The SmartPly Amateur Football Leagues New Rules for 2008-9 Season

1. Clubs join the SmartPly Amateur Football League because they wish to play football. All the administration team asks for is a little co-operation to help them provide football.
2. League fees, (inclusive of €35 LFA/FAI Affiliation fee) are €400 per team. A Deposit of €200 per team is required, which should be paid at the June 16th 2008 registration meeting on together with a photocopy of the club’s current Public Liability Insurance policy. Balance can be paid over 4 months at €50.00 per month. If a club has no deposit paid by 31st July, no matches will be arranged. If fees are being paid by instalments, which are due on the last Thursday of the respective months ie, September to December, defaulters will have no fixtures made until fees are up to date.  The season kicks off on the weekend of the 22nd/23rd August and will be followed by midweek matches.
3. The information for the Secretaries Book is taken from the details filled out on your application form. It is important to enter the name of the Insurance Company and the commencement date of the cover otherwise the form will be returned.  The new list of Hon. Secretaries will be available on the website amateurfootballleague.com before the season commences.  Any change must be communicated to the Hon. Secretary by email or in writing.
4. Fixtures are published in the Evening Herald every Monday of the football season. They are reviewed on Monday night and then appear on the SmartPly Amateur League website amateurfootballleague.com from Tuesday.  It is important for all clubs to have access to the web. Changes in fixtures will be made up to Friday teatime and will appear on the web.
5. 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.
6. On match day ensure you have your 50% share of the match fee in an envelope and given to the referee before the match commences.
7. When the responsible club person gets the match card enter the players’ full legal name in BLOCK letters against the jersey number the player is wearing. Match card (fully completed) must be back with the referee before the game starts. After the game confirm goal scorer(s) with the referee who will mark same on card and indicate if substitutes were used.  It is the Club’s responsibility to ensure all players are registered with the League for the current season before playing in any match. Clubs will be subject to a fine and deduction of points for playing unregistered players. 
8. If a player received a red card, the team manager must ensure the player automatically misses the next match fixed by the League and must appear before the Executive in the Sports Centre on Thursday following the sending off. The mandatory one match suspension is non-negotiable; however the Executive may increase the punishment.
9. Your Club disciplinary committee must make a decision on the sending off and advise the Executive on the night of the hearing.
10. Fines must be paid within 14 days and a league receipt obtained. The player is suspended until fine is paid. If a club plays a player before the fine is paid, their match is awarded to the opposition and they will be fined for playing the suspended player. It is the Club’s responsibility to have the fines paid.
11.  If a club’s insurance runs out during the season no fixtures will be made until a copy of the new certificate is emailed or faxed to the League Honorary Secretary or a photocopy given to the Registrar.
12.  Registration fee per player is €5. It is important the Club Secretary retains all receipts. It is your record that a player is registered to play. Registration of players can begin after the opening management meeting until the end of March 2009.
13. 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. The Amateur Cup is open to all registered clubs, except the seniors clubs. The Premier Sunday division teams are seeded.
15. The Matt O’Leary is for Sunday Premier Division.  Players who play in this Cup cannot play in lower division cups. ie Maher, Harding or Loftus.
16. The Maher Cup is for all Saturday teams, comprised of players who are not cup tied by way of another club team playing in a another division cup, ie Harding or Loftus  
17. The Harding Cup is for Div. 2 Sunday teams comprised of players who are not cup tied by playing for another club team playing in a higher division cup. (Maher & Matt O’Leary)
18. The Loftus Cup is for Div. 3 Sunday comprised of players who are not cup tied by playing for another club team playing in a higher division cup. (Harding, Maher & Matt O’Leary)
19. The Grimes Cup is for Seniors Sunday over 35’s –
20. The Jim Byrne Cup is for Senior Saturday over 35’s teams.
21. The Clifford Cup is for all Over 35 Clubs and for one team per club.
22. The dates of Management meetings will be available on the website. It is essential that every club has an email address to receive updates on the Leagues changing requirements.
23. Non attendance fine at management meetings is €35 payable within 14 days of non-attendance notice sent by Hon. Registrar. Failure to pay fine will result in fixtures being forfeited.
24. 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.
25. Finally:  We are concerned at reports of the possibility of racial abuse at some of our matches. The 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 League has 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 for record purposes only. The League can only deal with matters reported to them by the referee where he actually saw or heard the alleged incident.          

         For and on behalf of the Hon. Officers and the Executive Committee, Noel Kennelly, Honorary Secretary                                                               31st July 2008