LK Cup Rules: 7-a-side

MANAGEMENT OF THE TOURNAMENT

The Tournament shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association. Matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as settled by the International Football Association Board. The tournament will take place on Saturday 28 July, with the Semi- finals & Finals on Sunday 29 July 2012.

ELIGIBLE CLUBS

The tournament shall be open to all affiliated Clubs that are approved by their County and National football Association. Each team shall consist of a maximum of 12 persons.

PLAYER'S QUALIFICATIONS

The Tournament shall be divided into the following age groups: Girls G3 & G4.

All games will be 7-a-side.

The age qualification shall be divided by a date that is 1st September (dispensation will be given to Countries that operate on the January - December age bracket).

All players shall play for one club only.

AGE GROUPS

The tournament will contain the following age categories:

G3: Born on or after 1st September 2000

G4: Born on or after 1st September 2002

Players must play with and against players only from their own age range within a two-year age band. Players will not be allowed to begin to play until the Season of their 7th birthday.

REGISTRATION

Pre-Tournament Registration

Prior to the start of the tournament, each team shall produce a list of players eligible to participate together with their dates of birth. Each team may register up to 12 players. Players cannot register for more than one team in the competition. This ruling also prevents players playing in more than one age group. Players cannot be registered after the start of the competition.

Pre-Match Registration

Teams need to register prior to their matches with the Tournament Office.

For any one match up to 12 players may be used with unlimited roll on roll off substitutes.

The referee shall be responsible for returning the match sheet and notifying the results service of the result of each game at the conclusion of each game.

DRESS / COLOURS

Players must wear shin guards.

Players shall be dressed in uniform shirts and shorts but the goalkeeper's dress must distinguish her from the other players.

Each team shall register its first and second choice colours at least 14 days prior to the commencement of the Tournament.

In the event of a clash of colours the second named team shall change.

THE BALL

A size 4 match ball will be used for all games.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The Tournament will be played on a league basis in the first stage with the teams divided into groups of 4. Each team shall play one match against each other team in its group.

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

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

(a) goal difference

(b) number of goals scored

(c) the result of the match between the two clubs

(d) if the match between both clubs resulted in a score draw then the team scoring first will progress

(e) if the match resulted in a no-score draw the team to progress will be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark

The knockout competition shall comprise of teams finishing in the two highest places) in their group for the Cup & the teams finishing in the bottom two places for the Plate.

Back passes are permitted at all age groups. Furthermore, the goal keeper is permitted to kick the ball from his / her hands upon receiving it in open play.

RECOGNITION OF FAIR PLAY

All teams must take part in the Tournaments fair play directive, whereby teams will parade onto the centre of the pitch before each game exchanging handshakes in acknowledgement of fair play.

DURATION OF MATCHES

All matches shall consist of two periods of 20 minutes each way.

Half time will consist of 5 minutes for all age groups.

If the scores of a semi-final or final are level, then the match shall be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty spot under FIFA laws.

SUBSTITUTES

For any one match up to 12 players may be registered with unlimited roll on roll off substitutes. Entry onto the field of play will only be allowed during a stoppage in play. A player who has been replaced may return to the playing area as a substitute for another player.

REPORTING RESULTS

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

MATCH OFFICIALS

Liverpool County FA will appoint registered referees. Each game will have a referee.

PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

All questions of eligibility, qualification of players or interpretation of rules shall be referred to the Liverpool County FA disciplinary committee. The disciplinary committee will not accept any complaints or objections relative to the dimensions of the pitch or other appurtenances unless an official protest is lodged with the match referee before the start of the match. All protests and complaints relative to a particular match in the tournament shall be made in writing to the Liverpool County FA disciplinary committee within 15 minutes of the end of the match.

The Liverpool County FA disciplinary committee will not accept complaints made in relation to decisions taken by a referee in a match. Comments, complaints and compliments should be made using the official sheet from the results service and returned, marked for the attention of the Tournament Director.

TROPHIES

All players will receive a certificate of participation.

The following trophies / awards will be made to the winners / runners-up:

RULES BINDING

The rules of the tournament are binding on the teams taking part.

MISCONDUCT

A player who is sent off the field of play (red card) shall be suspended for one match in the tournament

All cases of misconduct on the field of play will be reported immediately by the referee to the Liverpool County FA disciplinary 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 Liverpool County FA disciplinary committee and to the appropriate County / National Association.

The Liverpool County FA disciplinary committee are entitled to take appropriate disciplinary action.

COSTS AND INSURANCE

The Tournament is insured for public liability through its administrators. Each participating team will be responsible for taking out adequate insurance cover for those persons attending the tournament as players, officials or spectators.