Swindon P.S.F.A Swindon Primary Schools Football Association

E.S.F.A. competition rules

The following rules are taken from the E.S.F.A. website and are also printed in the 2018-2019 handbook

1. Name

E.S.F.A. Danone Nations u-11 7 a-side Cups

2. Entries

a) The trophies shall be offered for annual competition in schools in affiliated membership with the English Schools' Football

     Association.

3. Eligible Players

a) Only boys and girls receiving full-time education in accordance with the Education Acts, on the roll of a school affiliated to the

     E.S.F.A. and to their local association and who are under the age of 11 and who are over the age of 9 at midnight between the

     previous 31st August and 1st September shall be allowed to take part in these competitions (Year 5 and 6 only)

b) Each school will select a squad of 10 players

c) This competition is available to mixed teams except the Schools' Cup for Girls which is for girls' teams only

4. The Competition

a) All games throughout the competition will be played outdoors.

b) Each local association shall stage its own competition, providing its own champion school to the County competition.

c) Each County Association shall stage its own County Competition to find its County Champion to represent the County in the

    appropriate Regional Competition. All County Championships must be played by a date decided annually by Council. Full

    details of these County Championships must be sent to the E.S.F.A. Chief Executive, giving a minimum of 28 days' notice

    before the event takes place.

d) The County Champion school will play in one of four regional competitions. Schools representing counties shall travel to

     play at a suitable venue in each region. Details of the territory to be covered by each of the four regions will be decided by

     Council. The regional competitions shall each provide at least one entrant to the National Finals.

5. Match Officials

a) Local and County Associations: the secretary of the association shall appoint match officials.

b) Regional competitions: The Council Member in whose area the Regional Competition is being staged shall appoint the match

     officials.

c) National Finals: The match officials shall be appointed by Council.

6. Duration of matches

a) Matches will consist of two periods of seven minutes with the teams changing straight round at half time.

b) Teams should play in a 'league format', followed by a 'knock-out' section to determine the champion school. This two section

     competition will ensure that every team will play more than one game. In the League section, a win will gain 3 points, and a

     draw will gain 1 point. Should teams share a qualifying position in the league the position shall be decided on goal difference.

     Should points and goal difference be equal the winners shall be the team scoring the most goals. If this fails to determine the

     winning team, the position shall be decided by a play-off in accordance with 6 c).

c) If the scores remain level at the end of normal time in a 'knock-out' section of the competition, play will continue for a period

     of six minutes, three minutes each way. If this fails to determine the winning team, the position will be decided by penalty

    kicks, taken in accordance with the regulation of F.I.F.A., as published in the Laws of the Game. Where a National Final ends

    in a draw, extra-time shall be played. If the game remains a draw, the trophy shall be shared.

d) Council may amend the structure and players rules for the National Finals should circumstances demand.

7. Other match regulations

a)  A size 4 football shall be used

b) E.S.F.A. recommends that (i) the pitch sizes should follow the F.A. regulations for mini-soccer for children age ten years or

     over and (ii) goalposts should be 6.5m wide and 2m high (7 yards x 6'6"). It is recognised that local conditions may require a

     compromise in dimensions.

c) The law relating to offside does not apply in these competitions.