1. Age Groups

Saturday 12th June
Under 8 - players aged under 8 at 31st August 2009
Under 10 - players aged under 10 at 31st August 2009
Under 12 - players aged under 12 at 31st August 2009
Under 14 - players aged under 14 at 31st August 2009

Sunday 13th June
Under 9 - players aged under 9 at 31st August 2009
Under 11 - players aged under 11 at 31st August 2009
Under 13 - players aged under 13 at 31st August 2009
Under 15 - players aged under 15 at 31st August 2009

2. A Tournament Team consisting of officials and members of Brockham Badgers FC shall be appointed to organise the competition. The Tournament Team shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the competition, including any not provided for in these rules.

3. The competition will be sanctioned by the Surrey County Football Association.

4. All clubs participating in the competition must be affiliated to an FA County Association. No team may enter the competition in the name of a club without the knowledge and full authority of that club.

5. A copy of these rules shall be given to all participating clubs and are binding on all clubs taking part.

6. Each manager shall lodge with the Tournament Team a list of up to eight players on the team sheet provided by 9.00am on the competition day. Any team failing to comply with this requirement may be disqualified from the competition. All players shall be bona fide members of their club and may only play for their nominated team during the competition.

7. All age groups will be played on a league basis in the first stage with teams divided into groups.  The Under 8 leagues shall be friendly competitions without scores or league positions being recorded or published.  Each team shall play all other teams in the same group once.  

For all age groups, other than Under 8, three points shall be awarded for a win and one point for a draw.  At the end of the first stage, in the event of two or more teams being equal on points, the team with the best goal difference shall take precedence.  In the event of a goal difference being equal, the team scoring most goals shall take precedence.  If still equal, results of the match between the teams shall determine the placings.  If this is a draw, results against the group winners will be considered on the same basis.  If still equal then placings will then be decided by penalty kicks, with five players being nominated to take the spot kicks.  If the result of the five penalty kicks is equal, then a “sudden death” penalty shoot-out shall conclude the result.  The top two teams from each group shall then proceed to the second stage knockout competition (quarter-final or semi-final depending upon age group).  If the result here is a draw, then extra time shall be played.  If the game is still a draw, the game will be decided by five penalty kicks, followed by a “sudden death” penalty shoot-out if still equal.  Further stages and the final shall be concluded in an identical manner.

8. A Match Official shall be appointed to each game and the Match Official’s decision on all points of play will be final.

9. All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretation of the rules shall be referred to the Tournament Team by a club official, but no objection to the dimensions of the playing area or other appurtenances thereon shall be entertained by the Tournament Team.

10. At the end of each game, the Match Official shall hand the result card into the Competition Centre (with the exception of Under 8 groups).

11. The Laws of Association Football, Small Sided Football and the Laws of Mini Soccer as published by the Football Association shall apply, with the following clarifications and exceptions:

a) The dimensions of the playing surface will vary from group to group but will wherever possible comply with the laws for small-sided football as recommended by the FA.

b) A size 4 ball shall be used for the U8 to U14 age groups inclusive; a size 5 ball shall be used for the U15 age group. Match balls shall be provided.

c) Each team may nominate eight players. Only those eight players will be allowed to take part throughout the competition. Six players from these eight will form a team for each match.

d) Unlimited “rolling” substitutions may be made, with the player leaving the field of play becoming a substitute. Substitutions can only be made during a stoppage in play and only with the permission of the Match Official.

e) In the event of a colour clash the second named (away) team shall change strip (wear bibs). Bibs must therefore be brought by all competing teams.

f) Play shall start from a kick off at the beginning of each half and after a goal is scored.

g) Duration of play:
Group games: 7 minutes each way.
Qtr/Semi Finals: 7 minutes each way. 2 minutes extra time each way if required.
Finals: 7 minutes each way. 2 minutes extra time each way if required
There shall be no half time interval except at the discretion of the referee.

h) Goal kicks shall be taken from the edge of the penalty box for U8 to U11 inclusive.

i) Goal kicks shall be taken from the goal line for U12 (including U11/U12 Girls) to U16 inclusive.

j) When a free kick is awarded, opposition players must be a minimum of 3 metres from the ball.

k) All free kicks are direct with exception of rule 11o) and 11p) and unless play is stopped for an off the ball incident or injury, in which case an indirect free kick will be awarded to the team holding advantage.

l) Any player sent off the field of play, or reported by the Match Official for misconduct before or after a match, will not be allowed to take any further part in the competition. All cases of misconduct shall be reported and dealt with by the Surrey County FA.

m) Any player or spectator reported for violent or abusive behavior or unacceptable language on or off the field of play will be dismissed from the premises of the competition and will risk the disqualification from the rest of the competition for the team they represent.

n) There will be no off side rule.

o) For age groupsU8 to U11 inclusive goalkeepers may pick up direct back passes but the goalkeeper may not drop kick the ball from his hands. The punishment for infringement of this law shall be the award of an indirect free kick to the opposing team at the position of the infringement.

p) For age groups U12 (including U11/U12 Girls) to U16 inclusive goalkeepers may not pick up direct back passes and the goalkeeper may not drop kick the ball from his hands. The punishment for infringement of this law shall be the award of an indirect free kick to the opposing team at the position of the infringement.

12. The competition organisers reserve the right to amend the starting times from those published.

13. The Tournament Team do not accept any responsibility whatsoever for the safekeeping of players’, team officials’, or spectators’ personal property nor any liability for injury sustained prior to, during or after the competition.

14. Any appeal against a decision of the Tournament Team must be made in duplicate to the Surrey County Football Association within fourteen days of the date of the competition and accompanied by the appeal fee required at that time.