REFEREES COMMITTEE
The Role of the Committee is the control and registration of Referees.
Training of new candidates is undertaken by F.A. Training Officers who respond to the County Training Officer. It is normally completed by Division and examinations are completed by the Divisional Secretary. At this time after a successful pass the candidate is given a grade and in the main it is Level 7. Other classifications according to age and criteria are also available. At present the method of Training new candidates is being revised in accordance with new procedures introduced by the F.A.
Two of the important jobs on the Committee are the Referees Development Programme and Retention of existing Referees.
We have sub-committees working on both of these issues and in fact the Referees Development Programme is currently being revised. It is for colleagues who wish to progress to level 4, from level 5, and level 6 to level 5. We expect the new programme to be operational from March 2005. The draft amendments are currently with the sub-committee and final drafts will be put before the next meeting of the Referees Meeting.
Retention as mentioned above is another issue in which we have a sub-committee. The committee looks at various ways in which we can retain the existing services of all of our Registered Referees. New ideas are currently in the pipeline and I expect toe move this particular issue late this year. Also we have a Representative of the Referees Associations on our Committee and is currently working with us on Development and Retention.
Another Role undertaken by members of the committee is Promotions of Referees from Level 7 to Level 6 and Level 6 to level 5. Normally it is completed by Division and the Secretaries have the help of F.A Registered Assessors. This again is carried out using recognised procedures confirmed by the F.A. We do have additional regulations, which have to be complied with.
County Cup fixture appointments for all games including FA appointments are made by the Referees Secretary who responds directly to the Committee.
For Youth Appointments we have a sub-committee but the appointments for all of these games and for Representative games are made by the Assistant Referees Secretary who responds directly to the Referees Committee, but has a seat on the Youth Committee.
An Emergency Committee meets on matters of an urgent nature, and they then report direct to the Referees Committee.
The committee also has a Disciplinary Committee who sit on matters pertaining to Referees only.
CUP COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE
Role & Responsibilities
Control and manage the County Challenge Cup Competitions (including Women’s but excluding Youth and Girls) on behalf of Council
Give decisions on matters arising out of the Competitions, which shall be deemed to be decisions of Council
Decide on the scheduled dates on which each round of each Cup Competition shall be played and also the kick off times
Decide on the Venues for the Finals of all Cup Competitions
Make all necessary arrangements for the successful running of all Cup Finals
Accept and review entries in each Cup Competition and adjust clubs entries based on the Cup Competition Rules and League Status
Make all Cup Draws and ensure that the draws are passed to the Hon Referees Secretary, in a timely manner for him to appoint match officials before they are issued by the County Office to competing clubs
Decide on exemptions in Cup Competitions when numbers are insufficient for all teams to be given games
Decide on exemptions in Cup Competitions based on Cup Competition rules
Ensure that all Cup Competition trophies are signed for by the winning team and are returned by the required date, imposing any penalties for late return
Review Clubs facilities as required following reports by Council Members, etc, to ensure that the standards of each Cup Competition are maintained
Review the floodlighting facilities of all clubs on an annual basis to ensure that they meet the Cup Competition requirements
May call upon club(s)/player(s) to prove that they were properly qualified according to Rules to compete in the Cup Competitions
Review all abandoned matches and decide on any fines, removal of clubs from the competition, replaying of the match, etc
Review the Cup Competition Rules, with any suggestions from clubs, and recommend changes, with reasons to the Rules Revisions and Sanctioning Committee
Ensure that matters appertaining to Match Officials are passed to the Referee’s Committee for resolution
Consult with the Referees Committee on issues relating to Match Officials in Cup Competitions
Take action and impose penalties-as it deems necessary
Decide the Interpretation of the Rules and adjudicate upon any dispute, claim or protest
Carry out the general administration of the Cup Competitions
Review the duties of Members in Attendance and revise where necessary
The Committee’s decisions are final and binding
RULES REVISION AND SANCTIONING COMMITTEE
Members of this Committee are expected to have a complete and thorough understanding of the Articles, Rules, Regulations and Standing Orders of the Association together with the Rules of the Association’s own Cup Competitions.
Members of this Committee shall be expected to have a reasonable understanding of the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association.
There is a need for the Rules in all Competitions, League or Cup, Adult or Youth, to be worded and numbered in accordance with the Football Association’s ‘Standard Code of Rules’. This is based upon a policy intended to provide assistance to Clubs, Secretaries, Managers and Players by providing a clearly recognisable order to Rules. For example, in the standard numbering of Rules, anything relating to Referees is contained in Rule 13, regardless of which Competition a Club is playing in. The wording of Rules is aimed at making them fully understandable, so that interpretation is not required.
The Area Working Groups, comprising three or four Council Members, are appointed to conduct audits of the Rules of Competitions affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association. The working group members comprise members of the Rules Revision and Sanctioning Committee, plus other Council Members as may be appropriate. Each working group is headed by a Chairman with the responsibility (a) to receive copies of Rules for audit (b) to convene meetings (c) to arrange a venue for such meetings (d) to report the findings to the Rules Coordinator by post or e-mail and (e) to present a report to the Committee.
The Rules Co-ordinator is appointed by the Committee to act as an intermediary between the working groups and County Office and generally to oversee and advise on the audit of rules. The County Cup Rules group comprises two representatives each from the Cup Competitions Committee and the Rules Revision & Sanctioning Committee. The task of this group is to deal with Rule changes to the Association’s own Cup Competitions, ensuring that such changes are fully compliant with Football Association and the Association’s own Rules and Regulations. Proposals from this group would be presented to the Rules Committee for approval.
