Westmrland Cunty Ftball Assciatin Limited SETTING UP A CLUB Cntacts Chief Executive Peter Ducksbury Ftball Develpment Officer James Pattisn Assistant Ftball Develpment Officer/ Cmmunity Cach Graeme Blair Westmrland Cunty Ftball Assciatin Limited 35/37 Appleby Rad, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 6ET Telephne: 01539 730946 Email@ inf@westmrlandfa.cm www.westmrlandfa.cm Ftball Services Administratin Officer Sara Newhuse Referee Develpment Officer Mark Backhuse
Setting up a ftball club fr the first time might appear t be a daunting task with different factrs t cnsider such as affiliating t the Cunty FA, gaining membership f a league, finding a pitch and changing facilities t use, purchasing and maintaining kit and imprtantly financing the team playing csts. In additin t the ther guidance listed in this leaflet, the fllwing steps shuld help smth the prcess and allw yu as a new secretary t enjy the participatin in ftball and wrry less abut the administratin side f the game. Intrductin t Grass Rts Ftball The vast majrity f ftball thrughut the cuntry is played at a lcal level fr persnal enjyment. Befre embarking n frming a new team, the fllwing questins shuld be asked: Are there enugh ptential players? Are there enugh vlunteers t take care f club rganisatin and administratin? Affiliatin It is recmmended that all clubs in the area affiliate t the Westmrland Cunty Ftball Assciatin. It is thrugh affiliatin that the family f ftball is brught tgether and ensures crrect standards and discipline are maintained. In effect it acts as a quality assurance and as a safety net t help prtect players, clubs, fficials and administratrs thrughut the game. The majr benefits frm affiliatin t Westmrland Cunty Ftball Assciatin include: Part f the structure f the Natinal Game frm grass rts upwards Eligible t participate in Cunty FA Cup Cmpetitins Discipline and Fair Play Opprtunities t apply fr grant aid and funding frm The Ftball Assciatin/The Ftball Fundatin Access t infrmatin and advice frm: Cunty Ftball Assciatin Persnnel FA Reginal Facilities Officer FA Reginal Ftball Develpment Officer FA Reginal Caching Officer FA Reginal Directr fr Girls and Wmen's Ftball Opprtunities t acquire suitable Public Liability and Persnal Injury Insurance cver fr yur club, team and players Cunty FA publicatins Opprtunity t participate in FA Ftball Yur club has the pprtunity t make its views knwn n the future develpment f the game t bth its Cunty Ftball Assciatin and The FA.
Clubs will need t affiliate t a parent Cunty Ftball Assciatin and the apprpriate league they wish t jin. Clubs are recmmended t seek advice n suitable league membership frm the Westmrland Cunty Ftball Assciatin. Affiliatin frms are available frm ur ffice. Cmpleted frms plus respective payment must be received and prcessed by Westmrland Cunty FA befre the club starts playing ftball. Affiliatin will be cnfirmed by the issue f a receipt, detailing the club s affiliatin number fr the seasn. Apply t jin a League - this will be dependent n the age and gender f yur players, the day yu plan t play and the lcatin f where the club plans t play hme matches. Details f leagues perating in Westmrland can be fund listed in ur directry r n ur website.. Mst leagues require applicatins frm new clubs t be received by the end f March prceeding a new seasn, s act n this as sn as pssible t avid disappintment. Membership f leagues in Westmrland als requires the registratin f players t that cmpetitin. Cnstitutin - Appintment f Club Officials It is recmmended that clubs shuld appint a Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Club Welfare Officer t enable the club t functin effectively within FA Rules and Regulatins. It is als suggested that ther peple are appinted t assist in ther administrative areas f the club. Fr yuth clubs with players aged 18 and under, a Welfare Officer MUST be elected. This persn shuld already have r be willing t achieve the mandatry FA qualificatin requirements fr the psitin, ensure the viability f a team; squads shuld have at least 14 players r apprpriate number fr mini-sccer teams. Agree a set f club rules and cdes f cnduct fr members t fllw. The FA has standard set f club rules which can be used. Please cntact ur ffice if yu wuld like a cpy. Agree a name fr the club. Yu may need t cntact us t cnfirm that similar names d nt already exist. Duplicatin f names will result in affiliatin t the assciatin being declined in which case an alternate name will be required. Finance - Incme and Expenditure t run the Club As a new club it will be imprtant t raise funds t run the club and initially these will prbably be frm player memberships and subscriptins. It is als advisable t prduce a list f csts t run yur team thrughut the seasn which will help yu create a budget f incme and expenditure fr the seasn. Open a bank accunt in the clubs name, ideally requiring tw signatures t access funding. One f these shuld be the Treasurer wh is respnsible fr keeping details f transactins and prducing a recrd f accunts each seasn. Raise Funds - running a ftball club is nt a cheap affair. The members shuld identify ways f funding the club. A kit, plus access t a change strip, will need t be purchased and the cst f cleaning cvered. Quality match balls and a first aid kit will be required. Hire f a pitch and changing rms are ften paid fr in advance. Referees fees and expenses will need t be cnsidered tgether with the annual cst f affiliatin t Westmrland Cunty FA, membership f leagues and ther cmpetitins. T help raise funds initially, a membership fee t jin the club culd be charged. Playing csts can be cvered by the charging f match subscriptins each game.
