ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017

AYRSHIRE AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017 Tuesday 6 th June 2017 Kilmarnock Academy Commencing at 7:30 pm IMPORTANT NOTE ONLY ONE DELEGATE FROM EACH CLUB, LIFE MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ARE ENTITLED TO VOTE Page 1

AYRSHIRE AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017 TUESDAY 6 th JUNE 2017 AT 7.30 PM IN KILMARNOCK ACADEMY To: AAFA Clubs, Executive Committee Members and Life Members Dear Colleague, Please note that the Association s Annual General Meeting will be held as per the above details. The Agenda for the meeting is set out below. 1. Chairman s Opening Remarks 2. Apologies for Absence 3. Presentation of Trophies AGENDA 4. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 2016 5. Approval of Minutes 6. Matters Arising from the Minutes 7. President s Report 8. General Secretary s Report 9. Match Secretary s Report 10. Registration Secretary s Report 11. Disciplinary Secretary s Report 12. IT Secretary s Report 13. Treasurer s Report 14. Auditor s Report 15. SAFA Delegates Report 16. Honoraria 17. Life Membership 18. Applications for Membership 19. Elections a) President Mr W McIlvanney (Proposed by John Duncan, seconded by Executive Committee) b) Vice-President Mr G Mair, (Proposed by Stuart Urquhart, seconded by Executive Committee) c) General Secretary Mr N Turner (Unopposed) d) Treasurer Mr J Craine (Unopposed) e) Match Secretary Mr F Andrews (Unopposed) f) Registration Secretary Mr D Halbert (Unopposed) g) Disciplinary Secretary - Mrs J Brown (Unopposed) h) Minute Secretary Mr K Sinclair (Unopposed) i) IT Secretary Mr G Mair (Unopposed) j) Executive Committee Members (Eight to be elected) k) Delegates to the S.A.F.A. Council (Two to be elected) 20. Appointment of Auditor 21. Amendments to the Constitution and Rules: See Appendix 1 to this Agenda 22. Any Other Competent Business 23. Close of Meeting TO BE FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING, IF REQUIRED, TO APPROVE ANY CHANGES IN THE CONSTITUTION AND RULES. 30 th May 2016 Page 2

AYRSHIRE AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION APPENDIX 1 CONSTITUTION AND RULES PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FOR THE AYRSHIRE AFA AGM ON 6 th JUNE 2017 TEXT IN RED & STRIKETHROUGH ARE DELETIONS TEXT IN GREEN ARE ADDITIONS CONSTITUTION C2 Membership (g) All Clubs in membership must submit a complete list of all Committee Members giving full name and address. Failure to submit the form by the due date shall result in the defaulting Club being fined a sum not greater than 50.00. Any subsequent alterations to the club committee list during the current season must be notified to the Association/League with such alterations also submitted to the Scottish Amateur Football Association. Failure to pay fines imposed under this Rule by the due date may result in Clubs being Debt Suspended. LOCAL RULE. The list of all Committee Members will be submitted using the SAFA Form of Application for Membership and must be in the hands of the General Secretary on or before the League Formations Meeting. Failure to submit the form by the due date will result in the Club being fined the sum of 25. Reason: To introduce a deadline for submitting the list of Committee Members and the confirm the penalty. (h) All Clubs in membership shall submit the official Handbook Form no later than the Annual General Meeting. Failure to submit the form by the due date shall result in the defaulting Club being fined sum not greater than 50.00. Failure to pay fines imposed under this Rule by the due date may result in Clubs being debt Suspended. LOCAL RULE. Failure to return the Handbook Form as detailed above will result in the Club being fined the sum of 25. Reason: To clarify the fine for failure to meet the deadline for submitting the Handbook Form. C3 Continuation of Membership Clubs in membership must submit to the Secretary not later than a date to be agreed by the Executive Committee in the current Season, the Continuation of Membership Form. Failure to return the form by the due date will result in the Club being fined a sum not greater than 50.00. LOCAL RULE. Failure to return the Continuation of Membership Form on or before 30 th April as detailed above will result in the Club being fined the sum of 25. These forms will be read and vetted at the Annual General Meeting. Reason: To clarify the rule regarding deadline of form. ASSOCIATION / LEAGUE RULES LR3 Composition of League / Association The composition of the Association / League shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting or any other meeting called for that purpose. LOCAL RULES. The format of the league is detailed in Appendix 4. (Subsequent appendices to be re-numbered) (a) The Association will be divided into a Premier League and Divisions numbered One, Two, Page 3