The Club Audit group carries out checks on Club books to seek to ensure compliance with Berks & Bucks F.A. Regulation 1/64/04 and 2/64 and offers advice on administration and the necessary records a Club should keep.
The Standard Code Monitoring group comprises the Committee Chairman, the Rules Co-ordinator and one other member with extensive experience. The task is to remain abreast of changes, or additions, to The Football Association’s Standard Code of Rules and to ensure continued compliance by the Association of the Standard Code.
The Committee’s general function is to approve the sanction of Competitions and from time to time to advise the Directors and Council on any matters relating to Rules. The Committee writes the Rules of the County Competitions. Upon receiving proposed Rule amendments from the Cup Competitions or Youth Committees, it seeks to ensure that the proposals are compliant with The Football Association and County Football Association Rules and Regulations and that the wording is appropriate and understandable.
YOUTH COMMITTEE
County Youth and Minor Cup Competitions
The Youth Standing Committee is responsible for dealing with all matters relating to Youth Football, control and manages the Youth and Minor Cup Competitions on behalf of the Council and gives the decisions on matters arising out of the Competitions, which shall be deemed to be decisions of the Council.
The Hon. Youth Secretary will be responsible for the running and organisation of the Youth U18’s, Minor U16’s and Minor U14’s Cup Competitions. The Hon. Assistant Youth Secretary will be responsible for the running and organisation of the Minor U13’s, Minor U12’s Cup Competitions in liaison with the Hon. Youth Secretary.
All breaches of Youth and Minor Cup Competition Rules will be dealt with by the appropriate Working Group.
Working Groups
A suitable Working Group, appointed by the Berks & Bucks Football Association Council, will allocate Members of Council to the following Working Groups to carry out specific duties:
Emergency Committee
County Youth and Minor Under 18’s, 16’s and 14’sCup Competitions
County Youth and Minor Under 13’s and 12’s Cup Competitions
County Youth and Minor Youth Competitions Disciplinary Committee
Youth Team Selection Committee
The Chairman of each working Group will be appointed from the Youth Standing Committee who will be responsible for calling meetings and reporting back to the Standing Committee.
Matters Relating to the Youth Team Management
The appointed Youth Team Manager shall have obtained the following qualifications: -
Level 1 Coaching
Attended a Child Protection Workshop
A First Aid qualification in accordance with the requirements laid down in the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association.
The appointed Youth Team Physiotherapist shall have obtained a First Aid qualification in accordance with the requirements laid down in the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association.
Pre-Season, the Manager, together with the appointed Divisional Scouts, will identify players from various clubs to attend trials and selection to the Youth Squad.
Football Development Committee
The main role of the Football Development Committee is to oversee all areas of football development in Berkshire & Buckinghamshire, working with the County Football Development Officer, to promote the increase numbers playing the game. Nominated member/s of the Committee to be a delegate on both Berks and Bucks Active Sports Partnerships.
The Standing Committee is divided into six Working Groups, to give all members of the Standing Committee an opportunity to take part in this important development of football in Berks & Bucks.
Each Working Group is led by a Chairman who is responsible for calling Working Group meetings and obtaining any information required by the Group.
The Working Groups are:
1. Emergency Committee
2. Mini Soccer & Active Sports Co-ordinating Working Group
3. Girls/Women’s Football Working Group
4. Charter Standard Working Group
5. County Coaching & Education Working Group
6. Ethnic Minority and Disabled Persons Working Group
7. Decline in 11-a-side Football Working Group
The Mini Soccer & Active Sports Co-ordinating Working Group promotes and monitors all the mini soccer activities in the two Counties arranging meetings with interested parties and providing funding information if requested.
As partners in both Berkshire & Buckinghamshire Active Sports (Girls only football), it is important that a nominated member of football development is a member of the Active Sports groups, and supports the County Football Development Officer and assist where possible.
This is the remit of the Girls & Women’s Football Working Group. It also nominates a member to sit on the committee of the Berks & Bucks County Women’s League, to give assistance in the early stages of its formation.
With the Football Association actively promoting the needs of Clubs to achieve Charter Standard, the Charter Standard Working Group has the responsibility with the County Football Development
Officer, to examine and approve all applications from Clubs for Charter Standard. In conjunction with the County Football Development Officer the Working Group will assist where possible, the correct completion of a Club’s application. The Working Group will also take responsibility for the promotion of the need of Clubs to seek Charter Standard, using if possible, literature provided by the Football Association. To obtain local knowledge it is recommended that non-council members be co-opted onto this Committee.
To raise the numbers of ethnic minority and disabled persons playing and enjoying football is the aim of the Ethnic & Disabled Persons Working Group.
The Group will liase with the F.A’s Director for Disability Football and Local Authorities Ethnic Minorities Officers and with the Local Authorities Disability Officers to identify any areas within the two Counties that require assistance in the promotion and provision of football to these persons. This Working Group would also co-opt non Council Members.
The County Coaching & Education Working Group have a large role to play in the development of Coaches, from Level 1, upwards, so that Clubs can offer a better quality of coaching to their members.
The group will monitor the many coaching courses on offer, recruiting more potential coaches during the season. In conjunction with the County Football Development Officer the group will promote the needs of Clubs to send candidates to attend Child Protection Workshops, Emergency First Aid Courses and Drugs Awareness Seminars.
The decline in the number of adults playing 11-a-Side football is a worrying factor now confronting the Football Association. The 11-a-side football Working Group will carry out a study as to the reasons behind this decline and investigate and recommend ways of halting the decline and if possible increase the numbers of adults playing the game.
With the Working Groups meeting on a regular basis, information can be passed to the Standing Committee for approval.
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