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
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.
Referees' Course
A course for anyone interested in refereeing will be starting on Monday 8 February at 7pm at the Margam Catholic Club in Port Talbot 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.
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.
URGENT - fixtures of Saturday 14 November (posted 08.10.09)
Following instructions received from the Football Association of Wales, the South Wales FA wishes to confirm that all fixtures scheduled within the South Wales FA area for Saturday 14 November are to be postponed owing to the playing of the Wales v Scotland friendly international at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Doug Langley Fair Play Trophy (27.09.09)
The Association is pleased to confirm that theDoug Langley Fair Play Award will again be operational for the 2009-2010 season. As in previous years, this is limited to each league nominating their representative from either under-13 or under-14 level. Nominations must be made to the Association Assistant Secretary (Administration) by letter or e-mail, no mlater than December 20, 2009. Nominated clubs will then be visited by assessors on behalf of the Association up to three times between January and March 2010 with a winner being announced from reports and the team's disciplinary record through the season.
Categories of suspensions (24.09.09)
For the purposes of clarity, the Disciplinary Procedures Section of the website now includes definitions of the various categories of suspensions that are issued - namely match suspensions, touchline suspensions and ground/all aspects suspensions. Guidance is also given as to what activities are prohibited under each type of suspension. Clubs and players are advised to make themselves familiar with these criteria to avoid further sanctions.
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.
Disciplinary Lists (22.08.09)
The first Disciplinary list of the new season has been added to the site in the Section 'Disciplinary/Current Season'. The weekly lists will now be added on this site each weekend. In another new initiative this year, we also intend to publish results of Appeals Commissions where the Association hears appeals against decisions of Leagues although these will be subject to delays until all avenues of appeal have been completed.
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.Tesco Cup Girls' Section 2009/2010
The Tesco Girls' Cup will be run directly by the Association this year. The draw for the first round of both under-14 & under-16 competitions have been made and are published on the Competitions section of this site. Information about referee appointments will be forwarded to clubs nearer the date.
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.
Officers 2009/2010
As has been announced to Leagues at AGMs throughout the summer, the Association is continuing to undergo further changes as part of an ongoing re-organisation. Emma Bennett has now joined the Officers as Assistant Secretary (Administration) while Mark Adams takes responsibility of all Disciplinary Matters and the title of Assistant Secretary (Discipline).
All requests for friendly matches should be directed to Emma at admin@southwalesfa.co.uk. Permission must be sought in writing or by e-mail. Queries regarding outstanding discipline issues up to the end of the 2008/09 season should still be addressed to the Association Treasurer Paul Jennings.
Outstanding Disciplinary List - June 2009
The Discipline section of the site has been updated to include the list issued in June 2009. please heed the warnings regarding playing players under suspension. If in doubt, please refer to the Association Officers for guidance.
Friendlies & Festivals
2 March 2009
We are getting to the end of the season and many are thinking of end of season, summer or even pre-season trips for next season! Would all clubs note that permission from the Association is required to play friendly matches or to host small-sided tournaments and must be obtained in advance. For clubs hosting ‘festivals’ involving players aged 11 or under, these must be run STRICTLY in accordance with mini-football procedure.
Teams wishing to play in football in England, Scotland or any other country are reminded that permission from the FAW is also required. This can be obtained via the South Wales FA Assistant Secretary (Administration) – if you are looking to take part in an organised event, details MUST be provided with your application.
Disciplinary Administration
10 January 2009
Where players are cautioned or sent off during a match, the referee sends the appropriate report to the Association in accordance with FAW and SWFA rules. These reports are then sent to clubs – clubs who have not received reports within 10 days of the game taking place MUST contact the Association to advise non-receipt of the forms. Players are automatically suspended 14 days after games for sending-offs and clubs are suspended from fixtures for not returning disciplinary reports.
Clubs suspended from fixtures for not returning disciplinary forms are liable to further sanctions from their Leagues including fines and/or points deductions. Where a club is suspended from fixtures, this suspension will apply to the whole club, not just the team the player was playing for.
Clubs who play suspended players will be severely dealt with and the player will receive an increased suspension in such cases.
Information for clubs and referees
22 November 2008
Referees are asked to take care when submitting disciplinary reports that the correct full name of clubs are included on the report. The use of incorrect names can result in delays to the disciplinary process. In addition, will referees please note than where a player is sent from the field for an S7 offence (two cautions) a separate caution report is NOT to be submitted. Only if a player is cautioned during a game subsequently commits a further offence which is deemed a straight red card, is the original caution still required to be noted.
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.