Rules

Cheshire Schools' FA Competitions

Competitions are mixed gender apart from those specifically designated for girls. U18 competitions are for boys only.  

Inter-School

Name of Competition	Format	Years	Rules
U9 Girls Cup	5v5	3 & 4	As U11 Girls (with modifications)
U11 Schools Cup	7v7	5 & 6	ESFA Rules
U11 Girls Cup	7v7	5 & 6	ESFA Rules
U11 Small Schools	7v7	5 & 6	ESFA Rules
U12 Boys Cup	5v5	7	ESFA U12 Cup Rules
U12 Girls Cup	5v5	7	ESFA U12 Cup Rules
U13 Cheshire Cup	11v11	8	See Below
U13 Girls Cheshire Cup	9v9	7 & 8	See Below
U14 Hefin Roberts Cup	11v11	9	See Below
U14 Girls Cheshire Cup	11v11	8 & 9	See Below
U15 Emberton Cup	11v11	10	See Below
U16 Flood Cup	11v11	11	See Below
U16 Cheshire Girls Cup	11v11	10 & 11	See Below
U18 Don Ormes Cup	11v11	11-13	See Below
U18 Plate	11v11	11 - 13	See Below
U18 John Sleigh Cup	11v11	11 & 12	See Below

 

Inter-District 

Name of Competition	Format	Years	Rules
U11 Moors Cup	9v9	5 & 6	As ESFA Rules (with modifications)
U14 Alcock Cup	11v11	9	See Below
U15 Senior Trophy	11v11	10	See Below

 

Cheshire Schools' FA Competition Rules

U15 Senior Trophy Competition Rules

1. Trophy
(i) The trophy is the property of the Cheshire Schools Football Association
(ii) The trophy shall be presented to the captain of the winning team.

2. Mementos
Sixteen mementos shall be awarded to each association taking part in the final. A reasonable number of extra mementos may be purchased. The officials in the final shall receive a memento.

3. Control
(i) The entire control and management of the competition shall be vested in the Council, or such Committee as may be appointed by the Council.
(ii) The rules of the game shall be those of the Football Association Ltd., expect as otherwise stated.
(iii) All teams must be under the sole control of the teachers employed in schools affiliated to the ESFA or adults who have received Adult Other Than Teacher sanction from the ESFA.
(iv) The winning association shall be responsible for suitable engraving and for the maintenance of the trophy in good order (This is to include the necessary insurance cover). 
(v) It shall be the responsibility of the association holding the trophy at the time, to return it to the secretary before the end of February following the final.

4. Entries
The trophy shall be offered for annual competition amongst the local associations who provide football for secondary age players.

5. Eligible Players
(i) Only bona-fide scholars on the roll of a school affiliated to the local association, under the age of 15 years at midnight between previous 31st August and 1st September, shall be allowed to take part in this competition.
(ii) A boy/ girl shall not play for more than one association in this competition during any season, except by permission of Council.

6. The Competition
(i) The competition shall be organised into one or two leagues depending on the number of entries. Each team plays one game against the others in their league with 3 points being awarded for a win and one point for a draw. In the event of two teams begin tied on points after qualifying matches are completed, then the order of precedence will as follows:
1. Goal difference
2. Goals scored
3. Results of matches between the two teams concerned
4. Play off match or if time does not permit, the drawing of lots. 
The top two in each league will progress to the semi-final stage where the winner of one league plays the runner up of the other league and vice versa.  If the competition is run as one league, the first place team will play the fourth placed team and second placed team will play the third placed team. 
These matches and the final shall be played on a cup-tie principle.
(ii) The Council shall fix the limit dates within which all ties shall be played. Failure to keep to these limit dates may lead to disqualification - see note on limit dates. If for any exceptional reason, the tie is played after the limit date, a result shall be obtained. 
(iii) Eight days’ notice must be given to the opponents by the ‘home association, and the
visiting team must be prepared to play on the date fixed, provided that no team is asked to
play within 72 hours of their previous game, in this competition.
(iv) In the event of an association not being able to stage the game, it shall advise its
opponents, and the secretary, at least eight days before the limit date for the round.
(v) Where an adequate floodlit ground is available, and is offered by the staging association,
it must be accepted.
(vi) Any dispute relative to the competition shall be reported to the secretary.
(vii) For Senior Trophy and Alcock Cup only. Matches will be played on Saturdays but a match
may be played midweek where both teams are mutually agreed or where, on the application
of the home team, the Council considers it desirable. In the case of an emergency, matches
must be played on any date ordered by Council. It is expected that the final will be played
midweek.

