Introduction.
We are pleased to welcome all players, parents and supporters to our annual soccer festival football tournament.
It is our policy to provide a fun day of enjoyable football where teams can make new friends and acquaintances for the future. The wide area from which teams enter our competition and the sporting way in which the games are played makes this possible.
Each year we endeavour to improve our tournament by listening to comments and suggestions made by you before, during and after the event. We have again separated the age groups into half-day segments so that players are not left hanging around for long periods between games. There will be quarterfinals where appropriate in order to allow more teams to qualify for the knockout phase. We have also introduced an encroachment line, which we must ask for your compliance in giving the players and yourselves a safe environment to play. Can we also ask that your support for your teams be kept within reasonable levels of enthusiasm and volume? Please remember that over enthusiastic support can be seen by some players and spectators as threatening and we must respect the feelings of these individuals also. We remind all teams that the manager is held responsible for all players and supporters behaviour and any behaviour deemed unacceptable could result in team disqualification. Please RESPECT the match officials and opposition players and spectators.
NO DOGS WILL BE ALLOWED AT THE SCHOOL OR ON THE SCHOOL PLAYING FIELDS AS THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF THE SCHOOLS POLICY OF ANIMALS ON SCHOOL PLAYING AREAS, UNLESS THEY ARE BEING USED AS GUIDE DOGS?
We hope that you all enjoyed and benefited from the Website publications last year where all winners and Runners up photographs were displayed and ready for you to download and keep as treasured mementos.
The success of any festival such as this is the cooperation of all involved throughout the day in ensuring that all players and spectators clearly understand the rules of the event and the timely order of play.
As the tournament secretary I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in making this event a success over the years, especially to Brownhills Community Technology College and the Community Association for the use of their facilities, The Colts Management Committee, Players and particularly the Friends of Brownhills Community Colts FC for their generous help before, during and after the two day event.
May I wish you all an enjoyable day’s football and a safe journey to and from our competition.
Yours in Sport
Dave Fenton.
Planned Timetable of Events. ( These are target times and are liable to change)
Morning Session:
Registration: 0830 to 0945 Manager to register their team
Group matches: 1015 to 1130
Quarter Finals: 1200
Semi Finals: 1230
Finals: 1300
Afternoon Session:
Registration: 1200 to 1315 Manager to register their team
Group matches: 1330 to 1510
Quarter Finals: 1545
Semi Finals: 1615
Finals: 1645
Trophies will be awarded to the winners and Runners up in the U9 to 14 age groups and commemorative medals for all players in the non-competitive U7 & U8 age groups.
Refreshments will be available all day including, Burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, Drinks and sweets.
Administration Rules:
The competition shall be named the Brownhills Community Colts Soccer Festival and shall be governed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Football Association. Matches shall be played in general conformity with the laws for small-sided Mini Soccer games issued by the Football Association.
The competition will be open for teams in the age groups of Under 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 for boys, and Under10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 16 for girls. All teams must be affiliated to their local FA. The entry fee will be £25 per team, paid in advance.
A management committee comprising Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and others shall be appointed to organise the competition.
The management committee shall have the power 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 by the rules.
The qualifying age groups for the competition will be for the season 2008/ 2009.
Before taking part each team will produce on the form provided a list of players they wish to register for the competition, together with their date of birth. Proof of age, either by Birth certificate, passport or doctors card, OR CURRENT LEAGUE REGISTRATION CARD must be available for viewing in the event of being challenged on age. Any team found to playing ineligible players due to age will be immediately eliminated form the competition and their results expunged. No player will be allowed to play for more than one team in any age group. Teams found to be playing players from other teams, whether from their own club or another club will again be eliminated form the competition and all results expunged. It is the responsibility of team managers to ensure they do not play players from other teams.
The competitive competition will be started on a league basis with each team playing each other at least once. There will be three points for a win and one point for a draw. The top two teams from each group will qualify through to the quarterfinals. Winners will then go through to the semi-finals and finals. In the event of shortage of teams the Quarter / Semi finals may be omitted.
In the event of teams being level on points at the end of the league section then the team with the better goal difference will take precedence. In the event of the goal difference being equal then the team scoring the most goals will take precedence. If still equal the result between the two teams will decide on who takes precedence, and then if still equal a penalty shoot out will take place as per the knockout stage format.
If any team arrives too late to take part in the game allotted then that team will forfeit the game by a 2-0 score, unless caused by a major delay in their previous game outside their control.
Each team can make unlimited substitutions throughout each game using their maximum number of permitted substitute players.
The referee shall be responsible for notifying the score of each game via a score ticket, which will be handed to the winning manager to take to the scores room. In the event of a draw, the referee shall nominate a manager. These tickets MUST be returned to the score room immediately after the game. This enables the scoreboards to be kept as up to date as possible. Holding on to tickets can result in scoreboard problems later so be prompt with the tickets. (parents or players can return them as well as managers).
