Southern Mens League Rules (2011 season)
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to all clubs eligible to be affiliated to the South of England AA. New clubs or teams will be placed in the lowest division in the first season.
The annual subscription is £50 per team payable on 1st October.
Amalgamation: When clubs amalgamate, the new club may field teams in place of either of the original clubs’ teams.
Clubs may have only one team per division.
MANAGEMENT
The management of the league shall be vested in the officers elected by member clubs at the AGM and comprise Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The Officers, the Fixtures Secretary, Divisional Secretaries plus two others elected at the AGM shall form the Main Committee.
An Appeals Committee shall be elected at the AGM comprising a Chairman and other members such as to secure representation of each division. Subject to the UK Athletics Rules for Competition, an appeal may be made to that Committee on any matter under the following Rules (except Rule 10). An appeal must be made in writing through the League Secretary within one month of the cause of appeal arising.
RESOLUTIONS
Proposals for inclusion for discussion at the AGM must be submitted no later than six weeks before the meeting. Unless approved by the Main Committee, they must have a proposer and seconder. The proposer or seconder must be present at the AGM.
All member clubs from the previous season have one vote per club plus each Main Committee member having a vote.
Motions put to an AGM require a simple majority of those clubs attending to be passed except motions deemed to be “substantive” in the view of the Main Committee. Substantive motions are ones that are in the view of the majority of the Main Committee will have the effect of substantially altering the structure or purpose of the Southern Men’s League. Such motions will require a majority of those clubs attending the AGM to vote in favour of them before then being put to a vote of all member clubs from the previous season with one vote per club plus each Main Committee member having a vote. A substantive motion will require a majority of those eligible to vote in its favour from such a ballot before it is deemed to have been passed.
RULES OF COMPETITION
1. UK Athletics Rules will apply except where varied by the SML Main Committee and endorsed by the affiliated clubs at an AGM or EGM.
Duty of Care - In the interests of fostering fair and honest competition, of protecting participating competitors and of encouraging a policy of 'duty of care', the SML reserves the right, at all times, to adopt, adapt or discard any of its existing or future competition rules.
2. Eligibility:
(a) Competitors must be First Claim or Higher Competition members of the clubs they represent. Athletes changing clubs must have served such time as agreed by the SEAA/UKA eligibility committee before they can compete for their new club. Letters of clearance must be available to the Referee, if required, on the day of competition. No club shall use more than two 'Transient Foreign Athletes' (for definition see Footnote) in any one match.
(b) British League teams: Clubs may enter teams in the Southern Men’s League in addition to competing in the BAL.
No athlete may compete in the NEXT Southern Men’s League match(es) who competed IN AN INDIVIDUAL EVENT ( ie excluding relays) in the previous BAL match, INCLUDING MATCHES IN THE PREVIOUS SEASON, and achieved a AAA Senior Grade 1, 2 or 3 Standard in any event in that BAL match, unless that SML match is on the same weekend as a BAL match and the athlete does NOT compete in the BAL match on that same weekend.
Note 1: In all circumstances this rule does not apply to athletes who compete as HCA competitors in the BAL or to athletes who competed for a club in the BAL which has since been relegated.
Note 2: However any athlete who resigns from a BAL club and joins a SML club becomes eligible to compete in the SML on or after the clearance date given by the SEAA/UKA Eligibility Committee.
(c) The competition is open to Senior men, U20 men, and U17 men (except that the latter may not compete in the 3000m steeplechase, nor the 5000m - see UK Athletics Rule 107 (4) (iv) and (v)).
(d) Composite Teams: Composite teams are permitted in Divisions Two of the League but are not eligible for promotion to Division One.
3. Penalties
(a) Infringement of First claim and BAL rules - The points gained by the athlete(s) concerned should be deducted and the match re-scored as if he had not taken part. In addition one extra League point will be deducted for each ineligible athlete in the match.
(b) Infringement of U17 men's rules - if 'A' competitors - loss of match points and 'B' competitor scores as 'A'. If ‘B’ competitors- loss of match points.
4. Timetable
This must be approved by the clubs at an AGM but the Secretary, with approval of the clubs concerned, can make alterations in exceptional circumstances. The order of field events can only be changed when the layout of the arena does not permit the official timetable. Any changes must be notified to the competing clubs as soon as possible. No other changes are permitted unless in the interests of safety.
