Rules

Competitive Competition Rules

1. THE EDINBURGH International CUP COMMITTEE (TECC)

(A) The TECC shall be appointed by the organizer and comprise of individuals as they see fit. All participants shall abide by The Scottish Football Association Regulations for Safeguarding Children as determined by The SFA from time to time. Matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the game as determined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) unless stated differently in this document.

(B) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the TECC who shall conduct the correspondence of the competition and keep a record of its proceedings.

(C) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their official coaches and group leaders and sent to the TECC by email.

2. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT

(A) The TECC may appoint sub-committees and delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary.

(B) The TECC shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition, including any not provided by the rules. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and Regulations of The SFA shall be dealt with in accordance with SFA Rules by the appropriate Association.

(C) All decisions of the TECC shall be binding and no appeals shall be made to the SFA

(D) A Club must comply with an order or instruction of the TECC, and must attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition to the satisfaction of the TECC.

(E) The business of the Competition, as determined by the TECC, may/shall be transacted by electronic mail.

3. PLAYER’S QUALIFICATIONS

(A) The Edinburgh Cup shall be divided into the following age groups:  

Boys U7s & U8s (4v4), U9s (5v5), U10s & U11s (7v7), U12s (9v9), U13s, U14s, U15s, U16s (11v11). 

Girls U8/9s (5v5), U10s (7v7), U12s (7v7 or 9v9) & U14s & U16s (11v11)

(B) The age qualification date shall be 1st January for all age groups. Teams from countries who run qualification dates from 31st August will have dispensation to participate in the relevant category. Before taking part each club shall submit a registration form to the competition TECC by electronic mail prior to the Player playing. Players will also be required to have proof of age with them in case of any disputes.

(C) All players will be registered members of their Club otherwise prior agreement with tournament management and shall register and play for only one team in the tournament. Clubs with two or more teams of the same age group taking part in the tournament are not allowed to move players from team to team.

(D) The Tournament is open to all affiliated clubs that have the approval of the relevant County / National Association, otherwise prior agreement with tournament management. Each team will consist of a maximum of 18 persons.

4. CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME. PLAYERS EQUIPMENT

(A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with The Edinburgh International Cup website before the commencement of the tournament, who shall decide as to their suitability.

(B) Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the match officials.

(C) If, in the opinion of the referee, two teams have the same or similar colours, the away team will change.

(D) Shin pads are compulsory.

5. DETERMINING FINAL POSITIONS (ONLY COMPETITIVE AGE GROUPS)

(A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points to be awarded for a win and one point for a drawn match. The Teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners.

B) The Tournaments will be played on a League basis in the first stage with the Clubs divided into groups of one or more. Each Club shall play one match against each other Club in its group.

(C) In the event of a Team withdrawing from the Competition, all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting Team shall be expunged from the Competition table. In the event of any Clubs being level on points for any knockout place in a group the final position shall be decided by:

• Goal difference

• Number of goals scored

• The result of the match between the two clubs

• By taking kicks from the penalty mark The knockout competition varies depending on the age group.

6. DURATION OF MATCHES

(A) All matches, apart from the Final, will have a duration as determined by the number of teams entered per age group but will be between 20-30 minutes straight or (Finals only) 25 minutes each way.

(B) The duration of the half-time interval shall be up to a maximum of 8 minutes in all matches.

(C) In the event of scores being level at the end of full time in the knockout competition stages, the match shall be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark as follows: Penalty Kick Rules & Procedure:

• The referee chooses the goal at which the kicks will be taken.

• The referee tosses a coin and the team whose captain wins the toss chooses to go first or second.

• The referee keeps a record of the kicks being taken.

• Subject to the conditions explained below, both teams take five kicks.

• The kicks shall be taken alternately by the teams.

• If, before both teams have taken five kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could score even if it were to complete its five kicks, no more kicks are taken.

• If, after both teams have taken five kicks, both have scored the same number of goals or have not scored any goals, kicks continue to be taken in the same order until one team has scored a goal more than the other from the same number of kicks.

