PLEASE NOTE THESE RULES ARE TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OFFICIAL DRAW

Updated: 20th March 2024

1 Team eligibility

This is a tournament designed for Club youth teams. Teams must be hosted by a Club that is duly registered as such with its local federation.

The tournament is open to Club teams from both New Zealand and overseas. All overseas teams must have the approval of entry from their own National body as well as from OFC and NZF.

2 Player eligibility

• Females: Born between 1st January 2007 and 31st December 2010. Please contact the tournament director at u17s@wsafc.org.nz if you need to discuss these dates.
• All Clubs must hold copies, on file, of suitable age verification (eg passport, student ID or driver licence) for every player listed on their online registration list as at Thursday 21st November 2024. These must be made available on request. In the case of changes for medical reasons, this information for new players must be available for review at the Manager’s meeting.
• No player will be permitted to compete in the Tournament unless evidence of their age, acceptable to the Tournament Management Committee, is available on request.
• NOTE: in the situation of protest or dispute regarding player eligibility, the Tournament Management Committee will determine whether the photo ID submitted shall be considered as conclusive evidence.
• All players with the exception of 2 guest players, must be registered to play at the club they are representing between 1st April 2024- 1st September 2024.
• If your club has an MOU with another Club to combine player resources, then please send proof of a written MOU, approved by your federation to the tournament committee for review. 
• Registrations will be determined by the club(s) they were registered for on the national database, Comet by this date. 
• All Clubs must complete in full the online registration no later than Thursday 21st November 2024.
• Two guest players per squad will be permitted. A guest player is defined as one who has not been registered with the Club entering between 1st April 2024 - 1st September 2024 and did not play for your club in the 2024 winter season. Any clubs proven to have been found abusing this rule in 2024 may be excluded from entry in 2025.
• Guest players’ eligibility must be approved by the guest players’ own Club, with evidence of this to be provided by way of email from a club email address or letter signed by an official from the guest club.   All players (including guest players) must be in the national database, Comet and registered to play in New Zealand.  
• Any eligibility requests will be dealt with on a per Club basis, and tournament organisers reserve the right to allow a Club dispensation based on their individual situation.

3 Game Rules *Subject to final draw

Game rules are those of FIFA with the following tournament adaptions. All fields are accepted as being within acceptable FIFA size variations. It is the Tournament Director’s intention that all fields will be of the same dimensions. All match balls will be a size 5 supplied by the Tournament Management.

4 Tournament Format

Pool Play:

Points will be awarded as follows:

• Three points for a win
• One point for a draw
• No point for a loss in the rounds

If teams are level on points:

• If teams are level on points at the end of pool play, goal difference will apply
• If teams are still level, the score of the match between the two equal sides will determine the top qualifier
• If teams are still level, the highest goal scoring team will qualify
  
  

• If teams are still level, the team from the Club with the superior disciplinary record in this competition shall be the highest placed team

Note: Western Springs AFC 2024 U17 Tournament rules state that one red card will take precedence over multiple yellows. In the event of the teams still being equal, lots drawn under the direction and supervision of the Tournament Management Committee shall determine the final position.

Tournament Format

Matches

• Three pools of six teams will play each other once during pool play.

• The top 8 teams across the pools will progress to the Championship Quarter-Finals.
• 9th -16th placed teams across the pools will progress to the Plate Quarter-Finals.
• 17th -18th placed teams from each pool will play each other for one final game.

Points will be awarded as follows:

• Three points for a win
• One point for a draw
• No point for a loss in the rounds

If teams are level on points:

• If teams are level on points at the end of pool play, goal difference will apply
• If teams are still level, the score of the match between the two equal sides will determine the top qualifier.
• If teams are still level, the highest goal scoring team will qualify
• If teams are still level, team from the Club with the superior disciplinary record in this competition shall be the highest placed team

Note: Western Springs AFC 2024 U17 Tournament rules state that one red card will take precedence over multiple yellows. In the event of the teams still being equal, lots drawn under the direction and supervision of the Tournament Management Committee shall determine the final position.

Post Pool Play Match Details

• For all games from the Quarter-Finals onwards, if the score is level at the end of normal time, penalties will be taken to decide the winner. 
• The only exception to this will be the Championship Final, where extra time will be played as a result of a draw at the end of normal time. It shall consist of two halves of 5 minutes. Straight change over – no half-time. 
• Best of 5 penalties and only the player’s on the pitch at the end of the final whistle are eligible to take a penalty. 

Championship Finals

Winners of the Quarter-Finals will progress to the Semi-finals. Losing teams from the Championship Quarter-Finals will be knocked out of the tournament. 

Winners of the Semi-finals go on to play in the Championship Final. 

Plate Finals

Winners in the Quarter-Finals will progress to the Semi-finals. Losing teams from the Plate Quarter-Finals will be knocked out of the tournament. 
Winners of the Plate Semi-Finals will play off for the Plate Final. Losing teams from the Plate Semi -Finals will be knocked out of the tournament.

There is no 3rd v 4th game.