In the non-competitive age groups teams will play a minimum of 3 games against different teams. The games will be organised so no league tables can be created and winners identified.
The Competition organisers shall pay for referees.
All questions of eligibility, qualification of players or interpretation of rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.
The Rules of the Competition shall be binding on the teams taking part.
All cases of misconduct shall be reported to the parent County Association of the Club concerned.
Each team will be required to provide for each game a suitable match ball, which will be selected by the referee for the game.
In the event of a colour clash, the first named team will be required to change its strip, (all teams to bring a suitable change of kit or bibs).
Playing Rules:
Playing Area:
60m x 35m (approx).
A centre mark in the centre of the pitch, opponents must be at least 3 m radius from the ball on commencement or restart of play.
Goal Area:
20m x 10m (approx). Rules apply in this area as per the Laws of the association football.
Penalty Mark:
Penalty kicks will be taken from the Goal area line in the centre of the goal.
Goals:
The goals shall be 12’ wide and 6’ high.
The Ball:
The ball shall be size 3-regulation football for U7 & U8 Boys.
The ball shall be size 4-regulation football for U9, U10, U11, U12, U13 Boys & U10, and U12 Girls.
The ball shall be size 5-regulation football for U14 boys and U14 & 16 Girls.
Number of Players:
- Two teams shall play the match. Each squad will be as follows. 5 a side 8 players, 6 a side 9 players and 7 a side 10 players. No more than the allotted number of players will be on the field of play from each team at one time. One player from each team shall be a goalkeeper and his kit will be recognisable form all other outfield players of both teams.
- Unlimited substitutions are allowed provided the following rules are adhered to:
- No player coming on as sub may enter the field of play before the player being replaced has crossed the outline of the field of play.
- Players may come back to play the game after being substituted providing rule a, is adhered to.
- Any squad member may change places with the goalkeeper at an appropriate stoppage in play, providing the referee is notified and that he wears a kit that clearly distinguishes them from the outfield players.
- The team manager and assistant together with the substitutes and spectators shall stand behind the encroachment line. All spectators etc shall watch the games from the touchline at the SIDE OF THE PITCH. There will be an encroachment line drawn 1 meter from the edge of the pitch in a different line colour and no spectators, managers or substitutes will encroach over this line. NO spectators or managers will be allowed behind the Goal lines at each end of the pitches.
- No one other than the players and referee will be on the field of play during the game, unless agreed by the referee for the attention given to an injured player. The referee has the power to stop or abandon any game if players, officials or spectators persistently encroach over the encroachment line or onto the field of play
- A match should not be considered valid if the playing strength of either team is reduced by 2, from the allotted number ie. 5 a side down to 3. The fuller strength team will win the game by a score of 2-0.
- If any team is believed to be reducing its team numbers in order to gain an advantage for qualification of itself or any other team it shall be disqualified for the tournament immediately and its results be replaced by 2-0 scores.
- After any stoppage other than by a normal type of law infringement, a drop ball as per the ‘Laws of the Game’ shall restart the game.
Players Equipment:
Player’s footwear is optional but must conform to the FA safety requirements. Shin Pads MUST be worn by all players and be covered by socks at all times. Players must remove all jewellery that could injure themselves or others. No hard plaster casts are allowed for any player.
Referees:
A referee shall be appointed to officiate each game. He shall have the same powers and duties as laid down in the Laws of the Game. The referee shall act as timekeeper and scorer and signify half time and full time by the appropriate signal.
Duration of the games:
The duration of all games shall be 5 minutes each half for under 7,8 9 & 10 boys and 10 girls, and 8 minutes each half for other ages, with an immediate turnaround at half time. In the event of knockout games being level at full time a period of extra time of 3 mins each half will be played. During this period of play the Golden Goal rule will apply should a goal be scored (FIRST GOAL IS WINNING GOAL). If still level at the end of extra time penalties will be taken 3 for each side. If still level, sudden death penalties will be taken. All squad players will be included in the penalty shootout. Goalkeepers can be changed throughout after notification to the referee.
Ball in and out of play:
If the ball goes out of play over the goal line then a corner or goal kick is awarded. If the ball crosses the touchline then a throw in will be awarded. These restarts will be as outlined in the Laws of the Game.
Scoring:
Goals are scored when the whole of the ball crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar.
Offside:
There is no offside law in the Brownhills Soccer Festival. Players are permitted anywhere on the field of play.
Fouls and Misconduct:
Normal punishments as per the laws of the game apply. A player who is sent off for a straight red or 2 yellows in the same game shall not be allowed to take any further part in the tournament that day and no substitute is allowed to take their place during the course of the game in which the offence occurred. Any player who receives 3 separate bookings in different games throughout the tournament will automatically be suspended for the rest of the festivals duration after the game has finished.
Free Kicks:
When a player is taking a free kick, all of the opposing players shall be at least 3 m from the ball until it is played. All free kicks are DIRECT.
A player MAY NOT score direct from a kick off either at the start, halftime or after a goal has been scored.