THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION DISCIPLINE PROCESS FOR SMALL-SIDED FOOTBALL Intrductin Implementing an effective disciplinary prcess is an imprtant factr fr all frmats f ftball, helping t establish a quality, rganised, safe and enjyable ftball experience fr all players and fficials. The issue f discipline is f equal imprtance in Small Sided Ftball as it is in the 11v11 ftball, and subsequently shuld be shwn prper attentin and regard by Small Sided Ftball prviders when rganising their cmpetitins; particularly if the cmpetitins wish t be apprpriately sanctined and affiliated t The Assciatin. The Assciatin has develped this disciplinary prcess t accmmdate the varied and different needs f Small Sided Ftball. The Assciatin recgnises that applying the same disciplinary prcesses t Small Sided Ftball as it des in 11v11 ftball des nt satisfactrily meet the differing demands f this versin f the game. Hwever, this des nt mean that The Assciatin takes illdiscipline in Small Sided Ftball any less seriusly. It is imprtant t nte fr all Small Sided Ftball prviders, that failure r disregard in establishing and effectively implementing these disciplinary prcesses can and will lead t The Assciatin remving affiliatin and classifying prviders cmpetitins as being unsanctined by The Assciatin. Fr all Small Sided Ftball prviders that affiliate t The Assciatin natinally it is a cnditin f affiliatin t agree t abide by the Heads f Agreement that clearly state that the prvider will manage disciplinary issues in accrdance with this disciplinary prcess. It is recmmended that Cunty FAs that affiliate lcal Small Sided Ftball prviders establish similar agreements. The implementatin f this disciplinary prcess will help create a safer and mre enjyable ftball envirnment fr Small Sided Ftball players and fficials, but als imprtantly fr the prviders it can assist in retaining Participants playing in their cmpetitins. 1. Discipline Ownership & Cntrl All issues f discipline that ccur at a Small Sided Ftball prvider affiliated t The Assciatin fall under the jurisdictin f the lcal Cunty FA. The ability fr Small Sided Ftball prviders t manage discipline in their cmpetitins fr incidents utlined in Table 1 belw have been delegated t the prvider by the lcal Cunty FA. It is at the discretin f The Assciatin t remve this delegated respnsibility frm a Small Sided Ftball prvider if the prvider is unable t demnstrate cmpetence in handling and managing disciplinary issues. In such cases the respnsibility fr all discipline in that cmpetitin will be returned t the lcal Cunty FA. 2. Affiliatin & Prvisin f Team Infrmatin When affiliating cmpetitins and slts t The Assciatin r Cunty FAs, all Small Sided Ftball prviders must prvide the fllwing infrmatin fr all teams playing in their cmpetitins t ensure that disciplinary cases can be managed apprpriately: Team Name Team Captain/Manager cntact details (name, address, email r telephne number) The Small Sided Ftball prvider must als ensure that The Assciatin r Cunty FA is updated with accurate team infrmatin thrughut the curse f the affiliatin perid. Small Sided Ftball prviders will nt be affiliated unless this team infrmatin is prvided accurately. The nly exceptins t this rule are utlined belw: 2.1. Disciplinary Agreement: On affiliatin t The Assciatin r Cunty FA the Small Sided Ftball Prvider signs the Disciplinary Agreement in Appendix B where the prvider agrees t perate a cmprehensive system f recrding and maintaining accurate team and player details. This agreement als requires the Small Sided Ftball Prvider t prvide The Assciatin/ Cunty FA with team infrmatin (team name and team captain cntact details) within 48 hurs f receiving a request fr this infrmatin. It als accepts that frm time-t-time The Assciatin r Cunty FA may request t undertake a randm spt-check f a Small Sided Ftball prviders cmpetitin t ensure that the prvider has accurate team infrmatin fr all teams in that cmpetitin. As well as signing this Disciplinary Agreement, at the pint f affiliatin the Small Sided Ftball prvider must als prvide written evidence t The Assciatin r Cunty FA t demnstrate the current systems that they perate and maintain t recrd accurate team infrmatin. If the Small Sided Ftball prvider is able t cmply with these pints, the rganisatin will nt be required t prvide all team infrmatin t The Assciatin / Cunty FAs upn affiliatin. If hwever, the Small Sided Ftball prvider cnsistently fails t prvide accurate team infrmatin when requested this privilege can be revked by The Assciatin. 2.2. FA Small Sided Ftball Accreditatin Small Sided Ftball prviders that have attained The FA Small Sided Ftball Accreditatin have demnstrated thrugh the accreditatin prcess that they have sufficient systems in place fr recrding and managing team infrmatin, and that as part f the accreditatin they will prvide The Assciatin/Cunty FAs with team details within 48 hurs when requested in rder fr disciplinary cases t be managed. As a cnsequence, accredited Small Sided Ftball prviders will nt be required t prvide team infrmatin upn affiliatin.
