SWFA > Homepage
Welcome to the official site of the South Wales Football Association.
We hope you will find this site informative and make it your first port of call if you want to find out anything about how we work.
On the site you will find details of our cup competitions, both current and historic, a copy of our Rules and Regulations, Disciplinary information and links to other sources of information. We also publish the weekly list of disciplinary decisions and suspensions along with results of appeals by clubs to the Association. In addition, we have added and 'FAQ' section where we will publish general questions we have been asked and we think the replies may be of interest to all clubs and/or referees.
Constructive feedback about the site is always welcomed and should be directed to the Association Assistant Secretary(Discipline), Mark Adams, at assistant@southwalesfa.co.uk
Referees' Course
Are you an ex-player who would like to put something back into the game?
Do you want to be out on the field rather than just watching from the side?
Have you considered refereeing as a way to get involved in football?
Referees' courses over the summer have started in Bridgend and Pontypridd. A new course is also planned to start in the Port Talbot at Afan Lido FC on Thursday October 7 (7pm start)and will last for approximately 6 - 8 weeks with an exam at the end of the course. It is free of charge to take part in the course - anyone interested should contact Ryan Thomas on ptrefscourse@ntlworld.com or ring Ryan on 07710 412422.
Claims from clubs who allege ex-players owe them money
The Association regularly receives claims from clubs to pursue ex-players for sums it is claimed are owed to them. Whilst we endeavour to assist, we expect the club to have taklen reasonable steps to recover sums due before contacting the Association. Any requests must be in writing and include the following detail:
* The player's full name and last known address
* Details of action taken by the club to recover the sums - please advise dates of requests and how these were made (telephone, club meeting etc)
* The amounts claimed and the purpose (e.g. club subscriptions or reimbursement of disciplinary administration charges)
* As a minimum, we expect that clubs will have written to the player formally requesting the repayment and advising that the club will be referring the matter to the Association and giving the player seven days to response - A COPY OF THIS LETTER MUST BE ENCLOSED
DISCIPLINARY PROCESSES - IMPORTANT
The disciplinary list detailing all outstanding fines since 2006 will be published within the next few days - this will be sent to all Leagues for distribution to member clubs as well as being published on the Association website.
All clubs and leagues are advised that registrations should NOT be accepted from any player whose name appears on this List until it has been established with the Association Treasurer that the outstanding fine has been paid. If a player informs a club that he has paid his fine, ask him to produce a receipt as proof. For every fine paid a receipt is issued – either to the player if the fine is paid by him, or to the Club through which it is paid. In addition, a clearance note is sent to the League concerned when the fine is paid.
In the event of any query, clubs must contact the Association Assistant Secretary (Discipline) for guidance.
There is no doubt that many of the players on this list will endeavour to play for another club, probably where they are not known. This list has been produced for the assistance of all Leagues and Clubs and accordingly, NO EXCUSES WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM ANY CLUB FOUND TO HAVE PLAYED A SUSPENDED PLAYER. In all such cases, both club and player will be severely dealt with.
Please note that under the revised procedures in force since 2006, it is possible that players will have outstanding games of suspensions even if no fines are shown. Please therefore check previous lists carefully – it is club’s responsibility to ensure that players are eligible to play. If a player has an outstanding suspension he/she must be registered to allow him/her to serve the suspension. Suspensions can only be transferred from one club to another with the prior written permission of the Association. Until a player is registered, he or she cannot commence an outstanding period of suspension until they have been registered. IF IN DOUBT – CHECK.
Disciplinary Correspondence (07.03.2010)
We are receiving an increasing number of reports from clubs claiming not to have received disciplinary correspondence. Can we draw all clubs' attention to the Disciplinary Section of the handbook which states
"Clubs who have not been notified within 10 days of any player dismissal/caution must contact the Association Assistant Secretary (Discipline) for advice."
Failure to respond to correspondence can cause a club to be suspended from fixtures.
Important message to all referees (28.02.2010)
The Association is receiving an increasing number of queries regarding possible claims of incorrect names of players being recorded when cautions and dismissals are issued. Will all referees please ensure that they retain match record pads for a minimum of 21 days after games to assist investigations into reports.
