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 in the tournament app or on the tournament website for the number of games to be played in each league situation.

3.  Team Managers/Coaches must ensure their team is ready and waiting at the pitch side to start each scheduled game at the allotted time.  Where a team fails to arrive and be ready to start the game within 5 mins of the scheduled time a 1-0 win will automatically be awarded to the opposition team other than in the instance of exceptional circumstances accepted by a tournament official or significant overrunning (greater than 5 mins) of the prior game on the pitch to be played on.

4.  Points will be awarded on the following basis:

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

5.  In the event of a team “no show” on the day of the tournament that team is due to play they will be recorded as such and a 1-0 win (3 points) awarded to the opposition for each of games scheduled to be played.

6.  Other than at the discretion of the tournament official scheduling the games that it can be otherwise accommodated, where a team withdraws in advance of the tournament but less than one week before the first day, then the team shall be marked as a LATE WITHDRAWAL and a 1-0 win (3 points) awarded to the opposition for each of the games the withdraw team was due to play in.

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

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

9.  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.

10.  Knockout stages, if applicable, are detailed for each Age Group within the tournament app and tournament website.  Quarter finals will be played in all leagues where numbers permit. Otherwise semi-finals will be the first round after the league stage.  

11.  Leagues will be a minimum of 7 minutes long with no half-time.  To ensure that all teams in the same age group have as, as closely as possible, the same amount of total game time, match length may vary between leagues within an age group.  For age groups where there is a finals stage, there will be no half-time for quarter finals or semi-finals.  Finals DO include a short half-time of no more than 3 minutes.

12.  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.

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

14. 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.

15. 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.

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

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

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

19. The first named team is to supply a match ball. Size 3 for the U7s, U8s, U9s, and u10s, and a size 4 ball for all U11s, U12s, U13s and U14s, and size 5 for U15s .

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

21. 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.

22. The manager of the winning team (or someone associated with their team that they delegate), or in the event of a draw the first named team, shall submit the game result in the Tournament App (which they must access using the web link provided to them in advance of the Tournament).  In the event of any disagreement with the submitted result this must be reported to the Control Point who will obtain the result from the referee whose recorded result will be considered final and correct.

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

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

25. For the U7 and U8 age groups only the Tournament will be based on the FA Guidelines for Mini-Soccer with participation medals awarded to all players.  This however does not preclude the recording of scores, displaying these in the Tournament App, and potential usage of ranking within League tables to set the fixtures for a later phase (where there is one) for the purpose of more evenly matching teams by capability in that subsequent phase for their greater enjoyment. 

26. 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,  for U11 and U12 120 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.