NDSL Rules
General Rules North Dublin Schoolboys / Girls League
1. The NDSL League shall consist of Twelve Divisions;
One for boys and girls under 8,9,10 and 11 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the competition finishes
One for boys and girls under 12 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the competition finishes
One for boys and girls under 13 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the competition finishes
One for boys under 14 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for boys under 15 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for boys under 16 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for boys under 17 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for boys under 18 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for boys under 19 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
1A. The MGL League shall consist of Divisions at following ages;
One for girls under 10 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for girls under 11 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for girls under 12 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for girls under 13 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for girls under 14 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for girls under 15 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for girls under 16 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for girls under 17 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for girls under 18 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
One for girls under 19 years on the 1st of January of the season of which the
competition finishes
2. The top section in the eleven-a-side group will be called “Premier” Section.
3. Where required some groups may be regionalised North & South
3A. Clubs may enter a team/s in another Divisional league with the permission of their own Divisional league. The permission must be sought in the month of May in the previous season. (SFAI) or by the 1st April (LFA)
4. Players musts be registered on forms supplied by the League. Each player must sign his name and address and give full particulars as required. Any club or player giving wrong information or incorrectly filling out registration forms shall be dealt with by the Executive Committee.
5. A player shall be eligible to play an official NDSL / MGL fixture provided his / her registration form is either
(a) received by the League Registrars and bears the Official League Stamp dated 2 days or more prior to the date of the fixture or
(b) is posted showing clearly a postmark dated 2 days or more prior to the date of the fixture and
(c) holds a valid NDSL / MGL Player Passport ID
6. Players may only be registered to play during the official playing season for which the electronic registration form relates this being the 1st August in any season to the 30th June of the following season.
The MGL season is as of the 1st September to 31st May of the following season: should the calendars season come into effect the season will be from March to November of the same calendar year.
7. All players must be registered to play in the League. Any team found playing an unregistered player, improperly registered player or an ineligible player will face the loss of the game he was used in plus the deduction of three points and a fine of 50 euro.
8. A player can play for only one club in the League in any one season except when he/she has received a transfer from the club last signed for. No player can be registered except when they have received this transfer.
9. Transfer form must be posted separately or have Official League Stamp at the same time as the players are re-registered.
10. The transfer period for all NDSL & MGL teams up to and including the U16 age group shall be 1st August to 15th November inclusive in the current season. For all MGL teams and NDSL teams over the Under 16 age group shall have two transfer peri ods. One shall be 1st June to 30th September inclusive and the second 1st Decem ber to the 31st January inclusive in the current season.
11. Transfer forms must be passed by a special committee unless the transfer form has been agreed by both clubs. All transfer forms must be registered at least two days before the player is eligible to play in any division. A player cannot be transferred more than once without the sanction of the committee and must be re-registered.
12. For players in the U/8,9,10 and 11 grades i.e. Playing 7-a-side and 9-a-side football, transfer to another club. This rule only applies within the NDSL / MGL.
13. The transfer of a player from an NDSL club to a club from any other league or a player from another league to an NDSL club will be permitted up to the transfer deadline of the other league concerned if that date is later than the 15th November.
14. A player may only play in one Cup Competition in NDSL / MGL. A player is “Cup tied” once his/her name is shown on a previous cup game match care. A player can only represent a club or participate in one MGL Cup Competition in any one season.
15. In the event of a club or team resigning or being removed from the League, the said players become the property of the League. The Hon. Officers may give permission for the said players to be re-registered for clubs in League—number permitted three. Last date for permission 30th March in the current season.
16. The player’s names including substitutes must be entered in accordance with instructions on Referee’s Card.
17. The Referees Card must be filled in before the start of the match by the official in charge of the team who shall certify as to the eligibility of his team. 7 substitutes are permitted in age groups catered for within our league from the agreed panel of players.
