LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP COMPETITION 

1.           This competition shall be called the league challenge cup competition and shall, if applicable, bear the name of the sponsor of the competition.
2.           This Cup competition shall be annual and shall be open only to Members of the Central Midlands Alliance Football League
3.           It will be compulsory for all clubs in the league Premier Divisions to enter the league challenge cup. It will be optional for all clubs in other divisions to enter the league challenge cup providing that their registered ground meets minimum FA regional NLS feeder league ground grading guidelines.
4.           The annual fee for entering shall be shown in the league fees tariff     
5.           The Clubs shall be drawn in couples at a time and the first Club drawn, up to but excluding the Semi-Final and Final Ties, shall have the choice of ground.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
6            Match officials shall be appointed by the league and receive a fee as shown in the fees tariff. the home club is responsible for the payment of match officials’ fees.
In Final Ties, Referees and Assistant Referees and any reserve official may receive trophies in lieu of fees. 
7.           Trophies shall be awarded to the winners and the Management Committee shall also have power to award trophies to the losing finalists. The winning finalist shall be responsible to have the League Challenge Cup engraved with their club’s name. Failure to do so will be subject to a fine as shown in the Fines Tariff and additionally, any expense incurred by the League in having the trophy engraved.
8.           The semi-final and Final Tie shall be played on a neutral ground and on a date to be fixed by the Management Committee in conjunction with League Rule 30
9.         In all matches prior to the Semi-Final and Final, of the League CHALLENGE Cup, the home Club is responsible for informing the Match Officials and Opponents as per League Rule 20(C). In the Semi-Final and Final, the management committee is responsible for informing the Match Officials and Opponents
10.         The home club must notify the match result to the delegated person in accordance with League Rule 21(B) or as otherwise directed by the League.
11.         The home club shall produce a programme (as league rule 24) in all matches prior to the semi-final and final. The Management Committee will be responsible for producing a match programme for the League Cup semi-finals and for the Finals of all Cup Competitions.
12.         All Home Clubs are expected to provide full hospitality to their opponents, Match Officials, Management Committee members and guests and this should consist of the following: (a) Drinks prior to the game and at the half-time interval for their opponents and the match officials. (b) Drinks prior to the game and at the half-time interval for committee members of the visiting club, Management Committee members and guests provided for at a table to be set aside solely for this purpose. (c) Food should be made available for the visiting team and their officials, match officials, Management Committee members and guests after the game has been concluded. If a visiting team does not wish to stay and partake in the after-match hospitality, then they must inform the Home Club Secretary at least 3 clear days prior to the date of the match. In the event of non-compliance with any of the above instructions, the League General Secretary should be informed within 3 days of the match. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule will be subject to a fine as shown in the fines tariff and may be ordered to pay compensation.
13      PLAYER QUALIFICATION
          Players must be registered with the League as shown in Qualification of Players, League Rule 18,
          No player shall be allowed to play in this Cup Competition who has played in that Competition for any other Club in the current season. 
        No player shall play in any Semi-final or Final Ties for any team who has been registered for less than twenty-eight days.
          No player shall play in any Semi-Final or Final Ties who has played more than twice (2) for a higher team or teams in the previous twenty-eight days in any Competition. For the purpose of the Central Midlands Football League, a higher team is one in the League Premier Divisions or a Step 6 League or higher in the National League System   
              Where a club has two (2) or three (3) teams in a league cup competition, a player may play with the “A” team, the Reserve team and afterwards the 1st team, but not vice versa
              Any winning Club found guilty of playing an ineligible player (s) in any Cup Game will be fined as shown in the fines tariff League Cup Rule 13 and removed from the Competition.  Their opponents will be reinstated. 
              Any losing club found guilty of playing an ineligible player(s) in any Cup game will be fined as shown in the fines tariff League Cup Rule 13
14      If two Clubs have the same or similar colours the away team shall make the change. In the League Cup semi-final and final the team drawn second shall make the change.
15      The grounds on which the Semi-Finals and Final of the League Challenge Cup shall be played will be notified to the Clubs and Match Officials by the Management Committee.
16      ADMISSION CHARGES
          In all Semi-Finals and Final Rounds of the League Challenge Cup Competitions the League Management Committee will decide the Admission Charges.
              League Passes (maximum of 10) will only be accepted from Clubs competing in the Semi-final and Final Ties.
          The League shall take the proceeds of the semi-final and final Tie after payment of expenses.
17      MATCH DURATION.
 In all matches up to but not including the Semi-Final and Final if a result has not been established after ninety minutes, the match will be decided on penalty kicks, in accordance with International Board decisions set out in the ‘Laws of the Game.’
          In the Semi-Finals and Final if a result has not been established after ninety (90) minutes extra time of 30 minutes (15 each way) must be played. If a result is not established after extra time, then the match will be decided on penalty kicks.
18      In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement in this Cup Competition, the League Management Committee shall have the power to inflict a fine as shown in the fines tariff (league cup Rule 18) and award the match to the opponents. They may also order any defaulting Club to pay any reasonable expenses occurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them.
19      POSTPONED MATCHES.
          In the event of a cup match not being played on two occasions or abandoned owing to causes over which neither club has control, the match will be reversed to the team drawn second, who will become the home team. if the match is not played after four scheduled dates it shall be moved and managed by the league management committee to a neutral venue. in this event, both teams will share all costs and revenue. the original home team will produce the match programme.

