GAME REGULATIONS
GAME REGULATIONS
The rules will be based on those established and approved by the Spanish Football Federation for the U12 (Alevín) category, in the 8-a-side football format.
This document contains the specific regulations for this tournament, including modifications to certain rules and additional rules necessary for the tournament’s operation.
01/
Duration
Matches will last two halves of 20 minutes, with a 5-minute break in between.
Teams are required to be punctual when starting and resuming matches. Teams must be ready on the pitch 10 minutes before the start of the game.
02/
Players
Each team may have a maximum of 14 players, all of whom must be registered on a preliminary list sent to the tournament organizers.
Substitutions may be made at any time during the game, always with prior authorization from the director, field assistant director, or the referee.
Play will only be stopped if the substituted player is the goalkeeper, or if the referee or field director deems it necessary.
Any substituted player may re-enter the game.
All substitutions must be made through the center of the pitch. The player entering the field may do so only once the referee decides.
03/
Kit
Each club is required to bring at least two numbered match kits, or one kit plus a set of numbered bibs. All shirts must be properly numbered, and the numbers must match the match sheet. Players must keep the same number throughout the entire competition.
Teams will wear the club’s primary official kit as designated before the start of the competition. If both teams’ kits have matching colors or the referee determines that confusion could occur, the team playing as the visitor must change its kit.
All players participating in the match are required to wear shin guards.
Players warming up during the match must stay in the area previously designated by the Field Director and must wear a bib that does not match the color of either team currently playing.
04/
Competition system
Qualification Round:
- Teams will face each other in a single round-robin league format.
- Six groups of four teams each will be formed.
- The teams that finish 1st and 2nd in each group, along with the 4 best third-placed teams, will qualify for the Round of 16 in the Final Round.
- The teams finishing in 4th place, along with the two worst third-placed teams, will play the quarter-finals of the Consolation Stage.
- The teams that lose in the Round of 16 will play an additional match on Sunday.
Scoring system in the Qualification Round
- Win: 3 points
- Empate: 1 punto
- Loss: 0 points
Tiebreak criteria
(in case of equal points in the standings):
- Result of the head-to-head match.
Better goal difference. - Higher number of goals scored.
- Lower number of goals conceded.
- Team with the lowest average age.
Final Round and Consolation Stage
- The winning team of each knockout match will advance to the next round.
- In the event of a draw, qualification will be decided by a shootout of 3 alternating penalties per team.
- If the tie persists, sudden death will be used: each team will take one penalty alternately until one scores and the other misses.
Penalty shootout rules
- Only the players who are on the pitch at the end of the match may participate.
- Each kick must be taken by a different player.
- Once all players (including the goalkeeper) have taken a penalty, they may take another.
- If a goalkeeper suffers a clear injury that is duly confirmed by the tournament’s medical team, they may be replaced by a designated substitute.
- Any eligible player may switch positions with the goalkeeper during the shootout.
- If a team has more players than its opponent before starting the shootout, it must reduce its number to match the opponent’s. The team official must inform the field director and the referee of the names and shirt numbers of the excluded players, who may not participate in the kicks.
Positioning on the field during the penalty shootout
- The players eligible to take the kicks must remain inside the center circle.
- Only the goalkeepers and the player taking the penalty may remain in the penalty area.
- The remaining players and the coaching staff must stay within their respective technical areas.
05/
Referees:
All referees in the tournament will belong to the Football Federation of Castilla-La Mancha. Respect for the referees and their decisions is required, and under no circumstances will their decisions be grounds for claims from the teams.
06/
Sanctions:
If a team fields a suspended player or one who does not meet the requirements established by the regulations, the team will lose the match in question by 3–0.
If a player commits an offense punishable by a caution or a sending-off (whether on or off the pitch), they will be sanctioned according to the nature of the incident as stated in the referee’s report and in accordance with the sanctions outlined in the regulations and the rules of the game.
A yellow card will be used to communicate a caution. A player who receives two yellow-card cautions in the same match will be sent off and may not return to participate in that match.
A red card will be used to indicate a sending-off. A red card will prevent participation in that match and in the following match of the tournament.
All referees in the tournament will belong to the Football Federation of Castilla-La Mancha. Respect for the referees and their decisions is required, and under no circumstances will their decisions be grounds for claims from the teams.
07/
Match Suspended:
If a match is suspended due to any incident and/or issue, the Competition Committee will decide based on the following parameters, taking into account the reason for the suspension.
- The match is replayed from the start.
- The match resumes from the minute in which it was suspended.
- The score at the moment of suspension is set as the final result.
- One of the teams is awarded a 3–0 win.
- Both teams forfeit the match (0–3).
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