Fixture Rules/Fixture Dates ratified annually at the start of the season will be adhered to by Clubs, Fixtures Committee and County Executive. The original fixtures and schedule that are ratified will stand as official notification of the games. Any major deviation to the calendar (due to circumstances beyond our control such but not limited to changes imposed by Croke Park / Connacht, Feile changes, All Ireland replays etc) will be brought before delegates at a county board meeting before changes occur.

If club games clash with inter county fixtures (that have not yet been confirmed) and have to be moved from the original date by the fixtures committee they will be re-fixed for the first available date as decided by the fixture committee.

All queries on fixtures must be submitted by email from the Club Secretary to the Fixtures Committee at [email protected].

Home team must forward score of match to [email protected] by 10pm on night of game. Manager of the home team must agree the score of the game with the referee before submitting.

Postponement of games may be allowed by the fixtures committee in the following circumstances:

1. On agreement by both clubs as long as an alternative date and time is agreed by both before requesting postponement.
2. By one club if they have a bereavement of a direct family member of a team player, coach, Club Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer.
   Direct Family Member: Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, Grandfather, Grandmother, Brother, Sister, Aunts, Uncles, Spouse, Civil partner and Children of spouse/civil partner.
3. The game must be played within 10 days OR before the knockout stages of the relevant competition and must not interfere with any other fixture.
4. Both secretaries must email the fixtures committee with the request for postponement, giving the reasons and the new date and time agreed. Home club must contact the referee (if already appointed) and rebook this referee for the new date.
5. The game is only postponed when both teams receive confirmation email from the Fixtures Committee.
6. Re-fixed game cannot be postponed. The re-fixed game will be played on the agreed date, even if the clubs have made an error and agreed to a date that is not suitable.

If the pitch is unplayable or unavailable (including being used by the men's team) the following rules apply:

1. Home team may nominate an alternative venue of their choosing. They must notify the fixtures secretary, the visiting team and the referee at least four hours prior to throw-in time. In cases of bad weather, pitches should be checked six hours before the game.
2. If the home team cannot provide an alternative then they must travel to a pitch of their opponents' choosing.
3. If neither team nor the fixtures committee can provide a pitch then the game must be played within seven days with the home venue being reversed from the original fixture.

This applies also when a referee declares a pitch unplayable, either before or during a game.

In the event of teams refusing to fulfil a fixture, the following rules apply:

1. The non-participating side must pay referee expenses, where applicable.
2. Home advantage will be reversed for the next home game in the relevant grade. This may be increased for a repeat offence.
3. The game may be awarded to their opponents and they may be subjected to financial penalties (see Section D) unless the fixtures committee gave less than four days notice of the fixture.
4. Where both teams refuse to fulfil a League fixture both teams will lose points and will be subjected to financial penalties (see Section D).
5. Where both teams refuse to fulfil a Championship or Knockout League Fixture both teams will be eliminated from the competition and be subject to financial penalties. The team scheduled to play the winner will receive a bye, except in the case of a final where the teams beaten in the quarterfinal by the defaulting teams will take their place in the semi-final. The winner of this game will play in the final.
6. A team failing to fulfil a Championship fixture may be subject to sanction under the CODA Rules.
7. Any team who fails to fulfil their semi-final fixture will not be eligible for relegation at that age group.

Extra time if necessary, will be played in all knockout games: 2 periods of 10 minutes duration.

Point Shoot-Out Rule

In exceptional circumstances, the referee may instruct teams to play one period of extra time followed, if light allows, by a point shoot-out from 30 metres. The rules for the shoot-out are:

• Kicks must be taken between the two posts and from where indicated by the referee.
• In Under 14 competitions and below, the point shoot-out shall be from the 20-metre line.
• Only players who are remaining on the field of play at the end of extra time are eligible to take the kicks.
• Each team shall take 5 kicks at point scoring. If scores are still tied, sudden death procedure shall follow using different players until there is a winner.
• The ball must go directly over the crossbar, off the crossbar and over, or off the uprights and over the crossbar, to be counted as a point. A ball that hops in front of the goal and goes over the bar shall not be counted as a point.
• Any player that crosses the 20/30m mark while kicking for a point shall have her score disallowed.