3. Issuing f Cautins and Timed Suspensins In Small Sided Ftball yellw cards and assciated cautins are nt emplyed. Referees shuld instead issue a blue card fr a cautinable ffence. The issuing f a blue card indicates that the recipient will serve an immediate timed suspensin ( sin bin ). The ptins fr disciplining ffenders are therefre as fllws: Player shwn a blue card and temprarily suspended frm play Player issued with a discretinary secnd blue card and temprarily excluded frm play Player issued with a red card and permanently excluded frm play A blue card ffence shuld always be accmpanied by a temprary suspensin frm play. The perid f timed suspensin in Small Sided Ftball shall be tw minutes. The release f Players frm a temprary suspensin shuld be at the directin f the Referee. 3.1. Recrding f Blue Cards In Small Sided Ftball cautinable ffences that result in a blue card and a timed suspensin frm the match shall nt be recrded and reprted by the match fficial r Small Sided Ftball prvider. Blue card ffences shuld nt be reprted back t the Cunty FA, and n disciplinary fine shall be incurred by the player. 4. Disciplinary Prcedures fr Red Card Offences 4.1. Serius Red Card Offences Offences nt classified in Table 1 belw will be the respnsibility f the lcal Cunty FA. Once the Cunty FA has reviewed the case the Small Sided Ftball prvider alng with the player will be infrmed f the utcme and any disciplinary actin. Fr these ffences match fficial are required t cmplete the Disciplinary Reprt in Appendix A and submit a cpy t the Small Sided Ftball prvider and the relevant Cunty FA. 4.2. Less Serius Red Card Offences (as utlined in Table 1) Offences classified within Table 1 shuld be dealt with by the Small Sided Ftball prvider under the delegated-authrity f the Cunty FA cvered in paragraph 1 abve. The match fficial shuld cmplete a Disciplinary Reprt (Appendix A) and ensure that it is sent t the Small Sided Ftball prvider. The Small Sided Ftball prvider shuld emply the fllwing disciplinary tariff f suspensins in such cases as utlined in Table 1. The prvider shall nt fine the player. Match Suspensin Tariff: Table 1 Offence Receiving a secnd blue card in the same match Denying a gal r an bvius gal scring pprtunity Use f ffensive, insulting r abusive gestures Attempting t kick r strike anther player Vilent cnduct Serius ful play Penalty (t be administered by Small Sided Prvider) 1 Match suspensin 1 Match suspensin 2 Match suspensin 3 Match suspensin 5. Remit f Disciplinary Actin Any suspensins fr ffences dealt with by the Cunty FA that are nt cvered in Table 1 apply t all levels f ftball (i.e. 11 a side and Small Sided Ftball). Red cards administered in Small Sided Ftball fr ffences within Table 1 are the respnsibility f the rganiser t deal with accrding t The Assciatin s recmmended tariff f suspensins and are frm Small Sided Ftball nly. 6. Persnal Liability fr Serius Disciplinary Offences Initial respnsibility fr a disciplinary issue will be with the individual that cmmitted the ffence. If this individual leaves the team but can be accurately identified, this individual shall retain respnsibility fr the payment f a fine and shuld be suspended frm all frms f ftball until the fine is paid in accrdance with the Ftball Debt Recvery Regulatins. If the individual respnsible fr the ffence cannt be accurately identified, the respnsibility fr the payment f this fine will be with (in rder f respnsibility): 1) The small sided team that the individual played fr when cmmitting the ffence. 2) The team captain f the team that the individual played fr.
7. Implementatin f Disciplinary Prcedures A rbust disciplinary prcess can nly perate if a recrd is kept f the identity f participating teams and Players. All Small Sided Ftball prviders shuld maintain details f participating teams and team cntacts prir t the beginning f a cmpetitin. Prviders shuld ensure that these details remain updated. In additin Small Sided Ftball prviders shuld identify a system whereby the identity f participating Players is recrded prir t a game cmmencing. These recrds shuld be retained by the Organisers and referred t in the event f a serius incident r n suspicin that a Player is playing whilst under suspensin. The existence f these systems (in line with paragraph 2 abve) shall be a requirement befre The Assciatin r Cunty FA will prvide sanctin t a cmpetitin taking place. In rder fr an effective discipline, affiliatin and Referees appintment prcedure t exist a gd wrking relatinship shuld exist between the Small Sided Ftball prvider and the Cunty FA. Cunty FA s and Small Sided Ftball prviders shuld establish a Heads f Agreement dcument which identifies the respnsibilities f each party in relatin t maintenance f discipline and affiliatin prcesses.
