Discounts

Running since 1974

Southern League Rules

MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to all clubs affiliated to the South of England AA. New clubs or teams will be placed in the lowest division in the first season. The annual subscription is £40 per team payable on 1st October (from October 2003). Amalgamation: When clubs amalgamate, the new club may field teams in place of the original club's teams except that when clubs amalgamate after the start of the season's fixtures no athlete from a lower Division may compete in a higher division during that season. Clubs may have only one team per division.

MANAGEMENT
The management of the league shall be vested in the officers elected by member clubs at the AGM and comprise Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers, Divisional Secretaries elected at the AGM, together with three nominations from the general committee of the SEAA shall form an advisory committee. An Appeals Committee shall be elected at the AGM comprising a Chairman and other members such as to secure representation of each division. Subject to the UK Athletics Rules for Competition, an appeal may be made to that Committee on any matter under the following Rules (except Rule 10). An appeal must be made through the League Secretary within one month of the cause of appeal arising.

RESOLUTIONS
Proposals for inclusion for discussion at the AGM must be submitted no later than six weeks before the meeting. Unless approved by the committee, they must have a proposer and seconder.

RULES OF COMPETITION

1. UK Athletics Rules will apply unless otherwise stated.

2. Eligibility: (a) Competitors must be first claim members or higher competition club members of the clubs they represent. Athletes changing clubs must have served such time as agreed by the SEAA eligibility committee before they can compete for their new club. Letters of clearance must be available to the referee if required on the day of competition. No club shall use more than two 'Transient Foreign Athletes' (for definition - see Footnote) in any one match. (b) British League teams: Clubs may enter teams in the Southern League in addition to competing in the BAL. No athlete may compete in the following Southern League who competed for the same club in the previous BAL match except where the Southern League and British League are on the same weekend If he then competes in both Southern and BAL matches that weekend he must miss the subsequent Southern League match This rule does not apply to higher competition club members who competed for a different club in the previous BAL match (c) The competition is open to senior men and junior men,. and to U17 men (except that the latter may not compete in the 3000m steeplechase, nor the 5000m - and see UK Athletics Rule 107 (4) (iv) and (v)).

3. Penalties: (a) Infringement of first claim and BAL rules - The points gained by the athlete(s) concerned should be deducted and the match re-scored as if he had not taken part. In addition one extra League point will be deducted for each ineligible athlete in the match. (b) Infringement ofUl7 men's rules - if'A' competitors - loss of match points and 'B' competitor scores as 'A'.

4. Timetable This must be approved by the clubs at an AGM but the Secretary, with approval of the clubs concerned, can make alterations in exceptional circumstances. The order of field events can only be changed when the layout of the arena does not permit the official timetable. Any changes must be notffied to the competing clubs as soon as possible. No other changes are permitted unless in the interests of safety.

5. Trials In the following events, each competitor is allowed three trials and the best six a further three: long jump, triple jump, hammer, shot, discus and javelin. In the pole vault and high jump events, normal rules will apply except that the one general starting height may be the lowest height requested by any competitor or the lowest available on the equipment in use (note - for pole vault it is permitted to use adapters to achieve a lower height). After the lowest height the bar shall be raised as follows:

Pole vault height progression for ALL divisions will be 20cm up to 3.00m - thereafter at the judges' discretion. Note - Mandatory heights - Care should be taken that these rules are observed in double meetings. An athlete who misses a round will forfeit that round

6. Hurdles Where there are insufficient lanes or equipment available, races may be held as time trials. The order will be as prescribed in the lane draw.

7. Track events Separate 'A' and 'B' races shall be held except for the 1500m, 5000m, and 3000m steeplechase. A combined 800m race may be held if the majority of the athletes agree. Where there are two matches at a meeting, only the 5000m race shall be merged.

8. Non-scoring races Two races can be held at each match: Matches, 1, 3 and 5 - l00m & I 500rn.. Matches 2,4 and 6- 200m & 800m - such races to follow the match events.

9. Conduct of fixtures Clubs should arrive at least half an hour before the first event. Teams should be declared before the start of the first event. Changes should be notified to the recorder(s) before the start of the events concerned. Note - At present there is no penalty for lapses in team declaration. Host clubs should issue warnings to defaulting clubs and report to the Divisonal Secretary.

10. If a club does not appear with a team OR DOES NOT CONTEST AT LEAST 18 OF THE 36 EVENTS without an explanation acceptable to the League management, such club shall, after all promotion and relegation issues have been resolved, then be relegated one division or excluded from the league for one season should they be in the lowest division.