Note: The two teams that reach the Championship Final must complete and supply their Starting line-up and Formation form.  A representative should obtain the form on returning their semi-final teamcard.  A team representative should return it no later than 11.30am on Day 3 to Tournament HQ and be able to brief the Sky Sport Commentators.

Game Time:

• There will be no referees time added for any games during the Group play stage.
• Games will be scheduled to last 50 minutes (25 minutes each way) with 4 minutes for half-time.
• Quarter-Finals will be scheduled to last 50 minutes (25 minutes each way) with 4 minutes for half-time.
• Semi-finals will be scheduled to last 50 minutes (25 minutes each way) with 5 minutes for half-time.
• Finals will be scheduled to last 50 minutes (25 minutes each way) with 10 minutes for half-time.

5 Team Squad

• The maximum number in a squad is 18 players.
• No new or additional players are permitted after Thursday 21st November 2024 without the written approval of the Tournament Management Committee.
• Requests for new or additional players based on medical grounds may be made at the Manager’s meeting and will be determined by the Tournament Management Committee, at their sole discretion.
• Names, dates of birth and squad numbers are to be clearly listed on the approved squad list. This must be supplied by the due date of Thursday 21st November 2024.

6 Team List

• Any revisions to the original team list must be submitted by 12pm on Wednesday 4 December 2024. Copies of all player IDs may be requested from the Tournament Organisers.
• Guest players must be clearly indicated on the team list and approved by the guest players' own Club, with evidence of this to be provided.
• All players’ strip numbers must be clearly indicated on the team list. No player will be allowed to play without a numbered strip.
• All team management personnel must also be listed on this team list with one mobile phone contact in case of unforeseen emergencies.
• Home and away strip colours must also be noted on the team list.  

7 Substitutes

• All 18 squad members will be allowed on the team card and all players can be used in any game. Rolling substitutions will be permitted. Substitutions can only be made during a maximum of two intervals during each half allowing for multiple player substitutions.
• If the Championship Finals go to extra time, substitutions will be allowed before the start of extra time, and at half time of extra time. No substitutions will be allowed outside of these windows. 
• Concussion / serious injury substitution will be permitted.
• All Substitutes must wear a bib in a different colour to their playing strip. Teams must provide their own bibs.

8 Strip

• Teams need to have both a normal (home) strip and an alternative (away) strip complete with player numbers.
• The Player’s number must match the name on the registration team card and match team cards. Players must only play in their designated strip number.
• All strip colours, home and alternate, must be notified to the Tournament organisers at time of entry.

9 Protests

• Protests in connection with player eligibility will be accepted and compared with details on record. All protests must be in writing, clearly stating all relevant facts. All other protests in connection with the Tournament must be received by the Tournament Management Committee (via registration and tournament HQ) within one hour of the conclusion of the match in which the dispute has arisen.
• The dispute will be considered by the Tournament Organisers and the decision will be binding, with no appeal permitted.
• A charge of $20 will apply for all protests to be heard. This is refundable if the protest is upheld.

10 Manager’s Meeting

This will be held online on Sunday 1 December 2024 at 7pm. A link to join will be sent the week prior. It is a requirement of entry that your Club representative attends this meeting.

 A WhatsApp group will be set up prior to the tournament for quick fire messages. We require a minimum of two coaching staff/management to join! 

11 Referees

An official referee will be supplied for all pool games to control the match.

One assistant from each team will be requested to assist the referee during pool play.

3 Point control will be the Tournament Management Committee’s intention for all knock-out games – subject to the availability of suitably qualified officials.

12 Discipline

• This will be controlled by the Tournament Management Committee.
• Players incurring two cautions during group play will automatically be suspended for one match (i.e. the next match following the match in which the 2nd yellow card was incurred). If the 2nd yellow card occurs in the last pool match, the player will miss the first knock-out match (i.e. the Quarter-Final for the Women’s).
• If a player incurs one yellow card during pool play, this will be removed for the Women’s Quater-Final.
• If a player incurs one yellow card in both their Qtr Final and Semi Final, they will miss the Final.
• Players sent off (red card) will automatically incur a minimum one-match suspension. Players sent off twice will be banned from the remainder of the Tournament.
• All players, coaches, team officials and spectators are bound by the NZF Code of Conduct. This is available on our website and App.

A red card for violent conduct, spitting, physical or verbal abuse of, or intimidation of, any match or Tournament official, or any other red card offence that is reported in writing to the Tournament Management Committee by a match official, will automatically be referred to the Tournament Management Committee. The Tournament Committee will determine the length of any suspension, up to and including ejection from the whole Tournament.

Further to the above, the Tournament Management Committee may refer the matter to NRF, and/or NRF may request (based on information received), that a player suspended from any matches in the Tournament appear before an NRF Judicial Committee (or if is unable to appear at the set time be dealt with in her absence) and any further sanctions be imposed. NRF may also refer the matter to another federation if this is deemed appropriate.

13 Refunds

Once payment is made in full, no refunds will be offered after 1st October 2024.  

An $100 admin fee will apply to each refund received before 30th September 2024.