Walking Football - Policies

Code of Conduct

Charlbury Town Walking Football believe the emphasis of Walking Football is playing for fun and keeping fit in our advanced years. One of the club initiatives is the introduction of a ‘Code of Conduct’.
Everyone should appreciate that some players may be less mobile or even clumsy at times and recognise that any foul committed is unlikely to be either intentional or malicious.

Therefore, making allowances in one's general play to accommodate an opponent's or a team member's deficiencies may be prudent.
Players at all times should:

Place the well-being, safety and enjoyment of each and every other player above everything, including winning.
Adhere to Laws of the Game whatever they might be - and from time to time we may play by different rules if preparing for a tournament.

Abide by and accept in good grace the decisions of the referee or anyone assisting with this role.

Never engage in offensive, insulting, abusive or disrespectful language towards any other person or persons.

Never engage in bullying, intimidation or harassment.

Always speak to officials, teammates, the opposition, coaches/managers and spectators with respect.

Promote and endorse Fair Play.

If an individual’s conduct is a significant breach of any of the above or any club member acts in an improper, disrespectful or violent manner to any fellow members (including guests), the Charlbury Town Walking Football Committee reserves the right to impose sanctions on individuals.

Any sanctions will depend upon the severity of the incident/issue, but as a guideline we will use a three step process:

Step One - An individual's first incident will result in a verbal warning.

Step Two - Following a second incident, the individual will receive a formal written warning.

Step Three - If a third incident occurs the committee may suspend the individual for a period of time or expel the individual indefinitely.

The committee believes that Charlbury Town Walking Football has a good bunch of people attending the sessions and only wish to make sure that the sessions continue to be fun.

Everyone needs to be aware that excessive contact for a lot of our members is not safe and arguing with referees or moaning at teammates can often be taken as bullying and/or intimidation.

Whilst the committee will make every effort to ensure these guidelines are followed we would like to encourage members to contact any or all of the committee members if it is perceived that an incident which should be followed up has been missed.

Much better to get any issue reviewed and/or discussed before it gets out of control.

Social Media Consent

Charlbury Town Walking Football use various forms of 'Social Media' to promote and publicise the club, including (but not limited to) the Club Website, Club Facebook Group, the Spond App and WhatsApp.

As and when appropriate, content posted on these platforms may include photographic images of the club's teams and individuals.

By becoming a member of Charlbury Town Walking Football, individuals agree and accept that they might be included in such media content.

Should an individual not agree and accept the club's policy, they should initially contact a committee member to discuss the matter.

Policies & Procedures

Tournaments

If selected to represent the club in a tournament, league, or friendly match, players will be expected to:

Wear the kit supplied by the club and take instruction willingly. 
Show respect to the players of both teams at all times. 
Show respect to the referee, officials and their decisions - and never insult them verbally or physically, nor protest any decision.
Respect the location and facilities being used for any tournament, league or friendly match.
Win or lose with dignity, shake hands with the opposing team and the referee/officials at the end of every game.

Rivalry is only for the field of play and always with discipline and honesty. 

Both within the club and at tournaments, friendship at the end of the game is important and to be valued and we will always respect the opposing team, its players and supporters, whatever the result.   

Please always remember the club ethos of enjoying our football, staying safe and respecting others.

Club Rules

1. Name

The Club shall be called Charlbury Town Walking Football (the ‘Club’)

2. Objectives

The objectives of the Club shall be to provide facilities, to promote the game of Walking Football and to arrange matches and social activities for its members and community participation in the same.

3. Status of Rules

These rules (the ‘Club Rules’) form a binding agreement between each member of the Club.

4. Rules and Regulations

(a) The members of the Club shall so exercise their rights, powers and duties and shall, where appropriate use their best endeavours to ensure that others conduct themselves so that the business and affairs of the Club are carried out in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association Limited (‘The FA’), County Football Association to which the Club is affiliated ('Parent County Association’) and Competitions in which the Club participates, for the time being in force.

(b) The Club will abide by The FA’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy as shall be in place from time to time.

5. Club Membership

(a) The members of the Club from time to time shall be those persons listed in the register of members (the ‘Membership Register’) which shall be maintained by the Club Secretary.

(b) Any person who wishes to be a member must apply via the Club Secretary. Election to membership shall be at the discretion of the Club Committee and granted in accordance with the anti-discrimination and equality policies which are in place from time to time. An appeal against refusal may be made to the Club Committee in accordance with the Complaints Procedure in force from time to time. Membership shall become effective upon an applicant’s name being entered in the Membership Register.

