Bli med på fotballfest på Sørlandet!

21.-25. juni 2025

Tournament rules Sør Cup 2024

Sør Cup is played in accordance with FIFA’s and NFF’s regulations with the exception of the changes stated in the tournament regulations.

Classes J6, J7, J8, J9, J10, J11, J12, G6, G7, G8, G9, G10, G11 and G12 are played according to the Norwegian Football Association’s rules for children’s football.

jury

A jury will be appointed consisting of 4 members: 1 from the organizer, 1 from the judge management team and 2 from the organizing clubs. The jury leader is Nils Sverre Ingebretsen.

All decisions made by the jury are final and cannot be appealed.

The tournament regulations are divided into 3 chapters.

Chapter 1: Match Regulations
Chapter 2: Competition and Sanction Regulations
Chapter 3: Regulations for player eligibility

CHAPTER 1: Match Regulations

Age categories

Gutter

11-a-side football
G14	Born in 2010
G15	Born in 2009
G16	Born in 2008
G19	Born 2005-2007
9-a-side football
G12	Born in 2012
G13	Born in 2011
G14	Born in 2009
7-a-side football
G10	Born in 2014
G11	Born in 2013
G12	Born in 2012
G13	Born in 2011
5-a-side football
G8	Born in 2016
G9	Born in 2015
G10	Born in 2014
3-a-side football
G6	Born in 2018
G7	Born in 2017

Girls

11-a-side football
J14	Born in 2010
J15	Born in 2009
J16/J17	Born 2008 and 2007
9-a-side football
J12	Born in 2012
J13	Born in 2011
J14	Born in 2010
7-a-side football
J10	Born in 2014
J11	Born in 2013
J12	Born in 2012
J13	Born in 2011
5-a-side football
J8	Born in 2016
J9	Born in 2015
3-a-side football
J6	Born in 2018
J7	Born in 2017

Star class – for people with disabilities, boys and girls

For boys and girls
7-a-side football
Class A	For all ages
5-a-side football
Class B	For all ages
Class C	For all ages
Class E	For children 9-15 years
3-a-side football
Class D	For all ages

Playing times

11-a-side football
G14, J14	2 x 20 minutes
G15, G16, J15 and J17	2 x 25 minutes
G19	2 x 30 minutes
9-a-side football
G13, G14, J13, J14	2 x 20 minutes
G12 and J12	1 x 23 minutes
7-a-side football
G10, G11, G12, J10, J11 and J12	1 x 23 minutes
G13, J13	2 x 20 minutes
Star class A	2 x 20 minutes
5-a-side football
G8, G9, J8 and J9	1 x 18 minutes
Star class (Class B, C, E)	2 x 20 minutes
3-a-side football
G6, G7, J6, J7	1 x 18 minutes
Star class (Class D)	2 x 20 minutes

Measurement sizes

3-er targets are used in the following classes:

G6-G7
J6-J7

7’s are used in the following classes:

G8-G12
J8-J12
J13-7
G13-7
J13-9
J14-9
G13-9
G14-9
The star class

11s targets are used in the following classes:

Bales

In age groups 15 – 19 years, ball size no. 5 is used.
In age groups 10 – 14 years, ball size no. 4 is used.
In age groups 8 – 9 years, ball size no. 4 (light ball) is used.

Half of the pitch

The teams line up in the half of the pitch decided by the referee.

Suits

The away team must change suits in the event of suit similarity. Coveralls can be borrowed from the organizer.

Line guard

In matches where no referee trio is appointed, the teams are obliged to provide a line guard (does not apply to 5-a-side and 7-a-side football in age groups 8 – 12 years).

Players’ equipment

All players must wear shin pads/shin guards. The team management is responsible for ensuring that the players’ equipment is in order at the start of the match. Failure to use shin guards is not grounds for protest.

Attendance

All teams are obliged to be ready to change at the court where their match is being played no later than 10 minutes before the match is due to begin. Teams that do not show up at the scheduled match time, without special reason, lose the match on «walk over».

Game schedule, weather reservations and relocation of matches

The matches will initially be played on grass and artificial turf pitches in the municipalities of Vennesla and Kristiansand. All A finals in the 7s, 9s and 11s classes will be played on the artificial turf pitch at Sparebanken Sør Arena.

Moving matches to reserve pitches in the municipalities of Vennesla and Kristiansand may be relevant. The teams are obliged to keep themselves informed of changes to the playing schedule. All clubs must have appointed a contact person in advance who can be notified of changes at any time.

If weather and course conditions do not allow the planned use of the playing fields, the organizer reserves the right to change the game system and game plan, or cancel the tournament completely.

Match execution

Age groups 13 – 19 years

Preliminary matches

Preliminary matches will be played according to the series system. At least the top 2 in each pool will go to the A playoffs, the remaining teams will go to the B playoffs.

Any team that fails to show up for a match without a specific reason loses the match and the right to participate in the playoffs. The result is set to 0 – 0. If there are special reasons for this, cf. NFF’s match regulations, the team that does not show up for the match may be excluded and the team’s results annulled. It is the jury that at all times decides what constitutes a special reason.

