First of all Thankyou for entering and we would like to welcome you to Necton FC’s summer tournament. 

Necton FC, Tuns Rd, Necton, Swaffham PE37 8EH

A few house rules to help the weekend run smoothly:

• 8.30 gates will open. 

• Car parking is available at the field with additional parking at the garage Tuns Road (next to Costa) car park attendants will be present. Parking is £2.50 per car.  🚘

• We ask NO parking on the street. 🚫

• Please sign in at registration on arrival, this will be at the scores tent.  ✍️

• Managers meeting will be in the scores tent at 9.30 with the first games kicking off at 10am. 🤝🏻

• Gazebos are welcome on the spectators areas. ⛺

• De-fib is on the side of the clubhouse and each of our coaches are all first aid trained. 🩹

• Toilets are available in the Clubhouse. 🚻

• Bar will be open for refreshments. 🍻

• Alcohol will be served however
  NO alcohol or smoking/vaping to be consumed on the pitches or side of the pitches please. 

• Our referees are all volunteers these will include a mixture of some of our regular young referees U15’s players, our coaches and FA qualified will be used. 

• Please respect our referees and the decisions made, any abuse towards them you will be asked to leave the premises and your team will be removed. 

• Food stalls and refreshments will be present on both days. 🍔 inc. Lauries Kitchen, Bucket List and Ice Cream Van.

• Scores will be taken back to the scores tent after each game and will be live on the day via this website. 

• There will also be a QR code to scan on the day.

• Medals for each player that are runners up, trophies for each player that are winners and a team trophy will be given at each age group. 🏅

• Each player registered can only play for one team. 

Lastly and finally, we hope you enjoy the day. 😃

Regards Tanya 

Match Length & Player Participation

• All games will last 12 minutes with no breaks or half time.

• Match timings will be centrally controlled, with all games starting and ending on the sound of the klaxon.

• Only 5 players from each team to be on the pitch at any time.

• Substitutions must take place when the ball is out of play, and must be made with the referee’s acknowledgement. They should be completed promptly to ensure no time-wasting takes place.

• Players substituted off may return later in the same game (i.e. rolling subs permitted).

Knockout Round Matches

• In the event of a knockout round match ending in a tie, there will be an additional 6 minutes of extra time.

• If the score is still tied following extra time, the result will be determined via a penalty shootout.

• The penalty shootout will be best of 5, and should scores still be tied, it will become sudden death.

• All players within the squad, whether on the pitch or a substitute upon the final whistle, are permitted to take penalty kicks. Where squads are not of equal numbers, “non-takers” must be nominated to the referee by the coach before the kicks commence in order to ensure equality in team size, and prevent one team from gaining an unfair advantage.

Goalkeepers and the Penalty Area

• Goalkeepers are permitted to come out of the marked “D” (referred to hereafter as the “penalty area”).

• Goalkeepers may only handle the ball within the penalty area.

• All outfield players are permitted to enter the penalty area and may play the ball from within it.

• When goalkeepers have the ball in their hands, they must either roll it or place it on the floor to pass it back into play.

• Dropkicks (kicks from their hands) are not permitted at any time.

• Goalkeepers are not permitted to play the ball long over the halfway line deliberately (either from open play or a dead ball), to encourage football to be played. An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposition at the point where the ball crossed the halfway line should this occur.

Goal-kicks and the Retreat Rule

• Goal-kicks should be taken from within the penalty area, with the ball stationary on the floor.

• All opposition players must retreat to the halfway line until the goal-kick has been taken.

• Opposition players do not need to retreat if the goalkeeper has the ball in open play (i.e. it has not left the field of play).

Other Restarts

• For all restarts - no opposing player is permitted to stand within 2m of the ball to allow it to be put back into play without interference.

• All restarts are indirect (inclusive of corners and kick-offs). A goal scored direct from a restart without touching another player will result in the goal being disallowed and play restarted from a goal-kick to the defending team.

• Corners are to be taken with standard corner-kick rules i.e. stationary ball; from the corner of the pitch or within the corner arc if marked.

• For all age groups from U7 to U10 – restarts where the ball has left the field of play along either touchline will be a kick-in or dribble-in as per FA age group rules for the 2025/26 season.

• Standard rules relating to this will be in place i.e. the ball must be stationary; must touch another player before a goal can be scored.

• For all age groups U11 and above – restarts where the ball has left the field of play along either touchline will be roll-ins. No overarm throws are permitted and will be deemed a foul-throw with the restart awarded to the opposition.

• Upon a goal being scored, the opposing team will restart the game via a kick-oƯ from the centre of the field of play.

Discipline

• As a club we encourage fair play at all times, and expect teams entering our tournament to be no different.

• We do not expect that the use of cards should be necessary, but they remain an option for our referees should an offence warrant them.

• Standard disciplinary rules will be in place regarding cards i.e. two yellow cards in a single match result in a red card.

• Should a red card be received, the oƯending player will play no further part in that match and may not be replaced with a substitute. That player will not be eligible to feature in their team’s next match i.e. a one match suspension.

• Should a red card be shown for an incident of violent conduct, the oƯending player will play no further part in that match and may not be replaced with a substitute. That player will not be eligible to feature in any of their team’s remaining matches regardless of their tournament progression i.e. a day long suspension.

Referees

• Our referees are volunteers, and in some cases are young referees – they MUST be treated with respect.

• The referee’s decision is final in all circumstances.

• Any dissent or abuse shown towards our referees from players, coaches, or supporters will be treated with a zero tolerance policy. It is not OK!

• If a referee is made to feel uncomfortable in this manner, they may abandon that match (with full support of the Club Committee) with the result being awarded to the opposing team.

• A second offence of this nature by the same team will result in their expulsion from the competition. Should this happen all of their un-played fixtures will be awarded to the opposing teams with a 2-0 scoreline. We do not want or expect this to be necessary!

Coaches Responsibilities

• Upon completion of each match, the referee will ask coaches from both teams to sign the scoresheet to verify the result. Coaches are asked to ensure that they are available to do so, as it is not the responsibility of the referee to chase after them.

• Coaches are responsible for the control of the players and the supporters connected to their club, as well as their own behaviour.

And Remember....

• The players are children.

• This is a game.

• All coaches and staff are volunteers.

• The referees are human and VAR is not available. They get one chance, from one angle with a million other distractions.

• We love our annual tournament and hope you do too, but it is NOT the World Cup!

• Most importantly.... Enjoy it and help all those connected with you to enjoy it too!