1.1 The Welsh Korfball League (hereafter referred to as the WKL) shall be administered by the Welsh Korfball Association (hereafter referred to as the WKA). Any committee or individual nominated to take direct responsibility for the WKL shall report to the WKA.
1.2 All fixtures shall be played according to the Rules of Indoor Korfball as laid down by the International Korfball Federation (hereafter referred to as the IKF) and the British Korfball Association (hereafter referred to as the BKA) with the exceptions of clauses 11.1 and 11.5.
2.League Administration
2.1. The WKA shall nominate a League Coordinator to administer the league. This/These individual(s) shall control the following aspects of the administration of the WKL:
2.1.1. Fixture Co-ordination. The League Coordinator shall create the fixture list and ensure that fixtures are played according to the rules of the league.
2.1.2. Referees Assignment. The League Coordinator shall assign referees according to the rules of the league.
2.1.3. Results Service. The League Coordinator shall ensure results are publicised.
2.1.4 Discipline. The League Coordinator shall carry out disciplinary procedures when required.
2.1.5 Membership. The League Coordinator shall maintain a list of club members and ensure that they are legally registered and published.
2.2. The WKA retains direct control over the following areas:
2.2.1 Accounts. The WKA shall maintain the league accounts.
3.League Structure
3.1. The WKL exists for the development of Welsh korfball.
3.2. There shall be one division of the WKL for the current season. Any expansion for following seasons will be at the discretion of the League Coordinator.
3.3. Entry into the WKL shall be by invitation.
3.4. Where appropriate the League Coordinator shall decide into which division a new team is entered, all new teams shall be entered into the bottom division.
4.Team Registration
4.1. Entry to the WKL shall be open to teams from any club that is affiliated to the WKA.
4.2. Entry to the WKL shall be by submission of a written application by the date set at the WKA Annual General Meeting. This shall normally be the 1st of September prior to the new season. Late entries may be accepted at the discretion of the League Coordinator but may be subject to an increased fee as specified in Appendix A.
4.3. A team’s entry to the WKL shall only be deemed valid once the appropriate entry fee, as specified in Appendix A of the Guidelines, has been paid. However if a payment scheme has been arranged with the WKA an exception to this rule can be made.
4.4. All Area Associations and Member Clubs must possess suitable Civil Liability Insurance at all times. The Committee, of the WKA shall determine what is suitable and any Member of the WKA not wishing to participate in the BKA’s master cover must produce evidence that its cover meets, or exceeds, that of the BKA’s cover. All Members of the WKA shall be eligible for cover provided by the BKA but a Member of the WKA must inform the National Executive Committee of the WKA by 31st July each year if it has obtained, or is seeking, alternate cover otherwise it will be included within the BKA master cover. Any Club that wishes to make their own arrangements must produce evidence that they hold cover that is at least equivalent to that provided under the policy arranged by the BKA/WKA.
5.Player Registration
5.1. Each club shall register, with the WKA and the League Coordinator, all players participating for that club in the WKL. This shall be done on the approved forms which are to be emailed to the league coordinator.
5.2. Clubs shall register their players, in the first instance, by 6th October each year. They should register sufficient players to run the number of teams entered into the WKL and any other events organised by the WKA.
5.3. Registration for events administered by the EKA, BKA or IKF shall follow the procedures set down by those organizations.
5.4. Subsequent registration of players shall be as early as possible and no later than forty-eight hours after they have played their first league fixture. When a club fields a player not registered with that club they shall forfeit the fixture 10-0.
5.5. Once registered, a player may not play for any other club in the League in the current season until the League Coordinator has approved his/her transfer of registration. A player will be eligible to play for his/her new club, provided that he/she gives seven days’ notice to the League Coordinator, as soon as the transfer has been approved in writing.
