RULES OF THE LEAGUE
CONSTITUTIONAL RULES
101 Name
101.1 The League shall be called “The Midland Water Polo League”.
102 Composition
102.1 Any club affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association West Midland Region or the Amateur Swimming Association East Midland Region or whose headquarters are within sixty miles of Birmingham and which is affiliated to a Region of the Amateur Swimming Association shall be eligible for affiliation
Any club which was affiliated to the League prior to 1st October 2005 and continues to have unbroken membership of the League shall be exempt from the distance limitation of this rule.
103 Objects
103.1 The objects of the League shall be to promote amateur swimming and water polo in every possible way under ASA laws.
104 Affiliation and Membership
104.1 The League shall be affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association West Midland Region
104.2 New clubs wishing to be affiliated to the League shall apply to the General Secretary, in writing, enclosing a copy of the club rules and the affiliation fee. Acceptance of the application shall be at the discretion of the League.
104.3 The affiliation fee shall be £5.00 for each club. Payment from competing clubs shall be made prior to:-
104.3.1 the date of the Annual General Meeting for clubs competing in the Senior or Youth Leagues;
104.3.2 the first Monday of June for clubs competing only in the Women’s League or only in the Junior Men’s League;
Default shall render the club liable to suspension.
104.4 It shall be a condition of affiliation and membership that clubs and their individual members shall be subject to and bound by any League Rule or any procedure or decision taken under those Rules which may from time to time apply to them.
104.5 A club wishing to withdraw from the League shall notify the General Secretary, in writing, before the Annual General Meeting otherwise it shall be liable for the current year’s affiliation fee.
105 Officials
105.1 The following, each of whom shall be a member of a club affiliated to the League or an individual member of the League, shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting each year from nominations received:-
The President The Trophy Controller
The President-Elect The Match Secretary
The General Secretary The Match Secretary for the Youth League
The Treasurer The Referees’ Co-ordinator
105.2 The retiring President shall not be eligible for re-election.
105.3 Each unsuccessful candidate in any election for the position of President Elect shall be appointed as a Vice President for the ensuing year.
105.4 The following, each of whom shall be a member of a club affiliated to the League shall be elected, from nominations received, by the Executive Committee at its last meeting before the one at which it considers applications for admission to the relevant League each year:-
The Match Secretary for the Women’s League
The Match Secretary for the Junior League
106 General Meetings
106.1 The officials of the League listed in 105.1 and 105.4, the Past Presidents and any Vice Presidents of the League and two delegates from each affiliated club, who shall be members of the club they represent, shall be entitled to attend any General Meeting. A Past President who is not a member of a club affiliated to the League may speak but not vote. Twenty persons entitled to vote shall form a quorum..
106.2 At least ten days notice shall be given of any General Meeting.
106.3 The Annual General Meeting shall take place during the second week of January. The annual report, statement of income and expenditure and the balance sheet shall be sent out with the notice convening the meeting.
106.4 Every competing club shall be represented by a member of that club at the Annual General Meeting. A club which is not represented shall be fined £30.00 unless there are extenuating circumstances acceptable to the League.
106.5 The Annual General Meeting shall
106.5.1 consider any proposed alteration or addition to the rules of the League. Any proposed alteration or addition to the rules shall reach the General Secretary on or before December 1st and shall be sent out with the notice convening the meeting;
106.5.2 consider the report, income and expenditure account and balance sheet;
106.5.3 elect the officials of the League listed in 105.1, the delegate to the Amateur Swimming Association West Midland Region, the Emergency Committee and the Selection Committee from the nominations received;
106.5.4 appoint an Independent Examiner of the League’s accounts;
106.5.5 consider applications for admission to the senior and youth leagues, decide the form of the youth league and, if necessary, allocate teams to divisions;
106.5.6 conduct the draw for the senior men’s knockout competition and, if necessary, the youth knockout competition.
106.6 A Special General Meeting shall be called within fourteen days of the receipt by the General Secretary of a requisition signed by the duly accredited delegates of ten affiliated clubs stating the reason for which such a meeting shall be called.
