Please note: In compliance of FA rules. No under 7 or 8 can play in knock out cup competitions i.e no semi finals, finals or penalty shoot outs, only round-robin type leagues. This includes end of season tournaments such as this tournament.
Under 7 and 8 maximum playing time of 40 minutes to be played.
Under 9 and 10 a maximum playing time of 60 minutes to be played.
1. Except where these rules differ, the laws of mini soccer will apply.
2. Players must not exceed their age group at midnight on 31st August 2009. Random checks of player’s age may be made during the tournament. Any team found to be playing an over aged player will be disqualified.
3. Each team manager must provide the organiser with the names and dates of birth of all their players on the team sheet provided.
4. Each team may start the game with 6 players and 2 players may act as substitutes in act games.
5. Managers are responsible for their players and supporters conduct and behavior on and off the pitch.
6. Any player sent off for what the referee deems to be violent conduct will be banned from the remainder of the tournament. Players sent off for other offences will be banned from the next game only.
7. All teams should be ready for their next match and adjacent to the pitch before the end of the previous game.
8. Before each game the referee will carry out a "coin toss" between the two respective captains, the winners having choice of ends for the match.
9. The second named team will be required to change shirts should the colours clash.
10. No player may play for more than one team in the same age group.
11. All players must wear shin pads and remove all jewellery, they cannot compete otherwise.
12. Each league game will be 8 or 10 minutes straight through, with time added on as necessary. There will be no halftime. All games will start and finish on the sounding of a klaxon and all pitches will start at the same time.
13. In the event of a significant stoppage in play, such as that caused by an injury, the referee will restart the game after the final klaxon for a period of added time. In these circumstances the referee will inform both teams about the amount of added time before restarting the game with a drop ball on the centre spot. The game will then end on the referee's whistle in the usual way. Whether or not there will be added time and how long it will be is at the discretion of the referee whose decision will be final.
14. All teams may make up to 2 substitutions during a match with the exception of the goalkeepers who may only be substituted in the event of an injury.
15. The decision of the referee will be final on all matters related to the conduct and outcome of the match.
16. There will be 3 points awarded for a win and 1 point for a draw.
17. The U7'S and U8's competition will consist of 2 leagues. Each team will play every other team in their particular league. All teams taking part in the U7’S and U8's section of the tournament will be invited to a presentation ceremony where every player will be presented with a commemorative medallion.
18. For all other age groups each team will play every other in their particular league. Depending on the number of leagues and teams, those that finish top and runners-up of each league will progress to the knockout stages of the competition. The actual knockout structure for each age group will be shown in the tournament programme.
19. Should a team not turn up on the day, then all other teams in that league will be awarded a 2-0 victory against that team.
20. All semi-finals and finals will be 8, 10 or 12 minutes straight through, with time added as necessary. There will be no halftimes. In the event of a draw there will be a 3 minute period of extra time, followed by penalties, if required. Penalty shoot—outs will involve each team taking 5 penalties each with the winners being the team that scores the most. If, however the scores remain level after 5 penalties each the shoot-out will become sudden death. Only those players on the pitch at the end of extra time will be allowed to take part in the penalty shoot—out.
21. In the event of a sudden death shoot-out the managers may rearrange the order of his penalty takers with all players left on the pitch at the end of extra time being available including those who have already taken one of the first 5 penalties. All players left on the pitch must take a penalty before the first player goes again.
22. In the event of a penalty shoot-out, only the players, one manager and the referee are permitted on the pitch.
23. The goalkeeping area will extend the full width of the pitch. Outfield players are allowed in this area. This area will be treated as the penalty area with appropriate infringements by the defending team inside this area being punished with a penalty.
24. Goalkeepers are permitted to leave the goal area provided they do not use their hands. Use of the hands by the goalkeeper outside his/ her area will result in a direct free kick.
25. Goalkeepers are NOT allowed to handle the ball from a deliberate back pass. If a goalkeeper is deemed to have handled a deliberate back pass the referee will award an indirect free kick from the edge of the penalty area.
26. All free kicks for offences outside the penalty area will be direct. At free kicks all defending players must be 5 yards from the ball.
27. U7'S, U8‘s, U9'S and U10's will take goal kicks from the front edge of the goalkeeping area, all other age groups will take their goal kicks from the goal line.
28. U11'S, U12'S goalkeepers are not allowed to kick the ball out of their hands. Once the goalkeeper has handled the ball he/ she must throw or roll the ball out. Infringements of this rule will result in an indirect f1·ee kick from the edge of the penalty area.
29. Comer kicks and throw-ins will be taken as usual. There will be no offside.
30. All matches will commence with a drop ball at the centre spot and be restarted with a centre kick to the conceding team after every goal.
31.Where teams are equal on points in their respective leagues the places will be decided by goal difference in the first instance, followed by goals scored and finally the result between the 2 relevant teams. If teams can still not be separated a 3 player penalty shoot-out will take place with each team taking 3 penalties each with the winner being the team that scores the most. If still level after 3 penalties each a sudden death situation will begin involving the 3 selected players. The 3 penalty takers may be chosen from the whole squad and do not have to include the goalkeeper.
