The Fermanagh GAA Fixtures Masterplan for 2017

It is with great pleasure that,on behalf of the Fermanagh Competitions Control Committee (CCC), I present the 2017 Fixtures Masterplan. This document is being presented to the Fermanagh County Committee on Monday 6^th March 2017 and at a specially arranged briefing for club secretaries, senior/reserve team managers and a players’ representative from each club on Wednesday 8^th March 2017. We believe in being open, honest and accountable to members of the association in Fermanagh and we have endeavoured to engage with the appropriate bodies and individuals to explain why we have taken the decisions we have and to address any questions or queries there may be as early as possible.

I am indebted to and extremely grateful for the commitment, input and support of each member of the CCC, in what is a challenging role in a busy sub-committee of CoisteChontaeFhearManach.

As you will be aware, CCC is responsible for organising all competitions in Fermanagh; for processing transfers; for dealing with objections and counter objections to games; dealing with referees reports and matters arising from them including disciplinary issues and investigating and processing matters relating to the enforcement of the rules and match regulations.

For all of the above matters, the CCC has plenary powers. As stated in our terms of reference, the Chairperson of CCC shall present a Progress Report on the committee’s work of at County Committee meetings.

As a committee, we are very conscious of the current challenges facing clubs across Ireland with regards to the pressures on the calendar, particularly with regards to fixture scheduling, the regularity and certainty of games and the varying needs of different groups of players within our association. This is a debate that continues nationally and this is no different in Fermanagh. But there is only so much that is within our control. Until the inter county calendar is sufficiently condensed, at both Provincial and National level, we will, like other counties, struggle to make everyone happy. However, we have tried our best.

After all, we are all members of clubs ourselves and we are all involved at various levels of our clubs. We have an extremely challenging role in making decisions, which at times we know will not be universally popular. However, we have put in place key principles to guide us in our decision making process, which will allow us to be consistent and strategic in our thinking and hopefully allow all stakeholders of the association to understand why we have arrived at the decisions we have, regardless of whether there is universal agreement with the outcome.

From the end of the National Football League on 2^nd April 2017 until the start of the Ulster Club Championship on 28^th/29^th October, there are 29 weekends on which to organise all of our internal fixtures. To put this into perspective, that is 18 rounds of Senior Football League Fixtures (along with the respective semi-finals and finals), the Senior/Intermediate/Junior Championships and the Reserve Championships. Over the course of these weekends, the Fermanagh Senior team will also be in action, hopefully on many occasions.

As has been the case in recent years, we have made provision for, and indeed formalised, the playing of ‘Games for Club Players’ without some or all members of the Inter County Panel. Whilst all of us, as players, mentors, administrators, supporters and spectators, want to see the best players playing for our clubs as often as possible, there are hard choices to be made.

Do we play little or no senior football through much of May/June and potentially July and August, and only get into playing senior league football properly once Fermanagh’s run in the championship comes to an end? If so, the reality is that games will end up being organised in the months of November and December.Our experience tells us that the only people who want to be playing football at that time of the year are those involved in the Provincial Championships, proudly representing their clubs and counties.

We do not accept that such a model is a realistic or favourable way forward and as such, we have decided that regular senior matches will continue to be played over the course of the season, regardless of how the Fermanagh county team progress, in order to avoid winter senior league matches or ending the season early. The only uncertainty is whether, and how many of, the County panel will be playing for their clubs in any given fixture.

We have endeavoured, in so far as possible, to organise these ‘Games for Club Players’ that allow for the best possible match ups in terms of balancing the number of Inter County panellists from the clubs involved. As a result of that, at this stage, we are only able to provide the first seven rounds of Senior League Fixtures as the progress of the Fermanagh team and issues such as predicting replays or progression through the Provincial Championship cannot be addressed. Furthermore, the introduction of a new regulation allowing for players in the 26-man match day panel that did not play for Fermanagh on the previous day to be involved in ‘Games for Club Players’ on a Sunday, predicting how many players will be unavailable per club is an extremely difficult forecast. However, we have been and will continue to be as fair as possible.

The current league arrangements, with the introduction of considerable ‘safety nets’ has made the introduction of ‘Games for Club Players’ much more acceptable to clubs as there is now no automatic promotion or relegation in either Senior Football League and any club that may have a higher than average representation in the Inter County Panel has a chance to prove themselves with a full team out during the league playoff stages, which will once again take place after the Championship block.