(d) The FA and Parent County Association shall be given access to the Membership Register on demand.

6. Annual Membership Fees

(a) The Club Committee shall from time to time determine whether an annual membership fee should be charged and if set, any annual membership fee should be at a level that will not pose a significant obstacle to community participation. Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for membership and annually by each member. Fees shall not be repayable.

(b) The Club Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objects of the Club.

7. Resignation and Expulsion

(a) A member shall cease to be a member of the Club if, and from the date on which, he/she gives notice to the Club Committee of his/her resignation. A member whose annual membership fee or further subscription is more than two (2) months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.

(b) The Club Committee shall have the power to expel a member when, in its opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for them to remain a member. An appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club Committee in accordance with the Complaints Procedure in force from time to time.

8. Club Committee

(a) The Club Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers: Treasurer, Secretary, Manager for each team and up to 3 other members, elected at an Annual General Meeting.

(b) Each Club Officer and Club Committee Member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) unless otherwise resolved at an Extraordinary General Meeting (‘EGM’). One person may hold no more than two positions of Club Officer at any time. The Club Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Club. Decisions of the Club Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Club Committee meeting. The Chairperson of the Club Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. Meetings of the Club Committee shall be chaired by the Secretary or in their absence the Treasurer. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Club Committee shall be three.

(c) Decisions made at meetings of the Club Committee shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Club to be maintained by the Club Secretary.

(d) Any member of the Club Committee may call a meeting of the Club Committee by giving not less than seven days’ notice to all members of the Club Committee. The Club Committee shall hold not less than four meetings a year.

(e) An outgoing member of the Club Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on the Club Committee which arises between Annual General Meetings shall be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another of the remaining Club Committee members and approved by a simple majority of the remaining Club Committee members.

(f) Save as provided for in the Rules and Regulations of The FA, the Parent County Association and any applicable Competition, the Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.

(g) The position of a Club Officer shall be vacated if such person is subject to a decision of The FA that such person be suspended from holding office or from taking part in any football activity relating to the administration or management of a football club.

9. Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings

An AGM shall be held in each year to:
(i) receive a report of the activities of the Club over the previous year;

(ii) receive a report of the Club’s finances over the previous year;

(iii)elect the members of the Club Committee; and

(iv)consider any other business.

(b) Nominations for election of members as Club Officers or as members of the Club Committee can be made up to and including the AGM.

Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Club Secretary not less than 14 days before the meeting.

(c) An EGM may be called at any time by the Club Committee and shall be called within 21 days of the receipt by the Club Secretary of a requisition in writing, signed by not less than three members stating the purposes for which the Meeting is required and the resolutions proposed. Business at an EGM may be any business that may be transacted at an AGM.

(d) The Secretary shall publish the date of a General Meeting (whether an AGM or an EGM) at least 14 days before the meeting.

(e) The quorum for a General Meeting shall be five.

(f) The Secretary, or in their absence a member selected by the Club Committee, shall take the chair. Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote.

(g) The Club Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Club Committee, shall enter Minutes of General Meetings into the Minute Book of the Club.

10. Club Teams

At its first meeting following each AGM the Club Committee shall appoint a Club member to be responsible for each of the Club’s football teams. The appointed members shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team. The appointed members shall present to the Club Committee at its last meeting prior to an AGM a written report of the activities of the team.

11. Club Finances

(a) A bank account shall be opened and maintained in the name of the Club (the ‘Club Account’). Designated account signatories shall be the the Club Secretary and the Treasurer. No sum shall be drawn from the Club Account without the agreement of the two designated signatories. All monies payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited in the Club Account.

(b) The Club Committee shall have the power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any member of the Club (although the Club shall not remunerate a member for playing) and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club.

(c) The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, away-match expenses, post match refreshments and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002.

(d) The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:

(i) sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;

(ii) employ members (although not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Club Committee without the person concerned being present;

(iii) pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests; and

(iv) indemnify the Club Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets).

(e) The Club shall keep accounting records for recording the fact and nature of all payments and receipts so as to disclose, with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position, including the assets and liabilities of the Club. The Club must retain its accounting records for a minimum of six years.

(f) The Club shall prepare an annual ‘Financial Statement’, in such format as shall be available from The FA from time to time. The Financial Statement shall be approved by members at a general meeting. A copy of any Financial Statement shall, on demand, be forwarded to The FA.

12. Dissolution

(a) A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present.

(b) The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Club Committee shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.

(c) Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be transferred to another Club, a Competition, the Parent County Association or The FA for use by them for related community sports.