County Cup Competitions

Specific, Deadline & General Rules:

Specific Rules (Please Read Carefully):

Age /

Gender

Outline

Eligible

Players

Match

Duration

Substitutes

Ball Size

Under 13 Girls

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Years 7 & 8 Only

60 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 14 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

4

Under 14 Girls

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Year 9 Only

70 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 20 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

4

Under 16 Girls

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Years 10 & 11 Only

70 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 20 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

5

Under 11 Boys

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Years 5 & 6 Only

50 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 10 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

4

Under 12 Boys

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Year 7 Only

60 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 14 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

4

Under 13 Boys

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Year 8 Only

60 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 14 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

4

Under 14 Boys

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Year 9 Only

70 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 20 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

4

Under 15 Boys

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Year 10 Only

80 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 20 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

5

Under 16 Boys

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Year 11 Only

80 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 20 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

5

Under 18 Boys

·   Knockout Cup Format

·   11-a-side

Years 11, 12 & 13

90 Minutes

(Extra-Time: 20 Mins)

·   5 Named Subs

·   Roll On – Roll Off

5

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Deadline Rules (Important: Please Read Carefully):

·   With some inconsistencies seen in past years regarding deadlines being met and a lack of communication, it is crucial all individuals in charge of teams read the following information.

·   Strict guidelines (explained below using five ‘scenarios’) are now in place and will be adhered to.

·   It is acknowledged that the most important aspect of the above competitions is to give young people the opportunity to participate in schools football.

·   However, significant delays as a result of un-played matches only prolong the competitions and put pressure on schools that DO meet deadlines and who may well be in other local / regional / national competitions for a range of sports.

·   If schools feel they will struggle to meet deadlines, it may be necessary to limit the number of competitions entered and to provide pupils with competitive school football by organising friendlies (these of course have no deadlines / time scale constraints).

·   As mentioned above, five ‘scenarios’ have been created – these explain the procedures following a deadline either being met or not (please note: e-mailing a result IS part of meeting a deadline…it is not just about playing the match itself):

SCENARIO 1

·   The fixture, as displayed on the competition draw, is played on or before the deadline date;

·   The result is e-mailed by the winning school on or before the FIRST Monday thereafter;

Outcome: The winning school goes through to the next round of the competition (unless it is the final).

SCENARIO 2

·   The fixture, as displayed on the competition draw, is played on or before the deadline date;

·   However, the result is not e-mailed by the winning school on or before the FIRST Monday thereafter;

Outcome: The winning school MUST e-mail the result on or before the SECOND Monday following the original deadline date (if not an assumption will be made that the initial fixture did not take place = neither school through to the next round / waiting school will receive a bye).

SCENARIO 3

·   The fixture, as displayed on the competition draw, is not played by the deadline date;

·   However, both teams have communicated with each other and the competition secretary on or before the deadline date;

·   The fixture has not taken place due to genuine reasons (acknowledged / agreed by both schools) – for example: bad weather conditions, waterlogged pitches (both schools), etc.

Outcome A: The two schools will be granted a ONE WEEK extension and must e-mail the result on or before the SECOND Monday following the original deadline date (if not an assumption will be made that the rescheduled match did not take place = neither school through to the next round / waiting school will receive a bye).

Outcome B: Please note, if neither school contact the competition secretary on or before the original deadline date, they will both be withdrawn from the competition = neither school through to the next round / waiting school will receive a bye.

SCENARIO 4

·   The fixture, as displayed on the competition draw, is not played by the deadline date;

·   One ‘proactive’ school has attempted to communicate with the ‘other’ school and the competition secretary on or before the deadline date;

·   The ‘other’ school has made little or no contact with the ‘proactive’ school and, more importantly, has made no contact with the competition secretary.

Outcome A: The ‘proactive’ school receives a bye and goes through to the next round of the competition (unless it is the final – a separate decision will be made in this case).

Outcome B: Please note, if the ‘proactive’ school does not contact the competition secretary on or before the original deadline date (even though it may have contacted the ‘other’ school on numerous occasions), it will be withdrawn from the competition = waiting school will receive a bye).

