Thorncliffe FC Rules and Constitution

Introduction

The primary aim of Thorncliffe FC is to promote junior and amateur senior football in High Green, Sheffield.

Thorncliffe FC is a fully constituted club and all our teams are affiliated to the Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA.
Since our formation in 1998, we have become one of the largest clubs in the area providing football opportunities for boys, girls and adults.
We provide coaching facilities for players to start at an early age and be able to progress through each age group right up to senior levels.

Thank you for choosing to be a part of Thorncliffe FC and we hope that your association will be long and enjoyable one.

Handbook

This handbook has been compiled to ensure that the players of Thorncliffe FC and their parents/guardians understand their individual and collective responsibilities after signing for the club.

It is hoped that the information contained within this handbook will enable you to understand the requirements needed for playing and training. Also what costs can be involved in the terms laid down in the constitution and rules of the club.

There are separate sections for each topic and your manager should be able to give you additional advice or guidance if required.

Please note that once your child has completed a registration with the club, he/she must not train or play for any other team registered to the same league.
Please inform your manager or the secretary of an approaching club if your child is approached to play after already registering with Thorncliffe.

Contents

Page 1           Introduction and Contents

Page 2           Rules & Constitution

Page 3/4        Club rules & Responsibilities of the Executive Committee Officials

Page 5           Rules for all managers

Page 6           Rules and guidelines for parents and players

Page 7           Child protection policy and good practices

Page 8           Do’s and Don’ts – Child protection

Page 9           Child protection contacts

Page 10         FA codes of conduct and kick racism out of football

Page 11         Equal opportunities policy

Rules & Constitution

Ø      The club shall be known as Thorncliffe Football Club, herewith referred to as ‘the club’.

Ø      Junior teams will be known as Thorncliffe Juniors, Thorncliffe Colts and Thorncliffe Girls.

Ø      The club will hold 12 ordinary Managers Meetings on the first Thursday of each month unless notified otherwise.

Ø      At the ordinary meetings, votes will be counted from individual teams as one vote only. The Chairman will have the casting vote if all votes are equal.

Ø      The club shall hold one Annual General Meeting (AGM) in July each year unless notified otherwise.

Ø      The purpose of the AGM is to consider rule changes, to elect all officials for the coming season and to deal with matters from the previous season.

Ø      At the AGM, anyone attending will be able to vote providing he/she is a senior player or the parent of a registered junior player. In all matters the Chairman will have the casting vote if all votes are equal.

Ø      All team managers must attend the above meetings or send a representative when unable to attend.

Ø      The club is administered by an Executive Committee which consists of the following positions; Chairman, Secretary, Girls Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare Officer and Youth Development Officer. They shall be known as members of the committee.

Ø      The Executive Committee will meet as and when required.

Ø      All members must inform the Executive Committee Secretary in writing if they do not wish to stand for a further season, no later than two weeks before the AGM.

Ø      The Executive Committee will deal with all grievances and disciplinary matters. All decisions will be final and there shall be no appeal.

Ø      Officials leaving the club should give one months notice.

Ø      The club will issue all players at the start of their registration with the club, a copy of these rules for their guidance.

Ø      The club will be funded by subscriptions from players, fund raising events and sponsorship.

Ø      The amount of subscriptions will be fixed at each AGM.

Ø      Each team will be self financed and contribute an arranged amount each season towards a Central Fund.

Ø      The central fund will pay the pitch fees and insurance policies for each season.

Ø      The treasurer will produce a statement of funds at each managers meeting and at each AGM. These shall be backed up with supporting bank statements.

Ø      All managers must produce a copy of their accounts, with supporting bank statements at the managers meetings on a bi-monthly basis. Dates will be advised at the start of each season by the treasurer.

Ø      Each team manager can delegate responsibility to other parties connected to their team for the following reasons :-

a)     To collect all monies for subscriptions and other events.

b)     To decide not to charge subscriptions should the circumstances require this.
 

Club Rules

The following Executive Committee members are charged with the responsibilities listed.

