SEASON 2026-2027 WDYFL NEWSLETTER NUMBER 1
WDYFL Newsletter — Season 2026–2027
Witney & District Youth Football League
Season 2026–2027 · Newsletter No. 1
Please read this newsletter carefully — it could save you time and money!
The Rules are available on the App, via email to each Club Secretary, and on the Full Time website. Read them to avoid fines.
Contact Directory
| Role | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| League Secretary | Edward Todd | [email protected] |
| Fixture Secretary (U7, U8 & U9) | Connor Rose | [email protected] |
| Fixture Secretary (U10 & U11) | Jon Dowell | [email protected] |
| Fixture Secretary (U12 & U13) | Rachel Beynon | [email protected] |
| Fixture Secretary (U14, U15 & U16) | Chris Wales | [email protected] |
| Referee Appointments | Billy Coutts | [email protected] |
| Postponements | — | [email protected] |
League Secretary phone: 07500 284693
When emailing [email protected], always include the age group or fixture secretary's name in the subject line, and start your email with your name, team name, and age group.
Minimum Number of Players
The deadline to have the minimum number of players signed was 31st July.
- Any team that postpones their first game due to insufficient registered players will forfeit that game.
- A player may only participate in a league or cup game once they are registered and approved on the Whole Game System and showing on the Full Time system.
- Playing an unregistered player can result in penalties and the game being awarded to the opposition.
- This responsibility lies with the manager, not the league.
FA Portal & Full Time (FT)
FA Portal
- Remove all individuals who are no longer with your club.
- Any changes to club personnel or contact details must be updated in Portal ASAP and emailed to the League Secretary.
- The league cannot add names to your club.
Full Time
- Anyone new to Full Time must respond promptly to verification emails — until verified, they will not receive newsletters, fixture changes or referee appointments.
- Each team can have two mobile numbers assigned to receive SMS result requests — ensure these are complete and correct on Portal first.
The Match Day App is unreliable. Any omissions on Full Time may result in a fine.
Trophy Events & Cups
One-Day Trophy Events
Where suitable venues can be found, the league hopes to host several one-day trophy events during the season, with separate events for different age groups.
U9 & U11 Champions League
A champions league–style competition running across the two seasons:
- Teams play in divisions in a round-robin format
- Based on performance, teams are split into Cup, Shield, and Plate competitions
- These culminate in finals
Contact: Rachel Beynon at [email protected]
County Cups
- U12 and above are entered into county cup competitions.
- County cups take precedence over league and cup games.
- Keep your Fixture Secretary informed as you progress through the rounds so fixtures can be moved.
- These games are not organised by the league — contact your County FA.
Fixtures
- Season start: Saturday 6th September
- Season end: By the third weekend in May
U14 season structure:
- Autumn season: September 2026 – December 2026
- Spring season: January 2027 – May 2027 (teams reseeded based on Autumn performance; new teams may join for Spring)
All teams U12 to U16 will participate in KO Cups.
Squad Size & Substitutes
| Age Group | Max Squad on Match Day |
|---|---|
| U7 | 12 players |
| U8 / U9 / U10 | 14 players |
| U12 / U13 | 18 players |
| U14 to U16 | 22 players |
U14–U16: Up to 5 substitutes may be used from 5 substitute players. A substituted player may return to replace any other player in accordance with Law 3.
U7–U13: Any number of substitutes (up to the maximum) may be used at any time with the Match Official's permission. A substituted player may return at any time in accordance with Law 3.
Maximum Playing Time in Any 24-Hour Period
| Age Group | Max Duration (24 hrs) | Max Match Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U7 & U8 | 40 minutes | 40 minutes |
| U9 & U10 | 60 minutes | 50 minutes |
| U11 & U12 | 80 minutes | 60 minutes |
| U13 & U14 | 100 minutes | 70 minutes |
| U15 & U16 | 100 minutes | 80 minutes |
This applies to all age groups, including U7–U11 development games. Players cannot participate in locally organised friendly games if doing so would exceed the FA's maximum duration of play.