107 Rules
107.1 No addition or alteration to the foregoing or following rules shall be made except at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose. To become effective any such addition or alteration shall require a two thirds majority of those present and voting.
107.2 Any deviation from any provision of these Constitutional Rules or General Rules shall not invalidate any procedure or decision unless that deviation raises a material doubt that the procedure or decision has been so affected by it as to prejudice the good management of the League.
108 Executive
108.1 The Executive of the League shall consist of the officials listed in 105.1 and 105.4, the immediate Past President and one delegate from each affiliated club each of whom shall be a member of a club affiliated to the League. Any Vice Presidents of the League may attend and speak but not vote. Six shall form a quorum.
108.2 The Executive shall meet not less than four times a year, providing there is sufficient business, on such dates as may be agreed by the Executive.
108.3 If any club or person is aggrieved by any decision of one of the Officials of the League and requests a review within 14 days of the date of the communication of that decision, the matter shall be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Executive.
108.4 A Special Executive Meeting shall be called within fourteen days of the receipt by the General Secretary of a requisition signed by the duly accredited delegates of five affiliated clubs stating the reason for which such a meeting shall be called.
108.5 The Executive shall
108.5.1 be the managing body of the League, carry out the standing orders and generally transact all business when not otherwise provided for;
108.5.2 exercise its discretion in respect of any matter not specifically provided for in the rules of the League;
108.5.3 have the authority to amend any rule of the League which in the opinion of two thirds of the members present and voting is considered to be immediately necessary to preserve the good management of the League. Any such change of rule shall be published with the minutes and shall be submitted for ratification at the next following General Meeting;
108.5.4 exercise financial control over the affairs of the League and present a statement of income and expenditure and a balance sheet to the Annual General Meeting;
108.5.5 consider and decide all protests or questions put to it by an affiliated club;
108.5.6 consider any report of the decision of an Emergency Committee for ratification;
108.5.7 consider applications for admission to the senior women’s league and the junior men’s league, decide the form of the leagues and, if necessary, allocate the teams to divisions;
108.5.8 present a report to the Annual General Meeting;
108.5.9 arrange that a handbook containing -inter alia- the rules of the League be printed and distributed to each affiliated club each year;
108.5.10 appoint the venue and date for the senior men’s knockout final;
108.5.11 consider applications for individual membership.
108.6 The Executive may
108.6.1 appoint a sub-committee to consider and report on any question. The President, General Secretary, Match Secretary, Treasurer and Referees’ Co ordinator shall be ex officio members of any such sub-committee;
108.6.2 in addition to any of the sanctions set out in these rules suspend from any or all of the activities of the League for a specified period or censure any club or individual proved guilty of an infringement of any rule of the League. The proceedings in regard to any such alleged infringement shall be subject to such parts of the ASA Judicial Regulations regarding Internal Disputes as may be reasonably applied.
109 Emergency Committee
109.1 The Emergency Committee shall consist of the President, General Secretary, Match Secretary, Treasurer, Referees’ Co-ordinator and two elected members. Three shall form a quorum.
109.2 The Emergency Committee shall
109.2.1 decide any matter which, in the opinion of the President and the two Secretaries, requires a decision before the next scheduled meeting of the Executive. Any such decision shall be binding on the parties until ratification by the Executive;
109.2.2 submit a full report of its decision for ratification at the next following Executive meeting.
110 Selection Committee
110.1 The Selection Committee shall consist of the President, General Secretary, Match Secretary, Treasurer, Referees’ Co-ordinator and two elected members. Three shall form a quorum.
110.2 The Selection Committee shall
110.2.1 select any players for trial and/or representative matches as and when required by the League;
110.2.2 submit a report of its selections to the next following Executive meeting.
111 Finance
111.1 The income and property of the League shall be applied solely to the objects stated in 103 and no person shall receive payment for his services as a member of the League.
111.2 In the event of dissolution, any income or property remaining shall be devoted to a society or club with similar aims or to a philanthropic or charitable purpose.
