IFA Challenge Cup season 2011/12 Rules
 

1. The IFA Challenge Cup rules are the same as for the IFA League

2. The final will held be at WorldNET 2012 in July 2012 (date TBC) at the University Of Leeds' Bodington Hall. Kick off will be 6.00pm and finalists agree to be on site by 5.30pm.  There will be a formal presentation at 8pm, immediately after the final, in the upstairs Hall of the Main Building.  Winners and Runners Up are expected to attend this presentation.

3. The initial draw will be on a regional basis with the option to opt out of a regional game in round one and to take pot luck (this could mean a trip to The Granite City or Sarfend)  All subsequent draws will be random so teams may have to travel long distances.

4. The 5 options for regions in the initial draw are:  Scotland, North of England, The Midlands, South and Random.  You must state an option on your entry form.

5. All semi finals will be played on neutral ground by arrangement between both teams.  Failure to agree dates, times and venues will be scrutinised by the IFA Committee and the match will be forfeited if one or other team has not co-operated fully in agreeing match arrangements.

6. Match results will be available on the IFA Stats website

7. Match deadlines are as follows:

    First Round: November 30th 2011

    Second Round: February 29th 2012

    Quarter Finals: April 30th 2012

    Semi Finals: July 1st 2012

Unlike in previous years these deadlines will not be altered. If teams cannot agree a date between themselves the tie will be decided on the toss of a coin. If you cannot commit to these deadlines, please do not enter the competition as you will be wasting your entry fee, your fellow teams' time and you'll look like a plonker! The dates give generous time spans for the later rounds and take into account that some teams are frightened stiff by what people in hardier parts of the realm consider normal weather in December and January.

8. The home team must provide a qualified referee 9. All teams shall complete an entry form and pay the entry fee of £20.

The entry form will be on the IFA website. Entry Fees are not refundable under any circumstances.

10. The games must be played on grass (an end of season dispensation for the use of artificial pitches will be considered by the IFA Committee) unless both teams agree otherwise.

11. With consent of both teams, the away team can act as the home team - this is to allow those who like to travel to do so.

12. The minimum number of players is eight to qualify as a game. Any team turning up with less than 8 (or indeed not turning up), 30 minutes after the tie is due to start, will automatically forfeit the tie. You can then play a mixed friendly.

13. The game must be the full 90 minutes, unless both teams agree. We would say minimum is 35 minutes each way with both teams agreeing.

14. No extra-time will be played – matches drawn at the final whistle go straight to penalties. This applies for the whole tournament. This is to ensure that the teams have time to get to senior matches after the games.

15. Games will be played on a weekend, unless both teams agree.

16. Anyone failing to complete their fixtures runs the risk of being excluded from the following years' competition in the scenario that we have odd numbers of entrants.

17. All teams are expected to resolve their disputes amicably and in a grown-up manner. Should this not be the case, reluctantly the Rules Committee will step in. The Rules Committee decisions on disputes are final – i.e. not up for debate!

 

18. As per official IFA Policy the IFA Challenge Cup has not been registered with the FA or any other body and hence is not a tournament sanctioned by the FA or any other body We must make it clear that the IFA will not be held responsible for any injury or loss sustained by individuals taking part in the tournament. All players compete at their own risk and that by taking part in the tournament they acknowledge this.  Players may wish to consider taking out individual insurance cover in the event that they may suffer injury or loss by taking part in the tournament.

Barbaraville 16th September 2011