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 2025/2026 season.

5. Grassroots teams only. No registered JPL teams or Pro Game Players (PGA) are allowed.

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.

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

1. Matches will be 10min or 15min one way with no half time, age group dependent.  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. Completed results card must be handed to 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. Infringement of exemption rules above will result in free kick being awarded to the opposition at the place of the offence.

7. 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.       All age groups will be playing 6-a-side except U16 who shall play 5-a-side.

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

U7 & U8 – normal rules will apply with some minor points:

·         There will be no offside

·         Pass back to keepers are allowed to be picked up by the goalkeeper

·         Players must retreat to the halfway line from a goal kick and when the keeper plays the ball from the hand.

·         Goalkeepers cannot kick the ball from their hands. They can either throw or roll out from their area.

·         No deliberate headers. If a player deliberately heads the ball, the referee will award an indirect free kick to the opposing team where the offence occurred. If it occurs within the penalty, the restart is taken on the nearest sideline of the penalty area.

·         No throw ins. Instead, pass or dribble-in from the sideline. A goal cannot be scored directly from a pass-in without another touch and opposition players must stand at least 5 yards away. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.

U9 – normal rules will apply with some minor points:

·         There will be no offside

·         Pass back to keepers are NOT allowed to be picked up by the goalkeeper

·         Players must retreat to the halfway line from a dead ball goalkeeper throw/roll in.

·         Goalkeepers cannot kick the ball from their hands. They can either throw or roll out from their area.

·         No deliberate headers. If a player deliberately heads the ball, the referee will award an indirect free kick to the opposing team where the offence occurred. If it occurs within the penalty, the restart is taken on the nearest sideline of the penalty area.

·         No throw ins. Instead, pass or dribble-in from the sideline. A goal cannot be scored directly from a pass-in without another touch and opposition players must stand at least 5 yards away. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.

U10 to U16 – normal rules will apply with the only minor point:

·         Goalkeepers cannot kick the ball from their hands. They can either throw or roll out from their area.

·         There will be no offside

U9 to U15 Structure

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 loss.

4.       If more than one team shares 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.       Head-to-head result

e.       Penalty shoot out.

5.       For teams that progress to the knockout 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 the greatest number of goals at end of the shootout 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 – U10 shall play with a size 3 ball. Age groups U11 – U14 shall play with a size 4 ball and U15 and U16 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.