DIVISION ONE CUP COMPETITION
1.           This Competition shall be called the League Division One Cup Competition and shall bear the name of the Sponsor of the Competition (If applicable).
 
2.       This Cup competition shall be annual and shall be open only to Members of the Central Midlands Alliance.
3.           It will be compulsory for all Clubs in the League at Division One to enter this Cup Competition.
4.           The Annual Fee for entering shall be shown in the League Fee tariff.
5.           The Clubs shall be drawn in couples at a time and the first Club drawn, up to but excluding the Final Ties, shall have the choice of ground.
Match Officials shall be appointed by the League and receive a fee as shown in the Fees Tariff.  In Final Ties, Referees and Assistant Referees and any Reserve Official may receive trophies in lieu of fees.
6.      Trophies shall be awarded to the winners and the Management Committee shall also have power to award trophies to the losing finalists.  The winning finalist shall be responsible to have the League Cup Engraved with their Club Name. Failure to do so will be subject to a fine as shown in the Fines Tariff and additionally, any expense incurred by the League in having the trophy engraved.
7.      The Final Tie shall be played on a neutral ground and on a date to be fixed by the Management Committee in conjunction with League Rule 30
8.      In all Matches prior to the Final Tie, the home Club is responsible for informing the Match Officials and Opponents as per League Rule 20(C).
The home club must notify the match result to the delegated person in accordance with League Rule 21(B) or as otherwise directed by the League. Match results must be reported as shown in League Rule 21
9.           The Management Committee will be responsible for producing a match programme for the Finals of all Cup Competitions.
 
12      PLAYER QUALIFICATION
          Players must be registered with the League as shown in Qualification of Players, League Rule 18, No player shall be allowed to play in this Cup Competition who has played in the Competition for any other Club in the current season. 
          No player shall play in any Semi-final or Final Ties for any team who has been registered for less than twenty-eight days.
          No player shall play in any Semi-Final or Final Tie who has played more than twice (2) for a higher team or teams in the previous twenty-eight days in any Competition.  For the purpose of the Central Midlands Football League, a higher team is one in a  Regional NLS Feeder League  or higher in the National League System   
              Where a club has two (2) or three (3) teams in a league cup competition a player may play with the “A” team, the Reserve team and afterwards the 1st team, but not vice versa.
              No player shall be allowed to play in Division One League Cup who has played more than three (3) games from his Last six (6) games in any competition for the Club’s first team.
          Contract players are not allowed to play in the Division One League Cup.
13.         Any winning Club found guilty of playing an ineligible player(s) in any Cup Game will be fined as shown in the Fines Tariff (18M)(DIV ONE CUP RULE 13) and removed from the Competition. Their opponents will be reinstated. 
14.         Any losing club found guilty of playing an ineligible player(s) in any Cup game will be fined as shown in the Fines Tariff (Rule 18M)(DIV. ONE CUP 13)
15.       If two Clubs have the same or similar colours the away team shall make the change. In the Cup Final, the team drawn second shall make the change.
16.         The ground on which the Final Tie shall be played will be notified to the Clubs and
          Match Officials by the Management Committee.
 