In organising the year’s fixtures in this manner, we believe that we are keeping our league competitions as competitive as possible, for as many as possible, for as long as possible.

We hope you will support us in practical terms and with your goodwill as we attempt to meet our own challenging targets and to meet the varying needs of all of our stakeholders over the course of this season. We have endeavoured, in so far as possible, to produce a finalised schedule of fixtures for the year, however, on occasion, events will transpire that will be outside of our control and as such, this schedule may unfortunately be subject to change, which shall be at the discretion of the CCC.

Finally, on behalf of the CCC, may I take this opportunity to wish all of our players and our clubs every success in 2017 in reaching the goals that each individual and team has set.

Is mise le meas,

Phil Flanagan – Chairperson
Fermanagh Competitions Control Committee (CCC)
Tel: 07985955555
Email: chairperson.ccc.fermanagh@gaa.ie

ÁrbPrionsabail – Our Principles

Our key principles in decision making have been as follows:

1. Players, along with all our stakeholders, deserve and require fixture certainty
2. Having a season with a definite completion date for all internal competitions
3. Clubs support a regular flow of games for senior club players through the summer months, including ‘Games for Club Players’
4. That there are ‘safety net’ and ‘reclaiming lost ground’ opportunities within the end of season league formats
5. All rounds of the league competitions shall be completed before any of the championship starts
6. Sustain a season long interest in club training, with championships, as the climax of the season and offering the best preparation possible for going into the end of league formats
7. Organising adult competitions where games are competitively important and meaningful throughout the season
8. Consistently, fairly and strictly enforcing all competition regulations, particularly with regards to postponements, compliance with the 13 day rule and accurate First 13 lists
9. Meeting the welfare needs of all players, club and county by recognising that there are club player needs and county player needs, and they are both equally important within the amateur ethos of the GAA
10. The need for those who have a ‘say’ in club fixtures (County Committee, Senior County Management team, CCC and Club Management groups) to respect the desire and need for players to play regular games for their clubs.

SFL 1 & 2 Fixtures 2017

SFL 1, 2 & 3 Semi Finals & SFL 1 & 2 Playoff Semi Finals
6^th, 7^th& 8^th October or 13^th, 14^th& 15^th October (if SFC Final replay)

SFL 1, 2 & 3 Finals&SFL 1 & 2 Playoff Finals
13^th, 14^th& 15^th October or 20^th, 21^st& 22^nd October (if SFC Final Replay)

Erne Cup 1& 2 Fixtures 2017

Senior/Intermediate Football Championship

SFC/IFC Quarter Finals
25^th/26^th/27^th August

Senior Football Championship Fixtures
Ederney St Joseph’s           v          Roslea Shamrocks
Kinawley Brian Borus         v          Tempo Maguires
Teemore Shamrocks           v          Devenish St Mary’s
Derrygonnelly Harps           v          Erne Gaels

Intermediate Football Championship Fixtures
Lisnaskea Emmets              v          Derrylin O’Connell’s
Irvinestown St Molaise        v          Maguiresbridge St Mary’s
St Patrick’s Donagh             v          Newtownbutler First Fermanaghs
BelcooO’Rahilly’s                v          Enniskillen Gaels

SFC/IFC Quarter Final Replays
1^st/2^nd September

SFC/IFC Semi Finals
8^th/9^th/10^th September

SFC/IFC Semi Final Replays
15^th/16^th September

Intermediate Championship Final
24^th September

Senior Championship Final
1^st October

Senior Championship Final Replay
6^th October

SFC/IFC Relegation Semi Finals
8^th/9^th/10^th September

SFC/IFC Relegation Semi Finals Replays
15^th/16^th September

SFC/IFC Relegation Finals
23^rd September

SFC/IFC Relegation Finals Replays
30^th September

Junior Football Championship

Round 1
26^th August
CoaO’Dwyers                                               v          Aghadrumsee St Macartan’s
Brookeborough Heber MacMahon’s        v          Belnaleck Art McMurrough’s

Round 2
2^nd September
CoaO’Dwyers                                               v          Brookeborough Heber MacMahon’s
Aghadrumsee St Macartan’s                     v          Belnaleck Art McMurrough’s

Round 3
9^th September
Belnaleck Art McMurrough’s                     v          CoaO’Dwyers
Brookeborough Heber MacMahon’s        v          Aghadrumsee St Macartan’s

Final
22^nd September
First Place                                                     v          Second Place