The order in each pool is decided by:

Scoring (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss)
Goal difference (in case of a tie, the team with the most goals scored advances)
Mutual settlement
The computer system makes a draw

NB! Please note that in classes with an unequal number of teams in the pools, the matches against the worst team in the pools with the most teams will be canceled before table calculation.

Tie result after regular time in the playoffs:

In the event of a draw after normal time, the result of the match shall be decided by penalty kicks in all playoff categories. Extra time will not be played.

Number of matches

Age groups 13-19 years:

All teams get to play a minimum of 4 games each.

Age groups 6 – 12 years:

In line with NFF’s rules, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that the age groups 6 – 12 years are not included in the playoffs. All teams playing in the 10 – 12 years age groups will play 6 matches each. All teams in the 6-9 years age groups are allowed to play four matches each, and all matches are played on the same day.

Merging of classes

The organizer reserves the right to merge or cancel classes if there are too few entries.

CHAPTER 2: Competition and sanction regulations

Protests and deadline

Any protests must be submitted in writing to the arena’s secretariat no later than 30 minutes after the match has finished.

Notification

In the event of any protest about conditions during the match, the referee must be informed before the referee leaves the pitch or pitch area.

Protest on age

In the event of any age protests, the protesting team must designate the player(s) being protested. General protests on the entire team will not be accepted.

Protest fee

When the protest is submitted, a fee of NOK 500 must be paid. The fee will be refunded if the protest is upheld. The jury’s decision is final.

Red card

NFF’s regulations for warnings and expulsions apply with necessary adaptations and the following additions:

Quarantine

It is up to the jury to determine the sanction after an expulsion. The penalty is determined in accordance with guidelines from the Norwegian Football Association’s Board of Directors. The jury’s decision is final.

If the player has committed an offense that entails exclusion from 2 or more matches, the player/club will receive a written notice.

Right of explanation

Players who have been sent off have the right to provide the jury with a written explanation in connection with the sending off. Such explanation must be received by the jury/secretariat no later than 2 hours after the end of the match.

One match quarantine

If a player is sent off for an offense that, according to the Federation Board’s guidelines, results in a one-match suspension, the player must serve the suspension in the next match. If the expulsion is given in the last game of the tournament, the player will not be quarantined.

Several games of quarantine

If a player is sent off due to an offense that, according to the Federation Board’s guidelines, entails more than a one-match suspension, all matches must be served in the tournament. The matches that cannot be served in the tournament are transferred to the next mandatory matches. The tournament jury shall inform the circuit to which the club belongs of any quarantine that has not been served in the tournament immediately after the team has left the tournament.

Yellow card

NFF’s regulations for warnings and expulsions apply with necessary adaptations:

Quarantine 13 – 17 years

NFF has decided to introduce timed expulsions as a replacement for yellow cards in youth football in the age groups 13 – 17 years. The offenses that are subject to a yellow card will be replaced by a 5-minute expulsion. According to the NFF, this also applies in cups with shorter playing time than in regular league play.

Referee shows yellow card (as before)

The player must leave the court for 5 minutes and the time is counted from the resumption of play. After 5 minutes, the player can re-enter the pitch. There does not need to be a stoppage in play, but the player must get the go-ahead from the referee.

If the same player receives 2 yellow cards in the same match, it is considered a red card. The player will not be reinstated and the team will play with one less player for the rest of the match.

In the event of more than 2 timed expulsions at the same time – the serving of the third is postponed until the first is completed. Max 2 «expulsions» at the same time. This will also apply if a direct red card has been given, in which case only one expulsion will be served at a time.

If the goalkeeper goes out for 5 minutes, the team must put another player (change of kit) in goal. The regular goalkeeper can only return when the game is stopped.

All time-limited expulsions are completed at the end of the match. Players serving a time-limited sending off at the end of the match are eligible to participate in a penalty shoot-out.

Team leader’s responsibility

The expelled player’s team manager is the responsible timekeeper for each expulsion.

If the player obviously comes in too early (error by the team manager), the player will be sent off for the rest of the time. The team manager must be reported to the match authority.

Quarantine in G19

Players who are issued 2 cautions will automatically sit out the team’s next match. Thereafter, the player will sit out 1 game for each caution issued.

Team leader’s responsibility

The team management and the player are independently obliged to ensure that the quarantine provisions are followed when a warning is issued.

Age groups 8 – 12 years

Warnings are not used in these classes. The referee shall guide the players if offenses have been committed that normally warrant a warning.

Conduct towards supporters, clubs/teams, coaches, managers and athletes

Inappropriate behavior from managers etc.

Referees shall report to the jury obviously inappropriate behavior from a club/team, supporters, coaches and managers in and in connection with matches.

It is the team management’s responsibility to ensure that everyone associated with the club/team, including supporters/parents, does not act in a way that is obviously inappropriate, indecent or likely to damage the sport’s reputation. Clubs and teams may, in accordance with NFF’s laws, be sanctioned by the tournament’s jury for violations of the tournament’s own regulations.

