Plenty of debate and discussion at Clare soccer AGM

While there was plenty of debate and in-depth discussion over a 90 minute period centred around the 17 rule change motions brought to the recent Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) AGM, the only vote of the night was taken for Connolly Celtic’s proposal to amend Rule 47 (d) regarding the allocation of points for repeated walkovers.

In essence, it was a reversion to the rule that had been in situ up to last year’s AGM where if a team fails to fulfil a fixture, the three points would automatically be given to the disappointed team, except when a team has played less than half its scheduled matches, then its record shall be deleted completely.

Rhine Rovers were successful in their amendment to the 2021 convention that ‘if a club failed to fulfil a second fixture at any stage of the same season, it’s record for that season shall be expunged and all remaining teams in the division shall be awarded 6 points regardless of whether they have played that team or not.’

Perversely, Rhine Rovers inadvertently benefitted from their own amendment last season when in a race to the Second Division title with Connolly Celtic.

The Quin-based club contentiously leapfrogged their rivals to clinch the crown thanks to the extra points provided by Manus Celtic’s second walkover, having previously been beaten by the Clarecastle side.

In proposing their amendment, Connolly Celtic noted that ‘while the rule that existed up to the 2021 AGM might not have been perfect, at least it was fair. Under no circumstances should a team giving a walkover that is not involved in a title race be used to decide the outcome of a league title.

With this existing rule you could also have a team winning a league title one weekend and having to give up their title the following weekend if a totally irrelevant end of season game resulted in a walkover.”

Following a vote, Connolly Celtic’s motion was passed by 42 to 31.

Motions Passed
1.
Existing Rule 50 – The Secretary or other responsible person of each contesting team in a match shall, at the beginning of the match, fill in and sign the referee’s card in accordance with this rule.
The FULL Surname and Christian Name of the players and substitutes participating in the match shall be filled in on the card. If club is playing a B or C team player for clubs A or B team then club needs to make a B or C note beside name of player on match card. Failure to comply with this rule will leave team/teams liable for a €25 fine.

New Rule 50: – The Secretary or other responsible person of each contesting team in a match shall, at the beginning of the match, fill in and sign the referee’s card in accordance with this rule. The FULL Surname and Christian Name of the players and substitutes participating in the match shall be filled in on the card. If club is playing a B or C team player for clubs A or B team then club needs to identify his/her assigned team by making a B or C note beside name of player on match card.
If club is playing an underage player for clubs A, B or C team or for an older Underage team then club needs to identify his/her assigned team by making a note beside name of player on match card. Failure to comply with this rule will leave team/teams liable for a €25 fine.
Committee

2.
Existing Rule 51 – Clubs guilty of playing players while suspended or under false names or unregistered player/s or being ineligible shall receive a fine of €100, lose points or cup tie if they won or drew and have a further three points deducted if it’s a league match. If both teams are guilty match will be declared void and both teams will be fined €100 and deducted 3 points if it’s a league match

New Rule 51: Clubs guilty of playing players while suspended or under false names or unregistered player/s or being ineligible shall receive a fine of up to €150, lose points or cup tie if they won or drew. If both teams are guilty match will be declared void and both teams will receive a fine of up to €150.

Reason – 3 extra point deduction removed to align with FAI Rule. Fine increased to allow for some disincentive to playing illegal players.
Committee

3.
Existing Rule 107 – < The League to provide up to 25 medals for all League winners if that club has 25 registered players who played a minimum of 3 games during the League campaign. List of players eligible for a medal to be sent on by club within 14 days after cup has been presented to them. List will then be verified with list of registered players. If no list provided by club then League will present club with the normal allocation of 17 winners medals

New Rule 107 – The League to provide up to 25 medals for all League & cup winners.
Committee

4.
Existing Rule 9 – The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt, to fill any casual vacancy which may occur in the positions of Honorary Members and Executive Committee, but this cooption must be ratified by the following Management Committee meeting. Such co-opted members shall remain in office until the A.G.M. at which they may be candidates for election in accordance with the Rules

New Rule 9 – 9 becomes 9(a)
9 (b) Where a member of the executive Committee fails to attend 4 Executive Committee meetings in a season then he/she shall automatically step down from his/her role for the remainder of the season and cannot seek re-election to the Executive Committee for the following season.
Committee

5.
Existing Rule 47(d) – Should a club or team fail to fulfil one fixture in the league season three points shall be awarded to the team who was given the walkover. Should that same club or team fail to fulfil a second fixture at any stage in the season, and is sanctioned under rule 47(c), its’ record for that season shall be expunged and ALL remaining teams in the division shall be awarded 6 points regardless of whether they have played that team or not.

