RULES AND REGULATIONS

1.            INTRODUCTION

The tournament shall be known as the S.A. SCHOOLS SHOOTOUT.

2.            SPONSORSHIP

The Competition is sponsored by SUPERSPORT.

3.            DEFINITIONS

                “COMPETITION” or “TOURNAMENT” shall mean the S.A. SCHOOLS SHOOTOUT.

                “SPONSOR” shall mean SUPERSPORT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS.

                “PLAYERS” shall mean those players who are eligible, in terms of these Regulations.

“COMMITTEE” shall mean the Competitions Committee of SUPERSPORT who may in their sole discretion appoint and/or cede their powers and duties in respect of the Committee to external agencies, organisations and/or associations.

4.            PARTICIPATION IN AND ENTRY TO THE COMPETITION

Participation in the competition shall be by invitation and nomination by the Department of Basic Education.

All schools must submit their entry forms, duly completed, to the Competitions Committee by the date stipulated by the Competitions Committee, failing which the Competitions Committee may, in their sole and exclusive discretion, exclude and/or replace such school.

5.            TEAM COLOURS

Team colours and alternative colours MUST clearly be stated on the Team Return.  Teams must use their own playing kits.

                In the event of a clash of colours, the team listed second on the Fixture list is to change.

6.            ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS

Each participating school shall, by the prescribed date, register with the Competitions Committee, a squad of a maximum of 20 players, as follows:

                - the players are born on or after the 1st January 1994

For the 2011 Tournament, every player registered by his school to play shall have been:

- registered as a student for a period of at least 3 calendar  months prior to the first match in the competition

Each player shall be required to present the following by a date stipulated by the Competitions Committee -

•              Certified copy of his Passport/Identity document

•              The Player’s Original (Computer Generated)/Certified copy BIRTH CERTIFICATE AS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS.

The Competitions Committee reserves the right to verify all players’ documentation relating to proof of age and where necessary may engage the players existing or previous school records.

The Competitions Committee’s decision as to the eligibility of a player shall be final and not subject to appeal.

7.            FORMAT

The Competition format shall be determined by the Competitions Committee, in their sole and exclusive discretion and be announced prior to the competition commencing.

The dates, times and venues shall be determined by the Competitions Committee and shall not be subject to appeal.

Scheduled dates, times and venues may change on very short notice by the Competitions Committee, as a result of broadcast needs etc.

8.            MATCH PROCEDURES

Save where otherwise stated in these rules, all matches will be played according to the FIFA Laws of the Game.

                Group matches

All group matches will consist of two periods of 30 minutes plus referee’s optional time. The interval at half-time shall not be less than FIVE (5) minutes but may be adjusted in the event of the broadcast requirements and/or government protocol or other circumstances justifying same.

                In all group matches, 3 points are allocated for a win, 1 point for a draw and no points for a loss.

In case of equality of points between two or more teams, after all the

group matches, the ranking of the teams shall be established according to the following criteria:

Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned teams;

Best goal difference in the matches between the concerned teams;

Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the

concerned teams;

Greater number of away goals scored in the direct matches between the concerned teams;

Goal difference in all the group matches;

Greatest number of goals scored in all the group matches;

A drawing of lots by the Committee.     

                Knockout matches

The Knockout matches shall be played in single matches. Each match will consist of two periods of 30 minutes plus referee’s optional time. The interval at half-time shall not be less than FIVE (5) minutes but may be adjusted in the event of the broadcast requirements and/or government protocol or other circumstances justifying same.

The team scoring the most goals in the match will win the match and, unless it is the final, qualify for the next round.

If at the end of the two periods of 30 minutes the score is a draw, penalty kicks will be taken, according to the FIFA FIFA Laws of the Game, to determine the winner of the match.

                General

Yellow cards

Any player who accumulates 3 cautions (yellow cards) in the competition will be suspended from participating in the next match to be played by his team in the competition. Where a player receives a red card in a match any yellow cards received by the player in such match will not be counted towards the accumulation of yellow cards. Teams are required to keep records of their yellow cards and failure by the Competitions Committee to advise a team of a suspension and/or yellow card totals after any match will not absolve any team or player from disciplinary action for playing a suspended player.

A referee’s report as to the identity of a player cautioned in a match is final unless an affected team requests a review in writing on the grounds of mistaken identity prior to that team’s next match in the competition.

Red Cards

Any player dismissed from the pitch (red card) in a match in the competition will be suspended from participating in the next match to be played by his team in the competition. Where a player receives a red card in a match any yellow cards received by the player in such match will not be counted towards the accumulation of yellow cards. Teams are required to keep records of their red cards and failure by the Competitions Committee to advise a team of a suspension and/or red card totals after any match will not absolve any team or player from disciplinary action for playing a suspended player.

A referee’s report as to the identity of a player red carded in a match is final unless an affected team requests a review in writing on the grounds of mistaken identity prior to that team’s next match in the competition.

                Technical

                A maximum of 9 substitutes may be nominated by any team in any given match.

                A maximum of 5 substitutes may be used by a team in any match.

                 No rolling substitutions.

9.            AWARDS AND MEDALS

                The S.A. SCHOOLS SHOOTOUT CUP shall at all times remain the property of the SPONSOR.

The S.A. SCHOOLS SHOOTOUT shall be awarded to the Tournament winner at the end of the final match.  It shall be returned to the Competitions Committee or its Tournament Organiser upon request to do so.

The Competitions Committee shall provide 20 Gold medals for the winners, 20 Silver medals for the Runners-Up and 20 Bronze medals for 3rd place.

The 4th placed team shall each receive a  as confirmation of participation and placing in the tournament .

10.          DISCIPLINE

All Disciplinary matters at the Tournament shall be administered by the Competition Disciplinary Committee appointed by the Competitions Committee.

                All decisions of the Disciplinary Committee shall be final and binding and not subject to appeal.

All protests and complaints relating to the eligibility of a player (registration, suspension etc) to play in any given match must be lodged with the Disciplinary Committee prior to the match. Notwithstanding this the Disciplinary Committee may take disciplinary action against any club fielding a player who is not eligible to play in the said match. If a team is found to have fielded a player who was not eligible to play in a match such team shall lose the said match by 3-0

All other protests or complaints may be made at any time up to 24 hours after the alleged contravention.

Protests and complaints must be accompanied by a protest fee of R 5 000.00 within 24 hours of the alleged contravention.

Further disciplinary rules shall be determined by the Competitions Committee, in their sole and exclusive discretion and be announced prior to the competition commencing.

11.          TEAM RETURNS – must include:

                Full names of the players

                Date of birth of each player

                Jersey Number of each player

                Satisfactory verification of each player’s date of birth

12.          INJURIES

Each participating school shall have the right to insure its players against injury or alternatively each player shall be responsible for all expenses incurred arising out of any injury sustained by him during the Tournament. By participating in the Competition all schools, players and guardians of such players indemnify the Competitions Committee, Sponsor/s, as well as their supporting staff and employees against all and any claims that may result as a result of their participation in the competition, including but not limited to any injury, death, disability (permanent or temporary) etc..

13.          MATTERS NOT PROVIDED FOR

Should these Rules be silent on any matter, then the SAFA Rules will apply, which Rules all participants in the Competition hereby confirm they have read and have consented to.

Any Rules herein may be amended, added or repealed by the Competitions Committee at any time prior to or during the competition.

Any matter not provided for in these rules and regulations shall be determined by Competitions Committee or the Disciplinary Committee who shall have the power to give a ruling on any matters in dispute.  Such a decision shall be final and binding on all parties.