This Update has EIGHT important messages this week which we would ask you to please read.
Team sheets & ID checks are mandatory
Play Safe Weekend – Sat 30th Sept/Sun 1st Oct
Number of substitutes at YEL games
Power play
Email from Notts FA – female coach support
Rule 20(E) – Recovery of reasonable costs
New U7s & U8s teams – deadline for October start
Results – Important information
YEL Game Day Hotline
Team sheets & ID checks are mandatory
REMINDER: Some teams are still not carrying out ID checks or giving team sheets to officially appointed YEL Referees before the game. ID Checks and Team Sheets are mandatory under league rules. Check the ‘Useful Information for Managers’ using this link for TEAM SHEET download and HOW TO CARRY OUT AN ID CHECK https://yelonline.com/managers-and-coaches-useful-information/
Team sheets have to be given to the referee before the start of the game IF there is an officially appointed YEL referee.
Our referees are required to complete reports on every YEL game they officiate so we will know if teams have failed to do ID checks/provide team sheets. There is no excuse for this as the need for ID checks and team sheets has been heavily advertised in the weeks leading up to the season start date.
Our role, as league administrators, is to apply the rules as approved. Please be aware that fines for not adhering to the League Rules/Regulations will start to be issued shortly. Those teams that have not been doing this will know who they are. Please do not be surprised if your Treasurer/Club secretary makes contact having received a fine asking the question why the rules are not being followed.
Play Safe Weekend – Sat 30th Sep/Sun 1st Oct
This year’s Play Safe message is simple and direct.:
Everywhere. Every time. Everyone.
We all have a role to play to keep children safe.
This means positively influencing every player, coach/ manager, club official, volunteer, parent/carer, match official and spectator.
The FA have emailed YEL clubs asking them to do 3 things in the lead up to the weekend and over the weekend itself:
1. Before the weekend
Make an online pledge to commit to Play Safe, sharing your club’s actions on the weekend itself. The FA will be sending a link to make your pledge and examples of what you could do, but please feel free to get creative and generate ideas that raise awareness of safeguarding at your club. This includes 16/17-year-old players in open age football, young referees and coaches, for example.
2. This weekend – Produce a 10-15 sec Play Safe Video for Notts FA to use on social media
The County FA are looking at using YEL grassroots clubs – officials, parents, players – in a video collection for use on social media explaining briefly what ‘Play Safe’ means to you. An example of this, from our Head of Football Operations, Marc Birkett can be found HERE.
Video recordings: A 10-15 second recording of yourself/club representatives including the phrase “Play Safe” and one or more of the following key words taken from the 2023 Play Safe theme: Everyone. Everywhere. Every Time. The theme is then followed up with Watch. Listen. Talk. Act.
1. Please ensure your recording is done in portrait mode, as shown in the example.
2. Record your video. Please ensure that each video is no longer than 15 seconds per person.
3. Include one or more of the key words, along with “Play Safe”.
4. Submit your video via email: connor.ball@nottinghamshirefa.com or via WhatsApp on 07931743857.
3. Also on the Play Safe weekend
Please ensure your team captains wear the Play Safe-branded armbands that have been sent out by The FA. They have also sent out Play Safe pin badges to be worn by coaches and Club Welfare Officers.
Number of substitutes at YEL games
Can we remind all teams of the rules. This is not the Premier League – you can’t take more than the maximum number specified below. This rule applies to ALL YEL organised matches – Friendly, League and Cup games.
Any teams reported for using more than the permitted number of subs will be referred to the YEL Discipline Team.
U7/U8 – 5 substitutes
U9/U10 – 7 substitutes
U11/U12 – 5 substitutes
U13/U14 – 5 substitutes
Power Play
We have received enquiries about the use of Power Play. The YEL has NOT adopted Power Play. The reason is that it can distort the results which we rely on heavily to determine the ability level of each team. Unlike other leagues, we monitor the results of U7/U8 football very closely over a four/six week period. The results gives us a strong indication of the ability level of each team and allows us to move teams around into development groups of similar ability teams. Similar story for U9s & U10s. The friendly group matches help us to determine which divisions the teams go into when creating divisions in the three competitive phases that The FA permit each season.
So, in the short term, teams may have easy victories/suffer big defeats but in the medium to long term, we will be able to fine tune ability levels and provide close, competitive games of football.
Recommendation: In a game where the score is becoming excessive ie seven clear goal advantage to one team and little prospect of it turning round, coaches should what is happening between themselves and then, if in agreement, decide to call the game at that point and record that score with the league. Teams can then have an additional (non YEL) game during the remaining time where Power Play can be used or teams mixed to have a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for the team that is losing. It also gives the other team different development challenges.
To clarify, Power Play should NOT be used during the ‘official’ YEL game until the score that is being submitted to the league has been agreed.
Email from Notts FA – female coach support
Daniel Smith – Football Development Officer (Participation) wrote: I just wanted to notify you that as Women and Girls Lead here at Notts I am looking for more female coaches who are in search of coach mentoring, free workshops and further opportunities (such as days at St Georges Park).
We have a cohort of ladies supporting the grassroots game already, all of which belong in our WhatsApp group. This ranges from those making their first steps in coaching all the way through to UEFA B qualified.
The support this group receives is designed through consultation with themselves. We have more workshops and opportunities between now and the end of the season.
Michelle Marshall said it would be wise to reach out and see whether the YEL had anyone that would be interested in being part of this proposition for the 23/24 season.
Any female coaches that would like further information – contact Daniel Smith at Nottinghamshire FA daniel.smith@nottinghamshirefa.com
Rule 20(E) – Recovery of reasonable costs
Rule 20(E) states:
(E) (i) In competitions where points are awarded, home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have the power to impose a fine (in accordance with the Fines Tariff), deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points from the Competition Match in question to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any reasonable expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals…
Please be aware that if you cancel a game either close to or on the day, and the opposition have incurred costs which they cannot recover eg pitch hire – you may be asked to cover these costs.
New U7s & U8s teams – deadline for October start
Any club with a new U7 or U8 team that would like to enter at this point for an October start (there will be one further intake in December) needs to have their application for the team on Scoreline by 5pm on September 30th
Results – Important information
Scores should be submitted straight away (max 3 hours after the advertised kick off time on Full-Time)
DO NOT enter half time score
DO NOT do live goals on matchday app
AGREE FINAL SCORE WITH OPPOSITION before texting the result by SMS
Only report the score via SMS text (nothing else)
If you do not receive the SMS text, email the YEL Office with your team name, age group and playing day – office@yelonline.com – (club will need to ensure your details are in WGS with a mobile number)
CORRECT WAYS TO REPORT A SCORE BY SMS TEXT – just the score or short codes with score and hyphen (NOT ‘v’) MUST BE HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST, THEN AWAY TEAM SCORE
0-3
MS06 2-5 WW24
Mp10 3-1 ey17
EXAMPLES OF TEXTS CREATING ERROR MESSAGES (DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE STYLES)
H 3 – 1 A
H 2 – A 3
H – A 0 v 2
YEL Game Day hotline 
If you have any issues or on the day queries relating to your game only, you can contact the YEL Game Day Hotline number for advice.
07510 305354
Available between 9.30am and 12.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
ONLY AVAILABLE FOR ON THE DAY MATCH RELATED ENQUIRIES – no other issues will be discussed.
Contacting the YEL
If you email the YEL OFFICE – office@yelonline.com – 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