TOURNAMENT RULES

1. Managers will be held accountable for the behaviour of their teams players and supporters.

2. Teams must register at the control tent no later than 30mins before first group match.

3. Each team may consist of up to 8 players – no player may play for any other team.

4. Qualifying ages of players are calculated as per FA rules for the 2024/2025 season.

5. Academy teams are NOT permitted entry.

6. No private/team BBQ allowed.

7. Players or spectators causing a nuisance who disregard requests from Bristol Rovers Supporters JFC Tournament Officials to cease, will be reported to the relevant team manager and in extreme cases, may be disqualified from the competition.

8. Vehicles must be parked in the designated areas for which a small charge will be made on entry and a programme provided by the car park marshall.

Contravention of the above rules will result in team disqualification from the tournament.

1. All matches shall be a minimum of 10mins one way with no half time. Exception to this will be the Final, which will be 6min each way.

2. A maximum of 8 players per squad is permitted. Rolling substitutes are permitted throughout the match, with referee’s consent. Only the allocated number of players per relevant age group shall be allowed on the pitch during play.

3. The referee shall act as timekeeper and record all goals scored.

4. The referee will hand the completed results card into the control tent immediately for the result to be recorded.

5. Matches are governed by the FA rules, unless specifically varied by the exemptions below.

6. Exemptions:

a. There will be no offside.

b. Free kicks can be direct or indirect at discretion of referee.

c. Goalkeepers cannot kick the ball from their hands. They can either throw out from within their area or roll ball along the floor.

d. U7 – U8 age groups will re-treat to half way line on all goal kicks.

e. Under 9’s will retreat for goal kicks from dead ball. No retreat during open play when goal keeper has ball in hands.

f. Under 10’s and above back passes are NOT permitted by the goal keeper.

7. Infringement of exemption rules above will result in free kick being awarded to the opposition at the place of the offence.

8. Referees shall penalize dangerous, unsporting or foul play, bad language and any form of dissent. The referee will be sole arbiter in all matters relating to field of play and his/her decision will be FINAL. The referee is empowered to disqualify any team not ready to play on the stated pitch at the stated time.

1. Age groups will be playing 5-a-side for U7,U8 and U15.

a. U9 to U14 will be playing 6 a side.

2. U7/U8 will play a festival of football. All other groups will play in a group structure, followed by a knock out ‘Cup’ competition.

3. Points shall be awarded in group games as follows: 3 points for a win; 2 points for a score draw; 1 point for a no score draw, 0 points for a lose.

4. If more than one team share the highest number of points after playing all their group games, a winner and appropriate runners up will be decided for each group using the following criteria in order

a. Goal difference

b. Highest goal scored

c. Lowest goals against

d. Penalty shoot out.

5. For teams that progress to the knock out stage and in the event of a draw at the end of play.

a. The winner will be decided by a penalty shoot out. 3 players from each team (from those on field of play at end of game) shall be selected. Each team will take it in turns and the team with greatest number of goals at end of shoot out will progress. 

b. In the event of a tie after the 3 penalties have been taken the result will be decided by a sudden death penalty shoot out where the winning team is the one unmatched by the opposite team.

c. Different players must be used from those in the original 3 spot kicks, including keeper and CANNOT include players that were not on pitch at the end of the normal playing time.

1. Footwear shall be worn in accordance with the laws of the game.

2. It is compulsory that all players wear shin pads.

3. Teams shall bring bibs to allow for a colour clash. The second named team shall change in any colour clash.

4. Age groups U7 – U9 shall play with a size 3 ball. Age groups U10 – U14 shall play with a size 4 ball and U15 play with size 5 ball.

5. Each team must bring a match ball. First named team in each match will provide the match ball to the referee before match commences.

1. Any player who is sent off or receives 3 yellow cards will be banned from taking any further part in the competition.

2. All cases of misconduct will be reported to the Gloucestershire FA.