U15 Nationals: Tournament Regulations

1. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. All male players must be aged between 14 & 15 and must be born on or after 1st January, 2006 and 31st December 2007. Female players must be aged between 13 & 15 and must be born on or after 1st January, 2006 and 31st December 2008. No dispensations will be allowed for male players under 14 years of age or female players under 13 years.  The Tournament Committee decision is final.
   
   
2. All clubs must supply copies of suitable age verification e.g. birth certificate, Drivers licence or school ID, for every player listed on your squad list, to the Tournament Committee at or prior to the Manager’s Meeting. No player will be permitted to compete in the Tournament without suitable documentation being supplied.
   
   
3. All players, with the exception of the guest players, must be registered members of the club they are representing. For the purposes of determining eligibility of a registered player to your club, the player must have been registered in Comet in the 2021 season for their club prior to 31st August 2021. 
   
   
4. If a player was not registered in the 2021 season for any club in Comet but was registered for your club in the 2020 season, they will be considered as an eligible player for your club.
   
   
5. Clubs must enter a list of up to a maximum of 18 players via Friendly Manager, entering date of birth and Comet ID number no later than 22nd October 2021. 
   
   
6. For the male side of the tournament, teams are able to include a maximum of two guest players.  For the female side of the tournament, teams are able to include a maximum of three guest players.  A guest player is a player that is not registered to your club in Comet as per clause 1.3 and 1.4.
   
   
7. Guest players will only be approved if approval from the player’s club is supplied to the Tournament Committee by 22nd October 2021.  The approval must be on club letterhead or from an authorised club email address and official. 
   
   
8. Only in extreme circumstances will the Tournament Committee consider a replacement for any members of the 18 playing squad after the final registration date.  Applications for a replacement player must be directed to the Tournament Committee as soon as the issue is known along with a medical certificate if the replacement is required due to serious injury.
   
   
9. The Tournament Committee seek individual players to be included on a Tournament injury / concussion replacement list who are not participating and available to assist teams who don’t have 18 players or suffer an injury that results in a player not being able to continue for the duration of the festival.  Any players interested in this opportunity, please email info@ellersliefootball.org.nz
   
   

2. TEAM DETAILS

• A team must be entered into Friendly Manager by 22nd October 2021 of all players with their playing shirt number with Comet ID numbers. The two guest players must be clearly indicated. The team shall be limited to a maximum of 18 players.
  
  

3. TOURNAMENT FORMAT

• In Pool Play games will last 40 minutes (20 minutes each way) with 5 minutes half-time
  Quarter-final games will last 40 minutes (20 minutes each way) with 5 minutes half-time
  Semi-final games will last 50 minutes (25 minutes each way) with 5 minutes half-time
  Championship Final will last 50 minutes (25 minutes each way) with 5 minutes half-time
  
  
• Pools will be determined once final entry numbers are known but likely to be drawn as per the following:
  MALE – 24 teams split into 4 pools of six teams / 18 teams split into 3 pools of six teams
  FEMALE – 12 teams split into 2 pools of six teams / 6 to 8 teams playing round robin format
  
  A final format will be supplied following confirmation of entry numbers.
  
  
• Three points will be awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss.
  
  
• If teams are level on points at the end of section play, the following will apply

1. The winner of the head to head result of the match between the two equal sides will determine the team to progress.  (If more than two teams are equal, this does not apply).
2. If teams are still level, the lowest goals conceded will qualify. 
3. If after applying the above criteria any two or more clubs are still equal, then the club with the superior disciplinary record in this competition shall be the team to progress.
4. If teams are still level, goal difference will apply.
5. In the event of the clubs still being equal, lots drawn under the direction of the Tournament Committee shall determine the final position.

• Group runners up will play group winners from an alternative group to decide the quarter finalists.
  
  
• For the quarter-finals and semi-finals, extra time must be played if the result is a draw at the end of normal time. It shall consist of two halves of 5 minutes. If the teams are still level at the end of extra time, penalties will then be taken as per IFAB Laws of the Game. 
  
  

4. MANAGERS' MEETING AND INFORMATION PACKS

• The meeting will be held in one of the function rooms (TBC) inside North Harbour Stadium, Stadium Drive, Albany on Friday 5th November 2021 and it is essential that a club representative attends this meeting. This meeting will begin at 12.30pm.  Teams need to collect their information packs at this time.
  
