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Rules of the Competition

Rules of the Tournament (Note: These may be subject to change up to the start of the Tournament)

1. Normal Football Association rules will apply (with appropriate changes for a seven-a-side competition), with the following exceptions:

(a) There will be no offside
(b) Three rolling substitutes will be allowed for each game
(c) Squads are limited to 12 players.
(d) No team may play with fewer than 5 players.

2. The duration of games will be 10 minutes each way, with an interval of 2 minutes.

3. For the league section, teams will be in three divisions.

  • Each team in the division will play the others once. Teams in groups B and C will play one team from the opposite group.

4. Teams will be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing. Placings will be decided by points and, where teams are level on points, by goal difference, and then, if necessary, by goal total.

5. The make up of the knock-out section will be as follows.

Arthur Marwick Trophy (AMT)

  • The top two teams and two best 3rd placed teams will go through to the quarter-finals of the Arthur Marwick trophy.
  • The Skellington Plate will be competed for by the two losing semi-finalists.

Desmond Dribble

  • The other 3rd placed team and the two best 4th placed teams will go through to the Desmond Dribble semi-finals.
  • The remaining two teams will play off for the 4th semi-final slot in the Desmond Dribble.

6. In the knock-out section, if teams are level at the end of normal time, extra time of 5 minutes each way will be played. If the scores are still level at the end of extra time, the result will be decided by penalties. Five penalties will be taken by each side, alternately and by 5 different players. If the teams remain deadlocked, penalties will again be taken alternately until, after a pair of penalties, one team leads by a goal.

7. A fixture list for the league section together with dates for the knock-out section will be circulated to all teams as soon after the draw as possible. It will also appear on the Website .

All games must be played on the day and at the time indicated on the fixture list. If Estates deem that the pitch is unplayable, the organising committee will permit fixtures to be rearranged.

8. Should a team be unable to fulfil a fixture then 3 points, and two goals, will be awarded to the opponents, and the offending team will be deemed to have conceded 2 goals. If both teams are at fault then each will lose 2 goals. In cases where a team appears to benefit by not playing a fixture or where a team may have been handicapped by opponents refusing to play, the organising committee will take appropriate action, including, for example, arranging additional ‘play-off’ fixtures.

9. No player shall play for more than one team during the competition except as provided for by rule 10

10. Once a player has played or been substitute for a team he is ‘tied’ to that team. Breaches of this rule are dealt with as follows.
(a) The opposing team receives 3 points, any goals scored are credited to its record, and goals conceded are not included in its record.
(b) The offending team receives 0 points, any goals conceded are counted in its record, and any goals scored are not credited.
(c) If both teams break the rule, no points are awarded and no goals are counted.

10.1 This rule applies where two or more teams are entered from one department or area and where the teams have been entered as ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ etc. teams. Once a player has played or been substitute for a team he is ‘tied’ to that team except that:
(a) A ‘B’ team player may play a maximum of one game for the ‘A’ team;
(b) A ‘C’ team player may play a maximum of one game for the ‘A’ or ‘B’ team (i.e. one game for the ‘A’ team or one game for the ‘B’ team but not both).
(c) A corresponding rule applies to players from ‘D’ teams, etc.
(d) A ‘B’, ‘C’ etc. team player may play one game for a higher team before playing for the ‘B’, ‘C’ etc. team provided that the organising committee is informed in advance.
A team may not use more than one player from a 'Lower' team in any one game.

11. Player beahviour: The competition should be played in a friendly and sportsmanlike manner, this does not mean that it should not be competitive but any serious foul play or aggressive behaviour will be harshly dealt with. The Referee will have the option to ask for a player to be substituted for a sutable period of time if he feels the player is over aggressive or likely to cause injury. If a team does not have a substitute they will have to play with 6 players until the offending player returns.

12. Except in the semi-finals and finals, the first-named team in each fixture must arrange for a referee from the list of approved referees to referee the fixture. (Referees for semi-finals and finals will be appointed by the organising committee.) Both teams must supply a linesman for each fixture.

13. Each team organiser must send the result of the match, the scorers, and a list of players (and their departments) by email to Peter Dazley (Peter.Dazley) by 4.00 pm on the day of the fixture, copied to Liam Baldwin (Liam.Baldwin) and Brandon Cook (Brandon.Cook).Failure to comply with this rule will subject the team to penalties imposed by the organising committee.

14. Each team must pay an entry fee of £10 (cash only) by the stated closing date for entries.

  • 15. The following conditions on eligibility of players will apply.

(a) A team’s players should generally be drawn from within a single department or area. The organising committee will scrutinise entries from teams covering more than one department or area, and will have the power to exclude teams where the spirit of the rules and of the competition are felt to be breached.
(b) Players should be full- or part-time employees of the OU or have a similarly strong connection (e.g. research students).
(c) Where a player is a member of a department or area which is entering a team or teams in the competition, that player may not join a team outside their department or area without prior permission from the organising committee.
(d) In cases of doubt over a player’s eligibility, team organisers must seek clearance from the organising committee in advance.
Breaches of this rule are dealt with as provided under rule 9.

16. The instructions circulated annually on the refereeing arrangements and penalties for bookings and sendings off have the force of rules.

17. In the case of any dispute or query over the interpretation of the rules, the decision of the organising committee is final.

18. The organising committee shall have the power to take such action as it thinks fit for any contingency not specifically covered by these rules, including the imposition of such penalties as it may determine.

THE PLATE and DESMOND DRIBBLE TROPHY

  • The rules for the main competition apply
  • Players in the Plate and Desmind Dribble competitions retain their ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ etc. team status. Any ‘B’, ‘C’ etc. player who has played one game for a higher team in the main competition may additionally play one game for a higher team in the Plate.