THE GUINNESS AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE GUIDELINES 2007
The Oscar Traynor Coaching & Development Centre, Coolock, Dublin 17
1. Clubs join the Amateur Football League because they wish to play football. All the administration asks is a little co-operation to help us provide it for you.
2. The information re your club in the list of Secretaries is taken from the details filled in on the application form.
3. Fixtures are made on the assumption that everyone wishes to play football every week. Fixtures are published in the Evening Herald every Monday of the football season. They are reviewed on Monday night and then appear on the website amateurfootballleague.com from Tuesday. It is important for all clubs to have access to the web.
4. Immediately after Tuesday a confirmation process should start by each club contacting the opposition and the referee as early as possible to allow for last minute changes. Ensure there are no clashes with teams sharing.
5. On match day ensure you have your 50% share of the match fee in an envelope before the match commences.
6. When you get the match card enter the registered players’ names in block letters against the number the player is wearing on the match card and afterwards mark in who scored. (If any).
7. If a player received a red card, the team manager must ensure the player automatically misses the next match in the competition and appears before the Executive the following Thursday in the Sports Centre. The mandatory one match suspension is non-negotiable; however the Executive may increase the punishment.
8. Your Club disciplinary committee must make a decision on the sending off and advise the Executive before the hearing.
9. Player’s fines must be paid before the player can play again. Clubs should refrain from paying fines on behalf of the player.
10. The list of Hon. Secretaries is available on the website amateurfootballleague.com. Any alterations will be made on the website as they come available. They should be given in writing for the Hon. Secretary’s attention for the next management meeting.
11. League fees are paid in installments. (a) The initial deposit is €200 and the balance paid in (b) Sept €50; Oct. €50; Nov. €50; Your co-operation in maintaining consistent cash-flow will be appreciated.
12. Player registration fee is €5. It is important the Club Secretary retains all receipts. It is your record that a player is registered to play.
13. Once the AFL Cup matches commence, if your Club is playing in the FAI/LFA Cup/Shield those fixtures take priority should there be a clash of ground sharing. Make sure your divisional manager is advised.
14. All Clubs play in the Amateur Cup and their players are not prevented from playing in their divisional cups. The Major division teams come in at the 3rd round.
15. The Matt O’Leary is for Major & Division 1 Sunday and players whose names appear on the Cup match card cannot play in lower divisions cups.
16. The Maher Cup is all Saturday teams, comprised of players who are not cup tied by way of another club team playing in a higher division cup.
17. The Harding Cup is for Division 2 Sunday comprised of players who are not cup tied by way of playing for another club team playing in a higher division cup.
18. The Loftus Cup is for Division 3 Sunday comprised of players who are not cup tied by way of playing for another club team playing in a higher division cup.
19. The Grimes Cup is for Sunday Over 35’s - The Jim Byrne Cup is for Senior Saturday teams.
20. The Clifford Cup is for all Over 35 Clubs
21. The dates of Management meetings will be available on the website and reminders are published in the Herald on a Monday before the meeting. It is essential that every club has an email address to receive updates on the League requirements.
22. Non attendance fine at management meetings is €35 payable with 14 days of non-attendance notice sent by Hon. Registrar. Failure to pay will result in additional sanctions imposed at the discretion of the Executive.
23. At least two weeks notice is required if a team is seeking a free weekend. Each club will be allowed only one request during the season. We close down for a four week period over Christmas.
24. The League intend organising a series of fund raising activities in the Centre to raise additional finance to cover the cost of the ongoing developments in the Centre. Support and help will be appreciated.
Finally: There is concern at Executive Committee level regarding racial abuse at some of our matches.
The Amateur Football League will not tolerate sexual or racially-based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal, and will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate disciplinary action in whatever context it occurs.
The Hon. Officers and Executive have decided that complaints must be made to the nearest Garda Station to where the alleged incident took place, together with the identification of the persons involved. A copy of the complaint should be conveyed in writing to the League Hon. Secretary. The League can only deal with matters reported by the referee where he actually saw or heard the alleged incident. May 28th 2007