The following is the Constitution and Rules of the Scottish Amateur Football Association. This information is reproduced from the SAFA Handbook distributed to Associations and Leagues. For further information please contact the SAFA Secretary at Hampden Park.

CONSTITUTION AND RULES
of the
SCOTTISH AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Name and Object

1. The Association shall be called The Scottish Amateur Football Association.

2. To promote, foster and develop, throughout its membership without discrimination against any organisation or person for reasons of race, religion or politics, the game of Association Football, and take all such steps as may be deemed necessary or advisable for preventing infringements of the rules of the game or other improper methods or practices in the game and for protecting it from abuses.

Membership

3. The following shall be members of the Scottish Amateur Football Association:-

a) Full Membership

1. Amateur Football ClubsNo club shall be admitted to full membership unless it has been accepted into membership of a league or association in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.

2. Associations and Leagues of which membership is confined to amateur Futsal and 5-a-side clubs in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.All such associations and leagues shall be granted membership subject to their Constitution & Rules being approved by the Executive & Finance Committee of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.
 

a) Associate Membership

1. Amateur football clubs at Under-20, Under-22 and Under-24 age groups.

2. Futsal clubs.

3. 5-a-side football clubs.No club shall be admitted to associate membership unless it has been accepted into membership of a league or association in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.

4.

a) On application for admission to the Scottish Amateur Football Association all associations and leagues shall submit the following for approval by the Executive & Finance Committee:-

1. Two copies of their Constitution & Rules

2. Two copies of duly audited accounts

b) All associations and leagues in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association must submit in writing any proposed alterations or additions to their Constitution & Rules to the Scottish Amateur Football Association for approval.

c) All associations and leagues in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association must keep financial records showing in detail the items of income received and expenditure incurred which shall be audited annually

d) All associations and leagues in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association shall keep bound minute books with numbered pages which shall be a detailed record of all meetings.(Insert in the Guidelines for Secretaries – Each page of the minute book must be double initialled by the President and Secretary of the Association or league concerned.)

e) The financial records and minute books of all associations and leagues in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association must be open to inspection at the request of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.

f) The Scottish Amateur Football Association reserves the right to be represented at all meetings of associations and leagues in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.

g) The President shall hold ex-officio position within the committees of the Scottish Amateur Football Association which he does not chair or has not been appointed to.

h) Should any association or league in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association fail to comply with any requirements of Rule 4 or should there be any discrepancies in such financial records and minute books the matter(s) will be dealt with by the relevant committee of the Scottish Amateur Football Association as considered appropriate and may lead to membership being withdrawn at the discretion of Council.
 

5.

a) Any association, league or club may be admitted to membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association on application subject to their Constitution & Rules being approved.The Annual General Meeting, Council or such committees of the Scottish Amateur Football Association as deemed appropriate shall have power to determine membership of that body and their decision shall be final and binding.

b) Club movement between Associations and LeaguesAll clubs shall be at liberty to participate in any Association or League affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Football Association of their choosing subject to:-

(i) The rules of that League or Association, and

(ii) The prior written approval of the Scottish Amateur Football AssociationClubs in membership of any association or league affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Football Association who wish to transfer membership to another association or league affiliated to that body must carry out the following procedures before approval can be granted by the Scottish Amateur Football Association:-

1. Notify the association or league of which they are currently in membership no later than 30^th April in the current season of their intention to resign their membership of that association or league.

2. Notify the Scottish Amateur Football Association no later than 30^th April in the current season that they have informed the association or league of which they are currently members of their decision to resign from that association or league and that they have been accepted into membership or another association or league affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Football Association.

3. Receive in writing the approval of the Scottish Amateur Football Association to transfer membership from one association or league to another association or league affiliated to the Scottish Football Association.

In considering whether to grant approval, the Scottish Amateur Football Association shall be entitled to consider the whole circumstances (including, without prejudice to the foregoing generality, the likely effect of the club’s withdrawal from participation in any existing League or Association and the conduct of any interested League, Association, club, officer or player). The approval of the Scottish Amateur Football Association shall not be unreasonably withheld.

