Morden Little League Golden Rules

Rule 1: Substitutes

A. The MLL rule is that if any registered player turns up to play on a Saturday, they will get to play at least one full half.

B. Substitutes can only be made at half time and at no other time except where a player is injured.

C. Any player substituted through injury cannot re-enter the game.

D. If the injury occurs in the second half, then the substitution can be made with a player substituted at half time.

E. Above rules apply in any extra time played in cup matches.

F. If a player arrives late after the second half has already started, they are still entitled to play for the remainder of the match. The referee must be informed, to allow the substitution to take place.

Rule 2: Player Promotion

Any player selected by a higher section as a selection or a replacement for promotion, subject to the FA’s age gap and format rules, must move to the higher section team or resign participation in the League. The Committee/Emergency Sub-Committee may grant an exemption on the advice of the League Secretary in exceptional cases.

Rule 3: Minimum numbers to constitute a valid team.

A. 11 a-side teams must have a minimum of 7 players; 9 a-side teams, 6 players; 7 a-side teams, 5 players; 5 a-side, 4 players to be present to allow games to start. Games must start with a maximum of one player difference between the teams on the pitch. Teams who have an extra player available must play them.

B. A maximum of one player difference between the teams on the pitch is only compulsory at the kick off.

C. Once the game has started it constitutes a valid game and cannot be abandoned due to insufficient players.

Rule 4: Insufficient Players (Divisions with League Tables)

A. If a team does not have 7 players for 11 a side games or 6 players for 9 a side games, the fixture may be re-arranged, as below. Both teams will still be expected to attend to play a friendly only with the players registered with those teams, as no player should play in an extra friendly to help make up the numbers from another team. If this occurs in the autumn season Rule 4b will apply. If this occurs in the spring season and the teams are not due to play again, the team that has insufficient players on this first occasion will be advised that their failure to complete the fixture will result in the match being awarded to their opponents 2-0.

B. If any re-arranged game is subsequently deemed to be a friendly, the team that had insufficient players on the first occasion will be advised that their failure to complete the fixture at the second attempt will result in the match being awarded to their opponents 2-0. This applies only when the same team is responsible for insufficient players on two occasions. If on the second occasion the other team has insufficient players the game will either be rescheduled or a double header played when the teams next meet, unless this re-arranged fixture is in the spring season, the team with insufficient players on this occasion will be advised that the match will be awarded to their opponents 2-0. Any further insufficient players issue in this fixture, the match will be awarded to the team that could fulfil the fixture 2-0 on this third occasion. If both teams have insufficient players, the committee will award the game as they see correct and fair.

C. At the commencement of a season; in the 11-a-side sections of the League, squad sizes will be variable between a minimum of 12 and maximum of 16 players. In the 9 a side sections of the League, squad sizes will be variable between a minimum of 10 and maximum of 14 players.

D. After the league has started the minimum number of players in a squad may drop to 9 for 11 a side or 7 for 9 a side, after which the committee or Emergency Sub-Committee will decide if that team can continue.

Rule 5: Goal Difference

A. It was confirmed that if any of our Autumn or Spring Division League Championships end with two or more team’s level on points, a Play-Off will take place. This reduces the need to score more goals against the less able teams.

B. In all Cup competition group stages, the result between the two teams, goal difference, goals scored will be the main criteria in the event of teams on level points.

C. All Semi Finals, Finals and League Play Offs will be decided by penalties in all competitions if there has not been a winner after extra time - no replays will take place.

Rule 6: Double Headers

In the 11 and 9-a-side divisions, from time to time a double game may be required. This is only usually likely at the end of the season where postponements due to weather or insufficient players have occurred. In extreme circumstances cup games may be used as a cup and single league game to complete fixtures. This will be agreed between the Section Co-ordinator and League Secretary.

Rule 7: School Football/Sport

A. No child is permitted to play a MLL competitive game where they have been selected to participate in a school’s organised sporting activity that same day. League managers and assistants are responsible for ensuring this rule has been complied with before a competitive MLL game commences.

B. Where a manager or assistant has made reasonable efforts to establish a player’s eligibility to play in a MLL game that day and it transpires that the player was either selected or has participated in a school organised sporting activity that day, then that child shall receive a two-game suspension.

Rule 8: Referees/ Assistants

Three rules every player, manager and spectator should know about our refs/assistants:

1. They are always right.

2. Even if they get it wrong, they are right.

3. In the event of any complaints please refer to rule one.

A. The Match Official in 9 and 11 a side games will be appointed by the Referees’ Secretary.

B. No children/players are to run the line. The line person must be an adult or a child 14 & above who knows the ‘LAWS OF THE GAME’ as per the MLL web site Referees Section.

