Qualifying – Tournament (League Format)
Tournaments should be organised on a league format, so that we can get a definite 1st, 2nd 3rd place etc. When two schools are tied on the same points, then the result of the match between the schools should be considered first. Then, goal difference, then goals scored. Then a short play off match (duration agreed by those organising on the day).
The rules of the autumn qualifiers are at the discretion of the cluster coordinator. Ideally, the rules will be the same as the knock-out rules (below) – but this is not always possible.
Basics (from September 2026)
7️⃣7-a-side.
3️⃣Size 3 ball (size 4 balls will be permitted for a few years)
❌No offsides
❌No deliberate heading
❌No throw-ins.
✅Pass-ins. Opponents 5 yards away. Can’t score direct from pass-in.
✅Dribble-ins. Opponents 5 yards away. CAN score from a dribble-in.
⚫Summary of pass-in/dribble in – https://tinyurl.com/4kfxwt25
⚫Opposition retreat to half-way line for goal kicks.
⚫Squads of 8, 9 or 10. Maximum three subs (roll-on, roll-off). There will only be 10 medals.
⚫Girls ARE allowed to play in the boys’ tournaments.
⚫Duration: 25 minutes each half.
We are following the FA rules for small sided games (7v7). The FA Rules are unclear about dribble-ins (no explanation in this rule as at 07/09/26) but it’s in this matrix in the FA Handbook.
The FA Handbook is a 772 page PDF which can be downloaded at https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/fa-handbook. Small-sided football is between pages 671 and 692.
Pitches & Posts
⚫Posts : 12 feet x 6 feet
⚫7 v 7 MAXIMUM pitch size: 60 x 40 yards
⚫7 v 7 MINIMUM pitch size: 50 x 30 yards
The home team should consider if the pitch is a suitable size for 7-a-side (see below). Alternative arrangements could include…
· Switching the venue to the opposition
· Switching the venue to a nearby school with a bigger pitch
· Playing fewer players (eg. 5-a-side or 6-a-side) with the same rules as 7 a-side
It’s best to discuss with the opposition’s teacher.
Extra-Time
10 minutes extra-time (5 minutes each way). If the teams remain level, a second 10 minutes period will be played. Again, if the teams remain level, there will be a third and final period 10 minute period of extra-time. After this, there will be a replay. No penalty shoot out.
Having said this, there have been 2 occasions recently where penalties were used. If this is the preferred option of both schools, then so be it.
Referees
Matches to be refereed by either a teacher or a qualified referee. The default is a teacher.
Up to and including the Quarter-Finals, please try and source these yourself, if possible. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Chris Brook if you are struggling to source a referee – there are a few local referees that can help.
From the semi-finals onwards we hope to provide a referee.
Parents
Please ensure that a nominated member of staff is made known to the referee and will remain on the pitch-side to deal with any ‘over-enthusiastic’ parents/coaches.
Mismatch
⚫Nobody benefits from a one-sided match.
⚫Here’s some guidance (not yet rules)…
⚫If your team goes 3-0 up, start thinking how you can help level things up.
⚫At 4-0 up take action – eg. Power Play – https://tottycup.co.uk/power-play
Note: This Power Play is slightly different from the FAs.
END OF RULES
Newspaper name format : https://tottycup.co.uk/press-reports/
After all the qualifying tournaments, we will use the following criteria to determine which 8 schools, qualify for the Totty Cup, which 8 for the Barlow-Salmons and 8 for the Brian Hyde.
Totty Cup 8
1 – Dearne cluster winner
2 – Rawmarsh cluster winner
3 – Wath cluster winner
4 – Swinton cluster winner
5 – Mexborough cluster winner
6 – Dearne cluster second*
7 – 2nd biggest cluster second**
8 – 3rd biggest cluster second**
*Dearne has always had the most schools competing, so the runner-up in Dearne will get the 6th Quarter-final spot. This will be reviewed if Dearne no longer has the most schools competing.
**Plus 1 from each of one of the biggest two clusters – based on how many schools compete in the autumn 2026 qualifiers.
In autumn 2025, Wath had 6 schools, Swinton 4, Rawmarsh 3 and Mexborough 4.
If two clusters have the same number of competing schools, then they will be separated by a seeding system based on the performance of cluster schools in the previous year. See A,B,C,D,E ranking at the bottom of the page.
Barlow-Salmons 8
1 – Dearne cluster third
2 – Dearne cluster fourth
3 – 2nd biggest cluster third
4 – 3rd biggest cluster third
5 – 4th biggest cluster second
6 – Smallest cluster second
7 – 4th biggest cluster third
8 – Smallest cluster third.
Brian Hyde 8
The rest.
Seeding
For when two clusters have the same number of competing schools. Clusters are allocated points based on their performance the previous season. *
In 2026: Wath : 7 points, Dearne 17, Swinton 4, Mexborough 0, Rawmarsh 0
Therefore, any clusters that have an equal number of teams competing, they will be separated in this order.
A) Dearne
B) Wath
C) Swinton
D) Mexborough
E) Rawmarsh
**Points system:
. Totty Cup win (6 points) Totty RU (5), Gordon Swann Win (4), GS RU (3), Barlow-Salmons win (4), BS RU (3), Brian Hyde win (2) , BH RU (1).
If clusters are still level, then we will have to look at the results for the finals the previous year.
In 2025 Mexborough had 6 points and Rawmarsh 0 – so Mexborough are ranked above Rawmarsh