5.6. In order to confirm that no ineligible players have been used, each team must submit a complete list of their players and scorers to the League Coordinator for each game played in the WKL within a week of the game being played. These should be completed after throw off and handed to the referee of that match. Once the League Coordinator has received the required information from each team he/she will send a full copy to each club, if a club disagrees with the supplied information they have 48 hours to make a formal complaint.
5.6.1 If the League Coordinator has not received the report after 7 days of the games being played, he/she can issue a written warning to the offending club. If the report is then still not received after another 7 days had passed, a fine shall be issued on the following scales: £35 for first offence, £45 for second offence and £65 for third offence for the offending team. If the fine is not paid within 14 days of being issued the offending team will be forced to forfeit the match 10-0. In the event of no match forms being produced by any teams the match shall be void and no points issued to either team.
5.7. Registration shall cease at the end of the WKL season.
6.General Eligibility
6.1. No player shall play for more than one club during any one WKL season. Exceptions to this rule are:
6.1.1 A player may transfer his/her registration to another club at any time. This must be done in accordance with rules regarding the registration of players. At least seven days notice of re-registration is required before the player is able to play for his/her new club. This re-registration is at the discretion of the Committee, whose permission needs to be obtained.
6.1.2 For a new team in the league in their first season.
6.1.3 In exceptional circumstances, with the approval of both the opposition and the League Coordinator.
7.Team Eligibility
7.1. Clubs entering more than one team into the WKL.
7.1.1. Each club shall name, by the 6th of October each year, an 8 person squad, comprising 4 male and 4 female players. From here on in this team shall be known as their first team.
7.1.1.1 Players registered to each team must be fully paid members of their current club
7.1.2. The club’s next team shall be known as their second team, then third and so forth.
7.1.2.1 Each team other than the club’s lowest shall have a named 8 person squad.
7.1.3. The club’s lowest team shall include the remaining members of the club that haven’t been named in any other team. Should a club have 3 teams, the first and second team would have to nominate 8 players each; the third team would include the remaining members of the club.
7.1.4. To avoid forfeit a team must field its 8 named players with the following exceptions to avoid forfeit;
7.1.4.1. A maximum of two players in the whole match day squad playing down from the team above. E.g. a second team may have a maximum of two first team players and a third team may have a maximum of two 2nd team players but no first team players in it.
7.1.4.2. Any number of players may play up. E.g. a first team may field any number of second or third team players playing for it at any one time.
7.1.5. The named players for each team may be changed twice per season within a period specified by the League Coordinator at the start of the season.
7.1.5.1 The transfer windows for the season 2012-2013 are 19th December – 8th January and 27th March – 2nd April.
7.1.5.2 Any player playing for a new team (the team they transfer to) in the WKL must have his/her transfer agreed by the League Coordinator within 48 hours of any game played for the team he/she is registered with.
7.2 Clubs entering only 1 team in the WKL.
7.2.1 Clubs may field any player registered to that club.
7.2.2 If the club is in its first season in the league, and the alternative is to forfeit a match or to play short they may use a maximum of 2 players registered to another club.
8. Arrangement of Fixtures
8.1. The League Coordinator shall set the dates on which the League is to play their fixtures. These dates shall be fixed at the earliest convenience of the League Coordinator.
8.1.1 The date set by the League Coordinator allows the game to be played in an 8 day window stretching from the Wednesday prior to the date and the Wednesday following the date set.
8.1.2 The exact day and time for the fixtures is to be arranged between the teams/clubs involved in the matches. The day and time must be confirmed to the league co-ordinator by the host team at least 2 weeks prior to the game being played
8.1.2.1 Correspondence arranging fixtures should include the League Coordinator in case of any discrepancies between the teams/clubs involved.
8.2. The League Coordinator shall inform all teams of the dates, and host team for each fixture by the 7th September 2012.
8.3. The League Coordinator shall appoint clubs responsible for providing a referee by the 7th September 2012.
8.4. Throw off times
8.4.1. All throw off times, as agreed when confirming the match date, must be adhered to, unless agreed to otherwise by the league coordinator. Matches must also have a 10 minute warm up time prior to throw off.
