5.   Colours and Ball Sizes
       Players shall be dressed in uniform shirts and shorts but the goalkeeper’s dress must   distinguish him from the other players, and the referee.

Each Club shall register its first and second choice colours at least 56 days prior to the commencement of the Tournaments.

In the event of a clash of colours the second named Club (in the draw shall change).

Ball sizes will be size 3 for Under 7, 8, and size 4 for all other age groups, except Under 15’s where it will be size 5.

6.   Arrangement of Tournaments

The Tournaments will be played on a League basis in the first stage with the Clubs divided into groups of one or more. Each Club shall play one match against each other Club in its group.

In the event of one or more teams pulling out the tournament before 75% of their fixtures have been completed, then their records will be expunged. In the event of one or more teams pulling out of the tournament after 75% of their fixtures have been completed, then a 0-0 win be awarded to their remaining opponents.

Three points shall be awarded for a win and one point for a draw.

In the event of any Clubs being level on points for any knockout place in a group the final position shall be decided by:

(a) Goal difference

(b) Number of goals scored

(c) The result between the two clubs

(d) By taking the kicks from the penalty mark

The knockout competition shall comprise of Clubs finishing in the two highest places in their groups.

7.   Duration of Matches

All matches, apart from the Final, will have a duration as determined by the numbers of teams entered per age group, but will be no longer than 20 minutes each way (Under 7 / 8), 25 minutes each way ( Under 9 / 10 / 11 mini football ), 30 minutes each way ( Under 11 / 12 ), 35 minutes each way ( Under 13 / 14 ), 40 minutes each way ( Under 15 ).The final will be no longer than  25 minutes each way (Under 9 / 10 / 11 mini football ), 30 minutes each way ( Under 11 / 12 ), 35 minutes each  way ( Under 13 / 14 ), 40 minutes each way ( Under 15 ).

      The duration of the half-time interval shall be no more than 5 minutes at maximum in all matches.

      In the event of scores being level at the end of full time in the knock-out competition stages, the match shall be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark as follows:

Procedure

• The referee chooses the goal at which the kicks will be taken.
• The referee tosses a coin and the team whose captain wins the toss will go first.
• The referee keeps a record of the kicks being taken.
• Subject to the conditions explained below, both teams take five kicks.
• The kicks shall be taken alternately by the teams.
• If, before both teams have taken five kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could score even if it were to complete its five kicks, no more kicks are taken.
• If, after both teams have taken five kicks, both have scored the same number of goals, or have not scored any goals, kicks continue to be taken in the same order until one team has scored a goal more than the other from the same number of kicks.
• A goalkeeper who is injured while kicks are being taken from the penalty mark and is unable to continue as a goalkeeper may be replaced by a named substitute provided his team has not used the maximum number of substitutes permitted under the competition rules.
• With the exception of the foregoing case, only players who are on the field of play at the end of the match, which includes extra time where appropriate, are allowed to take kicks from the penalty mark.
• Each kick is taken by a different player, and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick.
• An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper at any time when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken.
• All players, except the player taking a kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain within the centre circle.
• The goalkeeper who is the teammate of the kicker must remain on the field of play, outside the penalty area in which the kicks are being taken, on the goal line where it meets the penalty area boundary line.
• Unless otherwise stated, the Laws of the Game, and the International F. A. Board Decisions apply when the kicks from the penalty mark are being taken.

8. Substitutes

Mini soccer 7 substitutes may be permitted at any time during a match. Five of the five nominated substitutes may be permitted at any time during a match. (Under 11 to Under 15’s, 11 a side)

“ A player who has been substituted during a match himself / herself becomes a substitute and may, in turn, replace another player at any time subject to the substitution being carried out in accordance with Law 3 of the Laws of Association Football.” ( Under 16 and below )

9.   Reporting Results

The match referee shall be responsible for notifying the Management Committee of the result of each match at its conclusion.

10. Match Officials

Registered Referees, and Assistant Referees where possible, shall be appointed by the Management Committee.

Referees will be paid a fee of £ 75.00 per day to include all expenses. A memento may be provided in lieu of a fee.

11. Protest and Complaints

All questions of eligibility, qualification of players or interpretation of Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee, but no objection relative to the dimensions of the pitch or other appurtenances shall be entertained by the Management Committee, unless a protest is lodged with the match referee before the commencement of the match.

All protests and complaints relative to particular matches in the Tournaments shall be made in writing to the Tournament Secretary within 60 minutes of the conclusion of the match.

No complaint in relation to decisions taken by a referee in a match shall be entertained.

12. Trophies

The following trophies / awards will be made to the winner / runners-up, and participants.

Winners:               Trophy to retain

Finalists:               Winners ( Gold medals ) / Runners-Up  ( Silver medal )

Participants:           Souvenir medals

Sportmanship:       Trophy per age group

13. Rules Binding

The Rules of the Tournaments are binding on the Clubs taking part.

14. Misconduct

All cases of misconduct on the field of play will be reported immediately by the referee to the Management Committee and to the appropriate County / National association.

Any misconduct by a player before or after a match, or by an official before, during or after a match, shall be reported to the Management Committee and to the appropriate County / National Association. The Management Committee shall be entitled to take appropriate disciplinary action.

15. Costs and Insurance

The Management Committee will be responsible for the payment of the following costs and insurance:

Referee’s fees, Ground Hires, Trophies, First Aid Cover, Presentation Evenings.

Each participating Club will be responsible for adequate insurance cover for those

persons attending the Tournaments.

The Football Association Rules

on mixed football are as follows:

Save for matches in a playing season in the age ranges Under 7, Under 8, Under 9, Under 10, and Under 11 ( as defined at Rule C )  players in a match must be of the same gender.

Activities carried out at a coaching centre or at a Centre of Excellence established and operated pursuant to Rule C4 and Regulations relating to Centres of Excellence shall not be deemed to be matches for the purpose of this rule.

The reason why mixed football is not allowed is that there is a difference in the physical strength and speed between men and women. Mixed football would lead to increased risk of both traumatic and non-traumatic injuries to women, and would discourage many women from participating.

The FA want to promote girls and womens’ football as a sport in its own right. Womens’ and girls football is the fastest growing sport in England and The Football Association has made large investments into the female game.