Flixton Juniors is pleased to announce our annual Football Festival.

During this year’s festival we will be honouring the enormous contribution of Dave and Pat Whittaker to our Club. Both Dave and Pat where there at the start of our Club. Dave was our first Chairman back in the early 1970s, and both Dave and Pat gave their time and energy turning Flixton Juniors into a sustainable Club.

This year’s U9s will play for the “Dave and Pat Whittaker Memorial Trophy”

The 2023 Festival flyer containing the main details and shown below can be downloaded by clicking here

• Competition Format
  
  • This competition is the Ron Massey Memorial Football Festival and is affiliated to and sanctioned by Greater Manchester Football
    

  • The competition is by open-invitation. Applications will only be considered upon receipt of a fully completed entry form and cleared payment. Entries will be confirmed by the Festival Organiser at least seven days prior to the competition.
    

  • A festival format will run for U7 and U8 teams. The Festival will not collect or record any results or league tables and all players will receive a trophy in recognition of their participation.
    

  • The competition is a tournament format for mixed and girls teams U9s to U13s featuring results, league tables, a knock out stage (for qualifying teams) and winner in each age group. Medals/trophies will be awarded to the winning squads and the runner-up squads.

• Age Groups, Squads and Player Qualification

  • Age groups will relate to the 2022/23 season i.e. age at 31 August 2022.
    

  • Any player registered with an Academy is not eligible for the festival, nor or any Academy teams.
    

  • Each team shall register a squad of players on the day of the competition, as follows:
    
    • U7, U8 & U9 mixed teams may register up to a maximum of nine (9) players.
      

    • U10, U11, U12 & U13 mixed teams may register up to a maximum of twelve (12) players.

  • Each registered player shall only play for one team on the same day of the tournament.
    

  • Any team fielding an ‘over-aged’ player, or an Academy player, or a player registered with another team in the Festival will be disqualified from the Festival.
    

  • Clubs should apply the principle of only including players who are registered to the club at the time of the competition although squads will be allowed a maximum of two “guest” players for squad players that have recently joined their club after the league’s registration deadline. League registration cards (or proof of guest players’ age) may be requested.
    

  • Girls and boys can play in the same mixed team.
    

  • No player should play who is more than two years younger than any other player in the squad.
    

  • Each team shall appoint an adult as manager.
    

  • All players must wear shin pads and appropriate footwear.

• Duration of Matches & Balls

  • All match durations are as follows:

    • U7, U8 & U9 mixed will be set on the day
      

    • U10, U11, U12 & U13 mixed will be set on the day

  • There will be no half time in any match
    

  • Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals will have the same duration as the league stage matches.
    

  • All teams are responsible for considering players’ playing time does not exceed the FA’s guidelines on maximum playing time for children.
    

  • In the event of a clash of colours, the second named team should provide alternative shirts. Manchester FA advise against the use of bibs on health and safety grounds. If you use bibs you do so at your own risk and must be agreed by both teams and the referee prior to a game starting.

• Scores & Results

  • For the U7 & U8 Festival there will be no results, league tables or knockout stage
    

  • The tournament (U9s to U13s, mixed) will be played on a League basis with three points for a win, two points for a score draw and one point for a no-score draw. If a team fails to fulfil a fixture three points are awarded to their opponents with no score recorded. The number of teams qualifying for the knockout stage of the tournament will depend on the total entries and number of league groups at each age group and will be confirmed on the day of the tournament at registration. If two or more teams finish equal on points for a qualification position, then positions will be decided using the following criteria in this order a) goal difference b) goals scored c) results between the teams in question d) penalty shootout.
    

  • The kick-off will be decided by the toss of a coin with the first named team’s captain making the call. The winner of the coin toss will select which goal they wish to attack. The other team shall be awarded the kick off.
    

  • All knockout matches will be decided by the teams scoring most goals during normal time. If the score is equal after normal time, a penalty shootout will decide the winner.
    

  • In all penalty shootouts three players who were on the field of play at the end of extra time shall take a penalty alternating with their opponents. The highest score from the three penalties will win. If at the end of the three penalties, the scores remain equal, then it will go to sudden death. In sudden death, the next kicks will be taken by the same players in the same order.

• Playing Rules

  • The Laws of Association Football related to mini soccer will apply (to be as close to the regular rules played) except where provided for in the playing rules as set out below:

    • U7 teams shall field 5 players
      

    • U8 & U9 teams shall field 7 players.
      

    • U10, U11, U12 & U13 teams shall field 9 players.

  • Substitutes are roll on, roll off from those named on the registration form. A substituted player can return in the same match. Referees must be informed of and allow substitutions. The number of substitutions made during a game is unlimited.
    

  • Goal Kicks will be taken from on the edge of the penalty area
    

  • For all dead ball restarts opponents must be at least 5 metres away from the ball.
    

  • Throw-ins will be awarded against the team that puts the ball out of play to the side-lines.
    

  • All free kicks are direct.
    

  • Goalkeepers may come out of their area.
    

  • Specific Rules for U7 & U8:

    • There is no offside
      

    • Opponents must retreat to the half-way line for Goal Kicks
      

    • Normal back pass rule does not apply
      

    • For avoidance of doubt, goalkeepers can kick the ball from their hands

  • Specific Rules for U9:

    • There is no offside
      

    • Goalkeepers cannot:

      • Kick the ball from their hands
        

      • Pick up the ball from a back pass

      
      Failure for goalkeepers to comply will result in a penalty being awarded
      

  • Specific Rules for U10, U11, U12 & U13:
    

  • Offside rules apply
    

  • Goalkeepers cannot:

    • Kick the ball from their hands
      

    • Pick up the ball from a back pass

    
    Failure for goalkeepers to comply will result in a penalty being awarded