17          ADMISSION CHARGES
          In the Final of the Division One Cup Competition the League Management
          Committee will decide the Admission Charges.
              League Passes (MAXIMUM OF 5) will only be accepted from THE Clubs competing in the Final Tie.
  The League shall take the proceeds of the Final Tie after payment of expenses.
18          MATCH DURATION
  In all matches up to but not including the Semi Final and Final If a result has not been established after ninety minutes, the match will be decided on penalty kicks, in accordance with International Board decisions set out in the ‘Laws of the Game
          In the Semi-Finals and Final if a result has not been established after ninety (90) minutes extra time of 30 minutes (15 each way) must be played. If a result is not established after extra time, then the match will be decided on penalty kicks.
19          In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement in any Cup Competition, the League Management Committee shall have the power to inflict a fine as shown in the fines tariff (DIVISION ONE CUP RULE 19) and award the match to the opponents. They may also order any defaulting Club to pay any reasonable expenses occurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them.
 
20      POSTPONED MATCHES.
          In the event of a Cup Match not being played on two occasions or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, the match will be reversed to the team drawn second, who will become the home team.
          If the Match is not played after four scheduled dates, it shall be moved by the League Management Committee to a neutral venue. In this event, both teams will share all costs and revenue. The original home team will produce the match programme.
21.   Except as covered by the above all matches will be governed by normal League Rules. The Management Committee, whose decision will be final, will deal with any matters arising from any Cup Competition, which need clarification.

FLOODLIT CUP RULES

1.           This Competition shall be called the Floodlit Cup Competition and shall bear the name of the Sponsor of the Competition.
2.           Entry shall be compulsory for all Clubs in membership of the Central Midlands Football League PREMIER Divisions, and optional for Clubs in lower Divisions who shall on the 1st of October in the current season have fully operational floodlights of the required Standard as laid down by the National League System.
3.           Clubs will only play matches on their registered home floodlit pitch. Clubs shall not utilise other venues or pitches in order to qualify for the Competition.
4.           Entry Fee is set out in the Fees Tariff
5.           Players must be registered in accordance with the Qualification of Players League Rule 18
Any winning Club found guilty of playing an ineligible player in any Cup Game will be fined as shown in the Fines Tariff (Rule (18M) (FLOODLIT CUP RULE 5) and removed from the Competition. Their opponents will be reinstated. 
          Any losing club found guilty of playing an ineligible player(s) in any Cup game. Will be fined as shown in the Fines Tariff (Rule (18M) (FLOODLIT CUP RULE 5) and removed from the Competition. 
 
6.           No player shall be allowed to play in a semi-final Tie or the Final tie unless they have been registered for the Club at least 28 days prior to the date of the match.
              No player shall be allowed to play in a semi-final tie or the Final tie if they played more than twice (2) for a higher team or teams in the previous twenty-eight days in any Competition.
 
7.           All matches are to be played in midweek under floodlights.
 
8            All eligible Clubs will be drawn in couples at a time and the first Club drawn up to but not including the Semi-Finals and final shall have the choice of ground.
             