• A goalkeeper who is injured while kicks are being taken from the penalty mark and is unable to continue as a goalkeeper may be replaced by a named substitute provided his team has not used the maximum number of substitutes permitted under the competition rules.

• With the exception of the foregoing case, only players who are on the field of play at the end of the match, which includes extra time where appropriate, are allowed to take kicks from the penalty mark.

•Each kick is to be taken by a different player, and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick.

• An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper at any time when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken.

• All players, except the player taking a kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain on the halfway line.

• The goalkeeper who is the teammate of the kicker must remain on the field of play, outside the penalty area in which the kicks are being taken, on the goal line where it meets the penalty area boundary line.

• Unless otherwise stated, the Laws of the Game and the International F. A. Board Decisions apply when the kicks from the penalty mark are being taken.

7. FORMAT & SUBSTITUTES

(A) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use substitute Players in any match in the competition.

(B) For Boys U10s, U11s, U12s and Girls U10 & U12s – up to 7 may be selected from 6 substitute Players (dependent on the maximum number of players). A Player who has been substituted becomes a substitute and may replace any player at any time. For U7s to U12s – any number of substitutions may be used at any time with permission. A Player who has been replaced may return to the play as a substitute for another player.

(C) The rules throughout the whole event will include regular throw-ins, corner kicks and goal kicks.

(D) Each foul will be given as a direct free kick; walls must be a minimum of 5 metres back, at the referee’s discretion.

(E) No offside rule. (unless 9 & 11`sides)

(F) The goalkeeper cannot be changed in the event of penalties unless an injury occurs.

(G) There will not be a height restriction on passes.

(H) The pass-back rule does apply (except for 4, 5 & 7 sides). Should the goalkeeper handle the ball from a pass from one of his own teams, an indirect free kick is awarded where the ball was picked up.

(I) Goalkeepers cannot score a goal from a bye kick.

(J) A goalkeeper’s area will be marked out – any foul inside this area will result in a penalty.

8. DISPENSATION

(A) All requests for special dispensation must be in writing to the TECC at least 14 days prior to the commencement of the tournament.

9. REPORTING RESULTS

(A) The referee shall be responsible for reporting the result of each match to the TECC.

10. REFEREES

(A) Registered referees for all Competition Matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the TECC and by the Sanctioning Association(s).

(B) Where assistant referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club assistant referee (this is at the discretion of the referee).

(C) The appointed referee shall have the power to decide as to the fitness of the Ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of a Ground, the representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision must be accepted.

11. PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

(A) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of Players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the TECC or a sub-committee duly appointed by the TECC.

(B) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the TECC. Any complaints about match officials and referees shall not be entertained.

12. TROPHIES, MEDALS & AWARDS

(A) At the close of each age group competition, the following trophies/awards will be made to the winners of the Cup (1st), the trophy (2nd) and the plate (3rd) and all non-competitive participants will receive a medal for participation (this does NOT include the competitive event).

13. EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS

(A) The competition shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club or Team whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable. 

B) Any Officer or member of a Club proved guilty of either a breach of Rule, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a Player or Players of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or TECC may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion.

(C) Any player who is sent off for violent conduct or using offensive, insulting abusive language or action during the tournament will miss the next game.

14. ABANDONMENTS

(A) The TECC shall review all matches abandoned by referees immediately. Where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, the TECC shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the TECC are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one Team or its Club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponent.

(B) The TECC shall review any match that has taken place where either or both Teams were under a suspension imposed upon them by The SFA or Affiliated Association. Where both Teams were under suspension the match must be declared null and void and shall not be replayed.

(C) The TECC shall review all matches abandoned or cancelled by referees due to pitch or weather conditions, if an alternative time, venue or date can not be provided by the TECC, both teams will be awarded 1 point.

15. INSURANCE

(A) All Clubs must hold the relevant insurance.

16. ALTERATION TO RULES/FIXTURES

(A) Any changes to the rules/fixtures shall be circulated to the clubs via the APP at the earliest possible opportunity.