11. Club vests must be worn. An athlete not wearing a club vest may not compete unless with the agreement of the Track or Field Referee. Note - permission may only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

12. Team Letters - unless provided by the League, clubs will be responsible for provision of letters and pins.

13. Guests and non-scoring competitors may not compete in match events.

14. To increase interest in the events, team scores should be announced at frequent intervals.

15. Scoring. Two competitors per event per club. 'A' and 'B' races and relays score 5-4-3-2-1. In all field events and combined 'A' and B' races (5000m, 1500m, 3000m steeplechase) the better placed performance constitutes the 'A' string. In events held as separate 'A' and 'B' strings, the better performer SHOULD be nominated for the 'A' string (lOOm, 200m, 400m, 800m, etc). Team managers SHOULD implement this rule.

16. The match result must be telephoned to the Divisional Secretary as soon as possible after the match on the day of the match. Two copies of the detailed match result sheets and the team declaration sheets, together with a list of officials - required in the case of an insurance claim - must be sent to the Divisional Secretary within two days after the fixture. Host clubs should also send copies of the full result sheets to the other competing clubs. Match event score-cards, etc, should be retained by the host clubs until thu end of the season.

17. The host club shall provide Track Referee, Chief Timekeeper, Field Referee, Starter and Marksman. These must be graded officials. In double fixtures involving two different clubs, the main host club should contact the other club for allocation of officials if required. The host club should ensure that first aid cover is provided and that an emergency telephone is available. Visiting clubs should provide track judge, timekeeper, field events team of judges and relay judge. ANY CLUB NOT ABLE TO MEET iTS COMMITMENT REGARDiNG THE PROVISION OF OFFICIALS MUST INFORM THE HOST CLUB(S) AT LEAST 14 DAYS BEFORE THE MATCH. Note - There is at present no penalty for infringement of this rule but proposals may be put forward if the position does not improve.

18 Equipment. The host club(s) is responsible for ensuring that all equipment, scoring and recording materials are available.

19. Rules, etc - Copies of the UK Athletics Rules for Competition and these League rules should be made available to the referees if required.

20. League Points - Points are awarded as follows: 1st 5 points, 2nd 4, 3rd 3. 4th 2 and 5th 1. Where team scores are equal, the points for the positions concerned are shared. In the event of teams having equal league points at the end of the season, positions will be determined by the number of match points. Should a tie still remain, the club achieving the greatest number of first places during the season will take precedence, moving to second places, etc.

21. League Fixtures - The dates may not be changed once the season has started but, under exceptional circumstances, the League Secretary may authorise changes but only prior to season.

22. Sunday fixtures - Only in exceptional circumstances and with agreement of all cubs concerned can matches take place on a Sunday.

23. Promoting clubs are responsible for informing visiting clubs of the location of the track, and whether or not the match is a 'single' or a 'double' fixture.

24. Any changes of arrangements/venues for a match must be approved by the League Secretary and notified to the clubs concerned at the earliest possible moment. The Secretary's decision is to be treated as final.

25. Synthetic surfaces - Generally all matches should be held on synthetic tracks. In the case of Division One this is mandatory.

26. Cancelled fixtures - If a fixture is cancelled on a scheduled date, then no attempt should be made to rearrange it. When a club is involved in two cancelled matches, then the second match will be rearranged at a suitable date. Allocation of points: one cancelled match - League points are awarded according to the relative positions of the affected clubs in the League table (highest 5 points etc). The 540 match points are awarded proportionately on the basis of the average scored in the five matches held.

27. Abandoned events - If events are not held or are abandoned during the match. points will be awarded as follows: (a) Where notice is given prior to the date of the fixture or on arrival at the venue: each team takes 6 points. (b) Where the event has commenced but not concluded: (i) Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot, Discus, Hammer and Javelin: Before conclusion of third round: each competitor will receive an equal allocation of points in accordance with number of A and B competitors declared. In fourth and subsequent rounds: Positions of competitors not making the final six will be scored under normal rules. The six finalists will share the remaining points but differentiating between A and B strings. (ii) High Jump and Pole Vault: When abandoned before every competitor has entered the competition, all declared competitors will receive equal points according to the numbers of A and B strings so declared. Where all competitors have entered the competition and have either been eliminated or successfully cleared a height, those eliminated will score points under normal rules, those remaining will be allocated the residue of points available on an equal basis, but differentiating between A and B strings. (c) Track Events: If an event is abandoned after the meeting has commenced, only declared competitors will score points allocated according to the numbers of A and B strings so declared NOTE: Declared competitors are those entered on the team declaration sheet submitted before the start of the meeting, after making allowance for late arrival of team(s).

Footnote: Eligibility of Athletes Definitions A UK athlete shall mean an athlete eligible to represent the United Kingdom under IAAF Rule 12 Clause 8. A Foreign Athlete shall mean any athlete who is not a UK athlete but complies with the rules of eligibility of the National Association of the club of which he or she is a member. A Resident Foreign Athlete shall mean a foreign Athlete who has been continually resident in the United Kingdom for a continuous period of two years prior to the 1st January in the year of competition. A Transient Foreign Athlete shall mean a Foreign Athlete who is not a Resident Foreign Athlete