5. Trials
In the following events, each competitor is allowed three trials and the best five a further three (best four in four-club match Divisions): long jump, triple jump, hammer, shot, discus and javelin.
In the pole vault and high jump events, normal rules will apply except that the one general starting height may be the lowest height requested by any competitor or the lowest available on the equipment in use (note - for pole vault it is permitted to use adapters to achieve a lower height). After the lowest height the bar shall be raised as follows:
Division 1 Pole Vault 2.40 High Jump 1.55, then 1.65
Division 2 2.00 1.40 1.50
Pole vault height progression for ALL divisions will be 20cm up to 3.00m - thereafter at the judges' discretion.
Note - Mandatory heights - Care should be taken that these rules are observed in double meetings. An athlete who misses a round will forfeit that round.
6. Hurdles
Where there are insufficient lanes or equipment available, races may be held as time trials. The order will be as prescribed in the lane draw.
7. Track events
Separate 'A' and 'B' races shall be held except for the 1500m, 5000m, and 3000m steeplechase. A combined 800m race may be held if the majority of the athletes agree. Where there are two matches at a meeting, only the 5000m and 3000m steeplechase races can be merged unless the Track Referee decides that there be separate races in the interests of safety.
8. Non-scoring races
With the consent of the meeting Organiser non-scorers should be allowed to take part in any event in SML matches (except the 100m – see below) where their clubs are competing provided they can do so without disrupting the smooth and fair running of the meeting.
There can be a maximum of two non scoring 100m races commencing 30 minutes before the first Track event in all types of SML matches. No guests or non scorers will be allowed in the match 100m races and each club will be guaranteed at least one place in these non scoring races.
9. Conduct of fixtures
Clubs should arrive at least half an hour before the first event. Teams should be declared before the start of the first event. Changes should be notified to the recorder(s) before the start of the events concerned. Note - At present there is no penalty for lapses in team declaration. Host clubs should issue warnings to defaulting clubs and report to the Divisional Secretary.
10. If a club does not appear with a team OR DOES NOT CONTEST AT LEAST 18 OF THE 36 EVENTS without an explanation acceptable to the League management, such club shall, after all promotion and relegation issues have been resolved, then be relegated one division or excluded from the league for one season should they be in the lowest division.
11. Club vests must be worn. An athlete not wearing a club vest may not compete unless with the agreement of the Track or Field Referee. Note - permission may only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
12. Team Letters - unless provided by the League, clubs will be responsible for provision of letters and pins.
13. To increase interest in the events, team scores should be announced at frequent intervals.
14. Scoring. Two competitors per event per club. 'A' and 'B' races and relays score 5-4-3-2-1 (but 4-3-2-1 in four-club match Divisions and 6-5-4-3-2-1 in six-club match Divisions etc). In all field events and combined 'A' and 'B' races the better placed performance constitutes the 'A' string. In events held as separate 'A' and 'B' strings, the better performer SHOULD be nominated for the 'A' string (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, etc). Team managers SHOULD implement this rule.
15. The match result must be telephoned to the Divisional Secretary as soon as possible after the match on the day of the match.
Two copies of the detailed match result sheets and the team declaration sheets, together with a list of officials - required in the case of an insurance claim - must be sent to the Divisional Secretary within two days after the fixture. Host clubs should also send copies of the full result sheets to the other competing clubs. Match event score-cards, etc, should be retained by the host clubs until the end of the season.
16. The host club shall provide Track Referee, Chief Timekeeper, Field Referee, Starter and Marksman. These must be graded officials. In Double fixtures involving two different clubs, the main host club should contact the other club for allocation of officials if required. The host club should ensure that first aid cover is provided and that an emergency telephone is available. Visiting clubs should provide track judge, timekeeper, field event team of judges and relay judges. ANY CLUB NOT ABLE TO MEET ITS COMMITMENT REGARDING THE PROVISION OF OFFICIALS MUST INFORM THE HOST CLUB(S) AT LEAST 14 DAYS BEFORE THE MATCH. Note - There is at present no penalty for infringement of this rule but proposals may be put forward if the position does not improve.
