Postponing Matches

2006/2007 - Policy For Postponing Matches

The league policy regarding postponing matches is intended to be fair to all parties whilst avoiding potential fixture backlogs causing problems at the end of the season.

All Teams entering the competition have an obligation to maintain a viable squad which is capable of fulfilling all its fixtures.

Matches that cannot be fulfilled for reasons of unsuitable pitches shall always be postponed and rearranged for the first free fixture date available for both Teams.

To determine the number of available players, Teams shall draw upon the full number of players that are registered with the league for that Team.

The minimum number of players for starting a match is

Junior football

Six is the minimum number of players required to constitute a Team for a Competition match at the time of the kick off.

Intermediate football

Nine is the minimum number of players required to constitute a Team for a Competition match at the time of the kick off.

For reasons of child welfare it is at the manager’s discretion to play with a Team of less than 7 players (Juniors) and 11 players (Intermediate). No Team shall be obliged to a play a match if the size of the Team at the start of the match would comprise less than 7 players (Juniors) and 11 players (Intermediate). Although the Team is not obliged to play the match it is not necessarily entitled to postpone the match.

If 3 or more players are unavailable due to school activities then a Team is entitled to postpone a match. If only 1 or 2 players are unavailable due to school activities then the Team is not entitled to postpone a match. All players that are unavailable due to school activities shall be backed up by written evidence from the school head teacher. Failure to provide such evidence before the original scheduled date of the match shall result in the match being awarded to the opposition as a 0 – 0 win.

If the size of a Team is reduced below 7 players (Juniors) and 11 players (Intermediate) and the players reducing the Team below these level are unavailable due to injury, illness, holidays, other sporting event or shopping etc then the match can only be postponed with the agreement of both the opposition manager and the Divisional Secretary. If the opposition manager or the Divisional Secretary, do not agree to a postponement then the match is awarded as a 0 – 0 win to the opposition.

A Team cannot elect to concede a match. If the opposition agrees to a postponement then the fixture shall be fulfilled on the first free fixture date available for both Teams.

If a match is postponed then the rearranged match shall be scheduled for the next free fixture date that is available to both Teams. Any further postponement regarding the rearranged fixture shall be decided without taking any of the circumstances of the original fixture postponement into consideration. Opposition managers shall consider this point when agreeing to postpone a match and if there is any doubt then they shall not agree to the original postponement.

An available fixture date is any date in the league calendar designated for league or cup matches.

To accommodate rearranged fixtures the Teams shall keep all future fixture dates to the end of the season available.

No match shall be postponed if there are no available fixture dates for a rearranged match before the end of the season.

For any match that is defaulted and awarded to the opposition as a 0 - 0 win then the defaulting Team may be fined in accordance with our rules.

Examples (Junior)

1. A Team has 10 registered players and 3 players are on holiday.

The Team has 7 available players and shall fulfil their fixture.

2. A Team has 10 registered players and 4 players are on holiday.

The Team has 6 available players. The Team can elect to play the fixture but the match can only be postponed with the agreement of the opposition manager and the Divisional secretary. If the opposition manager or the Divisional secretary do not agree to a postponement then the match is awarded to the opposition as a 0 – 0 win.

3. A Team has 10 registered players and 3 players are unavailable due to school activities.

The Team can elect to play the fixture or can request that the match be postponed and played at the next fixture date available for both Teams.

4. A Team has 12 registered players and 3 players are unavailable due to school activities.

The Team can elect to play the fixture or can request that the match be postponed and played at the next fixture date available for both Teams.

5. A Team has 10 registered players and 2 players are unavailable due to school activities and 2 players are on holiday.

6. A Team has 8 registered players and 2 players are unavailable due to school activities.

7. A Team has 10 registered players and 5 players are on holiday.

Only 5 players are available. The Team does not have enough players to play the fixture but the match can only be postponed with the agreement of the opposition manager and the Divisional secretary. If the opposition manager or the Divisional secretary do not agree to a postponement then the match is awarded to the opposition as a 0 – 0 win.

Examples (Intermediate)

1. A Team has 14 registered players and 3 players are on holiday.

The Team has 11 available players and shall fulfil their fixture.

2. A Team has 14 registered players and 4 players are on holiday.

The Team has 10 available players. The Team can elect to play the fixture but the match can only be postponed with the agreement of the opposition manager and the Divisional secretary. If the opposition manager or the Divisional secretary do not agree to a postponement then the match is awarded to the opposition as a 0 – 0 win.

3. A Team has 14 registered players and 3 players are unavailable due to school activities.

The Team can elect to play the fixture or can request that the match be postponed and played at the next fixture date available for both Teams.

4. A Team has 20 registered players and 3 players are unavailable due to school activities.

The Team can elect to play the fixture or can request that the match be postponed and played at the next fixture date available for both Teams.

5. A Team has 14 registered players and 2 players are unavailable due to school activities and 2 players are on holiday.

6. A Team has 12 registered players and 2 players are unavailable due to school activities.

7. A Team has 12 registered players and 4 players are on holiday.

Only 8 players are available. The Team does not have enough players to play the fixture but the match can only be postponed with the agreement of the opposition manager and the Divisional secretary. If the opposition manager or the Divisional secretary do not agree to a postponement then the match is awarded to the opposition as a 0 – 0 win.