General Information •All matches should be played on grass where possible. •Players should ensure they are wearing appropriate footwear. •The host school may outsource referees or may request visiting teams bring a teacher to assist with the officiating •Pitch Dimensions: 7 a-side: 60x40 yards (or as near to these dimensions as possible)
Rules •7-a-side with a maximum squad size of 12 •Only boys are allowed to participate in the team for all age groups •Game should be 8 minutes each way with 1 minute half time •All players must wear shin guards/pads. Children will not be allowed to play without them. •In the finals/play offs will be decided by extra time and then penalties.
Key rules: •The pass back rule DOES APPLY. Should the goalkeeper handle the ball from a pass from one of his own team, an indirect free kick is awarded where the ball was picked up •No off side •All other football rules apply
League Positions To determine the overall position a league will operate:
•Win: 3 points •Draw: 1 point •Defeat: 0 points
•If teams have equal points at the end of the division of play and the playoffs the tie-breaker used shall be: oHead to Head, Points difference; Points for; Penalty shoot-out (each member of the team takes 1 shot (i.e. all 5 in the team) alternating with the other team followed by sudden death).
End of the Game •This will be determined by the official. •Three cheers and handshakes to be encouraged. •Team managers shall shake hands. •It is expected that team managers shake hands with the match officials.
Football Order of Play •Where there are 12 competing schools the teams are divided into 2 pools of 6. •Each pool will be selected randomly: the names of schools will be pulled out of a hat prior to the competition starting. Each team then plays five games in a round-robin competition to determine league places for play-offs. •The two top teams in each pool will play-off in the semi-finals; 1st Pool A vs. 2nd Pool B and * 2nd Pool A vs. 1st Pool B. The winners of these matches proceeding to the 3rd final and the losers completing for 3 place. •The 2rd and 4th teams in each pool will play-off for 5th – 8th place and the teams who finish 5th and 6th in the pool matches play off for 9th – 12th.