111.3 The financial year of the League shall terminate on October 31st.
GENERAL RULES
201 Finance
201.1 Entrance fees may be charged for any competition
201.2 The Treasurer shall submit, at the first ordinary meeting of the Executive in each year, a budget of expenditure for that year. The necessary revenue to meet that expenditure, as approved by the Executive after consideration of the Treasurer’s proposals shall be raised by a levy on competing clubs pro rata to the teams entered by the club and calculated on the formula:
| Estimated approved total net income required | ||||
| Half the number of senior matches to be played by each team | x | _______________________________________________ | ||
| Estimated total number of senior league matches |
This levy shall be called the “Match Playing Fee” and shall be paid on or before May 31st for senior men’s teams and on or before September 30th for senior women’s teams. The Match Playing Fee shall be in addition to the affiliation fee.
201.3 A club failing to pay the match playing fee or any referee’s expenses pool monies by the due date; or any fine, and/or other expenses within 28 days of the date on the written notification of liability, unless it is the subject of a request for a review by the Executive, shall immediately incur a further penalty of £5.00 and shall be suspended from midnight seven days thence until all the monies are paid and a receipt issued. Should total settlement not have been made seventy two hours before a match beyond that seven day period, involving the club, is due to start that game shall be treated as a non fulfilment. The offending club shall reimburse any expenses incurred by the League in the collection of overdue monies and the issuing of receipts.
201.4 Expenses shall be reimbursed to:
201.4.1 the President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Referees’ Co ordinator Trophy Controller, and to the Match Secretary(ies) of each league for travel to General and Executive meetings;
201.4.2 members of the Emergency Committee for travel to meetings of that committee;
201.4.3 members of the Selection Committee for travel to meetings of that committee;
201.4.4 members of the Selection Committee for travel to trial or representative matches on behalf of the League;
201.4.5 any swimmer for travel to trials or representative matches for which he has been selected by the League;
201.4.6 any person for travel on behalf of the League for any purpose approved by the Executive.
201.5 The maximum rate for travelling expenses which the League will pay, and which it expects its member clubs to observe, shall be reviewed and set annually by the Executive Committee.
202 Representative Matches
202.1 The League badge may be awarded to any swimmer representing the League at the discretion of the Executive.
202.2 Any swimmer having been selected for a trial or representative match who fails to keep his engagement without a reasonable excuse in writing shall be liable to suspension.
203 Trophies
203.1 All trophies are the property of the League and no trophy shall be released without an indemnity in writing being given to the Trophy Controller.
203.2 Trophies shall be returned in good condition to the Trophy Controller at such place and at such time as he may request after the conclusion of the annual competitions. A club failing to comply with this rule shall be fined £20.00.
COMPETITION RULES
301 Competition
301.1 For the purposes of competition the League shall be divided into the following leagues and knockouts which shall be open to the teams of affiliated clubs subject to the specific conditions of each competition.
Senior men’s league Senior men’s knockout
Senior women’s league Junior men’s league
Youth league
301.2 There shall be sufficient divisions in each league to accommodate all the teams elected, with a maximum of 12 teams in any one senior division. The number of teams in each of the divisions shall be as nearly equal as practicable. In each division each team shall play each other team twice on a home and away basis unless otherwise provided in these rules.
301.3 At the end of the season the winning team in each division other than the highest one shall be promoted to the next higher division and the bottom team in each division other than the lowest one shall be relegated to the next lower division.
301.4 The second placed team in a lower division shall have the option to challenge the second bottom team in the next higher division. The challenge shall be in writing and in the hands of the relevant Match Secretary within ten days of him notifying the teams of their relative positions. Challenges shall be subject to the following conditions:
301.5 The matches shall be played within 30 days after the issue of the challenge or the scheduled end of the relevant season, whichever is the later.
301.4.2 The winner shall be decided on points over home and away games. Should this result in a tie, the aggregate number of goals scored in the two matches shall decide. If this results in a tie, the status quo shall apply.
301.4.3 If a challenge is refused, the challenging team shall be promoted to the next higher division and the second bottom team relegated to the next lower division.
301.4.4 A team failing, under 305, to fulfil either its home or away engagement shall be deemed to have lost the challenge.
