This Update has SEVEN important messages this week which we would ask you to please read.
Maximum squad size – Registering players
Photo quality – Important you get it right
Two coaches – only 8 weeks to start of season
More than four players in/out? Has the level of your team changed significantly?
July 24th – – IMPORTANT DATE
Team officials need to add photos onto their Whole Game System account
Basic Guide to running a YEL Team
Maximum squad size – Registering players
As per YEL Rules/Regulations voted in by the member clubs, the MAXIMUM number of players that can be registered for each squad is as follows:
U7/U8 – unlimited
U9/U10 – 14 players
U11/U12 – 18 players
U13/U14 – 22 players
Please adhere to these rules BEFORE you agree to sign players on as it will be enforced and will only lead to potential disappointment and frustration if not followed.
DOs and DON’Ts WHEN REGISTERING PLAYERS
DO think, ‘what would be acceptable on a passport?’ We need clear, head and shoulders images of players – no hats or caps. The image needs to reflect what the player looks like now.
DON’T dual register players for the same age group who play on the same day. It is against FA Rules.
DO check your WGS Club portal to make sure you don’t have any players that have been rejected for poor quality photographs. If you do, update the photograph and re-submit
DO ensure you have the minimum number of players registered by July 24th – 5 for 5v5; 7 for 7v7; 9 for 9v9; 11 for 11v11
DO ensure you have new/updated photographs for any player registered before May 2022
If you are a new secretary or need a refresher on what you are doing, The FA have produced the following overview of the system. Copy and paste the links into your browser or hold ctrl and click the link. If you need further assistance, please contact your local County FA directly who will be pleased to help.
https://youtu.be/OI1qdidlBk0
https://grassrootstechnology.thefa.com/support/solutions/48000265985
Photo quality – important you get it right
There have been a significant number of photos which have already been rejected for quality reasons. For an image to be accepted by the YEL for player registration, it needs to be a good quality passport style head and shoulders only image – see image – NOT a ‘distance photo where the image of the player is very small.
Two coaches – only 8 weeks to the start of the season
Have you got two qualified coaches for your team?
This has been part of FA Safeguarding policy for a number of years. Our parent County FA supports it and we also fully support it and endorse it hence it being added to our League Regs.
Every team playing affiliated football must have TWO qualified coaches at ALL football activities – training and matches. This mandatory FA requirement has been incorporated into our League Regulations 2024-25. This is a safeguarding requirement to protect both players and coaches.
League Regulation 1(iv) Coach/Manager requirements for a registered YEL team
As part of the YEL’s parent County FA rules, each team playing in the YEL must have two coaches with in-date qualifications registered to the team on Club Portal who should be present at YEL organised matches and all training activities. Qualifications required to be compliant:
Coach one: must hold ALL of the following:
• In-date accepted DBS
• FA Level 1/Introduction to Coaching Football (I2CF) Qualification (Min)
• In-date Safeguarding Children Course / Recertification
• In-date Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF)
Coach two: must hold a minimum of the following:
• In-date accepted DBS
• In-date Safeguarding Children Course / Recertification
• In-date Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF) OR In-date FA Sudden Cardiac Arrest Module & In-date FA Concussion Module
It is advisable for the team to have a parent with an in date DBS and Safeguarding Children certificate who can stand in (don’t need to actively take part in the training session/coaching on game day) should one of the coaches be unavailable rather than cancelling a game or training session.
More than four players in/out? Has the level of your team changed significantly?
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR U12-U14 TEAM MANAGERS. If your team has had a significant number of players leave/join (4 or more) which has strengthened/weakened your team since the end of the 23/24 season, please email the YEL Office with details so we can ensure that we place you in the correct ability based division.
July 24th – IMPORTANT DATE
A very important date by which a number of key milestones need to have been reached in order for clubs/teams to continue their progress towards the start of the season
JULY 24th Minimum number of players need to be registered for each team on WGS – 5v5 (5); 7v7 (7); 9v9 (9); 11v11 (11)
JULY 24th Last day for U9-U14 teams to be affiliated in order to be included in YEL 2024-25 season
JULY 24th All league fees need to be paid
JULY 24th Last day for free withdrawals
JULY 24th Last day to enter a U9-U14 team (inclusion not guaranteed – depends on space available)
Team officials need to add photos onto their Whole Game System account
It has long been a player registration requirement that a head and shoulders image be uploaded onto the club portal before the player can be registered. It made no sense whatsoever that Managers and Coaches, for some reason, were allowed to register without uploading a head and shoulders image of themselves. We are in complete agreement with our parent County FA that this is poor practice from a safeguarding point of view. Our League Regulation 1(B)(iv) now make it a rule that:
‘Team Officials (Manager/Coach/Assistant Manager/Assistant Coach) must have their photo uploaded to Club Portal.
A parent can stand in if either coach is not present provided they have an in date FA safeguarding children certificate and in date FA DBS.
Failure of a team to comply with this rule will result in the membership application to join the league being rejected. If a team is not compliant with this regulation during the season, it will receive a fine of up to £100 for failing to follow a management instruction and will have its fixtures withdrawn immediately until the team becomes compliant.’
All Team Officials log into their Whole Game System account and upload a current image of themselves.
This regulation is an additional safeguarding measure to help everyone know who is standing on the coaches’ side of the pitch and to assist YEL Respect Field Officers/County FA Officials when checking that those coaching, have the necessary in date qualifications to allow them to do so.
Basic guide to running a YEL Team
A really useful guide for coaches and club secretaries to understand what is required by the YEL in order for the league to run smoothly.
Download a copy here or go to YELonline.com and click on the ‘Useful information for managers/coaches’ section on the home page.
https://yelonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Basic-guide-to-day-to-day-running-YEL-team.pdf
Contacting the YEL
If you email the YEL OFFICE – yel@live.co.uk – please ensure you state the team name, age group and playing day so we can quickly deal with the enquiry
Rob Harwood CEO
YEL OFFICE