NEHYL Newsletter Snapshot #17
November 2025
The clocks have gone back, Autumn is well and truly here, and the season underway – this is always a good time to provide updates on key issues that are being spotted during games across all age groups – as well as let you know more about what is happening in general. As ever, there is a wealth of information on our League website – so if you are ever unsure about anything around the league then this should be your go to first port of call.
Our last newsletter highlighted the Football Association announcing an updated set of measures to help improve behaviour and combat misconduct in grassroots football. These interventions are aimed at driving a positive culture across grassroots football and act as a clear deterrent against unacceptable behaviours. They also form part of the ‘Love Football. Protect The Game’ campaign to introduce enhanced measures and tougher sanctions so that everyone can enjoy the game in a positive and enjoyable environment.
So, why repeat that message?
Simply put, we are not seeing any uptick in behaviour at matches; in fact, it is getting worse.
Every single person reading this newsletter has a role in helping to stamp out misconduct of any kind at grassroots football matches. We will do all we can as a league – and some sanctions that we could reasonably take may not be popular, but they will be necessary. Likewise, Clubs have a role in acting before we need to as a league – and we will back you all the way in taking positive action to remove those exhibiting unacceptable behaviour from grassroots football – be that on the pitch; team coaches and managers; or spectators.
Silent Support Weekend
Keep it positive. Enjoy the game. And above all else, let the players enjoy their game.
Silent Support Weekend is on the 15th & 16th November and is all about positive support. Quiet encouragement and applause for good play are welcome. But everything else can have the weekend off.
During Silent Support Weekend, let’s all respect our players by giving them a space where they can all enjoy the game; and an opportunity for their voices to be heard. Silent Support Weekend is not optional – ALL NEHYL fixtures will embrace this initiative.
Read more
here.
FA FutureFit – U7 Football
NEHYL U7 Girls’ 3v3 festivals kick started on Sunday 5th October with Crookham Rovers kindly hosting the first two festivals and the FA Future Fit team providing new mini goals.
“High Fives” and “Rock Paper Scissors” start each game; and we are pleased to share that we are adding more teams at each Festival. This is proving a fantastic opportunity to understand the FutureFit for junior football – and we encourage all clubs to consider joining in the fun and, importantly, the learning around how 3x3 football is played. Feedback to date has been hugely positive. The next festival is Sunday 9th November and fortnightly thereafter; to find out more please contact girls@nehyl.org.uk.
Hampshire FA have confirmed they will be hosting a FutureFit coaching session for NEHYL team coaches, managers, and admins on the morning of Sunday 30th November. This will be open to anyone currently on the U7 girls 3v3 program; those thinking of joining the U7 girls this season; and, space permitting, those looking to learn more ahead of next season when all U7 teams (boys and girls) will be playing in the new FA FutureFit 3v3; again, to find out more please contact girls@nehyl.org.uk
Match Day Administration
As a reminder, the Match Day Admin Process is laid out clearly with everything you need to know
here.
Remember, you must exchange Match Day Team Sheets with your opposition. They must name your Manager & Coaches; and they must have players listed with their (unique) shirt numbers.
You MUST have your Photo Squad List with you for every match and let your opposition know that you have it – importantly, the manager and coaches can only stand with your team if they are on the Photo Squad List, complete with their photo.
Communication has recently gone to all Team and Club Officials around the Match Result Card (MRC). Both teams need to complete an MRC after every game and this needs to be done within 5 days of the match taking place. Charges are issued for late MRCs on a sliding scale of fines dependant on how many late MRCs that a particular team has had: 1st time = £10, 2nd time = £20 & any subsequent occurrences = £30. It is not for your Divisional Secretary to remind you – although many do take time out to do this. It is for you to make sure this happens on time - and accurately.
It is never acceptable to publish the scores of development fixtures (U7 to U11); and care should be taken if sharing match reports on Club Pages or across Social Media.
DBS, Safeguarding & Coaches
The League have had several questions from Clubs around safeguarding that we have worked with Hampshire FA to clarify. The following provides guidance for Clubs and Teams – whilst not mandatory, we should all be aiming to ‘do football’ to the highest standard with ‘good practice’ as a cornerstone benchmark.
Question 1:
If a coach has obtained the FA accepted DBS and completed Safeguarding and First Aid but have yet to complete an Introduction to Coaching course, are they able to take a team, or do they need to have someone present who has done the Intro to Coaching until the course is completed?
Answer 1:
The FA requirements for affiliation and Safeguarding are that an NEHYL coach must hold an in-date and accepted FA DBS and Safeguarding for Children qualification.
It’s not a requirement for a coach to hold First Aid and/or coaching qualifications; however, we do ask that at least one coach per team holds First Aid and is present at all training sessions/matches, and that at least one coach per team holds the introduction to football or higher as best practice.
Question 2:
A team only has one coach available with DBS & Safeguarding; can the fixture go ahead?
Answer 2:
Regarding the number of coaches per team, the best practice is that there are at least two coaches per team, and we ask that clubs try and maintain that as much as they can throughout the season. The FA document
here - provides guidance, and it is the Club's responsibility to follow this; we would expect that to be followed as much as possible by them, and that they understand their liability and responsibilities in following the guidance.
Kick-off Times, Venues & Referee Allocations
Can all managers and team admins take time to look at your home fixtures a couple of weeks out - and make sure you have updated your kick-off time and check the venue for the game is correct. If you aren’t sure how to do this there is a section on our very useful match admin page on our website here.
This will help not only your opposition but also the Referee Secretary when it comes to assigning a referee to your fixture. Referee allocations are also now easier to search to find out if you have an allocated referee
here. League allocated officials must be used unless communicated with the Referee Secretary to ensure they are qualified. A reminder of the referee process can be found
here.
Referees & Club Assistants
It is never acceptable for anyone to bawl or shout at a referee or an assistant referee. Ever. Full stop.
The league, our clubs and our referees really appreciate anyone who volunteers to step up as a Club Assistant on a matchday – as a reminder the basic instructions for of a club assistant are simply:
- To be to be positioned on the 'left back touchline' of their team, always keeping in line with the 2nd rearmost defender
- To assist the referee by indicating when the ball is out of play
- To assist the referee by indicating when play should be stopped, following an offside offence.
At all times, it is the referee who is in charge - It is important that the Club Assistant offers assistance to the referee in line with the instructions above but NOT interference to the referee.
Key Dates
All key dates can be found on the calendar here. Don't forget you can subscribe to the NEHYL google calendar dates and to reminders for submitting MRCs.
USEFUL LINKS
Match Admin | FAQ's | Dates | Texting Results | MRC's | Resources | News | Referees
Let us know what you think...
If you have any ideas of information you would like to see in these newsletters or on our website, please email web@nehyl.org.uk