• U12/U13: 13-a-side. (U12/U13 Competition Rules will be emailed to clubs separately.)
• U14 – Adult: 15-a-side, but clubs must reduce to thirteen if the opposition cannot field fifteen (except for semi-finals and finals).
• In the event of players getting injured the opposing team must reduce their players accordingly.
• Substitutions: Unlimited subs may be used in all League Games (including semi-final and final).

• Adult Championship: 15-a-side. (Teams may begin with 11 – as per National Guidelines 311.)
• Underage Championship: 15-a-side, but clubs can reduce to 13 if they fulfil the criteria listed below.
• Substitutions: Unlimited substitutions are allowed in Championship games apart from semi-finals and finals where only 5 substitutions are allowed.

Criteria for reducing to 13-a-side (underage championship):

1. They have 20 players or less registered in the relevant age group plus the age group below (e.g. for minor: 20 players between 15–18 years).
2. They send the request to Fixtures Committee at least 14 days prior to the commencement of the competition.
3. They must receive approval in writing from Fixtures Committee.

The following rules will then apply:

• The competition will remain a 15-a-side competition. Clubs can reduce to 13-a-side only in the fixture they play the club that has received the dispensation to go to 13-a-side.
• Fixtures Committee will email this list to clubs prior to the commencement of the competition.
• 7 subs can be used in 13-a-side games.

• This is a 15-a-side competition. (Teams may begin with 11 – as per National Guidelines 311.)
• 13 v 13 minimum may be permitted in exceptional circumstances where required to help teams field.
• Unlimited substitutions.
• Senior County Players may be eligible to play in this competition if they are no longer in county competition.
• If new playing rules are permitted post National Congress, the new rules will be adopted for the Memorial Cup.

Structure: Round-robin group phase (3 group games). Top two teams in each group progress to Cup Semi-finals (1 v 2). Winners proceed to Cup Final. 3rd v 3rd = Shield Final. 4th v 4th = Relegation Playoff.

1. They must name their best fifteen players on the A team (for U12/U13, the best thirteen must be named), 7 days before the competition begins. These named players must include all county players from the specific age group.
2. The named fifteen or thirteen players will not be eligible to play for the B team at any point in the competition.
3. Clubs shall not manipulate or withhold players from the A team panel for the purpose of strengthening lower-graded teams.
4. The lists must be submitted to [email protected] prior to the commencement of the competition.
   Important: If lists are not submitted on time, games involving those clubs in the first round will be considered conceded and points will not be awarded to the A, B or C team.
5. Team sheets must be submitted to the referee at the start of every game. Subs must also be named on the team sheet (in the club section of the team book or fully listed on the Foireann sheet).
6. For clubs with C teams: the best 15/13 named will make up the A panel and the next 15/13 will make up the B panel. Anyone on the A panel can only play A. Anyone on the B panel can play B or A only. Anyone else outside of these 2 named panels can play C, B or A.
7. Mayo LGFA reserve the right to review and challenge panel submissions that do not reasonably reflect grading.

1. They must name their best fifteen players on the A team, 7 days before the competition begins. These named fifteen players must include all county players from the specific age group.
2. Any player that plays for the club's A team in championship games, at any point (even as a sub), cannot play for the B team; they must remain in the A team for the duration of the competition as per national rules. Club secretary must email fixtures with any players who play for their A team throughout the championship. This can be a copy of the team sheet and a list of subs that were used in the game.
3. Clubs shall not manipulate or withhold players from the A team panel for the purpose of strengthening lower-graded teams.
4. The lists must be submitted to [email protected] prior to the commencement of the competition.
   Important: If lists are not submitted on time, games involving those clubs in the first round will be considered conceded and points will not be awarded to the A, B or C team.
5. Team sheets must be submitted to the referee at the start of every game. Subs must also be named on the team sheet (in the club section of the team book or fully listed on the Foireann sheet). Sub slips must be used for any subs used during championship.
6. Mayo LGFA reserve the right to review and challenge panel submissions that do not reasonably reflect grading.

County team management must release players to fulfil club league and championship fixtures at their own age grade where such fixtures are scheduled in accordance with:

1. The Mayo LGFA Fixtures Calendar
2. Mayo LGFA rest period and player welfare requirements

County training or challenge activity shall not be used as grounds to withhold players from such fixtures.

County team management may release players to fulfil club fixtures above their own age grade, only where this does not breach rest period requirements and where consideration has been given to player welfare, recovery, load management and team preparation.

