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

Email:                          enquiries@lksoccertournament.com

Web Address:                www.lksoccertournament.com

 

 

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 from Tuesday 29 July to Sunday 3 August 2008.

 

 

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 20 persons (with the exception of Under 12 girls - 12 persons). Entry to the tournament will be confirmed on payment of the appropriate entry fee.

 

 

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.

 

 

The Tournament shall be divided into the following age groups: Boys Under 16, 15, 14, 13, 12 and 11 (11-aside) Girls Open Age, Under 18 and Under 14 (11-aside) and Under 12 (7-aside). The age qualification shall be divided by a date that is 31^st August. All players shall be bona fide members of their club and shall play for one club only.

 

 

 

Prior to the start of the tournament, each team shall produce a list of players eligible to participate together with their dates of birth. The Tournament Office reserves the right to access player registrations at any time during the tournament. Please note that overseas visiting teams will use passports to accompany the eligible player list. Each team may register up to 20 players with the exception of the Under 12 Girls who can register 10 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.

 

Team colours and a squad list of no more than 20 eligible players must be lodged for registration at the results service at least 30 minutes prior to each game. For any one match up to 20 players may be registered and up to five substitutes may be used at any one time during the match. 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.

 

 

Professional footballers are not permitted to participate in the tournament. Players registered as category A or B players at the Youth Academy or Centre of Excellence of professional clubs will also be ineligible to play in the tournament. This ruling applies to all age groups within the tournament with the exception of Under 7 and Under 8 age groups.

 

 

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 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)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).

 

 

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.

 

A technical area of size 10 metres by 1 metre will be marked inside the roped boundary on the touchline of each pitch. Only two designated officials from each team will be allowed in the technical area. All other officials, players and spectators will be expected to keep behind the roped boundary.

 

In the under 16 section play will consist 40 minutes each way. Extra time will consist of 10 minutes each way.

 

In the under 15,14,13,12 sections play will consist of 35 minutes each way. Extra time will consist of 10 minutes each way.

 

In the under 11 section play will consist of 30 minutes each way. Extra time will consist of 5 minutes each way.

 

Open Age Girls will play 25 minutes each way. Under 18 Girls will play 20 minutes each way Extra time will consist of 10 minutes each way in both age groups. 

 

Under 12 Girls will play 20 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.

 

 

 

Five substitutes (from the pre-registered tournament squad) may be permitted at any time during a match. A player who has been substituted may be reintroduced with permission from the referee during any stoppages in play.

 

 

 

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

 

 

Liverpool County FA will appoint registered referees and assistant referees. Match Officials will be paid an agreed fee per match.

 

 

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.

 

All players will receive a participation medal.

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

 

- Championship trophy and gold medals (20)

- Runners-up trophy and silver medals (20)

- 3^rd Place bronze medals (20)

 

Each age group will have the following award sections:

 

- Fair Play Award

- Leading goal scorer

- Player of the tournament

 

 

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

 

 

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.

 

 

The competition is open to invited foreign clubs that have the approval of their National Football Association. All countries that are members of FIFA will receive the tournament details. 

The organisers of the tournament, in certain circumstances, will be allowed to give exemption (under Rule C4 (vi)) for overseas teams, where it is in the view of the Tournament Director that it could affect a visiting team not entering the tournament. This exemption will be used only as a last resort and as sparingly as possible. International visiting teams will be offered dispensation for a maximum 5 players under Rule C4 (vi).

 

A designated representative of each team must sign an exemption form to agree to the Tournament Director having the authority to offer special dispensation in circumstances where it is deemed necessary. Any teams that do not have their representative sign the exemption form will not be allowed to compete in the tournament. 

 

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.