Tournament Format & Rules

Divisions

70+ Divisions: Players must be 70 years old by 12/31/2024 except team are allowed a maximum of 2 players who will be 68 or 69 years old by 12/31/2024.

75+ Divisions: Players must be 75 years old by 12/31/2024 except teams are allowed to have a maximum of 2 players who will be 73 or 74 years old by 12/31/2024.

Tournament Entry Fees

70+ – £730 per squad*
75+ – £510 per squad*

Presentation Banquet at the Hotel Mercure Holland House, Cardiff – £50 per person

*The Entry Fee includes all pitch hire, changing facilities, officials, trophies.

Field Size (3G Artificial Grass)

70+ – Regular FIFA (68 x 105m approx..) fields with standard goals.
75+ – Small fields (40m x 65m approx). Goal size 16ft x 7ft.

Acceptable Footwear

Notes to all players and officials: the site has strict rules regarding footwear and regular checks are made by ground staff. The rules apply to anyone on the turf whether playing or coaching. The are adequate spectator areas off the turf.

Please make sure boots are clean before going onto the pitch. Anyone with inappropriate or muddy footwear will be asked to leave the pitch as it damages the playing surface.

Squads & Check -In

Each team in the 70+ divisions may have a maximum of 22 players on the roster and play 11 v 11.

Each team in the 75+ division may have a maximum of 14 players on the roster and play 7 vs 7 (including the goalie).

Team rosters must be submitted prior to the tournament. Rosters can be revised up until the day prior to the first day of the tournament.

Each player must submit to his coach/manager a photocopy of Passport Page with details of date of birth (passport # may be deleted) to attach to each roster submitted.

A player can play on two teams if those two teams are not in the same age bracket.
Once a player plays in a tournament game with one team, that player cannot switch teams and play on a different team in the same division.

A player can sign their team roster at any time prior to the start of tournament play.

Extra Player Availability

Does your squad need any extra players?

The names below have indicated an interest in joining teams who may be short on numbers.

Name	Age	Position	Contact / Email
Mike Mooney	Over 75s	Any	moonsports@aol.com
Sujay Singh	Over 75s	Any	Sujay.singh@yahoo.com
Robert Mason	22.10.55	Any but GK	Robert.mason@msn.com
Eli Mouallem	68	Any	davileh@aol.com
Jeff Erickson	Over 75s	Striker	jerickson@sunriseerectors.com
Roswell Players x 2	68 +		Contact us
Roswell Players	70+		Contact us

Team Strips

All teams must have matching strips with unique numbers.

All teams must also bring alternate jerseys (or bibs) of a different colour.

If the jersey colours are similar, the home team (listed first on the schedule) is required to change. Team colours to be notified to organising committee beforehand.

Shin guards are mandatory.

Boots must conform the 3G restrictions, ie No flat soles, blades or metal studs.

Jewellery is not allowed, except for flat bands covered by tape.

Soft visors and prescription sports glasses are allowed.

Athletic Accessories

All athletic accessories, such as braces for the knee, ankle, wrist, arm, etc. must be comprised of soft, malleable fabric.

Any structural portions of a brace which are made of metal or hard plastics or similar material, must be padded, and covered, or they may not be worn during play.

Starting Play & Forfeits

Teams must be ready to compete at the assigned field at the assigned time.

There will be a 5-minute grace period as timed by the referee.

To start a game, teams must have at least 7 players in 70+ division playing 11 v 11, or at least 5 players in 75+ division playing 7 v 7.

A team with fewer than the minimum number of players at the end of the grace period will forfeit the game.

A team that refuses to start or finish a game will forfeit the game by a score of 0 – 3.
The tournament will provide the game ball.

Length & Number of Games

All games will be two 30-minute halves with a 5-minute half time break unless otherwise agreed.

Teams will be scheduled – when possible – to play 2 games each, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & 1 playoff game and finals Friday.

Slide Tackling, Charging the Goalkeeper

Slide tackling is not allowed when in contact with an opponent and will result in a free kick.

The goalkeeper may slide within the penalty area to stop the ball or secure the ball if the goalkeeper does not slide feet-first in a dangerous manner.

Charging the goalkeeper is not permitted at any time when the goalkeeper is within his own penalty area. The rule applies regardless of whether the goalkeeper has or does not have possession of the ball.

No bodily contact may be made with the goalkeeper if it can be avoided. Violation of this rule will be considered dangerous play.

Offsides / Officials

75+ – 7 v 7 games have 1 referee with 2 line assistants where possible. There is no offside in 75+ soccer.

70+ – 11 v 11 games have 1 referee with the addition of 2 AR’s if possible. AR’s are required for the Bronze and Gold Medal games. Offsides will be enforced in all 70+ games.

Coaching

The coaches of opposing teams may be on the same sideline during play.

Each coach must remain on their half of the field and cannot advance down the sideline on their half of the field more than ten yards from the centre line.

Substitutions

Unlimited substitutions are allowed at any stoppage in play.

Cautions: Yellow Cards & Red Cards

Any player receiving a yellow card must leave the field of play for at least ten minutes.

A second yellow card given to the same player within one game will result in that player receiving a red card.

Any player receiving a red card, for any reason, is ejected from the game (cannot be substituted) and cannot play in the next game.

Additional penalties may also be assessed by the tournament officials.

Team Standings

Standings will be determined by awarding points in each game played as follows:

3 points for each win
1 points for each tie
0 points for each loss

A forfeit will be scored as a 3-0 win for the non-forfeiting team.

In the event of a tie at the end of the preliminary games, standings will be determined as follows:

Goal Difference
Goals scored
Head to Head
Disciplinary Record

Semi-Final and Final Games

Playoff format will be determined by the number of teams in each division.

Playoff games ending in a tie will be determined by penalty kicks per FIFA rules beginning immediately after regulation play (no overtime periods).

Awards

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams in each division will receive Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and the winning team in each division will receive a trophy.

Rules

FIFA rules will apply, except as modified by these tournament’s Rules.

Tournament officials will decide any situations not covered by either FIFA rules or these Rules.

All decisions by the tournament officials will be final. There will be no appeals or protests. These decisions include behaviour (by a player, coach, fan/spectator, or referee) that is deemed to be detrimental to the tournament or its participants.

Persons responsible for such detrimental behaviour may be expelled from the tournament site, and possibly prohibited from attending future tournaments, depending on the severity of the infraction(s).

Rules may be subject to minor changes