This Update has SIX important messages this week which we would ask you to please read.
SECRETARIES – Accreditation deadline– March 10th 2024
FA Rules regarding numbers of substitutes
Cup update – important dates
Defibrillator survey – please complete ASAP
First charges issued under the increased penalties introduced on January 1st
YEL Game Day Hotline
SECRETARIES – Accreditation deadline – March 10th 2024
Sorry to keep reminding everyone but Notts FA have asked us to push this again as they have had a very poor response so far. 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. Please 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.
FA Rules regarding numbers of substitutes
Reminder: We have received reports that some teams are attempting to take more than the permitted number of players to YEL games. It can be tempting to give all players in squads the opportunity to play in YEL games if they are available. This cannot happen. The maximum number of registered players that can play in any YEL games is:
5v5 (U7/U8) 5 starters and 5 subs
7v7 (U9/U10) 7 starters and 7 subs
9v9 (U11/U12) 9 starters and 5 subs
11v11 (U13/U14) 11 starters and 5 subs
If you have a large squad, you will need to introduce rest weeks for players to ensure you do not take more than the permitted number of subs. Breaking this rule incurs the minimum sanction of a fine for each player over and above the maximum number permitted.
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
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.
First charges issued under the increased penalties introduced on January 1st
Sadly, despite the huge amount of advanced warning, we are having to report that the first charges are going out to a number of teams who have failed to complete proper ID checks. We’re not sure how much more we can do to underline the rules that properly carried out ID checks for all U7 to U14 matches – ie swapping A4 printed official sheets downloaded from Whole Game System and calling out the names of the opposition players – must be done prior to any YEL organised game. This requirement is a safeguarding issue designed to protect your players and is necessary to ensure that all players are registered and eligible to play in YEL matches ie are the correct age.
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