SCENARIO 5

·   The fixture, as displayed on the competition draw, is not played by the deadline date;

·   Neither school has contacted the competition secretary on or before the deadline date (it is irrelevant if they have contacted each other!);

Outcome: Both schools will be withdrawn from the competition = waiting school will receive a bye (unless they are waiting in the final – a separate decision will be made in this case).

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·   The competition secretary shall have the right to:

a) Order a match to be played on, or before, the deadline date (if applicable);

b) Grant an extension to the deadline date (if applicable);

c) Withdraw any team from a competition (if applicable).

·   Please be assured that the above ‘scenario’ structure and amendments to the deadline rules are in place to help our competitions, and therefore our pupils, and to avoid extra stress and loss of time due to un-played fixtures.

·   It is unrealistic to expect every single deadline to be met – but the vast majority should be.

·   On that note, please do take on board the essential message within the changes:

SCHOOLS MUST KEEP THE COMPETITION SECRETARY INFORMED AT ALL TIMES OF ANY RESULTS OR ISSUES…AND IN GOOD TIME BEFORE THE DEADLINE DATES! THANK YOU.

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General Rules (Please Read Carefully):

·   In the first instance, it is the responsibility of the HOME school to initiate the organisation of the fixture (the home school must give information to the away school regarding: a) the location of the fixture, b) the date and kick-off time of the fixture and c) the name of the referee (and other officials if applicable) who will officiate the fixture.

·   However, if the AWAY school does not receive any contact by the end of the FIRST week following the previous deadline, it MUST contact the home school to initiate communication and, perhaps more importantly, contact the competition secretary.

·   This will ensure (if the unfortunate event of withdrawing a school HAS to take place) that a school who has communicated appropriately shall not be penalised.

·   Initially, schools may decide to contact each other by telephone – this is perfectly fine. However, it is recommended that schools keep a log (by e-mail, fax or letter) if they are not receiving replies from other schools following attempts to contact them.

·   The rules of the game shall be those of the International Football Association Board, except as otherwise stated.

·   All teams must be under the ultimate control of a practising teacher, recognised as such by the Department of Education.

·   The minimum size of the ground in 11-a-side matches shall be 90 yards by 60 yards. County Cup Competition matches may be played on artificial pitches subject to the agreement of the official representatives of each team. The competition secretary may direct that an artificial pitch be used in matters of urgency.

·   There shall be a half time interval of between five minutes (minimum) to ten minutes (maximum) in all 11-a-side matches which can only be altered with the consent of the referee.

·   Following a total period of Extra-Time (shown in the ‘specific rules’ table), Penalties will take place if the scores remain level. Each school shall nominate five penalty takers (these cannot be substitutes) – if the scores are still level after five penalties for each school, sudden death will take place. In this instance, schools must use the remaining six on-field players (not substitutes) to take penalties until either school prevails. If the scores are still level after both schools have used all eleven on-field players, the process is repeated until a school prevails (once again, substitutes cannot be used during the process of penalties).

·   The match referee shall be appointed by the home school and must either be a practising teacher or a qualified referee of the English Football Association. Their duties shall be in accordance with the Laws of the Game as sanctioned and enforced by the International Football Association Board.

·   If, in the opinion of the referee, for circumstances beyond the control of the organisers, scheduled extra time in a match cannot be started or completed, a match shall be deemed to have been completed at the end of normal playing time. Penalties, if scheduled, shall then follow. There are no replays.

·   In the Bedfordshire County Cup Competitions, where Schools or Associations have similar colours, the away team shall be entitled to retain their colours and the home team shall change to colours that provide a satisfactory contrast.

·   Teams must not wear shirt advertising of a conflicting interest to

   that of the competition sponsor (if applicable).

·   If the competition secretary has any doubt over the qualification of a player taking part in any competition, they shall have the power to call upon the players’ Association or school to which he / she belongs to prove that he / she is qualified according to the rules, and failing satisfactory proof the offending school or Association shall be disqualified from the competition.

·   A player may only play for the school or college he / she is currently attending and on whose roll he / she appears at the time of the game in which he / she is playing.