Combined Services Football Association CONSTITUTION & RULES Amended July 2012 THE COMBINED SERVICES FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION FORMED 1922 PATRON Her Majesty The Queen PRESIDENTS Presidents of Service Football Associations GENERAL COMMITTEE Chairman of each Service Football Association Single Service Directors of the CSSB Secretary of each Service Football Association Chairman of CSFA Referees Committee Men’s Team Manager Women’s Team General Manager Secretary CSSB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman CSFA Secretary of each Service Football Association Men’s Team Manager Women’s Team General Manager Referee’s Representative SECRETARY Secretary Royal Air Force Football Association RAF FA RAF Brize Norton Carterton Oxfordshire OX18 3LX Tel: 01993 895559 Fax: 01993 895545 E-mail: [email protected] TREASURER Secretary Army Football Association Fox Lines Queens Avenue Aldershot GU11 2LB Tel: Aldershot 01252 787067 Fax: E-mail: [email protected] CSFA STRATEGY 1. The CSFA Constitution states that the Presidency and Chairmanship will rotate between the 3 Services in a 2-year cycle. This rotation system can potentially lead to a short-term approach, and is not conducive to a long-term strategy for the CSFA. The purpose of the CSFA Strategy is to explain what the CSFA is about, and to provide some continuity of purpose. Objectives of the CSFA 2. The objectives of the CSFA are: a) To promote the image and improve the standard of Service football. b) To provide Service Representative Team players with the opportunity to play together at a higher level. c) To win the Kentish Cup (men) and the nominated prestige fixture (women). Other Considerations 3. In planning CSFA fixtures, it is important that aspiration is matched against the realities imposed by the constraints of player commitment and availability, together with the financial limitations of the CSFA budget. 4. Care is needed over the profile presented by the CSFA to the FA so as not to threaten the individual status of the single service associations. Structure 5. Membership of the CSFA General & Executive Committees is defined within the Constitution and Rules. While CSFA Presidency and Chairmanship is rotational, organisational continuity is maintained by the existence of a permanent CSFA Secretary and Treasurer. 6. The CSFA General Committee holds the AGM in Jun/Jul each year. Matters of a general nature, longterm strategic decisions, ratification of fixtures, funding decisions and approval of the accounts are dealt with at the AGM. 7. The CSFA Executive Committee (EC) comprises of the CSFA Chairman, the 3 Service Secretaries, and the teams managers for both the Men’s Team, General Manager for the women’s Team and the Referees representative. The EC meets twice in any one season. 8. Representative Team playing issues are the responsibility of a non- rotational, individual management structure for the Men’s and women’s Teams. The CSFA AGM will approve the Management of both Men and Women’s. The Management of both teams can select the makeup of backroom staff as long as a combination of staff and plays does not exceed 22, which is in accordance with CSSB policy. 9. To ensure cohesion and continuity, the CSFA Executive Committee will endeavour to identify suitable replacements for the management posts one season prior to the individual assuming his/her post. Ideally the new incumbent should adopt a shadowing role in the season prior to assuming responsibility. Fixtures 10. It is essential that fixture dates are established and agreed between single service secretaries prior to the CSFA AGM. This enables the CSFA management teams to establish preparation plans for CSFA fixtures. Tours 11. Well-organised tours can play an important role in establishing CSFA objectives. The new tournament format for the Kentish Cup (men) is by definition, ‘tour status’. If there is consensus on additional tours taking place, both financial and player availability constraints mean that long term detailed planning is required, starting 2 years in advance of the event. 12. Before the CSFA General Committee can approve a tour, a ‘tour project officer’ is to be appointed. Particular care is needed regarding affordability; invariably some form of sponsorship will be appropriate. Additionally, individual player contributions will invariably be required. RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION 1. The Association shall be called “The Combined Services Football Association”. 2. In rotation, each Service at the Annual General Meeting shall appoint the Chairman, and the President of the “Host” Service shall be invited to be the President of the Combined Services Football Association. The position will be held for 2 years. 3. An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the month of June or July each year. 4. A maximum of 2 Executive Committee Meetings can be held in during any one season under the direction of the Chairman. 5. Irrespective of representation at Meetings, each Service shall be entitled to one vote only. Voting on financial matters will require a unanimous vote. Other matters only require a majority. 6. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS The Committee at the Annual General Meeting shall decide the amount of Annual Subscriptions to the Combined Services Football Association fund. The Treasurer shall present each year at the Annual General Meeting, an audited balance sheet showing Income and Expenditure for the previous season and his budget for the forthcoming season along with a 5-year budget forecast. 7. Combined Services Representative Matches, together with a tour if practicable, shall be agreed by the Committee at the Annual General Meeting. 