Hampshire FA sanction competitions and tournaments all year round.  These events include weekend and summer tournaments and one-off charity matches.  Clubs and organisations across the county hold tournaments and festivals to help their fundraising efforts, to raise the profile of the club/organisation, and to give players a different footballing experience. Organising events of this kind can be challenging, but we see some great events held every year, and would always encourage and support the holding of tournaments.

What are the benefits of sanctioning your event?

• A sanctioned tournament has ensured that all teams are affiliated, and therefore have the relevant insurances and safeguarding checks in place – this is key to ensuring a safe and fun playing environment for all attendees.
• Permitted to use registered referees – match officials can face disciplinary action should they take part in any unsanctioned tournaments
• Coverage under public liability insurance
• County FA approval of rules
• County FA assistance
• Promotion of your event via the County FA
• Under FA Rules a competition must be sanctioned.  The sanction of the competition must be completed, accepted and paid for prior to you going ahead

Should a serious incident arise, whether that be from a discipline or safeguarding perspective, by sanctioning with us we will ensure that you have somewhere to raise your concerns and we will be able to offer advice or to investigate the concern for you.

What do you need to know?

The FA’s “How to Run a Tournament Guide” is an excellent resource to help you plan your event. FA rules are clear that ANY tournament or festival held by clubs MUST be sanctioned by the County FA.  An application form needs to be completed and submitted to Hampshire FA for sanctioning.  The form is simple, with the club/organisation asked to outline the date(s) of the tournament and how it will run. Clubs/organisations are free to decide on the format of the tournament they are holding, however they are required to confirm that the tournament will be run in line with FA rules.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

• The formal of football for each age group, in line with FA guidelines (e.g. U7s cannot play 7v7)
• The total number of minutes does not exceed the allowed daily maximum for an age group
• No player who is under the age of 6 can play and players must be playing in their correct banded age groups
• Tournament rules are consistent with the Standard Code of Rules for Youth Football
• The tournament organiser will need to complete a Safeguarding Risk Assessment for the event (template document below) – Hampshire FA can provide support or guidance, however the responsibility for safely running the event remains with the club/organisation.  Clubs are strongly encouraged to refer to the FA “How to Run a Tournament Guide” and Hampshire FA’s Youth Tournament/Competition Safeguarding Guidance

TEAMS

• All participating teams must be affiliated with their Parent County FA
• Affiliated teams will be covered by the Club’s insurance policy, once the tournament is sanctioned
• If a team is playing in a league and your competition is taking place during that League playing season, the team requires permission from their League to participate

REFEREES

• Qualified and Registered Referees can officiate in your tournament, once sanctioned
• Clubs/Organisations must keep a record of the matches officiated by each match official

INSURANCE

• All Clubs/Organisations are strongly advised to speak to their Insurance Provider to make sure they are covered for any tournament they are hosting.
• Organisers are advised to make sure any third parties (such as catering vans, fairground rides, etc) have the appropriate insurance as well

SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding is paramount for festivals and tournaments and we will provide guidance to support clubs/organisations to implement the key safeguarding considerations so that young people and Adults at Risk are able to take part in football in a safe, fun and inclusive environment.

All affiliated clubs have a Club Welfare Officer in post who deals with safeguarding and welfare.  It is best practice for the club/organisation holding the tournament or festival to appoint a qualified Welfare Officer for the duration of the event.

Clubs/team officials participating in the event should hold all the necessary safeguarding qualifications, including an in date FA DBS check and Safeguarding children qualification for all youth coaches.

We have produced a more detailed guide to safeguarding below, which separates safeguarding considerations into the key times when they should be completed – Pre-Tournament, During the Tournament, Post Tournament.