Norton OBC Constitution

NORTON OBC CLUB RULES

1 Matches

1a) NORTON OBC matches during the football season will be played at GARRETT PARK, EARLSFIELD. All games kick of at 2pm and are 11 a side. NORTON OBC will play at Raynes Park during the summer months.

1b) The first friendly will be played on Saturday 19^th July 2008. The last friendly will be on Saturday 6^th September 2008. Friendlies are roll on-roll off so participation is maximised. Matches played in league only allow 14 players to be used. See squad selection.

2 Club Registration

2a) Any player wishing to join the NORTON OBC must register with Peter Joicey. Registration fees are payable on joining. New players can join NORTON OBC at any time in the football season up to March 31st in line with rule 8(J) of the Surrey South Eastern Combination FA rules.

2b) Management of NORTON OBC & NORTON FC have the right to refuse entry into the club for any reason. Typical reasons for a player not being permitted to join are;

2b)(i) a player must be 17 years old or over (in line with rule 8(A)(b) of the Surrey South Eastern Combination FA rules.

2b)(ii) a player lacks the required fitness level;

2b)(iii) a player fails to demonstrate the necessary level of ability to be able to play and compete successfully with the existing players.

2b)(iv) a player fails to demonstrate the desired level of sportsmanship, good humour and respect for others required to join NORTON OBC.

2b)(v) a player must not be registered with any other club that plays in the Surrey FA and it's affliated leagues and associations.

2b)(vi) a player must not be disqualified from playing under Surrey South Eastern Combination FA rules.

2c) If a new player joins NORTON OBC they will be expected to pay a £20 shirt fee and a £20 registration fee irrespective of whether joining close season, pre-season or during the playing season. This automatically represents a part-registration fee (see part-registration)

2d) Players will be registered with Surrey Southern & Eastern Combination FA where they will be given an individual registration number by the FA. Once registered with the SSEC FA the player will be entitled to play in any Norton club playing on a Saturday.

3 NORTON OBC FEES

3a) The recovery of Registration and Match Fees pays for the administration of NORTON OBC. The accounting of NORTON OBC must be clear and transparent and made available to any player who has invested Registration and Match Fees into the club.

3b) NORTON OBC shall declare at the end of each season, and at the half-way point of the season, to every player with a financial interest in NORTON OBC how much money has been raised and how much money has been spent and how much money has been given to NORTON FC and how much money has been retained for future costs. The passing of money to NORTON FC, other than to pay for the maintenance and usage of GARRATT PARK, to aid NORTON FC with its wider team activities is based wholly on the goodwill of the players of NORTON OBC.

3c) NORTON OBC is based on the mantra that if a player can pay then he will pay. Non-payment of Registration & Match Fees is unacceptable unless there are exceptional circumstances agreed with the manager of NORTON OBC.

3d) NORTON OBC is funded by the players of NORTON OBC and asks for no financial assistance from NORTON FC and shall bear no financial burden on NORTON FC.

3e) All bills or fees raised by NORTON OBC that is proven by receipt shall be paid out of funds raised by NORTON OBC

3f) The payment of registration fees does not guarantee that players will play. Team selection is based on “best team plays”. The manager and the club NORTON OBC/NORTON FC) does not owe people a certain amount of games simply because they paid a registration fee. The manager will do his best to charge the appropriate level of fees. See rules 4a & 5a).

3g) ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

4 Full Registration Fee

4a) The full registration fee of £40 is payable by existing players who participated in more that 40% of games, or who expect to play in more that 40% of games and who expect to be in attendance for the close season training and the pre-season friendly games.

5 Part Registration Fee

5a) The part-registration of £20 is payable by those players who the manager is not expecting to play more than 40% of games, or where the player participated in under 40% of the previous season.

6 Shirt Fee

6a) NORTON OBC shirt fee: A one off fee is payable to Peter Joicey for the placement of one Norton OBC shirt for 2007/08 & 2008/09 seasons. The shirt is sky blue, Prostar Dynamo and is tailor made to the requirements of the club.

6b) On placing the order the player will chose a preferred squad number, and state a given name to be added to the shirt.

6c) The name must be their first or Christian name or surname. The name on the shirt will be agreed with Peter Joicey prior to the shirt being made.

6d) The preferred squad number will be allocated if it is available. Each squad number is unique. If a preferred squad number is not available, then the player must chose an alternative number.

6e) The number must not exceed two digits.

6f) The manager has a right to remove a number from a player at any time. For example a player wore the number 11 shirt but left the club to join another team. The number 11 shirt was later allocated to another player. If the old player should return to the club then the old player will have to purchase a new shirt with a new squad number. A fee for the new shirt would be applicable.

6g) The purchase of a sky blue NORTON OBC top is compulsory. The purchase of the change kit (PURPLE SHIRT) is optional but is available for £20. This may be purchased at any time for £20

6h) Socks and Shorts with number and club badge are also available for £10.

7 Match Fees

7a) Full match fees are £5 per game.

7b) If a player starts and is substituted he must pay £3.

7c) A playing substitute will pay £2.

7d) Playing fees may be waived by the manager for any reason, usually injury or lack of playing time.