17 Equipment. The host club(s) is responsible for ensuring that all equipment, scoring and recording materials are available.
18. Rules, etc - Copies of the UK Athletics Rules for Competition and these League rules should be made available to the referees if required.
19. League Points - Points are awarded as follows: 1st 5 points, 2nd 4, 3rd 3, 4th 2 and 5th 1. In four-club match Divisions points will be 1st 4 points, 2nd 3 points, 3rd 2 points, 4th 1 point. Similarly 6-club match Divisions will score 6-5-4-3-2-1, etc. Where team scores are equal, the points for the positions concerned are shared. In the event of teams having equal league points at the end of the season, positions will be determined by the number of match points. Should a tie still remain, the club achieving the greatest number of first places during the season will take precedence, moving to second places, etc.
20. League Fixtures - The dates may not be changed once the season has started but, under exceptional circumstances. The League Secretary may authorise changes but only prior to season.
21. Sunday fixtures - Only in exceptional circumstances and with agreement of all clubs concerned can matches take place on a Sunday.
22. Promoting clubs are responsible for informing visiting clubs of the location of the track, and whether or not the match is a 'Single', 'Double' or a ‘Joint’ fixture.
23. Any changes of arrangements/venues for a match must be approved by the League Secretary and notified to the clubs concerned at least 10 days before the match. The Secretary's decision is to be treated as final. Joint matches with the Southern Women’s League can take place provided that the Southern Women’s League match consists of no more than 5 teams.
24. Synthetic surfaces - Generally all matches should be held on synthetic tracks. In the case of Division One this is mandatory.
25. Cancelled fixtures - If a fixture is cancelled on a scheduled date, then no attempt should be made to rearrange it. When a club is involved in two cancelled matches, then the second match will be rearranged at a suitable date. Allocation of points: one cancelled match - League points are awarded according to the relative positions of the affected clubs in the League table (highest 5 points etc). The 540 match points (for 5 team matches) are awarded proportionately on the basis of the average scored in the five matches held. For 4, 6 and 7 team matches points are awarded proportionately on the same basis for their respective totals on the basis of the average scored in the four matches held.
26. Abandoned events - If events are not held or are abandoned during the match, points will be awarded as follows:
(a) Where notice is given prior to the date of the fixture or on arrival at the venue: each team in 5 team matches takes 6 points per event, in 4 team matches takes 5 points per event, in 6 team matches takes 7 points per event and in 7 team matches takes 8points per event cancelled .
(b) Where the event has commenced but not concluded:
(i) Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot, Discus, Hammer and Javelin: Before conclusion of third round: each competitor will receive an equal allocation of points in accordance with number of A and B competitors declared. In fourth and subsequent rounds: positions of competitors not making the final six will be scored under normal rules. The six finalists will share the remaining points but differentiating between A and B strings.
(ii) High Jump and Pole Vault: When abandoned before every competitor has entered the competition, all declared competitors will receive equal points according to the numbers of A and B strings so declared. Where all competitors have entered the competition and have either been eliminated or successfully cleared a height, those eliminated will score points under normal rules, those remaining will be allocated the residue of points available on an equal basis, but differentiating between A and B strings.
(iii) Track Events: If an event is abandoned after the meeting has commenced, only declared competitors will score points allocated according to the numbers of A and B strings so declared
NOTE: Declared competitors are those entered on the team declaration sheet submitted before the start of the meeting, after making allowance for late arrival of team(s).
27. Void matches:- In exceptional circumstances a match can be declared void by the League Secretary, who may seek the advice of the Appeals Committee first. In the case of a match being declared void it shall be rescored as a cancelled match.
December 2010
Footnote:
Eligibility of Athletes - Definitions
A UK athlete shall mean an athlete eligible to represent the United Kingdom under IAAF Rule 12 Clause 8.
A Foreign Athlete shall mean any athlete who is not a UK athlete but complies with the rules of eligibility of the National Association of the club of which he or she is a member.
A Resident Foreign Athlete shall mean a foreign Athlete who has been continually resident in the United Kingdom for a continuous period of two years prior to the 1st January in the year of competition.
A Transient Foreign Athlete shall mean a Foreign Athlete who is not a Resident Foreign Athlete.