Vets Cup and Shield Rules

SAL Vets Cup/Shield Rules 2020-2021 - click to download a PDF version

1. NAME OF COMPETITION, ELIGIBLE TEAMS

​(a) There will be two Competitions, known as the Southern Amateur League Saturday Veterans Shield and Southern Amateur League Sunday Veterans Cup.
 
Both competitions are open to all teams in their respective Sections of the League Competition.
 
(b) A team entering more than three other cup competitions will not be eligible for entry.
 
(c) Non-Member League team applications to participate in the Cup competitions are permitted.
 
(d) Any team that has been excluded from AFA (or other County FA) Cup Competitions in accordance with the AFA Cup Competition rule 3(f) will not be eligible for entry.

2. ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

(a) Each playing member of a team must be a bona fide Member of the Club.
(b) Clubs shall only field players who have reached the age of 35 years at the beginning of the season or will reach their 35th birthday by the end of February of the current playing season.

​​3. MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPETITIONS

(a) All matters concerning the competitions shall be addressed to the Veterans Secretary.
(b) The competitions shall be run by a Cup Committee which shall be a Sub-Committee of the League Management Committee. The Cup Committee shall comprise a minimum of three members, nominated by and from members of the League Management Committee. Two members shall be League Officers, one of whom shall act as the Chairman, and the other League Officer shall act as the Secretary. The Cup Committee shall be permitted to co-opt from the League Management Committee additional members to join the Committee as required.
(c) If it becomes apparent that to continue a Cup Competition will further aggravate the congestion of League fixtures, then the League Competition shall have priority and the Cup Competitions shall be cancelled.

​4. ENTRIES​

​(a) Entry into each of the Cup Competitions will be by application. Each application will be considered and its acceptance, or otherwise, duly confirmed by the Veterans Secretary.
(b) Entry forms will be issued to each Club by the 31st of July each year. The form shall be returned to reach the Veterans Secretary by the 31st of August, on which date entries shall close.

5. ORGANISATION OF THE COMPETITIONS​

(a) To proceed in any of the Cup Competitions a minimum entry of eight (8) teams shall normally be required.
 
(b) As soon as possible, after the closing date for entries, teams will be drawn in pairs by ballot in the required number of rounds through to the final tie for the Sunday Veterans Cup.
(i) The Saturday Shield 1st Round will be played as a group stage whereby each team will play each other once before progressing to a knockout format. The top two teams in each group will progress to the knockout rounds.
(ii) For Group Stage matches, 3pts will be awarded for a win, 1pt for a draw. Group stage rankings will be determined by the following descending criteria:

1. Highest number of points
2. Goal difference
3. Goals scored
4. Result between the two sides
5. If the records of two or more Teams are still equal and it is necessary for any reason to determine the position of each then the Teams affected shall play a deciding match or matches under conditions as determined by the Management Committee.

(c) Where the first-named team does not have a pitch available on the due date, ground advantage must be conceded and the tie played on the opponents ground.
 
(d) If unavoidable circumstances prevent a team playing a tie on the due date, then with the agreement of the opponents, and the prior approval of the Cup Committee, the tie may be brought forward.​

​6. MATCH OFFICIALS

(a) Except for the semi-final and final ties either Club may be required to provide the Officials, but it will be the responsibility of the first named Club to appoint, confirm and notify the officials of the match details. For the semi-final and final ties, the League Veterans Referees' Secretary will appoint, confirm and notify the officials of the match details.

(b) The fees paid to the Match Officials shall be the same as those set out in the current League handbook. The first named team will be responsible for payment of the fees.
For the final ties the Competition is responsible for paying the fees of the Match Officials. (see Schedule of Fees, Payments and Fines)

​7. MATCH ARRANGEMENTS

(a) The first named Team in each tie, except for the final ties, is responsible for confirming match arrangements with the opposition and match official(s).
 
(i) The Veterans Cup / Shield ties will normally take precedence over League games. However, as not to compromise the League Fixtures programme and create any fixture congestion, the Veterans Secretary can decide that a League fixture or fixtures takes priority over a Challenge Cup tie.
 
(ii) A team failing to fulfil a Cup tie for whatever reason may be withdrawn from the Cup by the Cup Committee.
 
(iii) Where feasible, making prior arrangements to switch grounds in the event of an unfit home pitch.
 
(iv) In the event of a tie being postponed on one occasion by the first named team because of an unfit home pitch the Cup Committee may, at its discretion, order the tie to be played at the venue of the second named team or at an alternative venue.
  
(b) For the final ties the Competition Secretary is  responsible for making the match arrangements.

8. MATCH ARRANGEMENTS

(a)
(i) The duration of play for knock out rounds shall be 90 minutes and extra time of 30 minutes. The Referee shall have discretion to reduce these times to no less than 60 and 20 minutes respectively.
(ii) The duration of play for group stage matches shall be 90 minutes.
 
(b) The half-time interval shall be of 10 minutes and may only be altered with the consent of the referee. An interval before extra time shall be no less than 5 minutes.
 
(c) Unless abandoned by the Referee, each knock out tie must be played to a conclusion on the prescribed date. If the scores are level at the end of extra time the result shall be determined by kicks taken from the penalty mark, in the manner prescribed as an appendix to the Laws of the Game.
 
(d) If in the opinion of the Referee conditions do not allow sufficient time for the minimum allowed period of extra time (i.e. 20 minutes) then the match may be decided by penalty kicks immediately after the end of normal time.
 
(e) An abandoned tie must be reported to the Veterans Secretary, together with the details. A subsequent decision of the Cup Committee as to the determination of the tie shall be made in accordance with AFA Cup Rule 8(e).
 
(f) A team unable to fulfil a tie without valid reason, or a team not ready to commence play 30 minutes after the scheduled kick-off time, will be liable, at the discretion of the Cup Committee, to be disqualified from the competition and the tie awarded to their opponents.

9. SUBSTITUTES

A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 5 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from 5 named players.

A player who has been substituted himself becomes a substitute and may replace a player at any time subject to the substitution being carried out in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of Association Football.

The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than 20 minutes before the start of the match and a Player not so named may not take part in that match.

A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game. 

​10. REPORTING RESULTS​

Both Clubs must report the result of the tie in accordance with instructions from the Results Secretary of the League.​

11. TROPHIES

The winning finalist of each Competition will be presented with a Cup, and both the winning and losing finalists will be presented with a commemorative plaque.
Each player in the final tie, including substitutes, will receive a medal.
Each Match Official for the final tie will be presented with a commemorative trophy, in addition to a match fee.
A player sent-off the field of play for misconduct in a Cup final shall not be presented with a medal for playing in that final.

​12. FURTHER PROVISIONS

(a) In any matter not provided for in these rules the relevant League rule shall apply where the context permits.
 
(b) The Cup Committee is empowered to deal with any matters not provided for in these rules, and to make such arrangements for the proper conduct of the Competitions as is thought fit. The AFA Cup Competition Rules will be used as a guide for settling any matters not otherwise provided for herein.
 
(c) The fees for entering the Competition and any fines which become payable will be in accordance with the League's Schedule of Fees, Payments and Fines.

13. APPEALS PROCEDURE

An appeal against a decision of the Cup Committee may be made to the Amateur Football Alliance under the provisions of AFA Rule 12, where, in accordance with The Football Association Rules, the decision will be final and binding.