Three etc. The number of Divisions and the number of clubs in each Division will be determined at the Leagues Formation Meeting. Promotion and relegation will apply in the Premier League and all the Divisions on the basis of two clubs promoted and two clubs relegated from each with the exceptions that promotion will not apply at the top of the Premier League and relegation will not apply at the bottom of the highest numbered division. Any variation from the above promotion and relegation principles as a result of resignations from the Association or for any other reason shall be determined at the Leagues Formation Meeting or at a meeting of the General Council. Each divisional winner will receive a trophy to be retained for a season. New clubs will enter the lowest division. (b) Each club shall play home and away matches with every other club in the relative division except in the highest numbered division where the number of matches to be played will be determined at the Leagues Formation Meeting. If the number of clubs in the highest numbered division changes after the Leagues Formation Meeting but prior to the start of the playing season, the Executive Committee shall have sole authority, after consulting those clubs remaining in the highest numbered division, to vary the number of matches to be played from the number determined at the Leagues Formation Meeting. Three points will be awarded for a win, and one for a draw. Goal difference shall determine divisional positions where clubs have equal points. Should goal difference fail to determine position, clubs who have scored the greatest number of goals will be placed in preferential order, and if this fails to determine position a play off will be necessary. Reason: To simplify the wording regarding the structure of the league, and to show this as an appendix. LR4 Fixtures (d) Any Club wishing a Free date, must do so in writing to the Secretary or Match Secretary giving notice as determined by the Executive Committee, and stating the reason, and such application shall be decided by the General Committee or Match / Fixture Secretary. The number of free dates granted in any one season shall be determined by the Leagues and Associations Any free date approved under this rule shall have no effect in respect of matches cast by the Scottish Amateur Football Association LOCAL RULE. Clubs will be entitled to receive two three free dates from domestic fixtures during the season provided their request is received in writing 14 days prior to scheduled kick off time. The third free date will only be permitted after 28 th February if the club has played a minimum of 70% of their league games as at 28th February. Reason: To increase the number of free weeks to 3. LOCAL RULE. Priority over league games shall apply to Scottish, West of Scotland and Ayrshire District Cup ties. Reason: Already covered in LR6. Move paragraph 2 to after LR4 a) LR8 Ground Directions etc. (b) The Secretary of the HOME Club must confirm with the Referee and the Visiting Club no later than 3 days prior to the listed fixture, as to time of kick-off, colours and directions. In Page 4

the event of matches being played mid-week, the Secretary of the HOME Club to confirm with the Referee and the Visiting Club no later than 3 days prior to the listed fixture, the time of kick-off, colours and directions. LOCAL RULE. The Match Secretary shall issue to clubs and referees the only, and official, intimation of fixtures. Visiting clubs and referees shall proceed to the registered ground of the home club, unless notified of an alternative venue by the home club. Reason: Already covered. LR8 Ground Directions etc. (d) The Home Club is responsible for the condition of the ground, and Laws of the Game being complied with. On points of fact connected with the game and fitness of the ground for play, the decision of the Referee shall be final. When ground conditions are uncertain, or at the request of their opponents, the HOME club must call in an official referee to inspect the ground on the day of the match. LOCAL RULE. The home club should notify the away club of the time of the pitch inspection and a representative of the away club can be present if they wish. If a referee is called to inspect the ground more than one hour before kick-off, an Inspection Fee of 1 plus travelling expenses, not exceeding 4 overall, will be paid, shared by both clubs. The referee shall complete the appropriate form after his inspection. If the inspection occurs within one hour of kick-off, Rule LR23 d) applies. Reason: To allow away clubs to be present at a pitch inspection if they wish. LR8 Ground Directions etc. (e) In the event of a ground being unplayable, the HOME Club must immediately notify the Visiting Club, Referee, and League Match Secretary of the postponement. LOCAL RULE. Where a ground is deemed unplayable, either by an official referee or council representative, the home club is responsible for notifying the cancellation as soon as practicable to the opposing team, the Match Secretary and where appropriate the referee. Failure to do so will incur a fine of 5 for each infringement. and for forwarding The home club must send the cancellation notice to the Association within 7 days, failure to comply will result in disciplinary action being taken. In the event of a match being cancelled the club must notify the Match Secretary of the cancellation as soon as practicable and, if the club is the home club, must notify the away club and the referee of the cancellation as soon as practicable. Failure to do so will incur a fine of 5 for each infringement. Reason: Tidy up of rule, delete duplication. LR13 Registration LOCAL RULES. A player not registered in the AAFA may play as a trialist in a maximum of two three league matches for any club in any one season. A player may not play as a trialist if he is prohibited from playing in the AAFA by way of suspension or by being registered at the SFA Ltd within any other Association or League where such registration would prevent him being registered in the AAFA. Reason: To increase the number of trialist matches allowed by each player to 3. Page 5