Inappropriate behavior from performers

The jury may impose sanctions on athletes who, outside the referee’s area of authority, act in a way that is obviously inappropriate, improper or likely to damage the sport’s reputation.

Inappropriate behavior

Conduct that is considered to be manifestly inappropriate, indecent or likely to damage the reputation of the sport is when players, referees, team managers and supporters verbally or in other ways act in such a way that other players, referees, team managers or spectators are exposed to insulting behavior.

Case management

The jury will seek to obtain evidence from the parties involved and the clubs are required to appear before the jury when summoned. If they fail to appear, this will be used against them in determining guilt and sentencing. The jury may obtain reports from referee observers in cases where this is relevant.

The jury’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Notification to NFF

Serious violations of laws and regulations are reported by the jury to the Norwegian Football Association for consideration and decision.

Expelled coach/manager

NFF’s regulations for warnings and expulsions apply with necessary adaptations:

Automatic exclusion

Coaches and managers who are expelled by the referee from the vicinity of the field of play or from the team management area during a match lose the right to manage the team for the remainder of the match and are excluded from the next match in the tournament for the same team, unless otherwise notified by the jury.

Exclusion in several matches

If the exclusion results in a 2 or more match exclusion, the coach/manager is excluded from having a function on all teams until the sanction has been served. Such sanctions will be notified in writing.

Right of explanation

Expelled coaches/managers are encouraged to provide a written explanation to the jury after the expulsion, no later than two hours after the match has ended. In the absence of such an explanation, the jury’s decision will be based on the referee’s report.

CHAPTER 3: Regulations for eligibility to play

In general

All players must be eligible to play for the club they represent in Sør Cup.

For age groups 13 – 19 years, the following applies:

Players cannot participate on 2 teams in the same class. (e.g. Wing 1 and Wing 2 both play in class G13-7). However, it is allowed that up to 4 players can play on 2 teams from the same club in the same year class. (e.g. Wing 1 plays in class G13-7 and Wing 2 plays in class G13-9). NB! The 4 players must be the same throughout the tournament and must be entered on both team lists before the start of the tournament.

For age groups 6 – 12 years, the following applies:

It is allowed to participate in other teams from your own club in the same class.

Composite layers

Composite teams must have dispensation/permission from the circuit or NFF given before the start of the season.

Guest players

Guest players are not allowed in children’s football (6-12 years).

For the classes 13-19 years applies:

A team participating in the tournament may use up to two – 2 – players who are eligible to play for another club.
The use of guest players must be justified based on demographic and geographic
conditions, where the team needs guest players to be able to field a team.
The team must provide such documentation from its football district by the registration deadline.
It is a prerequisite for such participation that there is a written agreement between the clubs before the tournament starts. In the agreement, it must be made clear that if the player in the South Cup is quarantined for 2 matches or more, which cannot be served in the tournament, the player may be required to serve these matches in the ordinary league play.
The agreement between the clubs, as well as documentation from the football association, must be presented at the request of opponents and the organizer as documentation for
the right to play.

Documentation of age

All players must be able to document their age by showing satisfactory identification, such as a bank card.

Random checks may be carried out during the tournament on age and eligibility to play.

Team lists

All teams must submit a list with an overview of the players used by the team well in advance of the first match. A player is not eligible to play in Sør Cup until they are listed on the team list.

NB! It is not allowed to add extra players to the team list after the first match has started.

Teams that have not submitted team lists before the first match may, unless there is a valid reason, lose the right to participate in the playoffs. It is the jury that at all times assesses what constitutes a valid reason. The mobile phone of the responsible team leader must be listed on each team list.

Use of an ineligible player

All players must be eligible to play in accordance with NFF’s laws and regulations for the club or team in which the player is participating. If a club or team uses a player who is not eligible to play, the team that has used an ineligible player loses the match. In addition, the jury may impose sanctions.

Team managers must ensure that the players participating in the team are not registered as eligible to play for another club.

Use of overage

The use of overage players and players with dispensation is intended to give the individual player a sporting offer also in Sør Cup. Overage players may not have played on a team in their own age group or higher in the league series or in tournaments during the same season. NB! The last sentence does not apply to the J15 and J16-J17 classes.

Overage players cannot be more than one year too old according to the age classification in Sør Cup.

Number of seniors

11-a-side football

In the classes G14, G15, G16, G19, J14, J15 and J16-J17 it is allowed to have 2 overage players in the squad. Both can be on the pitch at the same time.

9-a-side football

In the classes G13, G14, J13 and J14 it is allowed to have 2 overage players in the squad. Both can be on the pitch at the same time.

In the classes G12 and J12 it is allowed to have 1 overage in the squad.

7-a-side football

In the classes G10, G11, G12, G13, J10, J11, J12 and J13 it is allowed to have 1 overage in the squad.

5-a-side football

In the classes G08, G09, G10, J08, J09 and J10 it is allowed to have 1 overage in the squad.

Exemption on socio-medical grounds

In addition to the use of overage players, a team has the right to use players who have an exemption on social medical grounds granted by the circuit before the South Cup starts.

Any dispensation must be attached to the team list. Dispensation cannot be issued solely for participation in the South Cup.