301.4.5 In the event of a team of a club with two teams in the League taking part in a challenge, only those players who are debarred from playing for the second team, or juniors who have played in more than half the club’s first team fixtures in the season, may play for the first team in the challenge matches.
301.5 In the event of the number of teams in a division changing, promotion only shall be enforced with relegation at the discretion of the members present and voting at the appropriate meeting.
302 Entry to Competitions
302.1 Clubs wishing to enter new or additional teams in any of the leagues shall make written application to the General Secretary. Applications from teams which did not compete in the previous season’s competitions shall include a list of members.
302.2 All clubs competing in the senior men’s league shall automatically be entered in the corresponding knockout competition.
302.3 The closing dates for applications for entry and re-election shall be, for the senior and youth leagues the first Monday of January; for the senior women’s and the junior men’s leagues the first Monday of June.
303 Positions, Awards and Trophies
303.1 The positions in each division shall be decided on points with a win counting two points and a draw one point
303.2 If two or more teams have equal points at the end of the season, the system set out below shall be used to determine the placings:
303.2.1 in any senior division;
303.2.2 in any junior or youth division, unless the award of a trophy, relegation or promotion from the division whether automatic or by challenge, or the bottom place in the lowest division is affected, in which case the placings shall be decided by a play off.
303.3 The placings shall be decided by considering the following factors in order until precedence is established by:
303.3.1 the team gaining most points in the match(es) between those teams;
303.3.2 the team with the greatest goal difference in the match(es) between those teams;
303.3.3 the team scoring most goals in the match(es) between those teams;
303.3.4 the team with the greatest goal difference overall;
303.3.5 the team scoring most goals overall.
If any of the teams concerned has been involved in a non-fulfilment with a nil nil score having been recorded or a match where goals have been forfeited for playing an ineligible or unregistered player, the score of the corresponding match for the other team(s) shall be discounted when calculating the goal difference or the goals scored for the purposes of this rule.
303.4 In the event of continuing equality the placings shall be decided by lot unless, in a senior division, the award of a trophy; relegation or promotion from the division, whether automatic or by challenge; or the bottom place in the lowest division is affected, in which case the placings shall be decided by a play off.
303.5 The Executive shall decide the date(s) and venue(s) of any required play-off(s). The promotional costs, including pool hire, referees’ expenses, and any other cost approved by the Executive shall be borne by the League. The travelling expenses of the teams involved shall be pooled and borne equally between them
303.6 Not more than thirteen gilt medals shall be awarded to the winning team in each division.
303.7 Not more than thirteen bronze medals shall be awarded to the runners up in each junior and youth division.
303.8 Each club in receipt of medals for a league competition may purchase one extra appropriate medal for a reserve.
303.9 In each knockout final the winning team shall be awarded a gilt medal and the runners up a bronze medal for each player present and available to play up to a maximum of thirteen.
303.10 The League Memorial Trophy shall be awarded each year to the team in any senior men’s division which has the best percentage record.
304 Fixtures
304.1 Fixtures shall be arranged in the following manner
304.1.1 The Match Secretary for each league shall draw up a fixture list appropriate to the number of teams in each division using letters to represent the clubs. Each team shall then be allocated a letter by lot and issued with a copy of the provisional fixture list. Unless the league is being played in groups, any men’s or youth League fixture may be altered by mutual consent of the teams concerned within the fourteen days, and any junior men’s or senior women’s league fixture within the twenty eight days, following the issue of the list, after which each club secretary shall return a final agreed copy to the relevant Match Secretary within a further three days. A club failing to do so shall be fined £5.00.
304.1.2 The provisional fixture lists shall be issued:-
304.1.2.1 for the senior and youth leagues, as soon as practicable following the Annual General Meeting;
304.1.2.2 for the senior women’s and the junior men’s leagues, by June 16th.
304.2 All senior men’s and youth league fixtures shall be played after the second Sunday in March and before the first Sunday in October. All women’s and junior men’s league fixtures shall be played between the first Sunday in October and the 31st March. Extensions may be granted only in very exceptional circumstances.
