LEGENDS INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Playing format is 6 v 6 (5 outfield players + 1 goalkeeper)

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All players must be below the specified age category on January 1st 2025.  Female players are permitted to play one age group below. 

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​All players must be registered.  Unregistered players will not be eligible to play.  Player registration must include date of birth.  If a player's date of birth is challenged by an opposition team the manager will have 12 hours to submit a proof of age.  Birth certificate or passport ideally. 

 

Failure to produce a valid proof of age will result in the player being suspended from the tournament and a 3-0 victory being awarded to the challenging team.

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At the organiser's discretion teams may be invited to play in a lower age category for example a community club competing against SAP and academy teams.  This will be communicated to all teams prior to the commencement of the event.

 

Players can play up an age group and can also represent the same club at different age groups ie an U9 player can play U9s and U10s.

 

Unlimited rolling substitutes are permitted by each team.

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All players MUST wear shin pads with long socks

 

No jewellery is allowed during games.

 

All matches will be 2 x 15 mins (3 min half time) 

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Exception is u12/13 semi finals and Grand Finals which will be 10 min halves.

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Allowance for time lost is permitted at the referee’s discretion to a maximum of 1 minute.

 

Teams must have at least five players on the pitch and ready to start on time. If a team is not ready to play at the scheduled kick off time, a 2-0 penalty is imposed and the remainder of time played as normal.

 

Players must leave the field of play immediately following their game

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FREE KICKS

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All opponents must be at least 3 meters from the ball. All free kicks are indirect and must be touched by at least one other player before a goal is scored. 

 

PENALTY KICK

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All players except kicker and goalkeeper must be outside of penalty area whilst kick is taken.  The penalty taker may take maximum of 2 steps. 

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PASS INS (NOT THROW INS)

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All opponents must be 2 meters from the ball​. The pass in should be played on the floor.  This is to speed up play and remove foul throws.  The ball should not be played in the air otherwise pass ins effectively become free kicks/corner kicks which confers too much advantage to the attacking team.

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GOAL KICKS

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Goalkeepers cannot drop kick the ball.  They are allowed to place the ball on the ground and kick it.  If the ball goes behind off opposition player play restarts with a goal kick.  If the goalkeeper catches the ball they must release within 5 seconds. The keeper is allowed to throw or kick the ball over the half-way line. 

 

Opposition players must be outside of the goalkeeper's area.  The referees are instructed to retreat attacking players in the u8/9s and u9s divisions if the high press is continually affecting a team's ability to find team mates from the goal kick. 

 

The general expectation is for players and coaches to counter a high pressing team.  Please equip goalkeepers and players with solutions to this style of play.  The referee will assist teams in the younger age group if they deem it is appropriate but they are told to use discretion rather than to consistently enforce the retreat. The idea is to speed up the play and encourage players to make quick decisions.​

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THE CORNER KICK 

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All opponents must be at least 3 meters away from the player taking the kick.

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OFFSIDE 

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The Offside Law does NOT apply. 

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COMPETITION FORMAT

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The opening league rounds will be held under a Round Robin system where teams play each other once with points to be awarded as follows: 

Win 3pts

Draw 1pt

Loss 0pts

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QUARTER, SEMI AND GRAND FINALS

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Matches as per group stages.  In the event of a tie then match will be decided by penalties. 

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Each team will take 3 penalties. 

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Penalty takers can be selected from on field players or substitutes but different players must be used until everyone in team has taken a penalty. 

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A team must nominate the goalkeeper for the penalties.  The goalkeeper does not have to be the player who is in goal at the end of the match.  Once the goalkeeper is nominated then they are not allowed to change unless injured during the shootout.

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After 3 penalties if teams still tied then sudden death system is used. 

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If one team fails to score and the other team converts their penalty then scoring team is declared the winner. 

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​TEAM RANKINGS

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The rankings of the teams in each group shall be determined as follows: 

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Greatest number of points obtained in all matches

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Greatest goal difference in all matches

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Greatest number of goals scored in all matches

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If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above criteria, their ranking shall be determined as follows:

 

Greatest number of points obtained in all matches involving the teams concerned.

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Goal difference in all the matches between the teams concerned.

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Greatest number of goals scored in all the matches between the teams
concerned.

If there is still a draw a sudden death penalty kick competition shall decide the winner. 

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Yellow Cards

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During a match the official may issue a yellow card for unsportsmanlike behavior.  If a player receives a second yellow card in the same match then they will be issued a red card and must leave the field of play immediately.  

Yellow cards do not carry forward to later matches.

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Red Cards

 

During a match the official may issue a red card for extremely unsportsmanlike behaviour.  Foul and abusive language, striking an opponent and fouls the referee deems excessively dangerous to the opposition player will all result in an instant red card being issued.

A red carded player may not be substituted.

A red carded player will be suspended for one match.  Any team who fields a suspended player will forfeit that match.  A 4-0 result will be awarded to the opposition team.

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Coach & Spectator conduct

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Coaches and Spectators are asked to refrain from making any comments to the referees or to the players or coaches of other teams. Any complaints should be directed to the organizers who will deal with the situation. 

 

Any person verbally abusing the referees, players or opposing team coaches will be asked to leave and their team will not be invited back.

 

Each team is restricted to one coach and one player manager.  Only these two individuals and the players are permitted inside the playing area during the tournament.

 

Spectators/parents should all be behind perimeter fence.