The Chairman

Ø      To be an official on the Executive Committee.

Ø      To have overall control of Thorncliffe Juniors, Colts, Colts and Seniors.

Ø      To chair all disciplines as and when required. And to ensure that the decisions and findings are sent by post to any offenders immediately after any hearing.

Ø      To ensure that a record is kept of all disciplines and complaints etc.

Ø      To liaise with the Secretaries of Thorncliffe FC with any matters that may arise.

Ø      To liaise with chair of managers meetings to ensure that the meetings are conducted in an efficient manner.

Ø      To use the casting vote when required.

Ø      To deputise for the Secretary at league and management meetings and others as requested.

The Secretaries of Thorncliffe FC

Ø      To be an official on the Executive Committee.

Ø      To act as the contact for the Ideas To Develop Junior Sunday League and attend league and disciplinary meetings as required.

Ø      To co-ordinate pitches for the season.

Ø      To provide back up for all the team managers.

Ø      To be the contact for leisure services regarding pitch allocations.

Ø      To deal with other matters arising from the need of any contact from the club.

Ø      To co-ordinate the paying of any fines incorporated by teams or players before the ‘doubling-up’ deadline

Ø      Copile a register of players

Ø      To keep minutes of meetings

The Treasurer

Ø      To be an official on the Executive Committee.

Ø      To look after all the club accounts and bank money when required.

Ø      To produce accounts at each Managers Meeting.

Ø      To produce a financial statement at each AGM.

Ø      To be responsible for giving out cheques provided the correct receipt is handed over.

Ø      To co-ordinate the paying of any fines incorporated by teams or players before the ‘doubling-up’ deadline. Also to ensure that the fines are paid back by the offenders prior to the following Managers Meeting.

Ø      To ensure that each manager pays back the central fund any fines or payments paid from the fund.

The Welfare Officer

Ø      To be an official on the Executive Committee.

Ø      To be the Welfare and Child Protection Officer for the junior sections of Thorncliffe FC.

Ø      To appoint an assistant CPO.

Ø      To attend any CPO meetings that may arise.

Ø      To attend the Managers Meetings and AGM.

Ø      To liaise between the parents, players, The Police and the Executive Committee members.

Ø      To be accessible to players in order to relieve any fears or worries, and to act on any allegations promptly and efficiently without bias.

Ø      To maintain and keep all child information confidential.

Ø      To ensure all parent consent forms have been completed before the start of each season.

The Youth Development Officer

Ø      To be an official on the Executive Committee.

Ø      To assist the managers with the control of the players.

Ø      To co ordinate the training & Development needs of players and coaching staff

Ø     

Rules and Guidelines for all Managers

1.             All Managers must sign a declaration before each season to declare that he/she has read and understood the Club’s Constitution & Rules.

Managers must also agree to abide by the League’s Rules and Constitution of which they are entering for the season ahead.

2.      All Managers are responsible for their Players, Parents and Supporters.

a)     Remember that you are our club’s representative and you are responsible for the actions and conduct of your players, parents and supporters.  Any reported misbehaviour by any of the above will be dealt with by the County FA and could result in a heavy Fine levied against yourself and the club.

b)     The team of the offender or whoever was responsible for a levied fine against the club must pay any Fine that is levied against a Manager’s team, parent or supporter.

c)      Any Manager, Player or Supporter bringing Thorncliffe FC into disrepute with the League, County FA or Thorncliffe Social Club may face the Disciplinary Committee, which may result in the offender(s) being asked to leave the club.

3.      All Managers have the right to select their own squad.

a)     All Managers can remove as many players as he/she wishes at the end of each season and before the start of the following season for reasons other than disciplinary reasons.

b)     Should a Manager wish to remove a player(s) form his/her squad, he/she must inform the player’s parents as soon as the season has finished or at the earliest possible time to allow the player time to find another club before the start of the following season.

