1.  Each squad will consist of six players and up to four substitutes.  All substitutes may be used at any time during the game on a roll on – roll off basis. The treatment of injuries is at the discretion of the referee with highest priority being given to player safety.

2.  Each age section will be split into groups of teams who will play each other on a league basis, please see individual league and age group pages for the number of games to be played in each league situation.

3.  Points will be awarded on the following basis:

3 points for a win.  1 point for a draw.  0 points for a loss

4.  If teams are equal on points then the team with the better goal difference will qualify.

5.  If the teams are equal on goal difference then the team with the highest number of goals scored will qualify.

6.  If the teams are equal on goals scored the teams will take part in a penalty shoot-out with each player taking one penalty (6 per team). If the teams are still tied after 6 penalties then sudden death will apply.

7.  Knockout stages, if applicable, are detailed on each Age Group page.  Quarter finals will be played in all leagues where numbers permit. Otherwise semi-finals will be the first round after the league stage.  Boys Under 14 and Girls Under10/11 and 12/13 are straight league competitions, with no knockout stages.

8.  League games will be a minimum of 7 minutes long with no half-time.  To ensure that all teams in the same age group have the same game time, match length may vary between leagues within an age group.  All quarter finals will be 8 minutes long with no half-time. All semi-finals will be 10 minutes long with no half time. All finals will be 12 minutes long – with half time.

9.  If the result of the quarter final, semi-final or final is a draw at full time a period of 3 minutes of extra time will be played. If the game is still tied the teams will take part in a penalty shoot-out with each player taking one penalty (6 per team). Only players on the field of play after extra time can take part in the penalty shoot-out. If the teams are still tied after 6 penalties then sudden death will apply.

10. There will be no off-side in all age groups U7 to U15.

11. All goal kicks are to be taken from the goal line (back line) for U9 – U15. Goal kicks for age groups U7-U8 are to be taken from the front penalty area line.   U7-U10 must observe the retreat line (Halfway line) when goal kicks are being taken.

12. No drop kicks or kicks from hand are allowed – goal keepers must roll the ball out underarm. The opposing team are awarded an indirect fee kick in the event of such a kick or over arm throw.  Age groups U7-U8 are allowed to kick from hand without penalty and they may throw the ball out over or under arm.

13. Back passes are not allowed to be picked up by goalkeepers. Age groups U7-U8 goalkeepers are allowed to pick up back passes.

14. All age groups will take regular overhead throw-ins if the ball goes out of play.

15. In the event of a colour clash the first named team will change. Please bring bibs for this purpose.

16. The first named team is to supply a match ball. Size 3 for the U7s, U8s and U9s and a size 4 ball for all U10s, U11s, U12s, U13s and U14s and size 5 for U15s .

17. A player cautioned by the referee will automatically be ineligible for the team’s next game.

18. A player sent off by the referee will take no further part in the competition. No substitute will be allowed for the player sent off during the game in which the offence took place.

19. The manager of the winning team, or in the event of a draw the first named team, will take the result form to the Control Point immediately at the end of the match.  Scores for U7 and U8 matches are not recorded, and should not be taken to the control point.

20. Any disputes will be decided by the tournament committee whose decision will be final on the day.

21. Any rules not covered in the above will be as the Laws of Association Football.

22. For the U7 and U8 age groups only the Tournament will be based on the FA Guidelines for Mini-Soccer and as such will be played on a non-competitive round robin basis.

23. Managers are advised that the FA stipulates that players of the U7 and U8 age group should not play more than 60 minutes in one day in all tournaments, and for U9 and U10 age groups 90 minutes, and that substitutions/replacements should be arranged to ensure this limit is not exceeded. It is the responsibility of each team manager to ensure that any player in their team does not exceed these time limits.