New Rule 47(d) – Should a club or team fail to complete its fixtures, three points shall be awarded to the disappointed teams for each of the un-played matches, except when a team has played less than half its scheduled matches – then it’s record shall be deleted completely.
Connolly Celtic

6.
Existing Rule 8: The Business of the AGM shall be to receive the Annual Report, to consider, and if thought fit, to adopt the audited Statement of Accounts and Balance sheet, to elect a President and vice Presidents, to elect the executive committee, Auditors, Legal Officers and transact any other business that may arise.
The executive committee shall consist of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Fixtures Secretary, Registrar, PRO, Munster Delegate, Grants and Compliance Officer, Youth Liaison/Child Welfare Officer and Women’s Football Officer. No two designated positions should be filled by any one member of the Executive. However where a position is unfilled or vacated on the Executive committee, The Executive may appoint, by way of a simple majority, one or more members from within the committee to manage this position.
Nominations for President, Vice presidents and the Executive Committee must be submitted on official form to the Secretary at least TEN(10) days before the AGM. Nominations not arriving on time shall be deemed invalid. Clubs shall receive not less than Seven(7) days’ notice of the AGM. Such notice to be sent, with Agenda, to the Secretary of each club in membership for the time being.
At the AGM the Chair shall be taken by the President, or if absent, by the Vice President nominated by the Executive Committee or failing that, by one of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may at the AGM recommend that person, who in their opinion, has given long service to the League or rendered valuable services to the League, be elected as an Honorary member of the League. Honorary members shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the Management Committee, the A.G.M. and any other General Meeting convened for a specific purpose, and speak on any matter but shall have no voting power except that as a club representative.

Addition to Rule 8 – The executive committee will aspire to consist of a minimum 25% of both genders.
Connolly Celtic

7.
Addition to Rule 45 Fixtures – No Youths or U19 matches to be played on same day as Junior matches for clubs with Junior and Youths/U19 teams.
Avenue Utd

8.
Addition to Rule 45 Fixtures – A minimum of 48 hours notice needed to switch a match from a grass to an astro pitch or vice versa.
Avenue Utd

9.
Addition to Rule 45 Fixtures – Where a club has two adult teams A & B team matches should not kickoff at the same time at weekends or same night for midweek matches unless agreed in advance by that club.
Avenue Utd

10.
That CDSL introduce a ‘for referee use only’ shading distinction and tag for the initial section of the official team sheet used on match days where the designated match referee signs. 
Mountshannon Celtic

11.
That CDSL allows for the provision of a copy of filled out team sheets to the opposing team on match day.
Mountshannon Celtic

Motions Withdrawn
1.
Existing Rule 45 (f) – Premier Division to start with league matches at weekends and league matches midweek. League Cup to be played later in the season.

New Rule 45 (f) – Premier Division to start with league cup matches at weekends and league cup matches midweek.
Committee

2.
Existing Rule 51 – Clubs guilty of playing players while suspended or under false names or unregistered player/s or being ineligible shall receive a fine of €100, lose points or cup tie if they won or drew and have a further three points deducted if it’s a league match. If both teams are guilty match will be declared void and both teams will be fined €100 and deducted 3 points if it’s a league match.

New Rule 51 (b)
If an executive committee member is involved with a team or club found guilty of breaking Rule 51 (a) then that executive committee member must step down immediately from the executive committee once the disciplinary process has concluded.
Connolly Celtic

Addition to Rule 8 (See Rule 8 in full above) – The maximum consecutive term for an executive committee position is 5 years
Connolly Celtic

3.
Addition to Rule 45 Fixtures – When a club informs the League that their pitch is unplayable and the League does not agree to postpone the fixture the League will ensure that there is a pitch inspection done by a referee a minimum of 2 hours before kickoff to try to avoid unnecessary travel for the teams involved if the pitch is still unplayable at the time of inspection.
Avenue Utd

4.
We would like to propose scrapping the winter break.
Kilkishen Celtic

Fallen Motions
New Rule – Once someone is elected to the executive committee that person should not be involved in the management of a team in the League.
Connolly Celtic