4.      Steps to be taken when removing a player(s).

a)  Explain to the player(s) the reason for removing them.

b) Inform the parents and inform them of their right to appeal to Executive/      Disciplinary Committee.

c)      Inform them that they have 14 days to lodge an appeal to the Secretary of Thorncliffe FC.

d)     In the event of an appeal being lodged, the Manager must not register another player in their place until the result of the appeal.

e)     Both Manager and parents must abide by the decision of the Committee.

5.      Players must play in their own age groups.

There are no exceptions to this rule and disciplinary action will be taken to Managers breaking the rule, birth certs must be supplied at registration in accordance with league rules

6.      Managers must attend the AGM and every arranged Manager’s Meeting.

a)     Should a Manager not be available, he/she must inform the Chairman, Secretary or another Manager prior to the meeting and an apology will be logged in the minutes. Un notified attendance will result in a fine

b)     He/she must send a representative from their team when they are unable to attend.

c)      Failing to send a representative more than three times in one season may result in the Manager loosing his/her right to manage their team.  Managers will be cautioned after the second time.

7. Managers in breach of rules will meet with the disapline committee who reserve the right                                to levy fines and match suspensions

8. Grants

            All grants must have prior approval from the executive committee before the application is submitted, failure to obtain approval will result in disaplinary action against the relevant team.

9.Official Expenses

            The executive have the right to authorize the reimbursement of expenses that have been incurred by officers undertaking official duties.

10. Advertisments for players.

            All advertisements for players beteen 1^st August & 31^st May must have the words ‘ must not be registered with any other team within the Sheffield & Hallamshire junior Sunday League’.

All adverts must have been endorsed by the chairman before being issued.

Rules & Guidelines for Parents
Before a player can start the season, parents/guardians must sign the Membership Application Form and the Child Protection Form

1.             Discipline

a)     Football matches can get very exciting and some referees make some controversial decisions, some will be in favour and some will be against.  Please show restraint if these decisions don’t go our way, as bad behaviour may cause the club to be heavily fined by the League or County FA.

b)     Parents who may be responsible for the club being fined will be asked to pay the fine(s).  Failure to do so may result in he Parent’s player being removed from the club.

c)      If a breach of the above rule has taken place, the Secretary will send a report to the County FA which will result in the player being unable to play for any other team until Thorncliffe FC has received reimbursement of the fine(s).

2.             Grievances

Thorncliffe has a grievance procedure.  If a parent has a grievance with the club, other players, parents or managers etc he/she should contact the Secretary in writing to register the complaint.  The matter will then be taken up with our Disciplinary Committee.

3.             Training and Fixtures

Parents are responsible for getting their player(s) to all training and fixtures and not the team’s Manager.  Parents are responsible to make sure the player has the correct equipment for training and matches e.g. shin pads etc.

4.             Social Events

Whilst attending any functions, social evenings or any sporting event in or around Thorncliffe Sports and Recreation Club, parents and their children must adhere to the rules of the TSRA and anyone bringing the football club into disrepute will face disciplinary action.

Rules & Guidelines for Players

 All players must sign the Membership Application Form before the start of each season

1.      All players must wear official club kit when playing. They are responsible for keeping their kit clean and in good condition.  The club kit is only to be worn for official matches.  Players must return their kit and training tops etc no later than one week after the last match of the season or on completion of their association with the club for whatever reason or at any time as requested by the Manager or the Executive/Disciplinary Committee.  Failure to return kit to the club will result in being reported to the County FA who will ensure that the player will not be allowed to play for any other County registered team until the kit/training tops etc have been returned.

2.      All players must report for matches and training at the times specified by the Manager or the Assistant Manager.

3.      Players must not argue with any decision that a referee may make. The County FA take great exception to players breaking or abusing the rules regarding abuse to referees and will heavily fine offenders and their club.

5.             Players must try to give their Manager at least 24 hours notice if they are unable to attend matches and training.

6.             All players must wear shin guards.

7.             Any player fighting whilst playing a match, training, before or after a match whilst playing for Thorncliffe FC will be brought before the Executive/Disciplinary Committee and may face expulsion from the club.

