A.  The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixtures Secretaries, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no later than the first Tuesday in September, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.

(1).  Clubs must submit to the Fixture Secretaries, by the 1st August, a list giving details of sufficient pitches available for each team to be able to complete all home league matches, clearly stating the venue and kick-off times. Failure to do so without due cause will result in a fine of £5.00. Clubs may indicate on the list whether they are prepared to play on Christmas and Easter Sundays and if they have a home permit for that day.

(2).  Where arrangements as advised to the Fixture Secretaries, prior to the start of the season on the Fixtures Form are changed, the Club Secretary or a nominated assistant, must advise the Referee Secretary of the change of venue and/or kick-off time 10 days prior to the fixture.

(3).  All matches shall take place according to the fixture lists, amendment lists or as directed by the Fixture Secretaries. The fixture list shall be the responsibility of the Fixtures Secretaries.
Re-arranged or additional fixtures cast and notified to the respective Club Secretaries on or before the Tuesday preceding the Sunday in question will be played as cast. Matches re-arranged after Tuesday will only be cast with the agreement of both clubs.

(4).  The referee must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the League. In special circumstances a kick-off may be delayed by fifteen (15) minutes unless otherwise agreed by the respective sides and the referee.

(5).  The official season of the League shall be from the penultimate Sunday in September and every ensuring Sunday except Christmas and Easter until the first Sunday in May. In the case of a club having a pitch available in early September, or at Christmas or Easter, they may request the relevant Fixture Secretary to try to arrange an official fixture for them, but this will only be done with the full mutual agreement of the proposed opponents.

(6).  Bexley League Cup fixtures shall take priority over all other games, except County Cup games, and must be played as laid down by the Fixture Secretaries. Where a team is unable to fulfil a laid down Bexley Cup, Trophy or League due to a re-arranged County or Bexley Cup match, it is the responsibility of that team, regardless of whether it is their home or away match, to immediately notify their opponents of the postponement, and to confirm this in writing. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5.00 and render the defaulting team liable for any expenses incurred by the opponents.

(7).  Where exceptional circumstances prevail, clubs may agree by mutual consent to arrange a fixture to be played in mid-week or on a Saturday. Both clubs shall immediately notify the relevant Fixture Secretary in writing of the date, venue and kick-off time. The fixture will then be regarded as cast and be subject to the full provision of Rule 10. Failure to notify the Fixture Secretary may result in a fine of £5.00.

(8).  A Club may request a break in it's fixtures for any of its teams because of school trips and /or Club tours but not for any other reason. Such requests must by made in writing to the Management Committee at least 35 days before the relevant Sunday, and the decision of the Management Committee shall be binding. An FS2 form must be sent to the Fixtures Secretary. Where a match is cancelled due to a team being granted a break in it's fixtures it is the responsibility of that team to immediately notify its opponents of the postponement and to confirm in writing. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5.00 and be liable to any expenses incurred by their opponents.

B.  All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board or, for Mini-Soccer, the Laws of Mini-Soccer as set down by The Football Association. Where a club with a home fixture is unable to provide a pitch in a playable condition they should notify the Fixture Secretary. He may then order the game to be played on the opponent's pitch, or an alternative pitch, if in his opinion, such action is necessary for the orderly completion of the fixture to their opponents. Where a fixture is reversed, the original home team shall pay no more for the hire of the pitch than they would have done for their own pitch. The Management Committee will adjudicate in the event of a dispute. A fixture on the first game between two teams will automatically be reversed for the second game, subject to the pitch being playable, so both teams have the oportunity to play at home.

Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to be changed.

The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the League and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.

All matches shall have a duration as set out below unless a shorter time (not less than forty (40) minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.

For Mini-Soccer – The duration of play shall be as follows: for under 7 and under 8 age groups, - 4 periods at 10 minutes, where the two team one game format is used, and for under 9, under 10, & under 11, 25 minutes each way, using the two team, one game format.

For Youth football – The duration of play shall be as follows unless it is mutually agreed by all parties to reduce the time.

For Under 11 and Under 12 :- 30 minutes each half.
For Under 13 and Under 14 :- 35 minutes each half.
For Under 15 and Under 16 :- 40 minutes each half.
For Under 17 and Under 18 :- 45 minutes each half.

The minimum time for any game will not be less than 20 minutes each half for players in the under 14 age group and below and 25 minutes each half for all other age groups.

No player under the age of 17 shall be permitted to play more than one game or, in the event the league allows the playing of a double-header, ie: two separate matches, 100 minutes per day in this League.

The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the A.G.M. or the Management Committee. With the exception of Cup Finals, Trophy Finals and Divisional Play-offs these shall not be before 10.00 a.m or later than 3.00 p.m on Sundays. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £5.00 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine. Matches should not commence later than 15 minutes after the scheduled kick-off time unless agreed by the two teams, and the referee. Where special circumstances arise concerning pitch availability's or mid-week fixtures, earlier or later kick-off times will be permitted provided both teams agree. Notification must be given to both the Fixture Secretary and the Referees Secretary.

Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the League.