No League, Association, club, officer or player shall solicit, entice, encourage or otherwise seek to induce or procure a club to withdraw from participation in an existing League or Association in order to participate in another League or Association. Such conduct shall be regarded as not being in accord with the objects of the Scottish Amateur Football Association and the best spirit of the game, and may result in expulsion.

c) Associations or leagues affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Football Association who wish to accept into membership any club currently in membership of another association or league affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Football Association must on or before 31^st March in the current season hold a Special General Meeting to admit to membership such clubs. Failure to do so will result in the application of such clubs not being considered for the ensuing season. This rule will not apply to clubs not affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Football Association.

d) Associations or leagues affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Football Association must on or before 31^st May in the current season advise the Scottish Amateur Football Association of any clubs admitted to membership who are currently in membership of another association or league affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Football Association.
 

6.

(a) No club which is run for the pecuniary gain of a person or persons (whether or not such person or persons are members of the said club) shall be considered amateur. All clubs in membership of this Association shall keep books showing in detail the items of income received and expenditure incurred, which books must be open to inspecion at the request of this Association.
(b) A member of the club is a person who, having been elected by a club, has complied with the rules of such club relating to payment of subscription and any other qualifications for full membership.
c) Any club in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association must not make any monetary payment to any player or club member beyond their legitimate travelling expenses.
d) Any club in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association may provide playing or training kit and equipment as deemed necessary to any player or club member.
e) Should any club in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association be found to be in breach of any part of Rule 6 the matter(s) will be dealt with as considered appropriate by the Scottish Amateur Football Association and may lead to membership being withdrawn at the discretion of Council.

7. The annual subscription for all members (which shall cover the period from the first day of August in any one year to the 31^st day of July in the following year) shall be determined by Council and shall be based on a scale of membership as follows:-

a) Associations and Leagues £155.00 with no limit of membership.

b) Clubs with no more than 45 members - £60.00.

c) Clubs with no more than 85 members - £70.00.

d) Clubs with no more than 150 members - £90.00.

e) Under age limit and Futsal clubs with no more than 45 members - £20.00.

f) 5-a-side clubs with no more than 15 members - £5.00.All subscriptions and insurance premiums must be paid no later than the first day of July with the exception of Associations, Leagues and Clubs who play summer football who must submit the relevant fees by 20th March in the current year.

Notice of resignation must be made in writing to the Secretary prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting, otherwise affiliated bodies and clubs shall be held liable for subscription in the season then current.

The Council shall have the power to deal with any affiliated body or club whose subscription is unpaid on the due date.
 

Amateur

8. No person shall be considered an amateur who has

(a) signed a professional football form or

(b) received for playing football, either directly or indirectly, remuneration or consideration of any kind beyond his necessary hotel and travelling expenses (said expenses having been actually incurred by the player) unless he shall have been reinstated as an amateur by the Scottish Football Association Ltd.

 

General Meetings

9. The Council shall decide the venue of all General Meetings.

10. An Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held each year not later than the second Saturday in June upon a date and a time to be fixed by the Council.

11. All Associations, Leagues and Clubs in full membership shall be entitled to one representative with voting powers at all General Meetings of this Association. The Office-Bearers shall be entitled to attend and vote at all General Meetings. The Chairman shall be entitled to be a deliberative and a casting vote. The quorum for all General Meetings of this Association shall be twenty-five.

12. The order of business at all Annual General Meetings shall be as follows:- (a) Secretary's Report; (b) Treasurer's Report; (c) Auditors Report; (d) Alterations to Constitution; (e) Election of Patrons; (f) Election of Office-Bearers; (g) Election of Council; (h) Appointment of Auditors; (i) Any other competent business; (j) Admission of Clubs.

13. Seven days at least before any General meeting a notice of such meeting, and the business to be transacted thereat, and in the case of an Annual General Meeting, a copy of the audited statement of the accounts shall be sent to the Secretary of each Association, League or Club in membership, and to each member of the Council, and no business other than of a formal nature shall be brought forward at any such meeting unless notice thereof shall have been duly given as herein provided.

14. On a requisition signed by 20 clubs in membership, stating the business to be considered and accompanied by a deposit of 200 Pounds Sterling incl. VAT, which shall be non-refundable, the Secretary shall convene a Special General Meeting.