8 Non-payment of Match Fees

8a) If a player is playing but can not pay that week then they will be expected to pay a full £5 the following week, even if the player was substituted. The player will be expected to pay his arrears the following game (assuming that he plays the following game). If the player is not available the following week, non-payments must be settled the week the player returns to the squad.

8b) If a player persists in late or non-payments then the manager may not select them for future games until the balance is settled. Exceptional circumstances will be considered by the manager and those exceptional circumstances will remain private.

9 Waiving of Match Fees / Registration Fees

9a) Waiving of Match Fees / Registration Fees is at the manager’s discretion depending on exceptional circumstances being approved. The running mantra of NORTON OBC is, if a player can pay he will pay.

10 Collection of Match Fees / Registration Fees

10a) Collection of Match Fees / Registration Fees is the sole responsibility of the manager, or if the manager is away then the delegated temporary manager will be responsible for taking the money and keeping an inventory of who paid and the amount paid, and any fees outstanding.

11 What are fees for?

11a) Fees are for the paying of Garrett Park for the league season, of for Raynes Park or any other pitch used during pre-season that must be paid for. Fees are for the payment of league and cup registration fees.

11b) The match fees should cover the cost of paying referee’s their fee throughout the season. The fee for a referee is £30 a match. The home team pay for the referee. For example revenue from a home match should total a minimum of £55 if all of the players pay their match day fee, leaving a match day surplus of £25. If the game is played away there should be a match day surplus of £55 should all of the players pay their match fee.

11c) Match day fees can be used for the purchase of football equipment needed on the day, water, medical/emergency stocks and any other minor expense that the manager deems necessary to aid the running of NORTON OBC. 11d) All surplus will be held on account by the manager in a secure, separate savings account, where an agreed amount may be made available to NORTON FC. 11e) All registration fees will be paid to NORTON FC to pay for GARRETT PARK and other agreed club wide initiatives.

12 Expenses excluding referees and friendly pitches

12a) The manager shall send out text messages each month relating to squad and team selection, directions to ground and other general information. The manager agrees to send out and pay for 1000 text messages per month. Any fees incurred for sending more that 1000 text messages should be met by the club as “administration” fees, as over 1000 texts per month is excessive. The manager shall do his best to ensure that under 1000 texts are sent but sometimes this is not possible as demand from players for information (often already issued) can cause the number of text messages to be greater than 1000 texts.

12b) Fixtures and match details will be posted on the Norton OBC website - www.norton-obc.com <http://www.norton-obc.com> - players must make their availability known by Noon on Thursday prior to each game.

13 Money to be paid to Norton FC

13a) All registration money received by NORTON OBC shall be paid to NORTON FC.

13b) 40% of surplus cash after match and administration expenses shall be paid to NORTON FC.

13c) NORTON OBC have the right to retain 60% of surplus cash. The balance of the season’s surplus will be used as the manager and players of NORTON OBC see fit. This money could be used as down payment for Garratt Park for the new season, but pitch fees would be later recovered out of the following season’s registration fees that would have been made available for NORTON FC. The rules of registration fees remain unaffected irrespective if the NORTON OBC funds are in surplus.

14 Role of the Captain

14a) The captain will be elected by the players, and should be able to demonstrate leadership and responsible qualities. The captain will have a strong influence on team selection, match tactics and substitutions. Where necessary the captain may be asked to deputise in managerial duties if the manager is away.

14b) Captain's should be comfortable at communicating with all players and be disciplined and pragmatic in their approach.

14c) The captain would expected to contribute to new ideas as to how to enhance the performance and administration of NORTON OBC.

14d) The captain should encourage the participation of new comers, and should always be on the look out for potential additional signings.

14e) Ideally, the Captain should be a regular in the side and play a majority of the games. The Captain should be able to deliver a performance that sets an example for others to follow. The Captain for 2008/09 is Jesse Jumbo. The vice-captain is Leroy Donald. Steve Fowers remains as Club Captain and will captain the team when he plays.

15 Squad Selection

15a) Selection is based on “best team plays”. If a person is doing the job as per reason for selection then there should be no reason for a person not to play. Players usually will lose their place because of the following i) injury ii) poor fitness or iii) loss of form.

15b) A text message (see expenses) on the Sunday after a Saturday game will be sent out to all NORTON OBC players and NORTON FC officials who have an interest in our dealings, stating the time, date and place of the game to take place the following Saturday as asking for all those who are available to make themselves known to the manager.

15c) No response is taken to mean not available, or no answer to a direct text message or e-mail or phone call relating to availability is taken to mean not available. Unless the player expressly stated to the manager at the previous match that they would be available and that the manager can recall the conversation will a player been deemed available. If a person says they are available but then is not available for whatever reason and does not inform the manager, the player risks not being selected in future squad selections. The costs of sending repeat text messages and excessive amounts of text messages shall fall on the administration costs of NORTON OBC.

15d) A text message revealing the names of those selected in the 14 for Saturday will be issued on Thursday noon to all NORTON OBC players who made their availability known and NORTON FC officials who have an interest in our dealings and affairs.

