The FA have produced a comprehensive Discipline Handbook which is available to all Club Secretaries. It is a fantastic guide to all matters relating to the discipline paperwork system and shows how to fill in and reply to all types of communication.
Clubs playing at Steps 5, 6 and 7 of the National league System are dealt with under a match-based suspension system in line with football played above that level.
Clubs playing at Step 8 and below, including Youth and Sunday football, will continue to be dealt with according to a time-based suspension system.
If a player participates at both levels then the punishment will be based on the level at which they were playing.
To enable Clubs and Players to commence playing they must clear their General Suspension by 12.00pm Friday lunchtime to be able to play at the weekend. Anyone Clearing after that time will be released from General Suspension to play on the following Monday.
HELPFUL ADVICE ON DISCIPLINARY ISSUES FOR CLUBS
During last Season the Discipline Department encountered many problems Clubs were experiencing within the Disciplinary process. Listed below are many of issues and the advice we would give your Club and Players.
It is worth noting that all affiliated clubs can view and act upon their disciplinary status by logging into MEMBER SERVICES. You can view a variety of information, from diciplinary points staus, through to players disciplinary status and payment records. You can also view any outstanding payments and fines using MEMBER SERVICES. Click the MEMBERS tab at the head of each page.
1. CLUBS RECEIVING LATE FINES & GOING ON SUSPENSION
Every week we send out many letters to Clubs and Players fining them an additional £20.00 for Lateness in replying to Cases or a further £20.00 and General Suspension. i.e. A £10.00 Caution increasing to £30.00 and then £50.00 and Suspension.
Advice
We advise all Clubs to meet our deadlines of 14 days to reply to Cases. If you are struggling to make payment by the deadline a telephone call to the Office Discipline Department mayl save you the extra fine and hassle. The office does give a few days grace, but we are strict on deadlines and Late Fines will not be cancelled unless a very good written explanation is received. If you are struggling with paperwork please read below. A log is kept of persistent Clubs who are fined and or have late fines Cancelled.
2. PAPERWORK
On many occasions Clubs failed to supply the Players/Club Officials Details on the Reply Forms when making payment. Thus causing the Office to write to the Clubs chasing Details – this season this will incur a £20.00 Fine for Failure to comply with Instructions.
Advice
We advise all Clubs to make sure they complete all the Players/Club Officials details on the Reply Form i.e. The Correct spelling of their name, Date of Birth and address and if they still go to School or College then this must be declared as well. It is a Football regulation for all Clubs to keep proper records of its Players Details and the Players Clubs he/she is registered with. Failure to adhere to this Rule will mean persistent offenders being fined £20.00 for incomplete information.
3. SIGNATURES ON PAPERWORK
Some of the paperwork that is sent out to Clubs asks for Players Signatures on the Reply Forms and some Clubs worry about meeting deadlines when they can’t obtain the Players Signatures.
Advice
The Office would like all Reply Forms to be signed when possible, For Cases that are not Cautions the Player must sign the Paperwork, but if this cannot be obtained within the Deadline, please send the form back to us including payment without it. as long as his details are sent in to the Office. Any Player failing to sign the non-Caution paperwork will result in the Player being placed on a General Suspension. Please do not pp the Players Signature space on the Reply Form and Clubs that falsify Players Signatures will be charged.
4. CLUBS/PLAYERS REQUESTING A PERSONAL HEARING
When Clubs and Players request a Personal Hearing we encounter problems and listed below are some helpful advice to make sure that the request is accepted.
Advice
We advise Clubs/Players to make sure they Sign the Reply Form, pay the Appropriate Deposit and Administration Fee and enclose their signed Reasons of their Appeal i.e. The Participants view of the alleged incident and any closed dates to avoid when setting up the Hearing.
5. CREDIT/DEBIT CARD PAYMENTS
Do you realise that the Worcestershire FA are now set up to take payments using debit and credit cards. You can now do this using our standard pro-formas, or alternatively you can ring us to pay over the telephone.
