Official Regulations

1. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE ?

All clubs that are members of a national association recognized by FIFA can participate in the Bordeaux Ocean Cup. In countries where football can be taught by schools, we also allow teams that are members of their school sports federation.

All players must be insured on the football pitches where all members of the delegation (players and accompanying persons) must have civil liability insurance.

2. TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS

The tournament is played according to the rules of the IFAB or the French Football Federation (FFF). Matches are officiated by official referees from various countries and, in the U10 to U13 categories, by young referees.
The tournament is officially recognized by the Gironde District and the New Aquitaine League.

3. PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS
To meet participation requirements, each player must present an F.F.F. license for the current season via the Footclubs Compagnons application, or a license from a foreign federation through a similar tool.
If the above-mentioned documents are not provided, the player must present a valid medical certificate of fitness to play football (less than 18 months old), an official identity document, and parental authorization for minors (or a visa for non-EU countries). If these are not provided, the player(s) will not be allowed to participate in the match.
It is understood that a player can participate in only one team per edition of the Bordeaux Ocean Cup (unless an extraordinary written decision is made by the organizers). Players currently serving a suspension by their federation for 3 months / 6 matches or more are not authorized to participate in the Bordeaux Ocean Cup.

4. VISUAL PLAYER CONTROL AND EXEMPTIONS
The central referee or a member of the organizing team will conduct a visual check of both teams before the first match on Saturday and Sunday, requesting the documents mentioned in "PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS." A "reserve" form will be available at the score table in case of any claims before, during, or after the match.
No exceptions regarding age are allowed unless there is an extraordinary decision by the organizing committee. Any player who does not present the required documents or refuses to undergo the visual control of identity and equipment will be refused entry to the playing field. For legal reasons, this control will only take place in the presence of a tournament official and the relevant coach. A representative from another club cannot demand to be present during the control.

5. EQUIPMENT
Clubs must play their official matches in the colors identified on the official Bordeaux Ocean Cup website. Players must wear uniform kit in their club's colors: shirts, shorts, and socks. The numbers must match those on the match sheet.
Goalkeepers must wear distinct colors, different from their teammates, opponents, or referees.
If a player does not wear the same colors as the other players on their team, they will be refused entry to the field.
If two teams have similar colors that could cause confusion, the first team mentioned in the match announcement must wear different shirts from their opponent.
Shin guards are mandatory for all players.
Substitutes must be differentiated from starting players by wearing a vest of a different color than the starting players' shirts.

6. EQUALITY OF TEAMS WITHIN A GROUP
Teams with the same number of points at the end of the group stage are ranked based on the following criteria, in order:

1/ The highest number of points in the match between the tied teams.

2/ The best goal difference between goals scored and goals conceded in all group matches.

3/ The most goals scored in all group matches.

4/ The fewest red cards received in all group matches.

5/ Winner of a penalty shootout.

7. TIE BREAKER AT THE END OF REGULATION TIME IN KNOCKOUT STAGE
For knockout matches, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the teams will be decided by a penalty shootout.
In the U10, U11, U12, and U13 categories, 3 shooters will be selected by each team.
In other categories, 5 shooters will be designated by each team. The team that scores the most goals with the designated shooters will qualify for the next round.
In case of a tie, the sudden death rule will apply during the shootout to determine the qualified team.

8. MATCH TIME

Summary of match times by category:
U10, U11, U12, U13: 1x20'
U14, U15, U17, U18F: 1x25'
U16: 1x30'

Matches do not include stoppage time, except for injuries or exceptional cases.

9. SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitutions are made on the fly without stopping the game.
The entering player must wait for the player they are replacing to exit at the midfield line before entering the field.

10. SPECIFIC REGULATIONS FOR 8-A-SIDE FOOTBALL
In the U10, U11, U12, and U13 categories, teams play 8-a-side on half of an 11-a-side field. The penalty area dimensions are 26 x 13 meters.
The rules applied are those of the IFAB with some exceptions listed below:
In the U10 and U11 categories, the offside rule applies from the 13m line.
In the U12 and U13 categories, the offside rule applies from the halfway line, as in 11-a-side football.
For goal kicks, the goalkeeper may place the ball on the line corresponding to the penalty point and its surroundings. (The conditions for a goalkeeper to handle the ball from a teammate’s pass are the same as for 11-a-side football. All throw-ins are made with the hands, as in 11-a-side football.)

11. ABSENCE OF A TEAM AT KICK-OFF TIME
If one team is absent at the kick-off time, the other team will win by forfeit with a score of 3-0. If both teams are absent, the match is considered lost for both teams (3-0).
The penalized team may appeal to the tournament’s statutes and regulations committee via

info@bordeauxoceancup.com

12. NUMBER OF PLAYERS PER TEAM
There is no limit on the number of players per team.
However, only 5 substitutes are allowed to participate in a match on an 11-a-side field, and only 4 substitutes are allowed on an 8-a-side field.
Each player must be able to prove their age and identity. It is recommended that players use the same shirt numbers for all matches.

13. EXEMPTIONS
No exceptions on age are allowed, except for an extraordinary decision by the organizing committee.

14. CLAIMS
All claims must be submitted in writing. Claims regarding player qualification and participation in matches must be made before the kick-off or before the concerned player enters the field.
Technical claims must be submitted in writing during the next stoppage in play, before the game resumes. A disciplinary committee will rule on the cases submitted to them. A statutes and regulations committee will rule on appeals and will be the only authority able to decide on the postponement of a match.

15. SANCTIONS
The disciplinary committee may impose sanctions against individuals based on reports from officials or clubs.
It is automatically notified of reports from referees and may be contacted by clubs via email at

info@bordeauxoceancup.com
Yellow cards are reset after each match.

16. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
The disciplinary committee is composed of representatives of referees and coaches, as well as a member of the organizing team.
The committee makes final decisions except in cases of tournament exclusion (or suspensions longer than 2 matches).
For exclusion cases, the tournament’s executive committee can be contacted via

info@bordeauxoceancup.com

17. REWARDS
Each participant in the U10 to U13 categories receives a medal, and each U10 to U13 team receives a trophy.
In all other categories, the winners of the A and B tournaments, as well as the finalists of the A tournament, will receive a trophy and a medal.

The 3rd place teams will also receive a medal.

18. ADDENDUM- TOURNAMENT FORMAT
Teams play a minimum of 5 matches.
In the group stage, a victory earns 3 points, a draw earns 1 point, a loss earns 0 points, and a loss by penalty shootout earns -1 point.

- For the U14, U15, U16, and U17 categories:

The tournament includes a group stage with 3 groups of 4 teams.
At the end of this round, the top 2 teams from each group and the 2 best third-place teams will play in the A tournament and meet in the quarter-finals.
The worst third-place team and the 3 fourth-place teams form a group and play in a championship format.

The top 2 third-place teams will be ranked based on the following criteria:

The number of points earned against the 2 first-place teams in their group.
The goal difference against the 2 first-place teams in their group.
The best attack in their respective group.
Winners of a penalty shootout.

- For the U11, U12, and U13 categories:
The tournament includes a group stage with 4 groups of 4 teams.
At the end of this round, the top 2 teams from each group will play in the A tournament and meet in the quarter-finals, 1st against 2nd from the other group.
The 3rd and 4th place teams will play in the B tournament and meet in the quarter-finals.

- For the U10 and U18F categories:
The tournament includes a group stage with 2 groups of 4 teams.
At the end of this round, the top 2 teams from each group will play in the A tournament and meet in the semi-finals, 1st against 2nd from the other group.
The 3rd and 4th place teams will play in the B tournament and meet in the semi-finals.