ESBFL -Some Reminders to competing Clubs from League Secretary

I just wanted to give you a couple of reminders as I don’t want teams falling foul of the rules.

Firstly signing on the day. Signed-On-Match Day forms (SOMD) do not need to be countersigned by the opposition. Limits on signing on the day remain the same ie 2 per team. So if a player is not signed on by the Thursday as per rule 18A you may sign a further 2 players per team either by using the normal Registration Sheet or a Signed-On-Match-Day form (if it’s a SOMD form it does not need to be countersigned by the opposition). This MUST be received electronically in the Secretary’s or Registration Secretary’s email inbox no less than 30 minutes before kick-off. Do not send the original forms in. If you do not have Internet signal or the data to send it you can text, WhatsApp or message it to me or Mick Willmore. Please check that the message has sent as that is your evidence that I have received the forms. If you are unable to send it electronically you will need either to get the opposition to actually sign the form or telephone Mick or myself to explain. We MUST have this before kick off or the player will be deemed ineligible.

Secondly, I am finding that some teams are not texting the team sheet to the opposition and/or the referee. This is the rule’s for teams to do this at least 15 minutes before the game and is a double check for us when necessary in relation to the team. It is also a check to you as team’s to ensure the opposing team players are signed on and on their Full Time list (except SOMD players who may not be on the system until the early part of the week). Clubs who are found not to have done this may well be fined. It is in your interests to do this and to check.

Thirdly. There have been a few comments about changing facilities in relation to the COVID guidance. The League is not in a position to give further guidance to clubs in relation to this. Clubs MUST have a risk assessment / action plan in place following Government guidance, and must let the opposition know of those arrangements when confirming a fixture. The Away team is obliged to read that guidance and act on it.

Finally, there have been some issues on Social Media. Not for the first time this season, the ESBFL has been made aware of adverse comments posted on Social Media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Clubs, Management and Players may feel or get frustrated by certain occurrences before, during or after matches played in the ESBFL, however these comments may and often are deemed to be derogatory to a fellow participant/s including officials.

The ESBFL will continue to take a strong stance of any such notified incidences and will report them further to ECFA who also monitor Social Media sites as a matter of course, these would normally lead to a Disciplinary Charge against the ?author?.

Therefore, going forward, the ESBFL request that future use of “Social Media” platforms is carefully considered before being posted with any perceived issues being directed to the League Secretary by the Club Representative/Secretary and the relevant ESBFL Management Committee member.

There is also the option to use the web-site to send an email to the ESBFL.

Many thanks
Alison Stanford
ESBL Secretary