18. The signature and date of birth of the player or players concerned must also be supplied on demand at half time or full time, not more than 5 signatures and dates of birth to be requested. The signatures and dates of birth of all substitutes or the players they replaced may be requested from the referee at any time. Refusal to accede to such requests will be regarded as an admission of guilt.
19. A representative of a club shall be at liberty to examine the registration forms of his opponents of the previous two games for the purpose of making a protest. All irregularities shall be dealt with by the Executive Committee or Elected Committee members nominated by the Officers. For the purpose of the League on each Monday and Thursday night between the hours of 7.30 and 8.30 o’clock .
Alternative arrangements may be made by appointment with the League Regis trars. A fee of 10 Euro will be charged for each inspection.
20. The Exec. Committee may during the season adopt whatever measures they may consider necessary to ensure that the players of the various clubs are within the age as prescribed by rule.
21. In all matters relating to the age of the player , it is the responsibility if the club to which the player is registered to provide proof of age and the said proof must be provided within 7 days of being requested.
22. Such proof shall be in the form of an original birth certificate, passport , international identity card or documentation issued by the Dept of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and acceptable to the League Officers as proof of age. Failure to produce proof of age will deem the player to be in –eligible as per prescribed rule and the player treated as over age.
23. Any team found guilty of playing over-age players shall be removed from the League and fined €200. Offending player (s) will be fined and/or suspended at the discretion of the committee.
24. Offending clubs should pay all cost of protest, i.e. search, protest fees, birth certificate fees, registered letter fees, etc, to the club who proves same against them.
24A. All matches, venues and hours of kick-off time shall be arranged by the Fixture
Secretary.
24B. Clubs shall play home and away matches except otherwise decided by the Honor -
ary Officials.
25. No club or clubs shall have the power to break or postpone a fixture. All matches must be started at the approved hour of kick of f. Clubs found guilty without the permission of the League shall be dealt with by the Committee.
26. Each club in the League shall register its colours with the Hon. Secretary. In the event of two clubs playing in similar colours, the home club shall change colours when such clubs meet in competition. Goalkeepers must wear colours that distinguish them from other players.
27. Players sent off are automatically suspended for one game. This being the imme
diate next game in which the team that they are signed for are participating. Walk
overs do not count.
The players shall stand suspended for cup and league games under our jurisdiction
until sentence is served. If a player is red carded or sent off in an SFAI or FAI
match the player will serve his suspension in that competition. If a team is no
longer in the competition, he will serve his suspension in the next competitive
league or cup game. The Disciplinary Committee shall investigate each case on
receipt of referee’s report. If additional action ( more than one match suspension )
is deemed necessary the club shall be informed and a personal hearing will be
Convened before the League issues any additional suspension.
28. Any player or official who fails to turn up at disciplinary meetings will stand sus-
pended until he/she is dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee.
28A. Any player who fails to turn up at disciplinary meeting will stand suspended till
he/she is dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee.
29. Protests must be sent in by Registered Letter to the Hon. Secretary of the League
within four days (Sundays and Bank Holidays are expected ) of the date of playing
the match on which the protest arises, and must be accompanied by a fee of €25.
Exact copy of the protest must be forwarded at the same time, by registered post,
to the Secretary of the team protested against.
30. The Executive Committee shall have power to deal with any offending clubs,
Players, or officials as they think fit, and to deal with any matter that is not pro-
vided for in these rules.
31. In League matches three (3) points shall be awarded for a win and one (1) for a
draw. In the event of two or more clubs equals in points, the clubs shall playoff to
decided the championship. The club scoring the largest amount of points shall be
called the Champion Club of the League. Cup Matches shall be decided on the
knockout principle unless otherwise decided by the Executive committee.
32. The Chairman, Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary shall be for all intent and purposes the legal holders of the cups in trust for the League. When the winning clubs have been declared the Committee shall hand the various cups to their representatives.