Match Times
| Age Group | Each Half | Total Match Time |
|---|---|---|
| U7 | 20 mins | 40 mins |
| U8 | 20 mins | 40 mins |
| U9 | 25 mins | 50 mins |
| U10 | 25 mins | 50 mins |
| U11 | 30 mins | 60 mins |
| U12 | 30 mins | 60 mins |
| U13 | 35 mins | 70 mins |
| U14 | 35 mins | 70 mins |
| U15 / U16 | 40 mins | 80 mins |
Honeymoon Period
At the start of the season there is a four calendar week honeymoon period during which fines will not be issued for mistakes or omissions relating to:
- Reporting results on Full Time
- Postponement reasons
- Player statistics
- Respect and Fair Play marks
- Referee marks
Result Reporting Requirements by Age Group
U7 — 3v3
Both managers must register the result by SMS or by entering it into Full Time.
- A result of 0-0 must still be submitted to confirm the game took place.
- If postponed, both managers must text P-P, then enter the reason in Full Time.
Deadline: Result (or 0-0) by 6pm on the day of the game.
U8 / U9 — 5v5
Both managers must register the result by SMS or Full Time.
- If postponed, both managers must text P-P, then enter the reason in Full Time.
Deadlines:
- Weekends: Result by 6pm on the day
- Midweek: Result by 10pm on the night
- Respect & Fair Play marks within 48 hours
U10 / U11 — 7v7
Both managers must register the result by SMS or Full Time. Full Time must be fully updated with referee marks, Respect & Fair Play marks, and player statistics.
- If postponed, both managers must text P-P, then enter the reason in Full Time.
Deadlines:
- Weekends: Result by 6pm on the day
- Midweek: Result by 10pm on the night
- Respect & Fair Play marks and player statistics within 48 hours
- Referee marks by Tuesday after the game (or within 48 hours if midweek)
U12 / U13 — 7v7
Both managers must register the result by SMS or Full Time. Full Time must be fully updated with referee marks, Respect & Fair Play marks, and player statistics.
- If postponed, both managers must text P-P, then enter the reason in Full Time.
Deadlines:
- Result by 6pm on the day
- Midweek: Result by 10pm on the night
- Respect & Fair Play marks and player statistics within 48 hours
- Referee marks by Tuesday after the game (or within 48 hours if midweek)
U15 / U16 — 11v11
Both managers must register the result by SMS or Full Time. Full Time must be fully updated with referee marks, Respect & Fair Play marks, and player statistics.
- If postponed, both managers must text P-P, then enter the reason in Full Time.
Deadlines:
- Result by 6pm on the day
- Midweek: Result by 10pm on the night
- Respect & Fair Play marks and player statistics within 48 hours
- Referee marks by Tuesday after the game (or within 48 hours if midweek)
Postponements — Rule 26
A — General Responsibility
The postponing manager must notify: the opposing team, match officials, Fixture Secretary, and Referees' Secretary.
Failure to give adequate notice (to avoid unnecessary travel) may result in a fine. If the manager is unavailable, contact the opposition Club Secretary, Chairman, or Treasurer. If none are available, contact the League Secretary.
B — U7–U11: Pitch / Weather Cancellations
Notify the opposition ASAP and the Fixture Secretary at [email protected]. The two managers will then mutually agree a new date and notify the Fixture Secretary at [email protected].
C — U12–U16: Pitch / Weather Conditions
- The game should be played at another pitch or the away pitch if available and playable.
- Pitch hire and official costs remain the original home team's responsibility.
- Reversing the fixture is required regardless of whether the teams have played there before.
- Failure to reverse when feasible = refusal to play.
- Where reversed, note this in the text box on the Full Time results page.
D — Delayed Kick-Off
Where both teams are present, both must be prepared to delay kick-off by up to 30 minutes for reassessment. A team refusing to delay becomes the postponing team.
