OFFALY LGFA COMPETITION GUIDELINES 2024

 Offaly LGFA County Competition Guidelines

Ratified on: 19^th January 2024.

These competition guidelines are in conjunction with the LGFA Official Guide

1. Fixtures

 1a Fixture Changes: Official notification by clubs of any fixture change must be made by email to the co-ordinator for the age group or competition. 

1b Changing the date of a fixture.

Appointed dates may only be moved ONCE providing there is Mutual agreement between both clubs. Both clubs must give official notification by email to the co-ordinator for the age group or competition and state why the fixture is being changed and which team cannot fulfil the fixture on the original date.

All changes to fixtures require at least 14 Days’ notice, prior to the original fixture date, except in the case of a death or an unplayable pitch. Failure to give adequate notice will be subject to sanctions as decided by the CODA officer.

1c Failure to Fulfil Fixture

Any team that fails to fulfil an appointed fixture, shall forfeit the match and will be subject to sanctions as decided by the CODA officer. The points for the match will be awarded to the opposing team.

Failure to fulfil a fixture in the group or round robin stages of a competition will automatically eliminate that team from competing in the knockout stages of the competition.

1d Failure to Fulfil Multiple Fixtures

In the event of a team being excluded or having to withdraw from a competition, the results of its played games shall stand. Points from its remaining unplayed fixtures shall be awarded to its nominated opponents in those matches. The scores from this teams played games cannot be used if a placing in a table is being decided on points difference or total points scored.

1e Postponing Matches Appointed

Fixtures can only be cancelled at short notice in the case of a death or an unplayable pitch. Notification must be made by email to the co-ordinator for the age group or competition.

In the case of a death, this is considered a close family member of a player, mentor, or club official, or a serious tragedy in the Parish. A close family member is defined as a Parent Grandparent, child, or sibling. Cousins are included only in tragic circumstances. The name of the deceased and connection to the appointed fixture must be included in the email.

Unplayable pitches must be confirmed by an approved referee in advance of throw in. Game to be offered to opponent if pitch is playable. And the secretary of the club to email the co-ordinator for the age group or competition.  Or if no pitch is available at either club, then Bretland Park is an option

1f Player Availability

Unavailability of any player or manager due to sickness, holidays, work commitments, etc. is not an acceptable reason for seeking postponement of a match.

When a pitch is not available for the appointed date/time, the home club shall endeavour to find an alternative pitch or will lose home advantage and will reverse the fixture and play their home match at the opponent’s pitch. The co-ordinator for the age group or competition must be informed of the change by email. 

 1g Exceptional Circumstances

In exceptional circumstances the Competitions Committee may re-fix a match at the request of club, provided it does not impact the orderly running of the competition. Such a request must be emailed to the co-ordinator for the age group or competition as soon as possible before the date of the appointed fixture. The Competitions Committee will deem if the circumstances are exceptional.

1h Clubs with Senior and Intermediate teams

Where a club has a senior and Intermediate team, the senior fixture will be played 24 hours ahead of the Intermediate fixture, if it is not possible to play them on the same day ( as per fixtures)

1. Referees/Team Sheets

2a Appointments

The referee co-ordinator shall appoint match officials for each game where possible.

The home club must pay the referee.

Recommend linespersons and umpires are the responsibility of both clubs for all matches except for knockout games.

2b Requirements

All referees must have completed the relevant refereeing courses before they can referee an appointed fixture.

2c Behaviour and Conduct.

Clubs are responsible for ensuring that referees, officials, and the opposition are always treated with respect by everyone within their club.

Clubs who fail to comply will be subject to sanctions as decided by the CODA officer.

 2d Team Sheets and Player Numbering

Clubs must use the Foireann Template ( must be 3 copies).

All players numbers must be listed on all 3 copies.

Players jersey numbers must correspond with the numbers on the team sheets.

If a jersey is missing, the original number should be crossed off and replacement number inserted in its place.

For all Appointed or Challenge games, each team presents a filled Foireann sheet, with full names, to the Referee BEFORE the game begins and this must be signed by the referee ( Foireann sheets are also swapped between the teams).

Clubs who fail to comply will be subject to sanctions as decided by the CODA officer.

1. Results

 3a Where referee is appointed by the OCC, it is the responsibility of the OCC to get result.

3b It is the responsibility of the home club to send the result with the full scoreline within 24 hours of the appointed fixture to the coordinator of the age group or competition. Clubs who fail to comply will be subject to sanctions as decided by the CODA officer.

4. Decision on Competition Placings

4a Scoring and Results

Win 3 points, Draw 1 point, Loss 0 points.

If an appointed fixture is forfeited 3 points, go to the opposing team.

 4b Determining placings.

At the end of the group stages of a competition ( League or Championship) the placings are decided by the following criteria in this order

1) Total Points (3 win, 1 draw)

 2) Points Difference (Points scored in matches) This scoring difference is based on points only, goals are not included.