7. Match Officials
(i) In all rounds up to the final, the ‘home’ association shall appoint a suitably qualified
referee and one assistant referee. The opponents shall provide an assistant referee, suitably
dressed. Neutral referees must be obtained wherever possible and to help with this matter
you should seek assistance from your local District Referees Association.
(ii) Council will appoint all officials for the final tie and the secretary must be informed of the
date, at least eight days before the game is due to be played. Neutral referees must be
obtained.

8. Duration of Matches
(i) The duration of each match shall be 40 minutes each way. If it be deemed inadvisable to
play for 80 minutes, the officials may decide on 35 minutes each way.
(ii) In the knock-out stages and final of the Senior Trophy and Alcock Cup competitions and in
all knock-out cup competitions, if the match results in a draw at the end of normal time NO
EXTRA TIME WILL BE PLAYED. Instead, the result will be decided by the taking of penalties.
Five penalties will be taken by each side; if the scores are still level, the tie will be decided by
sudden-death penalties.

9. Dimensions of Field Play
The minimum size of the ground shall be 90 yards by 60 yards.

10. Ball
The ball shall be a size 5.

11. Substitutes
In all 11-a-side and 9-a-side matches, teams are permitted to use five substitutes from five names players. Repeated substitutes are allowed in all competitions up to and including U18 age group.

12. Protests
All protests or objections to any part of the game or its arrangements must be made in writing to the secretary within 3 days. Under no circumstances shall such objections be discussed in the presence of players.

13. Similar Colours
Where associations have similar colours, the home team shall be entitled to retain their colours and the visiting team shall change to colours which provide a satisfactory contrast. 

14. Alteration to Rules
These rules may be altered at a General Meeting of the Cheshire Schools Football Association.

Rules For Other Competitions

U14 Alcock Cup
Rules 1, 2, 3, 4 as for the U15 Senior Trophy Competition.
Rules 5 as U15 Senior Trophy except line two substitutes 14 for 15.
Rule 6 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 6(ii), stays the same for U15 Senior Trophy, but delete the second sentence for U14 Alcock Cup.
Rule 7, 8 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 8(i), insert 35 minutes instead of 40 minutes.
Rule 9 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 10. The ball shall be size 4 unless mutually agreed to be a size 5.
Rule 11, 12, 13, 13 as for U15 Senior Trophy.

U16 Flood Cup (For Year 11 Only)
Rule 1 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 2 substitute school for association.
Rule 3 substitute school in (iv) and (v) for association.
Rule 4 Entries. The Trophy shall be offered for annual competition amongst schools who provide football for secondary age students.
Rule 5 line two substitute 16 for 15; (ii) substitute school for association.
Rule 5(i) Only bona-fide scholars on the roll of a school affiliation to the local association who are fifteen years old, but under the age of sixteen at midnight between 31st August and the 1st
September, shall be allowed to take part in this competition.
Rule 5(ii) substitute school for association.
Rule 6 in (iii), (iv) and (v) substitute school for association.
Rule 6(i) The matches will be played on the cup tie principle.
Rule 7 substitute school for association.
Rule 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 13 substitute school for association.

U15 Emberton Cup (For Year 10 Only)
Rule 1 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 2 substitute school for association.
Rule 3 substitute school in (iv) and (v) for association.
Rule 4(i) Entries. As Flood Cup.
Rule 5(i) Only bona-fide scholars on the roll of a school affiliated to the local association who are fourteen years old, but under the age of fifteen at midnight between 31st August and the 1st
September, shall be allowed to take part in this competition.
Rule 5(ii) substitute school for association.
Rule 6 in (iii), (iv) and (v) substitute school for association.
Rule 6(i) The matches will be played on the cup tie principle.
Rule 7 substitute school for association.
Rule 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 13 substitute school for association.

