Hampshire Rugby
Regulation 24
(Amended U11/U12 - Season 2011/12)
COUNTY MIDI TOURNAMENTS
Sponsor Youth Competitions Management Group
1DESCRIPTION AND AIMS
1.1The aims of these Tournaments are to
1.1.1enable children to enjoy the experience of a County Tournament.
1.1.2to produce a County Champion at each age group from Under 11 to Under 12.
1.2 All matches in the Tournaments shall be played in accordance with the Rules of Play as published in the RFU Regulations and Competitions Handbook.
1.3The Youth Competitions Management Group (YCMG) shall provide Trophies for the Clubs winning each of the age-group competitions and also medals for all the players of every team that enters the relevant age group festival.
2DEFINITIONS
In this Regulation:
County means Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands
Channel Islands means Jersey, Guernsey and Sark
Club means a Member Club of the Union
Committee means the Union’s Youth Competitions Management Group (YCMG)
Competition means the Hampshire Mini/Midi Tournaments
Mainland means Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
MLO means the person appointed to be the Union’s Media Liaison Officer
Officers means the Officers of the Union
Organiser means the person appointed by the Host Club to manage the Tournament
Society means the Hampshire Rugby Union Referees’ Society
Team Manager means the person appointed by the Club to be responsible for the team on the day of a match in the Competition
Under-X whenever the term “Under-X” appears this shall be taken to mean “Under” that age at midnight on 31 August/1 September that season.
Union means the Hampshire Rugby Football Union Limited
YCMG Chairman means the Chairman of the Union’s Youth Competitions Management Group
YRO means the Union’s Youth Player Registration Officer
Hampshire Rugby
3ORGANISING COMMITTEE
3.1The Competition shall be organised by the Committee which may issue additional instructions in amplification of this Regulation.
3.2All communications from Clubs relating to the Competition are to be addressed to the YCMG Chairman.
3.3All communications to Clubs will be made only to Clubs’ nominated representatives to the Youth Forum. It is the responsibility of Clubs to ensure these are properly actioned. Communication will only be made with Team Managers in respect of issues pertaining to that Team and not regarding the Competition in general.
3.4Except where otherwise stated, the decision of the Committee shall be binding and final on any matter not provided for in and on the interpretation of this Regulation.
4ELIGIBILITY OF CLUBS
4.1The Competition shall be open to all Member and “in-County” Associate Clubs. Only one team may be entered at each age-group by each Club.
4.2If any Club having entered does not take part in the Competition or, having participated, fails to honour the next match or round in the Competition then the Club’s opponents will receive the match points if at the League stage or a bye into the next round as appropriate without prejudice to any other action that may be taken by the Committee.
5ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS
5.1Only players who are registered at the Club with the Youth Player Registration Officer (YRO) from the previous season and those registered at the Club with the YRO for the first time at least four weeks prior to the Tournament date may take part. Previous season registration is only valid if the player is still with the same Club. Each Club must submit a list of players in each age-group squad to the YCMG Chairman four weeks before the age-group Tournament. Late submissions may forfeit the Club’s deposit. Any player change after the List has been submitted must be notified to the YRO or the nominated Deputy on the day and the Player Registration card must be produced on the day.
5.2Player Registration Cards for all players are to be available for examination by the YRO or the nominated Deputy prior to kick-off. A Club attempting to play an ineligible or unregistered player will be prevented from starting a Competition match. The decision of the YRO, or the nominated Deputy shall be final.
5.3No player shall be permitted to play out of his/her own age group except where a Club has insufficient players at both of the paired age groups when
5.3.1Under 11 and Under 12 may combine as Under 12
5.4Any Club, which does not have sufficient players to enter a squad, may
5.4.1Enter a combined age group squad as provided for in the RFU Continuum and paragraph 5.3 above.
5.4.2Permit their players to be put into a pool with players from one or more other Clubs in a similar position from which the Clubs involved may select a “Barbarians” squad. If such a team is formed the Clubs involved shall provide a Team Manager, or coach and a referee. The intention is to enable players to take part who would not otherwise have an opportunity to participate and not for Clubs to produce a stronger team.
5.5Clubs, which have a surplus of registered players, may also contribute towards a “Barbarians” team especially if this can help make an equal number of teams in each league.
5.6Any winning Club subsequently found to have played an ineligible player shall forfeit the match.
5.7Any player sent off will not be permitted to participate in the rest of the Competition.
5.8Individual players are limited to playing no more than 3 festivals/tournaments a season.
5.9No player may play in more than five games during the Competition.
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6THE COMPETITION FORMAT AND SEEDING
6.1Where six or more Clubs are entered in an age group, they will play initially in Leagues. On completion of the Leagues, qualification for the Shield and Plate knockout rounds shall be as pre-determined and shown in the Competition Draw. If less than six Clubs enter they will play in a League with the League Winners declared the County Champions and Shield Winners and the second Club, the Plate Winners.
6.2In the League matches, two match points shall be awarded for a win and one for a draw. If teams tie with the same number of match points the League position will be decided firstly upon the highest number of tries scored, then the highest number of points (at Under 11 and Under 12), then the lowest number of points against, then the better points difference. If still necessary, and subject to the maximum number of matches per player not being exceeded, there shall be a play-off match under usual time rules but the Club scoring the first try shall be declared the winner. If this does not produce a winner then it shall be decided upon by the toss of a coin, except in the Final when the Trophy shall be shared.
