INFORMATION

No EJA or Academy 2024/25 season players will be allowed and any team found to break this rule will be asked to leave the tournament.

Ages as per the 2024/25 season which has recently ended.

1. All teams must register a maximum of 8 players either online (using the link on your confirmation email) or on the tournament registration form at the administration / scorer’s tent prior to the commencement of play. Only players who are registered prior to the commencement of play can take part in any of the tournament.

2. Both Astro trainers and moulded boots can be worn for the tournament. A decision will be made on the day if metal studs are permitted.

3. All players MUST wear shin pads covered by socks at all times.

4. Jewellery should be removed.

5. All matches are 10 minutes straight through – Subject to change on the day of the tournament.

6. All matches will be 5v5.

7. Substitutes will be roll on roll off with the referee’s permission when the ball is out of play.

8. Kick off at the start of the game and after a goal has been scored, opponents must be 5 yards away from the ball and in their own half of the field, the ball can be played backwards.

9. There is no offside.

10. All free kicks are direct. For all free kicks, opponents must be 3 yards from the ball. A free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the goalkeeper: 

    • (a) Takes more than 6 seconds to release the ball from his/her hands; 

    • (b) Touches the ball again with his/her hands after it has been released from his/her possession and has not touched any other player; 

    • (c) Touches the ball with his/her hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him/her by a team mate; 

    • (d)Touches the ball with his/her hands after he/she has received it directly from a throw in taken by a team mate.

11. Headers are not allowed in U7-U11 Mixed and U9-U12 Girls. An indirect free kick will be awarded. 

12. Goalkeepers can kick the ball out from the floor or they can distribute the ball by throwing underarm or over-arm. They cannot kick the ball out of their hands as a drop kick or a volley, if they do there’ll be asked to redistribute the ball.

13. The ball is in play when the GK places the ball on the floor. GK’s cannot score directly from a goal throw or a goal kick.

14. Normal throw-ins and corners apply for U10 – U14 for Mixed and Girls groups.

15. Dribble ins/pass ins will replace throw in’s for U7-U9 for Mixed and Girls groups. Corners still the same for this age.

16. U7 – U10 mixed and U9 & U11 Girls age groups to retreat to halfway line for goal kicks

17. There are no height restrictions.

18. The captain of the winning team (or manager) will return the match card to the scorer’s tent at the end of the match.

19. No player is allowed to play for more than one team in the same age group during the tournament. Disobeying this rule will result in disqualification of both teams from the tournament.

20. Any player sent off (red card) will not be allowed to take any further part in the tournament.

21. The referee’s decision is final.

22. Appeals will only be accepted from the registered team manager. All decisions made by the organising committee are final and are not open to appeal.

23. The Respect Codes of Conduct are to be adhered to by all officials, players and spectators of all clubs at all times. Any individual deemed to be in breach of this will be asked to leave the tournament.

24. All team managers to bring training bibs with them. If there is a kit clash the away drawn team will need to play with bibs.

25. 1st aid will be available on the day, though it is best practice if team managers bring their own 1st Aid.

26. All home drawn teams to provide the match ball

League Phase

Scoring is as follows: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss.

1. If 2 or more teams are level on points at the end of the league phase: the team with the better goal difference will progress to the knock out phase.

2. If the goal difference is identical: the team that scored the most goals will progress.

3. If both goal difference and goals scored are identical: the result of the game between the two teams will decide which team goes through, with the winner of that game progressing.

4. If there is still no outright winner: a penalty shootout will take place to decide which team progresses.

5. Winners of the group will play the runners up of the other group. 

3 Groups in a league:

If there are 3 groups with equal numbers in, the winners and R/up of each group will go through to the Quarterfinals accompanied by the 2 best placed 3rd team. We will then follow the league phase process for determining who qualifies should points be equal.

If there is only 1 group:  1st will play 4th and 2nd will play 3rd.

Knock-Out Phase

1. If the game finishes in a draw: 5 minutes of extra time will be played straight through.

2. If after 5 minutes of extra time the scores are level: a penalty shootout will decide the match.

Penalty Shoot Outs

1. The referee chooses the goal at which the kicks will be taken.

2. The referee tosses a coin and the team whose captain wins the toss gets to choose whether to take the first or second kick.

3. Only active players on the pitch at the end of play are allowed to take penalties. Where a player has been sent off during the game the opposing team must reduce the number of players to equalise participants in each team.

4. There will be 5 penalties each, taken alternately.

5. If the scores are still level after five kicks each, then sudden death penalties apply. Players will take one penalty each (in the same order as the first five kicks) until one team wins.

6. Any eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper.

7. Only eligible players and the referee are permitted to remain on the pitch when penalty kicks are taken.

8. All players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers must remain in the opposite half to that where the kicks are being taken.

Please Remember
These are children
This is a game
The coaches are volunteers
The referees are human
Enjoy yourselves it’s supposed to be FUN!

Subject to change