The League Rules/SCOR

These rules are designed to be a simpler version of the FA Standard Code of Rules (‘SCOR’) with some local variations for quick reference. In the event of a dispute issue involving them, reference should be made to the original SCOR below.

Many of the rules involve fines at the discretion of the Management Committee – for these, reference should be made to the Fines Tariff attached to SCOR.

2.1 This organisation shall be known as the Thames Valley Walking Football League (‘TVWFL’).

2.2 The League is sanctioned by the Bucks & Berks County Football Association Limited.

2.3 All member Teams must be affiliated to their County FA.

2.4 Recognising that clubs are entitled to enter any of their teams playing in the league in any other competitions, it must be accepted that this must be done by agreement with the league to avoid fixture clashes. If an unforeseen clash may occur, league fixtures will take priority. 

To prevent fixture clashes, Clubs are required to report details of their participation in any external leagues or competitions to the League immediately upon scheduling, with a strict deadline of one month prior to the affected League fixture.

2.5 Inclusivity and Non-discrimination: All persons present must respect the rights, dignity, and worth of all participants regardless of age, gender, ability, race, cultural background, religious belief, or sexual identity.

2.6 All Participants shall abide by all The Football Association Regulations relating to  Safeguarding.

3.1 Any Club wishing to change its name mid-season must obtain permission from the Sanctioning Authority following consultation with the Competition. In the event that permission is granted, the Club must advise the Competition Secretary.

4.1 All member Teams must complete the online registration form and pay the registration fee by the deadline set by the Committee. Membership of the Competition shall constitute an agreement between the Competition and a Club to be bound by and comply with these Rules (including any decision of the Management Committee made pursuant to these Rules).

4.2 The Seasonal Registration Fee is £50 per team. This includes all player registration costs.

4.3 Registration Priority:

                        I.         Existing teams paid by the deadline;

                       II.         New teams paid on date of registration;

                     III.         Existing teams paying after the deadline (subject to Committee approval).

4.4 Match Fees: Fees are £50 per team, payable by the 1st of the month, in which the fixtures fall. Teams commit to paying for all fixtures even if they are unable to fulfill them.

5.1 The competitions shall be governed by a Management Committee (‘Committee’) elected at the AGM or other designated meeting.

Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination provided that the Officer notifies the Secretary in writing not later than June 30th each year. All other candidates for election as Officers of the Competition or members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the secretaries of two Clubs, not later than July 31st each year.

5.2 The Committee may implement new processes ("Standing Orders") for the smooth running of the league by agreement of a simple majority of members.

5.3 No more than two members from any single Club may serve on the Management Committee at one time.

5.4 A committee member must attend 50% of meetings to ensure they are engaged and understand the context of decision making and contribute to it fairly.

6.1 The Committee has the power to deal only with matters within the Competition.

6.2 For alleged breaches, the Committee shall issue a written charge. Clubs have 7 days to respond.

6.3 Fines: All fines are levied by the Committee. Common administrative fines (late starts, kit issues) are capped at £50.00. Kit issues would include, but not limited to jewellery, footwear, shin pads, numbered shirts, shirt colours.

6.4 Decisions of the Committee must be notified in writing within 7 days.

6.5 Fines are payable within 21 days. Failure to pay may ultimately result in withdrawal of fixtures.

7.1 All questions of eligibility or rule interpretation shall be referred to the Management Committee.

7.2 Protests must be lodged with the Committee within two days (excluding Sundays) of the match.

7.3 Fees: Per TVWFL local rules, no protest deposit or appeal fee is required to lodge a complaint.

7.4 Any appeal against a Committee decision must be lodged with the Bucks & Berks County FA within 14 days of written notification, accompanied by the relevant FA fee.

7.5 All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their Officers (Chair, Treasurer or Secretary) and sent to the committee generic email address: committee.tvwfl@gmail.com

8.1 The AGM shall be held not later than 31st August each year.

8.2 Each member Club is entitled to one vote.

8.3 Officers of the Management Committee are entitled to vote but cannot cast a vote on behalf of a club.

8.4 Member Clubs failing to be represented at the AGM without satisfactory reason shall be fined £30.

8.5 Notice of proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the League AGM shall be circulated to the Clubs with at least 21 days’ notice. The proposals and proposed amendments to these proposals shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of the League AGM. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if a majority of those present and entitled to vote and voting are in favour.

8.6 Proposed rule changes must be communicated to clubs no later than 31st July.

9.1 On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds (2/3) of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting (‘SGM’).

9.2 The Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.

9.3 Clubs will be given at least 7 days’ notice and an agenda. Each club is entitled to one vote.

9.4 Any club failing to be represented at an SGM without satisfactory reason shall be fined £10.

10.1 Membership of the Competition shall constitute an agreement between the Competition and a Club to be bound by and comply with these Rules (including any decision of the Management Committee made pursuant to these Rules).

11.1 Any Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw a Team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing of such intention at least one month before the start of the next season.

12.1 At an AGM or SGM called for this purpose, a vote by 2/3rds of the accredited delegates present may: (1) remove a member of the Management Committee from office; or (2) exclude any Club or Team from membership.

12.2 If players receive a red card during any league playing session, whether playing or supporting, they will be obliged to leave the immediate vicinity of the playing area for the duration of the session and be automatically banned in line with FA on field sanction regulations. This will include a ban across all age groups on that matchday in line with the suspension length. The length of the ban will be determined by the FA on Field Regulations and any further misconduct sanction by Berks and Bucks FA based on the severity of the incident.