Rule 9: Venue Safety

A. It is the responsibility of the managers and volunteers of the teams which have the first game on a Saturday morning to put up the respect barriers, goals and corner flags (9 and 11 a side) and make sure the pitch is ready for kick off time.

B. Managers and volunteers of the last game on the pitch they are playing are responsible for taking down the respect barriers, goals and flags and storing them neatly and safely in the allocated places in the shed.

Rule Ten: Non-League Table Divisions

A. In divisions where league tables are not used, no game should be played where one team has more than one extra player on the field than their opponents at any time. A team should borrow a player from the opposition if required.

B. All divisions where league tables are not used, matches must conform to FA Youth Development. 5,7 and 9 a side games mean that (not greater because players are there). The games will follow the younger sections principles of informality (which is why players in these younger sections are issued with shirts only and play in their own multi-coloured shorts and socks). Games will be stopped for explanations of the Rules - NO OFFSIDE.

C. All games shall be twenty minutes each way, with a brief interval.

D. The rules of MLL are that no formal League Tables shall be created in any division where the league does not publish such records.

E. Scores for games in divisions where league tables are not used should be given to the Committee Member working on the Help Desk and he/she will make a note of the scores in a separate folder which will not be available for general viewing.

Rule 11: Kit

A. No individual kit sponsorship.

B. Seniors, Juniors, Colts and Senior Girls - including goalkeepers - are only allowed to wear the regulation issued kit. (Track trousers only for goalkeepers).

C. The Bantams, Hornets, Rangers, Trinians, Mini Trinians & Soccer 7’s can of course wear whatever shorts and socks they like.

D. Players must wear shin pads during all matches and training sessions.

E. The colour of each teams’ shirts, shorts and socks shall be determined by the League Management Committee.

F. The kit remains League property at all times and
should only be worn for League activities. Managers and Assistants will be responsible for collecting the kit from all the players at the end of the season.

Rule 12: Discipline and Behaviour

A. All of our Officials, Managers and Committee members give their time voluntarily and without these people we would not be able to run the league. We ask that all players, their parents and supporters respect this fact and follow our Code of Conduct.

B. It is a requirement that managers, volunteers, players and their parents/guardians sign their agreement to abide by the Code of Conduct.

Rule 13: Emergency Committee

A. In addition to the League Management Committee we also have our Emergency Committee, which acts on urgent matters such as any of those above. All meetings should consist of a quota of at least 4 people from the Emergency Committee. All issues will be looked at in a fair and measured way. The sanctions imposed will be considered on each individual breach of the Code of Conduct.

B. The recipient of the sanctions will have the opportunity to make an appeal against the Emergency Committee’s decision to the remaining executive.

team members (League Secretary, Player Co-ordinator / Administrator and Treasurer). If the executive team consider that the appeal is justified and required, they will meet with the person and review the decision. The decision of the executive team is final in all cases.

Rule 14: Managers Guide

It is a requirement of every Manager and Assistant that they read and abide by the rules detailed within The Managers Guide. Managers and Assistants must ensure that they have a copy of this for reference.

Rule 15: Managers Decorum

A. It was agreed that considering the ethos of Morden Little League and that the children playing are of mixed ability, that it would be appropriate for either a Manager or an Assistant Manager to stand on the same side as the parents/spectators, if they believed it would give the children in their team some guidance which will hopefully help them to progress and enjoy football to a greater degree.

B. However Managers and Assistants must ensure that they are not in the way of the Referee’s Assistants, they should not run up and down the touchline and never on the pitch directly or indirectly influencing, criticising or putting pressure on Referees or their Assistants; encouragement is desired and never unreasonable criticism.

And Finally

The League Management Committee (“the committee”) as trustees of the charity that is Morden Little League (“the League” or “MLLF”) have the final decision on all matters on and off the field. The committee may set up and dissolve sub-committees to fulfil specific roles with a level of delegated power to make decisions but in all cases, these can be overturned by the committee if it sees fit by a majority vote. The League will be administered in accordance with its constitution, guidance from the Little League National Executive Committee (“NEC”), the rules of the English Football Association (“the FA”) and any relevant statute. All games will be governed by a combination of local rules, NEC rules and FA rules in that order of priority.

REMEMBER MORDEN LITTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL IS FOR FUN NO MORE NO LESS!