U16 Girls Cheshire Cup (For Years 10 & 11 Only)
Rule 1 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 2 substitute school for association.
Rule 3 substitute school in (iv) and (v) for association.
Rule 4 substitute school for association. This competition is for girls only as it is specifically designed to aid the development of girls’ football.
Rule 5 substitute under the age of fifteen years with who are fourteen years old, but under the age of sixteen at midnight be tween 31st August and the 1st September, shall be allowed to take part in this competition.
Rule 6 in (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) substitute school for association.
Rule 6(i) The matches will be played on the cup tie principle.
Rule 7 substitute school for association.
Rule 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 as Senior Trophy.
Rule 13 substitute school for association.

U13 Cheshire Cup (Year 8 Only) | U14 Hefin Roberts Cup (Year 9 Only) | U14 Girls Cheshire Cup (Year 8 & 9 Only)
Rule 1 as U15 Senior Trophy
Rule 2 substitute school for association.
Rule 3 substitute school in (iv) and (v) for association.
Rule 4 substitute school for association. The U13 and U14 Inter-School Cups are open to boys and girls; the U14 Girls Cup is for girls only as the competition is specifically designed to aid the
development of girls’ football.
Rule 5 change U15 to U13 or U14 as appropriate.
Rule 6 in (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) substitute school for association.
Rule 6(i) The matches will be played on the cup tie principle.
Rule 7 substitute school for association.
Rule 8(i) insert 35 minutes instead of 40 minutes.
Rule 10 the ball shall be a size 4
Rule 9, 11, 12, 14 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 13 substitute school for association.

U13 Girls Cheshire Cup (For Years 7 & 8 Only)
Rule 1 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 2 substitute Fourteen for Sixteen and substitute school for association.
Rule 3 substitute school in (iv) and (v) for association.
Rule 4 substitute school for association. This competition is for girls only as it is specifically designed to aid the development of girls’ football.
Rule 5 change U15 to U13.
Rule 6 in (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) substitute school for association.
Rule 6(i) The matches will be played on the cup tie principle.
Rule 7 substitute school for association.
Rule 8(i) insert 35 minutes instead of 40 minutes.
Rule 9 The recommended size of the pitch is 80 yards x 50 yards; the recommended goalpost size is 7 feet x 16 feet.
Rule 10 the ball shall be size 4.
Rule 11, 12, 14 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 13 substitute school for association.
Additional Rule: This competition is for teams of 9 players only.

U18 Don Ormes Cup | U18 Plate | Colleges - U18 John Sleigh Cup
Rule 1 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 2 substitute school for association and add or college.
Rule 3 substitute school in (iv) and (v) for association and add or college.
Rule 4 substitute school or college for association.
Rule 5:
(A) U18 Schools' Don Ormes Cup and Plate Competitions
(i) Only bona-fide scholars receiving full time education in accordance with the Education Acts who are on the roll of a school affiliated to the ESFA and who are over the age of 15 years and under the age of 18 years at midnight between the previous 31 August and 1 September shall be allowed to take part in these competitions (years 11 -13). Students on courses based upon day-release are ineligible to take part in these competitions.
(ii) To be eligible to play in these competitions, players should have been on the roll at the school for the formal level 2 examinations in year 11.
(iii) A side may be permitted to play up to four players who joined the school post-16.
(B) Colleges - U18 John Sleigh Cup
Only bona-fide scholars receiving full time education in accordance with the Education Acts who are on the roll of a college or school affiliated to the ESFA and who are over the age of 15 years and under the age of 18 years at midnight between the previous 31 August and 1 September shall be allowed to take part in this competition (years 11 -13). Tertiary colleges, schools with sports/ football academies and any school that wishes to select more than four students who joined the school roll post-16 must enter the John Sleigh Cup. This competition caters for those colleges and schools which offer an extended football programme or football academy programme at sixth form level.
Rule 6 the matches will be played on a cup tie principle.
Rule 7 substitute school or college for association.
Rule 8 insert 45 minutes instead of 40 minutes.
Rule 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 as U15 Senior Trophy.
Rule 13 substitute school or college for association.

1. Both sides will be ejected if the result is not received within 48 hours of the limit date.
2. Extensions may be granted is permission is sought well before the limit date.
3(i). Inter-School Games must be decided on the day.
3(ii) Inter-Association Games must be decided on the day if there is no chance of meeting the limit date.