FIGHTING OR THE USE OF ABUSIVE LANGUAGE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AT THORNCLIFFE FC

THORNCLIFFE FC

Policy Statement on Child Protection & Welfare

            Thorncliffe FC, in conjunction with local Football Authorities and Social Services, want to make sure that all players and members of our junior sides are protected and kept safe from harm while they are with their Managers, Coaches and Officials in our Organisation.

We do this by: -

â            Making sure that all of our club’s Officials are carefully selected, vetted and trained.

â            Ensuring that details of any player’s illnesses and medication are available whenever club matches are taking place.

â            Giving parents and player’s information about what our club’s aims and ambitions are and what they can expect from us.

â            Advising parents what is expected from them.

â            Letting parents and players know how to voice their concerns or complaints if there is anything they are not happy about.

â            Appointing a Child Protection & Welfare Officer and an Assistant to co-ordinate with the parents and players to the Management Committee and Executive/Disciplinary Committee.

â            The club has prepared this detailed information pack and Constitution of Good Practice Procedures regarding Child Protection and Welfare.

â            Our Child Protection Officer and Assistant details are available at the rear of this handbook.

Child Protection & Welfare

Good Practice Guidelines

            Making arrangements for the proper supervision of children is one of the most effective ways for minimizing opportunities for children to suffer harm of any kind whilst in our care.  Our duty to care suggests that it is good practice when organising home/away or training that the following should be adhered to: -

â            Always ensure that all parents and children are provided with full details of fixtures and training times – both start and finish times.

â            Parental Consent Forms which detail medical problems and details of any appropriate medication must be completed and returned by all parents before a child is permitted to take part in club activities.

General Supervision: -

â            Officials in charge must be satisfied that those people assisting on match days or in training are competent to do so and hold an FA Identity Card.

â            Children must never be left unsupervised at any venue whether it is indoors or outdoors, and officials should be aware of where children are and what they are doing.

â            Dangerous behaviour by children must not be allowed.

Protecting Children and Officials

            You can reduce any likely situations of abuse of children and help protect yourself from false accusations by making sure that everyone is aware, as a general rule, that it doesn’t make sense to: -

â            Spend an excessive amount of time alone with children away from others.

â            Take children home alone in a car journey – however short.

â            If an occasion arises where it is unavoidable the above do happen, they should only occur with the full knowledge and consent of a Senior Official or the child’s parent/guardian.

As a Club Official, you should never: -

â            Engage in rough physical games, including horseplay.

â            Engage in sexually provocative games.

â            Allow Children to use inappropriate language unchallenged.

â            Make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child, even in fun.

â            Let allegations a child makes go unchallenged or unrecorded.

â            Do thing of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves.

â            Allow your players to abuse other players, mentally or physically.

Reporting Allegations or Suspicions of Abuse

            Should any allegations or suspicions of abuse arise, a record of the concerns should be made on the appropriate form and passed on to the club’s Child Protection Officer without delay.  Any reports of abuse will be fully investigated by the Executive/Disciplinary Committee and where necessary, reported to the appropriate authorities.

            Everyone within Thorncliffe FC, both Officials and Parents, should be aware of the person within Thorncliffe who should always be informed of any concerns about a child being abused. (The Child Protection Officer – Details at the rear of this handbook).

Information Required

Name of Child <> Age <> Any Special Factors  <> Parents Name(s) <> Home Telephone No. <> What Prompted the Concerns? <> Dates and Times of the Concerns <> Is the person making the report expressing their own concerns or passing on those of someone else’s? <> If so, give details. <> Has the child been spoken to? <> If so, what was said? <> Has anybody been alleged to be the Abuser? <> If so, record details.

Thorncliffe FC

Child Protection Contacts

Details of the Contacts for Child Protection and Welfare Procedures for the Reporting of Allegations or Suspicions of Abuse: -

A Code of Conduct for Football from the Football Association

            Football is a National Game.  All those involved with the game at every level, whether as a player, a match official, owner or administrator, have a responsibility above and beyond compliance with the law, to act accordingly to the highest standards of integrity, and to ensure that the reputation of the game is, and remains high.  This code applies to those involved in football under the auspices of the Football Association.