33. They shall make such provision for the safe return of the cups as they consider necessary. Winners and runner-up trophies will also be presented. All cups must be signed for and insured while in their possession. All trophies must be returned to the League Offices before 30th March. Failure to do so shall result in a fine of €50 per week or part thereof. Clubs in possession of cups shall be notified in writing prior to this deadline to return same.
34. Any objection to size of ball or pitch / markings must be made in writing to match referee prior to commencement of game.
34A. Duration of games are as follows
Under 8 and 9 20 minutes each way.
Under 10 and 11 25 minutes ach way.
Under 12 and 13 30 minutes each way.
Under 14 and 15 35 minutes each way.
Under 16 40 minutes each way.
Under 17, 18, 19, 45 minutes each way.
34B. NDSL and MGL games can be played on FAI Certified Pitches, opposition must
receive 48 hours notice of possible switch to allow for footwear requirements.
35. Size 290 Football 7/8
Size 320 Football 9/10/11
Size 370 Football 12/13/14
Size 450 Football 15/16/17/18/19
36. Any team giving 2 walk - overs will ( unless they give a very satisfactory explanation ) be removed from all competitions.
37. When a team does not play and complete more than one third of its fixtures programme then its record in that league shall be expunged.
38. Teams in all PREMIER sections of the League up to and including Under 17 age groups are only allowed to register 18 players in any one season. Teams in the Under 18 sections are only allowed register 20 players in any ne season.
39. Permission may be granted by the executive committee to replace for the following reasons.
Long Term Injury Supported By Medical Evidence From Hospital Attended By
the Player.
Transfer To Another Club.
Player Leaving Club By Their Own Violation Which Must Be Supported By Writ
ten Document Signed By The Player Or Parents Concerned Where Necessary.
40. When a player becomes a registered player with a club/team in any league it shall be an offence for any official, member of any other team or any other person to approach, encourage or influence that player or his / her parents / guardian on his behalf.
(i) Seek a transfer to another team.
(ii) Participate in training, coaching or games under the auspices of another team.
Such offence (s) shall be deemed “poaching “ and any person found culpable shall render him / herself and / or his / her club / team liable to a fine and / or suspension and his /her club/team shall :
Be deducted 15 points for a first offence
Be automatically relegated for a further offence
41. Any clubs who engage in this practise will not be given automatic entre into the NDSL league. On receiving a complaint from the last club that the player signed for, the Executive shall hold the application until a full enquiry is held into the reason for such a move and decisions are taken.
42. No club is entitled to request or invite a player from another club for training, coaching or playing games wither within their Club, Academy or Associated Academy during the official playing season.
43. It is recognised that people are appointed by Association Football Clubs to assess players’ potential who might be influenced to sign for such clubs. These people, known as Scouts / Representatives are prohibited from acting as Directors or in the administration of our League. These people must be licensed or act under accreditation from our league.
44. Agents are ineligible to act in any capacity within our Clubs or League Administration.
The Protection and Welfare of Children:
In line with recent legislation and Government Guidelines (The Child Care Act (1991) and the (Protection for Persons Reporting Abuse Act 1998) in relation to child protection and welfare, it is mandatory that the NDSL should operate with the FAI recommended Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guildlines. (See FAI Code of Ethics for Under Age Soccers Players , Coaches, Parents and Spectators. Any act, statement, conduct or other matter, which harms a child or children or poses or may pose a risk to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour, which is improper and brings the game into disrepute. Breaches are a disciplinary of fence.
45. The gathering, compilation, retention , storage or use of any information relating to underage players must fully comply with all the requirements of the Data Protection Acts.
46. Each club in membership shall have the right to submit alterations to these rules.
Such proposed alterations must be submitted to the Hon. Secretary of the League on or before 31st March in each year and signed for and on behalf of the club pro posing such alterations by the Hon. Secretary of the club.
47. League fees for the season to be determined by the Executive Committee of the League at the start of each season. All applications must be submitted on relevant NDSL application forms.
48. 50% deposit plus admin fee to be paid by the 30th September and the balance paid by 1st December as per Summary Sheet.