APPENDIX A SMALL-SIDED FOOTBALL DISCIPLINARY REPORT Hw t use: The Referee shuld cmplete this frm after a red-card has been issued. One frm shuld be cmpleted fr each red-card. The first cpy f this frm shuld be retained by the Small Sided Ftball prvider The secnd t be retained by the Referee The third cpy shuld be frwarded t the Cunty FA (Red Cards Type Tw Offences nly) Referees must reprt t the lcal Cunty FA all Red Card Type Tw Offence. Venue Date Player Team Oppsitin Team I have disciplined this player fr the fllwing Offence: Card Type Offence Please Tick Red Card Type One Denying a gal r an bvius scring pprtunity by physical means r by deliberately handling the ball. Use f ffensive, insulting r abusive language/gesture (including at a Referee) A secnd blue card ffence Vilent cnduct Serius Ful Play Red Cards Type Tw (t be managed by Cunty FA) Serius Vilent Behaviur causing injury, including any frm f assault Spitting Any ffences where the ffender has als acted in a discriminatry manner fr reasns f ethnic rigin, clur, race, religin, sex, sexual rientatin, disability Any ther ffence nt cvered abve including ffences after the match r after being dismissed Ntes f Incident Referee Name: Signature: Email Address: Date:
APPENDIX B SMALL SIDED FOOTBALL PROVIDER DISCIPLINARY AGREEMENT This Disciplinary Agreement must be signed and adhered t by a Small Sided Ftball prvider upn affiliating t The Assciatin r Cunty FA if they d nt wish t submit all team infrmatin details as part f the affiliatin prcess. The Small Sided Ftball prvider agrees t adhere t the fllwing: 1 The Small Sided Ftball prvider agrees t apprpriately affiliate all leagues and teams t The Assciatin r Cunty FA fr the duratin f this agreement. 2 The Small Sided Ftball prvider will wrk with The Assciatin and apprpriate Cunty FAs t manage and maintain a rbust discipline prcess in their cmpetitins and will adhere t The Ftball Assciatin Small Sided Ftball Disciplinary Plicy. 3 The Small Sided Ftball prvider will prmptly frward all incident reprts t the relevant Cunty FA fr every sending ff fr ffences nt cvered under Table 1 f the prcedures that ccurs in their cmpetitins within 5 wrking days. The Small Sided Ftball prvider will manage suspensins and disciplinary incidents that are cnsidered less serius and are cvered within Table 1.in line with The Ftball Assciatin Small Sided Ftball Disciplinary Plicy. 4 The Small Sided Ftball prvider will prvide within 48 hurs after receiving a request frm a Cunty FA the details f players that are invlved in ffences being dealt with by the Cunty FA. If the Small Sided Ftball prvider is unable t identify r prvide details fr the player invlved, as a minimum the Small Sided Ftball prvider must be able t prduce the team captain / manager s name, address and cntact details. 5 The Small Sided Ftball prvider will ensure that suspended players are unable t play in their cmpetitins fr the duratin f the player s suspensin. 6 The lcal Cunty FA will manage disciplinary incidents utlined in The Ftball Assciatin s Small Sided Ftball Disciplinary Plicy. 7 The Cunty FAs will ensure that the Small Sided Ftball prvider is made aware f all utcmes that affect Players invlved in their cmpetitins. 8 The Cunty FAs will ensure that the Small Sided Ftball prvider is infrmed f all Players that are suspended frm participating in affiliated ftball. 9 The Small Sided Ftball prvider will ensure that they perate a rbust and thrugh system f recrding and maintaining accurate team and Player details in all f their affiliated cmpetitins. The Small Sided Ftball prvider at the pint f affiliatin will prvide the Cunty FA r The Assciatin written details f this system that they perate. 10 The Assciatin r Cunty FA frm time-t-time may request t undertake a spt-check f a Small Sided Ftball prvider s cmpetitin t ensure that the prvider has the necessary team details fr all teams invlved in the cmpetitin. The Small Sided Ftball prvider (named belw) agrees t adhere t all f the pints listed in this Disciplinary Agreement during the perid f affiliatin t The Assciatin r Cunty FA. This agreement needs t be signed by the Small Sided Ftball prvider and returned t either The Assciatin r Cunty FA at the pint f affiliatin. Name f Small Sided Ftball prvider: Name f Senir Representative at the Small Sided Ftball prvider: Rle at the Organisatin: Signed: Date: