Mini 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 21 July and Sunday 22 July 2012.

ELIGIBLE CLUBS

The tournament shall be open to all affiliated Clubs that are approved by their County and National football Association.

PLAYER'S QUALIFICATIONS / AGE GROUPS

The Tournament shall be divided into the following age categories:
B8: Players born on or after 1st September 2002
B9: Players born on or after 1st September 2003
B10: Players born on or after 1st September 2004
B11: Players born on or after 1st September 2005
All players shall play for one team only.
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 at the Tournament Office no later than 45 minutes prior to their matches. A team official must supply the Tournament Office with an official registration form duly completed.

CATEGORY A or B PLAYERS

Players registered as category A or B players at the Youth Academy or Centre of Excellence of professional clubs will be ineligible to play in the competition at Under 9 or Under 10. This ruling does not apply to the Under 7 and Under 8 age groups.

UNIFORM / COLOURS

Players must wear shin guards.

Players shall be dressed in uniform shirts and shorts but the goalkeeper's dress must distinguish him / 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

B10 and B11 Categories will use a size 3 match ball.
B8 and B9 Categories will use a size 4 match ball.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Categories B8 and B9

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; i.e. three games.

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

All teams will progress to a play-off place;
either for the cup (1st& 2ndplaced teams) or the plate (3rd& 4thplaced teams).

Winners will then progress to the finals.

Categories B10 and B11

These sections will be played in accordance with The FA ruling; i.e. no scores will be recorded by the organisers and teams will not be placed or awarded winners trophies etc.

All teams will attend a presentation at the end of the event and be presented with certificates and a memento to recognise their participation.

Teams will play in sections of five teams and play each other team once; i.e. two games each day.

A match schedule will be published on the website and this can be used by officials to record scores if they wish.

All Categories

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

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 Mini-cup players will receive a certificate of participation.

Categories B8 and B9

The following trophies / awards will be made to the winners / runners-up:
- Winners of the Cup Final - Championship Cup and Medals
- Runner Up of the Cup Final - Medals
- Winners of the Plate Final - Championship Plate and Medals
- Runner Up of the Plate Final - Medals

Categories B10 and B11

Each Team will receive a team memento in recognition of their participation.

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.