49. The Executive Committee shall have the power to deal with any team / club as they think fit whose balance of fees have not been paid by the 1st of December in each current season.
50. No member can hold an Executive position within the NDSL /MGL unless he serves a minimum of 2 years working within the organisation.
51. League receipts will be issued for all monetary transactions. Queries relating to payments shall be entered only on production of such receipts.
52. Any club in membership has the right to appeal to the SFAI, LFA, FAI or WFAI, (where applicable ) in accordance with the rules of either body against the decision of the League or any of its sub committees.
53. New clubs (that is clubs who were not a registered club in the NDSL or MGL the
previous season or a club that was removed from the NDSL or MGL the previous
season for disciplinary reasons ) wishing to make application must do so by com -
pleting a Club Application form and forwarding it to the NDSL / MGL Hon. Sec -
retary not later than 30th June of the year the season commences.
The Hon. Secretary shall inform current member clubs in the area where the new
club proposes to cater and those may submit a written support or objection to the
application. All applications will however be approved or rejected with by the
NDSL / MGL Executive Committee.
54. In cup games if a pitch is deemed unplayable for any reason and should cause a postponement, the home team may find an alternative pitch on the day or the fixture will revert to their opponent’s ground . Blanket call by the League does NOT affect the fixture.
55. Clubs who give a walkover shall be dealt with as follows:
All 11-a side games league or cup : 100 fine and game awarded to opposition .
All 9 –a side games league or cup : €50 fine. Disciplinary Committee to con-
sider if points should be awarded to opposition or game refixed.
All 7 –a side games non -league or cup : 50 fine and game refixed where possi
ble .
56. Club must have two officials at all games.
57. Pitch Size
- 11-a side pitch — normal
- 9-a side pitch 90 x 50 yards.
- 7-a side pitch 70 x 50 yards.
58. Player Substitute - a player may substitute from another team within their own club at the same level across or above that to which they are registered, i.e. Example : An under 14’s premier player can play only play up for an Under 15’s premier team and cannot play for a 15A team. An under 14D player can sub up to a 15D or higher but cannot sub down to a 15E team.
59. All cup competitions take precedence over league games in any one season.
60. All players must have photo ID to play football at the North Dublin School-boys / Girls League and it will be know as the N.D.S.L/M.G.L . Players passport . See rule 5.
61. The manger of the team must produce the player passport for all listed on the match day card to his opposition before the star of each match and must point out the particular player to correspond with the N.D.S.L/M.G.L players passport. Late players names must be on the referee’s card and must produce their N.D.S.L/M.G.L players passport to the opposition before they can take to the field of play.
62. Under no circumstances will a player be allowed to play football without an N.D.S.L/M.G.L player’s Passport.
63. The opposition manager or any NDSL/MGL League Secretary may , at half time or full time, request to view the NDSL/MGL player passport of up to four players should they deem necessary.
64. If the managers fails to produce the NDSL/MGL player passport for any player listed on the match day card, of any NDSL/MGL official fixture, the game will be awarded to the opposition without recourse to an appeal.
65. If you are unhappy with an NDSL/MGL players passport, i.e. Name, Date of Birth, etc you are entitled to protest against that club or player at the North Dublin Schoolboys / Girls League or Metropolitan Girls League match and you must submit your protest in writing as per rules.
66. If a player transfers from a team to another within the North Dublin schoolboys / Girls League or another affiliate, the transfer will not be sanctioned unless his NDSL/MGL player passport is returned to the North Dublin Schoolboys / Girls League. If the player transfers within the North Dublin Schoolboys / Girls League they must produce their NDSL/MGL player passport along with their transfer request form to the North Dublin Schoolboys / Girls League where they will be given a temporary ID with an expiry date until a new one is issued as a cost of €5.
67. If the NDSL/MGL players passport are stolen or lost they will be immediately replaced to the individual or club at a cost of €5 per player passport.
