Tournament Rules

Male players in the 70+ Division must be 70 years of age or older by December 31 of the tournament year, except teams are allowed to have 1 male field player who 69 years of age by December 31 of the tournament year or a male goalie who is 68 years of age by December 31 of the tournament year but not both. Female players in the 70+ division must be 60 years of age or older by December 31 of the tournament year

Male players in the 75+ Division must be 75 years of age or older by December 31 of the tournament year, except teams are allowed to have 1 male player who is 74 years of age by December 31 of the tournament year or a male goalie who is 73 years of age by December 31 of the tournament year but not both. Female players in the 75+ division must be 65 years of age or older by December 31 of the tournament year.

Male players in the 80+ Division must be 80 years of age or older by December 31 of the tournament year, except teams are allowed to have a maximum of 4 male players who are 78 or 79 years of age by December 31 of the tournament year. A maximum of 2 of these male underage players may be on the field at any time. Female players in the 80+ division must be 70 years of age or older by December 31 of the tournament year.

The Host Committee will create a roster form and supply it to each team manager who registers a team. The roster form must collect at a minimum the name of the team, the name of the team manager, each player’s uniform number, name, and date of birth. A sample roster form is included at the end of this document.

Teams in the 70+ Division will play 11 v 11 with a maximum roster size of 22 players.

Teams in the 75+ Division and 80+ Division will play 8 v 8 with a maximum roster size of 16 players.

Each player must submit to their team manager a photocopy of their passport page with the player’s picture and date of birth visible (passport # may be covered) to attach to each roster submitted. If some host country players do not have a passport, the Host Committee may designate an alternate government issued identification document or card as long as the alternate document or card contains the player’s picture and date of birth.

The Host Committee may, if desired, require each player to sign a liability release waiving the player’s right to sue the Host Committee for injuries sustained during the tournament. The Host Committee is responsible for creating the release form.

Rosters must be submitted to the Host Committee by a date set by the Host Committee. Rosters may be revised up until one day prior to the first day of tournament play.

A player can be listed on multiple rosters as long as the player is on a single roster in each age division.

Once tournament play starts, a player may not switch rosters.

The Host Committee may make several random checks of player IDs before each game. Team managers may request the Host Committee field staff to check a player’s ID before the game, during halftime, or immediately following the game if there is any question about the player’s age or identity.

Fields for the 70+ Division will be regular FIFA fields (approximately 68m x 105m) with standard goals of 7.32m x 2.44m.

Fields for the 75+ Division and 80+ Division will be half sized fields (approximately 68m x 50m) with a penalty area of 25m x 8m. The Japan Host Committee has announced that the goals for the 75+ and 80+ divisions will be 5m x 2.15m.

All teams must have matching home uniforms with unique numbers.

The Management Committee recommends all teams have available alternate colored jerseys with the same unique number as their home uniforms. If alternate jerseys are not available, teams may use alternate colored bibs/vests to be worn over the players’ home uniform.

The home team shown first on the schedule may wear their home uniforms.

Shin guards are required.

Jewelry is not allowed except for flat bands covered with tape.

Soft visors or sport glasses are allowed.

All athletic accessories, such as braces for the knee, ankle, wrist, arm, etc. must be comprised of soft, malleable fabric.

Any structural portions of a brace which are made of metal or hard plastics or similar material, must be padded, and covered, or they may not be worn during play.

The Host Committee shall provide 2 game balls to all team managers on September 30 at Sub Stadium entrance area during the scheduled practice sessions taking place from 09:00 to 16:30.

Teams must be ready to compete at the assigned field and assigned time. There will be a 5 minute grace period timed by the referee.

Minimum Players.

Teams with less than the minimum number of players available to play will forfeit the game at the end of the 5 minute grace period. The score shall be recorded as 0 – 3 against the forfeiting team. If both teams do not have the minimum number of players, then the score will be recorded as a 0 – 0 tie.

Teams that refuse to start a game or refuse to finish a game will forfeit that game. The score shall be recorded as 0 – 3 against the forfeiting team.

Unlimited substitutions are allowed with the referee’s approval at any stoppage in play.

Exiting players must leave the field by the closest sideline or endline or as directed by the referee.

Entering players must wait for the referee’s signal to enter at the center line.

Games will consist of two 30 minute halves with a 5 minute half time break. In the event of scheduling issues and/or field constraints, the Host Committee may, subject to the Management Committee approval, shorten the halves by a maximum of 10 minutes.

The Host Committee will provide a proposed tournament schedule that has all 70+ and 75+ Division teams playing at least 5 games and 80+ Division teams playing at least 3 games during the tournament.

Unless it is not possible due to scheduling or field constraints, teams should be scheduled to have one morning game and one afternoon game on the first 2 game days of the tournament.

During group stage play, teams from the same country shall be placed in separate groups as much as possible. For countries that have multiple teams entered, the Host Committee will provide seeding approved by the Management Committee to ensure the best distribution of the teams.

The Management Committee will have final approval of the Host Committee’s proposed game schedule.

Add clause for inclement weather disruptionThe Host Committee has the authority to delay game start times, cancel games or otherwise adjust the schedule in case of inclement weather. Cancelled games may or may not be made up at a later time depending on the availability of fields.

Slide tackling is not allowed when in contact with an opponent. Violation will result in a free kick.

The goalkeeper may slide within the penalty area to stop the ball or secure the ball if the goalkeeper does not slide feet-first in a dangerous manner. Violation will result in a penalty kick.

Charging the goalkeeper is not permitted at any time when the goalkeeper is within his own penalty area. The rule applies regardless of whether the goalkeeper has or does not have possession of the ball. Violation will result in a free kick.

No bodily contact may be made with the goalkeeper if it can be avoided. Violation of this rule will be considered dangerous play.

Games in the 70+ division shall have 1 center referee with the addition of 2 assistant referees. In addition, where possible, there will be a third assistant referee to oversee substitutions. Offsides will be enforced in all 70+ division games.

Games in the 75+ Division and 80+ Division shall have 2 referees assigned using the dual referee system. There is no offside in 75+ Division or 80+ Division games.

The coaches of opposing teams may be on the same sideline during play.

Each coach must remain within the designated area of their half of the field.

A player receiving a yellow card must leave the field of play for at least 10 minutes. A substitution is permitted while the player is off the field.

A second yellow card given to the same player within the same game will result in that player receiving a red card.

A player receiving a red card for any reason is ejected from the game. No substitution is permitted for the ejected player. The ejected player is also suspended and cannot play in the team’s next game.

Additional penalties may be assessed by the Management Committee.

During group play teams will be awarded points based on the results of the game.

Standings at the end of group play will be determined in order by:

Playoff format will be based on the number of teams in each division. The Host Committee will determine the playoff match-ups subject to approval by the Management Committee.

Playoff games ending in a tie will be determined by penalty kicks per FIFA rules beginning immediately after regulation play (no overtime periods).

FIFA rules will apply, except as modified by these Tournament Rules.

The Management Committee will decide any situations not covered by either FIFA rules or these Tournament Rules.

All in-game decisions by the referee (fouls, penalties, cautions, red cards, goals, etc.) are final and cannot be appealed.

All decisions by the Host Committee or Management Committee will be final. There will be no appeals or protests. These decisions include behavior (by a player, coach, manager, fan/spectator, or referee) that is deemed to be detrimental to the tournament or its participants.

Persons responsible for such detrimental behavior may be expelled from the tournament site, and possibly prohibited from attending future tournaments, depending on the severity of the infraction(s).