With just over a week away to the start of the Echo Junior Football Leagues Lawrence Segal Festival Cup teams are starting to feel the anticipation of a competitive tournament. We hopefully want to see teams embrace the competitiion and give the young children the thrill and excitement of a knockout Tournament and at the same time gain experience of a cup journey.
Over the years we do sometimes get to see the sad side in youth football where coaches or parents get to heated on the sidelines living out their lost spent childhood through their children which causes an atmosphere which nobody likes to see.
All we ask for all teams is to show respect and behave in a manner that you can be looked up to by your team, club and even us at the Echo league. The Festival cup should be enjoyable to all and is a great end of season competition that brings a fantastic finale weekend showcasing our young teams competing in our league.
The rules are very basic and we try not to complicate them too much but we must have them in place for everything to run smoothly
Rules of Competition
The Group Stages will be played over a 5-week period with all games being played in their entirety and only using the permitted playing time for the respected age group
Your Groups will be updated on the Full-Time platform and entering results will be the same as you do with your league games. A Group table will be available for this 5-week period and games will commence on Sunday 6th March 2022 and must be ALL played by the closing date of Sunday 3rd April 2022.
All fixtures will be available on Full Time and results for all rounds must be submitted online and phoned/text/WhatsApp or emailed to your Divisional Officer before 7pm on the Sunday of your game played for confirmation of result. PLEASE DO NOT POST ANYTHING BY MAIL AS IT WILL NOT ARRIVE UNTIL TUESDAY THE EARLIEST.
All teams must be available every week throughout the competition so please take note of the dates for all rounds below.
All games MUST be completed by Sunday 3rd April 2022 and any games outstanding due to weather or no pitch playable will be awarded as a 0-0 draw. If any team cannot fulfil a fixture for any other reason then a 1-0 win will be awarded to the team that COULD fulfil, if both teams cannot fulfil then the game will be void
If any team calls their games off prior to the match day due to unplayable pitch and the opponents have a playable pitch, then the game MUST be switched to get the game played. Rule 24b in your League Handbook
The qualified teams in each group (16 Teams) will progress to the knockout stage of the competition which is to commence on Sunday 10th April 2022. The draw and the host venue will be published as soon as we have all results submitted from the Group Stages.
Again, results must be phoned/text/WhatsApp or emailed to your divisional officer before 7pm on the Sunday of your game. Your Divisional Officers will then process results and put the quarter finalists teams on Full-Time so your games for the next stage of the competition will be played on Sunday 24th April
Semi Final games will be the same process as other knockout rounds and these will be played on Sunday 1st May 2022 . Finals day will be on the weekend of Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May 2022.
Any team that withdraws from the competition in the knockout stages then the opponents they were scheduled to play will receive a special bye into the next round. No teams eliminated in the group stages will be reinstated at any time.
Players MUST be registered to their team at least 7 Clear Days prior to any cup fixture to be eligible to play in the competition round.
A maximum number of 2 transfers between teams within the same club is permitted up to the leagues deadline day 31st March 2022
NOTE: Any player transferred to another team who has already competed in the competition with his previous club/team will NOT be eligible to play as he will be Cup Tied. Any team proven to be fielding unregistered or eligible players will forfeit any previous games played and removed from the competition with immediate effect with no option of appeal.
PLEASE READ
Please remember it is every manager’s duty to make sure that all spectators and players behave in a respectable manner, so we would encourage all managers to always represent the RESPECT campaign.
Whoever is the referee of the games you are associated with please remember that their decision is final and at no time should they feel intimidated or put in a situation they do not feel comfortable with.
VERY IMPORTANT (PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE)
When playing the group stages if 2 teams are tied on points and are also on the same goal difference and it depends on a qualification place then it will be judged on goals scored and then Head to Head score in their Group game, if this is still tied a playoff game will be played ASAP to determine qualification.
If 2 teams are tied on points and, in a group, where both teams have qualified then a playoff game is not required. Goal difference, Goal scored and the Head to Head in group stage game will determine finishing position. If teams are still level then the final position will go on alphabetical order of the teams tied)
PLEASE NOTE: There is NO extra time permitted in any Festival games, if level at the Full time whistle in the knockout stages then the game should be decided on Penalty Kicks. Each team to take 5 kicks using ONLY the players on the pitch at the final whistle. If still tied sudden death kicks until a winner is decided
Any games that are abandoned in the group stages will become VOID and if an abandonment of a knockout stage game occurs then BOTH teams are eliminated from the competition with NO form of appeal as there will be no time for mitigation to be heard.
We really want this to be a success and an annual event so with all your help we can move forward and make Festival Football enjoyable
LAW 1 PLAYING AREA
Size of Pitch – the dimensions shown below are the Maximum Dimensions please revert to your Echo Handbook for Minimum sizes .
5v5 Pitch Size should be: Width 30 Yards Length 40 Yards (27 Metres 36 Metres)
7v7 Pitch Size should be: Width 40 Yards Length 60 Yards (36 Metres 54 Metres)
9v9 Pitch Size should be: Width 50 Yards Length 80 Yards (45 Metres 73 Metres)
Halfway Line. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The centre mark is indicated at the mid-point of the halfway line.