Final Replay
29^th September

Reserve Football Championships

Reserve ‘A’ Championship

Round 1
12^th August
Roslea Shamrocks                          v          Newtownbutler First Fermanaghs
St Patrick’s Donagh                         v          Kinawley Brian Borus

Quarter Finals
19^th August
QF1: Derrygonnelly Harps             v          LisnaskeaEmmetts
QF2: Roslea/Newtownbutler         v          Tempo Maguires
QF3: Devenish St Mary’s                v          Enniskillen Gaels
QF4: Teemore Shamrocks             v          Donagh/Kinawley

Semi Finals
3^rd September
SF1: QF2       v          QF4
SF2: QF3       v          QF1

Final
16^th September

Reserve ‘B’ Championship – New Draw Required as Derrygonnelly have submitted a second Erne Cup team

Round 1
12^th August

Quarter Finals
19^th August

Semi Finals
3^rd September

Final
16^th September

Appendix 1

Key Points on CCC Masterplan 2017

Erne Cup to start on Sunday 19^th March.

Last NFL 2 league game is on 2^nd April; final fixed for 9^th. First SFL games scheduled for 9^th April.

Double round of SFL games (Friday and Sunday) three weekends (28^th and 30^th April) before the First Round of the USFC (20^th May). 8 SFL games on Sunday. 3 on Saturdays. 8 on Friday nights.

Last Erne Cup league games on 30^th July.Finals scheduled for 6^th August. Replay for 8^th August. 7 EC games scheduled for Saturdays. 5 for Fridays. 6 for Sundays.

Last SFL games on 13^th August. Semi Finals scheduled for 6^th/7^th/8th October. Finals for 13^th/14^th October.

SFC/IFC scheduled for 25^th/26^th/27th August (QF), 8^th/9^th/10^th September (SF).SFC/IFC concludes on 24^th September/1^st October. JFC Final on 22^nd September.

Ulster Club Championships scheduled to start on 28th/29^th October allowing for 13-day recovery after SFL 1 Final (unless a replay).

Reserve Championships scheduled for: 12^th August, 19^th August, 3^rd September & 23^rd September. Replays scheduled for following Tuesday evening.

Games for Club Players:

Appendix 2

FERMANAGH G.A.A. COMPETITION REGULATIONS 2017

1. Erne Cup
   1. The Erne Cups shall consist of second teams of those clubs in SFL 1 and SFL 2 and clubs not participating in SFL.
   2. The Erne Cups shall be in 2 Divisions, separate to SFL.

• The Erne Cup Division 1 Competition (2017) shall consist of ten teams and be played on a double round basis i.e. 18 league games for each club.The top 2 teams will contest the final. The bottom 2 teams in Erne Cup Division 1 will be relegated to Erne Cup Division 2.

1. The Erne Cup Division 2 Competition (2017) shall consist of nine teamsand be played on a double round basis i.e. 16 league games for each club. The top 2 teams will contest the final and are promoted to Erne Cup Division 1.
2. Games in Erne Cup Leagues Division 1 & Division 2 are 13 aside, or 15 aside by agreement.
3. A Reserve ‘A’ Football Championship shall be organised on a knockout basis for the teams in Erne Cup 1. A Reserve ‘B’ Football Championship shall be organised on a knockout basis for the teams in Erne Cup 2.

2. Senior Football Leagues
   1. SFL Division 1 Competition (2017) shall consist of ten teams and be played on a double round basis i.e. 18 league games for each club. The Top 4 teams will compete in the league semi-finals (1^st v 4^th and 2^nd v 3^rd) with the two winners contesting the SFL 1 Final. There will be no automatic relegation; instead relegation will be decided by the following format: The teams finishing 9^th and 10^th will play off with the loser relegated. The teams finishing 7^th and 8^th will play off with the winner safe. The winner of 9^th/10^th will then play the loser of 7^th/8^th with the loser of that game relegated.
   2. The SFL Division 2 Competition (2017) shall consist of ten teams and be played on a double round basis i.e. 18 league games for each club. There will be no halfway split. There will be no automatic promotion. The Top 4 teams will compete in the SFL 2 semi-finals (1^st v 4^th and 2^nd v 3^rd) with the two winners contesting the SFL 2 Final and being promoted to SFL 1.

• The SFL Division 3 Competition (2017) shall consist of four teams, those finishing in 5^th, 6^th, 7^th& 8^th place of SFL Division 2. The teams finishing 5^th and 8^th will play in the first Semi Final, with the teams finishing 6^th and 7^th playing in the second Semi Final. The winners of the two Semi Finals will play in the SFL Division 3 Final.