  

5. REFEREES AND MATCH BALLS

• Ellerslie AFC will be responsible for organising referees for all games.  Each team is to supply an assistant referee for each match they are involved in during pool play.
  
  
• If your club would like to put forward a referee with a current and recognized Community Referee or higher qualification to be included in the referee roster, please email Kelly Bolus on info@ellersliefootball.org.nz   They would not be appointed to matches involving their team.
  
  
• The home team of each match is to supply 3 x FIFA approved Size 5 match balls (recommended Lotto IPER VTB match ball or equivalent).  Ellerslie AFC will provide match balls for the Championship Finals.
  
  

6. PLAYERS EQUIPMENT

Playing shirts and shorts:

• Shirts must be numbered and players must wear the number recorded on the online team list.  It is preferred that numbers worn in home and away kits are the same for each player.  Numbers are not required on shorts, but if numbered, the number on the shirt and shorts must be the same. 
• Each team is to advise the Tournament Committee by Monday 4th October of a minimum of two strip colours as their home and alternate strip for shirt, shorts and socks.  Goalkeeper kits are also to be notified with at least two different colours of shirt, shorts and socks that are different in colour to the outfield players’ strip.
• If shirt numbers on both kits cannot be the same for each player, please list the home shirt number in the online team list and supply a secondary list to the Tournament Committee of the away shirt numbers to have on file.

Undergarments:

• It is preferred that the wearing of undergarments for players and goal keepers matches that colour of the playing shirt.  Undergarments worn under shorts are preferred to be the same colour as the shorts or have a minimal amount showing below the length of the shorts if not.  

Players Socks:

• As per the IFAB Laws of the Game the colour of tape or guard stays used to keep the socks up etc. are preferred to be the same colour as the socks worn.  Guard stays are the preferred method.  Please discard any tape used into rubbish bins provided around the venue.  Tape is not to be left on or at the playing field.
  
  

7. SUBSTITUTES

• All 18 squad members can be recorded on the match day line-up (listing up to seven substitutes), but only five (5) can be substituted in any one game through rolling substitutions. Once the fifth player has taken the field in the match, the referee can strike the remaining two from the match card as they are ineligible to participate in the rest of that match.
  
  

8. TECHNICAL AREA

• The occupants within the technical area shall be recorded on the team card.  This shall include up to seven (7) substitutes and up to three (3) team officials.
  
  
• Only one person at a time is to issue technical instructions and only one person may be standing at any one time.
  
  
• Team officials must remain in the technical area except in special circumstances, such as a medical professional entering the field of play following the referee’s permission to treat an injured player.
  
  
• All occupants in the technical area must conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times, in particular regarding the use of foul and abusive language towards players and match officials.
  
  

9. DISPUTES

• Disputes in connection with player eligibility will only be accepted and reviewed at the Managers’ Meeting. All disputes must be presented in writing, clearly outlining all relevant details. All other disputes in connection with the Tournament must be received by Tournament Committee within one hour of the conclusion of the match in which the dispute has arisen.
  
  

10. DISCIPLINE

• All teams and associated personnel are to abide by the NZ Football Code of Conduct and sign a declaration on behalf of their club prior to the start of the tournament.
  
  
• Games are controlled by the Referees sanctioned by the Tournament Committee. 
  
  
• Players incurring two cautions during different group play matches will automatically be suspended for the next match following the second caution. 
  
  
• Players sent off will incur an automatic one match suspension in the next match. Players sent off twice will be removed from playing for the rest of the tournament and is unable to be replaced in the named squad of players.
  
  
• Players receiving a red card for any reason including but not limited to spitting, violent conduct, physical or verbal abuse towards a player, match or Tournament official, will be automatically reported and referred to the Tournament Committee.  The length of the suspension will be determined, which could include being removed for the remainder of the tournament.
  
  
• The Tournament Committee ask that all coaches, spectators and players respect the Referee and their decisions at all times.  This courtesy also extends to the opposing team and supporters.
  
  
• Any incidents where it is deemed that the NZF Code of Conduct has been breached will be viewed in a serious manner.
  
  
• Coaching instructions must come from on the technical area and are not able to be from the team’s assistant referee.
  
  

11. REFUNDS OF TOURNAMENT FEE

• Once payment of the entry fee is received, no refunds are available unless the tournament is postponed due to COVID-19 limitations and the teams cannot participate on the rescheduled date of the tournament.