8. COLOURS (Combined Services Tie or Brooch) Shall be awarded to players and match officials representing the Combined Services Football Association for the first time. 9. CAPS Men A Cap will be presented to a player after 3 appearances against representative teams for the Combined Services in the Kentish Cup. Women A Cap will be awarded after making 3 appearances. To commence for new players from the season 2012-13. 10. REPRESENTATIVE TEAM SELECTION & MANAGEMENT In order to achieve continuity and to enable the long-term development of the CSFA Representative Teams, all playing issues are the responsibility of the non-rotational Management Team. The Management Teams are appointed annually at the AGM. 11. REFEREES AND ASSISTANT REFEREES: The Chairman of the Combined Services Football Association Referees Committee shall be responsible for appointing match officials in consultation with Single Service Chairmen for games under Rule 7. Appointments are to be rotated amongst the three Services. In rotation, each Service at the Annual General Meeting shall appoint the Chairman of the Combined Services Referees Association. The position will be held for 2 years. 12. PLAYING COLOURS Playing colours for both Combined Services Football Association and Kentish Cup matches shall be WHITE Shirts with RED and BLUE trims, BLUE Shorts, WHITE Stockings with RED and BLUE trims. 13. TECHNICAL AREAS Technical Areas are to be used in all Combined and Inter Service matches. Whilst technical areas may vary between stadia, for example in size and location, the following directions for the use of the technical areas are given below: 14. The technical area extends ONE meter on either side of the designated seating area and extends forward up to a distance of ONE meter from the touchline. Markings are to be used to define these areas. Whilst the number of persons permitted to occupy the technical area is defined by the Competition Rules, the maximum number permissible in Combined Services competitions is EIGHT (5 substitutes, Coach, Assistant Coach, Physio). The occupants of the technical area are to be identified to the referee before the start of the match. Only one person at a time is authorised to stand and convey tactical instructions to the players. All other persons in the technical area must remain seated. All persons should remain within the confines of the technical except in special circumstances, for example, a physio entering the FOP with the referee’s permission, to access an injured player. Occupants of the technical area must behave in a responsible manner at all times. TROPHY INSURANCE The responsibility for insurance of trophies is as follows: a. Kentish Cup b. Constantinople Cup c. Williamson Trophy Combined Services FA Combined Services FA Combined Services FA CONSTANTINOPLE CUP RULES INTER-SERVICE TOURNAMENT FORMED 1919 - CUP PRESENTED 1923 1. The entire Control and Management of this competition shall be vested in the Committee of the Combined Services Football Association. 2. The Cup shall be played for under the Rules of the Football Association. Each Association shall play each other once. To decide the winning Team the following rules shall apply: a. The Team with the greatest number of points. (A victory or win gains 2 points; a drawn match counts for 1 point) b. In the case of points being equal: (1) Difference of Goals (Number of goals ‘for’ less number of goals ‘against’. (2) If 2 Teams are still Tied The Team, which has beaten the other (of the 2), shall be the winner. (3) Total of Goals Scored If there is still no decision the Team having scored more goals is the winner. c. Remarks. If after the implementation of the Rules at paragraph 2, teams are still in equal positions, the Competition shall be shared. 3. The Cup shall be competed for annually between the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force, and cannot be won outright. 4. Matches shall normally be played on Service grounds however; if alternative civilian facilities are available then they can be used. 5. Tournament matches shall be played during the second half of each season. Dates for the InterService Tournament shall be agreed at the Annual General Meeting. 6. There is no rotational requirement and matches will be played on dates to be agreed at AGM with home and away teams swapping each year a. b. c. Royal Navy v Royal Air Force Royal Air Force v Army Army v Royal Navy The ‘first’ named Association to be the “Home” team. 7. SUBSTITUTES Seven substitutes may be nominated of whom only THREE may play. 8. The Constantinople Cup will be presented to the Winning team. The winning Service will receive eighteen mementoes suitably engraved. 9. Single Service Referees Associations shall be appointed neutral match officials by for InterService Tournament games. The Referees and Assistant Referees for all tournament games shall receive mementoes suitably engraved. 10. Constantinople Cup insurance and purchase of mementoes will be the liability of the Combined Services Football Association fund and the responsibility of the Treasurer. 11. The custody and engraving of the Cup shall be the responsibility of the winning Service. 12. The following trophies shall be completed for annually: 13. a. CASSAR Cup Royal Navy v Royal Air Force b. CARRINGTON Cup Royal Air Force v Army c. MERCURY Cup Army v Royal Navy The responsibility for insurance of trophies is as follows: a. b. c. Carrington Cup Cassar Cup Mercury Cup RAF RN Army 14. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Football Association standard suspensions will applied to ‘Representative Football’ twenty one (21) days from the date of the offence. Matches, which will be served to complete suspensions, will be friendly and Inter Service fixtures for each Service Representative team and CSFA fixtures. 