Seek Spnsrship - this usually invlves part r full payment by a business r rganisatin twards a playing strip in return fr the spnsr s name t be displayed n shirts. Please nte that there are rules in place which limit the psitin and area n clthing that can be used the wrding invlved. Spnsrship f yuth team kits must be age apprpriate and nt detrimental t the health, welfare r general interest f yung players. Players - Registratin, Eligibility, Discipline, Safeguarding Children and Caching It is imprtant that clubs are fully cnversant with the rules f each cmpetitin that they may wish t enter. All discipline at grassrts is administered by the Cunty Ftball Assciatin and the secretary f the club is respnsible fr ensuring that all players are eligible t play. If the club has any dubts abut eligibilities, fr example suspensins, they shuld cntact the Westmrland Cunty FA Office fr details. Fr yuth teams, it is imprtant t bserve child prtectin safeguards and details are available frm the Westmrland Cunty Ftball Assciatin. Insurance - Public Liability, Persnal Injury and ther plicies It is mandatry fr clubs t have adequate Public Liability insurance cver which is prvided by the Westmrland Cunty Ftball Assciatin. Players are advised t have insurance t cver injury r accident whilst playing r travelling t matches. Fixtures - Leagues and Cup Cmpetitins Fixtures are administered by the apprpriate cmpetitin which advises clubs f frthcming matches. If it is a hme match, the club secretary must arrange hire f a pitch, ntify ppnents and fficials f kick-ff time and lcatin f venue. Fr away games, arrange t infrm yur wn team f venue, kickff time and make transprt arrangements fr players. All Cunty Ftball Assciatins run cup cmpetitins which give an pprtunity fr teams t play against clubs frm different leagues r divisins. Affiliated Leagues in Westmrland:- Senir Leagues - 11v11 Westmrland Cunty U25 League Wednesday (evenings frm May July) Westmrland FA Veterans Festivals ad-hc thrugh summer Yuth Leagues 5v5, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 (depending n age grup) Kent Valley Junir Ftball League Saturday/Sunday Suth Lakes Girls League Mnthly festivals Sunday
Pitches - Useful Cntacts and Advice Find a Pitch - the club will require a hme pitch. Mst lcal authrities have pitches fr hire, r yu may have access t an independently-wned pitch r facilities that are part f schls r cmpany sprts grunds. Please nte hire charges will vary. Kit and Equipment Purchase suitable equipment prir t the start f yur fixtures and ensure yu have sufficient equipment fr all teams in yur club. The necessary equipment will include, playing strip, First Aid kit, nets, crner flags and balls. Administratin See the Club Actin Timetable (belw) which cvers pre-seasn tasks, prir t day f the game, n the day f the game, discipline and the club annual general meeting (AGM). Results/Public Relatins/Press Ensure yu pass n results f yur matches t cmply with cmpetitin regulatins. All clubs are recmmended t establish gd relatinships with their lcal press t publish results, match reprts and pssibly just interesting stries abut their clubs. Gd PR will help raise the prfile f the club, bring in new players and may even attract sme spnsrship. Club Actin Timetable PRE-SEASON Players Ensure each team has a squad f at least 16 players r the apprpriate number fr Mini Sccer / Small Sided teams. Affiliatin Cmplete and frward apprpriate dcumentatin and fees t yur Cunty Ftball Assciatin and league r ther cmpetitins. There after the affiliatin applicatin will be prcessed via the Whle Game System prtal. Facilities Arrange pitch(es) which cmply with apprpriate league regulatins and specificatins. It is als prudent t arrange/bk training facilities early. Meetings Organise club/team meetings (e.g. weekly training, mnthly Management Meeting, AGM). Als attend relevant league r Cunty Ftball Assciatin meetings when required. Registratin Ensure all players are registered with apprpriate league and Westmrland Cunty Ftball Assciatins. Birth certificates may be required.
Friendly Fixtures Arrange fixtures with affiliated club secretaries. Subscriptin and Match Fees Set a subscriptin and Match Fees fr players and members t meet yur csts fr the seasn. Carry ut fundraising (apprpriate t the club). Delegatin Club Secretaries / Team Managers shuld seek supprt frm ther members t spread the administratin wrk lad where practical. PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE GAME Cnfirm Fixture e.g. Kick Off, Clurs, Directins t grund, availability f pitch with Grundsman, match fficials. ON THE DAY OF THE GAME Pitch Ensure pitch is safe and crrectly prepared with nets, crner flags, markings and access t apprpriate changing facilities. Match Officials Ensure match fficials have been paid (hme team nly). Refreshments Prvide refreshments where apprpriate. Results Ensure the result card is cmpleted and psted t the apprpriate league/cmpetitin fficial t arrive by designated time. Please nte the cmpetitin may require the result t be cnfirmed by telephne t the apprpriate fficial. Level f detail n result card (e.g. players, galscrers, substitutins, injuries etc) will be dependent n league plicy. OTHER TASKS Disciplinary Prcedures This is an nging task thrughut the seasn. This will be cmpleted thrugh the Whle Game System prtal, separate guidance is available. The club must ensure any suspended players d nt play. END OF SEASON AGM Arrange AGM and/r presentatin evening. Enjy Yur Ftball If yu have any further questins r issues with starting up a new club, please d nt hesitate t cntact us, where we will be happy t assist and answer yur queries PGD/sn/July 2017