6. YOUTH PLAYERS
When dealing with Youth/Schoolboy Players we encounter a few problems and listed below are the requirements for Youth Clubs.
Advice
When completing Reply Forms please make sure that you advise the Office of the School/College that the Player attends, as well as making him/her aware of the Referees Report if they had been reported for a Sending Off or a Misconduct Charge before he/she ticks a box. The Office also remind all Youth Clubs that it is a Football Association requirement that the Club must pay all Administration Fees/Fines for Players who are in full time education that are under the age of Eighteen.
7. CLUBS/PLAYERS CLEARING GENERAL SUSPENSIONS
Clubs and Players that are looking to clear a General Suspension must clear the Suspension by 12 Midday on the Friday of that week to play that weekend. Under no circumstances will the Office allow anyone to play if the debt is cleared after 12 Midday.
Advice
We advise Clubs to pay their Fines on time and they will not reach General Suspension stage, but if a Club do go Under General Suspension they should do everything in their power to clear the Suspension immediately. Leagues are advised to call the Office on Friday to check if any of their Clubs are still Suspended, and if they are your League will take the necessary action against your Club.
8. CLUB REQUESTING RE-IMBURSEMENT OF FINES FOR PLAYERS
During the last couple of Months the County have received many applications from Clubs for Players to be placed under General Suspension until they have been reimbursed for Fines paid by the Club for Discipline. Please be aware of the following if your Club are looking to carry out this Rule.
Advice
As soon as the Club have made payment to the Office and would like to recoup their Monies paid they need to write to the Player giving him 14 days to reimburse the Club the fees paid. If the Club are unsuccessful they can then write to the Association and apply for a General Suspension by sending us a copy of the letter sent to the Player, and advice us of the amount and the Case Numbers when doing so. The Association will then place the Player under General Suspension giving him a period of time to pay and including an Administration Fee of £10.00. This Rule does not apply to Players in full time education under the age of eighteen i.e. at School/College.
9. CLUBS/PLAYERS PLAYING WHILST UNDER SUSPENSION
During the last Season we charged many Clubs with Playing Suspended Players. Please be aware of the following:-
Advice
We advise Clubs to check all Registered Players/Managers/Coaches on our Annual List; this will stop your Club being charged and the possibility of League/Cup problems. We must also advise you that we are now logged into a National System and we can pick up a Player crossing the Borders who is under Suspension. The Discipline Committee are looking at the Issue of Clubs Playing Suspended Players and are looking to make the punishment more severe as a deterrent to this.
10. PENALTY POINTS
Please be aware the County operate a Penalty Points scheme and that when Clubs reach a specific number depending on their amount of teams, they receive an automatic Fine and Administration Fee.
Advice
We advise Clubs to read the specific page in the County Handbook so that they are aware of the Rule and that they monitor and stay aware of their running total throughout the Season. Many Clubs within the County have an internal Discipline System, which keeps on top of the persistent offenders.
11. CLUB CHANGING SECRETARIES/DETAILS
Many late Payments are caused by Clubs that Change Secretaries or have a Change of Address and not informing the County of the Changes. This should be carried out immediately in writing or by E-Mail thus to avoid problems by not receiving post.
Advice
As from this Season if Clubs fail to notify the Association of a Change of Address or a Change of Secretary and Late Fines are added to the Case they will stand as the Club have failed to carry out it duties. Please advise or contact us if you are not sure. Please email info@worcestershirefa.com to notify change of secretary address. There is also a form in the County Handbook that can be used for this purpose
12. RECEIVING WRONG PAPERWORK/OR NOT RECEIVING IT AT ALL
On occasions Clubs receive paperwork not belonging to them as Referees have reported the wrong Club or your Club have had Players Cautioned and Sent Off and after a couple of weeks you have not received any Paperwork through the post.
Advice
If the above happens during next Season please advise us in writing, fax, E-Mail or contact the Discipline Department by Telephone so that we can rectify the problem or find out whether your Paperwork has been received or sent to the wrong Club.