The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. The size of football to be used shall be: For Mini-Soccer, No larger than size 4. Size 3 for players in the under 7 and 8 age categories; size 4 for under 9's and 10s and 11s. For youth football – size 4 for those playing under 11, 12, 13 and 14 age groups; size 5 for all other age groups. Goal nets must be used. And both teams must be equipped with an appropriate First Aid Kit. Corner posts must be provided for U11s to U18s by the Home Club

C.  Except by permission of the Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the (Fixtures) Secretary.

D.  The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least five clear days prior to the playing of the match. Together with Club colours, whether dressing rooms available, and whether an official referee is controlling the game. The away Club Secretary shall immediately confirm details by telephone and also reply in writing. If the Home Club Secretary has not received this confirmation by the Wednesday prior to the match he/she must contact the Away Club Secretary by telephone. It is the equal responsibility of each Club to ensure that fixtures take place as laid down. If a Club does not comply with match notification procedure and confirmation, the General Secretary or the Chairman should be notified by telephone (this to be confirmed in writing) when action shall be taken against the offending Club after due investigation. Failure to follow the correct fixture notification or confirmation procedure may result in a fine of up to £5.00 for each offence. Only written evidence will be accepted by Management Committee in the matter of any disputes.

(1).  Any fixture which does not take place on the due date, shall be considered as an unfulfilled fixture unless covered by Rule 10A(6) or 10A (8). Where a fixture is not fulfilled or is abandoned both Clubs must provide written notification of the circumstances to the Fixtures Secretary within seven (7) days. Form FS1 is available for this purpose. Failure to comply with this rule may result in a fine of £5.00.

E.  Every Club shall play its best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the League.

In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than nine players they shall be fined £10.00 for each missing player. A minimum of eight players in Youth Football, or six players in Mini-Soccer, will constitute a team for a match under the jurisdiction of this League.

F.
(1).  Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. Not withstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent's ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances.

(2).  Not applicable to the Bexley & District Junior Football League.

(3).  Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club. Such notice must be given 48 hours by the Club to the (Fixtures) Secretary, the Referees Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.

(4).  In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed by the two Clubs and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and notification to the (Fixtures) Secretary within 2 days the Management Committee shall have power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date. Where a match is postponed for any reason, the Club concerned must make every effort to notify its opponents immediately to avoid unnecessary travel. If the club concerned is unable to contact its opponents within reasonable time, they must advise the League General Secretary or Chairman of the circumstances. Where a fixture is not fulfilled, or is abandoned both Clubs must provide written notification of the circumstances to the appropriate Fixture Secretary within two (2) days. Form FS1 is available for this purpose. Failure to comply with this rule may result in a fine of £5.00.

(5).  The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of the League and does no injustice to either Club, shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its Club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponents and/or take what other action they may deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or their Club members, the Management Committee shall take such action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary action taken by the appropriate County Football Association.

G.
(1).  A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use substitute players in any match in this League who may be selected from five players in Under 11 to Under16. In the Under 17 and Under 18 age groups may use up to three (3) substitutes who may be selected from a maximum of five named substitutes. A player once substituted cannot return to the field of play and must take no further part in the match.

(2).  For Mini-Soccer – any number of substitutions may be used at any time with the permission of the Referee. Entry onto the field of play will only be allowed during a stoppage in play. A player who has been replaced may return to the play as a substitute for another player.

For Youth Football – for teams in the under 16 age group and below, a player who has been substituted himself becomes a substitute and may replace another player at any time subject to the substitution being carried out in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of Association Football.

(3).  Eligible players only shall sign the match card in ink, together with their date of birth, when, and before, they have changed for play. The away team manager will supervise the signing of the home team players and the home team manager will supervise the signing of the away team players. Registration cards with properly affixed photographs will be provided to the opposing team manager, so that he/she may properly identify the players who sign the match card. If the player's registration card is not available for inspection by the opposing teams, he shall not be permitted to take part in the match. Any team refusing to carry out the above match card procedure shall be liable to a fine of up to £25.00.

(4).  In Youth Football each Team Manager will be responsible for returning the match card bearing their opponents signatures to the appropriate Divisional Registration Officer. Should these cards not be received within 5 days of the date of the match the defaulting club will be fined £10.00. It is the responsibility of Team Managers to ensure that they submit a correctly completed match card and also that their own team details on their opponents match card are correct. Players must sign the match card and capital letters or printed signatures must not be used and will not be accepted. Errors or omissions on the match card in respect of player's signatures or dates of birth may result in a fine of up to £5.00 per card.

For Mini-Soccer in each age groups, match cards must be filled in by both Team Managers before the kick-off, with the name and registration number shown clearly for every player who it is intended shall take part in the match. Players in the Under 7 and Under 8 sections will not be required to sign the match card. Players in the Under 9, 10 and Under 11 sections must sign the match card which will be supervised by the opposing team representative. Completed match cards must be exchanged between Team Managers who will be responsible for returning the match card bearing their opponents names to the relevant Divisional Registration Officer. Should these cards not be received within 5 days, the defaulting Club will be fined £10.00. It is the responsibility of each Team Manager to ensure that they submit a correctly completed match card and also that their own team details on their opponents match card are correct. Errors or omissions on the match card may result in a fine of up to £5.00.

(5).  The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than five (5) minutes before the start of the match.

(6).  A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.

(7).  A player who arrives late and whose name has been included on the match card is entitled to take part in the game at any time but must sign the match card before doing so. In accordance with Laws of the Game such a player may not enter the field of play until the referee signifies permission. In the event of a dispute arising concerning the eligibility of a player(s), following proper completion of the match card and registration card inspections, the Team Manager who raises the dispute is not entitled to prevent the player(s) in question from taking part in the game. Full registration card and match card details should be recorded by the Team Manager, and the matter reported in writing, to be received by the League Registration Secretary within seven days of the match.

(8).  Any Team Manager who refuses to carry out proper match card procedures in accordance with this rule shall be deemed guilty of gross misconduct and, if proven, shall be liable to suspension from his duties.

H.  The half time interval shall be of a maximum of 10 minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.