Knockout Cup Competition Rules for U11 to U16

The Competition shall be called the Taunton & District Youth League Knockout Cup and shall be competed for annually by clubs within each of the age groups from U11 to U16 who are members of the league.

The Cup / Trophy shall remain the property of the Taunton & District Youth League.

The duration of matches shall be in accordance with Rule 20 for the different age groups. Should the scores be level at the end of normal time, penalties shall be taken to decide the winners, in accordance with FA Rules, with at least 5 penalties being taken by each team.

All Cup matches must be decided on the day of the match in accordance with Rule 3. The only acceptable reason for not playing a match on the date stipulated is that the ground is unfit due to adverse weather conditions, but priority shall be given to the FA and parent County Association Cup Competitions. No other reason will be accepted for the postponement of a cup match. Postponed matches will be played on the following normal match day, Saturday, or Sunday.

Cup ties are to be played on the ground of the first drawn team, except the Final, which will take place on a ground to be decided by the Management Committee. If a team in any cup tie anticipates that their home pitch will not be playable or available, their opponents must be informed as soon as possible. If the ‘away’ team can be certain that their pitch will be playable/available, then the fixture will be reversed.

The kick off time in all ties will be 10:30am on Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays, unless mutually agreed by both teams, the referee, and the League Age Group Secretary prior to the game. Except the final which will be at a time fixed by the Management Committee.

The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and, in case where it is to the advantage of the League, and does no injustice to either team, shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to be recorded as the result.Players as registered in the League shall be eligible to play in the Cup Competition.

No player shall play for more than one Club in the Cup Competition in any one season. No player shall register, for the purpose of the Cup Competition after the date reserved for the Semi-Final ties. Only players eligible by the last Quarter Final will be eligible to play in the Semi-Final and Final.

Any Club found guilty by the Management Committee of playing an ineligible player shall be ruled out of the competition and may be subject to a fine as determined by the Management Committee.