6.3There shall be no extra time in any match except that added for injury time.
6.4The following shall apply
6.4.1Under 11 and Under 12 play 7 minutes each way and use a Size 4 ball. Maximum 5 games = 70 minutes.
7DATES
7.1Tournaments shall take place normally at a different location each season on three consecutive Sundays in March, normally the second (U11 & U12), Sundays. An alternative shall be announced at the final Youth Forum of the previous season if one of these weekends falls at Easter time.
8COLOURS
Each Team should have an alternative colour jersey or training bib to avoid a clash of colours.
9SQUAD SIZE, REPLACEMENTS AND SUBSTITUTES
9.1Under 11 - 12 players plus 5 replacements. Total of 17 eligible players
9.2Under 12 - 13 players plus 5 replacements. Total of 18 eligible players
9.3Substituted players can be re-used at any time.
9.4Any player injured and replaced may not resume playing in that match, nor in any subsequent match in the Competition without the approval of a suitably qualified medical person. Team Managers are to ensure that the parent of an injured player is made aware of the injury as soon as practicable.
10VENUES AND GROUNDS
10.1Three mainland Clubs shall be invited annually, from those which have applied, to host each Tournament.
10.2The host Club is responsible for correctly and clearly marking its pitch and it must make proper provision for the safety of all involved.
10.3The host Club must nominate a person to be the Tournament Organiser for the day.
10.4The host Club must undertake to provide all the facilities and capable personnel to manage the event. In particular there must be adequate and sufficient changing facilities; refreshments for sale; sufficient toilets for the numbers anticipated; qualified on-site First Aid cover; a room solely for the use of the YRO or nominated Deputy; an easily readable display of this Regulation and the match-day order and match results; a Tournament programme (not compulsory). Tented accommodation may be used.
Hampshire Rugby
11REFEREES
11.1Each Club shall provide a qualified referee or coach at each age group it enters and shall show the name and contact details on the entry form. There is flexibility here as all coaches are expected to be qualified (this is not yet compulsory) and all qualified coaches have to be able to referee. All referees will be required to attend a pre- Tournament briefing.
11.2If a referee or coach fails to attend on the day of the Tournament then the age group team concerned will not be allowed to take part. The Club concerned is to explain why to the parents whose children cannot participate.
11.3For the semi-finals, a referee from one of the two Clubs involved shall officiate in the other semi-final and vice versa. It is recognised that a coach will wish to be with his team, it is therefore most advisable that each team has both a qualified referee and a coach.
11.4For the finals, a referee from one of the losing semi-finalist teams shall officiate.
11.5In the event that agreement cannot be reached between the people concerned, the Tournament Organiser shall decide.
12DRAWN MATCHES
If there is a draw at the end of normal time in the knockout stage match, the winner will be decided by the toss of a coin, except in the case of U11 & U12 where the winner will be decided by the team scoring the most tries, and if equal by the toss of a coin. However, in any final, if a draw occurs, the Trophy shall be shared.
13NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
13.1The full results of the day must be notified in writing by the Organiser to the YCMG Chairman by 20:00 on the following Wednesday.
13.2The YCMG Chairman will provide the results of matches to the MLO for publication on the Hampshire Rugby Web site.
16FINANCE
16.1An entrance fee per Club per age group shall be set annually by the YCMG.
16.2Each participating Club shall pay the entrance fee by Club cheque payable to “HRFU Ltd” and this cheque shall be sent with the entry form to the YCMG Chairman by the closing date. The fees for all age groups may be totalled for this cheque.
16.3A good-conduct deposit charge per Club shall also be set annually by the YCMG.
16.4Each participating Club shall pay the deposit by a separate Club cheque payable to “HRFU Ltd” and this cheque shall also be sent with the entry form.
17PROTESTS, DISPUTES AND TRANSGRESSIONS
17.1On the day of a Tournament, any matters in dispute or any transgressions of this Regulation shall be referred immediately to the Tournament Organiser who may consult as necessary with any member present from the YCMG and with the YRO or nominated Deputy.
17.2The Tournament Organiser’s decision shall be final and binding.
17.3Any other matters in dispute or any transgressions of this Regulation shall be referred in person or by telephone within forty-eight hours of the end of the match to the Committee together with written confirmation (which must also be copied to any other interested parties) within a further forty-eight hours, setting out the grounds of the complaint in full. The Committee shall have discretion to resolve any such complaint and shall inform the interested parties of their decision firstly by telephone and then in writing.
Hampshire Rugby
17.4If a Club wishes to appeal against the decision of the Committee, the appeal must be lodged with the Committee Secretary and confirmed in writing on the same time scale as above on hearing the decision of the Committee. The appeal will be considered by the Executive Committee and two other nominated non committee members. Their decision shall be final and binding.
17.5"Written" or "in writing" may be by electronic communication.
18TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
18.1Applications for entry to the Competition are to be forwarded to the YCMG Chairman by 31 December each year or as otherwise notified at a Youth Forum.
18.2It is a condition of entry that all Clubs abide by this Regulation. Failure to comply without reasonable cause may result in the loss of a Club’s deposit.
18.3Regulation 1 is also relevant.