15. Abandon Matches In the event of a match being abandoned after 75 minutes the result shall stand. If the match is abandoned prior to 75 minutes, the match will be replayed on a date convenient to both Associations 16. Technical Areas See Rules of the Association Para 13. THE WILLIAMSON TROPHY INTER-SERVICE WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT FORMED 1999 - CUP PRESENTED 1999 1. The entire Control and Management of this competition shall be vested in the Committee of the Combined Services Football Association. 2. The Cup shall be played for under the Rules of the Football Association. Each Association shall play each other once. To decide the winning Team the following rules shall apply: a. The Team with the greatest number of points. (A victory or win gains 2 points; a drawn match counts for 1 point) b. In the case of points being equal: (1) Difference of Goals - Number of goals ‘for’ less number of goals ‘against’. (2) If 2 Teams are still Tied - The team, which has beaten the other (of the 2), shall be the winner. (3) Total of Goals Scored - If there is still no decision the Team having scored more goals is the winner. c. Remarks - If after the implementation of the Rules at paragraph 2, teams are still in equal positions, the Competition shall be shared. 3. The Cup shall be completed for annually between the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force, and cannot be won outright. 4. Matches shall normally be played on Service grounds however; if alternative civilian facilities are available then they can be used. 5. Tournament matches shall be played towards the end of the second half of each season. Dates for the Inter-Service Tournament shall be agreed at the Annual General Meeting. 6. Single Services Football Association shall arrange the dates and venues of the matches. 7. Substitutes Seven substitutes may be nominated of whom only THREE may play. 8. The Williamson Trophy will be presented to the Winning team. The winning Service will receive eighteen mementoes suitably engraved. THREE may play. 9. Single Service Referees Associations shall be appointed neutral match officials by for InterService Tournament games. The Referees and Assistant Referees for all tournament games shall receive mementoes suitably engraved. 10. Williamson Trophy insurance and purchase of mementoes will be the liability of the Combined Services Football Association fund and the responsibility of the Treasurer. 11. The custody and engraving of the Cup shall be the responsibility of the winning Service. 12. The responsibility for insurance of trophies is as follows: a. Knight Cup Army FA b. Simon Appleton Trophy Royal Air Force FA 13. Discipline In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Football Association standard suspensions will applied to ‘Representative Football’ twenty one (21) days from the date of the offence. Matches, which will be served to complete suspensions, will be friendly and Inter Service fixtures for each Service Representative team and CSFA fixtures. 14 Abandon Matches In the event of a match being abandoned after 75 minutes the result shall stand. If the match is abandoned prior to 75 minutes, the match will be replayed on a date convenient to both Associations 15. Technical Areas See Rules of the Association Para 13. INTER SERVICE UNDER 23 FOOTBALL CUP RULES FORMED 2006 - CUP PRESENTED 2006 1. The entire Control and Management of this competition shall be vested in the Committee of the Combined Services Football Association. 2. The Cup shall be played for under the Rules of the Football Association. Each Association shall play each other once. To decide the winning Team the following rules shall apply: a. The Team with the greatest number of points. (A victory or win gains 2 points; a drawn match counts for 1 point) b. In the case of points being equal: (1) Difference of Goals - Number of goals ‘for’ less number of goals ‘against’. (2) If 2 Teams are still Tied - The team, which has beaten the other (of the 2), shall be the winner. (3) Total of Goals Scored - If there is still no decision the Team having scored more goals is the winner. c. Remarks - If after the implementation of the Rules at paragraph 2, teams are still in equal positions, the Competition shall be shared. 3. All matches shall normally be played on Service grounds however; if alternative civilian facilities are available then they can be used. 4. Single Services Football Association shall arrange the dates and venues of the matches. 5. Substitutes. Seven substitutes may be nominated of whom only THREE may play. 6. The Inter-Services Youth Cup shall be presented to the winning team together with eighteen mementoes, additionally; all match officials shall be presented with mementoes. 7. Single Service Referees Associations shall be appointed neutral match officials by for Inter-Service Tournament games. The Referees and Assistant Referees for all tournament games shall receive mementoes suitably engraved. 8. The Cup insurance and the purchase of mementoes will be the liability of the Combined Services Football Association and the responsibility of the Treasurer. 9. Discipline In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Football Association standard suspensions will applied to ‘Representative Football’ twenty one (21) days from the date of the offence. Matches, which will be served to complete suspensions, will be friendly and Inter Service fixtures for each Service Representative team and CSFA fixture. 10. Eligibility Only those players who have not reached the age of 23years before midnight on the 31 August/1 September at the start of the current season shall be eligible to compete in the Competition 11. Abandon Matches In the event of a match being abandoned after 75 minutes the result shall stand. If the match is abandoned prior to 75 minutes, the match will be replayed on a date convenient to both Associations. 12. Technical Areas See Rules of the Association Para 13.
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