9.           The Management Committee will arrange the Final Tie.
 
10.     Any winning Club found guilty of playing an ineligible player (s) in any Cup Game will be fined as shown in the fines tariff League Cup Rule 13 and removed from the Competition. their opponents will be reinstated. 
              Any losing club found guilty of playing an ineligible player(s) in any Cup game will be fined as shown in the fines tariff League Cup Rule 13
 
11.     Trophies shall be awarded to the winners and the Management Committee shall also have power to award trophies to the losing finalists. The winning finalist shall be responsible to have the League Floodlit Cup engraved with their Club Name. Failure to do so will be subject to a fine as shown in the Fines Tariff and additionally any expense incurred by the League in having the trophy engraved.
 
12     Match Officials shall be appointed by the league and receive a Fee as shown in the Fees Tariff.  In Final Ties, Referees, Assistant Referees and any Reserve Official receive trophies in lieu of fees. 
 
13      ADMISSION CHARGES
          In the Final of the Cup Competition, the League Management Committee will decide the Admission Charges.
              League Passes (MAXIMUM OF 10) will only be accepted from THE Clubs competing in the Final Tie. The League shall take the proceeds of the Final Tie after payment of expenses. 
 
14.         In all Matches prior to the Final Tie, the home Club is responsible for informing the Match Officials and Opponents as shown in League Rule 20(C).
 
15     The home club must notify the match result to the delegated person in accordance with League Rule 21(B) or as otherwise directed by the League.
          Match results must be reported as shown in League Rule 21.
 
16     In all Matches prior to the Final Tie all HOME Clubs are required to produce a programme in accordance with League Rule 24
              The Management Committee will be responsible for producing a match programme for the Final.
 
17          Except as covered above, all matches will be governed by normal League Rules. The Management Committee, whose decision will be final, will deal with any matters arising from any Cup Competition, which need clarification.
 
 
18     MATCH DURATION
         In all matches, up to but excluding the Semi-Finals and Final, if a result is not established after ninety minutes, the
         match will be decided on penalty kicks, in accordance with International Board decisions set out in the ‘Laws of the
         Game’
         In the Floodlit Cup Semi-Finals and Cup Final, if a result has not been established after ninety minutes, 30 minutes.
         (15 each way) extra time must be played. If a result is not established after extra time the match will be decided
         on penalty kicks, in accordance with International Board decisions set out in the ‘Laws of the Game’.

JUNIOR CUP RULES 2022/23

1.       THE COMPETITION
          The Competition shall be called the Midlands Regional Alliance Junior Cup.
2.       CONTROL OF THE COMPETITION
          The entire control and Management of the Competition shall be vested in the Management Committee of the   
          League.
3.       THE TROPHY
Trophies shall be awarded to the winners and the Management Committee shall also have power to award trophies to the losing finalists. The winning finalist shall be responsible to have the Cup engraved with their Clubs Name. Failure to do so will be subject to a fine as shown in the Fines Tariff and additionally any expense incurred by the League in having the trophy engraved.
4.       QUALIFICATION OF TEAMS
(a) The Competition shall be limited to Teams playing in the Division two of the Central Midlands Alliance and they shall each pay an entrance fee as set out in the fees tariff. (b)  The Competition shall be played on the Knock-out principle and the draw for the First Round shall be so arranged that no byes would normally arise in subsequent rounds. (c) Any Club unable to field a team on the date specified for their Cup match will automatically have that team removed from the Competition.
5.       QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
(a) Only players eligible to play in the Central Midlands Alliance matches are eligible to play in this Competition, providing they have not already played in the Junior Cup for another Club during that same season.
(b) A player may play for a team in the Junior Cup during the season until that team is unsuccessful and be still eligible to play for the same team in any other Cup Competition provided by the League in the same season.
(c) No player shall be allowed to play in the Semi-Finals or Final unless he has been registered for at least 28 days and has played at least four games for the Club in the Midlands Regional Alliance in the current season.
(d) A Club at its discretion, and in accordance with the Laws of the Game, may nominate five substitute players whose names must be given to the Referee prior to the commencement of the match. Up to any five of the nominated substitutes may be used in any match in the Competition. A Player not so named may not take part in that match. A player who has been selected, appointed, or named as a substitute but does not actually play in the game, shall not be Cup-Tied.
(e) Any team found to have played an ineligible player in any game in the Competition shall be removed from the Competition.
(f) All questions relating to the qualification of players, or interpretation of the Rules or any protest whatsoever, shall be referred to the Management Committee whose decision shall be final.
 
