Competition Rules

1. Age limits will be determined by a player’s age on 1st September. All players must play within their own age band.
2. Squad size is 12-14. Coaches can use their own discretion on the number of players they wish to bring. However, all players must be given ample opportunity to be involved throughout the tournament. The event aims to give boys opportunities to play and develop in their sport. 
3. The tournament will be played in accordance with the Sevens Variations included in the IRB Laws of the Game, and RFU Regulation 15 stipulations.
4. In accordance with the Youth Sevens Variations, the following rules will be adhered to:

• Rolling substitutions are permitted throughout.
•  For a kick at goal following a try (which shall be a drop kick), only one player of the opposing team will be required to be behind the goal line to receive the ball – that player may not charge.
•  Following a score, the kick-off shall be a drop kick taken at or behind the centre of the half-way line by the team which has scored.
• If kick-offs fail to go 10m, are kicked directly into touch, over the dead-ball line, or touched down in-goal immediately, it will be a free kick.
• There will be no Goal-Line Dropouts or 50:22s.
• Penalty kicks at goal must be a drop kick.
• Sin bin offences will last for 2mins. Red Card (foul play) offenses will disqualify the player from the remainder of the tournament.

5. Half-time will be two minutes. No additional time will be played during pool games beyond the 20-minute allocated block of time for each match. If, for any reason (injury, late kick-off, etc) the full 14 minutes of game time is not completed, the result stands for the score at the conclusion of the 20-minute allocated time.
6. If a team does not arrive on time for their game, the opposition will be awarded a 20-0 walkover.
7. The pool rounds will be determined by the team scoring the most ‘points’ in the pool.
   (Win = 3pts, Draw = 2pts, Loss = 1pt, No Show = 0pts).
8. In the event of a tie at the end of the group stages, the result will be decided by:
   (i) The result from the game where the two teams played,
   (ii) Points Difference,
   (iii) Points For,
   (iv) Coin Toss.
9. In the event of a draw in the Knockout Rounds, the team to qualify will be decided by (i) the first team to score a try (ii) the first team to score (iii) if 0-0, it will be a ‘Golden Point’ in extra time (five minutes each way) (vi) coin toss. Finals will be decided by a ‘Golden Point’ in extra time (five-minute halves).
10. Decisions of the tournament organiser will be final.

U13 Waterfall Tournament - Variations

• All matches will be across half a full 3G pitch (Try lines will be on the 5m lines).
• A line of cones will delineate the half-way and 7m line.
• Lineouts – free pass 5m in from where the ball crossed the line of touch.
• Scrums – Push & Strike are Contested.
• KOs - Conceding team gets to decide ‘Kick or Receive.’
• Kicking: Fly-hacking is allowed. There will be no kicks for goal (conversions or penalties).
• One ‘Player of the Tournament’ medal will be given to each team to be distributed at the coach’s discretion.

Freeborn Shield Competition

All schools involved in the Tournament will compete for the Freeborn Trophy which combines the overall achievements of their age group teams across the whole competition.

Scoring System