3. Players ineligible for Erne Cup
   1. Any club fielding a team in the SFL 1 or 2 and wishing to field a team in the Erne Cup must name 13 players who will be ineligible to play in the Erne Cup.
   2. Any club fielding a second Erne Cup team must name another 13 players who will be ineligible to play in the lower division of Erne Cup.

• These lists must be submitted to the secretary of CCC at least one week prior to the start of Erne Cup competitions.

1. These lists may be changed at any time by the CCC on the written request of the club provided that:
   1. The player being removed from the list has missed or will miss two consecutive games in SFL.
   2. The player being removed from the list is replaced by another player (normally this player should be the one who is replacing him on the club’s first/second team).
2. The 1^st 13 lists from each club shall be revised before the first round of Reserve Football Championships to exclude 13 SFC/IFC/JFC players from Reserve Football Championships.
3. No revisions will have been deemed to have been made until written confirmation has been provided to the club secretary by the CCC.

• After a club has played its first SFC/IFC/JFC game, it shall resubmit within seven days, to the CCC a list of 13 players, who shall subsequently be ineligible to participate in the Erne Cup and Reserve Championship. No further re-gradingsshall be permitted after this deadline.

4. Club Championships

The first round Championship draws shall be made at a full County Committee meeting. Draws for subsequent rounds shall be made when the previous rounds have been played. Championship games shall be played (except by agreement) at neutral venues.

The Senior Football Championship (SFC) is organised as follows-

Round 1 games – SFC quarter finals.

The four 1st Round winners will enter the semi-final of the SFC and the two winners will contest the SFC final.

The four 1st Round match losers will enter the championship relegation play-offs. The two defeated teams from those play-offs will contest the SFC relegation final with the loser being relegated to the following year’s Intermediate Championship (IFC).

The Intermediate Championship(IFC) is organised as follows-

Round 1 games-IFC quarter finals.

The four 1st Round winners will enter the semi-finals, two winners will contest the IFC final and the winners will be promoted to the following year’s Senior Football Championship (SFC).The four 1st Round match losers will enter the championship relegation semi-finals. The two defeated teams will contest the IFC relegation final, with the loser being relegated to the following year Junior Football(JFC)

The Junior Football Championship is organised as follows…

The four competing teams shall play each other once on a round robin/league basis. All games shall be played (except by agreement) at neutral venues. The top two teams shall qualify for the Junior Championship final.

5. In the event of teams finishing on level points in the Erne Cup, SFL or League stages of a Championship, the tie shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified:
   1. Scoring Difference (subtracting the totalScores Against from the total Scores For);
   2. Highest total Score For;

• Highest total Goals For;

1. Scoring Average (dividing the total Scores For by the total Scores Against);
2. Where two teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two Teams in the previous game in the Competition;
3. A Play-Off.

6. In relation to Regulation 5 (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, if the accumulated scores of a team, so involved, are affected by a disqualification, loss of game on a proven objection, retirement or walk over, the CCC may decide that the tie may bedecided by a Play-Off.

7. Drawn Games in Knockout/Playoff
   1. Replays shall be held for all SFC/IFC/JFC knockout and playoff matches ending in a draw.In the event of the replay ending in a draw, extra time shall be played, which shall consist of two periods of ten minutes. If, after playing extra time, the match is still drawn, a further replay shall be arranged.
   2. Extra time shall be played for all SFL/Erne Cup/Reserve Football Championship knockout and playoff matches ending in a draw, which shall consist of two periods of ten minutes. If, after playing extra time, the match is still drawn, a replay shall be arranged.

8. The period of time during which Senior Inter-County Players shall not be expected to fulfil Club Fixtures prior to Inter-County Championship Games shall be as follows:

Senior Inter-County Championships:

(1) All-Ireland Final – 20 days.

(2) All other Games – 13 days.

9. The Competitions Control Committee may designate certain SFL matches to be ‘Games for Club Players’ (GCP).
   1. Where the CCC designated a game as a GCP 26 – Players who are not included in an Inter-County Senior Panel of twenty-six players, shall be available to their Clubs for these ‘Games for Club Players’ on the weekends of National League and Senior Championship games.
   2. Where the CCC designated a game as a GCP 36 – Players who are not included in an Inter-County Senior Panel of thirty-six players, shall be available to their Clubs for these ‘Games for Club Players’ on the weekends of National League and Senior Championship games.

