Rules
BJFF Tournament Rules 2024
1. Teams must register at the Tournament Organisers Tent between 08:45am and 09:30am. Teams will not be permitted to play until they have confirmed their attendance and completed registration. The tournament will commence at 10:00am.
2. All players must be of the required age for the appropriate age group competition as per the FA rules, with age groups as per the 2024/2025 season. Teams who field older players will be immediately disqualified.
3. Girls teams are allowed to play a year down. Hence an U10 Girls team can compete in the U9 Age group.
4. All competing players must be named on the player registration form, which should be brought by the Team Manager to the Tournament Control Centre at morning registration (*please ensure you bring this with you, as having to complete a blank form results in unnecessary delays).
5. Players who are under contract with either an FA Premier or Football League Academy are NOT permitted to take part in our tournament. Only by exception will dual signed academy players be allowed to play. These need clearing before the tournament commences.
6. Clubs are not permitted to inter-change players between teams. Players may only play for 1 team.
7. Maximum number of players per squad are – 10 for 5 a side / 14 for 7 a side / 16 for 9 and 11 a side. Any more fielded and that team will not progress out the knockout stages
8. Substitutions (roll-on, roll-off) can only be made during a stoppage in play with the permission of the referee.
9. The team named first on the fixtures sheet will be responsible for providing the match ball for each game.
10. The match will start at the scheduled time, with the team named first on the fixtures sheet kicking off from the centre. After each goal, the game shall restart from the centre. Teams not present at the scheduled start time for a game will forfeit the game by a score of 0-1.
11. Boots should be worn, please ensure studs do not have sharp edges. All players MUST wear shin-guards.
12. In the event of a colour clash, the team named second on the fixtures sheet shall either change kit or wear bibs, which they should supply.
13. Fair play must be observed always. Referees' decisions are final. Managers and parents must not try to influence the officials.
14. Managers and parents are respectfully reminded of their behaviour. Club Managers will be held responsible for the behaviour of players on and off the pitch, and for the behaviour of parents. Any incident, which is detrimental or brings the game/tournament into disrepute, may result in a game being abandoned and/or disqualification of the offending team.
15. There is to be no alcohol consumed or portable bbq’s used on the tournament grounds.
16. During play Spectators / Parents are NOT permitted to enter the playing area (or the roped off area surrounding the pitch).
17. During play Managers / Coaches are permitted within the roped off area but must stay off the field of play. They are only allowed on the field of play when invited by the referee to treat to an injured player. A maximum of 3 coaches per side are allowed within this area.
18. All games will be one-way, but if the conditions are windy and offer an unfair advantage this MAY be changed on the day, at the Tournament Coordinators discretion, to two equal halves, with a straight turn-around at Half-Time.
19. All competitions will be run on a league format progressing to a Knockout stage.
20. In group games, 3 points shall be awarded for a win and 1 point for a no score draw.
21. We will be following the new rules for Youth football which come into play for season 24/25 which affect the U7-U9 age groups
a. Touchline restart instead of throw-ins – When the whole ball passes over the whole of the touchline, on the ground or in the air, instead of a throw in a pass in/dribble in is awarded. The kicker that takes the pass in/dribble in is allowed to touch the ball again before another player has touched it, At the moment of delivering the ball: The ball must be stationary, all opponents must be 5 yards away, a goal can not be scored directly from a pass in, the ball is in play when it is kicked or clearly moves.
b. Deliberate header restart – Deliberately heading the ball is punishable with an indirect freekick. The in direct freekick is taken at the point where the ball was deliberately headed, except where the offence takes place in the penalty area. This offence will restart with an indirect freekick taken from the side of the penalty box
22. A Size 3 (u7 – u10) and Size 4 (u11 – u14) match ball will be used for all games.
23. Five & Seven a side football will compete in 4 groups of 6 with the top two teams progressing to the cup competition. Teams who finish 3rd and 4th will progress to the plate competition.
24. Nine and Eleven a side football will compete in two groups of 6 with the top two teams progressing to the cup competition. Teams who finish 3rd and 4th will progress into the plate competition.
25. If a team does not show then the format of that group only will be altered but with the same group format being followed.
26. To determine final standings in the group stage the league format will be determined on points, goal difference, goals scored, head to head match result and if still unable to be determined then a 3 penalty shootout will be held.
27. In the knockout stages matches will be played as scheduled. Should teams be tied at full time then a penalty shoot out will be used to determine the winner. For five a side football this will consist of 3 penalties, which will become sudden death should scores be level at the end of 3 penalties. For all other formats there will be 5 penalties and again sudden death should scores be level after all penalties taken. Players who finish the match on the field of play are the only players allowed to take a penalty.
28. For any other queries the Tournament Manager will determine the outcome and their decision will be final.