size 3 or 4 match ball will be used, under 12s a regulation size 4 or 5 ball can be used & under 13s and above a regulation size 5 match ball will be used.

• Q. We are the away team, do we have to ring the result through ? 

A. No, Only the Home team has to ring or e-mail the result. 

• Q. We are the Home team, do we have to put up and take down the goal posts and netting?

A. If your game is the only one on that pitch , the answer is yes. If the pitch is being used for back to back games (usually mini soccer) the Home team for the 10.00am game erect the goalposts/ netting and the HOME team for the second game (10.45) take down the goal posts/ netting after their game.

• Q. I gave the referee a mark of 3 , what should I do next ?

A. For any mark of 4 or less a letter of explanation MUST be sent to the Referees Secretary within 7 days of the match being played or a fine of £5-00 will be incurred. Please try to include a valid reason(s) why you considered this referee to be not up to standard, arguments such as "He was rubbish" do not help the referees secretary assess the referee!

• Q. What's the maximum amount of time that my team can play per match in the under ??'s section  ?

A. All under 9s & 10s games will be a maximum of 40 minutes and a minimum of 30 minutes.

All under 11s, 12s & 13s games will be a maximum duration of 60 minutes and a minimum duration of 40 minutes.

Under 14s games will be a maximum duration of 70 minutes and a minimum duration of 50 minutes.

Under 15s games will be a maximum duration of 80 minutes duration and a minimum duration of 60 minutes.

In the event of a game being abandoned, providing the minimum period has been played, the Management Committee has the discretionary power to allow the result to stand.

• Q. Can we play our home games on a Saturday Afternoon?

A. No, Games must be played according to league fixtures and ALL take place on a Saturday Morning* or for mid week games Tuesday evenings. All Saturday 11-a-side games kick off at 10.15am, and mini soccer games kick off at either 10.00, 10.15, 10.45 according to fixture..Mid week games kick off as and when scheduled.

* In exceptional circumstances (e.g Fixture backlogs) The Fixtures secretary may consent to a game being played at a different day/time  stated by the league. 

• Q. We are playing a team who play in the same colours, who should change?

A. In all circumstances where there is a colour clash, the HOME team must change. It is advisable that where there could possibly be a colour clash, home teams carry a change strip just in case the referee deems one team must change.

• Q. The press Secretary contacted me for the result of a game, even though we were the AWAY team, will I get fined? 

A. No, an away team will not be fined for a missing or late result. From time to time if the home team has failed to notify of the result, the Press Secretary will contact the match referee or the away team. Even when the result is received from either the referee or away team , the HOME team will still be fined if they have not followed rule.

• Q. When does the match card have to be in by?

A. Match cards must be received at the registration secretary's address no later than the third working day following a match. (Wednesday for Saturday games)

• Q. Where can I find out the results and league tables ?

A. Results and current league tables are sent to the following publications on a weekly basis: Accrington Observer, Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Burnley Express. The ADJFL website is usually updated on Saturday Evening IF all results are in on time.

• Q. No referee has turned up for our game, what should we do?

A. Should a Referee fail to appear then the Team Managers are responsible for Refereeing the game by appointing someone to Referee at their discretion. Should they fail to agree, both Teams will share the expenses and the match replayed.

• Q. The referee turned up and postponed our game, Do we have to pay him?

A. Should a Referee attend a game which is postponed he will receive half his fee (£4.50 for mini soccer games, £7 for 11-a-side games)

If you have a question that you need answering e-mail us .

• Q. I have just found out that a large number of my players will not be available for a fixture , what should I do?

A. .Each Team in the ADJFL are entitled to request two League games to be postponed per season. 

Clubs must write to the Fixture Secretary no later than seven days prior to the match being played to request the postponement. Any further requests will not be granted. Cancellations of Cup matches will not be granted.

• Q. WE play on a school / private pitch and the headmaster/ caretaker/ groundsman has deemed it unfit for Saturdays game what should we do?

