The following weekend December 3^rd we see 6 of our teams competing in the Wiltshire Junior Cup, and one in the Gloucester Cup. Good luck to all our teams in these competitions.

ALL LEAGUE FIXTURES are progressing well.

• Premier – 29 games played 2 games bought forward with 59 to go (35% complete).
• Division One – 27 games played 2 games bought forward with 31 to go (31% complete).

PLEASE CONTACT THE FIXTURE SECCRETARY PETE MILDENHALL FOR ANY CHANGE REQUESTS, WITH AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID CHARGE.

COVID GUIDANCE

It has reared its head again. For consistency throughout, and to show no favouritism we will look at several facts, if you report to the Fixture Secretary that there are known positive cases with your players.

1. The number of players you have signed on v players available.
2. The number of positive cases reported by the club?

Unfortunately the rules will have to be applied if you do call a game off because of a sudden outbreak of Covid. A charge will be issued, however, you can appeal about the severity of the fine ( as these have gone up a lot this season).

SIN BINS have been in use for a couple of seasons now, and here is a reminder.

• What are they?
  From the start of the 2019/2020 season, all yellow cards for dissent in grassroots football were replaced with the player
  being temporarily dismissed from the field of play – or “sent to the Sin Bin.”
  Which Leagues are impacted?
  Saturday Men’s Leagues at Step 7 and below, sanctioned directly by County Football Associations, by The FA, adopted Sin Bins. This includes Youth, Veterans and Sunday Leagues.
• How do they work?
  *The description below relates to a player receiving their first dissent caution of a game. Please refer to the table on
  page two for what happens if the player has previously committed offences during the game.*
  If a player commits a first act of dissent, the referee will show them a yellow card and point to the side of the pitch.
  The player is required to leave the field of play and is not permitted to re-enter the pitch, or be substituted, until ten
  minutes of play have passed (eight minutes for all matches of less than 90 minutes).
  There is no designated area the player must stand in, and they are permitted to warm up on the side of the pitch.
  If the same player commits another cautionable offence while “in the Sin Bin,” they are shown a second yellow card, and not permitted to return to the field of play and cannot be substituted (this includes committing a second act of
  dissent while in the Sin Bin)
• What happens after the match?
  A referee is still required to report Sin Bin cautions to the County FA in the normal manner, and they will continue to count towards the accumulation of offences for Players, Teams and Clubs throughout the season; however there is no financial penalty for a single Sin Bin caution.
  Where a player is not permitted to return to the field of play under sin bin procedures, they will receive a £40 fine
  and one match suspension (equivalent to receiving two regular cautions in a match).
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  Can a referee manage multiple players in the Sin Bin at the same time?
  Yes, provided they follow the correct procedure.
  Does the Sin Bin period roll over?
  The Sin Bin period will roll over from the First Half to the Second Half, and in to Extra Time, but does not roll over from one match to the next.
  Can a Sin Binned player be substituted?
  A player in their first Sin Bin can only be substituted once the Sin Bin period has elapsed and provided the Team has not used all permitted substitutions. A player who has previously committed an act of dissent is not permitted to
  return to the field of play.
• Can a goalkeeper be Sin Binned?
  Absolutely. If the goalkeeper is sent to the Sin Bin, they can be replaced by an outfield player and re-enter the field of play in an outfield position once the ten minutes have elapsed.
  Can a team drop below seven players due to Sin Bin procedures?
  Yes. As players are only temporarily dismissed, play can continue.
  Can a Sin Binned player be involved in a Penalty Shootout?
  Yes. Penalty Shoot Outs are used to decide the outcome of a drawn match, but are not considered part of the match itself. All Sin Bins expire at Full Time/the end of Extra Time.
  Can a Substitute be sent to the Sin Bin?
  No. If a substitute commits an act of dissent they will receive a standard yellow card.
  What happens if a player commits an act of dissent after the final whistle or during a penalty shoot-out?
  In this instance the player will receive a standard yellow card.

Guidance for multiple offences in one match:

LATE FA FINE FEES

You can save money by paying your FA fines on time !!!

• There are strict deadlines associated with acknowledging/paying cases as follows:
  Cautions Acknowledged within fourteen days
  Standard charges Acknowledged within seven days
  Invoices Paid within fourteen days
• What happens if the deadline is missed?
  Late Response or Late Payment fees are issued automatically in accordance with FA Regulations when the timeframes are not met.
  If a late response fee is not paid within 14 days, the player and team are suspended from all football.
  Suspensions take effect the first Monday after the invoice due date.
• Who has to pay disciplinary fines?
  In District football, the player and his club are jointly responsible for the payment of fines.
  If an adult player has not provided the club or the County with the funds by the invoice due date, we strongly recommend that the club makes the payment on the player’s behalf. Should the player refuse to reimburse the club, the club can seek to reclaim the costs through Football Debt Recovery with the County FA.

RULE AMENDMENTS FOR NEXT SEASON

The Management Committee will be looking at any request that has been proposed by a club and seconded by another in their December and January meetings?

Please forward the request and reasons for it to Johnl please?