• Starred games indicate fixtures where county players from that age group are not available.
• County players from a younger age group may be available, but this will depend on their county commitments.
• All starred games will be played without county players from the relevant age group, even if the fixture is postponed and rescheduled to a date when those players would otherwise be available.
• Once a county team in the relevant age group is no longer involved in the competition, any starred fixtures will become null and void and will revert to normal league games. Any postponed fixtures that should have been starred will remain starred.

A club shall not field players who are two age grades below the competition grade where all of the following apply:

• The club has twenty or more eligible players registered in the relevant age bands fit and available to play in the specific fixture (e.g. U16s will not field in an adult fixture where 20 or more adult and minor players are available to fulfil that particular fixture).
• Those players are not suspended or injured.
• Those players have attended fifty per cent or more of organised training sessions in the preceding month/twenty-eight days (i.e. they are committed).

All "in age" players who train regularly (defined as attending at least half of training sessions held in the previous month) and who are togged for a league match (up to and including U16 league) must receive at least 1/4 segment of game time. The time should be delivered in one continuous period where possible, but in no more than two periods in total. Unlimited substitutions shall continue to apply in all league and development league fixtures.

If two or more teams finish on equal points in the Group Stages, final placings shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified:

(i) Where two teams only are involved:

1. The outcome of the head-to-head game between the two teams concerned will determine the placings.
2. Should the head-to-head match have finished in a draw, the team that finishes in the higher position will be the team that registered the highest number of points (scores converted over the bar) in that head-to-head match.
3. Should the teams remain equal, the team with the highest score difference throughout the league will finish higher (points = 1, goals = 3; all scores conceded are subtracted). Games against any team that gave a walkover during the league are disregarded in score difference.
4. Should the teams remain equal at this point, the team that finishes higher will be the team with the lowest number of goals conceded throughout the league.

(ii) Where three or more teams are level on points:

1. The placing will be decided by score difference (points = 1, goals = 3; all scores conceded are subtracted).
2. Should score difference be the same, the team with the highest number of points (scores over the bar) will finish higher.
3. If still level, the team with the highest number of points and goals (scores over bar = 1, goals = 3) will finish higher.
4. If two teams are still level after the above, their head-to-head will come into effect.
5. Should the head-to-head match have finished in a draw, the team with the lowest number of goals conceded throughout the league will finish higher.
6. If conceded games affect team positioning in the group, the placing of the teams will not be determined based on the scores from matches in which the conceding team was involved.

Referees are paid per match as follows and should be paid by the home club (as per original fixture) on arrival at the venue:

1. The travelling team may select a replacement.
2. If they are unable to do so, then the home team may select one.
3. The replacement referee must be from the panel of county referees for LGFA.
4. If either team refuses to play after the provision of a replacement referee, then the game will be awarded to the other team.

All potential fines will be referred for consideration and a decision will be emailed to clubs. Clubs can appeal their fine to CODA within 7 days of issue of fine.

Clubs will have 13 weeks to pay the fine from the date of email being sent.

After official notification has been sent to all clubs, all cups and shields must be returned to Fixtures no later than the County Board meeting preceding the month in which the relevant competition is due to begin (e.g. if the competition begins in May, cups/shields must be returned no later than the April County Board meeting).

Each competing Club shall be responsible for the conduct of its members and followers. Any disciplinary matters arising from a game or incidents of bringing the game into disrepute shall be referred to CODA.

All Team Management must be registered members of the LGFA. It is the responsibility of each club to register their Mentors.

A maximum number of thirty-seven (37) people from a club, including players, substitutes, management and officers, are allowed inside the perimeter fence for a game. All must be registered members of the LGFA.

Rest periods for County players before a County game will be as follows:

Rest periods for club players during Adult League and Championship, where possible, may be:

• Adult League group stage and/or before knockout stages: 6 days
• Adult Championship group stage and/or before knockout stages: 6 days

• Pitch must be enclosed with no unauthorised incursions into pitch allowed.
• Pitch must be properly marked and flagged.
• A scoreboard should be in operation if possible.
• Changing rooms must be clean and tidy and a room must be available for referees and linesmen.
• A room should be provided for gatemen to count money and tea/coffee should be provided for officials/gatemen.
• It will be the responsibility of the host club to provide an adequate number of stewards for the game.