VISION

Our mission is to create a pre-season and end-of-season environment where football players, coaches, managers, parents, and officials worldwide can compete and explore their potential while expressing their love of the game and respecting the values of camaraderie, respect and fair play. Let’s Play!

1. THE GENERIC LAWS

1.1

A jersey shirt number will be attributed to each player, who will keep it during the whole competition; the team manager will allocate the shirt number to the player in the Cup Manager team registration system. (This will ensure individual player performance is captured appropriately for individual awards).

1.2

Official Referees will officiate games.

The referee is the highest authority on the field of play and may suspend or end a match if he notices a constant unsportsmanlike attitude in a team’s behaviour. He always tries to use all means to achieve understanding and power and usually finishes the games. To achieve this, maximum collaboration is expected from everyone: players, coaches, and players’ companions, based on the values transmitted by the tournament.

1.3

Each team will wear its home uniform. If two teams wear the same jersey or colours, it is likely to confuse; the team first identified on the sheet retains its colours, and the second team wears its second strip (each team should bring a second strip). Player numbers must be visible through the stip.

2. The Teams Competition Phase:

2.1

Teams will be drawn into appropriate groups. Each team will play in a round-robin format depending on the number of teams drawn.

After these matches:

The first and second of each group in the round-robin phase will move into the AIC GOLD CUP. (In some cases, the best third will also advance to the cup, depending on the number of teams in the category.)

The third and fourth classified in each group will play AIC SILVER CUP.

Round of Sixteen or Quarterfinals – Semifinals and Championship. The losing teams will continue to play ranking games.

2.2

U9/U10 teams consist of up to 10 players, of which 7, including the goalkeeper, can play simultaneously.

U11/U12 teams consist of up to 12 players, of which 9, including the goalkeeper, can play simultaneously.

(Every additional player over ten players(U9/U10) or twelve players(U11/12) entered will be charged a $49 tournament registration fee).

2.3

The pool matches: Two 15-minute halves with a 1-minute break.
The semi-final and final matches: Two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute break.

2.4

For matches in the round-robin phase, teams are classified by earning points:

Match won: 3 points

Match tied: 1 point

Match lost: 0 point

Match lost by forfeit: 0 points

2.5

Rankings and tiebreakers after the round-robin phase.

The following order determines the position on the table:

1. The most significant number of points obtained in all of the group matches

2. Goal difference in all of the group matches

3. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches

If, after the above steps, two or more teams are still tied, the tiebreaker steps below are used. The steps below are considered head-to-head tiebreakers.

1. Points obtained in the group matches between teams concerned

2. Goal Difference from group matches between teams concerned

3. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between teams concerned

The total points have deductions based on yellow and red cards as follows:

a) First Yellow Card: -1 point

b) Second Yellow Card: (Indirect Red) -3 points

c) Direct Red Card: -4 points

d) Yellow Card & Direct Red: -5 points.

The knockout format allows winning teams to progress towards the final and losing teams

to proceed to ranking games. In the case of a tie during the knockout, the declared winner

will be the team that won the penalty shootout session according to its rules.

Note: The penalty shootout session rules are included in THE GAME’s RULES.

2.6

Before each match and during the warm-up, the referee will draw lots, and the winning captain (wearing an armband) will choose either the right to kick off or the side of the pitch on which his team will be located.

2.7

The player will automatically be suspended for any red-card violation in the following match.

A second yellow card received by the same player during a game will automatically lead to a red card with no automatic suspension for the following game.

Whatever the situation is, the AIC Competition Organization Committee reserves the right to increase the penalty.

2.8

U9/U10: A team must have at least five players to begin a match. If expulsions occur during a match, a minimum of 5 players per team is required to continue the game for the match to continue. If a team has not enough players to finish the game (5 players), it will lose the match by forfeit.

U11/U12: A team must have at least seven players to begin a match. If expulsions occur during a match, a minimum of 7 players per team is required to continue the game for the match to continue. If a team has not enough players to finish the game (7 players), it will lose the match by forfeit.

2.9

All disputes will be analyzed by a commission designated by the AIC Competition Organizing Committee. The AIC Competition Organizing Committee reserves the right to punish teams during and outside the competition. Any protests must be made in writing by the team manager. Protests must be delivered to the AIC Official Competition Desk no later than 90 minutes after the match. A protest fee of $100 will be paid at the time. This fee will be returned if the protest is approved. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with the play are final. No measures will be taken on protests on decisions made by referees.

2.10

All players must have their Proof of Age included with their registration form to be able to play. Registered players will be given one wristband at the beginning of the tournament. The wristband is to be worn for the duration of the tournament.

In case the wristband is lost or broken, the Team Manager and Player must present themselves to the AIC Official Desk to be re-registered and purchase a new wristband at least 60 minutes before their next game.

2.11

Teams are required to be next to the Field Number Flag ten minutes before kickoff. Five minutes before kickoff, the referees will lead the teams onto the field on the sound of the tournament song.

The games will kick off and end with the sound of a buzzer.

2.12

The Playing Pitch

U9/U10

The dimensions of the pitch will be:

Length: 50M – Width: 32M

Goal dimensions: Width: 4M x 2M

The offside line will be located 12M from the goal line

The penalty mark will be located 7 meters from the goal line.

