League Guidelines

Team registration

1. Registration fees must be paid in full before or on the registration night. Teams failing to fulfill these criteria will not take part in the competition; any fees paid will not be refunded unless a team is found to replace them.

2. Mixed teams (men/women) will usually play in the lower divisions, at the present time we do not have a separate mixed league.

Player registration

3. Players can only register and play for one team (see 7 for exceptions).

4. Minimum age - this is 15years of age and above, any queries contact John.

Team Behaviour

5. The team organiser is responsible for ensuring appropriate behaviour of their players towards organisers, referees and other players, in the absence of the team organiser the team captain is responsible for the teams behaviour.

Teams short of players on competition night

6. the minimum number of players needed to commence a game is four on a side.

7. for practical purposes if a team is short of players and would like to use non-registered players, or players that play in another team, the team organiser must do the following:

  • before the game inform the opposition team organiser that you are short of players and want to play unregistered players
  • the opposition team organiser have the following options cancel the game and claim the result, play the game as a friendly allowing the extra players to play and claim the result before the match starts. Final option allow the extra players to play and the match is live and the score at the end of the game stands
  • it is down to the team 'borrowing' players to inform their opposition of the situation
  • if subsequently a team is found to have used un-registered or players registered and playing for another team then the opposition has the right to make a complaint to the competition organiser
  • any complaint must be made within 48 hours of the fixture, to John the league organiser, either in person or by email bedfordtouch@yahoo.co.uk

Start times

8. Matches start at 7pm or 8pm, duration 40 mins (2x 20 mins), each team will play one match per evening.

9. Teams do not play a set time each week, however under certain circumstances a team can request to play at 7pm or 8pm, the organisers will do their best to accomodate.

10. Teams are to get to their assigned pitch 10 minutes prior to the game commencing.

Wet weather

11. Only in extreme weather conditions will games be cancelled. If the session is cancelled team organisers will be contacted by email, a notice will go on the website and Facebook.

Competition night

12. This is Wednesday night but in extraordinary circumstances Monday night might be used for league fixtures

Player's responsibility

13. 1. Must not wear jewelry, rings or watches etc whilst playing, this is to prevent injuring themselves or others

2. No metal studs are to be worn

3. Play in the appropriate manner as set down in the FIT Touch rules, https://www.internationaltouch.org/what-is-touch/basic-rules-of-touch/ . Touches to be controlled and within the spirit of the game of touch

4. Understand that the referees decision is final, team captains may speak to the referee for clarification of decision but the referee will respond at an appropriate time

Referees

14. There are a range of referees in the Bedford Touch League, varying from FIT qualified through to volunteer referees who have not attend a course. The league will run an 'intro to refereeing' session, which is open to all but each club are to have two players attend this session.

Guidelines will be updated as and when it is deemed necessary.