Goal Size
5v5 and 7v7 the distance between the posts is 12ft in width and 6ft in height
9v9 the distance between the posts is 16ft in width and 7ft in height
LAW 2 THE BALL
The ball should be size 3 for U7’s to U10’s
The ball should be size 4 for U11’s
It should be safe and made of leather or other suitable material.
LAW 3 NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Under 7’s & U8’s (5v5) POWER PLAY IS NOT PERMITTED IN FESTIVAL CUP GAMES
A match may not START if either team consists of fewer than four players. The minimum number of players in a team required for a match to CONTINUE is also four. Matches can begin with 5v4, but the importance and ethos of Mini-Soccer should be upheld wherever possible and the development of the children should come before the score line.
Any number of substitutes, without being named, may be used at any time with the permission of the referee. A player who has been replaced may return to the playing area as a substitute for another player
Under 9’s & U10’s (7v7) POWER PLAY IS NOT PERMITTED IN FESTIVAL CUP GAMES
A match may not START if either team consists of fewer than five players. The minimum number of players in a team required for a match to CONTINUE is also five. Matches can begin with 7v6, but the importance and ethos of Mini-Soccer should be upheld wherever possible and the development of the children should come before the score line.
Any number of substitutes, without being named, may be used at any time with the permission of the referee. A player who has been replaced may return to the playing area as a substitute for another player
Under 11’s (9v9)
Maximum number per team to compete in each match is 9 players with 5 substitutes and must notify the referee of 5 names substitutes if you have more than 14 players in your squad prior to kick off
A match may not START if either team consists of fewer than six players. The minimum number of players in a team required for a match to CONTINUE is also six. Should a team fall below this the game cannot play and the points will be awarded against the defaulting team. Players must play with and against players only from their own age range, as per Football Association and Competition rules.
LAW 4 PLAYING EQUIPMENT
Players must wear shin guards and goalkeepers must wear a distinguishing playing top (NOT BLACK). Shin guards must be covered entirely by the socks. Players must wear the appropriate clothing dependant on the weather. Correct footwear must be worn for the surface of the pitch e.g. no metal studs on artificial grass pitches.
LAW 5 REFEREES
The Authority of the Laws for each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce these Laws for this Festival Football competition in connection with the match to which they have been appointed. The powers and duties of the referee are as normal Laws of Association Football.
If a qualified referee is appointed to any game, then match fees are split 50/50 between both home and away teams
LAW 6 ASSISTANT REFEREE (9v9 Only)
Two assistant referees may be appointed whose duties, subject to the decision of the referee are to indicate:
When the whole of the ball leaves the field of play in which a team is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw in.
When a player may be penalised for being in an offside position.
When a substitution is requested.
LAW 7 DURATION OF THE GAME
All Group games will be played as per the permitted time laid down for the relevant age groups by The FA
U7’s & U8’s 2 x 20-minute halves
U9’s & U10’s 2 x 25-minute halves
U11’s 2 x 30-minute halves
PLEASE NOTE: There is NO extra time permitted in any Festival game and if level at the final whistle in the knockout stages then the game should be decided on Penalty Kicks. Each team to take 5 kicks using ONLY the players on the pitch at the final whistle and if still tied sudden death kicks until a winner is decided
LAW 8 START AND RESTART OF PLAY
A kick-off is taken at the centre of the playing area to start the game and after a goal has been scored. Opponents must be seven yards (U7’s – U10’s 5 yards) away from the ball and in their own half of the field.
U7-U10 you CANNOT score directly from a restart centre kick
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.
LAW 9 BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.
LAW 10 METHOD OF SCORING
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.
LAW 11 OFFSIDE (not applicable to U7’s-U10)
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football.
LAW 12 FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football
LAW 13 FREE KICKS
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football for your relevant age group.
Please note U7’s – U10’s: All Free kicks are Direct, and opponents must be 5 yards away from ball. If a goalkeeper picks up a back pass then it is a free kick on the edge of the Goal Area in line of where the ball was picked up. (NOT IN THE AREA WHERE THE GOALKEEPER PICKED IT UP)
LAW 14 PENALTY KICKS
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football for your relevant age group.
LAW 15 THROW IN
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football for your relevant age group.
LAW 16 GOAL KICK
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football for your relevant age group.
Please note: U7’s – U10’s Halfway Line. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The centre mark is indicated at the mid-point of the halfway line. This is also used as the retreat line when restarting play with a goal kick.
LAW 17 CORNER KICKS
Normal rules apply, as per Laws of Association Football for your relevant age group.
Additional Information
Your Divisional officers are there to help and guide you in your time in the competition but please don’t contact them in unsociable hours or work times unless they have given you authority to do so.
Group Stages MUST start and be completed by:
Sunday 6th March 2022 - Sunday 3rd April 2022.
Last 16
Sunday 10th April 2022
Quarter Finals MUST be played on or earlier if agreed by both teams:
Sunday 24th April 2022
Semi Final games MUST be played on or earlier if agreed by both teams:
Sunday 1st May 2022.
Finals Weekend
Saturday 14th May 2022
& Sunday 15th May 2022.
Your age group Festival Cup Final could be on either of these days so please leave this weekend free until you have had confirmation from your respective Divisional Officer of your Final date
Good Luck with your team and we hope to see you on Finals weekend.