LR14 Conduct of Spectators Where it can be proved that spectators at a League or Cup match, by using obscene language or words of intimidation, or conduct themselves in such a manner as to interfere with the players or stop a game, the Executive Committee shall have power to order the game to be replayed on another ground or to award the match to either Club and take such further action as may be deemed necessary. LOCAL RULE. All clubs must take proper precaution to secure good behaviour. Clubs will be held responsible for the behaviour of their players during and after a game, whilst within the precincts of the ground. All clubs are responsible for order in their respective dressing rooms at all times. Reason: Already covered in Cll (b). LR15 Representative Games (b) A Club may apply for a postponement of fixture should one or more players be selected to play in a representative game on the same day. LOCAL RULE., subject to the following conditions: Reason: No longer required. a. That the Select Match falls on the same day as the club s domestic fixture OR b. That travelling arrangements to or from the Select Match fall on the same day as the club s domestic fixture. LR19 Resignation from League (a) When a Club intimates its resignation from the League / Association during the Season, such Club must notify the Secretary in writing. Should any club resign its membership or cease to function after the start of the playing season, any points won by the club or its opponents in league matches will be forfeited and any goals scored by the club or its opponents in league matches will be disregarded in the relevant league table. The club will no longer be considered to be a member of its particular division or be eligible for promotion or relegation from that division at the end of the season. The club will not be replaced in its particular division and its remaining league fixtures will be declared null and void. The results of any cup ties played by the club shall stand. LOCAL RULE. If a club which has commenced playing matches resigns its membership or ceases to function and its resignation is accepted on or after 1st March or the date it ceases to function is deemed by the Executive Committee to be on or after 1st March, the number of clubs to be relegated from the relevant division shall be reduced by one. In the event of a division being further reduced in similar circumstances to those set out above, no clubs will be relegated from the relevant division. (b) When a Club intimates its resignation from the League/ Association after completion of its League programme, all League matches involving that Club shall not be declared null and void. (c) LOCAL RULES. Should any club not in the lowest division resign its membership or cease to function prior to start of the playing season, that club shall not be deemed to be a member of its allocated league division and shall be replaced in that division by the promotion of the club which in the previous season was highest placed in but did not win promotion from the division immediately below. Any consequential vacancies in other divisions shall be filled by applying the same principles. If the resigning club had been allocated a place in the lowest division it will not be replaced. Page 6

(d) Should any club be refused membership of the Association but confirmation of its status is delayed until after the start of the playing season due to any appeals procedures being invoked, the club will not be issued fixtures unless and until such time as the exclusion decision has been revoked. If exclusion is confirmed prior to December 31st and provided the club would not have been a member of the lowest division, the club will be replaced by applying the same principles set out in a) above. (e) The Executive Committee shall have the powers to accept the resignation of any club. Reason: Covered in new rule in Appendix 4. LR23 Referees (b) The responsibility for payment of the referee s fee shall be determined by the Executive Committee. The fee not to exceed 40.00. LOCAL RULE. The referee s all-inclusive tariff shall be as decided by the General Council at the Annual General Meeting (see appendix 2). This rate may not be departed from during the season unless upon a three-fourths majority vote at a General Meeting. The home away club is responsible for the referee s tariff except in Ayrshire District Cup matches where the tariff shall be split equally between the two clubs. (see guidance note 3) Reason: To split the costs more evenly on match days between home and away clubs. (c) Should a ground be considered unplayable, the Referee shall after inspection, receive halffee, the responsibility for which will be determined by the Executive Committee. Reason: Tidy up of rule. LOCAL RULES. Should a ground be considered unplayable, after inspection, the referee will receive half-fee (see appendix 3) To be shared equally by both clubs. LR24 Protests, Claims and Complaints (e) All protest, Claims and Complaints shall be investigated by the Executive Committee, who will deal with the matters, and take such further action as may be deemed appropriate. If any Protest, Claim or Complaint is found to be trivial or frivolous or groundless, a further levy may be imposed on the Club concerned at the discretion of the Executive Committee. (f) LOCAL RULES. Claims for points in league games, and claims for cup ties to be awarded to a club must be lodged in the same manner as protests. (g) A member of either of the clubs concerned with a protest or claim shall not be eligible to sit on committee while the protest or claim is being considered. (h) If any protest claim is considered to be trivial or groundless the deposit shall be forfeited. The protesting club may also be liable for the expenses of the meeting. Reason: Already covered in other rules. CUP COMPETITION RULES LOCAL RULES CR7 The competitions shall be subject to the foregoing Association Rules excepting as regards referees, receipts and outlays regarding which the governing rules are as follows:- (a) All ties must be of a duration of 90 minutes except in the event of a draw when an extra time Page 7