13.1 Trophies: Perpetual trophies must be returned, but specific awards/cups granted at the end of the competition remain the property of the winning team.

14.1 Alterations, for which consent has been given by the Sanctioning Authority, shall be made to these Rules only at the AGM or at an SGM specially convened for the purpose. Any alteration made during the Playing Season to these Rules shall not take effect until the following Playing Season, except in exceptional circumstances and approved by Sanctioning Authority or The FA.

15.1 Expenditure Approval: All expenditure, regardless of amount, must be approved by the Management Committee.

15.2 The Treasurer shall prepare and share monthly financial reports with the Committee.

15.3 Officials: Match Officials are paid by the league immediately after matches. If a match is unplayed due to circumstances beyond league control, officials if present are paid half-fee.

16.1 All Clubs must have valid public liability insurance cover of at least ten million pounds (£10,000,000) at all times, or any such sum that may be required by The FA requirements from time to time.

16.2 All Clubs must have valid personal accident cover for all Players registered with them. This must be in place prior to taking part in any Competition Match and must meet the minimum requirements of the Bucks & Berks County FA.

17.1 Dissolution of the TVWFL shall be by resolution approved at a SGM by a majority of three quarters (3/4) of the member clubs present.

17.2 The Management Committee is responsible for the winding up of assets and liabilities.

17.3 Any surplus assets, following the discharge of debts, shall be transferred to another Competition, the Bucks & Berks County FA, or a local charitable object approved by the Bucks & Berks County FA.

18.1 Age Limits: Males must be 50+; Females must be 40+. Females can play in the mixed leagues 10 years below the mixed age category. This is detailed below:

A woman age 40-49 can play for M50s
A woman age 50-54 can play for M50, M60
A woman age 55-59 can play for M50, M60, M65
A woman age 60+ can play for M50, M60, M65, M70

18.2 Registration: No match-day or hard copy registration. Players must be registered via the online system 24 hours before their first fixture, or by agreement with the committee in an emergency.

18.3 Squad Sheets: Clubs must email an FA squad sheet and a match-day list of no more than 9 players 24 hours before the fixture. Any last-minute changes must be emailed through.

18.4 Internal Transfers:

1. Division Movements

• I.Moving Up: A player may play for a higher-division team up to two times per season. Upon the third occasion, they must permanently transfer to that higher-division team.
• II.Moving Down: A player may play for a lower-division team only once per season. Upon the second occasion, they must permanently transfer to that lower-division team.
• III.Moving Across: If a club has multiple teams within the same division, a single player may switch between those teams a maximum of two times per season.

2. Standard Notification & Approval Process

• IV. Advance Notice: The Committee must be notified in advance of any player switch.
• V. Approval: Under normal circumstances, switches will be approved unless the Committee determines the motive for the switch is questionable.

3. Match-Day Emergency Adjustments

• VI. Overarching Authority: The Committee or the Match Day Organiser reserves the right to permit last-minute player switches to maintain the integrity of the event.
• VII. Process: Whenever possible, the agreement of all participating teams will be obtained. The Committee will set the specific terms of the emergency switch and provide their rationale.
• VIII. Quota Impact: Any match-day switch approved by the Match Organiser—regardless of whether other teams agreed to it—will count toward the player's seasonal limits outlined in Section 1 (Moving up, moving down or moving across).

18.5 Squad number: For insurance reasons, a maximum of 25 players shall be set for any given squad.

19.1 If, in the opinion of the referee, two Teams have the same or similar colours, the home Team shall make the change to other colours, including bibs.

19.2 Shirts must all be numbered and no two shirts shall have the same number.

20.1 The Spring playing season runs from early March to late June, and the Autumn playing season runs from early September to late February.

20.2 Format: 6v6 match play.

20.3 Touch Rules:

• Unlimited touch: M50 Premiership/Championship and M60 Division 1.
• Three-touch: All other divisions.
• Goalkeepers: The three-touch rule does not apply to goalkeepers.

20.4 Substitutions: Unlimited rolling repeat substitutions are permitted.

20.5 Shirts: No Outfield Player shall be permitted to wear all-black or very dark shirts. All shirts must be uniquely numbered.

20.6 Balls: Every team must provide at least two match-quality Size 4 ball for home games.

20.7 Shin Pads: Compulsory for all players.

20.8 Team Captains: Team captains must wear an armband and support match officials in the management of the on-field discipline of their teammates.

21.1 Captains (or a representative) must agree results with the referee immediately post-match, and then report these results immediately to the match day supervisor.

21.2 Results must be administered by the league and entered on the Torneo app within 48 hours.

22.1 Team rankings will be decided by points: three points for a win and one point for a draw.

22.2 If a team is unable to fulfil a fixture, its opponents will be awarded 3 points on the basis of a 1-0 scoreline.

22.3 Rankings for teams equal on points at the end of the season shall be determined by the following order:

• a. goal difference
• b. most goals scored.
• c. most matches won during the Playing Season.
• d. the better playing record against each other
• e. toss of coin or drawing of lots

22.4 The Committee retains final discretion over all promotion, relegation, and new team placements. While adjustments are routinely determined by final divisional standings, the Committee will also evaluate the competitive preferences and operational capacity of individual teams before finalising league structures.

23.1 Registered referees (and assistant referees or substitutes if needed) for all Competition Matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the Sanctioning Authority and shall officiate under standard normal FIFA guidelines.