3)  Total points scored. This scoring difference is based on points only, goals are not included.

4) In the event that teams are still tied, total scoring difference including goals will be used.

1. Promotion/Relegation/Gradings

 5a Adult League

The Winner of each division is promoted as League champions, the bottom placed team will be relegated down to the next Division. In exceptional circumstances it is the discretion of the club competition committee to move more than one team up or down or not to move teams up or down, this will depend on such factors as new teams entering the Leagues, existing teams withdrawing from the Leagues, Amalgamations, significant number of Transfer/On Loans to a club, or at a Club requests.

5b Entering 2 Teams at same Age Group

If a club is entering 2 teams at the same age group, the names of the 15 players for Team 1 and 10 players for Team 2 must be supplied to the OCC for ratification,  by email at least 14 days before the competition starts. These named players can only play in one league division. All other players are eligible to play on either team.

5c Adult Championship Promotion/Relegation

Winners of the Junior championships will be promoted to Intermediate grade for a minimum of two years.

Winners of the Intermediate championships will be promoted to Senior grade for a minimum of two years.

The bottom team in each grade will be relegated to the next lower grade, unless they were only promoted in the previous years competition. In this event, the second from bottom team will be relegated to the lower grade.

In exceptional circumstances it is the discretion of the club competition committee ( with the approval of the executive) to move more than one team up or down, or not to move teams up or down, this will depend on such factors as new teams entering the League/ Championship, existing teams withdrawing from the Leagues/ Championships, Amalgamations, significant number of Transfer/On Loans to a club, or at a Club requests.

5d

Where a Senior Club has two teams competing in championship games it must submit the names of its first 15 players for the Higher grade team (A Team) to the CCC 14 days before either of its teams first championship games.

Where an Intermediate Club has two teams competing in championship games it must submit the names of its first 10 players for the Higher grade team (A Team) to the CCC 14 days before either of its teams first championship games.

5e

The OCC is striving for fairness in all competitions. All competition rounds will be monitored by the OCC and any misuse of rules will be sent to CODA

1. Match Day

6a Numbers for Adult teams,

The number of players allowed into the dressing room and onto the playing enclosure for 15-a-side competitions is a maximum of 30 as per rule 378 of LGFA Official Guide and 7 officials.

**It is proposed that permission is sought from Croke park to allow more than 30 players for underage teams.   

6b Side-line

Only the manager is permitted to move along the side-line, and only the maor foirne (runner), Female liaison officer or medic may enter the field of play during a break in play but must then return to designated area away from side-line. All other officials shall remain back from side-line for duration of game. Three substitutes may warm up at any one time on the side-line but must wear bibs while doing so. Teams may have a maximum of 4 water carriers, and they must not be under 16 years of age. Water carriers must remain inline with the 21 metre line at the edge of the pitch and only enter the field of play when invited to do so by the referee.

6c Number of Players

Teams can commence with less than 15 a side in any match. Each team must have at least 11 players to commence a match, but a match may be continued or finished with less than 11 players, the full complement of players may join during the game upon notifying the referee.

When a team has less than 15 players the opposition must match their number of players (must be 11 or more). The team with less than 15 players must have no substitutes. If a player is injured and that players team is reduced to 11 or more then the opposition must also reduce their team to match the number of players. However, if a team has just 10 players because of an injured player, then the opposition is not compelled to reduce their number of players to below 11.

6d Substitutions

Substitutes in ALL underage games are unlimited. Needs to be ratified at county board meeting.

Substitutes in all adult games are unlimited up to knockout stages of championship fixtures. Need to be ratified at county board meeting.

6e

Duplicate lists of players, giving full names, and in the case of Inter-County games, Clubs to which the players belong, must be given to the referee before the commencement of the game in all official games. The number on the player’s jersey must correspond with that player’s name. As team lists are generated through the Foireann system, only the starting 15 must be clearly indicated by a tick though all players must be allocated a number. For competitions at 13-a-side or under, the starting team must be clearly indicated by number. Same rule applies when less than 15 players start.

6f

Clubs, Counties or Provinces must supply to the organising Committee, Board or Council team lists of their starting 15 players and their substitutes where required for publication at least 4 days in advance of the fixture. County Secretary will contact clubs re this. Any failure to do so may result in disciplinary action under the CODA Rules

6g

AN Other is not a playing member and must not be included in the team or panel list of players

6h Knockout games

Underage knockout games which are drawn after extra time will be replayed rather than go to Free kicks as per LGFA guidelines, as it is not seen as a fair system to decide underage games.

Adult games will follow the LGFA guidelines for knockout games with the rule that after extra time, 25 metre free kicks will take place.

All ( Underage and Adult ) drawn finals will go to replay in the first instance.

6i Default time for adult competitions

All adult competition default time is 7pm

Venues

7a The CCC will supply neutral venues where possible (Bretland Park if available) for all knockout games.