period of 30 minutes will be played. Should the outcome remain a draw the match will be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the laws as defined by F.I.F.A. In semi-finals and finals extra time will be played in the first game. Should the outcome remain a draw the match will be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the laws as defined by F.I.F.A. Any exception to the provisions of this Rule will be set out in Appendix 5. Reason: Rule no longer applies. APPENDICES APPENDIX 2 Referees tariff as decided by the General Council at the L.F.M. AGM will be 40.00. Assistant Referees tariff as decided by the General Council at the AGM will be 20.00 Reason: Tidy up of rule and bring in line with LR23 b) Appendix 4 to be deleted and subsequent appendices to be renumbered. APPENDIX 3 Should a ground be considered unplayable after inspection, the referees tariff as decided by the General Council at the L.F.M. will be 20.00, being half-fee of Appendix 2 above. Reason: Covered by rule LR23 d). APPENDIX 4 (Proposal 1) The League shall consist of a Premier League of twelve clubs, with all other clubs drawn into mini-leagues of 4 (lettered A, B, C etc.) using a ranking system based on where the clubs finished in the previous season. A maximum of three mini-leagues will contain 5 teams to accommodate the total number of clubs in the Association. The teams in each mini-league will play each other home and away, those teams finishing first in each mini-league will create the First Division, those teams finishing second will create the Second Division, those teams finishing third will create the Third Division and those teams finishing fourth or fifth will create the Fourth Division. The teams in each division (including the Premier League) will play each other home and away. Each divisional winner will receive a trophy to be retained for a season. Three points will be awarded for a win, and one for a draw. Goal difference shall determine divisional positions where clubs have equal points. Should goal difference fail to determine position, clubs who have scored the greatest number of goals will be placed in preferential order. If clubs remain tied, the position will be based on head-to-head matches between the two clubs and if this fails to determine position a play off will be necessary. There will be two clubs relegated from the Premier League and two clubs promoted from the First Division. If a club in the Premier League which has commenced playing matches resigns its membership or ceases to function and its resignation is accepted on or after 1st March or the date it ceases to function is deemed by the Executive Committee to be on or after 1st March, the number of clubs to be relegated from the Premier League shall be reduced by one. In the event of the Premier League being further reduced in similar circumstances to those set out above, no clubs will be relegated. Should any club in the Premier League resign its membership or cease to function prior to start Page 8