304.3 A club wishing to alter an agreed league or knockout round fixture may do so only:
304.3.1 when it has three or more players taking part in
304.3.1.1 an official international water polo match or official national squad training session or;
304.3.1.2 an ASA water polo championship match or;
304.3.1.3 a Regional water polo championship or representative match or;
304.3.1.4 a County water polo championship or representative match or;
304.3.1.5 a Midland League knockout match or;
304.3.2 by written application to and the consent of the President, General and Match Secretaries which shall only be given in exceptional circumstances or;
304.3.3 due to unforeseen bath closure or;
304.3.4 due to impossible weather conditions (the Executive shall decide what constitutes ‘impossible’);
and except in the case of bath closure within that period and impossible weather conditions, fourteen days notice has been given to the referees and the relevant Match Secretary who shall be advised of the revised date within twenty eight days of the letter applying to alter the fixture.
If a revised date for a league fixture is not agreed within the twenty eight days the matter shall be referred to the next meeting of the Executive.
A knockout round fixture altered under the provisions of this rule must be played within the period allocated for that round except that, with the agreement of both clubs and provided it does not prejudice the completion of the subsequent round within the allocated period, the relevant Match Secretary may agree to it being played on a specified later date. If an extension is not granted and the fixture does not take place within the period allocated to the round, the Emergency Committee shall decide which, if either, team advances to the next stage.
No alteration shall be permitted under this rule to a date fixed for a knockout final tie.
304.4 In every case of alteration of a fixture the responsibility for notifying the referees and the relevant Match Secretary, both of the postponement of the original fixture and of any new date agreed shall be that of the club requesting the alteration. All such notifications shall be made in writing. A club failing to comply with this rule shall be fined £5.00 and shall pay any expenses necessarily incurred due to that failure.
304.5 The secretary of the home team shall advise the secretary of the visiting team, the referee(s), and other officials if specially appointed, of the time at which the match is to commence, at least ten days before the fixture. The notification shall be in writing, by letter or electronic communication, and shall include directions to the pool and a map of its location. Failure by the secretary of the home team to comply with this rule in due time may not be used as the sole reason for failing to fulfil the fixture. A secretary of a visiting team who does not receive the advice of the time of start etc. in due time must take all reasonable steps to ascertain any required information. A club failing to comply with this rule shall be fined £5.00.
304.6 All matches must start at the scheduled time. No match shall, without the written consent of the visiting club, be scheduled to begin earlier than eight p.m., except on Saturday or Sunday or, in the case of the youth league, start later than nine p.m.. If the start is delayed beyond five minutes of the appointed time the referee shall report to the League the club responsible for the delay together with the reason. The offending club shall be fined £5.00 and shall pay any additional expenses necessarily incurred in order to complete the match.
304.7 If the start of a match is delayed beyond fifteen minutes of the appointed time the match may be cancelled by either the non-offending club or by both referees or, if there is only one referee present, by the referee. In the event of such a cancellation a referee shall report to the League the club responsible and the match shall be deemed to be a non fulfilment by that club.
305 Non-fulfilment of Fixtures
305.1 A club failing to fulfil any one of its league engagements on the date fixed except as provided in Rule 304.3 may be fined £20.00 for the first offence, £22.00 for the second offence and £24.00 for any subsequent offences and may be responsible for any reasonable expenses incurred by the opposing club. The offending team shall be deemed to have lost the match unless able to produce a legitimate excuse.
305.2 A club failing to fulfil any knockout engagement on the date fixed except as provided in Rule 304.3 may be fined £20.00 for each offence and may be responsible for any reasonable expenses incurred by the opposing club. The offending team shall be deemed to have lost the match except under the provisions of 404.5.
305.3 In every case of cancellation of a fixture the responsibility for notifying the opponent club, the referee(s), the Referees’ Co-ordinator and the relevant Match Secretary of the cancellation shall be that of the club cancelling the fixture. A club failing to take all reasonable steps to comply with this rule in time to minimise inconvenience to the opponent club and other persons concerned may be fined £5.00 and may be liable for any expenses necessarily incurred due to that failure.
305.4 Matches due to be played by a suspended club during its period of suspension shall be deemed to be non-fulfilments.