8.4.2. No match shall begin after its scheduled throw off time due to a prior match running late, unless the fixtures can be re-arranged for that day.
8.4.3. Fixtures played on a Saturday shall not start before 1000 hours or after 1900 hours.
Fixtures played on a Sunday shall not start before 1000 hours or after 2030 hours.
Fixtures played Monday-Friday shall not start before 1830 hours or after 2030 hours except bank holidays when Sunday times shall apply
8.4.4. Any fixture not starting within five minutes of the scheduled throw off time may be awarded, at the League Coordinator’s discretion, 10-0 against the offending team at the referees discretion. If both teams are at fault the League Coordinator may award no points or goals for the fixture.
8.5. Postponements
8.5.1. In the event that a referee fails to attend a fixture, the teams involved should endeavour to find a suitably qualified replacement. Should this not be possible then the fixture will be postponed. The referees club shall also incur a fine equal to the cost of the hall and will be unable to take part in any WKA events until the fine has been paid.
8.5.2. A fixture may be postponed at the league co-ordinators discretion if circumstances beyond the control of either team should exist. If either team could have circumvented the problem then they shall be at fault. Thus traffic conditions and double booking of halls are not justifiable reasons for a postponement.
8.5.3. A team with two or more of its players involved in International Matches is entitled to have its fixture postponed.
8.5.4. In the event that a fixture is postponed, notification must be given, where possible, at least seven days prior to the scheduled fixture date or as soon as is possible. The teams must then agree on a new date, which must be before the end of the league season. The League Coordinator shall have the power to set the date and venue of any postponed fixture in order that the schedule is completed on time.
8.6. The host team is responsible for any hall costs.
8.7 The season will finish with a Super Saturday/Sunday that will be held in a venue chosen by the WKA with the costs being split between all clubs participating in the WKL.
9.First Division
9.1. There shall be a maximum of nine teams allowed in the First Division.
9.2. Each team will play the other teams at home and away.
9.3. Ranking positions shall be decided on points awarded according to the results of matches played: 2 points will be awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.
9.4. If any game is forfeited, or awarded, to the opponents, then a score of 10-0 will be recorded.
9.5. In the case when teams finish with equal points the ranking positions shall be determined by the goal difference in the matches between the teams equal on points. If this is equal then overall goal difference shall apply; if this is equal then overall goals scored shall apply.
9.6. If the teams still remain equal, in the event that a league title or a promotion/relegation issue is to be decided the there shall be a playoff between the teams concerned. Otherwise the teams shall be deemed to hold the same position.
9.7. The League Coordinator shall have the power to take a different course of action should any of the matches being considered for determining the rankings be ones that have been forfeited or awarded to their opponents.
9.8. The highest ranked team shall be declared the WKL Champions for that year.
9.9. The highest ranked club shall invited to the Europa Cup for the following season. The three highest ranked clubs shall qualify for the OKA, SWKA and WKA regional league for the following season.
10.Playoffs
10.1. A playoff shall consist of a single match, held according to the rules of the WKL, between the teams concerned.
10.2. In the event that three or more teams are involved in a playoff there shall be a round robin format with each team playing the other teams once.
10.3. The home team shall be designated by a coin toss.
10.4. The League Coordinator shall designate the venue, date and time.
11.Standards
IKF Playing rules shall be adhered to with the following exceptions –
11.1. WKL fixtures shall be on a pitch no smaller than 28m x 14m and in the ratio 2:1.
11.2. Halls that are used in the WKL must be approved by the WKA
11.3. Teams shall register their colours with the WKL. This shall be done prior to the start of the WKL season.
11.4. In the event of two teams playing in similar strip the home team shall wear bibs or a suitably different strip.
11.5. Any team not playing in their registered colours shall inform their opponents and the League Coordinator at least seven days prior to the match.
