PREMIER LEAGUE

GAMES PROGRAMME
132. Save for any matches played abroad pursuant to Rule 135, the games programme for Category
1 Clubs referred to in Rule 131 shall:
132.1. for Season 2012/13, be constituted on a national basis (and the League shall have the power
to determine that a match between two teams who are geographically distant from each
other may be played at a neutral venue located at a reasonably equal distance from both)
unless a majority of those Clubs (and Football League clubs) who have by 31 March 2012
applied for licences to operate Category 1 Academies determine by no later than 31 May
2012 that it shall be constituted on a regional basis (as that term is defined in Rule 133); and
132.2. for subsequent Seasons, be constituted either on a national basis or, if a majority of those
Clubs (and Football League clubs) which operate Category 1 Academies so determine by no
later than 31 March in the preceding Season, on a regional basis (as that term is defined in
Rule 133; and
132.3. be competitive but whose results shall not be given any particular competitive significance
between Academies (for example, no league table or the like shall be produced).
133. The games programme for Category 2 Clubs referred to in Rule 131 shall be organised on a
regional basis, that is to say so that as far as reasonably possible no team has to travel more
than two hours to an away match (save that longer travel times may be necessary in order
that each Club can participate meaningfully in the games programme).
134. Matches in the games programmes for Category 1 and Category 2 Clubs referred to in Rule 131
shall, unless the Board otherwise permits, be played on Saturdays and arranged so that as far
as possible a Club’s fixtures in it mirror those of its teams in the Professional Development
Phase Games Programme.
135. As part of the Youth Development Phase Games Programme, the League shall organise matches
(which may be organised as Tournaments) against teams from clubs in membership of a national
association other than the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales. Such
matches shall be organised regularly for Clubs operating Category 1 Academies and from time to
time for Clubs operating Category 2 Academies.
136. The Football League shall organise a games programme for teams consisting of players in the
Under 15 and Under 16 age groups of Clubs operating Category 3 Academies, to be played on
a regional basis so that as far as reasonably possible no team has to travel more than two hours
to an away match (save that longer travel times may be necessary in order that each Club can
participate meaningfully in the games programme).
137. Matches played pursuant to Rules 131 to 136 shall, when played outdoors, be played in
accordance with the following format:
Age
group
Under 15 &
Under 16
Team
size
Pitch size
(yards)
Goal size
(feet)
11v11 110x70 24x8 5
Ball size
138. Each Club which operates a Category 1, Category 2 or Category 3 Academy:
138.1. must participate fully in the Youth Development Phase Games Programme; and
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YOUTH DEVELOPMENT RULES