Ref/Coaches Guidelines

Enjoyment and Safety. Play within the laws of the game and repsect each other.

1. Clubs must nominate their teams/sides prior to the tournament and must NOT

switch during the day.

2. Registration Forms containing a list of players with their dates of birth & RFU

registration number must be with the Control Tent no later than 9.30am on the

day of the festival.

3. Each team must bring a referee and a person who can run the line.

4. Referees will not be asked to officiate when their team is playing.

5. A player can only be registered to one team

6. Players must always play within their individual age grade. Any team playing a

player overstated age for the age group will be automatically disqualified from

the festival. A player may be played up an age group but this must be discussed

with the Festival Organiser prior to the game.

7. The RFU Age Grade Regulations will be adhered to for the festival.

8. No extra time is allowed in any match, except that added for injury time at the

referee’s discretion.

9. Rolling substitutions will be allowed throughout the games as long as there is a

break in play. All substitutes must be brought to the attention of the referee

before being made.

10. All team coaches must substitute any of their players at the request of the referee

when foul or dangerous play or persistent offending is identified. The player

concerned will be suspended from the remainder of that game. At the discretion

of the referee, a player may be sent off for serious misconduct and this player will

take no further part in the festival.

11. Coaches must ensure that their teams are present at the allocated pitches 5

minutes before kick-off to allow time for the preliminaries to be undertaken by

the referee.

12. Where there is a clash of team colours the referee will decide which team changes

shirts or wears bibs.

13. Tags and belts must be RFU standard.

14. The referee’s decision in all cases is final.

15. Coaches should try to resolve any disagreement over refereeing decisions

amicably between themselves, but failing that, any such issues should be referred

to the adjudicator appointed by Hoylake Rugby Club.

16. All Clubs must ensure that their spectators respect the ethos of the game and set

a good example to the players. Referees will be at liberty to stop the game and

ask spectators to leave the touchline.

17. All games will be 10 min matches.

18. Games will be 7 a-side (U7’s max 5 a-side) with a maximum team size of 10 players.