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YEL Update – 25th July 2025

This Update has FIVE important messages this week which we would ask you to please read.  

 

Two coaches – only 6 weeks to the start of the season

Minimum facility requirements for YEL organised games

Free withdrawals has now ended

Team officials need to add photos onto their FA personal account

Basic guide to running a YEL team

 
Two coaches – only 6 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 2025-26. 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.
Minimum facility requirements for YEL organised games


ALL CLUBS/TEAMS – There are minimum requirements for pitches to be compliant for YEL organised fixtures. Whilst it’s recommended that there are changing facilities available, the MIN requirement is that there are onsite toilets open on match day. It’s not acceptable in 21st Century for anyone to be expected to ‘use the bushes.’

 

This YEL Rule/regulation will be enforced. Any team found using a pitch which does not comply with the minimum requirement will be referred to the YEL Discipline team.
Free withdrawals has now ended


July 24th was the last day for free withdrawals. All leagues fee invoices must be paid in full. Any outstanding fees will attract a late payment surcharge as our terms of business for invoices are 14 days from issue. There will be no refunds for any teams that withdraw between now and August 31st. After this time, there will be an additional withdrawal charge made of £50.
Team officials need to add photos onto their FA personal 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 personal FA 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 coac

hes and club secretaries to understand what is required by the YEL in order for the league to run smoothly.

Download a copy from YELonline.com and click on the ‘Useful information for managers/coaches’ section on the home page.

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

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