YEL Update – 7th March 2025

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

Poppy Atkinson, 10
Advanced notice – Transfer/registration deadline
Cup Matches – Cup tied players, ID checks & team sheets, finals
Easter friendlies – 12th/13th April
Excerpt from email issued to referees this week. Please ensure coaches & parents are aware
Silent Support Weekend 2025

Poppy Atkinson, 10

I’m sure we are all aware of the tragedy that unfolded on Wednesday evening when a young, 10 year old, footballer lost her life after being hit by a car on the pitch at her training session.

As a league, we would like to pass on our heartfelt condolences to Poppy’s family and friends at this truly awful time.

We would ask that our players, parents and coaches show their respects by holding a minute’s applause or silence before our YEL games this weekend. As always, this is entirely optional and coaches/referees should all be in agreement beforehand.

Advance Notice – Transfer/Player registration deadline

REMINDER: As per YEL rules 18(I) A Player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 16th March except by special permission of the Management Committee.

If you are looking to sign/register an additional player/s the transfer/registration must be completed by 16th March.

Cup Matches – Cup tied players, ID checks & team sheets, Finals

Cup tied players – Any player who has played in a previous round for another team in the same age group and playing day cannot play for another team in the same age group cup competition as they will be cup tied and therefore ineligible. Any team found to have played an ineligible player will be removed from the competition. Please check and make sure you do not fall foul of this rule.
Cup Rules, ID Checks & Team Sheets – Please ensure you have read and understand the cup rules inc ID checks and proving team sheets to officially appointed YEL refs – YELonline.com – under rules and regulations – Any issues on the day, ring YEL GameDay hotline below
Please email the YEL Office should you encounter any officially appointed YEL referee refusing to accept a team sheet or saying that they don’t need them.
Finals – teams still in the cup competitions should make a note that the finals will take place in May over two weekends – 10th & 11th and 17th & 18th The finals weekends are a festival of football with over 60 ability based competitions reaching their conclusion. It is a massive logistical exercise for us and requires months of planning. Even though you may not have reached a final yet, it is essential that you check availability now with your players to ensure they would be available for both of these dates (Very important they check at school that there are no planned schools events which would affect a significant number of players in the team). Any potential issues need emailing to the office now. The dates of the finals will not be moved from these two weekends but we could look to see if there would be a possibility of switching any affected final to the other weekend. This can only be done with plenty of notice ie NOW!

Easter friendlies – 12th/13th April

U7-U14 teams – Easter games. U9-U14s Firstly, as per league rules/regulations, whilst we try to avoid school holidays where possible for league fixtures, we have had no alternative other than to move postponed fixtures to w/e 5th/6th April. Any fixtures set and then teams cancel will follow the normal process/postponement rules.

We appreciate some teams may wish to play other games over Easter so are we’re happy to arrange friendly fixtures where possible for those that want them on w/e 12th/13th April. To cut down unnecessary admin and emails where teams cancel through lack of players and oppositions who have a team and want to play being left gameless, we are asking everyone else to tell us if you are available/would like a game by no later than 5pm Mon 17th March. It’s a simple process. You give us your availability on Scoreline and we’ll try and match you up with a similar level team. NB CHECK AVAILABILITY WITH YOUR TEAM FIRST BEFORE UPDATING SCORELINE

Only team contacts listed on Scoreline can complete this
Log into Scoreline – https://portal.yelscoreline.com
Click on ‘Availability’ in the left hand menu
Click calendar to April
Click on the blue ‘fixture availability’ on the date/s you are available
Select ‘available’ from the dropdown box
Then click Save
Games will be created for those who want them shortly after the closing date. No additional friendlies will be created afterwards. Do not email the office asking for friendlies. Games will only be created for those who have updated Scoreline.

Excerpt from email issued to referees this week. Please ensure coaches & parents are aware

‘During a game, the playing area belongs to the players and the referee. It should be a safe space. No one else should enter the field of play – including substitutes, managers and spectators – without the referee’s permission. Anyone that does, must be instructed to leave the playing area immediately. If this is a coach, they will expect to receive a red card as this is not permitted. If it’s a parent, use the coaches to control them and advise them that their actions are not permitted and the potential consequences. However, if there are multiple spectator incursions, you may have no option other than to abandon the game if you have concerns about your safety and that of the players.

Regarding coaches and/or spectators, if you feel threatened or intimated by their actions of confronting you on the pitch, consider abandoning the game although think about your wellbeing and how best to manage the situation first. Potentially try and diffuse the situation, remind them of the rules and quickly make them aware that you are considering abandoning the game due to their actions.

You will all have received training on game management and the stepped approach to dealing with the ‘temperature’ of a game and the participants – players, spectators and team officials. Setting your stall out from the start and controlling small issues effectively as they crop up, should hopefully prevent the necessity of getting to the point where you feel it necessary to abandon a game. Rest assured though, if it comes to that point, provided you have made every effort to control the situation with a stepped approach, you will be fully supported by the league.

STEPPED APPROACH/SETTING YOUR STALL OUT

Just to remind everyone, a stepped approach can be employed even before the game starts.

– Introduce yourself to managers and make it clear in a friendly but positive manner what your expectations are. Ensure they are aware that whilst you don’t expect any issues during the game, do let them know that any issues will be dealt with. This underlines that you are the referee and in charge of making decisions.

– Let them know that you are there to officiate the game and you will only give what you can see.

– There may be a difference of opinion but you are the ultimate arbiter of the game.

– Politely tell them that you don’t want to hear constant questioning of your decisions as they won’t be changed. This sets a bad example and will only encourage the players to start questioning decisions.

First signs of abuse from coaches on the touchline – Nip it in the bud! At the next available break in play, hold things up and go over to the coach and remind them of the conversation before kick off. Ask them politely to refrain from further comment

Abuse from spectators on the side of the pitch – same scenario as above but do not engage with the spectators. Go over the to the coaches and ask them to speak to their parents. Remind them that they need to control the match day environment and that includes spectators as well as players.

Continued abuse from coaches on the touchline – at a convenient point, go over the coaches and be firmer with your warning stating that this is a final warning and if there are any further incidents, a caution will be issued.

Further abuse from coaches on the touchline – walk towards them and issue a caution letting them know that any further comments will result in a red card and they will be instructed to leave the playing area.

Further abuse from the same offender on the touchline – Issue a red card and ask the offender to leave the playing area. Issue a warning to the remaining coach that any further incidents will result in the game being abandoned.’

Silent Support Weekend 2025

On the weekend of 15/16 March, it’s Silent Support Weekend 2025.
For players…Let them do all the talking. This is an opportunity for them to find their voice & explore their game, without distractions.
For coaches…When the game is in play, coaches can either join in the silent support, or coach around the match. Either way, they champion the voices on the pitch.
For spectators…We’re asking everyone on the sidelines to show your support with applause only. When the noise stops, they become unstoppable.
Your silence speaks volumes. Let’s see the difference it makes on the pitch.

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

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. 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.

Rob Harwood CEO
YEL OFFICE

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