End of season tournaments (06.02.2010)
We are already starting to get requests for clubs who wish to enter and/or host end of season events. Can we take this opportunity to remind all clubs that permission is required to host or take part in such events, especially if it involves travelling outside Wales. Permission should be sought via the Association Assistant Secretary, Emma Bennett, e-mail is acceptable (admin@southwalesfa.co.uk) in the first instance. Clubs wishing to host tournaments must include a copy of the rules of their event and details of all prospective invitees. Clubs wishing to take part in events outside the South Wales FA area must also seek permission - your attention is drawn to the stipulation that teams playing mini-football cannot take part in competition events.
Restructure of leagues (12.01.10)
There has been conjecture expressed with regard to changes in league structure within the Welsh football pyramid that will take effect after the end of the 2009/10 season. All leagues and secretaries of member clubs in the South Wales Senior & South Wales Amateur Leagues wwere written to in October 2009 outlining the Association's plans for implementation of the changes within this area. For reference, the document sent to clubs has now been made available in this link .
Message to all club secretaries (10.10.09)
Please will all club secretaries advise the Association if they are to be away on holidays and provide an alternative contact to receive disciplinary and other correspondence. Clubs not complying are running a risk of sanctions for delaying responses to correspondence including fixtures being suspended.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CLUBS WHO ARE AIMING TO GET PROMOTED FROM LOCAL LEAGUES TO THE AMATEUR OR SENIOR LEAGUES (19.09.09)
The criteria for promotion to the Amateur and Senior Leagues that will be employed at the end of the 2009/10 season has now been agreed by the Association and is available in this document (click to download) Interested clubs MUST ensure the Association received notification by December 31, 2009 along with a £25 fee.
Disciplinary Correspondence (19.09.09)
Will referees please remember that all Disciplinary reports (cautions, sending-offs and plain paper misconduct) are to be sent to Mark Adams and NOT to John Phillips. We are in the course of getting all report forms re-printed but a delay in the printers has meant that we couldn't get them before the start of the season and are having to issue old stock.
Clubs are also reminded that ALL payments must also be sent to Mark Adams. We are now starting to chase outstanding payments - if these are sent to John Phillips in error, a delay may cause a club to be suspended from fixtures.
Referees are also reminded of the importance of submitting Disciplinary reports within the stated timescales.
Referee Misconduct Report (20.08.09)
As outlined at the Referee seminar in June, we have included in the Referee section of this site, a template that can be used for the submission of 'white paper' misconduct reports to the Association. This is recommended for referees but not compulsory. Please note that although it can be completed on screen, it must still be printed off and sent to the Hon. Assistant Secretary (Discipline) through the post - we cannot accept reports submitted by e-mail.Under-17 Division fixtures and discipline
Following feedback from clubs and other at Annual General Meetings during the summer, it has been decided that from the start of the 2009/10 season, players who receive cautions and dismissals in under-17 division fixtures will be required to pay an administration charge of £3 rather than £9. Disciplinary forms will still refer to the £3 charge only being offered to under-16 divisions and below but these forms will continue to be used until stocks are exhausted.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL PLAYERS AND CLUB OFFICIALS
5th September 2008
Law 12 - Use of offensive, insulting or abusive language
The situation regarding the above during matches under the jurisdiction of the FAW was recently considered by the FAW 's Referees Committee. The Committee recommended and it was approved by FAW Council that from the start of the 2008/09 season strong action should be taken by referees in all matches when players were guilty of using offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures in accordance with Law 12.
The South Wales FA has been asked to make all players, clubs and leagues aware of this decision. The Association has advised ALL Clubs, Secretaries and Leagues of this position and that referees have now been instructed to ensure that they apply this Law of the Game correctly and with common sense.
The South Wales FA has received numerous complaints over the use of offensive, insulting and abusive language in particular on public parks where foul language is shouted across the field of play and can be clearly heard by everyone within the vicinity. All parties must now stamp out this behaviour. Continuation will result in offenders being severely dealt with.
We will publish information on this page detailing events that affect clubs, Leagues and referees. Some items will be held at the top of the list where we consider they are likely to be referred to by readers during the season – others will be replaced by more recent content as it is added.