A. Any Team who know on Friday evenings that their pitch is unfit to play on Saturday morning MUST SPEAK TO one of the following who will give you the name and telephone number of the referee.

• the Leagues Fixture Secretary (Graham 01254 395266) or 

• the Leagues Referees Secretary (Andy 07712 047049) or 

• the League Secretary .(Alan 01254 237973)

You must then

• Contact the referee and notify of the postponement

• Contact the away team and stop them from travelling.

• Ring the postponement through as a result (01254 605004) as you would on any match day

• Ring the postponement through to the fixture Secretary (01254 395266)

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• Q. WE are due to play on a Council pitch as the Home/ Away team, how do we find out if the game is still on?

A.  Out of courtesy the Home team if they know, should inform the away team if the match has been postponed.

For Hyndburn Council pitches an answer phone service is available after 5pm on Friday's to advise on postponements. The number is 01254 

Blackburn Council do not call pitches off under normal circumstances, and it is left to the discretion of the referee's on the day. 

• Q. The referee called our game off this morning who do we contact?

A. For a game that has been called off on a match day, you must do the following

•  Notify the Fixture Secretary on the day on the postponement ( Graham 01254 395266)

• Ring the postponement through as a match result (Andy 01254 605004)

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• Q. The referee said the pitch was unfit, but both managers wanted the game to go ahead, Can we over rule the ref?

A. If there is any dispute between the Teams about the match taking place due to weather conditions, the Referee has the final say. If a referee postpones a game, then that match must NOT take place.

• Q. We have had a game postponed , do we have to re-arrange it?

A. NO, the league fixtures secretary will re-arrange all games that have been postponed. 

• Q. The referee turned up and postponed our game, Do we have to pay him?

A. Should a Referee attend a game which is postponed he will be entitled to half his fee (£4.50 for mini soccer games, £7 for 11-a-side games)

If you have a question that you need answering e-mail us .

• Q. My age group is split into two sections, will the winners and runners up  of both sections play each other in a play off to decide an overall champion?

A. NO. At the start of the 2000/2001 season the ADJFL did away with the sectional play offs in favour of seeded sections to allow teams of similar ability to play and enjoy their football, 

As an example Winners of Under 10's League 1 and Under 10's League 2 will be champions of their respective section. Runners up in both sections will receive runners up medals/ trophies. 

The only age group that is not seeded is the Under 9's where not enough information is available about the teams to provide effective seeding. In effect the under 9's section is "drawn out of a hat".

*Footnote. If two teams in the same section of an age group are level on points at the end of the season, in position one and two, they will enter a one game play off to decide the Champion of that particular section.

• Q. Last season there was a team in the Under ??? League 1  that only got a few points, was it a mistake putting them in this section ?

A. Whilst ADJFL make every effort to allocate teams to correct sections in their respective age groups, mistakes do happen particularly when a team enters the league in a section above under 9's and we know nothing about them. This season ADJFL has made enquiries about new teams entering the league above the under 9's age group. To some extent we rely on the honesty of the club entering the team.

Overall the executive committee of the ADJFL feel the seeding of teams was extremely effective and the feedback from clubs was positive, but we are aware that mistakes can happen. 

• Q. IF two teams are tied on points do the league use goal difference to decide who has the higher placing?

A. For the purpose of the tables that appear on the website, teams are calculated on points and then goal difference. This was done at the request of clubs who wished to see goals scored etc on the web tables. For League Tables that appear in the press and the tables used at the end of season for final placing's Alphabetical order is used for teams tied on points, these are the definitive league tables.

• Q. What happens if a team withdraws from the league, during the season?

A. If a team withdraws during the season, all their games become nil and void, and all results and league tables involving that team will be amended. . 

• Q. Can the league keep a record of leading goal scorers and publish these?