305.5 If a home club is responsible for the non-fulfilment of an engagement, including by failure to comply with 304.4 or 304.5 resulting in the failure of the appointed referees to appear, it shall pay the travelling expenses of any appointed officials.
If a visiting team is responsible for the non-fulfilment of an engagement the club shall pay the travelling expenses of the appointed officials on the occasion of the non fulfilment
Any claims under this section shall be subject to the approval of the Executive
305.6 If a senior team withdraws from a league after the provisional fixture list has been issued but before it has played any matches in a division the club shall be fined a sum equivalent to the Match Playing Fee for that division and the record of the team shall be expunged.
306 Eligibility and Registration
306.1 Competing players must be members of the ASA and eligible to compete for the clubs they represent, as defined in ASA Law.
306.2 Referees shall be authorised to demand his ASA registration number from any player, either before, during or after the match.
306.3 No swimmer may be registered for more than one club in any competition during the same season except that a club shall be permitted to register up to a maximum of two male and two female registered members of other clubs entered in other competitions of the League under the following provisions of this section.
306.3.1 A member of an affiliated club not entered in the junior league may be registered to play for another club in the junior league.
306.3.2 A member of an affiliated club not entered in the senior women’s league may be registered to play for another club in the senior women’s league;.
306.3.3 A member of an affiliated club not entered in the youth league may be registered to play for another club in the youth league;.
306.4 If a club enters more than one team in any league, then
306.4.1 it shall register with the relevant Match Secretary at least nine members as recognised players for each team other than the lowest ranked team, none of whom shall subsequently represent a lower ranked team in that year. The recognised players for each team shall include all members who played as a senior player in more than half their club’s fixtures for that team in the previous year, if it was required to have recognised players. For the purposes of this Rule 306.4, a “senior player” is defined as one whose age is, or was, nineteen years or over at midnight on December 31st in the year of the competition to which it refers.
306.4.2 a senior player registered for a lower ranked team shall immediately lose his lower ranked status and become a recognised player for a higher ranked team by representing that higher ranked team in more than three games;
306.4.3 a senior player registered for a lower ranked team who represents a higher ranked team in one game may not subsequently play for any other higher ranked team in that season;
306.4.4 a recognised player who no longer wishes to play in a higher ranked team shall apply to the Executive for permission to be registered for a lower ranked team and, should it be granted, he shall not play for any higher ranked team again in that year;
306.4.5 if more than one team from the same club are in the same division, each set of players shall be separately registered and there shall be no interchange between them during the year. The teams shall play all their league games against each other before starting the rest of their fixtures.
306.5 Each club entered in any league shall, on or before the third Monday in February or, in the case of the women’s league and the junior men’s league, on or before the first day of September, send in writing to the relevant Match Secretary a list in duplicate of its players with their addresses, ASA membership numbers dates of birth where applicable, and date of joining the club together with the names and addresses of all its members who are currently active registered referees. A separate list must be submitted in respect of each league entered, whether or not there are players who appear on more than one list and whether or not the leagues are concurrent.
306.6 All applications for registration of players after the due date must be made on the form provided for the purpose and accompanied by a fee of £1.00 for each player. If a club wishes to register a player for more than one league then a separate form must be submitted to each relevant Match Secretary but only one fee shall be payable for each player so registered Players registered in this way may not play for their teams until approval of their application has been given by the relevant Match Secretary and a receipt issued.
306.7 Any team playing an ineligible or unregistered player or players shall forfeit the points and any goals it may have scored and shall be fined £5.00.
307 Officials
307.1 Only referees from the published lists of ASA Regional Water Polo Referees and nominated members from the League shall normally be permitted to officiate at any match.
307.2 Each club shall provide and name, from its members, the number of water polo referees needed to fulfil a quota of games to be officiated, as decided each year by the Executive. The quota for each club shall take into account the number of senior teams that it has competing in the League and the total number of referee appointments required for all the League competitions for each year ending on October 1st . The total number of games officiated by the club members in the year shall be pooled and allocated to the senior teams until each team's proportion of the quota is filled in turn. A club failing to fulfil its quota in any year shall be required to apply, before the appropriate date in Rule 302.3, for re-election to the League in the following year on behalf of each team with its proportion of the quota unfilled after the final allocation. . The provisions of this section shall not apply to teams from schools or universities whose teams are composed mainly of persons in full time education at that establishment.
