REMINDER OF PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFYING POSTPONEMENT OF MATCHES

 

BACKGROUND

 

Rule number.10F (which you will find on page 18 2nd paragraph of the South Devon Football League handbook) states “Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing club in this order, to the Assistant Secretary, Fixture and Referees Appointments Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing club, and where directed, the match official.”

 

Many clubs have failed to observe this procedure in the last 2 weeks, in many instances wrongly informing the opponents and referee before informing league officers. In some cases none of the above league officers were informed. Thanks to all those who did everything correctly.

 

To assist clubs the league committee have decided that as a concession from now on the only league officer the home club need to contact where it is required to postpone due to adverse weather/unfit pitch is the Referees Appointments Secretary, Phil Smith. Therefore with immediate effect there is no need to inform the Assistant Secretary Lisa Buley or the Fixtures Secretary Anthony Roach. Phil Smith will inform them by email of all postponements for this reason. He will also inform John Pearce so he will know not to expect results for the affected matches.

 

Phil Smith needs to be informed as he is the only one of the three officers who might need to take immediate further action i.e. reallocation of the referee.

 

Postponements for any other reason should be notified to the Assistant Secretary and Fixtures Secretary as there may be other issues that need to be considered.

 

Notice of postponement for weather conditions/unfit pitch MUST BE BY TELEPHONE ONLY i.e. NOT by email.

 

Please telephone Phil only on his mobile telephone number 07974 672113.

 

The same league rule also states” where there is a question concerning the fitness of a pitch the home club shall contact a local registered referee who will make the decision. The referee undertaking the pitch inspection shall not be directly associated with either of the competing clubs.”

 

“Unless otherwise directed by the Competitions Secretary, inspections should normally be carried out on the day of the match”

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On some occasions, e.g. the last 2 Saturdays, it would have been impracticable to insist on that and probably impossible as there would not have been enough referees available. However, the league reserve the right to insist on an inspection by an independent referee and, on occasions, may not agree to a postponement without such an inspection.

 

Where the appointed referee is not local and therefore will have to travel a long way it is in your own interests to avoid that referee having a wasted journey as it will cost you money. If the match referee attends the ground and declares the pitch unfit he/she is entitled to half of the match fee plus travelling expenses. Most local referees do not charge for pitch inspections but check with them first.

 

It is quite possible that where a postponement is not decided until shortly before kick off you may not be able to speak to Phil as he will be en route to or preparing for the match he will be refereeing. In such circumstances as well as leaving a message on Phil’s voice mail please telephone John Pearce.

 

BY POSTPONEMENT WE MEAN THE MATCH DOES NOT KICK OFF.

 

If the match kicks off and is ABANDONED it is NOT Phil Smith who needs to be informed but John Pearce, who takes the results.

 

 

SEE NEXT PAGE FOR SUMMARY OF PROCEDURE

SUMMARY OF PROCEDURE FOR POSTPONEMENT

 

SOUTH DEVON LEAGUE MATCHES

 

1. Where you rent a pitch from a local authority or a leisure centre who declare the pitch unfit there is no need to arrange an inspection by a local referee.

 

2. Where you are responsible for your own pitch a local independent referee should be requested to carry out an inspection. This requirement may be waived at the league’s discretion in extreme conditions.

 

3. Where the match will not actually kick off TELEPHONE Phil Smith on his mobile number 07974 672113

 

Once he has agreed the postponement you can then contact your opponents.

 

Only if Phil requests it should you then contact the referee.

 

4. If the match kicks off but is abandoned telephone John Pearce.

 

 

QUESTION: What if the away team and/or the referee contact you to enquire whether the match is on BEFORE you have spoken to Phil?

 

ANSWER: Tell them you are about to contact him and arrange to speak with them after you have done so.

 

 

 

DEVON COUNTY CUP MATCHES

 

We understand the instructions are that a pitch inspection by an independent referee is always required and notice of postponement must be given to Mark Buley telephoning his mobile phone.

 

Check the instructions issued in the cups booklet issued by DCFA.

 

 

AND ALSO

 

The deadline for home clubs to confirm fixtures to opponents and referees is Wednesday evening for Saturday matches. Do not wait to find out if your pitch will be fit to play on before doing so.

 

PLEASE ENSURE ALL RELEVANT PEOPLE WITHIN YOUR CLUB ARE MADE AWARE OF THESE PROCEDURES.





Due to the Denbury Athletic v Watcombe Wanderers game being postponed this week due to a case of swine flu and after consulting with NHS Direct (who’s advice is to carry on as normal) the SDL have decided that any future fixtures will not be cancelled by the league due to Swine Flu or any other pandemic illnesses (Unless advised otherwise by the latest NHS advice) if your club is affected by a swine flu outbreak then it will be your decision as a club whether or not you fulfil your given fixture, you will have been deemed by the league to have failed to fulfil the fixture should you choose not to play your given fixture, this will then be discussed by the management committee as per rule below at the next management committee meeting where your case will be discussed on an individual basis with supporting evidence from your club.
 
10(F)   Home and away matches shall be played.  In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement, before or after the commencement of the match, the Management Committee shall have the power to inflict a fine of £50, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points to the opposing Club and award 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.
In the event of a match not being played or being abandoned owing to cause 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 Fixture Secretary within 7 days he shall have power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date.  The visiting Club shall receive a car allowance at 25p per mile for transporting 16 persons (maximum of 4 cars).
 
Below is an extract taken from the NHS website.
 

Should I avoid contact with people suspected of having swine flu?

People with suspected swine flu will have been asked to stay at home and restrict their contact with people. Most people should continue their normal life, including going to school or work. This includes children who attend a school with a confirmed case of swine flu.
There is no need to avoid contact with people who might simply have come into contact with those with the illness, such as the parents of children at schools with a confirmed case but who are not themselves ill.

Should I go to work or school if I have been in contact with someone who I know has swine flu?

Yes, as long as you do not have flu-like symptoms. If you are feeling well, you should continue your normal activities, including going to school or work.
It can take up to seven days (normally two to five days) after infection for swine flu symptoms to develop. If you develop symptoms, stay at home and follow the general advice

If I have been in close contact with an infected person, do I need treatment?

You only need antiviral treatment if you have been diagnosed with swine flu or if a doctor decides that you are at serious risk of developing severe illness

Is it safe to use public transport now we are in a pandemic?

Yes. Public transport has not been closed during previous pandemics, and while there is a slightly higher risk to the public, this is no more than using other public places.
Anyone who has the flu or feels unwell should stay at home and not travel.
 
All queries regarding fixtures must first come through myself being the Fixture Secretary


Regards

Anthony Roach
Fixture Secretary
South Devon Football League

 
 
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