• Where the CCC designated a game as a GCP 26+ – In the event of a club game taking place on the same weekend, but after the Inter County match, and no less than 13 days before the next scheduled Inter County match, those players who did not play for the County team in the preceding game shall be available to their Clubs for that game.

100. The penalty for the club of an ineligible member of an Inter-County Panel participating in a ‘Game for Club Players’, shall be the awarding of the game to the opposing team. In the event of both teams involved in a game breaching this rule, this shall result in the forfeiture of points for the two teams. There shall also be a fine for the responsible Club(s) of €100.

10. The penalty for each unfulfilled fixture in SFL and Erne Cup shall be the award of the game to the opposing team and a fine for the responsible Club of €100, in line with the Official Guide (6.38).

11. Postponement of Matches
    1. Matches may be postponed in the following circumstances:
       1. Death of, or death of a first degree relative (father/mother, son/daughter, brother/sister, husband/wife/partner) of a Player, Manager, Club Chairman, Club Secretary, Club Treasurer or Club President during the 72 hours preceding the game.
       2. In case of death of Parish Priest or Curate of any team engaged.

• If for any reason the Competitions Control Committee considers it necessary.

1. The Secretary of the Competitions Control Committee (or in his/her absence the Chairman of CCC) must be notified by the secretary of the club responsible for the postponement, in reasonable time of all postponements, stating the reasons for same.

• In the event of a postponement being agreed by the two Clubs and with the permission of the CCC, the re-fixture must take place by agreement with the two Clubs within four weeks of the postponement.Failure to do somay result in forfeiture of points for the two teams. The four-week rule shall not apply to Rounds 14-18 (inclusive) of SFL and Erne Cup. No fixture can be postponed more than once.

1. All postponement re-fixtures must take place before the playing of the final round of league fixtures and there shall be no postponement of the final round of fixtures, except under regulation 11a. i., ii. or iii. above.
2. Matches postponed in accordance with Regulation 12 or matches not played due to failure of a referee to turn out will be re-fixed by the Competitions Control Committee.

12. When a pitch may be unplayable – the procedures are:
    1. The Secretary of the Club must request a pitch inspection from the CCC Secretary or, if s/he is not available, the CCC Chairperson.
    2. A pitch can only be judged to be unplayable by a referee chosen by CCC or the Referees’ Appointment Officer.

• An officer of the club must be present when the pitch inspection is being done and the decision being made

1. The steps in the allocation of an alternative venue, either to reverse the fixture or move it to another venue will involve CCC, the two clubs, possibly a third club with the venue and the Referees’ Appointment Officer.

13. At each meeting of the County Committee, league tables will be displayed and unplayed matches will be listed. Matches may be played at any time over the weekend subject to agreement of both clubs and the Competitions Control Committee.

14. The CCC reserves the right to amend its published games calendar as it deems necessary.

15. Any Club seeking to video a game must seek and receive permission in writing from the Secretary of CoisteChontaeFhearManach.

16. Winners of all competitions under the control of the County Committee shall be presented with a trophy. The number of medals/trophies shall be 24 for all adult competition.

17. A trophy shall be awarded to the club making the most positive contribution to sportsmanship.

18. Referees
    1. Each club shall supply at least one ‘full-time’ referee for Youth Competitions and at least one ‘full-time’ referee for Adult Competitions.(Total –at least two referees) to the county panel.
    2. If a club does not provide a referee for Youth Fixtures: – penalty ‘no home Youth Games’.

• If a club does not provide a referee for Adult Fixtures: – penalty ‘no home Adult Games’.

1. The Host club and Travelling Club shall each be responsible for providing two umpires and one linesman, in the event of the referee having none, for all Erne Cup and SFL matches.
2. Clubs shall provide the following for all matches; a size 5 match football; 4 white bibs/coats/ jackets for umpires; a ground of the standard and dimensions required by An TeoraiOifigúil, with (a) all markings properly flagged on both sidelines with flags on poles with rounded tops and which must be at least 60cm in length; (b) pitch surface to be in order regarding safety and length of grass etc; (c) Goalposts to be properly fixed, goal nets securely fixed and suitable for football or hurling as required, and (d) end lines and parallelograms to be marked in full.