U11/U12

The dimensions of the pitch will be:

Length: 70M – Width: 50M

Goal dimensions: Width: 5M x 2M

The offside line will be located from the halfway line

The penalty mark will be located 9 meters from the goal line.

2.13

The Ball

All Categories Matches will be played with a size four ball.

2.14

Kick-Off and Resumption of Play

The players on the opposing team, during a kick-off, will retreat behind the offside mark until the kick-off has occurred. The ball is live once it is in play.

2.15

Fouls and Misconduct

Identical to those for 11-a-side football, except for the following modifications:

All the faults punishable in the goal box will incur a penalty kick. If the referee considers that the fault occurred outside the penalty box, this will be punishable by a direct free kick,

No kicking from the hands by the keeper (including Drop kicks into play or Drop shots on goal) after putting the ball down. If this rule is not respected, it will be punished by a direct free kick perpendicularly brought to the offside line. If the goalkeeper catches the ball in his hands from a voluntary pass from one of his teammates’ feet, the fault will be punished by a direct free kick perpendicularly brought to the offside line. All free kicks are direct, and the distance to be maintained by players on the opposing team when the kick is made is 6 meters.

2.16

Penalty Kicks

U9/U10 Categories Penalty kicks will be made at a distance of 7 meters.

U11/U12 Categories Penalty kicks will be made at a distance of 9 meters.

2.17

Goal Kick

1) The session will take place at the specific goal kick area.

2) The referee tosses for the team designated to execute the first kick.

3)

3).1 Each team will shoot three times, respecting the rules in paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4.

3).2 Teams will shoot alternatively.

3).3 If a winner can be declared before both teams have taken their three shots, the session ends.

3).4 If, after both teams have shot three times, both have the same number of goals or misses, the session will continue until one team has scored one more goal than the other, with both teams having shot the same number of times(not necessarily three more shots will occur).

4)

4).1 Except as mentioned in the paragraph hereafter, only the players on the pitch at the end of the match are permitted to participate in the goal-shooting session. This also applies to any player who may have left the pitch temporarily without being replaced and is not on the pitch at the end of the match.

4).2 If a goalkeeper is injured during the goal-shooting session and can no longer continue as goalkeeper due to the injury, he can be replaced by a registered replacement.

5) A different player will take each shot, and no player on the same team may shoot a second time until all players on each team who are permitted to shoot,

including the goalkeeper—or the registered replacement who has replaced him, according to paragraph 4—has kicked once at the goal.

Note: If, during a match, a team has had one (or several) player(s) sent off or injured and therefore cannot field seven players, and if it is necessary to take more shots than the number of players available to the team, the player(s) who will shoot at the goal in place of the absent player(s) will be the one who shot first and any others following in sequence.

6 Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2.5, any authorized player can switch

with his goalkeeper at any time during the goal-shooting session.

7

7.1 In addition to the player kicking from the penalty mark and the two goalkeepers, all players must remain outside the kicking area during the goal-shooting session under the referee’s control.

7.2 The goalkeeper, a team-mate of the kicking player, must be on the pitch beyond the point from which the kicks are being made, behind the goal line and at least 9 meters from the penalty mark.

2.18

TROPHIES and Medals

Individual Trophies

Each age category will be awarded with the following distinctions on the last day of the category(From AIC GOLD CUP):

– Ballon d’Or (MVP)

– Golden Boot

– Golden Glove

A Technical Commission will judge these awards. The decision of

the Technical Commission is final and not subject to appeal.

Golden Boot

In case of a tie between two or more players having scored the same number of goals,

the winner will be determined as follows:

If two or more players have scored the same number of goals, the winner will be the one who scored fewer penalties; in case of another tie, the winner will be the one whose team scored the most goals; in case of another tie, the one with the best defence and then the one having received fewer yellow and red cards. The youngest player will be designated the best striker as a last resort.

Trophies – the following Trophies will be presented to the winning teams;

AIC GOLD CUP Championship Trophies (keep)

AIC GOLD CUP Runner Up – Runner’s Up Plate (keep)

AIC GOLD CUP Third Runner Up – Third Runner’s Up Plate(keep)

AIC SILVER CUP Championship Trophies (keep)

AIC SILVER CUP Runner Up – Runner’s Up Plate (keep)

AIC SILVER CUP Third Runner Up – Third Runner’s Up Plate(keep)

Individual Medallions – will be given to all registered players on the last day of the category during the Official Awards Ceremony.

No arrangement will be made to hand out or post Awards or Medallions before or after the Official Awards Ceremony.

2.19

TECHNICAL AREA & WARM-UP ZONE

This is the space where:

• the players will warm up – Warm Up Zone

• the interchange players and team officials will sit while their team plays.

On the benches, we will have:

• the three or more registered substitute players

• the Coach and Manager only – Official Accreditations to be warn

At the Match tables, we will have:

The Match Official

The area separating the pitches is reserved for the exclusive use of the AIC Competition.

2.20

Medical Services
First aid assistance is available on-site.

2.21

The Coach and Manager commit to learning the AIC 2025 Competition Rules and respecting and applying them throughout the event.