68. The NDSL/MGL player’s passport will only be accepted within the North Dublin Schoolboys / Girls League / Metropolitan Girls League and are not valid for any other purpose other than football related.
69. The NDSL/MGL player’s passport will be the property of the North Dublin Schoolboys / Girls League and they are valid for 3 seasons whereby if necessary.
70. Each club must apply for and receive a club licence to play in the NDSL. A licence must be applied for every 2 years. New clubs must apply for a licence before they can gain entry to the League.
71. Players will not be registered with the League unless they produce (1) Registration Form and (2) a photo ID. If both are not complete he / she will be deemed a nonregistered player.
72. Electronic player registration - all NDSL /MGL players must be registered electronically with al the relevant information provided.
73. All new teams will be processed manually for the first season.
74. It is the onus of the club to make sure that the parent / parents / guardian must sigh
on behalf of the child who wishes to join a club within NDSL / MGL. The signa-
ture of the parent / parents / guardian will be required under separate cover.
75. Players will be deemed registered electronically with all the relevant information sent to NDSL /MGL before the first game of the new season is played .
76. Any rules changes must have a two thirds majority.
77. Rule 77 offensive behaviour.
Any participant who insults someone in any way, especially by using intimida -
tion , threats , offensive gestures of language , or who violates the principle of fair
play or whose behaviour is unsporting in any other way may be sanctioned with a
suspension and / or fine and / or ban on performing any football related activity.
78. Racism/Discrimination
a. Any participant, who offends, disparages, discriminates against or denigrates someone, or a group of persons, in a derogatory manner on account of ’race’, skin colour, language, religion ethnic and/or national origin(s) or secual orientation, or perpetrates any other racist/discriminatory and / or contemptuous act, shall be subject to disciplinary sanction. The relevant disciplinary body shall consider and have the power to impose s suspension, fine, and/or other sanction as deemed ap propriate. In the case of individuals, t he minimum suspension shall be for a pe riod of five (5) matches.
b. If a spectator, or spectators, engage in racist/ discriminatory behaviour, include ing but not limited to changing or displaying racist/discriminatory slogans at a match, the relevant disciplinary body shall sanction the Affiliated Member which the spectator(s) support. If the spectator(s) cannot be identified as a supporter, or supporters, of one or other club/affiliate the host club/affiliate may be sanctioned .
c. Spectators engaging in racist/discriminatory behaviour may be subject to a disciplinary sanction.
d. Sexual or racially-based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal, shall result in disciplinary action.
79. Anyone who intimidates a Match Official with serious threats shall be sanctioned with a fine and a suspension.
80. Anyone who uses violence or threats to pressurise a Match Official into taking certain action or to hinder him in any way from acting freely shall be sanctioned with a fine and a suspension.
81. a. Players must have a letter of consent from their club prior to their participation in the NDSL Academy. The consent letter may be withdrawn by the club at any stage during the season. The letter must be renewed each season.
b. All contact between the Academy / coaches and players/parents must be done through the clubs.
c. Permission must be requested by the NDSL Academy from clubs for play ers required for matches.
82. Clubs may enter a team/s in another Division League with the permission of their own Division League. The permission must be sought in the month of May in the previous season (SFAI RULE)
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PLEASE REMEMBER
- THE PLAYERS ARE CHILDREN •
- THE COACHES ARE VOLUNTEERS •
- THE REFEREES ARE HUMAN •
- SHOW RESPECT TO PLAYERS & COACHES •
- FIRST PRIORITY IS HAVING FUN •
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SFAI Competition Calender 2016/17
First Round 17/18th September 2016
Second Round 8/9th October 2016
Third Round 29/30th October 2016
Fourth Round 19/20th November 2016
Round 32 18/19th Jan 2017
Round 16 18/19th February 2017
Qtr Round 11/12th March 2017
Semi Final 8/9th April 2017
FINAL 13/14th May 2017
(Subject to Change)