19. Cups/Trophies
    1. The following cups/trophies, together with any cups/trophies which may be presented to the County Committee at any time, shall be the exclusive property of the County Committee:
       1. New Ireland Assurance Shield
       2. The Whyte Cup

• The New York Gold Cup

1. The 1916 Commemoration Cup
2. The Monsignor Tierney Cup
3. The Father Trainor Cup

• The O’Neill Cup
• The Canon Maguire Cup

1. The Father O’Dowd Cup.

1. All cups/trophies must be returned to the County Office by the May County Committee meeting.

• Any cups/trophies damaged or lost must be replaced to the same value, by the club responsible.

20. The above regulations shall supersede all previous regulations and regulations passed at County Committee. They shall be referred to by number in all objections, appeals and such like documents wherein they are used. Recommendations for their amendment or deletion shall quote the number of the regulation to be amended or deleted, and if passed by the required majority at a County Committee meeting shall become operative. Fermanagh GAA regulations shall be reviewed annually.

Appendix 3

Fermanagh U21 Club Championship

Up to 3 clubs may amalgamate to field teams compete in this competition. The Player Injury Fund team subscription rate for U21 teams has been reduced from €450 to €200 per team for 2017.

Games are 15 a side, or 13 a side by agreement.

The competition will be organised on a round robin basis, with the top four teams from each group progressing to the Quarter Finals. 1^st in the group plays 4^th in the other group. 2^nd in a group plays 3^rd in the other group. The winners of those games progress to the Semi Finals, with the two winners meeting in the Final.

All throw ins at 7:30pm unless otherwise stated.

Wednesday 28^th June – Round 1 League

Wednesday 5^th July – Round 2 League

Wednesday 12^th July – Round 3 League

Wednesday 19^th July – Quarter Finals

Wednesday 26^th July – Semi Finals

Wednesday 2^nd August – Final

Group A – West & North Fermanagh

1. Derrygonnelly/Belcoo
2. Devenish/Erne Gaels
3. Ederney/Irvinestown
4. Derrylin/Belnaleck
5. Teemore/Kinawley

Group B – East Fermanagh

6. Tempo/Maguiresbridge/Coa
7. Brookeborough/Lisnaskea
8. Donagh/Newtownbutler
9. Roslea/Aghadrumsee
10. Enniskillen

Extra-Time/Tie Breaker

In the event of a knockout match finishing as a draw, two 10-minute periods of extra time shall be played. If the match is still a draw after extra time, the following tie breaker will take place: five players from each team will take a free kick from the 45 metre line, off the ground, towards the same goals.

1. The referee tosses a coin to decide the goal at which the kicks will be taken. The choice of goal by the coin toss winner may only be changed by the referee for safety reasons or if the goal or playing surface becomes unusable.
2. The referee tosses the coin a second time to determine which team will take the first kick.
3. Players, coaches and mentors from both teams shall be in the half of the field in which the free kick is not being taken, unless they are the player taking the free kick.
4. Each team is responsible for selecting from the eligible players, those who finished the match after extra time, the order in which they will take the kicks. There is no requirement to notify the referee of the order of free takers.
5. Each kicker can kick the ball only once per attempt. Once kicked, the kicker may not play the ball again.
6. No other player on either team, other than the designated kicker may touch the ball or interfere with the kicker in any way.
7. A free kick is successful if, having been touched once by the kicker, the ball passes between the goal posts and over the crossbar, without touching any player, official, or outside agent. The ball may touch the goal posts, crossbar or ground any number of times before going over the crossbar as long as the referee believes the ball’s motion is the result of the initial kick.
8. Teams take turns to kick from along the 45 metre line, at the choice of the kicker, until each team has taken five kicks. However, if one side has scored more successful points than the other could possibly reach with all of its remaining kicks, the tie breaker immediately ends regardless of the number of kicks remaining.
9. If at the end of these five rounds of kicks, the teams have scored an equal number of points (goals shall not count), additional rounds of one kick each will be used until the tie is broken; this is known as sudden death.
10. The team that scores the most successful kicks at the end of the shoot-out will be winner of the match.
11. No player will be allowed to take a second free kick until all other eligible players on their team have taken a first kick, including the goalkeeper.
12. If it becomes necessary for players to take another free kick (because the score has remained equal after all eligible players have taken their first kick), players are not required to kick in the same order.
13. Free kicks during the tie breaker must not be delayed for a period of time which the referee deems to be excessive. The player’s free kick will be forfeited (not scored) if the player does take a kick within the requisite time.