NW League Rules

The North West League Regulations have been updated for 2022-2023. The latest adult regulation and key extracts from the regulations can be found below.

Check the North West League Website for the latest versions of all documents:

• Standard Adult League Regulations 2023-2024
• Adult Development Teams Regulations
• Covid Regulations
• Contingency Team Sheet
• Match Official Checklist.

For queries, contact the relevant NW League Secretary

Our teams are the following Grades: (2023/2024)

• Grade 1: -
• Grade 2: M1, L1
• Grade 3: -
• Grade 4: M2, M3, L2, L3, L4
• Grade 5: MDev

8.2 Movement of Players

8.2.1 Players are allowed to be selected for a higher ranked team than their Regular Team, on a weekly basis, without any restrictions.

8.2.2 When selecting a player for a lower ranked team than their Regular Team certain restrictions apply to prevent strengthening of the lower team.

8.2.3 The general eligibility of players from week to week is summarised in this table:

8.2.4 In weeks where a team has a League fixture but higher teams in their Club do not, the team can only select players who have played at least 50% of the League matches in the current season for either that team or a lower ranked team. Note that Regulation 8.2.3 does not apply in such weeks, and the team may need to request a Selection Exemption Pass from the ALMC to confirm player eligibility (refer to Regulation 8.6 for details) for a player moving down from a higher ranked team that does not have a game scheduled for that matchday.

8.2.5 For a team’s last four League matches, unless a Selection Exemption Pass is granted in advance by the ALMC, all players must have played a minimum of 50% of the League matches in the current season for the team they are selected for, or a lower ranked team. 

8.3 Doubling Up

8.3.1 “Doubling up" is when a player plays in two adult League fixtures for their Club during the same Matchweek, (including Area League and EHL fixtures), one of which is for their Regular Team. For example, this includes when one fixture is scheduled on Saturday and another the Sunday, which might be due to the rearrangement of a postponed or abandoned fixture.

8.3.2 Doubling up is not permitted other than as set out in these Regulations.

8.3.3 Doubling up is only permitted at Grades 4 and 5 as a last resort to enable matches to be played when a Club does not have enough eligible players available to field a team without doubling up players, subject to these conditions being satisfied:

• 8.3.3.1 Doubling up is allowed in the lowest or second-lowest ranked team. Doubling up in higher ranked teams requires the issuance of a Selection Exemption Pass (refer to Regulation 8.6).
• 8.3.3.2 The lower ranked team that includes a player doubling up as an outfield player may not have more than 12 players selected for the match.
• 8.3.3.3 When a player doubles up the two teams involved should generally be ranked no more than two teams apart, unless agreed otherwise through a Selection Exemption Pass (refer to Regulation 8.6). This means that the lower ranked team should be no more than two teams below the higher ranked team in the Club's hierarchy of teams.
• 8.3.3.4 Any player who is doubling up may not have played for a higher ranked team on the previous match day, compared to either of the teams they are playing for on the current match day.
• 8.3.3.5 A player is not allowed to double up for more than two teams on any match day.
• 8.3.3.6 A maximum of three players may double up to assist the lower ranked team, including the goalkeeper.
• 8.3.3.7 The doubling up restrictions do not apply to any team designated as a Development Team. 

7.4 Players who live partially away from home

7.4.1 At Grade 3 and below. Players who live partially away from home (e.g., students at university or people working away from home for significant periods) may register for more than one club and be selected to play for either club in League matches at the discretion of the relevant ALMCs but only one club per weekend and only provided that a) the two clubs play in different League Areas and b) the basic principles of Fair Selection, with regard to selection reflecting player ability, have been followed. 

The first port of call to discuss concerns or questions you may have in regards to fixtures, results, fielding a team, regulations and transfers is your Divisional Secretary for the relevant team.