15e) If players drop out after the squad has been announced for acceptable reasons before 10.30 on Saturday, a replacement will be sought out of those who said they were available but were not initially selected.

15f) Squad selection may sometime depend on the quality of the opposition or the tactics which the manager intends to use.

15g) Players are entitled to enquire to the decisions surrounding non-selection at anytime other than on the morning of the Saturday game.

15h) On squad selections the manager’s decision is final.

16 Match Cancellations

16a) Under no circumstances will NORTON OBC cancel a match. This is because there should be enough available players to attend a match. NORTON OBC will honour all of our fixtures.

16b) If there are not enough NORTON OBC players for a game the manager will then ask for players to invite new players to try out for the club. This would be the usual mode of entry to NORTON OBC during the playing season.

16c) If the other side cancel at short-notice, the points will be awarded to NORTON OBC as per the rules of the League.

16d) The manager will notify all of the players by text immediately of the situation. The manager and the club will do their best to arrange an emergency friendly that is within reasonable travelling distance. Match fees would apply in a friendly game.

16e) If no match is played matches fees will not apply. 18f) Squad selection does not carry over to the next match. The manager will select a squad from all those who are available to play for the next match.

17 Team Selection

17a) Team selection will be carried out on the day of the match. The starting line up will be made before kick off by the manager based on the players he has available. The starting line up is the managers decision.

17b) On team selections the manager’s decision is final

18 Selection as a result of an “unselfish act”

18a) Sometimes a player may carry out an “unselfish act” for the benefit of the wider Norton OBC act and may be rewarded by management for carrying out an “unselfish act”.

An unselfish act is one of the following,
i) going in goal at short-notice when no recognised keeper is available to play or
ii) refereeing a home game when no referee has been provided by the League and
iii) managing Norton OBC on a match day when the manager is away.

Things that are not defined as an “unselfish act” are as follows,
i) running the line
ii) writing match reports
iii) not being selected in a previous match
iv) putting the nets up

19 Players Late Arrival

19a) If a player arrives after the manager has announced the starting line up (usually 10 minutes before kick off in the pre-match speech), then the player will be named to the match referee as a substitute. If the player in their place performs to a high standard then the player who is late may not be selected in the starting the following game.

20 Player No Show

20a) If a player does not attend a match without giving a reason prior to 10.30am on Saturday morning then the player shall not be selected in the following team squads for the next three games. This is a disciplinary offence.

21 Substitutions

21a) Match day substitutions are at the discretion of the manager.

21b) The manager may consult with the team captain and maybe some other players.

21c) The manager will try to use all available players for a minimum of twenty minutes, but when games are close, some substitutions may not be made.

21d) Players who are substituted should accept the decision, though they do not have to like it or agree with it, they must respect the decision and the player who has been brought on to replace them.

21e) No player in NORTON OBC is good enough not to be substituted and maybe substituted at any time. The captain usually would be an exception to this rule.

22 Personal Fitness

22a) Players must be committed to maintaining an acceptable level of fitness.

22b) Players can not use the matches as the sole mechanism to get and keep fit.

22c) If a person is not fit enough to last a full 90 minutes, then they must get fit and prove their fitness or risk not being selected.

23 Conduct That Is Not Acceptable

23a) Examples of conduct that is not acceptable to the management and players of NORTON OBC;

23a) i) Deliberate non-payment of fees without discussing this with the manager, though the manager accepts that sometimes people can by mistake forget to pay. See rules on match fees.

23a) ii) Not brining team shirt to a football match.

23a) iii) Leaving without paying.

23a) iv) The use of inappropriate and inaccurate language that may cause offence may result in the player not being asked to play for NORTON OBC again.

23a) v) Signing for another football club without the consent or prior knowledge of the NORTON OBC manager will see the offending player and the new club being reported to the League and they will be found in breach of league rule. NORTON OBC is committed to the personal development of its players and if the offer to play at a higher standard of football or for another team in the league and the player wants away then he should make a private request to the manager and consent, hopefully on friendly terms, will be given without punishment to the player or the new club.

24 Club Discipline

24a) The management of NORTON OBC will not levy fines on any person for improper conduct other than official bookings in league and cup games (see rule 25).

24b) Disputes will looked to be settled in an amicable manner as playing for NORTON OBC is primarily a social activity but disputes are possible as every player should want to play but may not be able to play if the manager deems so.

24c) Players may risk non-selection if conduct is deemed not appropriate or if a players conduct is not serving the interests of NORTON OBC.

25 Violent Conduct, Red & Yellow Cards

25a) If a person receives a red card then the league will impose a 35 day ban, or longer if the League sees fit which the player shall serve. A £40 fine is payable to the club before the player can resume playing for Norton OBC. If a yellow card is received a £10 fine is payable to club. This must be cleared before the player can play again for the club.

26 Equal Opportunities and Valuing Diversity

26a) NORTON OBC accepts and upholds any social and ethical directives that NORTON FC sees fit to practice. The equal opportunities and valuing diversity material can be found in the NORTON FC constitution.

27 Amendment of the rules

27a) The rules in this constitution can be amended at any time. Changes in the rules should be issued to all members of NORTON OBC.