1. Rules. The matches are held in accordance with the FIFA International Football Association Board regulations and the D.F.B statute. Tournaments for U 13 teams are held on the reduced large field at 9 versus 9 players.
2. Referees. The matches are led by DFB or BFV association referees. Each team must provide a person as a linesman.
3. Teams.
Teams that have received an authorisation by their football association have the right to take part in the tournament.
4. Team leader. Each team must be accompanied by a team leader above the age of 18, whose name, address, and date of birth are to be included on the player list. The team leader is responsible for the conduct of the players, not just at the sports grounds, but also at other social areas available to participants.
5. Categories:
B – Junior Men: Players who were born on or after 01 January 2007
C – Junior Men: Players who were born on or after 01 January 2009
D – Junior Men: Players who were born on or after 01 January 2011
E – Junior Men: Players who were born on or after 01 January 2013
Control. Before the start of the tournament, the respective team leader must submit a player list to the tournament secretariat, on which the name/date of birth/back number of each player is mentioned.
All players must be in possession of a valid ESB (Online Match Report) identity card. A printout of the squad list with photos of eligible players must always be submitted.
Proof of eligibility
The club is responsible for the accuracy of the information submitted for registration to the SpielPlus BFV website. In addition, the club is responsible for ensuring that it only fields players who are eligible and available to participate in the competition.
Once authorisation to play has been granted, the club is obliged to upload a photo of each player it intends to field to the squad list as soon as possible, but no later than prior to the start of the game.
Any violation of the eligibility requirements will be penalised.
The approved squad list for the participating players must be presented to the referee before the start of all games.
Eligibility to play must be proven by showing the authorised squad list in the SpielPlus BFV online match report, with uploaded photos that clearly identifies each player.
Alternatively, eligibility to play can be proven by:
- a printout of the correct squad list from the SpielPlus BFV website, which includes photos (passport size) of the participating players that have been uploaded
- an authorisation certificate or a valid away game permit from the football association.
If a game/tournament involves the participation of other state or national associations, the respective authorisation to play must be presented to the referee by the respective club.
Failure to present proper proof
If a club is unable to present proper proof of eligibility for its participating players before the start of a game, the referee must write a report to this effect.
The burden of proof lies with the club. The club is responsible for uploading the player photos to the squad list in the SpielPlus BFV.
6. Playing times.
Category Tournament Play-offs Final
Expected playing times:
B – Junior Men: 1 x 25 mins, 2 x 15 mins
C – Junior Men: 1 x 22 mins, 2 x 15 mins
D – Junior Men: 1 x 22 mins, 2 x 15 mins
E – Junior Men: 1 x 15 mins, 2 x 15 mins
The exact duration of the playing times will be set after the creation of the match schedules.
7. Ranking list, group matches. The ranking lists are set based on the point score. The points are awarded as follows:
Win 3 points, draw 1 point , and loss 0 points.
If two teams have an equal number of points, the decision is firstly based on the match result in terms of direct comparison. If this match ended in a draw, the goal difference is the deciding factor. If this is equal, the greater number of goals becomes the deciding factor. If this is also a draw, an eleven or nine metre penalty shootout is carried out.
For three or more teams with equal scores, a special table from the direct comparison should be made for them. For teams with equal scores, the goal difference from this special table is the initial deciding factor. After this, the goal difference from the special table, and lastly, the number of scored goals from the special table.
If after this there is still no difference ascertainable, a recourse to all tables of the group matches will be necessary. Then the goal difference from the group matches is called into play. If this goal difference is also equal, the greater number of scored goals in the group matches become the deciding factor.
Only if after all this there is still no difference ascertainable, a eleven or nine metre penalty shootout is carried out.
If playoff matches or knockout-system matches end in a draw, these are immediately decided by an eleven or nine metre penalty shootout as per F.I.F.A. rules:
Semi-final.
For draws, an eleven or nine metre penalty shootout takes place as per F.I.F.A. rules
Playoffs.
For draws, an eleven or nine metre penalty shootout takes place as per F.I.F.A. rules
8. Matches. Before every match, the team leader submits a list of players to the referee on which the substitute players are also listed. 5 substitutes can be substituted in or out any number of times. This is only possible during a break in a match, with approval by the referee. For an individual eleven metre penalty shootout, only those players that were on the pitch at the final whistle are admissible.
9. Every club should provide change kits clearly distinguishable from the club colours. If before the start of the match, the referee decides that the teams’ club colours are too similar, the first named club must play in its change kit.
10. Disciplinary measures. For youth matches, there are cautions (yellow cards), a time penalty (5 minutes), or send-offs (red cards). If a player has been sent off from the field or has received a caution, the referee will inform the tournament commission about this immediately after the match. Any player who has been sent off is suspended from the next match or excluded from the tournament.
All reports on misconduct are sent from the tournament organiser to the national football association, which forwards these reports on to the other relevant national clubs.
In the case of group matches, all results of a team are declared as void, if:
- the team in question is late for a match without a valid reason;
- the team in question has played with an ineligible player;
- the referee makes the decision to cancel the match because of players’ bad behaviour.
In intermediate and final rounds (if it is not a question of group matches) the relevant team in the above-named cases loses with a score of 0-3.
11. Appeals. Appeals with regard to the referee’s decisions are not possible. Appeals with regard to other matters must be submitted in writing to the tournament committee by the team leader no later than 15 minutes after the match.
The tournament committee also decides on all matters that are not stated in the rules. The committee’s decisions are binding.
12. Match schedule. The tournament committee has the right to amend the match schedule in the case of unforeseen circumstances.
13. Liability. The participating clubs are themselves responsible for adequate insurance for the players. The organisers are not liable for personal injuries and damages to property or for the loss of participants’ belongings.
14. BFV game rules § 60 venue rules
Venue security
1. Irrespective of the ownership structure, the home club must ensure security and public order before, during and after the game in order to maintain the reputation of football and the proper conduct of the games.
Security manager
2. In order to fulfil these obligations, the home club must engage a security manager for every football association match, in all leagues, whose name must be entered in the online match report and who may not take on any other tasks during the match. He or she must have an adequate number of stewards working with them to carry out their tasks. The stewards providing security must wear outfits that clearly identify them as such.
Security manager‘s duties
3. The security manager‘s tasks include the following:
3.1. He or she is responsible for ensuring adequate protection for the referee, his assistants and the players of both teams.
3.2. He or she is responsible for ensuring that the referee's sending offs are carried out.
3.3. He or she must deny access to the venue to visitors who are drunk or armed with weapons or similar tools.
3.4. He or she must prevent persons from entering the venue who are prohibited from entering due to a ban by a football club or the football association.
4. In the event of imminent crowd trouble, in addition to the stewards, all adult club members and all players of both teams are obliged to help to ensure discipline on the pitch.
5. The home club bears the burden of proof that it has taken all possible and reasonable measures to protect the group of players listed.
