Admin:

• The league tables, fixtures, scores and knockout phase are all on https://www.gfsn.co.uk
• Teams are required to follow the information here throughout the day
• Team captains should aim to arrive at the sports venue at the registration desk 1 hour prior to the tournament commencing. Team captain must complete the registration form prior to tournament beginning. Any team not present on the registration form 15 minutes prior to the first kick off will not be permitted to participate (this is due to the administration of the match schedules)
• You should arrive at your designated pitch 5 minutes before your scheduled KO time
• Team captains must submit each result ASAP on a designated WhatsApp group for the admin team to log the score. In addition, referees will also submit the scores
• Team captains will be responsible for notifying the admin team of their top goal scorer (team and number of goals scored) for the tournament

Details:

• Blackpool Sports Centre, Stanley Park, W Park Dr, Blackpool FY3 9HQ
• Registration 10:00am. First match 11:00am - priority attendees are team captains, players may arrive ready to play 30 minutes before
• Free parking bays. Showering facilities, bar and vending machines on site.
• Shelter from the sun can be found at the grand stand close to the athletics track
• Water and refreshments will be provided by GFSN
• There are water taps in the pavilion for topping up refreshments
• Pitches are 4g artificial turf; 8 x 5 a-side-pitches spanning 2 full size 11-a-side pitches
• Moulded plastic stud boots are recommended
• Shin pads are mandatory for all players
• Showering facilities are in the main building but close at 16:45

How to get there?

Tournament Format

• Round robin consisting of 6 groups. There are 42 teams in total. Groups A to F will have 7 teams (6 games in total).
• 3 points awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw
• There will be 1 consolidated league table displaying the total number of points per team in the competition.
• The top 1-8 will contest the championship knockout
• 9-16 will contest the Pot 2 knockout
• 17-24 will contest the Pot 3 knockout
• 25-32 will contest the Pot 4 knockout
• 33-40 will contest the Pot 5 knockout
• 41 and 42nd will contest the vase
• If the final points are level, final standings will be decided on goal difference, then goals scored, then goals against. If teams are still level, a 3 penalty shootout will determine who progresses.
• Team captains are required to submit the results via WhatsApp or in person at the admin tent. We are also running a golden boot so provide the goal scorers too at the end of the tournament only.
• Round Robin matches are 10-12 minutes.
• Knockout matches are 10 minutes.
• If the game is drawn in the knockout stage, it’s a 3 penalty shootout then sudden death to determine which team progresses.

Whilst every effort has been made to minimise wait times, some teams will be required to play back-to-back matches.

Important

Referees have the instruction to begin the games at the scheduled time. Please ensure you are at your pitch ready to play at your allotted time. There will be no waiting for late teams. If you are more than 5 minutes late for your game, your team will forfeit that fixture, with your opponent gaining a 3-0 victory.

Playing Rules

The usual rules for Association Football except:

• No offside rule
• Opposing players must retreat at least 2 metres from the ball at free kicks
• Only goalkeepers are allowed in the goal area. If a defender enters their own goal area, or if the goalkeeper leaves the goal area, a penalty will be awarded. If an attacker enters the opposing goal area a free kick will be awarded. The referee will use discretion where momentum takes a player in or out of the area
• When an outfield player receives the ball from the goalkeeper, the ball must be touched by another player before being passed back to the goalkeeper. Contravention of this rule will result in a penalty kick being awarded to the opposition.
• If the ball goes out of touch by the opposition, your team must place the ball on the touch line and kick it into play, this is the same for corners. If your team puts the ball out behind the goal, this will result in the game being restarted by the goal keeper
• No sliding tackles
• Goalkeepers are allowed to pick up a back pass
• Please note: When the ball is with the goal keeper, the game can only be restarted from the goal keeper throwing the ball out. Contravention of this rule will result in a penalty kick to the opposition

Other Rules

• Each team has 5 players plus up to 4 substitutes, all of whom must be registered for that team and have signed a disclaimer form.
• If a team wants to make a substitution, the referee should be alerted, and they will allow the change when there is a break in the game (for example, a free kick, penalty or the ball is with a goalkeeper)
• We advise 2 changes per team per match to maximise playing time. No half-time break or changing of ends. We will be monitoring any abuse of time during the games.
• At the knock-out stage, if a game is drawn at the end of normal time, there will be a penalty shoot-out, with 3 shots per team, then sudden death. Only players on the field of play at full time are permitted to take penalty kicks.
• Any decision made by the match referee and/or the administrators is final
• A player who is cautioned will be required to leave the field of play for 2 minutes, and may only re-enter the pitch once permitted by the referee.
• 2 cautions in the competition will result in expulsion of that player from the tournament.
• A red card will result in the player being eliminated from the competition
• Any player that is found to be using racist, homophobic or transphobic language, or exhibit any form of discrimination to any individual in the competition, will result in that player and their team’s disqualification from the tournament.
• No player can play for multiple teams in the competition

Pitch Layout