Tournament regulations

§ 1. Rules

GO Football will be played in accordance with applicable sections of the FIFA rules and the Swedish F.A. rules. When subject to interpretation of FIFA rules or regulations, the English text applies.

§ 2. Competition rules

2.1 Age categories

Boys

Age categories noted "e" are elite-classes while age categories noted "b" are regular classes. 

• B16 - Boys born 2008 or later (11-a-side)
• B15e - Boys born 2009 or later (11-a-side)
• B15b - Boys born 2009 or later (11-a-side)
• B14 - Boys born 2010 or later (11-a-side)
• B13e - Boys born 2011 or later (9-a-side large)
• B13b - Boys born 2011 or later (9-a-side large)
• B12 - Boys born 2012 or later (9-a-side small)

Girls

• G15/16 - Girls born 2008 or later (11-a-side)

Participating teams must belong to a club or academy that is a registered with its national FIFA affiliated association. School teams from countries where school teams can participate in the official football competitions of the national football association and are registered with the national school association are also allowed to participate. All players must be registered with the club they are playing for. 

2.2  12 years

The age category B12 will be played in accordance with the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) rules for the age group, i.e. there are no tables or playoff. Instead of the playoffs the teams will be rearranged into a second group stage. The result of the change is that all teams will be guaranteed to play six matches, compared to the earlier average of 4,5 games. Since no teams are knocked out, all teams will play throughout the tournament (Thursday-Sunday). The new groups will be formed in order to create as equal, developing and fun matches as possible.

2.3  13-16 years

The teams are divided into groups of four or five where all the teams will meet in a round robin serie. The order among the teams will be decided according to points. 3 points will be awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.

If two or more teams have the same number of points, the order will be decided as follows:

1. Goal difference

2. Highest number of goals scored

3. Results in the match(es) between teams with equal points (head to head)

4. Penalty shoot-out according to the FIFA rules. If more than tvo teams remains at this stage lottery will occur.

2.3.1 Playoff (13-16 years)

The two best teams in each group will advance to playoff A. The other teams in the group will advance to playoff B. All playoff games will be decided by the cup system, i.e. by direct elimination. After elimination further placement games can be applied. All teams are guaranteed at least five games during the tournament.

A draw in the playoff will be decided by penalty kicks according to the FIFA rules. Five ordinary alternatively penalty kicks will be followed one by one until a result is reached. Every player on the field must shoot a penalty kick before a player shoots two penalty kicks.

§ 3. Playing period

11-a-side    2 x 25 min.

9-a-side     2 x 20 min.

§ 4. Number of players and substitutions

4.1 Players

There is no limit of allowed players in each team. However only nine (9) or eleven (11)  substitutes are allowed in each match of 11-a-side and 9-a-side, respectively.  A substituted player may reenter in the match. Substitutions can be done without stopping the match. Notice that the match has to be stopped and the referee has to be informed at the substitution of a goalkeeper. All substitutions should be done within the technical area of the team. If there is no technical area the substitution should be made at the centre line. The player that will be substituted has to leave the pitch before the new player can enter the pitch. Incorrect substitutions will be punished with a yellow card.

4.3 Usage of players in different age categories

It is allowed to use a player from the same club in several teams but not in the same age category. The player must be on the participant list of all teams he or she will play for. It is allowed to play in older age categories and girls are allowed to play in boys categories if they have the same age or younger. The player must also be present during eventual age control for each team the player plays for. 

Note that it is therefore allowed to use players in both elite and regular classes. However this is strongly disapproved  and the team manager needs to contact the competition management before doing so. 

§ 5. List of participants 

Each team must submit a list of players to the administration before their first match in the tournament. The list is submitted online in the teams GO Fotboll My Team account at latest of five (5) days before the start of the tournament. The list of participants must then be printed and be brought as a physical copy to the registration. Changes after that and during the tournament needs to be registered online. If a team uses a different jerseys during the tournament correct numbers needs to be changed before each game. All players need to be added with social security number. Players without this number should be noted as yymmdd-0000.

Each player on the list must be present and be able to show proof of identity. Age controls are carried out randomly.  Teams using non-eligible players can be excluded from the tournament.

§ 6. Dispensations

For the elite classes no dispensations are allowed. 

In boys regular classes, two (2) dispensations are by default given for overaged players, who can be at most one year over the age limit.  In girls classes  two (2) dispensations are by default given for overaged players, who can be at most one year over the age limit. Dispensations that differs from the above needs to be applied and approved by the competition management.

§ 7. Match details

7.1 Team list

• The number each player has on the team list must be the same as the number of the shirt. A final list has to be submitted at maximum of 15 minutes before the start of the game. If a team uses a different jerseys during the tournament correct numbers needs to be changed before each game

• All players on the team list are considered as if they have participated in the match.

• All team officials (maximum 6) have to be indicated with their names on the team list.

  - Only these officials are allowed to be in the technical area.  If there are no markings for the technical area it is considered to be an area of 8 meters along the side line where the substitutes are located.

7.2 Player uniforms

• All team shirts must be numbered, and the numbers must correspond to the numbers on the team list. Numbers must be on the back of the shirts. Two players may not use the same number in any given match.

• If the referee decides that one team should change shirts due to similarity to the opposing team’s shirts, the team appearing last in the match schedule has to change.

7.3 Match

• All teams should be ready at the pitch no later than 15 minutes before kick-off.

• The team manager must make sure that his or her players are adequately insured.

• All players MUST wear shinguards. If not the referee could decide to dismiss the player from the field.