307.3 The Referees’ Co-ordinator, in consultation with the relevant Match Secretary, shall appoint sufficient referees to every match. He shall have sole responsibility for appointing replacement referees and, in consultation with the relevant Match Secretary, shall have the authority to postpone a game if no suitable referees are available. If no Referees’ Co ordinator is appointed, the duty of appointing referees shall be that of the relevant Match Secretary and the duty of appointing replacement referees shall be that of the home club in accordance with guidelines issued by the Executive Committee from time to time.
307.4 If one appointed referee fails to appear,
307.4.1 the remaining referee may appoint another from the League’s list and the teams must accept any referee from the list who is present and available;
307.4.2 if this is not possible, then there shall be no delay to the advertised starting time and the match shall commence with one referee only;
307.4.3 if a second referee becomes available in time for the normal commencement of the second half of the match the remainder of the match shall be conducted with two referees.
307.5 If both appointed referees fail to appear:
307.5.1 the teams must accept any referee or referees from the League’s list who are present and available;
307.5.2 if there is no listed referee present and available, any referee may be appointed by agreement of the two captains.
307.6 If no referee at all is available, causing the cancellation of the match, and it is shown to be the fault of neither club, the expenses incurred by the clubs shall be borne by the League and the fixture rearranged.
307.7 The Referee’s Co-ordinator shall investigate the reason if any referee fails to fulfil an appointment without prior notice and shall report to the Executive.
307.8 The home club shall provide competent timekeepers, secretaries and a goal judge. The second goal judge shall be provided by the visiting club. A club failing to provide adequate and competent timekeeping and a secretary shall be fined £5.00.
307.9 Independent table officials may be appointed for any match by application to the Referees’ Co ordinator at least fourteen days prior to the date of the match. If no Referees’ Co-ordinator is appointed the duty of appointing independent table officials shall be that of the relevant Match Secretary. The expenses of such officials shall be paid by the club making application for their services.
308 Equipment and Organisation
308.1 Any variation from FINA water polo rules regarding the fixtures and/or dimensions of any venue shall require exemption from the Executive before any league or knockout match takes place there.
308.2 The home or promoting club shall provide all necessary flags, timing equipment and balls.
308.3 Each club shall provide caps for its own use at both home and away matches.
308.4 The home or promoting club shall ensure admission to the bath of the officials and teams
308.5 Each competing club shall forward to the relevant Match Secretary a fully completed official result sheet of the match, postmarked within five days of the match, whether it takes place or not. A club which fails to comply shall be fined £5.00.
Any club knowingly recording a false name on a match sheet shall be dealt with under ASA Judicial Laws and Regulations.
309 Referees’ Expenses Pool
309.1 The home or promoting club shall pay the referees’ expenses and enter the amount on the match record sheet.
309.2 At the end of the season the total referees’ expenses shall be pooled and divided so that each team contributes equally in any one division
309.3 If a team commits a non-fulfilment the club shall pay any referees’ expenses incurred because of it, which shall not then be added to the pool.
309.4 All monies owed by clubs in respect of referees’ pool expenses in the senior men’s and youth leagues shall be paid on or before November 30th and those in respect of the women’s and junior men’s leagues shall be paid on or before April 30th. The League shall reimburse the clubs to which monies are due by the same dates.
310 Protests
310.1 Protests in connection with matches shall be made in writing and given to a referee either before, or within 30 minutes after, the match. A copy shall be sent by the protester to the relevant Match Secretary within five days.
310.2 If a protest is lodged before a match a referee shall immediately inform all competitors of it.
310.3 No protest may be lodged against a referee on a question of fouling provided the official concerned is on the list of referees published by the ASA, any of its Regions or the League or has been appointed by the captains under 307.5.2.
311 Variation of Penalties
311.1 The foregoing rules shall mutatis mutandis apply to all activities and competitions of the League except that where any monetary penalty is prescribed for a breach of rule it shall be halved for the junior and youth leagues.
