This Update has FIVE important messages this week which we would ask you to please read.
Cup update – important dates
New player – Notice of approach required?
Defibrillator survey – please complete ASAP
SECRETARIES – Accreditation deadline– March 10th 2024
YEL Game Day Hotline
Cup update – important dates
Listed below are key days for cup competition games. For all those teams still in the cup, please check availability now with all of your players for these dates and assume you will make it to the final. Check any upcoming school events which could cause an issue.
Check your age group and playing day in the list.
Any potential issues with these dates need highlighting now by sending an email to the YEL Office with a full explanation.
Saturday 9th March – SAT U12 & U14 Quarter Finals
Sunday 10th March – SUN U11 & U13 Quarter Finals
Saturday 16th March – SAT U11 & U13 Quarter Finals
Sunday 17th March – SUN U12 & U14 Quarter Finals
Saturday 23rd March – SAT U9 & U10 Semi Finals
Sunday 24th March – SUN U9 & U10 Semi Finals
Saturday 20th April – SAT U11 & U13 Semi Finals
Sunday 21st April – SUN U12 & U14 Semi Finals
Saturday 27th April – SAT U12 & U14 Semi Finals
Sunday 28th April – SUN U11 & U13 Semi Finals
Saturday 11th May – SAT U9 & U10 Finals
Sunday 12th May – SUN U9 & U10 Finals
Saturday 18th – SAT U11-U14 Finals
Sunday 19th May – SUN U11-U14 Finals
New player – Notice of Approach required?
Reminder: If you have a new player wanting to join your team, ask them if they are already signed to a team. If the answer is ‘Yes’ you will need to contact the existing club either by email or text (so you have proof) and give them seven days ‘Notice of Approach.’ Ie you are looking to speak to the player with a view to them joining your club/team. Do not attempt to sign the player or register them on Whole Game System until either this period has elapsed or you have had confirmation back that the host club are waiving the notice period. If you get this, you can register them immediately.
Defibrillator survey – please complete ASAP
ALL TEAM CONTACTS – A massive thank you to all those teams – now in the hundreds which is amazing – who have taken the time to complete the survey. Rachael has been sending out reminders to those who haven’t so please help make her job easier by finding 10 mins to complete this life saving survey.
Defibrillators save lives! This is the most far-reaching survey ever undertaken in grassroots football. The YEL – National Grassroots League of the Year 2023 and the largest league in the country – is committed to making grassroots football as safe an environment as possible for all participants – players, coaches, and spectators. We are asking all our 1439 teams to complete the survey to help identify which teams/clubs have the required equipment and who is lacking. We will then see what help we can offer to assist these teams/clubs to bring them up to standard and ensure that their games are safe.
The survey can be found on YEL Scoreline. To access the survey, log into Scoreline and select ‘Surveys’ in the left-hand menu. The survey will then open for you to complete. All team contacts are requested to complete this survey for their team as soon as possible and if you are unsure on any answers, please speak to your club officials who should be able to assist. We will be looking to add the information provided, to the contact page for each team so opposition managers/coaches will be aware of what is available at each venue they visit and where the nearest defibrillator is located.
This survey is the first stage in a process to identify defibrillator locations and assess the needs of our member clubs/teams. We are currently in discussions with a national company who are looking to offer heavily discounted/subsidised, and NHS approved, portable defibrillators. More information about this second stage will follow once discussions are concluded and the survey information has been collated.
SECRETARIES – Accreditation deadline – March 10th 2024
The YEL is an England accredited league. Our League Regulations, (Reg 1) states that to be a member club of the YEL you must hold be an England Football Accredited Club. For a club to be a readmitted/accepted as a new member of the YEL for season 2024-25 YOU MUST BE ENGLAND ACCREDITED AT THE AGM IN JUNE (brand new clubs – less than 12 months old – need to obtain an email from your county FA to say that you have started the process)
The deadline set by The FA to have your renewal/England Accreditation application submitted is March 10th 2024. Check NOW that your coaches have the necessary qualifications. If not, then get onto the process ASAP as some online courses – Introduction to coaching as an example – get filled up quickly and you may find they have no availability.
If you are unsure what needs to be done, please contact your local CFA.
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 Sat/Sun
ONLY AVAILABLE FOR ON THE DAY MATCH RELATED ENQUIRIES – no other issues will be discussed.
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