£       Community – Football at all levels is a vital part of a Community.  Football will take into account community feeling when making decisions.

£       Equality – Football is opposed to discrimination of any form and will promote measures to prevent it in whatever form, from being expressed.

£       Participants – Football recognizes the sense of ownership felt by those who participate at all levels of the game.  This includes those who play, those who coach or help in any way, and those who officiate, as well as administrators and supporters.  Football is committed to appropriate consultation.

£       Young People – Football acknowledges the extent of its influence over young people and pledges to set a positive example

£       Propriety – Football acknowledges that public confidence demands the highest standards of financial and administrative behaviour within the game, and will not tolerate corruption or improper practices.

£       Trust and Respect – Football will uphold a relationship of trust and respect between all involved in the game, whether they are individuals, clubs or other organisations.

£       Violence – Football rejects the use of violence of any nature by anyone involved in the game.

£       Fairness – Football is committed to fairness in its dealings with all involved in the game.

£       Integrity and Fair Play – Football is committed to the principle of playing to win with fair play.

LETS KICK RACISM OUT OF FOOTBALL

Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA

            Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA fully supports the aims and objectives of the Kick Racism out of Football Campaign.

            Football provides us with the unique opportunity to show unity between people of different origin. However, the experience of many players from ethnic minority communities is of abuse and harassment because of the colour of their skin.

            Players, referees and administrators are reminded that racist abuse (such as name calling) on the field of play is a red card offence.  Teams, leagues and individuals who are found to have acted in a racist manner in either excluding ethnic minorities or found to be engaging in racist abuse or harassment will face having their registration card cancelled.

            Players suffering racist abuse are encouraged to report it to referees on the field of play and to the Secretary or Chairman of their League.  The County FA should also be informed immediately.

            Racism in football is a problem that we all have a responsibility to address.  Don’t let it ruin our game.

Thorncliffe Football Club here-by acknowledges the Codes of Conduct and will uphold the aims of Kick Racism out of Football.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY

1.             Thorncliffe Football Club is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members of whatever level of authority, to abide and adhere to this general principle and the requirements of the Code of Practice issued by the Equal Opportunities Commission and Commission for Racial Equality.

2.             All members are expected to abide by the requirements of the Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1986 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995.  Specifically discrimination is prohibited by: -

a)     Treating any individual on grounds of gender, colour, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability less favourably than others.

b)     Expecting an individual solely on the grounds stated above to comply with requirement(s) for any reason whatsoever related to their memberships, which are different from the requirements of others.

c)      Imposing on an individuals requirements which are in effect more onerous on that individual than they are on others.  For example, this would include applying a condition, which makes it more difficult for members of a particular race or sex to comply than others not of that race or sex.

d)     Victimisation of an individual.

e)     Harassment of an individual, by virtue and discrimination.

f)       Any other act or omission of an act, which has as its effect the disadvantaging of a member against another, or theirs, purely on the above grounds.  Thus, in the Club’s recruitment, selection, promotion and training processes, as well as disciplinary matters, it is essential that merit, experience, skills and temperament are considered as objectively as possible.

3.             Thorncliffe Football Club commits itself to the immediate investigation of any claims of discrimination on the above grounds and where such is found to be the case, a requirement that the practice cease forthwith, restitution of damage or loss (if necessary) and to the investigation of any member accused of discrimination.

4.             Any member found guilty of discrimination will be instructed to desist forthwith.  Since discrimination in its many forms is against the Football Club’s policy, any members offending will be dealt with under the disciplinary procedure.

5.             The Football Club commits itself to the disabled person whenever possible and will treat such members in aspects of their recruitment and membership, in exactly the same manner as other members.  The difficulties of their disablement permitting assistance will be given, wherever possible to ensure that disabled members are helped in gaining access.  Appropriate training will be made to such members who request it.