E — Refusing an Available Pitch
A written explanation must be emailed to the Fixture Secretary within 24 hours. If no email is received, or reasons are found invalid, this counts as a postponement by the defaulting manager.
F — U12–U16: Player / Coach / Manager Unavailability
- Both teams must reply to their SMS text with P-P.
- The postponing manager must email the Fixture Secretary within 24 hours.
- A fine will be imposed on the postponing team.
- If a rescheduled game cannot be fitted in, it will be awarded to the team who were available.
- A second postponement by the original non-postponing team = game made void.
- A second postponement by the original postponing team = game awarded 1-0 to the opposition.
G — Refusing a Scheduled Fixture
A team deemed to be refusing a fixture without valid reason may receive a fine, up to a 3-point deduction, and/or the match awarded to the opposition.
H — Fixture Review
The Fixture Secretary and committee members will regularly review postponements and may take necessary measures to keep fixtures running smoothly.
Referees
- Home teams (U11 and above) must use their allocated referee.
- Contact the referee at least 4 days before the game to confirm venue, kick-off time, etc.
- Ask the referee their preferred payment method — this is the referee's decision, not the club's.
- Referees must be paid before the game commences.
- Both managers must mark league-appointed referees out of 100.
- Scores of 61 or below require a written reason (note: disagreement with decisions is not a valid reason — see the rules for the marking guide).
- If a referee does not turn up or is unavailable, notify: [email protected]
Club Colours
- All teams must register shirt and shorts colours with the Secretary by 1st June.
- Goalkeepers must wear colours distinguishing them from outfield players and match officials.
- Black or very dark shirts are not permitted for any player including the goalkeeper.
- Notify opponents of alternative colours (including goalkeeper's jersey) at least 7 days before the match if normal colours cannot be worn.
- If the referee deems colours too similar, the home team must change.
- Clubs should resolve colour clashes before match day.
- Shirts must be individually and differently numbered — failure to comply will result in a fine.
- Player surnames may be printed above the number (max 7.5 cm height, same font and colour as number). If names are on shirts, players must wear their correctly-named shirt.
Ground & Matchday Rules
Barriers (Rule 4K — All Age Groups)
All games must use suitable Respect-style barriers. Both managers must instruct all spectators to stand behind barriers on one side of the pitch only.
- Only each manager, one assistant, and substitutes may stand on the opposite touchline.
- No one is permitted behind the goals or along either goal line.
Technical Areas (Rule 4L — U12 and Above)
Every pitch must have two technical areas marked with white lines, cones, or tape:
- Size: 10 yards × 2 yards
- Located at least 2 yards either side of the centre line
- All coaching staff must remain within their technical area throughout the game.
No Smoking (Rule 4M — All Age Groups)
- Club officials and coaching staff must not smoke in the technical area or on the touchline during the game.
- Spectators and parents must not smoke on the touchlines during the game.
- Smoking is prohibited anywhere near players or the touchline before, during, or after the game.
Mobile App
Download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store — search for Witney.
Login details for the restricted area:
- Email: [email protected]
- Password: wdyfl
The app includes:
- League Committee contact details
- All club and team contact details
- Referee contact details
- Full set of rules
- Newsletters
- Manager checklists
- Laws of Mini Soccer
- FA Guidelines (U7–U11)
- Match Day Guidelines
- And much more!
Ball Sizes
| Age Group | Ball Size |
|---|---|
| U7 | 3 |
| U8 / U9 | 3 |
| U10 / U11 | 3 |
| U13 & U14 | 4 |
| U15 & U16 | 5 |
Defibrillators
Following a medical emergency at a match last season, please take note:
Know where your defibrillator is — and make sure parents know too.
- Defibrillators are covered in the FA Emergency Aid course, which is a requirement for all managers.
- Batteries and pads have a shelf life — check them periodically.# heading