Individual Schools Competitions - General Rules

1.   The Rules of the Game shall be those of the Football Association, except where stated.

2.   The entire control and management of the competitions shall be in the hands of the Officers.

3.  The Trophies shall be offered for annual competition.  All competing schools must be affiliated to the English Schools' FA, either through their Local Association or by Associate Membership of the County Association.

4.  Only bona fide pupils in full time education on the roll of a school in affiliation to the ESFA shall be allowed to take part in these competitions.  A player must be within the age limit of the competition at midnight between the previous 31 August and 1 September.

5.  If the Officers have any doubts as to the qualification of a player taking part in a competition, it shall have the power to call upon the school to which the pupil belongs or for which the pupil played, to prove that the pupil is qualified by the Rules and failing satisfactory proof, the offending school may be disqualified from the competition.

6.  A pupil shall not play for more than one school in a competition during any one season, except by permission of the Officers.

7.  The Officers shall fix the limit dates by which all matches shall be played.  Failure to keep to these dates may lead to disqualification.

8.  Match officials shall be appointed as the Officers direct.  Their duties shall be in line with the Laws of the Game as sanctioned by the Football Association.

9.  Substitutes - A maximum of five substitutes shall be allowed at any time during a match.  'Repeated substitutions' are allowed in all competitions up to and including the Under 16 age group.  Above the Under 16 age group, a maximum of five substitutes shall be allowed at any time during a match to replace any five players who will take no further part in the match.  In Mini-Soccer competitions, up to seven substitutes are allowed.

10. All protests regarding eligibility, qualification of players or of interpretation of the Rules, shall be referred to the Officers, but no objection relative to the ground, goalposts or other appertenances of the game shall be entertained unless a protest is made in writing to the Referee before the commencement of the match.

11. Where schools have similar colours, the home team shall be entitled to retain their colours and the visiting team shall change colours which will provide a satisfactory contrast.

12. Results should be sent to the competition organiser by both schools within 48 hours of the conclusion of the match.

13. All trophies won in the previous season must be returned to the Competitions Secretaries by 31 January suitably engraved with the exception of the Under 16 Cup which must be returned by 30 November each year.

14. The Officers shall have the power to deal with anything not provided for in these Rules.

15.  The arrangements for specific age groups are shown in this section of the web site.

Inter Association Competition - General Rules

1.  The Rules of the Game shall be those of the Football Association Ltd., except where otherwise stated.

2.  The entire control and management of the Competitions shall be in the hands of the Officers.

3.  The Trophies shall be offered for annual competition. All competing Associations shall be affiliated to the English Schools' Football Association.

4.  The question of a player's eligibility shall be decided as per Rule 6 of the E.S.F.A. Trophy except that in the Under 14 competition, all boys must be under 14 years of age, in the Intermediate Cup, under 13 years of age and in the Primary competitions, under 11 years of age at midnight between the previous 31st August and 1st September (as per F.A. Rule, pupils under age of 11 years only may play mixed football).

5.  No pupil shall play for more than one Association during any one season except by permission of Officers. All Associations must define the schools which are affiliated to them.

6.  If the Officers have any doubt as to the qualification of a player taking part in a competition, it shall have the power to call upon the Association for which he played, or to which he belongs, to prove that he is qualified according to the Rules, and failing satisfactory proof, the offending Association may be disqualified. The Council shall have power to deal as it may deem fit with any competing Association who may be proved guilty of any breach of the Rules.

7.  14 days notice must be given to opponents by the 'home' association. The away association must confirm acceptance or otherwise of the fixture at least 8 days prior to the date offered. When replays are necessary they should be played on or before the following Saturday. Where a date is stipulated by the Notts. Schools F.A., failure to play on that date may lead to disqualification of the offending association. Light refreshments must be provided for visitors by the 'home' association.

8.  The Officers shall have control of the arrangements connected with finals. Associations are responsible for their own expenses. The proceeds from any final shall go entirely to the Association staging the final.

9.  The referee shall decide as to the fitness of the ground and other conditions over which neither team has control. If, from any cause the match is not completed, it must be replayed the full time. Goal nets should be provided.

10. Referees shall be appointed the County Association. Reasonable notice should be given to the Secretary of the dates and venues of matches. The duties of the referee shall be in accordance with the laws of the game as sanctioned and enforced by the Football Association Ltd.

11. In all 11-a-side Inter-Association Competitions a maximum of 5 substitutes may be used at any time and for any reason to replace players who shall take no further part in the game.

12. All questions of eligibility, qualification of or the interpretation of the Rules shall be referred to the Council, but no objection relative to the ground, goal posts or other apparatus of the game shall be entertained by the Council unless a protest is made in writing to the referee before the commencement of the game. All protests (3 copies) must be lodged within five days.

13. Players, officials and spectators are only allowed to take part in, or attend matches on condition that they observe the rules, regulations and bye-laws of the Football Association Ltd., and every Association shall be required to observe and enforce the rules, regulations and bye-laws.

14. Every Association is responsible to the Council for the action of its players, officials and spectators, and is required to take all necessary precautions to prevent spectators threatening or assaulting officials or players during, or at the conclusion of the match.

15. Associations taking part in the competitions shall be permitted to select their teams from all schools affiliated, through their Association, to the E.S.F.A.

16. The Officers shall have the power to deal with anything not provided for in these Rules.

The arrangements for the games shall be as tabulated:

Name	Type	Age 31 Aug/ 1 Sept	1st Match of each round	2nd match of each round	Final in Knockout	League	Ball
COBBIN	Knockout	U15	70 min. + e.t. 20 min. Further game if drawn	70 min. + e.t. 20 min. + penalties	1 game + e.t. 20 min. Trophy shared.		5
NORRIS TROPHY	Knockout	U14	70 min. + e.t. 20 min. Further game if drawn	70 min. + e.t. 20 min. + penalties	1 game 70 min. + e.t. 20 min. Trophy shared.	70 min Win 3pts. Draw 1pt. Goal diff, Goals scored.	5
INTERMEDIATE CUP	Knockout	U13	60 min. + e.t. 20 min. Further game if drawn	60 min. + e.t. + penalties	1 game 60 min. + e.t. 20 min. Trophy shared.	60 min Win 3pts. Draw 1pt. Goal diff, Goals scored.	4
COUNTY CUP	Knockout	U12	60 min. + 15 min e.t. + penalties		60 min. + 15 min e.t. + penalties		4
REPROTEC COUNTY PRIMARY CUP	Knockout	U11	50 min. + e.t. 15 min. + penalties.		50 min. + e.t. 15 min. Trophy shared.		4