A. No , Unfortunately the work involved in collating the results, man of the matches etc is massive, so to try and keep track of goalscorers would be the straw that break the camels back. It would also mean a 100% record for ringing through match results and sending match cards in on time and you can understand the problems we have with these.  

• Q. Does The league run a cup competition?

A. The League where possible run two cup competitions for each age group. One a League Cup which every team is involved in, and a consolation cup which is run at the end of the season. The consolation cup is for teams who are not in line for honours.(e.g League champions or runners up, Cup Finalists).

• Q. Why do teams have to pay to enter the consolation cup?

A. .A couple of season's ago the number of teams who failed to appear for consolation cup matches was unbelievable, so the committee put forward the suggestion of a £10 deposit as indication that a team was willing to enter the cup and complete its fixtures. This was accepted by the clubs at the 1999/2000 AGM.

Teams who wish to enter the consolation cup must indicate their intention by submitting a £10 deposit before the February League meeting.

All teams who enter the consolation cup and complete their scheduled fixtures , or are unable to participate in the cup because they are in line for honours will receive the £10 deposit back.

• Q. Why do teams not have to pay to enter the League cup?

A. Although t was proposed at the 2000/2001 AGM, this suggestion was defeated, despite the fact a record number of teams failed to appear for cup matches.

• Q. Are there replays in drawn cup games?

A. No, All cup games must be played to a finish on the day.  If the score is equal at the end of designated time, then extra time will be played of ten (10) minutes each way for the eleven (11) aside games and six (6) minutes each way in the small sided games. If the scores are level at the end of extra time, the match will be resolved by a penalty shoot out (11 aside games 5 penalties then sudden death, small sided 3 penalties then sudden death)

• Q. In cup games who pays the pitch and referee fees?

A. In the early rounds of the League cup, the home team must pay both the referee and pitch fee, as with league games. In semi final games the first named team team pay the referee and the second named team pay the assistant referees, the League pay the ground fee.

In consolation cup matches both teams share the expenses.

For cup finals the league pay all costs in staging the game, including referee and assistant referee fees. 

If you have a question that you need answering e-mail us .

• Q. Do the league officials receive a salary for running the league?.

A. No, The executive committee do not receive a salary, but do receive out of pocket expenses

• Q. I noticed in the accounts presented at the AGM, that the league administration costs were £???, what is involved in these costs.

A. Administration costs of the league include the following. Costs of telephone calls, cost of postage, cost of stationary. Each executive member is entitled to claim out of pocket expenses that they have incurred during the course of their league duties.

• Q. Does the League need to receive so many fines per season to balance the books?  

A. NO, the league treasurer has stated on a number of occasions that he and the executive committee would be quite happy if NO fines were issued during the course of the season. If a fine is issued it means that at least one member of the executive committee has incurred extra work beyond what is reasonably expected of them in their respective role.

• Q. Is it true that the League will re-imburse a teams entry fee if they go through the season without being fined?

A. The league did try this scheme in the 2001/2002 season and only 30% of teams received their entry fees back. Despite the incentive to teams and clubs this scheme was deemed a failure in the that it did not achieve what we had hoped (zero Fines). This scheme will not be running in the 2002/2003 season.

• Q. I would be interested in joining the League Executive Committee, What should I do?

A. In the first instance you should ring Alan Greenwood the league secretary (01254 237973) to find out what would be involved in becoming part of the executive committee. If you are happy with what you hear then your name will be put forward at the AGM for acceptance by member clubs.  

• Q. Is there an area on the ADJFL site that shows directions to the various pitches? As a newcomer to the league, this would be most useful. If the answer is no, would it be possible to provide?

A. At the start of the 2000/2001 season a letter was circulated to all clubs asking them for directions to the grounds, for inclusion on the that season's website. Out of 33 Clubs only 6 replied. Last season 01/02 we had a better response and directions appeared on the site. Hopefully in the 2002/2003 season we will have directions to ALL pitches used in the league..

If you have a question that you need answering e-mail us .