15. The Council may at any time for any special purpose call a Special General Meeting.

Alteration of Constitution

16. These rules may be added to, repealed, or amended by a Resolution passed at an Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting duly convened for the purpose, and for the passing of which Resolution at least two-thirds of those present and entitled to vote have voted if such Resolution is subsequently confirmed at a Special General Meeting, duly convened for the purpose of confirmation, provided that, in the case of the confirming meeting a bare majority of those present and entitled to vote shall be sufficient.

17. Notice of any proposed addition to, or repeal or amendment of, these rules at the Annual General Meeting must be sent by the proposer and seconder on separate letters, signed by the secretary of the affiliated body or member club proposing and seconding, to this Association before the 31st day of March in the then current year. Notice of any other Resolution to be brought before the Annual General Meeting must be sent in like manner before the 31st day of March in the then current year.

18. Any proposed alteration of the Constitution shall, before being confirmed, be submitted to and approved by the Scottish Football Association Ltd.

Office Bearers

19. The Office-Bearers of this Association shall consist of a President, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Match Secretary, Hon. Match Secretary (Sunday). All Office Bearers must be members of an Association, League or Club in membership of this Association.

20. All Office-Bearers shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Association. The holder of any office shall give notice in writing to the Secretary of the Association, not later than the 31st day of January prior to the Annual General Meeting , of his intention NOT to seek re-election, and in the event of no such notice being given, the holder of the ofiice shall not subsequently decline re-election. Written nomination for new candidates for any office shall be intimated to the Secretary of the Association not later than the 31st day of March in each season prior to the Annual General Meeting, and such nominations shall be proposed by one and seconded by another member of this Association. Should no nominations be received for any particular office the retiring holder of the office in question shall be formally re-elected, unless he has given notice as provided above of his intention not to accept re-election. In which case the Annual General Meeting shall have power to fill such office without previous nomination. The Council may at any time fill any casual vacancy amongst the Office-Bearers and any Office-Bearers so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired period of the predecessor's office.

21. Past Presidents, on retiral from office, shall be granted life membership of the Association, in addition, the Council may recommend to the Annual General Meeting that life membership be eligible for any person whom it is considered has rendered valuable service to the Association or in the cause of amateur football. Life members shall have the right of attending Council Meetings and shall be able to exercise the right of voting at such meetings.

21.(a) President's Award
The Executive and Finance Committee may recommend to Council that a President's Award be made to any member of The Scottish Amatur Football Association who is deemed to have rendered the appropriate level of service to amateur football or to The Scottish Amateur Football Association.

Secretary

22. The Association shall employ a person to act as Secretary.

Clerical Officer/Typist

22(a). The Association shall employ a person to act as Clerical Officer/Typist.

Council

23. The entire management of this Association, except as otherwise provided by these rules, shall be deputed to a Council which shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and which shall consist of (a) the Office-bearers, (b) two representatives from each affiliated Association or League, (c) not more than 28 representatives from different clubs in membership of the Association who shall be nominated from districts in proportion to be determined as each Annual General Meeting, (d) Life Members appointed under the terms of Rule 21 who have permanent membership of the Association, e) representative of Queen's Park F.C.. These representatives shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.

The President (or in his absence the Chairman shall be appointed by those members in attendance) shall act as the Chairman of the meetings of Council.Council shall meet in August, January and April of the current season.The Executive & Finance Committee shall have the authority to call additional meeting(s) of Council should they deem it necessary.

On a requisition signed by 12 Council delegates duly appointed by Associations and Leagues in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association (including Life Members) the Secretary shall convene a meeting of Council

23(a). Debt Suspension
Council and any standing committee or sub committee of Council shall have the power if a recognised football body or club fails to make any payment of any fine, levy or any monetary penalty imposed on them or any monies due to the Association to debt suspend any such body or club with that suspension commencing at midnight on the date that the monies were due and will only be raised at 12 noon on the Monday following payment of the monies due.

Terms of debt suspension imposed by the Scottish Amateur Football Association

1.    A person who is debt suspended cannot play, participate as an official, act as linesperson, act as trainer, sign any papers relating to the business of his/her club including registration of transfer forms, be in a club dressing room or formally travel in the club transport to games. 2.    A person who is debt suspended can attend matches played on public parks as a spectator but if in attendance at a private park he/she can be ask