SMGFL Under 14's

SMGFL - Manager’s Duties (Modified for Covid-19)


1. Before the fixture

• Confirm the Match

All the fixtures will be on the website at least seven days before the game. Referee allocations will also be on there.

It is the home team manager’s responsibility to confirm whether the match is on with their opposition 6 days before the fixture. All clubs have a full list of managers’ contact details.

If by the Tuesday before the match you haven’t been contacted then please, as the away team, phone the home team to confirm the match, then notify your Divisional Secretary of the home teams’ failure to notify.

• Confirm the Referee

Once the match has been confirmed it is the responsibility of the home team to confirm with the referee. Please confirm with your referee by email 6 days before the match. If your referee is not available or you cannot contact them then please advise the Referees Secretary CARLA PARKER (carla_jane28@hotmail.com) who will endeavour to allocate another referee.
Confirm with your referee the method of payments. (Cash or Electronic). The League’s preferred method of payment is electronic which must be done no more than 24 hours after the match but if cash then it must be given to the referee in an envelope.

• Postponements

If your game is postponed it is the responsibility of the HOME team to inform your opposition as soon as possible. Also, you must inform your allocated referee as soon as possible, giving the referee a chance to be used in another game.

Your divisional secretary and the fixtures secretary should also be informed.

In the case of bad weather, please look at the option of reversing the fixture.
For teams based at the Leagues Centres an answerphone will be updated at 10am Saturday mornings.

Up to 2 postponements may be requested with at least 14 days notice prior to the game.


2. Match day – before the game

• Pitch Preparation

It is the responsibility of the home team to have the pitch ready by inspecting for and removing any dangerous objects and ensuring that the nets are adequately secured to the posts and the ground. For mini-soccer games, each team should collect their allocated net from the centre and set their net up safely and securely on their allocated pitch.

The home team MUST ensure the respect barriers/lines are in place at all age groups on both sides of each pitch.
On the spectator side the barrier shall be at least 3 metres back from the touchline and on the Managers side (Technical Areaa) at least 2 metres back from the touchline. A suitable distance shall separate both home and away management and/or spectators so that Sin bins and Player recovery areas can be maintained.

For all matches the home team should meet and greet their opposition and the match officials and show them to their respective areas and facilities.

• Squad Sheets (ex ID cards) (Temporary Match Cards)

Please ensure you download your squad sheets from the Whole Game System; email your squad sheets to your opposition at least 24 hours prior to the game. If for whatever reason you don’t have registration approval for a player/players these players CANNOT PLAY.

YOU MUST HAVE YOUR PLAYER SQUAD SHEETS AND YOUR OPPOSITION’S SQUAD SHEETS WITH YOU AT ALL MATCHES AND THESE MUST BE USED TO CHECK YOUR OPPOSITION PLAYERS – FAILURE TO PRODUCE SQUAD SHEETS MAY RESULT IN YOUR GAME BEING AWARDED TO YOUR OPPOSITION

• Completing match cards etc.

Match cards will not be required this season as Squad sheets are to be used instead.

Any protests about the pitch, venue or player qualification should be advised to the referee prior to the game and notification should be sent to the League immediately following the game.

Please make sure you complete the referees score and any other statistics on the Whole Game System or Full Time. If you score the referee 50 or less then you must submit a report to the Referees’ secretary, Carla Parker by Wednesday giving the reason for the low score


3. Match day – during the game

• Each team should ensure that all players are not wearing anything dangerous to themselves or other players, e.g. long false nails, metal hair clips etc

• Glasses: the guidance from the FA is that they are polycarbonate glass (ie not glass) and there is no metal on the frame (ie some have a metal tag). They must be strapped with a glasses strap. However, it will be down to the referee’s discretion

• The Respect handshake shall NOT take place.

• The kick-off should be at the published time. A late kick-off will be reported by the referee

• Both teams should have a nominated Covod-19 representative at the match.

• It is the responsibility of both teams to have a qualified and responsible person present with an up to date CRC certificate, child protection certificate, emergency aid certificate and adequate first aid kit. Parents can take responsibility for their own child’s injuries.

• It is the responsibility of both clubs to look after and manage their supporters

• It is the responsibility of all players, managers and spectators to be respectful of each other and conduct themselves in a proper and respectful manner

• PLEASE REMEMBER THAT SOME OF THESE REFEREES ARE YOUNG/NEWLY QUALIFIED AND STILL LEARNING (AS WE ALL STILL ARE) – PLEASE ADHERE TO THE RESPECT PROGRAMME


4. After the fixture

• It is the responsibility of the home team to pay the referee their fees of £20.00 for mini-soccer; £25.00 for 9-a-side and £30 for 11-a-side games. The fee is shared equally between the teams if it is a knock-out competition. The method of payment shall be agreed when confirming the game.

• It is the responsibility of both teams to leave the facilities as they found them and remove all litter

• It is the responsibility of both teams to reply to the FA's SMS text and send the result to the FA no later than 2 hours after the fixture has ended

• It is the Team Administrators responsibility for both teams to access the Full-Time website and enter the statistics relevant to their team