11.6. Fixtures.
11.6.1. WKL fixtures are of thirty minute halves with a five minute half time.
11.6.2. With the agreement of both sides, and at the discretion of the Referee, WKL fixtures may be reduced to twenty five minute halves, with a two minute half-time.
11.7. The host team is responsible for setting up the match prior to the first game starting
11.8. Assistant referees are optional
11.9. Shot clocks are optional
11.10. The home team always sets up first, a coin toss shall be used to determine the team gets to start with the ball and choose which end to attack.
11.11. The number of substitutions is as specified in the IKF playing rules – 4 per match.
11.12. Referees jurisdiction is ten minutes before and ten minutes after the match.
11.13. Referees are allowed to book players immediately after a match end as long as it is within their jurisdiction.
11.14. The number of time outs is two per team per game.
11.15. Advertising is not allowed on Korfs in league matches
11.16. International match standard ball used for all WKL games – Mikasa K5-IKF Korfball.
11.17 Once a player has been substituted he cannot return to the match.
12.Referees
12.1. The League Coordinator shall allocate referees from clubs playing the same day, then to clubs without a fixture. The League Coordinator shall not allocate refereeing commitments to any person playing the same day unless they have a reasonable break, allowing for travel, between commitments.
12.2. The team allocated to provide a referee is responsible for ensuring that a referee is available. They may request a referee from another team, subject to the agreement of all concerned. If a referee is from another team the team accountable for providing the referee must pay the referee the full amount (greater than Q) see Appendix A. This supersedes rules 12.4 and 12.5.
12.3. Clubs failing to provide a referee, without due cause, shall be liable to a fine as specified in Appendix A of the Guidelines. Repeated infringement of this clause shall result in a deduction of points from any of the club’s teams playing in the WKL.
12.4. Referees shall be paid at the rate specified in Appendix A of the Guidelines. Referees shall be paid prior to throw off by the team designated as the Home.
12.5. The home team is responsible for all refereeing costs for the match.
12.6. Referees shall make themselves available ten minutes before and ten minutes after the match.
12.7. In the event that a match is not played any expenses claimed by the referee shall be paid by the offending club or, if no club is at fault, by both clubs equally.
12.8. The League Coordinator shall be aware of any referees that may have commitments to the National League, which shall take priority in allocation of referees.
12.9. In all cases where the referee is required to take disciplinary action during or immediately after a fixture he/she shall forward a report to the WKA and League Coordinator within forty-eight hours.
12.10. The Referee shall inform the league co-ordinator of the final score of the match they have officiated within 24 hours after the match has ended either by email or text message. They will also be responsible for handing the match form to the league co-ordinator.
12.11. Referees are advised to check all players (male and female) for fingernail length as well as ensuring that players are not wearing any dangerous items.
12.12. All referees should be informed in any players under the age of 18 participating in their match.
13. Discipline
13.1. Any person who is sent off in a WKL fixture shall be suspended for two WKL fixtures to commence immediately after the League Coordinator has confirmed the suspension or, if an appeal is lodged and the suspension confirmed, immediately thereafter. Suspensions for this offence shall only count during the season in which the offence has been committed. Three bookings shall be treated as a red card offence.
13.2. As well as a suspension a fine will also be incurred as set out in Appendix A.
13.3. If a player incurs a fine and fails to pay the penalty before the end of their suspension they will be ineligible for all future matches until the WKA confirm that the fine has been paid in full. If the player does still play his/her team will forfeit the game.
13.4. Each host team must make sure that there is a set of red and yellow cards and a whistle available for the referees involved in the matches that they are hosting.
14.Withdrawal from the League
14.1. In the event of a team withdrawing from the League, all fees paid shall be forfeited and that team is accountable for all fees due to be paid.
14.2. All fixtures played shall become void.
15.General
15.1. All decisions made by the League Coordinator shall be binding, subject to any appeal to the WKA Committee.
15.2. If a team does not fulfil the WKL rules concerning eligibility, of the team or of any other criteria, it shall not be awarded any points for the match/es concerned.