of the playing season, that club shall not be deemed to be a member of the league and shall be replaced in that division by the promotion of the club which in the previous season was highest placed in but did not win promotion from the First Division. In this instance, all of the teams who were drawn in a mini-league of 5 will be entered into a draw to ensure the minimum number of clubs in each mini-league is 4. Reason: To add an appendix for the proposed new league structure (proposal 1). APPENDIX 4 (Proposal 2) The Association will be divided into a Premier League, a First Division and 2 Second Divisions. Each divisional winner will receive a trophy to be retained for a season. New clubs will enter one of the Second Divisions. The Premier League and First Division will contain a minimum of twelve clubs with each of the Second Divisions containing an equal number of clubs where possible. Should any club in the Premier League or First Division resign its membership or cease to function prior to start of the playing season, that club will only be replaced if the number of teams in that division decreases below the minimum number. For the 2017/18 season, that club shall be replaced in that division by the promotion of the club which in the previous season was highest placed in but did not win promotion from the division immediately below. Any consequential vacancies shall be filled by applying the same principles. Each club shall play home and away matches with every other club in the relative division. Three points will be awarded for a win, and one for a draw. Goal difference shall determine divisional positions where clubs have equal points. Should goal difference fail to determine position, clubs who have scored the greatest number of goals will be placed in preferential order, and if this fails to determine position a play-off will be necessary. There will be two clubs relegated from the Premier League and two clubs promoted from the First Division. There will be two clubs relegated from the First Division; each of the winners of the Second Divisions will be promoted automatically, the teams finishing in second place will play off against each other in a one-off match at a neutral venue. The winner of this match will play off against the team finishing third-bottom of the First Division in a one-off match at a neutral venue; the winner of this match will play in the First Division in the following season. If a club in the Premier League which has commenced playing matches resigns its membership or ceases to function and its resignation is accepted on or after 1st March or the date it ceases to function is deemed by the Executive Committee to be on or after 1st March, the number of clubs to be relegated shall be reduced by one. In the event of the Premier League being further reduced in similar circumstances to those set out above, no clubs will be relegated. If a club in the First Division which has commenced playing matches resigns its membership or ceases to function and its resignation is accepted on or after 1st March or the date it ceases to function is deemed by the Executive Committee to be on or after 1st March, the number of clubs to be relegated shall be reduced by one. The teams finishing in second place in each of the Second Divisions will play against each other in a one-off match at a neutral venue; the winner of this match will play in the First Division in the following season. In the event of the First Division being further reduced in similar circumstances to those set out above, both clubs finishing in second place in each of the Second Divisions will be promoted. In the event of the First Division being further reduced in similar circumstances to those set out above, similar principles will apply to those clubs finishing in third place in each of the Second Divisions and so on. Reason: To add an appendix for the proposed new league structure (proposal 2). Page 9

APPENDIX 4 (Proposal 3) The Association will be divided into a Premier League and Divisions numbered One, Two etc. The number of Divisions and number of clubs in each Division will be determined at the Leagues Formation Meeting. Each club shall play home and away matches with every other club in the relative division except in the highest numbered division where the number of matches to be played will be determined at the Leagues Formation Meeting. If the number of clubs in the highest numbered division changes after the Leagues Formation Meeting but prior to the start of the playing season, the Executive Committee shall have sole authority, after consulting those clubs remaining in the highest numbered division, to vary the number of matches to be played from the number determined at the Leagues Formation Meeting. Each divisional winner will receive a trophy to be retained for a season. Promotion and relegation will apply in the Premier League and all the Divisions on the basis of two clubs promoted and two clubs relegated from each with the exceptions that promotion will not apply at the top of the Premier League and relegation will not apply at the bottom of the highest numbered division. New clubs will enter the lowest division. Three points will be awarded for a win, and one for a draw. Goal difference shall determine divisional positions where clubs have equal points. Should goal difference fail to determine position, clubs who have scored the greatest number of goals will be placed in preferential order, and if this fails to determine position a play-off will be necessary. If a club which has commenced playing matches resigns its membership or ceases to function and its resignation is accepted on or after 1st March or the date it ceases to function is deemed by the Executive Committee to be on or after 1st March, the number of clubs to be relegated from the relevant division shall be reduced by one. In the event of a division being further reduced in similar circumstances to those set out above, no clubs will be relegated from the relevant division. Reason: To add an appendix for the proposed new league structure (proposal 3). GUIDANCE NOTES 5. In a non-competitive match (i.e. a friendly) the two clubs can agree on the number of substitutes who can be fielded PROVIDED they notify the Referee before the start of the match and each team lists their substitutes on their team line. There is no limit on the number of substitutes allowed provided this procedure is followed. If a player is taken off to be replaced by a substitute he cannot be put back on later in the match. In other words rolling subs are NOT allowed. In all competitive matches, the maximum number of substitutes is any five from the five listed on the team line. Reason: To correct for Local Rule introduced in 2016/17. 13. Friendly matches, postponed matches, unfulfilled fixtures or matches that are abandoned do not count as completed matches in terms of a player or official serving a suspension. Reason: To update the guidance notes to account for unfulfilled fixtures. GENERAL Change his to his/her, where appropriate in the following Local Rules: C6 (d), C8, LR8 (d), Guidance Note 3, Guidance Note 8 Change he to he/she where appropriate in the following Local Rules: LR23 (a) para 1 & 3 Page 10