Competition Rules 2024-2025
ESFA PREMIER LEAGUE UNDER 11 9-A-SIDE INTER ASSOCIATION CUP
INTRODUCTION
The rules stated below shall be in addition to those entitled “General Competition Rules”.
1. NAME
ESFA Premier League U11 9-a-side District Cup
ESFA Premier League U11 9-a-side Girls' District Cup
2. ENTRIES
(a) The Trophies shall be offered for annual competition in Associations in affiliated membership with the English Schools’ Football Association.
(b) Entrants must have a designated Child Welfare Officer and coaching staff as confirmed by ESFA National Welfare Officers.
3. ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
(a) Only boys/girls receiving full-time education in accordance with the Education Acts, on the roll of a school affiliated to the ESFA and to their Local Association and who are under the age of 11 and who are over the age of 9 years 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 Association will select a maximum squad of 14 players.
(c) These competitions are available to mixed teams.
4. THE COMPETITION
(a) All games throughout this competition will be played at adequate venues.
(b) Regional Competitions: Invited Associations will play in one regional competitions. Associations representing their region shall travel to play at a suitable venue. Details of the territory to be covered by each of the regional competitions will be decided by the competition organiser. The Regional Competitions shall each provide at least one entrant to the National Finals.
(c) Details of the National Tournament finals will be shared with those Associations that qualify for the tournament.
5. MATCH OFFICIALS
(a) Regional Competitions: The match officials shall be appointed by the competition organiser.
(b) National Finals: The match officials shall be appointed by the competition organiser.
6. DURATION OF MATCHES
(a) Match duration may be subject to change due to tournament format in regional venues, but will never exceed 15 minutes.
(b) Matches will always be played in one period, with no half term or change of end for teams.
(c) Teams should play in “league format”, followed by a “knock-out” section to determine the Champion Association. 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 goals scored. Should points and goals scored be equal the winners shall be the team with the better head-to-head record. If this fails to determine the winning team, the position shall be decided by a play-off in accordance with 6(c).
(d) If the scores are level at the end of normal time in a “knock-out” section of the Competition, the position will be decided by penalty kicks, taken in accordance with the regulation of FIFA, as published in the Laws of the Game. Where the National Final ends in a draw, the Trophy shall be decided via penalty kicks.
(e) 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) ESFA recommends that (i) the pitch sizes should follow the FA regulations for mini soccer for children age ten years or over and (ii) goalposts should be 16 ft wide and 7 ft high. It is recognised that local conditions may require of compromise in dimensions.
(c) Offside: The law relating to Offside will be applied at the match officials discretion.
