We have been guided by the FA’s official 5-A-Side Football Rules – please see below:

• The tournament format is 5 v 5
• Squad numbers must be a minimum of 5; maximum of 10 players
• The game is officially played with 4 outfield players and 1 goalkeeper per team. Formations and positions are set by each team. There are no limits to the amount of defenders or attackers per team
• All matches will be 7-minute* halves with a 2-minute break at Half-Time   *Subject to the number of Teams in a Group. Game times will be officially confirmed on the day of the tournament
• Teams will change ends at Half Time
• Teams may operate unlimited substitutions during matches
• Substitutions can only take place during a stoppage in play (e.g. a goal-kick, free kick, restart, etc.). The referee must be notified of the substitution and such must be acknowledged
• All players on the field must wear shin pads. Players not wearing shin pads may be asked to leave the pitch
• No studs or blades are to be worn. The playing surface will typically be 3G/4G. Only trainers or moulded boots are permitted
• Kick-Off is determined by a coin-toss or equivalent to determine which team kicks-off first
• Kick-Off must begin with a pass-back to a team player. This can be straight to the goalkeeper
• The ball is permitted at any height during play
• All throw-ins must be roll-on and made under-arm. If not performed to the satisfaction of the referee, the referee may ask the throw-in to be repeated
• All corners must be kicked
• No player except for the goalkeeper is allowed inside the goalkeeping area. If a defender enters the area to defend and makes contact with the ball, the attacking side is awarded a penalty. If an attacker enters the area to score, even if not making contact with the ball, the defending team restarts with the goalkeepers ball or advantage is played.
• If a goalkeeper makes contact with the ball outside of the goalkeeper area, a resulting penalty for the attacking team is awarded
• Players issued with a yellow card will be suspended for 2 minutes
• Players issued with a red card are permanently suspended from play for that fixture
• A goal is awarded if the whole of the ball passes over the goal line. A goal is not awarded if it has been thrown in by hand
• The team that scores the most goals during a game is the winner. If both teams score an equal number of goals, the game ends in a draw. In the Knock-Out rounds, if a game is a draw at the end of normal time, the match will move straight to penalties to determine a winner
• There is no offside within the 5-a-side football rules
• The ball must be stationary when taking both a direct or an indirect free kick. The free kick taker cannot touch the ball a second time, until it has touched another player. All opponents must retreat at least 2 yards from the free kick position. The ball is back in play once the free kick taker has touched the ball
• Penalties: There are two ways that penalty kicks are awarded against a team: a) An outfield player makes contact with the ball inside their own goalkeeping area; b) A goalkeeper makes contact with the ball outside their own goalkeeping area
• Penalty kick takers have a maximum one yard run-up to strike the ball. All defending players must wait outside of the goalkeeping area during the penalty kick
• Teams will compete in groups, playing every other team in the group at least once*   *Subject to the number of Teams in a Group. Fixtures will be officially confirmed on the day of the tournament
• The group winners from each group are guaranteed to qualify for the Knock-Outs, which will be straight to the Semi-Finals.   Subject to the number of Teams in a Group. The qualification process will be officially confirmed on the day of the tournament
• During the Regional Finals, all those teams that successfully reach the Semi-Finals stage, will automatically qualify to play in the National Finals
• Where a Plate Competition is operated, the Plate winners will also gain an automatic place to play in the National Finals
• All matches played will operate a points system: 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw
• Where teams are tied on points after all Group matches, Goal Difference (GD) will support the team to qualify
• If GD is tied, goals scored For will be counted in support of the team to qualify
• The Referee decision is final in all circumstances and should be respected at all times.