SPECIAL COMPETITION RULES
401 Senior women’s league
401.1 The competition shall be held in such a form as the Executive may decide, taking into account the number and location of the entries.
401.2 If the Executive decides that the league shall be played in groups, then
401.2.1 each team shall play each other team twice and there shall be sufficient groups arranged at the fixture meeting to accommodate this;
401.2.2 for each group one club shall be nominated as the promoter who shall be responsible for the organisation and financial arrangements for that group;
401.2.3 If two or more teams finish the group competition with equal points the medal positions shall be decided by a play-off at a neutral venue and on a date approved by the Executive;
401.2.4 the promotional costs of each group including pool hire, referees’ expenses and any other cost approved by the Executive shall be borne equally by the clubs competing in that group. Each club shall be responsible for its own travelling expenses.
402 Junior men’s league
402.1 No club may enter more than one team in the junior men’s league unless the AGM determines that the entry of a second or subsequent team from that club will not be to the actual or potential detriment of any other club.
402.2 An entry fee of £1.00 shall be charged for any junior team from a club which is not competing in a senior league.
402.3 All players shall be under the age of eighteen years at midnight on December 31st in the year of the start of the competition.
402.4 The competition shall be held in such a form as the Executive may decide, taking into account the number and location of the entries.
402.5 If knockout finals are necessary, the travelling expenses of the teams shall be pooled and borne equally by the clubs concerned. The travelling expenses of the appointed officials shall be paid by the League.
402.6 The League shall invite offers from clubs willing to stage any necessary finals but shall reserve the right to stage the events itself if no suitable offers are forthcoming.
402.7 If a team withdraws from the league after the fixture meeting but before it has played any matches, the club may be fined an amount not exceeding the sum equivalent to half the possible fines for non fulfilment during the season.
403 Youth league
403.1 No club may enter more than one team in the youth league. unless the Executive determines that the entry of a second or subsequent team from that club will not be to the actual or potential detriment of any other club.
403.2 An entry fee of £1.00 shall be charged for any youth team from a club which is not competing in a senior league.
403.3 All players shall be under the age of sixteen years at midnight on December 31st in the year of the competition.
403.4 The competition shall be held in such a form as the AGM may decide, taking into account the number and location of the entries.
403.5 If knockout finals are necessary, the travelling expenses of the teams shall be pooled and borne equally by the clubs concerned. The travelling expenses of the appointed officials shall be paid by the League.
403.6 The League shall invite offers from clubs willing to stage any necessary finals but shall reserve the right to stage the events itself if no suitable offers are forthcoming.
403.7 If a team withdraws from the league after the fixture meeting but before it has played any matches, the club may be fined an amount not exceeding the sum equivalent to half the possible fines for non-fulfilment during the season.
404 Knockout Competitions
404.1 The draws shall be open and unseeded and a handicap system shall operate. The draw and the detail of each season’s handicap shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting after the Emergency Committee has submitted proposals for the handicapping system.
404.2 If a club has more than one team in any league, the club may opt whether to enter all its teams other than its first team in the knockout in addition to the automatic entry or to remain with the one entry.
404.2.1 If a club has only one entry, then all its registered players in that league shall be eligible to compete in the appropriate knockout
404.2.2 If a club has more than one entry in any knockout,
404.2.2.1 only those players who were eligible to play for a team at the time of registration shall be eligible to play for that team in the knockout.
404.2.2.2 any junior or youth player who has played three or more games for a higher team in the senior men’s league in the preceding season shall only be eligible to play for that team in the knockout
404.2.2.3 No player shall represent more than one team in any one knockout competition.
404.3 All matches in the preliminary round of the senior men’s knockout shall be played on or before the last Sunday in March.
404.4 If the score at full time in any round, including the handicap, results in a tie then the team receiving more goals start shall be deemed to be the winner.
404.5 At the discretion of the Emergency Committee, if a team withdraws from a knockout final tie its place may be offered to the team it has beaten in the semi final. If the offer is accepted, the final shall take place as if the team which withdrew had lost at the semi final stage and the replacing club shall be subject to all the limitations and privileges of a finalist.
