THE LIVERPOOL-KNOWSLEY MINI CUP
RULES AND PROCEDURES
Name of Tournament: The Liverpool - Knowsley Mini Cup.
Tournament Organiser: Knowsley MBC and Liverpool CC
Tournament Director: Dave Mercer
Tournament Manager: Eddy Jennings
Tournament Address: Tournament Office, PO Box 22, Municipal Buildings,
Archway Road, Huyton, Knowsley, Merseyside, L36 9YX.
Tel: 0151 443 2154
Fax: 0151 443 2157
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 26th July, Sunday 27th July and the Semi finals & Finals will take place on 3rd August 2008.
ELIGIBLE CLUBS AND ENTRY FEE
The tournament shall be open to all affiliated Clubs that are approved by their County and National football Association. Each club shall consist of a maximum of 12 persons. Entry to the tournament will be confirmed on payment of the appropriate entry fee.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND POWERS
A Management Committee shall be appointed to organise the Tournament consisting of: Councillor Eddie Connor: Cabinet Member (Leisure, Community and Culture) Knowsley MBC, Councillor Warren Bradley: Leader of Liverpool City Council, Mr David Mercer: Tournament Director, Leisure and Community Services Department, Knowsley MBC, Richard Johnson, Sport and Recreation Development Manager, Liverpool City Council. The Management Committee shall have the power to apply, act upon and enforce the rules of the tournament and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the tournament, including any matters not provided for by the rules. The Management Committee shall adjudicate in cases of dispute, protest or complaint excluding those of a football nature. All complaints of a football nature will be handled and resolved by a disciplinary panel appointed by Liverpool County Football Association. Other members may be co-opted if required.
PLAYER’S QUALIFICATIONS
The Tournament shall be divided into the following age groups: Under 7, 8, 9, 10, and Under 10 girls. All games will be 7-a-side. The age qualification shall be divided by a date that is 31st August. All players shall be bona fide members of their club and shall play for one club only.
AGE GROUPS
The tournament will contain the following age categories:
Under 7 Born on or after 31st August 2000
Under 8 Born on or after 31st August 1999
Under 9 Born on or after 31st August 1998
Under 10 Born on or after 31st August 1997
Players must play with and against players only from their own age range within a two-year age band (under Rule C4 (vi)). 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 do not need to register prior to their matches. 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 result’s service of the result of each game at the conclusion of each game.
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.
COLOURS
Players must wear shin guards. Players shall be dressed in uniform shirts and shorts but the goalkeeper’s dress must distinguish him 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 (in the draw) shall change.
THE BALL
Under 7 and Under 8 age groups will use a size 3 match ball. Under 9 and Under 10 age groups will use a size 4 match ball.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The Tournament will be played on a league basis in the first stage with the teams divided into groups of 5. Each team shall play one match against each other team in its group ie two games per day.
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)by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark
(e)the toss of a coin
The knockout competition shall comprise of teams finishing in the highest place(s) in their group(s).
Back passes are permitted at all age groups. Furthermore, the goal keeper is permitted to kick the ball from his 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 exchanging handshakes in acknowledgement of fair play.
DURATION OF MATCHES
All matches shall consist of two periods of 15 minutes each way. Extra time will consist of 5 minutes each way. Half time will consist of 5 minutes for all age groups.
If, after extra time has been played in any match and the scores are still level, 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 into 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 and assistant referees. Match Officials will be paid an agreed fee for refereeing.
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 participation medal.
The following trophies/awards will be made to the winners/runners-up:
- Championship trophy and gold medals (12)
- Runners-up trophy and silver medals (12)
- 3rd Place bronze medals (12)
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. A player who receives two cautions (yellow 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 Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Each participating team will be responsible for taking out adequate insurance cover for those persons attending the tournament as players, officials or spectators.