6.       ADMISSION CHARGES
          In the Final of the Cup Competition, the League Management Committee will decide the Admission Charges.
              League Passes (MAXIMUM OF 5) will only be accepted from THE Clubs competing in the Final Tie. The League shall take the proceeds of the Final Tie after payment of expenses. 
 
7.       MATCHES
(a) n the event of a match resulting in a draw after normal time the tie will be decided by taking kicks from the penalty mark as prescribed by The Football Association. Only those players on the field of play at the end of normal time may be used in the penalty shoot-out, but if a goalkeeper is injured during the shoot-out he may be replaced by a substitute.
(b) The proceeds of all matches played in this Competition (except the Final) shall be equally divided between the competing teams after paying therefrom the Match Officials fee and expenses, printing and advertising, police if required, but NO GROUND RENT,
(c)  If the proceeds are not sufficient to cover the entire expenses of the match, then Match Officials fee and expenses, printing, and advertising, shall be the first charges.
(d)  If two clubs have the same or similar colours the away side shall make the change. (e)  The ground on which the final tie shall be played will be notified to the clubs and match officials by the management committee.
  
8.       SEMI-FINALS & FINAL
(a) In the Semi-Finals the games shall take place on the ground of the first drawn teams in each tie. The Management Committee shall designate the grounds on which the Finals are to be played. The Management Committee shall designate the ground on which the final is played
(b) All clubs shall make their ground and facilities available to the League, as required by the Management Committee, for Final Tie matches.
(c) The Club occupying the ground chosen for the Final shall be responsible for the ground arrangements in conjunction with the Management Committee.
(d) For the Final the competing teams shall each provide a list of up to 20 persons for entry into the ground and this will include the players. Any person not on the list will be charged an admission fee.
(e) In the event of a match resulting in a draw after normal time the tie will be decided by taking kicks from the penalty mark as prescribed by The Football Association. Only those players on the field of play at the end of normal time may be used in the penalty shoot-out, but if a goalkeeper is injured during the shoot-out he may be replaced by a substitute.
(f) Awards shall be presented to the winners and the runners-up.
(g) The Cup shall be presented to the winning team who shall insure it for its full value and shall hold it for twelve months, or less, as decided by the Management Committee. (League Rule 13 applies).
(h) In all matches prior to the final tie, the home club is responsible for informing the match officials and opponents as per the League rules 20(C) (i) The home club must notify the match result to the designated person in accordance with the League Rule 21 (B) or as otherwise directed by the league. Match results must be reported as shown in Rule 21
(j) The Management Committee will be responsible for producing a match program for the finals of all Cup competitions.
9.       MATCH OFFICIALS
(a) In all rounds except the Semi-Finals and Final, the Referee shall be paid a fee of £35, inclusive of travel expenses, and Assistant Referees (if appointed) a fee of £25, inclusive of travel expenses.
(b) In the Semi-Finals and Final, the Referee shall be paid a fee of £38, inclusive of travel expenses, and Assistant Referees (if appointed) a fee of £25, inclusive of travelling expenses.
(c) In the Final the Match Officials shall be presented with a Memento.
(d)  In All Rounds, up to and including the Semi-Finals, the Match Officials fees are to be shared equally between the competing Teams.
(e) For the Final the Match Officials fees shall be paid by the League.
9.       PROTESTS
(a) Every protest must be in writing and must contain the grounds upon which it is based and must be lodged with the Secretary of the Competition accompanied with a fee of £15, within 3 days (Sundays not included) of the match to which it relates.
(b) The fee may be returned if the protest is upheld.
10.     ANY OTHER MATTERS
Any matters arising that are not covered by these Rules shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.