THE NATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE HANDBOOK NSL HANDBOOK – AS ADOPTED ON 15 NOVEMBER 2016 2 Document last saved: 19/12/2016 CONSTITUTION 1. INTERPRETATION .................................................................................................................................. 6 2. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 9 3. NAME .................................................................................................................................................... 9 4. LEGAL CHARACTER AND STATUS ........................................................................................................ 10 5. LOCATION AND AREA OF OPERATIONS .............................................................................................. 10 6. COLOURS - LOGO AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS ...................................................................................... 10 7. AFFILIATION ........................................................................................................................................ 10 8. OBJECTS OF THE LEAGUE.................................................................................................................... 10 9. POWERS OF THE LEAGUE ................................................................................................................... 11 10. MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEAGUE ........................................................................................................... 12 11. PROMOTION AND RELEGATION ......................................................................................................... 14 12. MEMBER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS .................................................................................................... 14 13. FURNISHING OF GUARANTEES ........................................................................................................... 14 14. ACQUISITION AND OWNERSHIP OF A CLUB ....................................................................................... 14 15. CHANGE OF NAME OR HOME VENUE ................................................................................................ 15 16. BOARD OF GOVERNORS ..................................................................................................................... 16 17. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE .............................................................................................................. 16 18. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER .......................................................................................................... 16 19. STANDING AND AD-HOC COMMITTEES ............................................................................................. 17 20. SUB-COMMITTEES .............................................................................................................................. 17 21. PROSECUTOR ...................................................................................................................................... 17 22. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE ................................................................................................................. 18 23. DISPUTE RESOLUTION CHAMBER ....................................................................................................... 19 24. APPEALS .............................................................................................................................................. 21 25. ARBITRATION ...................................................................................................................................... 21 26. EXHAUSTION OF INTERNAL REMEDIES............................................................................................... 21 27. ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ....................................................................................... 21 28. VOTING POWERS AT GENERAL MEETINGS ......................................................................................... 23 29. VACANCY ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ....................................................................................... 24 30. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING .............................................................................................................. 24 NSL HANDBOOK – AS ADOPTED ON 15 NOVEMBER 2016 3 Document last saved: 19/12/2016 31. QUADRENNIAL GENERAL MEETING ................................................................................................... 26 32. BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETINGS ................................................................................................... 28 33. QUORUM AT GENERAL MEETINGS ..................................................................................................... 28 34. QUORUM AT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ............................................................................. 29 35. QUORUM AT STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS ............................................................................. 29 36. QUORUM AT SUB-COMMITTEES ........................................................................................................ 29 37. AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION AND RULES ................................................................................... 29 38. BOOKS AND REGISTERS ...................................................................................................................... 30 39. COMPETITIONS ................................................................................................................................... 30 40. VALIDITY OF ACTS ............................................................................................................................... 30 41. DISSOLUTION ...................................................................................................................................... 31 42. TRUSTEES ............................................................................................................................................ 31 43. INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF ARTICLES AND RULES ........................................................ 31 44. CODE OF ETHICS ................................................................................................................................. 32 45. GENERAL ............................................................................................................................................. 32 RULES 1. SCOPE OF APPLICATION: SUBSTANTIVE LAW ..................................................................................... 34 2. SCOPE OF APPLICATION: NATURAL AND LEGAL PERSONS ................................................................. 34 CHAPTER 1: STRUCTURE AND PARTICIPATION ......................................................................................... 34 3. COMPOSITION .................................................................................................................................... 34 4. LEAGUE STRUCTURE ........................................................................................................................... 34 5. PARTICIPATION AND ENTRY ............................................................................................................... 34 6. TROPHIES AND AWARDS .................................................................................................................... 35 7. PROMOTION AND RELEGATION ......................................................................................................... 35 8. TECHNICAL RULES ............................................................................................................................... 36 9. DATES AND VENUES OF MATCHES ..................................................................................................... 37 10. PLAYERS SELECTED FOR REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES ........................................................................ 38 11. MATCHES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE GAME ............................................................. 38 12. MEMBER CLUB OFFICIALS WITHIN THE PERIMETER DEMARCATION ................................................ 38 13. DURATION OF MATCHES .................................................................................................................... 38 14. GROUNDS, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES ............................................................................................. 39 15. ARRIVAL AT THE GROUND .................................................................................................................. 42 16. TEAM SHEETS ..................................................................................................................................... 42 NSL HANDBOOK – AS ADOPTED ON 15 NOVEMBER 2016 4 Document last saved: 19/12/2016 17. COLOURS AND NUMBERS OF TEAM OUTFITS .................................................................................... 43 18. COMPLIANCE MANUAL AND DIRECTIVES ........................................................................................... 44 19. CLUB LICENSING REGULATIONS ......................................................................................................... 44 20. MATCH OFFICIALS............................................................................................................................... 45 21. MATCH COMMISSIONERS .................................................................................................................