Development League Cup (Knock-out) (under 20)
- The Competition shall be known as the Lowland and Under 20 Development League Cup. This name may from time to time be changed in terms of any sponsorship agreement or agreements that may be concluded. The competition will be held annually and will be open to all Member Clubs of the Lowlands Under 20 Development League (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Under 20 Development League’).
NOTE: No Club may enter more than one team in the competition.
- The Competition will be administered by the Secretary of the Under 20 Development League. The Secretary shall refer any matter to an Emergency Sub Committee comprising himself/herself together with member of the sub committee of the Under 20 Development League.
- The competition will be a straight knock out competition and the Clubs will be balloted in pairs and these Clubs will play a single tie. The winning Clubs will then be balloted in pairs. The Clubs will compete as in the previous round, and so on until two Clubs are left to compete in the final tie. After each ballot the Secretary shall inform each Club of the name of the Club against which it is drawn and of the date of the match and the hour of kick-off.
4.The Clubs drawn to compete in all rounds except the final shall play on the ground of the first named Club drawn in the ballot. If the ground of the Club drawn at home in the ballot is unavailable on the date and at the time allocated for the tie, with the exception of being unplayable due to weather conditions, then, the match shall be played as a home tie on the ground of the Club drawn second in the ballot. Once a tie has been switched due to ground unavailability it will remain as a home tie for the Club drawn second in the ballot, subject to the foregoing conditions regarding date and time, unless or until their ground becomes unavailable at which time the Emergency Committee will decide on the venue. In the event of any Club’s ground being declared unplayable for three consecutive days on which a tie has been scheduled the tie may be switched to their opponents ground at the discretion of the Emergency Committee. All grounds must comply with the following minimum criteria:
(1) Registered ground to be available as and when required throughout the season.
(2) Separate and exclusive changing accommodation for two teams.
(3) Separate changing accommodation for up to four match officials.
(4) Spectators must be separated from the field of play by a wall, a rope, a railing or a fence.
(5) Goal nets and corner flags shall be used at all matches.
- In all except the Final tie the Home Club will be responsible for deciding on the level of admission charges and will retain all gate receipts.
- Except in circumstances where the re-arranged date clashes with the date set for one of the clubs concerned to play a match in the Scottish Football Association Youth Cup Competition or the Lowlands Under 20 Development League Challenge Cup, in the event of a tie being postponed it will normally be played on the following Friday, unless the Clubs involved agree to play it during either the prior or following mid-week or unless the Emergency Committee decide otherwise. Any decision to declare a ground unplayable must, where possible, be made by a qualified, practicing Referee.
- All matches this competition shall be played to a finish over ninety minutes followed, if necessary, by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark as defined by International FA. Board Rules.
- Referees shall be appointed by The Scottish Football Association. The match fee and travelling expenses for the referee shall be as per the current East of Scotland Football League rates and will be paid by the home Club. Where Assistant referees are appointed they will be paid the current East of Scotland Football League rate again by the home Club who can then recover half of this from the visitors.
- The Final Tie will be played on a ground selected by the Emergency Committee. All gate receipts from the Final will accrue to the Development League who will be responsible for the following costs:
Ground rental.
Match Officials
Catering.
Match balls.
Stewarding if required.
Publicity.
The host Club will receive a ground rental for hosting the match and may organize such other fund raising activities as they desire (subject to approval of the Emergency Committee).
- [a] No player may take part in the Competition for more than one Club during any one season.
Note: Taking part is defined as being listed either in the starting eleven or being a named substitute on the team lines and taking part in the match.
[b] No player may take part in the Knock out stages of the Competition without having first been registered with the Scottish Football Association for the Club for which he is to play.
[c] Only players eligible under the Terms of Reference of the Lowlands Under 20 Development League may play for any Club in this competition.
[d] In all matches Clubs may list up to seven substitutes of whom five can be used and the only team lines acceptable will be as issued by the Secretary.
[e] Should any nominated player or substitute sustain an injury or due to extenuating circumstances be unable to participate after the submission of the list of players to the referee and prior to the kick-off, permission should be sought from the opposing club in consultation with the referee to replace that player either in the team list or list of substitutes.
[f] The maximum number of occupants of the Technical Area will be twelve including substitute players. All occupants of the Technical Area (except substitute players who must be clearly indicated in the team section) must be named and their designation shown in a separate section of the team line and each must have a clearly defined reason for being therein.
- Eighteen (18) players and one (1) manager of the winning team will be presented with mementoes following the Final Tie. The same number of mementoes will be presented to the runners-up. Mementoes shall also be presented to the match officials. All mementoes shall be of a quality and pattern approved by the Under 20 Development League. Clubs may apply to
the Development League to purchase additional mementoes if they so desire.
- When the winning team is declared, the Secretary or other Official or invited guest shall hand the Trophy to the Representatives of the winning team who shall be required to provide a written undertaking signed by the President, Secretary and a Member of the Winning Club to return the Cup 42 days before the Final Tie in the succeeding season is due to be played, in like good order and condition. On no account should any engraving to, or alteration of, the Cup be undertaken by any Club, this will be the responsibility of the Development League which will then invoice the winning Club as appropriate.
- The Scottish Football Association will deal with all disciplinary matters in relation to field offences by players and other misconduct reports submitted by referees.
- When a Club intends to lodge a protest they must do so by writing to the Secretary by recorded delivery letter within three days of the playing of the match (Sunday not included) and at the same time send, also by recorded delivery, an exact copy of the protest to the Club protested against. The protest to the Secretary should include a deposit of £100 which may be either wholly or partially retained as the Emergency Committee think fit and the Emergency Committee shall have the power to order either Club to pay such sum towards defraying the expenses incurred and take such action as they deem fit.
- No individual who is connected with a Club involved in a protest may take any part in the hearing of the protest other than in the presentation of their Club’s case to the adjudicating body.
- Any objection to the ground, goal posts, crossbars or other appurtenances of the game must be intimated to the referee and Secretary or other recognized official of the opposing team prior to the start of the match. The Home Club shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with Law 1 of the Laws of the Game – The Field of Play.
- Any Club which refuses or fails to play the Club against which it is drawn, without, in the opinion of the Emergency Committee, having sufficient reason for so doing shall be adjudged to have lost the tie.
- A Club which intends to scratch shall give notice to the Secretary and to the Secretary of the Club against which it is drawn, at least four days before the date fixed for playing the tie.
All cases of Clubs scratching shall be reported to the Emergency Committee, who shall have power to order the said Club to reimburse its opponents for any expenditure, loss or damage incurred, or to take such other action as it deems fit. Any Club which fails to give a satisfactory reason for scratching, or which withdraws from the competition without first obtaining the consent of the Emergency Committee, shall not be allowed to take part in the competition in the following season.
- Any club, official, player or other person, who is found to be in breach of any of these rules, shall be liable to a fine, suspension, or both or such other sanction(s) as The Board of the Scottish Lowland Football League deem appropriate.
- In all matches Clubs shall play in their registered first choice strip unless the first choice colours of both Clubs are the same or similar in which case the away Club shall change and play in distinctive colours.
- The home Club must confirm details of the fixture, colours, travel directions and kick-off time etc., with both the visiting Club and the match Referee at least four days prior to the date of the match.
- By participating in Lowlands Under 20 Development League competitions all Clubs agree to conform to all of the Terms of Reference and all of the specific competition rules in their entirety.
- The Board of the Scottish Lowland Football League shall have the power to temporarily suspend, amend or add to the rules as circumstances may dictate from time to time, as it deems appropriate in its reasonable discretion, to facilitate the smooth running of the competition.