• The teams are responsible for their supporters’ conduct. Bad supporters’ behavior or conduct can result in team’s exclusion from the tournament.

8.4 Match information

8.4.1  Balls

Age category B12 play with ball size 4. All other age categories play with ball size 5.

8.4.2  Pitch sizes and goals 

12 years
The size of the pitch is regulated by the Swedish Football Federation’s rules for ”Small 9-a-side”, i.e 65x50 meter. The penalty area is 24x9 meter. The size of the goals is the same as in 7-a-side football. 

13 years 
The size of the pitch is regulated by the Swedish Football Federation’s rules for ”Large 9-a-side”, i.e 72x55 meter. The penalty area is 24x9 meter. The size of the goals is the same as in 11-a-side football.

14-16 years
The size of the pitch is regulated by the Swedish Football Federation’s rules for ”11-a-side”, i.e 105x65 meter. The penalty area is 40x16 meter. The size of the goals is the same as in 11-a-side football. 

§8. Referees

Referees are appointed by the Gothenburg Football Association and via a selection of registered referees from the rest of Sweden. The referee responsible for the tournament is available at the competition office at Valhalla IP during the tournament. 

Assistant referees can be guaranteed only in the final rounds of the playoff during the tournament. 

§9. Tournament jury

The tournament jury  consists of representatives of the Regional Football Association of Gothenburg, GAIS and GO Fotball. The jury handles protests and sanction matters. The decisions of the jury cannot be appealed.

§10. Protests and sanctions

10.1 Protests

Any and all protests must be made in writing and delivered by a responsible official to the competition management at Valhalla IP no later than 90 minutes after the match is finished.

• A protest fee of SEK 500 will be paid at the same time. This fee will be returned if the protest is approved.

• The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with the match are final (FIFA rule no.5). No measures will be taken on protests on decisions made by the referee.

10.2  Cautions and sending-off offences

• Any player given a red card is automatically suspended from participation in the following match.

• The tournament jury can decide about suspension for further matches in case of a direct red card.

• Yellow cards are not accumulated.

• Each team has the responsibility that a suspended player does not participate in a match/es where he or she is suspended. If a player that is suspended participates in a match, the team with the suspended player automatically loses the match with 0-3.

• Severe offences will be reported to the FA of the nation concerned.

§11. Walkover

11.1 Match not played

Any team not appearing at the appointed time and place for a match can be declared loser by 0-3, after a decision by the jury. If a team repeatedly fail to appear at the matches, the team may be excluded from the tournament. In special cases, the tournament jury may decide to exclude a team at the first offence, i.e. if a deliberate WO favors the own team or is unfair to another team in the group.

11.2 Match cancelled

If a match is interrupted for some reason and can’t be played to the end, the jury of the tournament can decide to:

• Replay the game from the minute when it was interrupted.
• Replay the entire game.
• Determine that the result will be fixed.
• Determine if one of the teams or both teams lose 0-3.

§12. Match pitches

All the playing pitches are grass or artificial turf.

Alla games are played in Gothenburg. Fields used are Valhalla IP, Kviberg 2 & 5, Heden 2, 3 & 4, Härlanda Park 1 & 2 , Överåsvallen, Lemmingvallen, Gamlestadsvallen, Guldheden Södra and Gröna Vallen. Please observe late changes can occur. 

§13. Match schedule

The organization committee has the right to change the groups times and pitches until the start of the tournament.

§14. Prizes and trophies

A-playoff: GO Football trophy and medals to the top three in each age category.

B-playoff: GO Football trophy to the final team and medals to the top three i each age category.

Teams with more than 19 participants can order additional medals at the competition management at Valhalla IP. 

§15. Organizer

GO Football is organized by the Swedish football club  Göteborgs Atlet och idrottssällskap (GAIS).

§16. Regulations for school accommodation

16.1 General:

• The team manager, as indicated on the participant list, is responsible for any damage caused by his or her players.
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or drugs is absolutely forbidden in the schools.
• Silence is prescribed in each school between 22.00-06.00.
• Before departure, you have to clean your classroom. The classrooms should be returned in the same condition as on arrival. All leaders are recommended to take a picture of the classroom during arrival. 
• We urge all participants and leaders to never leave valuables or money unattended at the school.

16.2  To prevent fire

• It is forbidden to hang clothes or other combustible materials in the corridors.
• Smoking is prohibited in the schools.
• It is forbidden to cook, make coffee or make other types of food in the classrooms and corridors.
• It is forbidden to move desks and chairs etc. out of the classrooms into corridors or other public areas.
• Please note that doors between the corridors and the stairs must be closed at all times.

Failure to comply with these rules will result in disciplinary actions and may result in exclusion from the tournament and accommodation

§17. Insurance and responsibility

By registering a team to GO Football the team manager verifies that he or she has been aware of these stipulations. Participation in the tournament is at the participants’ own risk and the team manager in charge is responsible for all participants whom the team manager has registered, which should be included in the list of participants.

The team manager are responsible for ensuring that all participants playing games are insured. Each participant is responsible for his or her personal insurance off the pitch. Participants from countries that have no medical insurance agreement with Sweden must have personal medical insurance. Neither GO Football or GAIS has collective insurance to cover injuries, illness, theft or damages. 

GO Football or GAIS is not responsible for compensation and they are also not responsible for financial losses or damages that may occur due to events outside the control, such as fire, flood, interruptions in public transport connections, government actions, war-like events, strike or other similar circumstances.